DIRECTORATE FOR THE PLANNING
OF PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES
03/A-2006
Directorate-General for the Presidency
EN EN ABBREVIATIONS USED
Political Groups
PPE-DE Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats PSE Group of the Party of European Socialists ELDR Group of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Verts/ALE Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance GUE/NGL Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left UEN Union for Europe of the Nations group EDD Group for a Europe of Democracies and Diversities NI Non-attached Members
Committees
AFET Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy BUDG Committee on Budgets CONT Committee on Budgetary Control LIBE Committee on Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs ECON Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs JURI Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market ITRE Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy EMPL Committee on Employment and Social Affairs ENVI Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy AGRI Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development PECH Committee on Fisheries RETT Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism CULT Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport DEVE Committee on Development and Cooperation AFCO Committee on Constitutional Affairs FEMM Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities PETI Committee on Petitions
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Closed on : 06.03.2006
CONTENTS 3
PRESIDENCY
Main decisions of the College of Quaestors...... 6
MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Written questions...... 8 Question Time (B6-0002/2006) ...... 33 Summary of Questions time - February 2006 ...... 35 Written declarations...... 36
COMMITTEES
Appointment of rapporteurs and draftsmen...... 42
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
Commission documents...... 56
GENERAL INFORMATION
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Declaration on direct cross-strait flights over the Chinese New Year ...... 64 Declaration on the inauguration of the CARICOM - Single Market ...... 64 Declaration on the announcement of venue and date for the holding of the Somali Parliamentary session ...... 65 Declaration on the announcement of Certified results of Iraq's 15 December 2005 elections ...... 66 Declaration on the agreement between Chad and Sudan ...... 67 Declaration on the referendum in Montenegro ...... 68 Declaration on the closure of the Union of Youth and Children's Public associations "RADA" by the Supreme Court of Belarus ...... 68 Declaration on recent developments in Georgia - South Ossetia ...... 69 Declaration following the presidential election in Haiti ...... 70 Declaration calling for negotiations on a humanitarian agreement in Colombia ...... 71 Declaration on resumption of direct talks between the Chinese goverment and envoys of the Dalai Lama ...... 71 Declaration regarding the award of the Olof Palme Prize 2005 to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ...... 72
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4 CONTENTS
Declaration on the bombing of the Imam Ali-Hadi mosque in Samarra ...... 73 Declaration on the elections in Uganda ...... 73 Declaration on the decision of the Taiwanese leader regarding the NUC ...... 74 Declaration on the opening session of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament ...... 75
European Economic and Social Committee
Plenary Assembly of 18 and 19 January 2006 ...... 76 Plenary Assembly of 14 and 15 February 2006 ...... 80
ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
This document is available at :
http://www.europarl.ep.ec/bulletins/postsession.htm (Intranet) http://www.europarl.eu.int/bulletins/postsession.htm (Internet)
Bulletin 06.03.2006 - EN - PE 369.012
PRESIDENCY 5
PRESIDENCY
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6 PRESIDENCY
MAIN DECISIONS OF THE COLLEGE OF QUAESTORS
The Chairmen-in-Office of the College of Quaestors, have circulated the following communications to the Members of the European Parliament:
No 05/2006 : Increased provision of Computer equipment and Computer accounts;
No 06/2006 : The removal of personal effects belonging to Members whose mandat expires before the end of a parliamentary term;
No 08/2006 : Article 21 of the Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members:
No 09/2006 : Calendar of official meetings of the European Parliament in 2006 .
Further information may be obtained from the Secretariat of the College of Quaestors in:
Strasbourg : Salvador de Madariaga (SDM) Building, 6/20 Tel. 74195
Brussels : Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) Building, 8b/66 Tel. 43722
______
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 7
MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
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8 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
WRITTEN QUESTIONS Situation on 03.30.2006
Author Subject No Carl Schlyter Illegal fishing in the Barents sea P-0377/06 Carmen Fraga Estévez Ban on gillnets P-0378/06 Giusto Catania Transposition of Directive 2003/109/EC concerning P-0379/06 the status of third-country nationals who are long- term residents Robert Kilroy-Silk Denial of cancer drug E-0380/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Alzheimers patients - anti cholinesterate inhibitors E-0381/06 Glyn Ford Gibraltar consultations E-0382/06 David Martin Gate Gourmet and Common Agricultural Policy E-0383/06 funding Philip Claeys Dropping of charges against Orhan Pamuk - further E-0384/06 steps Philip Claeys Dropping of charges against Orhan Pamuk - further E-0385/06 steps Paul van Buitenen Check for compliance with European law of the E-0386/06 Dutch agreement on cancellation of claims in return for compensation for damage caused by price-fixing in the building fraud affair Erik Meijer Offers to potential traffic offenders in a growing E-0387/06 number of EU Member States of insurance relieving them of the obligation to pay fines in person Erik Meijer Status and equal rights within Israel of Palestinian E-0388/06 residents of East Jerusalem and the right of their children to be entered in the population register Paulo Casaca Use of driftnets E-0389/06 Hélène Goudin Postal services directive E-0390/06 Evangelia Tzampazi Transposition of directive E-0391/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Support for Greek immigrants E-0392/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Community funding through the development law E-0393/06 in Greece
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 9
Georgios Karatzaferis VAT refunds to Greek export companies E-0394/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Letter from Mr Meadows to the Greek Government E-0395/06 concerning the third CSF Georgios Karatzaferis The 'ORIO' programme for the unemployed co- E-0396/06 funded by the European Social Fund Georgios Karatzaferis Take-up rate in Greece E-0397/06 Georgios Karatzaferis EU compensation for the cost of economic E-0398/06 migrants Klaus-Heiner Lehne Freedom of movement within the EU; Financial E-0399/06 Assistance Regulation of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Caroline Lucas Bulgarian zoos E-0400/06 María Salinas García Aid for processed tomatoes P-0401/06 Czesław Siekierski Definition of vodka P-0402/06 Jörg Leichtfried Animal welfare - stray dogs in Bulgaria P-0403/06 Bill Newton Dunn Anti-dumping investigation into safety footwear E-0404/06 Bill Newton Dunn Loss of EU jobs and the import of footwear E-0405/06 Bill Newton Dunn Dumping of shoes from China E-0406/06 Bill Newton Dunn EU footwear manufacturers' failures E-0407/06 Alyn Smith European funding for breast cancer research E-0408/06 Alyn Smith European funding for breast cancer research E-0409/06 Maria Matsouka and British workers: victims of labour exploitation E-0410/06 Stephen Hughes Elly de Groen- Lack of regular and effective state supervision of E-0411/06 Kouwenhoven the labour conditions in the Bulgarian private sector Elly de Groen- Reforms of Decree on Combating Minor E-0412/06 Kouwenhoven Hooliganism and the Juvenile Delinquency Act in Bulgaria Elly de Groen- Conditions in prisons in Bulgaria E-0413/06 Kouwenhoven Elly de Groen- Protection of refugees and asylum-seekers in E-0414/06 Kouwenhoven Bulgaria
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10 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Robert Kilroy-Silk Terrorists and the PEACE money in Northern E-0415/06 Ireland Bart Staes Pollution of D'Hoppebos E-0416/06 José Ribeiro e Castro Traditional port-wine descriptions E-0417/06 Hélène Goudin Promotion of Plan-D E-0418/06 Carlos Carnero González Human rights and the Internet in China E-0419/06 Panagiotis Beglitis Israeli Government decision to build a tramline E-0420/06 linking the illegal settlement of Pisgat Ze'ev in East Jerusalem with the centre of West Jerusalem Georgios Karatzaferis Energy self-sufficiency in Greece E-0421/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Extension of the period for signing contracts and E-0422/06 utilising funding under the CSF Dimitrios Papadimoulis Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code E-0423/06 James Nicholson Attacks on Christians in Pakistan E-0424/06 Joseph Muscat Energy - Marsa Power Station E-0425/06 Paulo Casaca CITES controlled bird species E-0426/06 Paulo Casaca Non-CITES controlled bird species E-0427/06 Daniel Hannan WTO Territories E-0428/06 Daniel Hannan Legal basis of new European agencies E-0429/06 Marco Pannella Criteria and methods for the selection of the E-0430/06 members of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) Robert Kilroy-Silk UK's deficit P-0431/06 Toine Manders Particulates problem in the Netherlands P-0432/06 Pier Panzeri State aid No C 38/2004 (ex NN 58/04) - aid to the P-0433/06 company Portovesme Srl Eluned Morgan Sexual offenders list P-0434/06 Mary McDonald Transposition of directives by Member States P-0435/06 Erna Hennicot-Schoepges Special circumstances of Luxembourgish cable TV P-0436/06 distributors
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 11
Willy Meyer Pleite Non-compliance with Directive 91/271/EEC E-0437/06 concerning the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia (Spain) Willy Meyer Pleite Non-compliance with Directives 96/62/EC, E-0438/06 1999/30/EC and 2000/69/EC as regards ambient air quality in Spanish cities Robert Kilroy-Silk The PLA and Hamas E-0439/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk German Government paying ransoms E-0440/06 Caroline Lucas Illegal bird-trapping in Cyprus E-0441/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk German only in German schools E-0442/06 Mary McDonald Infringement proceedings against Member States E-0443/06 Erna Hennicot-Schoepges Making culture a European Union policy E-0444/06 Erik Meijer Reiteration of a proposal requiring drivers to use E-0445/06 their lights during the daytime, and the likely adverse impact on the safety of cyclists and pedestrians Adam Bielan Illegal import of German waste into Polish and E-0446/06 Czech border areas Ilda Figueiredo Community aid to businesses in the Braga area E-0447/06 Ilda Figueiredo Agreement on trade in wine between the EU and E-0448/06 United States Evangelia Tzampazi and Destruction of cultural monument in Greece E-0449/06 Nikolaos Sifunakis through construction of a hydroelectric dam Georgios Karatzaferis Commission indifference to the hardship suffered E-0450/06 by 1.5 million Greek citizens Eluned Morgan Sexual offenders list E-0451/06 Paul van Buitenen 'Computer-based testing' by EPSO, responsibility of E-0452/06 the Institutions, role of staff representatives, evaluation and audit Bart Staes Relocation and safeguarding jobs in the EU E-0453/06 Bart Staes CITES protection for and trade in the African wild E-0454/06 dog - operation of EAZA zoos Georgios Karatzaferis Marketing of diseased meat in Greece E-0455/06
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12 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Robert Kilroy-Silk Germany and nuclear weapons E-0456/06 Cristiana Muscardini Bringing Iran before the UN Security Council E-0457/06 Karin Riis-Jørgensen State aid to public enterprises P-0458/06 Raül Romeva i Rueda and Murder of Hester van Nierop in Ciudad Juárez E-0459/06 María Valenciano (Mexico) Martínez-Orozco Raül Romeva i Rueda and Murder of Hester van Nierop in Ciudad Juárez E-0460/06 María Valenciano (Mexico) Martínez-Orozco Markus Pieper EU aid for business relocations - approval of major E-0461/06 projects Hélène Goudin EU aid to Jordan E-0462/06 Gay Mitchell Human rights in Eritrea E-0463/06 Caroline Lucas Ban on the import of wild birds into the EU E-0464/06 David Martin Ethical trading and labelling requirements for E-0465/06 textiles in the EU Roger Helmer Renewable energy E-0466/06 Christofer Fjellner Possible consequences of providing the E-0467/06 Commission with false information Elly de Groen- Council position on the files of the former E-0468/06 Kouwenhoven totalitarian secret service Darzavna Sigurnost in Bulgaria, which are closed to public examination Elly de Groen- Commission position on the files of the former E-0469/06 Kouwenhoven totalitarian secret service Darzavna Sigurnost in Bulgaria, which are closed to public examination Bairbre de Brún Genetically modified organisms E-0470/06 Erik Meijer and Kartika Repercussions of rising energy prices on low E-0471/06 Liotard household consumption and possibilities of reducing these costs by means of the lower VAT rate Agnes Schierhuber Project entitled 'Funding of Natura 2000: Handbook P-0472/06 and Workshops' (2005/S 73-070009) implemented by DG Environment Marie-Noëlle Lienemann Takeover bid for the Arcelor Group P-0473/06
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 13
Paolo Cirino Pomicino Recognition of External Credit Assessment P-0474/06 Institutions (ECAI) Jules Maaten The impact of the new Dutch Care Insurance Act P-0475/06 Bogdan Klich Reservations concerning the call for tenders for a P-0476/06 broadcasting project for Belarus Jörg Leichtfried Concordat / compatibility with European E-0477/06 Community law Markus Ferber EU assistance in financing the Palestinian Authority E-0478/06 Mary McDonald Workers and trade union rights E-0479/06 Mary McDonald Patient mobility directive E-0480/06 Mary McDonald Elections in Palestine E-0481/06 Antoine Duquesne Implementation by Belgium of the Sixth VAT E-0482/06 Directive as regards the paramedical professions Erik Meijer The 'Arvand Free Zone' project in south-western E-0483/06 Iran, adjoining Iraq, and violence by the State against the predominantly Arab population with the aim of driving residents away Erik Meijer The rapid degeneration of the Romanian capital, E-0484/06 Bucharest, into an ecological disaster area where people can no longer lead healthy lives, due to neglect Philip Claeys European support for Snow Games E-0485/06 Ilda Figueiredo Rail link between Oporto and Vigo E-0486/06 Cecilia Malmström Illegal fishing in the EU E-0487/06 Roger Helmer Pensions P-0488/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Omission of Cephalonian feta cheese from the list E-0489/06 of products with a protected designation of origin (PDO) Georgios Karatzaferis Absorption of EU resources in Greece E-0490/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Complaints by the Greek press about interference E-0491/06 by politicians in the approval of investment programmes Georgios Karatzaferis Quality of life in Athens and Thessaloniki E-0492/06
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14 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Roger Helmer Let's Explore Europe publication E-0493/06 Roberta Angelilli Data and statistics on counterfeit goods originating E-0494/06 in China and confiscated at EU borders Henrik Lax Restrictions on dissemination of information over E-0495/06 the Internet Libor Rouček Austrian - Czech border - obstacles to the free P-0496/06 movement of goods and persons Jan Březina Blockades of the Czech-Austrian border crossing at P-0497/06 Wullowitz/Dolní dvořiště Frank Vanhecke Wallonia and the European Structural Funds P-0498/06 Daniel Varela Suanzes- European Fisheries Agency E-0499/06 Carpegna Jens-Peter Bonde E-4515/05 E-0500/06 Jens-Peter Bonde Declaration of gifts E-0501/06 Georgios Papastamkos Free-trade agreement between the European Union E-0502/06 and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council Manolis Mavrommatis Public procurement and European organisations E-0503/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Inaccuracies in a Commission document relating to E-0504/06 FYROM Ashley Mote Pricing oil in euro E-0505/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Arab boycott by Denmark E-0506/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Mittal bid for Arcelor E-0507/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Funds for Sinn Fein/IRA terrorists E-0508/06 Michael Nattrass Directive 1999/62/EC E-0509/06 Toine Manders Gaming licences E-0510/06 Raül Romeva i Rueda and Ali Salem Tamek, Saharawi activist E-0511/06 others Raül Romeva i Rueda and Ali Salem Tamek, Saharawi activist E-0512/06 others Rosa Miguélez Ramos Promotion of biomass E-0513/06 Antolín Sánchez Presedo Cooperation with Turkey on measures to combat E-0514/06 avian flu
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 15
Georgios Karatzaferis Information society E-0515/06 Josu Ortuondo Larrea Daphne II programme 2004-2008 P-0516/06 Erna Hennicot-Schoepges European agencies and structures in the seventh P-0517/06 framework programme for research and development Mia De Vits Liberalisation of the electricity market P-0518/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Animal feed controls P-0519/06 Duarte Freitas EU-Morocco fisheries agreement P-0520/06 Mary McDonald and others Multilingualism E-0521/06 David Martin Anti-dumping investigation into plastic bags and E-0522/06 sacks originating in the PRC, Malaysia and Thailand Jean-Marie Cavada Coordinating action to combat drugs E-0523/06 Vittorio Agnoletto Continuing massacres in Columbian communities P-0524/06 Guy Bono Takeover bid for the Arcelor Group P-0525/06 Paulo Casaca Commission decision to waive payment of EUR 57 P-0526/06 761 250 fine Daniel Varela Suanzes- Health checks on food products imported into the E-0527/06 Carpegna EU David Hammerstein Mintz Ski resort in the Sierra de Béjar E-0528/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Establishment of fuel storage tanks in Vasova E-0529/06 lagoon in the Prefecture of Kavala Yiannakis Matsis Viability of Cyprus Airways - Commission decision E-0530/06 Yiannakis Matsis Statements by Commissioner Rehn on Turkey's E-0531/06 obligations Georgios Karatzaferis Death of an employee of the Prefecture of E-0532/06 Thessaloniki Robert Kilroy-Silk Youth unemployment in France E-0533/06 Marie-Line Reynaud Alcohol and communication E-0534/06 Marie-Line Reynaud GMO foods and health E-0535/06 Vittorio Agnoletto Continuing massacres in Colombian communities E-0536/06
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16 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Bart Staes Retrofitting of blind-spot mirrors to existing E-0537/06 vehicles Bart Staes Sale of self-assembly bicycles E-0538/06 Bart Staes Safety of cyclists in the event of collisions with E-0539/06 motor vehicles Erik Meijer Priorities for the allocation of resources for E-0540/06 reconstruction in the Western Balkans between education, infrastructure, environment and government reform Katerina Batzeli Administration of legislation on genetically P-0541/06 modified organisms (GMOs) Caroline Lucas Shellfish toxin testing P-0542/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Arab boycott E-0543/06 Richard Ashworth Operation Stack - UK P-0544/06 Robert Evans Denied boarding P-0545/06 Sahra Wagenknecht Commission Decision of 18 February 2004 on P-0546/06 restructuring aid; conditions of the sale of the Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG by the end of 2007 Stavros Lambrinidis Revelations about telephone tapping of politicians P-0547/06 and businessmen in Greece Matteo Salvini Threats to freedom of expression following the P-0548/06 publication of cartoons satirising Islam Luisa Morgantini OLAF investigation into the NGO Movimondo P-0549/06 Luca Romagnoli Draft Act No 6229 of the Italian Chamber of P-0550/06 Deputies Czesław Siekierski The milk market in Poland P-0551/06 Glyn Ford Closure of Thales Optronics Taunton P-0552/06 Glenys Kinnock Spread of Buruli ulcer in Cöte D'Ivoire P-0553/06 Antonio Masip Hidalgo Mittal Steel's takeover bid for Arcelor E-0554/06 Salvador Garriga Polledo Survival of the steel industry in Europe E-0555/06 María Valenciano Threats posed to basic freedoms by fundamentalists E-0556/06 Martínez-Orozco and following the publication of cartoons featuring Carlos Carnero González Mohammed
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 17
Stavros Lambrinidis Revelations about telephone tapping of politicians E-0557/06 and businessmen in Greece Stavros Arnaoutakis Fisheries and geological changes in the E-0558/06 Mediterranean Caroline Lucas and Raül Fishing in the Western Sahara E-0559/06 Romeva i Rueda Caroline Lucas and Raül Fishing in the Western Sahara E-0560/06 Romeva i Rueda Caroline Lucas Use of animal testing for pharmaceutical products E-0561/06 Thijs Berman and Jan Animal welfare within the WTO E-0562/06 Mulder Neil Parish Common Agricultural Policy Simplification Action E-0563/06 Plan Neil Parish Common Agricultural Policy Simplification Action E-0564/06 Plan Neil Parish Common Agricultural Policy Simplification Action E-0565/06 Plan Eija-Riitta Korhola Forests in climate change mitigation E-0566/06 Matteo Salvini Threats to freedom of expression following the E-0567/06 publication of cartoons satirising Islam Luca Romagnoli Appointment of the directors of the Bank for E-0568/06 International Settlements: conflicts of interest, independence and representativeness Luca Romagnoli Objective 2 SPD for 2000-2006 - Action 3.2.2: E-0569/06 invitations to tender and allocation of funding in Friuli Venezia Giulia Erik Meijer The repeated use of state-sponsored violence E-0570/06 against the predominantly Arab population of Khuzestan and the city of Ahwaz in south-west Iran aimed at driving them from their homes Erik Meijer FIES system in Spain for holding prisoners in E-0571/06 conditions of extreme isolation and the possibilities which alternatives used in other Member States offer for improving the human rights situation Lapo Pistelli European Schools in Brussels P-0572/06
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18 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Paul van Buitenen Contract staff, effect of the offices in terms of E-0573/06 reducing the number of permanent employees, Commission's social responsibility Paul van Buitenen Open competitions for EUR-10 translators and E-0574/06 discrimination in relation to the number of candidates whose written tests are marked Paul van Buitenen E-Commission, parallel personal files, absence of E-0575/06 traceability, violation of employment law Mario Mauro CE trade mark E-0576/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Environmental deterioration in Greece E-0577/06 Giovanni Procacci Waste management P-0578/06 Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert Furore over Danish cartoons P-0579/06 Bart Staes Use of biological screening tests as a standard P-0580/06 method for large-scale screening of animal feed and food for dioxin-like substances Henrik Lax EU's role in conflict over caricatures P-0581/06 Jules Maaten Complaint by Dutch industry about unfair P-0582/06 competition Dimitrios Papadimoulis Applications for exemptions from the 'n+2' rule E-0583/06 Konstantinos Hatzidakis Household and corporate borrowing in Greece E-0584/06 Marco Pannella Infringement of freedom of association and E-0585/06 repression of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Uzbekistan Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert Furore over Danish cartoons E-0586/06 Werner Langen Trade in milk between Spain and France P-0587/06 Enrico Letta Brussels IV European School P-0588/06 Raül Romeva i Rueda Racism in football E-0589/06 Daniel Caspary WTO membership and trade agreement with Saudi E-0590/06 Arabia Robert Kilroy-Silk Anti-Semitism and racial hatred in Turkey E-0591/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Cartoons and Muslims E-0592/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Failed asylum seekers E-0593/06
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 19
Elly de Groen- Signing and ratification by Bulgaria of the E-0594/06 Kouwenhoven and Cem European Charter for Regional or Minority Özdemir Languages Elly de Groen- Ratification of the European Convention on E-0595/06 Kouwenhoven and Cem Nationality Özdemir Caroline Lucas Policy review regarding the import of wild birds E-0596/06 into the EU Sajjad Karim Cumbria: National Strategic Reference Framework P-0597/06 (NSRF) Andrzej Szejna Revision of company law P-0598/06 Charles Tannock and Simon Allegations that the "Laogai" (Chinese forced E-0599/06 Coveney labour and reeducation camps) are exporting goods to the EU Charles Tannock and Simon Allegations that the "Laogai" (Chinese forced E-0600/06 Coveney labour and reeducation camps) are exporting goods to the EU Neil Parish Common agricultural policy simplification E-0601/06 Daniel Hannan Standardisation of identity card requirements E-0602/06 Barbara Kudrycka Reservations concerning the call for tenders for a P-0603/06 broadcasting project for Belarus Íñigo Méndez de Vigo Presidency of the Union E-0604/06 Íñigo Méndez de Vigo Presidency of the Union E-0605/06 Markus Pieper Relocation of GLORIA GmbH E-0606/06 Lissy Gröner EU assistance and employee rights in the transfer of P-0607/06 the AEG Nuremberg plant to Poland Raül Romeva i Rueda Ban on an edition of a Spanish newspaper in E-0608/06 Morocco Raül Romeva i Rueda Ban on an edition of a Spanish newspaper in E-0609/06 Morocco Dimitrios Papadimoulis Cartoons of Muhammad and cultural crisis E-0610/06 Duarte Freitas Failure to comply with European rules on maritime E-0611/06 cabotage
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20 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Kathalijne Buitenweg Statements by a Commission spokesman P-0612/06 concerning the cartoons in a Danish newspaper Gay Mitchell Umbilical cord research P-0613/06 Adam Gierek Unfair competition in the processed aluminium P-0614/06 industry Konstantinos Hatzidakis Spread of public sector corruption in EU Member E-0615/06 States Daniel Hannan Ban on British beef in France E-0616/06 Erik Meijer International attention for the disaster arising E-0617/06 around Mangagoy on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines where the business PICOP is seriously endangering residents' lives Erik Meijer Obstacles to further enlargement of the EU caused E-0618/06 by increasing concern over poor employment conditions for new arrivals in the old Member States Bernat Joan i Marí The Albufera wetland in Majorca E-0619/06 Christopher Heaton-Harris Green Paper on mortgage credit E-0620/06 Christopher Heaton-Harris European Union water initiative E-0621/06 Astrid Lulling Misuse of a traditional term E-0622/06 Raül Romeva i Rueda Fabio Capello's defence of the Franco regime E-0623/06 Graham Watson Working in Europe over the age of 60 - joint E-0624/06 aviation regulations Elly de Groen- National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and E-0625/06 Kouwenhoven Demographic Issues in Bulgaria Elly de Groen- Buying of Roma votes in Bulgaria as signal for E-0626/06 Kouwenhoven need to improve Election Law Elly de Groen- Need for improvements in the Bulgarian E-0627/06 Kouwenhoven Underground Resources Act Elly de Groen- Governmental Centre for the Educational E-0628/06 Kouwenhoven Integration of Ethnic Minority Children and Students in Bulgaria not yet in operation Bairbre de Brún Biofuels E-0629/06 Bairbre de Brún Environmental Impact Assessments E-0630/06
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 21
Bairbre de Brún European Union Water Initiative E-0631/06 Charles Tannock Persecution of Christians in India E-0632/06 Albert Maat Excretion standards for implementing the Nitrates E-0633/06 Directive Sérgio Marques Development strategy for the outermost regions P-0634/06 Willy Meyer Pleite Disappearance and murder of women in Ciudad P-0635/06 Juárez (Mexico) Arūnas Degutis Meeting the Schengen Agreement criteria P-0636/06 Georgios Papastamkos Pollution of the River Axios E-0637/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Plaka bridge and hydroelectric plant on the River E-0638/06 Arachthos Robert Kilroy-Silk UK citizens denied democratic vote E-0639/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Iran and the Nazis E-0640/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Arab demonstration against the West E-0641/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk To the President of the Commission E-0642/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Radical Islam and Western values E-0643/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Child drug addicts E-0644/06 Elly de Groen- Misuse of pre-accession Sapard funds in Bulgaria E-0645/06 Kouwenhoven Jean-Claude Fruteau Commercial conflict regarding instant coffee - trade E-0646/06 preferences Philip Claeys Murder of a Catholic priest in Turkey E-0647/06 Philip Claeys Murder of a Catholic priest in Turkey E-0648/06 Philip Claeys Statements by Turkish minister about the Danish E-0649/06 cartoons of Mohammed Philip Claeys Statements by Turkish minister about the Danish E-0650/06 cartoons of Mohammed Philip Claeys Trial of five Turkish journalists under Article 301 E-0651/06 Charlotte Cederschiöld ECHR and data retention P-0652/06 Claude Turmes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) P-0653/06
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22 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Willy Meyer Pleite Veto by the United States of the contract between E-0654/06 the Spanish company CASA EADS and Venezuela Herbert Bösch Unfair competition in the call for tender for Medstat E-0655/06 II, Lot 2, (Regional Programme of Statistics in the Mediterranean Region, Phase II) Charles Tannock Continuing violence against Chaldean-Assyrian- E-0656/06 Syriac Christians in Iraq Christopher Heaton-Harris Protective footwear anti-dumping investigation E-0657/06 Christopher Heaton-Harris Protective Footwear Anti-Dumping Investigation E-0658/06 Christopher Heaton-Harris Protective Footwear Anti-Dumping Investigation E-0659/06 Charlotte Cederschiöld ECHR and Data Retention E-0660/06 Elly de Groen- Legislative measures in Bulgaria related to E-0661/06 Kouwenhoven implementation of the EU Drugs Action Plan (2005-2008) Sharon Bowles Regional funding E-0662/06 Sharon Bowles Mobile phone charges E-0663/06 Eija-Riitta Korhola Compliance with eligibility requirements for EU E-0664/06 agricultural support at certain Spanish glasshouse nurseries Jonas Sjöstedt Continuing problems in Romania E-0665/06 Nikolaos Sifunakis Delay in incorporating into the 3rd Community P-0666/06 Support Framework and inviting tenders for the improvement of National Road 36 between Mytilini and Kalloni on the island of Lesbos, Greece Georgios Karatzaferis Murder of Catholic priest in Turkey E-0667/06 Péter Olajos Protocol on liability for transboundary water E-0668/06 pollution Andreas Mölzer Genetic modification P-0669/06 Jean-Claude Martinez Catastrophic situation facing European wine P-0670/06 growers Cem Özdemir Questionnaire for use in assessing applications for P-0671/06 German citizenship in Baden-Württemberg David Hammerstein Mintz Gas pipeline at Coll d'en Rabassa E-0672/06
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 23
Renate Sommer EU civil protection assistance for Bulgaria E-0673/06 Jean-Claude Martinez Catastrophic situation facing European wine E-0674/06 growers Marco Pannella Deportation to Laos by the Thai police of 26 E-0675/06 adolescents belonging to the Hmong ethnic group Pasqualina Napoletano and Keeping of wild animals in zoos E-0676/06 Guido Sacconi Erik Meijer Growing competition between Swiss cantons on E-0677/06 company taxation and the impact of this on agreements between the European Union and Switzerland Ian Hudghton Local Government Pension Scheme in Scotland P-0678/06 Anne Ferreira Assessment of GMOs and GMO-free areas P-0679/06 David Hammerstein Mintz The Fuensanta-Taibilla link E-0680/06 Erik Meijer EU regulations preventing openness and an E-0681/06 independent inquiry into the role of the Netherlands Central Bank in the bankruptcy of the Van der Hoop bank Henrik Lax Uniform rules for lorries carrying abnormal loads in E-0682/06 the EU Robert Kilroy-Silk Open market E-0683/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Natura protection laws E-0684/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Cartoons about Mohammed and Arab trade boycott E-0685/06 Marie-Noëlle Lienemann Custody of children in the event of divorce in E-0686/06 mixed-nationality marriages Karin Resetarits Common provisions for the authorisation of E-0687/06 medicines and plant protection products Karin Resetarits Fair trade E-0688/06 Karin Resetarits Harmonised vehicle registration document/type- E-0689/06 approval certificate Karin Resetarits E-commerce E-0690/06 Karin Resetarits Public broadcasters E-0691/06
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24 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Silvana Koch-Mehrin Financial perspective: structural aid, VAT own E-0692/06 resources, research Silvana Koch-Mehrin Financial Perspective: general, net contributors E-0693/06 Proinsias De Rossa Release of GM oilseed rape GT73 into the E-0694/06 environment Proinsias De Rossa Consultation of EU Scientific Committee on GMOs E-0695/06 Proinsias De Rossa Commission challenge to Sellafield E-0696/06 Proinsias De Rossa Placing of GMOs on the market E-0697/06 Proinsias De Rossa Safeguard clause on the deliberate release into the E-0698/06 environment of GMOs Proinsias De Rossa Commission studies on effects of noise on children E-0699/06 Proinsias De Rossa Rest periods and EC working time legislation E-0700/06 Proinsias De Rossa Disposal of radioactive waste from UK Atomic E-0701/06 Weapons Establishments Proinsias De Rossa Muscular Skeletal Disorders in agriculture E-0702/06 Ilda Figueiredo Workers' rights in the Netherlands E-0703/06 Gerardo Galeote Quecedo Fire prevention P-0704/06 Bart Staes Commission and environmentally-friendly E-0705/06 buildings policy Claude Moraes Tamil Tigers travel ban E-0706/06 Koenraad Dillen Boycott of Denmark in response to the row over E-0707/06 cartoons - Carrefour versus Denmark Koenraad Dillen Boycott of the Danish economy in response to the E-0708/06 row over cartoons Philip Bradbourn Deregulation of airline global distribution systems P-0709/06 Carmen Fraga Estévez Objective of the 'Deepnet' report E-0710/06 Carmen Fraga Estévez Species dealt with in the 'Deepnet' report E-0711/06 Carmen Fraga Estévez Conclusions of the 'Deepnet' report E-0712/06 Horst Schnellhardt Report on the application of the Tobacco Products E-0713/06 Directive (COM(2005) 339) Claude Moraes Effect on Palestinian schoolchildren living near E-0714/06 Israeli settlements
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 25
Marco Pannella Human-rights situation in China - persecution of E-0715/06 Christians and of Falun Gong members Marco Pannella Human-rights situation in China - persecution of E-0716/06 Christians and of Falun Gong members Bart Staes Reduced VAT rate for labour-intensive services E-0717/06 Bart Staes Buildings of the European institutions and other EU E-0718/06 bodies Bart Staes Buildings of the European institutions and other EU E-0719/06 bodies Erik Meijer Effects of a European Court of Justice E-0720/06 environmental law judgment in giving the EU influence over national criminal law in a way that deviates from previous interpretations Erik Meijer Protection of rail, tram and metro companies E-0721/06 against late or defective deliveries of rolling stock resulting from increased concentration and competition Dimitrios Papadimoulis Phone tapping in Greece E-0722/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Phone tapping in Greece E-0723/06 Charles Tannock and others Deficiency of the rule of law in Moldova E-0724/06 Charles Tannock and others Deficiency of the rule of law in Moldova E-0725/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Freedom of speech and proposed press code E-0726/06 Giovanni Pittella Protection of drivers in Italy E-0727/06 Luisa Rudi Ubeda ICT courses and teaching in Spain E-0728/06 Mogens Camre How will the Commission defend religious E-0729/06 superstition at the same time as human rights? Mogens Camre EU aid to the Palestinian Authority E-0730/06 Mogens Camre WTO members' infringement of the organisation's E-0731/06 rules Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou Promotion of inter-cultural dialogue between the E-0732/06 EU and the Arab countries Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou Promotion of inter-cultural dialogue between the E-0733/06 EU and the Arab countries
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26 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Dimitrios Papadimoulis Construction of liquid fuel storage tanks in Souda in E-0734/06 the prefecture of Chania Alyn Smith Concessionary air fares to and from Scotland's E-0735/06 island communities Alyn Smith Cost of air fares for Scotland's highlands and E-0736/06 islands Alyn Smith Lower air fares for the Highlands and Islands of E-0737/06 Scotland Alyn Smith Collaborative public procurement contracts E-0738/06 Alyn Smith Public procurement rules and support for SMEs E-0739/06 Alyn Smith Actions of EU Member States to support SMEs in E-0740/06 relation to public procurement Alyn Smith Targets for number of public procurement contracts E-0741/06 and SMEs Alyn Smith The health implications of depleted uranium use E-0742/06 Alyn Smith Biomass energy E-0743/06 Eluned Morgan Accession of Bulgaria and Romania E-0744/06 Czesław Siekierski Aluminium imports to the EU E-0745/06 Patrizia Toia EU citizens' right to combine periods of P-0746/06 employment for pension purposes: the case of Italian cross-border workers in the Liguria region Klaus-Heiner Lehne Distinction between own and outside capital under E-0747/06 IAS 32 in the case of partnerships Georgios Karatzaferis Imitation of number plates and euro coins by E-0748/06 Turkey Georgios Karatzaferis Imitation of number plates and euro coins by E-0749/06 Turkey Cristiana Muscardini The EU's language arrangements E-0750/06 Wojciech Roszkowski Equal rights for men and women P-0751/06 Konrad Szymański Tender concerning funding of independent media P-0752/06 for Belarus Ilda Figueiredo Discrimination amongst workers on drilling P-0753/06 platforms in the North Sea
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 27
David Hammerstein Mintz Development projects in Rascafría (Spain) E-0754/06 Werner Langen Providing services in France, protecting building E-0755/06 guarantees Richard Corbett Internal Council proceedings E-0756/06 Proinsias De Rossa Posting of Workers Directive and the Draft Services E-0757/06 Directive Mario Mauro Substances of a steroidal nature E-0758/06 Cristiana Muscardini Financing of studies on the Lyons-Turin HST line P-0759/06 Witold Tomczak Poland's budget contribution and financial P-0760/06 assistance Pedro Guerreiro Community support for setting up a cannery in P-0761/06 Setúbal José García-Margallo y Extension of the trans-European networks to the P-0762/06 Marfil neighbouring countries Manolis Mavrommatis Junk food advertising P-0763/06 Bernard Poignant Working conditions of sailors on ferries P-0764/06 Carlos Carnero González, EU support for a proposed United Nations E-0765/06 Ana Gomes and María resolution drawn up by the OIC on religious Valenciano Martínez- freedom Orozco Luis de Grandes Pascual Creation of a specific type of diesel for public E-0766/06 transport use Luis de Grandes Pascual Creation of a specific type of diesel for public E-0767/06 transport use David Hammerstein Mintz Las Palmas, IUU fishing and fish imports E-0768/06 David Hammerstein Mintz Widening of the M-501 highway (Madrid) E-0769/06 David Hammerstein Mintz Use in construction of ashes from incineration E-0770/06 Willy Meyer Pleite Hostile takeover bid for the European group E-0771/06 Arcelor by the Anglo-Indian company Mittal Steel André Brie Damage to Habitat areas due to the approved E-0772/06 construction of a wind farm in the District of Elbe- Elster (Brandenburg, Germany)
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28 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Georgios Papastamkos Construction of a nuclear power plant at Belene in E-0773/06 Bulgaria Catherine Stihler Hunting wild birds in Malta E-0774/06 Thomas Wise EU water aid E-0775/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Out-of-control French police E-0776/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Abuse of human rights in France E-0777/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk French supineness in the face of anti-Semitism E-0778/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Inhumane French prisons E-0779/06 Robert Kilroy-Silk Liberalisation of the EU energy market E-0780/06 Ashley Mote Cost of Austrian logo E-0781/06 Ashley Mote German unemployment E-0782/06 Ashley Mote Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC E-0783/06 Ashley Mote Market economy realities E-0784/06 Graham Watson Airliner filtration systems E-0785/06 Stéphane Le Foll Protection of plant varieties E-0786/06 Marc Tarabella Bad management of funds intended for specific E-0787/06 projects by consumer associations Cristiana Muscardini Venereal diseases E-0788/06 Cristiana Muscardini Meningitis monitoring centres E-0789/06 Cristiana Muscardini Technical consultancy services to the EU E-0790/06 Erik Meijer Shortage of qualified personnel in Poland and other E-0791/06 new EU Member States due to an exodus of skilled workers to the old Member States Jules Maaten European registration system for transplant organs E-0792/06 Czesław Siekierski Opening of EU Member States' labour markets E-0793/06 Herbert Bösch Processing of animal feed to produce foodstuffs E-0794/06 Herbert Bösch Irregularities and cases of fraud in the importing of E-0795/06 poultrymeat Bill Newton Dunn Slaughter of migratory birds in Malta E-0796/06 Sharon Bowles VAT E-0797/06
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 29
Hiltrud Breyer Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) E-0798/06 Erik Meijer A Polish road haulage operator whose operations E-0799/06 and employees are managed entirely from the Netherlands but which pays Polish wages Erik Meijer Persistence of accidents involving the blind spot in E-0800/06 the vision of truck-drivers, and new ways of improving safety by means of acoustic signals and light signals Neil Parish Funding for rural development 2007-2013 P-0801/06 Neil Parish Primate experiments in Germany E-0802/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Violation of rights in Greece E-0803/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Risk of destruction of antiquities in Istanbul E-0804/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Measures in support of the poultry farming sector E-0805/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Internal document of the Directorate-General for E-0806/06 Enlargement and the name FYROM Véronique De Keyser Postal privatisation and the visually impaired P-0807/06 Agnes Schierhuber The economic consequences of the WTO E-0808/06 agreements for European agriculture Nikolaos Vakalis Access to higher education and research for people E-0809/06 with special needs Geoffrey Van Orden Minimum Test Vehicle Requirements: Category C E-0810/06 gearboxes Glenys Kinnock EU imports from Burma E-0811/06 Charles Tannock Detention of Pastor Cai Zhuohua in China E-0812/06 Neil Parish and Charles Charities in Romania and the provision of E-0813/06 Tannock Romanian social services Iles Braghetto EU language arrangements and disparities in use of E-0814/06 official languages Henrik Lax Wolf policy E-0815/06 Hiltrud Breyer Discrimination against women in sports coverage P-0816/06 Carlos Carnero González Approval of a European Investment Bank loan E-0817/06 worth EUR 1500 million for Madrid Calle 30 (Madrid City Council)
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30 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Robert Kilroy-Silk Threat of murder against Danish cartoonists E-0818/06 Timothy Kirkhope Intrasoft International and Commission contracts E-0819/06 Umberto Guidoni Mass killing of stray dogs in Bucharest E-0820/06 Bart Staes Status of Members of the Court of Auditors E-0821/06 José Ribeiro e Castro Cuba - suspension of measures of 5 June 2003 E-0822/06 José Ribeiro e Castro Cuba - suspension of measures of 5 June 2003 E-0823/06 Charles Tannock and Philip Integrated rail ticketing across the EU E-0824/06 Bradbourn Robert Kilroy-Silk Sharia law E-0825/06 Johannes Voggenhuber Criteria for biodiversity in the new programme on P-0826/06 rural development 2007-2013 Ole Christensen Conflicting national and EU veterinary rules P-0827/06 Jean-Claude Fruteau Chikungunya epidemic P-0828/06 Jamila Madeira Coexistence of genetically modified crops with P-0829/06 conventional and organic farming and establishment of GMO-free areas Alyn Smith Public sector workers in Scotland and the abolition E-0830/06 of the 'rule of 85' Daniel Hannan Asylum seekers in Kent E-0831/06 Robert Evans Discrimination in Indonesia E-0832/06 Iles Braghetto and others Special intervention in support of the poultry sector E-0833/06 Erik Meijer The highly autonomous status of the Åland Islands E-0834/06 in the Baltic Sea since 1921 and its implications for Finland's inability to enforce EU legislation Thomas Ulmer European-level job description for osteopaths P-0835/06 Françoise Grossetête Cohesion policy and urban areas - measures to take P-0836/06 account of satellite towns Andreas Mölzer Headscarves E-0837/06 Andreas Mölzer Caricature controversy E-0838/06 Dimitrios Papadimoulis Operation of illegal tips E-0839/06 Marie Isler Béguin Illegal authorisation for shooting woodpigeon in E-0840/06 France
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 31
Dorette Corbey Depletion and even complete destruction of deep- E-0841/06 sea fish-stocks due to overfishing Andreas Mölzer Abuse in connection with .eu domain name E-0842/06 assignment Andreas Mölzer High proportion of foreign children in schools E-0843/06 Renate Sommer Transport inspections in the road haulage sector E-0844/06 María Herranz García OLAF case on importation of mushrooms P-0845/06 Marie Panayotopoulos- Preserving knowledge of migrant European P-0846/06 Cassiotou workers' mother tongues Catherine Guy-Quint The Competitiveness and Innovation Programme in P-0847/06 the forthcoming programming period (2007-2013) Stefano Zappalà Nomisma Institute P-0848/06 Raül Romeva i Rueda and El Mami Amar Salem, Saharawi human rights E-0849/06 others activist Raül Romeva i Rueda and El Mami Amar Salem, Saharawi human rights E-0850/06 others activist Raül Romeva i Rueda and The situation of Salek Bazeid E-0851/06 others Raül Romeva i Rueda and The situation of Salek Bazeid E-0852/06 others Hynek Fajmon Surplus stocks of certain types of food E-0853/06 Hynek Fajmon National milk production quotas E-0854/06 Jan Zahradil Obligations of Commission employees E-0855/06 Glyn Ford Anti-dumping investigation into safety footwear as E-0856/06 'a tax on personal safety' Glyn Ford Job losses in safety footwear design E-0857/06 Mathieu Grosch Regional transport network - South-Eastern Europe E-0858/06 Eija-Riitta Korhola The future of Finnish libraries' public lending right E-0859/06 system Cecilia Malmström Freedom to demonstrate in Russia E-0860/06 James Allister EU grants for Northern Ireland P-0861/06
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32 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
Ignasi Guardans Cambó The Commission's alleged opposition to the transfer E-0862/06 of the Spanish Telecommunications Market Commission from Madrid to Barcelona Glyn Ford Anti-dumping investigations into leather footwear, E-0863/06 and safety footwear Panagiotis Beglitis Israeli Government's decision to freeze the transfer E-0864/06 of funds owed to the Palestinian Authority Georgios Karatzaferis Steps taken by the municipality of Thessaloniki on E-0865/06 the use of the term 'Macedonia' Georgios Karatzaferis DEH's arbitrary decision to change domestic E-0866/06 electricity rates for farmers Georgios Karatzaferis Total ban on the use of bus lanes by taxis in Greece E-0867/06 Georgios Karatzaferis Proposals by the Thessaloniki municipal authorities E-0868/06 to the Commission regarding co-funding for major projects Georgios Karatzaferis Bullish sentiments regarding the take-up of E-0869/06 Community funds in Greece Georgios Karatzaferis Worrying prospect of the EAR ceasing to operate E-0870/06 Bart Staes Accommodation of asylum-seekers in Belgium E-0871/06 Bart Staes Environmental coordinator for the Commission's E-0872/06 Secretariat Bart Staes Cable TV services in Flanders E-0873/06 Erik Meijer Denial of permission for children of divorced E-0874/06 parents to leave Israel due to unaffordably large surety payments, preventing visits to relatives in Europe, contrary to a convention Francisca Pleguezuelos Access to the European civil service for people with E-0875/06 Aguilar disabilities Francisca Pleguezuelos Access to the European civil service for people with E-0876/06 Aguilar disabilities
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 33
QUESTION TIME (B6-0002/06) on 14 and 15 February 2006
21 Questions (Rule 109)
Author Subject No
QUESTIONS TO THE COUNCIL
Dimitrios Accession negotiations with Serbia-Montenegro H-0006/06 PAPADIMOULIS
Richard CORBETT Council President's criticism of the Court of Justice H-0036/06
Vytautas LANDSBERGIS Estonia's border with Russia H-0045/06
Proinsias DE ROSSA Council voting in public H-0059/06
Laima ANDRIKIENĖ New financial perspective 2007-2013 H-0069/06
Bernd POSSELT The EU's energy dependence H-1192/05
Gay MITCHELL Fuel security H-0027/06
Othmar KARAS Additional occupational pensions H-0061/06
QUESTIONS TO THE COMMISSION
Andreas SCHWAB Compatibility of car toll with EU law H-0005/06
Robert EVANS Junk food H-0016/06
Rodi KRATSA- Funding of Trans-European Transport Networks H-0052/06 TSAGAROPOULOU
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34 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
QUESTIONS TO DESIGNATED COMMISSIONERS
Mr POTOČNIK
Justas PALECKIS Funding of the seventh Framework Programme of the H-0054/06 European Community for research for the period 2007-2013
Seán Ó NEACHTAIN Research funding for European regions H-0076/06
Teresa RIERA The Community budget and the Seventh Framework H-0084/06 MADURELL Programme for R&D
Mrs WALLSTRÖM
Hélène GOUDIN Commission's proposal concerning 'European goodwill H-0013/06 ambassadors'
Richard CORBETT Resources for the debate on the future of Europe H-0021/06
Marie Measures to improve the European information networks H-0030/06 PANAYOTOPOULOS- CASSIOTOU
Margarita EuroNews coverage in Lithuania H-0072/06 STARKEVIČIŪTĖ
Mrs FISCHER BOEL
Henrik KRISTENSEN Sugar agreement and renationalisation of the common H-0007/06 agricultural policy
Zbigniew KUŻMIUK Sugar market reform H-0011/06
Glenys KINNOCK Refining aid H-0089/06
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 35
SUMMARY OF QUESTIONS TIME FEBRUARY 2006
No. of No. of Questions Supplementary Lapsed Questions Questions Representatives Institution questions questions with questions questions withdrawn already on of the other tabled taken written (author by the the agenda Institutions answer absent) author
Council 32 8 23 20 1 0 0 Mr WINKLER Mr BARTENSTEIN
Commission 65 13 52 23 0 0 0 Mr POTOČNIK Mrs FISCHER BOEL
Total 97 21 75 43 1 0 0
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36 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
WRITTEN DECLARATIONS1
No. EP No. Author Subject Tabled Closed on : Signatures
71/2005 367.451 Nathalie Griesbeck On the need to apply a VAT rate for building, 8.12.2005 8.3.2006 61 renovation and conversion work
72/2005 367.447 Monika Beňová, Miloš Koterec and On protecting underage children from the use of 12.12.2005 12.3.2006 83 Vladimír Maňka unsuitable computer games
73/2005 367.488 Raül Romeva i Rueda and Gérard On the thirtieth anniversary of the death of the 12.12.2005 12.3.2006 58 Onesta dictator Francisco Franco in Spain
74/2005 367.449 Michael Cashman, Emine Bozkurt On recent executions of gay men by the Iranian 12.12.2005 12.3.2006 93 and Thijs Berman Authorities
1 Situation as at 16.02.2006
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 37
75/2005 367.450 Marie-Arlette Carlotti, Philippe On supplying approved charities working to 12.12.2005 12.3.2006 253 Busquin, Joseph Daul, Mario Mauro implement the European food aid programme for the and Boguslaw Sonik most deprived citizens
76/2005 367.652 Alyn Smith On trade justice 12.12.2005 12.3.2006 22
77/2005 367.654 Alfredo Antoniozzi, Mario On the European Union's language arrangements 12.12.2005 12.3.2005 154 Mantovani, Marie-Line Reynard and Jan Jerzy Kułakowski
78/2005 367.655 Daniel Strož On improper attempts to exert political influence 12.12.2005 12.3.2006 12 over intellectual property rights
79/2005 367.656 Katalin Lévai, Martine Roure, Anne On women's right to self-determination and adequate 12.12.2005 12.3.2006 74 Van Lancker, Eva-Britt Svensson sex education and family planning in the European and Lissy Gröner Union
80/2005 367.657 Mario Borghezio On granting the Val di Susa full institutional 12.12.2005 12.3.2006 2 autonomy
81/2005 367.658 Luca Romagnoli, Carlo Fatuzzo and On equal access to public service broadcasting and 12.12.2005 12.3.2005 27 Marco Pannella on pluralism of political information in Italy
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38 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
82/2005 368.509 Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Feleknas On the withdrawal of the charges against the Turkish 15.12.2005 15.3.2005 46 Uca and Panagiotis Beglitis author Orhan Pamuk
83/2005 369.016 Yannick Vaugrenard, Harlem Désir, On the need to force through social clauses in the 20.12.2005 20.3.2006 49 Kader Arif, Françoise Castex and WTO negotiations Jean Louis Cottigny
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MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES 39
YEAR 2006
No. EP No. Author Subject Tabled Closed on : Signatures
01/2006 369.297 John Bowis, Georgs Andrejevs, On diabetes 16.1.2006 16.4.2006 198 Dorette Corbey and Karin Scheele
02/2006 369.298 Vittorio Agnoletto, Giovanni On extending basic health benefits to all residents in 16.1.2006 16.4.2006 50 Berlinguer, Patrizia Toia, Pier Antonio Europe, including those not meeting entry and Panzeri and Pia Elda Locatelli residence requirements
03/2006 369.299 Andreas Mölzer On a Europe-wide initiative to increase the birth rate 16.1.2006 16.4.2006 15
04/2006 369.300 Andreas Mölzer On the weeks of rioting in France 16.1.2006 16.4.2006 6
05/2006 369.301 Libor Rouček, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, On free movement of the labour force 1.2.2006 1.5.2006 55 Marek Maciej Siwiec, Borut Pahor and Monika Beňová
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40 MEMBERS’ ACTIVITIES
06/2006 369.653 Jana Hybášková, Paulo Casaca, On recent executions of minors by the Iranian 1.2.2006 1.5.2006 64 Elizabeth Lynne, Willy Meyer Pleite authorities and Mogens Camre
07/2006 369.654 David Martin and Glyn Ford On the illegal trade in tiger and leopard skins 1.2.2006 1.5.2006 47
08/2006 370.386 Filip Kaczmarek On religious freedom in China 13.2.2006 13.5.2006 20
09/2006 370.388 Mario Borghezio On threats to the freedom of expression of European 13.2.2006 13.5.2006 7 newspapers following publication of the cartoons satirising Mohammed and Islam
10/2006 370.389 Frank Vanhecke, Philip Claeys and On the reactions in the Islamic world to the cartoons 13.2.2006 13.5.2006 9 Koenraad Dillen published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten
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COMMITTEES 41
COMMITTEES
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42 COMMITTEES
APPOINTMENT OF RAPPORTEURS AND DRAFTSMEN (Referral: R = Responsible / O = Opinion)
Name Subject Committee Date Proc.
Leinen Jo (PSE) Report on European AFCO (R) 24/11/2005 2005/2224(INI) political parties
Méndez de Vigo Amendment of Rule 158 as AFCO (R) 21/02/2006 2006/2025(REG) Íñigo (EPP-ED) regards delegation of the right to vote in certain circumstances
Hybášková Jana The situation of women in AFET (O) 16/02/2006 2005/2215(INI) (EPP-ED) armed conflicts and their role in reconstruction and the democratic process in post-conflict countries
Kasoulides Development and migration AFET (O) 25/01/2006 2005/2244(INI) Ioannis (EPP- ED)
Graefe zu Protection of geographical AGRI (R) 23/11/2005 2005/0275(CNS) Baringdorf indications and designations Friedrich- of origin for agricultural Wilhelm products and foodstuffs (Verts/ALE)
Graefe zu Certificates of specific AGRI (R) 23/11/2005 2005/0270(CNS) Baringdorf character for agricultural Friedrich- products and foodstuffs Wilhelm (Verts/ALE)
Daul Joseph Assessment of the Doha AGRI (O) 23/11/2005 2005/2247(INI) (EPP-ED) Round following the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong
Haug Jutta D. European Aviation Safety BUDG (O) 20/09/2004 2005/0228(COD) (PSE) Agency
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COMMITTEES 43
Trüpel Helga Agreement on sea BUDG (O) 20/09/2004 2005/0229(CNS) (Verts/ALE) fisheries between the European Community and Mauritania
Trüpel Helga Extension of the BUDG (O) 20/09/2004 2005/0249(CNS) (Verts/ALE) protocol to the fisheries agreement with São Tomé e Príncipe
Trüpel Helga Agreement between the BUDG (O) 20/09/2004 2005/0262(CNS) (Verts/ALE) EC and Angola on fisheries
Trüpel Helga Agreement between the BUDG (O) 20/09/2004 2005/0276(CNS) (Verts/ALE) EC and Tanzania on fisheries
Trüpel Helga Partnership Agreement BUDG (O) 20/09/2004 2005/0280(CNS) (Verts/ALE) between the EC and Morocco in the fisheries sector
Xenogiannakopoulo Rules on participation BUDG (O) 20/09/2004 2005/0277(COD) u Marilisa (PSE) for implementation of the seventh framework programme (2007-2013)
Pahor Borut (PSE) Proposal for a CONT (R) 22/11/2005 2005/0904(CNS) Gräßle Ingeborg Commission regulation (EPP-ED) (EC, Euratom) amending Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities
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44 COMMITTEES
Pahor Borut (PSE) Financial Regulation CONT (O) 23/05/2005 2005/0090(CNS) Gräßle Ingeborg applicable to the general (EPP-ED) budget of the European Communities
Gaľa Milan (EPP- Creation of a European CULT (O) 07/02/2006 2006/2002(INI) ED) Qualifications Framework
Hegyi Gyula (PSE) VAT: the place of CULT (O) 23/11/2005 2003/0329(CNS) supply of services (amendment of Directive 77/388/EEC)
Budreikaitė Danutė Trade and poverty: DEVE (O) 25/01/2006 2006/2031(INI) (ALDE) designing trade policies to maximise trade's contribution to poverty relief
Carlotti Marie- Extension of the DEVE (O) 25/01/2006 2005/0249(CNS) Arlette (PSE) protocol to the fisheries agreement with São Tomé e Príncipe
Cornillet Thierry Partnership Agreement DEVE (O) 25/01/2006 2005/0280(CNS) (ALDE) between the EC and Morocco in the fisheries sector
Kinnock Glenys Interinstitutional DEVE (O) 25/01/2006 2004/2099(ACI) (PSE) agreement on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure
Martens Maria Assessment of the Doha DEVE (O) 01/12/2005 2005/2247(INI) (EPP-ED) Round following the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong
Martínez Martínez Agreement between the DEVE (O) 25/01/2006 2005/0276(CNS) Miguel Angel (PSE) EC and Tanzania on fisheries
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Ribeiro e Castro Agreement between the DEVE (O) 25/01/2006 2005/0262(CNS) José (EPP-ED) EC and Angola on fisheries
Uca Feleknas The situation of women DEVE (O) 01/12/2005 2005/2215(INI) (GUE/NGL) in armed conflicts and their role in reconstruction and the democratic process in post-conflict countries
Wijkman Anders Financial Regulation DEVE (O) 25/01/2006 2005/0090(CNS) (EPP-ED) applicable to the general budget of the European Communities
Gauzès Jean-Paul Payment services in the ECON (R) 13/12/2005 2005/0245(COD) (EPP-ED) internal market
Wortmann-Kool Repeal of Regulation ECON (R) 17/01/2006 2005/0264(CNS) Corien (EPP-ED) (EEC) No 4056/86 concerning maritime transport and amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 concerning cabotage and international tramp vessel services
Ryan Eoin (UEN) Improvement of the ECON (O) 13/12/2005 2005/0214(COD) portability of supplementary pension rights
Starkevičiūtė Assessment of the Doha ECON (O) 13/12/2005 2005/2247(INI) Margarita (ALDE) Round following the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong
Andersson Jan European system of EMPL (R) 01/02/2006 2006/0004(COD) (PSE) integrated social protection statistics (ESSPROS)
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Kósáné Kovács Guidelines for the EMPL (R) 13/01/2006 2006/0010(CNS) Magda (PSE) Member States' employment policies
Schroedter Application of Directive EMPL (R) 27/10/2005 2006/2038(INI) Elisabeth 96/71/EC on the posting (Verts/ALE) of workers
Christensen Ole A strategy for the EMPL (O) 23/11/2005 2006/2006(INI) (PSE) simplification of the regulatory environment
Figueiredo Ilda A policy framework to EMPL (O) 27/10/2005 2006/2003(INI) (GUE/NGL) strengthen EU manufacturing - towards a more integrated approach for industrial policy
Mann Thomas Key competences for EMPL (O) 23/11/2005 2005/0221(COD) (EPP-ED) lifelong learning
Mann Thomas Statistics on education EMPL (O) 14/12/2005 2005/0248(COD) (EPP-ED) and lifelong learning .
Matsouka Maria Implementing the EMPL (O) 27/10/2005 2006/2005(INI) (PSE) Community Lisbon Programme: more research and Innovation - investing for growth and employment
Groote Matthias Type approval of motor ENVI (R) 29/11/2005 2005/0282(COD) (PSE) vehicles with respect to emissions and access to vehicle repair information
Jackson Caroline Waste ENVI (R) 21/02/2006 2005/0281(COD) (EPP-ED)
Jørgensen Dan Promotion of clean road ENVI (R) 07/02/2006 2005/0283(COD) (PSE) transport vehicles
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Schlyter Carl Restrictions on the ENVI (R) 21/02/2006 2005/0244(COD) (Verts/ALE) marketing and use of perfluorooctane sulfonates
Schnellhardt Horst Definition, description, ENVI (R) 21/02/2006 2005/0028(COD) (EPP-ED) presentation and labelling of spirit drinks
Seeber Richard Flood assessment and ENVI (R) 29/11/2005 2006/0005(COD) (EPP-ED) management
Ulmer Thomas Revision of directives ENVI (R) 21/02/2006 2005/0263(COD) (EPP-ED) on medical devices
Busquin Philippe Nanosciences and ENVI (O) 07/02/2006 2006/2004(INI) (PSE) nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe 2005-2009
Harms Rebecca Shipments of radioactive ENVI (O) 21/02/2006 2005/0272(CNS) (Verts/ALE) waste and nuclear spent fuel
Hegyi Gyula (PSE) A strategy for the ENVI (O) 07/02/2006 2006/2006(INI) simplification of the regulatory environment
Musacchio Roberto Organic production and ENVI (O) 09/02/2006 2005/0278(CNS) (GUE/NGL) labelling organic products
Musacchio Roberto Organic production and ENVI (O) 09/02/2006 2005/0279(CNS) (GUE/NGL) indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs
Breyer Hiltrud Perspectives of women FEMM (R) 24/01/2006 2006/2009(INI) (Verts/ALE) in international trade
Bozkurt Emine A European social FEMM (O) 23/11/2005 2005/2248(INI) (PSE) model for the future
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Lulling Astrid Improvement of the FEMM (O) 28/11/2005 2005/0214(COD) (EPP-ED) portability of supplementary pension rights
Romeva i Rueda Report on the Annual FEMM (O) 23/11/2005 2005/2203(INI) Raül (Verts/ALE) Report on Human Rights in the World 2005 and the EU's policy on the matter
Uca Feleknas Development and FEMM (O) 28/11/2005 2005/2244(INI) (GUE/NGL) migration
Záborská Anna Trade and poverty: FEMM (O) 21/02/2006 2006/2031(INI) (EPP-ED) designing trade policies to maximise trade's contribution to poverty relief
Fourtou Janelly Community Customs IMCO (R) 12/12/2005 2005/0246(COD) (ALDE) Code
De Vits Mia (PSE) Payment services in the IMCO (O) 21/02/2006 2005/0245(COD) internal market
Handzlik Application of Directive IMCO (O) 21/02/2006 2006/2038(INI) Małgorzata (EPP- 96/71/EC on the posting ED) of workers
Weisgerber Anja Type approval of motor IMCO (O) 21/02/2006 2005/0282(COD) (EPP-ED) vehicles with respect to emissions and access to vehicle repair information
Markov Helmuth Trade and poverty: INTA (R) 13/07/2005 2006/2031(INI) (GUE/NGL) designing trade policies to maximise trade's contribution to poverty relief
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Papastamkos Assessment of the Doha INTA (R) 13/06/2005 2005/2247(INI) Georgios (EPP-ED) Round following the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong
Chiesa Giulietto A European social INTA (O) 23/11/2005 2005/2248(INI) (ALDE) model for the future
Leichtfried Jörg Fair trade and INTA (O) 25/01/2006 2005/2245(INI) (PSE) development
Busquin Philippe Rules on participation ITRE (R) 31/01/2006 2005/0277(COD) (PSE) for implementation of the seventh framework programme (2007-2013)
Calabuig Rull Joan A policy framework to ITRE (R) 23/11/2005 2006/2003(INI) (PSE) strengthen EU manufacturing - towards a more integrated approach for industrial policy
Ransdorf Miloslav Nanosciences and ITRE (R) 23/11/2005 2006/2004(INI) (GUE/NGL) nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe 2005-2009
Belet Ivo (EPP-ED) Type approval of motor ITRE (O) 31/01/2006 2005/0282(COD) vehicles with respect to emissions and access to vehicle repair information
Gutiérrez-Cortines Waste ITRE (O) 26/01/2006 2005/0281(COD) Cristina (EPP-ED)
Locatelli Pia Elda Advanced therapy ITRE (O) 13/12/2005 2005/0227(COD) (PSE) medicinal products
Ortuondo Larrea The placing on the ITRE (O) 23/11/2005 2005/0194(COD) Josu (ALDE) market of pyrotechnic articles
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Panzeri Pier Sectoral aspects of the ITRE (O) 26/01/2006 2006/2044(INI) Antonio (PSE) State Aid Action Plan: aid for innovation
Pirilli Umberto Key competences for ITRE (O) 13/12/2005 2005/0221(COD) (UEN) lifelong learning
Rübig Paul (EPP- Assessment of the Doha ITRE (O) 13/12/2005 2005/2247(INI) ED) Round following the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong
Berger Maria (PSE) Law applicable to JURI (R) 23/02/2006 2005/0261(COD) contractual obligations (Rome I)
Gargani Giuseppe A strategy for the JURI (R) 29/11/2005 2006/2006(INI) (EPP-ED) simplification of the regulatory environment
Gargani Giuseppe The implications of the JURI (R) 29/11/2005 2006/2007(INI) (EPP-ED) Court's judgment of 13 September 2005 (Case C-176/03 - Commission v Council)
Lehne Klaus-Heiner Exercise of voting rights JURI (R) 30/01/2006 2005/0265(COD) (EPP-ED) by shareholders
Lévai Katalin (PSE) Commission JURI (R) 12/12/2005 2006/2008(INI) Recommendation of 18 May 2005 on collective cross-border management of copyright and related rights for legitimate online music services (2005/737/EC)
Medina Ortega The Community scale JURI (R) 12/12/2005 2005/0171(CNS) Manuel (PSE) for the classification of carcases of adult bovine animals
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Medina Ortega Rules of competition for JURI (R) 30/01/2006 2005/0231(CNS) Manuel (PSE) the production of and trade in agricultural products
Rocard Michel Measures to give effect JURI (R) 30/01/2006 2005/0274(CNS) (PSE) to accession to the Geneva Act concerning the international registration of industrial designs
Wallis Diana The limitation periods in JURI (R) 12/12/2005 2006/2014(INI) (ALDE) cross-border disputes involving injuries and fatal accidents
Kauppi Piia-Noora Nanosciences and JURI (O) 30/01/2006 2006/2004(INI) (EPP-ED) nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe 2005-2009
López-Istúriz White Report on European JURI (O) 12/12/2005 2005/2224(INI) Antonio (EPP-ED) political parties
Wallis Diana European Institute for JURI (O) 12/12/2005 2005/0017(COD) (ALDE) Gender Equality
Wallis Diana Guarantee Fund for JURI (O) 12/12/2005 2005/0025(CNS) (ALDE) external actions
Wieland Rainer Payment services in the JURI (O) 30/01/2006 2005/0245(COD) (EPP-ED) internal market
Díaz de Mera Exchanges between the LIBE (R) 23/01/2006 2005/0267(CNS) García Consuegra Member States of Agustín (EPP-ED) information extracted from the criminal record
Ludford Baroness Access for consultation LIBE (R) 23/01/2006 2005/0232(CNS) Sarah (ALDE) of the Visa Information System (VIS)
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Brejc Mihael (EPP- A strategy for the LIBE (O) 22/02/2006 2006/2006(INI) ED) simplification of the regulatory environment
Cavada Jean-Marie Coordination of certain LIBE (O) 22/02/2006 2005/0260(COD) (ALDE) of the Member States' provisions on television broadcasting
Freitas Duarte Extension of the PECH (R) 15/02/2006 2005/0249(CNS) (EPP-ED) protocol to the fisheries agreement with São Tomé e Príncipe
Maat Albert Jan Fisheries exploiting PECH (R) 15/02/2006 2006/0002(CNS) (EPP-ED) stocks of plaice and sole in the North Sea
Varela Suanzes- Partnership Agreement PECH (R) 15/02/2006 2005/0280(CNS) Carpegna Daniel between the EC and (EPP-ED) Morocco in the fisheries sector
Gklavakis Ioannis Community action in the PECH (O) 14/12/2005 2005/0211(COD) (EPP-ED) field of marine environmental policy
Miguélez Ramos Interinstitutional PECH (O) 15/02/2006 2004/2099(ACI) Rosa (PSE) agreement on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure
Piecyk Willi (PSE) Community vessel PECH (O) 31/01/2006 2005/0239(COD) traffic monitoring and information system
Evans Jillian Flood assessment and REGI (O) 22/02/2006 2006/0005(COD) (Verts/ALE) management
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Staniszewska Public-private REGI (O) 11/07/2005 2006/2043(INI) Grażyna (ALDE) partnerships and Community law on public procurement and concessions
Leichtfried Jörg European Aviation TRAN (R) 07/02/2006 2005/0228(COD) (PSE) Safety Agency
Bradbourn Philip Joint Undertaking for TRAN (O) 06/02/2006 2005/0235(CNS) (EPP-ED) the European air traffic management system (SESAR)
Cramer Michael 2004 discharge: TRAN (O) 07/12/2005 2005/2117(DEC) (Verts/ALE) European Maritime Safety Agency
Cramer Michael 2004 discharge: TRAN (O) 07/12/2005 2005/2118(DEC) (Verts/ALE) European Aviation Safety Agency
Le Rachinel Repeal of Regulation TRAN (O) 15/02/2006 2005/0264(CNS) Fernand (NI) (EEC) No 4056/86 concerning maritime transport and amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 concerning cabotage and international tramp vessel services
Liberadzki Type approval of motor TRAN (O) 07/02/2006 2005/0282(COD) Bogusław (PSE) vehicles with respect to emissions and access to vehicle repair information
Markov Helmuth Promotion of clean road TRAN (O) 01/02/2006 2005/0283(COD) (GUE/NGL) transport vehicles
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OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
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COMMISSION DOCUMENTS
Reports and Communications
Subject Referral Doc.
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the DEVE COM(2005)0133 European Parliament: Accelerating progress towards INTA attaining the Millennium Development Goals - Financing for BUDG Development and Aid Effectiveness
Proposal for a Council decision repealing Council Decision DEVE COM(2005)0367 2001/131/EC concluding the consultation procedure with Haiti under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the ITRE COM(2005)0425 European Parliament and the European Economic and Social EMPL Committee and the Committee of the Regions: IMCO eAccessibility
Implementation of the Community Lisbon Programme: ECON COM(2005)0532 Communication from the Commission to the Council and the ITRE European Parliament: The Contribution of Taxation and IMCO Customs Policies to the Lisbon Strategy JURI
Proposal for a Council regulation laying down detailed rules ECON COM(2005)0539 for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No IMCO 2494/95 as regards the temporal coverage of price collection in the harmonised index of consumer prices
Communication from the Commission: Third package of TRAN COM(2005)0585 legislative measures on maritime safety in the European ENVI Union PECH JURI
Communication from the Commission to the European LIBE COM(2005)0662 Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social ENVI Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Commission provisions on “ARGUS” general rapid alert system
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Communication from the Commission to the European AFCO COM(2005)0668 Parliament and the Council: Progress Report on the BUDG Commission reform beyond the reform mandate CONT JURI
Green paper on Conflicts of Jurisdiction and the Principle of LIBE COM(2005)0696 ne bis in idem in Criminal Proceedings
Report from the Commission to the budgetary authority on ECON COM(2005)0699 guarantees covered by the general budget - situation at 30 INTA June 2005 BUDG
Report from the Commission - 2004 Report on phare, pre- AFET COM(2005)0701 accession and transition instruments INTA BUDG
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the EMPL COM(2005)0706 European Parliament, the European Economic and Social ENVI Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Working FEMM together, working better: A new framework for the open coordination of social protection and inclusion policies in the European Union
Report from the Commission to the Council on the future of AFET COM(2005)0710 the European Agency for reconstruction INTA BUDG
Communication from the Commission on the promotion of TRAN COM(2006)0006 inland waterway transport “NAIADES”: An Integrated EMPL European Action Programme for Inland Waterway Transport ENVI
Report from the Commission based on Article 34 of the LIBE COM(2006)0008 Council Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States (revised version)
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the CONT COM(2006)0009 European Parliament and the European Court of Auditors: Commission Action Plan towards an Integrated Internal Control Framework
Commission Working Document on a Community Action AGRI COM(2006)0014 Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010 - INTA Strategic basis for the proposed actions ENVI
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Report from the Commission to the Council, the European EMPL COM(2006)0022 Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Implementation of Council Directive 98/49/EC of 29 June 1998 on safeguarding the supplementary pension rights of employed and self-employed persons moving within the Community
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the AFET COM(2006)0023 European Parliament : Thematic Programme for the DEVE promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide under LIBE the future Financial Perspectives (2007-2013) FEMM
Communication from the Commission to the European INTA COM(2006)0025 Parliament and to the Council : Thematic Programme on AFET Cooperation with Industrialised and other High-income DEVE Countries under the future Financial Perspectives (2007- BUDG 2013)
Communication from the Commission to the European LIBE COM(2006)0026 Parliament and the Council: Thematic programme for the AFET cooperation with third countries in the areas of migration DEVE and asylum BUDG EMPL FEMM
Communication from the Commission : The Western AFET COM(2006)0027 Balkans on the road to the EU: consolidating stability and INTA raising prosperity
Communication from the Commission to the spring ITRE COM(2006)0030 European Council : Time to move up a gear - The new ECON partnership for growth and jobs - Country chapters - EMPL Enclosure ENVI IMCO CULT FEMM
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the CULT COM(2006)0033 European Parliament, the European Economic and Social EMPL Committee and the Committee of the Regions: ITRE Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme: Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through education and learning
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Communication from the Commission: An EU Strategy ITRE COM(2006)0034 for Biofuels INTA ENVI TRAN
White paper on a European communication policy CULT COM(2006)0035 LIBE AFCO
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the CULT COM(2006)0037 European Parliament, the European Economic and Social ITRE Committee and the Committee of the Regions on reviewing the interoperability of digital interactive television services pursuant to Communication COM(2004) 541 of 30 July 2004
Report from the Commission to the Council and the CONT COM(2006)0043 European Parliament on the use of the provisions on ECON mutual assistance for the recovery of claims relating to IMCO certain levies, duties, taxes and other measures
Report from the Commission: Second report based on LIBE COM(2006)0065 Article 14 of the Council Framework Decision of 28 May ECON 2001 combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment
Communication from the Commission to the Council and LIBE COM(2006)0067 the European Parliament on strengthened practical AFET cooperation: new structures, new approaches: improving DEVE the quality of decision making in the common European FEMM asylum system
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the ITRE COM(2006)0068 European Parliament, the European Economic and Social IMCO Committee and the Committee of the Regions: European electronic communications regulation and markets 2005 (11th Report)
Communication from the Commission to the Council and ENVI COM(2006)0070 the European Parliament: 2005 Environment Policy ITRE Review
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Communication from the Commission to the Council and LIBE COM(2006)0073 the European Parliament: Disqualifications arising from JURI criminal convictions in the European Union
Commission report: 2005 General Report — Final — ALL SEC(2005)1200 Group 1 COMMITTEES
Commission staff working document : Annex to the TRAN SEC(2006)0034 communication from the Commission on the promotion EMPL of inland waterway transport “Naiades” - An Integrated ENVI European Action Programme for Inland Waterway Transport
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament CONT SEC(2006)0083 and the Council on EAGGF Guarantee Section AGRI expenditure - Early warning system - No 12/2005
Commission staff working document : Annexes ITRE SEC(2006)0086 accompanying the Communication from the Commission ECON to the Council, the European Parliament, the European IMCO Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on Market reviews under the EU Regulatory Framework-Consolidating the internal market for electronic communications
Draft decision No 1/2006 of the EC – Switzerland Joint INTA SEC(2006)0115 Committee replacing Tables III and IV b) of Protocol No AGRI 2 - Draft common position of the Community
Draft decision No 2/2006 of the EC – Switzerland joint INTA SEC(2006)0120 Committee amending Table I, Table II, Table IV c) and AGRI Appendix to Table IV of Protocol No 2 - Draft common position of the Community
Commission Staff Working Document - Annex to the ENVI SEC(2006)0138 Communication from the Commission Fourth National DEVE Communication from the European Community under the ITRE un framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC)
Commission staff working document : Annex to the ITRE SEC(2006)0142 Communication from the Commission An EU Strategy INTA for Biofuels - Impact assessment ENVI TRAN
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Commission staff working document : Annex to the Fifth CULT SEC(2006)0160 report from the Commission to the Council, the European ECON Parliament, the European Economic and Social ITRE Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the IMCO application of Directive 89/552/EEC “Television without LIBE Frontiers”
Commission staff working document Annex to the JURI SEC(2006)0181 Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and ECON of the Council on the exercise of voting rights by shareholders of companies having their registered office in a Member State and whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market and amending Directive 2004/109/EC - Impact assessment
Commission staff working document : Annexes to the LIBE SEC(2006)0189 Communication from the Commission to the Council and AFET the European Parliament on strengthened practical DEVE cooperation - new structures, new approaches: improving FEMM the quality of decision making in the common European asylum system
Commission staff working document : Annex to the ITRE SEC(2006)0193 communication from the Commission to the Council, the IMCO European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions : European electronic communications regulation and markets 2005 (11th report)
Commission staff working document : Annex to the ENVI SEC(2006)0218 communication from the Commission to the Council and ITRE the European Parliament - 2005 Environment Policy Review
Commission staff working document : Annex to the LIBE SEC(2006)0220 communication from the Commission to the Council and JURI the European Parliament - Disqualifications arising from criminal convictions in the European Union
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Commission staff working document : European Road TRAN SEC(2006)0221 Safety Action Programme - Mit-term Review ENVI ITRE
Commission staff working document on the AGRI SEC(2006)0224 implementation of national residue monitoring plans in ENVI the member states in 2004 (Council Directive 96/23/EC)
Commission Staff Working Document : Annex to the DEVE SEC(2006)0268 Communication from the Commission to the Council, the INTA European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee : An EU-Caribbean Partnership for Growth, stability and development - Impact Assessment
Commission staff working document : Annex to the DEVE SEC(2006)0294 Communication from the Commission to the Council and AFET the European Parliament Financing for Development and INTA Aid Effectiveness – The challenges of scaling up EU aid BUDG 2006 – 2010 EU monitoring of Financing for Development Aid Effectiveness: Starting to deliver on the new commitments
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY
13/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on direct cross-strait flights over the Chinese New Year Brussels, 19 January 2006
The European Union welcomes the resumption of direct cross-straits flights over the Chinese New Year. Such encouraging steps contribute to the promotion of dialogue and mutual understanding between the parties. The EU sincerely hopes that ways will be found to build upon this.
The European Union attaches great importance to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait which are important for the region and beyond. Reiterating its One-China policy the European Union appeals once again to both sides to refrain from statements and unilateral actions which could increase tension and encourages them to find ways to engage in a meaningful and inclusive dialogue that would involve all parties concerned.
We support and welcome all efforts by the parties to seek a mutually acceptable basis for discussions. The European Union is of the firm conviction that the Taiwan question should be solved peacefully through cross-straits negotiations.
"The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration."
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
______
18/2006
Declaration from the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the inauguration of the CARICOM - Single Market Brussels, 30 January 2006
The European Union would like to express its congratulations on the occasion of the official inauguration ceremony of the CARICOM Single Market, taking place on 30 January 2006 in Kingston, Jamaica. The European Union warmly salutes and welcomes the entry into force of the first component of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
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The EU will strongly support the completion and operation of the CSME as an essential element of regional integration and a significant step towards the establishment of an Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU.
The EU welcomes the launching of the Single Market component of the CSME. In the context of the EU- LAC process and regional cooperation it will undoubtedly contribute to the strengthening and streamlining of existing regional institutions and policies thereby ensuring their smooth operation.
The EU equally welcomes the establishment of the new Regional Development Fund which aims at assisting disadvantaged CARICOM countries in respect of the operation and functioning of the Single Market.
The EU firmly believes that regional integration is a key element for economic growth and investment and thus for the development of the region. Additionally, the creation of the CSME will facilitate and foster the smooth and gradual integration of the region into the world economy.
By combining trade relations with substantial economic and development co-operation, the EU for its part will continue to assist and support its Caribbean partners to seize the opportunities offered by the new global challenges.
The EU is looking forward to the CSME´s further expansion and development.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process. ______
24/06
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the announcement of venue and date for the holding of the Somali Parliamentary session Brussels, 10 February 2006
The European Union welcomes the announcement made by the Speaker of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament on 30 January 2006 in the presence of the President of the Somali Republic, establishing Baidoa as the venue for the extraordinary session of the Somali Parliament to be held from 26 February 2006.
The EU welcomes the commitment of the President and the Speaker to the timely implementation of the Aden Declaration and reiterates its call on all members of the Transitional Federal Parliament and Government to spare no effort in actively and positively supporting the implementation of this announcement and to work together in order to ensure the necessary political and security conditions for the parliament’s session to be held.
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The EU reaffirms its readiness to provide logistical and financial support as necessary and appropriate to facilitate the preparations for the extraordinary session and for the work of Parliament inside Somalia.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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25/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the Announcement of Certified results of Iraq’s 15 December 2005 elections Brussels, 13 February 2006
The European Union welcomes the announcement by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq of the certified results of Iraq's 15 December 2005 elections.
The European Union pays tribute to the courage of the Iraqi people who have shown great determination in participating in the elections. The European Union acknowledges the important role played by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in ensuring the efficient running of these elections.
The European Union encourages the swift formation of a new constitutionally elected and truly representative government taking into account the need for inclusiveness and a broad participation by all relevant political groupings dedicated to reaching their goals by peaceful and democratic means.
As stated in the Council conclusions of 30-31 January 2006, the European Union reaffirms its readiness to support the Iraqi people in broadening further the consensus on the future of their country, including through a thorough and transparent review of the Constitution.
The EU calls upon the international community to provide support for the new Iraqi Government and the Council of Representatives. To this end the Council strongly supports efforts by the Arab League to convene a conference of national accord in early 2006. The Council remains committed to supporting Iraq's political transition and its economic and social reconstruction. It recalls the support it is already bringing through EU's Integrated Rule of Law Mission (EUJUST LEX), as well as through support to the political process and to improving the delivery of basic services. It also remains committed to holding a regular political dialogue with Iraq in accordance with the Joint EU-Iraq Declaration and to entering into contractual relations with Iraq.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland,
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Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration."
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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26/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the agreement between Chad and Sudan Brussels, 13 February 2006
The European Union welcomes the agreement signed by the Presidents of Chad and of Sudan on 8 February 2006 at the Summit Conference held in Tripoli, chaired by the President of the African Union, Denis Sassou N'guesso, and the leader of Libya, Muammar Al Kaddafi.
After the tensions following the attack on the town of Adre by Chadian rebels on 18 December 2005, the European Union sees this agreement as an important step towards the restoration of a climate of confidence and cooperation between the two countries. The European Union appeals to both parties to honour this agreement, in particular their commitment to refrain from hosting rebel forces of the other party on their respective territory.
The European Union also welcomes the Tripoli Declaration on the situation between Chad and the Sudan as an expression of the willingness of the countries in the region to remain seized of the matter and to support the implementation of the agreement. The European Union hopes the agreement will contribute to progress in the on-going Abuja talks with a view to reaching an early resolution of the conflict in Darfur.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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28/2006 Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the referendum in Montenegro Brussels,14 February 2006
Recalling the conclusions of the GAERC of January 30, 2006, the EU welcomes the progress made by the government and the opposition in improving the legislative framework for the referendum in Montenegro.
It calls on all parties to remain constructively engaged in the process and to work with the HR Personal Representative Miroslav Lajčák in order to agree also on the majority requirement, the date and the question of the referendum. In this context the EU fully supports the efforts and initiatives of Ambassador Lajčák.
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29/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the closure of the Union of Youth and Children's Public associations "RADA" by the Supreme Court of Belarus Brussels, 17 February 2006
The EU has learned with deep regret about the decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus to close the Belarusian Union of Youth and Children’s Public associations “RADA”. This decision is another serious blow to the development of civil society in Belarus.
“RADA” established a wide network of relations with different youth organisations in Europe serving simultaneously as a focal point not only for NGO’s in neighbouring countries, but also for many European partners in Belarus. The union tried to promote in its activities the principles of European youth policy. “RADA” was also a member of the European Youth Forum.
The EU would like to reiterate its support for the development of civil society in the Republic of Belarus and people-to-people contacts with European partners. Promoting dialogue and cooperation among young people in Europe, in particular among neighbours, is an essential element of our policy.
The EU calls on the relevant Belarusian authorities to reconsider the decision with regard to the closure of “RADA”. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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30/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on recent developments in Georgia - South Ossetia Brussels, 21 February 2006
The European Union refers to the Resolution of the Georgian Parliament of 15 February 2006 on South Ossetia, the peace process and the performance of the peacekeeping force. under Russian-command.
The European Union reiterates its support for a peaceful resolution of the territorial conflicts in Georgia, based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
The European Union urges all parties concerned to refrain from unilateral action and to find a constructive approach in order to increase the effectiveness of peacekeeping in South Ossetia.
The European Union stresses the need for a constructive exchange of views between interested international actors in the region, including EU and OSCE Member States, on possible additional efforts contributing to peaceful settlement mechanisms in South Ossetia.
The European Union points to the need to increase the effectiveness of the negotiating mechanisms. The work of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) should be measured by the rapid implementation of all outstanding agreements previously reached and in particular by the start of demilitarisation.
The European Union deeply regrets the cancellation of the high-level JCC meeting as scheduled to take place in Vienna (20-21 February), and urges the parties to resume dialogue as soon as possible.
The European Union recalls its support for the initiatives taken towards peaceful resolution of the conflict and, following decisions made at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Ljubljana in December 2005, its belief that the Peace Plan built upon the initiatives of the President of Georgia presented at the 59th UNGA will serve as a basis for the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
The European Union reiterates that it stands ready to contribute actively, and in every relevant forum, to accelerating the process of demilitarisation and of conflict resolution overall, which has been stalled for too long.
The European Union underlines the value of the Georgian leadership's commitment to political and economic reforms, based on respect for democratic values, rule of law and human rights, including rights of ethnic minorities.
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The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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31/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union following the presidential election in Haiti Brussels, 21 February 2006
In view of the preliminary statement by the European Union Election Observation Mission, the European Union expresses its satisfaction that the presidential and parliamentary elections of 7 February passed off peacefully and notes that they will have marked an important step forward for the democratic process.
The European Union welcomes the high turnout by and the serious engagement of the people of Haiti in exercising their democratic right to choose their future leaders, despite the major technical and logistical problems encountered during the organisation of the vote.
The European Union welcomes the fact that a significant turning point has been reached in carrying through the democratic transition process.
The European Union congratulates the President of Haiti, Mr René Préval, on his new mandate and reaffirms its lasting commitment to the people and authorities of Haiti in their efforts to rebuild and develop their country. The European Union underlines the importance of the second round of parliamentary elections and hopes that their successful conduct will serve to cement the rule of law and complete the establishment of strong, stable institutions capable of completely fulfilling the role assigned to them under the Constitution.
As Haiti enters a new chapter in its history, it is vital that all political and social forces make national reconciliation the watchword for the dialogue they pursue, in order to achieve the political, economic and social stability that the country needs for its development.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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32/2006 Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union calling for negotiations on a humanitarian agreement in Colombia Brussels, 23 February 2006
On the fourth anniversary of the unlawful detention of Ms Ingrid Betancourt and following the death of one of the FARC hostages, after being held for more than seven years, the European Union deplores the tragedy being lived through by the hostages held in Colombia, which is once again attracting the attention and disapproval of the international community.
The European Union has, several times and in the strongest terms, expressed its absolute condemnation of the cruel and inhuman practice of hostage-taking, wherever it may occur.
The European Union recognises the need to conclude a humanitarian agreement and believes that these events underscore the urgency of seeking a dialogue which would enable one to be concluded.
The European Union has welcomed with hope the proposal that Spain, France and Switzerland put forward at the end of last year with a view to identifying a place where such a dialogue could be initiated. The European Union fully supports this initiative, and has been pleased to learn of the Colombian authorities' positive reaction to the proposal.
The European Union calls on all illegal armed groups in Colombia to swiftly free all detainees and to renounce the practice of kidnapping and hostage-taking. The European Union more particularly asks FARC to react constructively to this proposal for the conclusion of a humanitarian agreement.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process. ______
33/2006/rev.2
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on resumption of direct talks between the Chinese government and envoys of the Dalai Lama Brussels, 24 February 2006
The European Union welcomes the arrival in China on 14 February of a delegation of envoys of the Dalai Lama who will conduct a fifth round of talks with the Chinese Government.
The EU strongly supports this dialogue and hopes that both parties will be willing to address in good faith substantive issues in order to find pragmatic solutions which can contribute to a peaceful and sustainable settlement for Tibet that both sides agree upon.
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The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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34/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union regarding the award of the Olof Palme Prize 2005 to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Brussels, 28 February 2006
On the occasion of today's award of the Olof Palme Prize 2005 to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, acknowledging her tireless peaceful struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma/Myanmar, the European Union voices her deep regret that Aung San Suu Kyi remains deprived of her personal freedom which will prevent her from accepting the award in person.
The European Union urges the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners immediately.
The European Union remains gravely concerned over the human rights situation in Burma/Myanmar and wishes to reiterate its commitment to supporting national reconciliation and respect for human rights and democracy in Burma/Myanmar. The European Union again calls upon the SPDC to enter into a genuine dialogue with the National League for Democracy and with ethnic representatives.
The European Union remains strongly committed to addressing the needs of the poorest in Burma/Myanmar, in particular in the areas of health, education and community development. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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35/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the bombing of the Imam Ali-Hadi mosque in Samarra Brussels, 24 February 2006
The European Union condemns the criminal and sacrilegious bombing of the Imam Ali-Hadi Mosque in Samarra on 22 February which has provoked sectarian strife. It undermines peace and stability with the risk of derailing the political process in Iraq.
This horrendous attack on one of the holiest Shiite religious sites in Iraq, which is not only a place holy to Shiite worshippers but part of the national cultural heritage of all Iraqis, and the loss of life in the subsequent retaliatory events show the urgent need for all communities in Iraq for maximum restraint.
The European Union strongly supports calls by Iraqi political and religious leaders for restraint and non-retaliation and urges Iraq to come together in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect as the indispensable basis for national reconciliation.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration."
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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36/2006/rev.1
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the elections in Uganda Brussels, 28 February 2006
The European Union is pleased to note that the voting in the presidential and parliamentary elections in Uganda on 23 February 2006 passed generally peacefully and with a significant voter turnout. We welcome the generally good organisation of the polls by the Electoral Commission.
These elections are an important achievement in Uganda's return to multiparty democracy. The European Union congratulates the people of Uganda for demonstrating a clear commitment to democracy. However, we regret the lack of a level playing field which marked the electoral process in the context of the transition from the “Movement” to the multiparty system.
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The European Union calls upon all those involved, in particular the candidates, their parties and supporters to demonstrate a responsible attitude and to abide by constitutional procedures.
The EU Election Observation Mission will remain in Uganda to monitor all remaining aspects of the electoral process, including appeals and complaints procedures.
The European Union reaffirms its intention to continue to support Uganda in its efforts to strengthen democracy, good governance and the rule of law.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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38/2006/rev.1 Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the decision of the Taiwanese leader regarding the NUC Brussels, 6 March 2006
The EU attaches great importance to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This is important to the region and beyond and the EU has on previous occasions urged both sides to refrain from actions which could increase tensions.
The EU therefore takes note with concern of the announcement by the Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian that the National Unification Council would cease to function and its guidelines would no longer be applied. This decision is not helpful to maintain stability and peaceful development in the Taiwan Strait.
At the same time the EU is reassured by the reiteration of Taiwan's previous commitments and intention not to change the status quo. It encourages both sides to take initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue, practical cooperation and confidence-building. The EU is firmly convinced that the Taiwan question should be solved through cross-straits negotiations between all stakeholders concerned.
"The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration."
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process. ______
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39/2006
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the opening session of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament Brussels, 3 March 2006
The European Union (EU) wholeheartedly welcomes the opening session of the extraordinary Transitional Federal Parliament session in Baidoa on 26 February. The EU congratulates the leaders of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI) for their courage in forging an agreement to facilitate the holding of this session, and applauds their success in implementing the agreement under extremely difficult circumstances.
The EU considers this a demonstration of serious commitment to achieving inclusiveness and establishing democratic practice in the governance of Somalia, and urges all Members of the Transitional Federal Parliament to undertake their work in a constructive and inclusive spirit.
The EU welcomes the improved security conditions in the city, urges all Somali parties to continue their efforts in this regard, and looks forward to broad agreement on a National Security and Stabilisation Plan. The EU reiterates its firm intention to maintain its political, moral and material support for the implementation of the Transitional period through the TFIs.
The EU however strongly condemns the use of force in Mogadishu to resolve grievances and expresses its concern regarding the recent fighting in the capital, which has led to heavy casualties, particularly amongst civilians. The EU extends its sympathy to the victims and their families, and urges the parties to exercise restraint and commit themselves to resolving their differences by peaceful means.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE
PLENARY ASSEMBLY 18 AND 19 JANUARY 2006
SUMMARY OF OPINIONS ADOPTED
Full text versions of EESC opinions are available in the official languages on the Committee's web site at the following address:
http://www.esc.eu.int/ (under "Documents")
The plenary session was attended by Mr Martin Bartenstein, Austrian Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Labour, on behalf of the Presidency-in-Office of the Council, who spoke about the priorities of the Austrian Presidency.
1. CITIZENS' RIGHTS
• Fundamental Rights and Justice
− Rapporteur: Ms King (Employers – UK)
− References: COM(2005) 122 final – 2005/0037 (COD) – 2005/038 (CNS) – 2005/0040 (COD) – CESE 32/2006
− Key points:
The EESC believes that the imbalance between the three dimensions of freedom, security and justice is reflected in the financial perspectives as Security accounts for most of the budget.
The EESC is not convinced that the Commission's proposal has been sufficiently designed to respect the principles of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the EC Treaty as there does not appear to be sufficient recognition of the areas that are best addressed at the national, regional and/or local level, in cooperation with the relevant social partners.
The Commission refers to more concerted action against racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism and suggests greater support to interfaith and multicultural forms of dialogue to fight them. The EESC recommends that islamophobia be added to reinforce the need to address this particular form of racism where culture intersects with religion.
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Finally, there is a risk that violence against children, women and young persons and trafficking for sexual exploitation will be downgraded as this is combined with the fight against drug use and trafficking, especially as the allocation of the budget between the programmes has not yet been ratified. The EESC recommends that a separate objective and budget line be developed for combating violence
Contact: Mrs Susanne Johansson (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 84 77 – e-mail: [email protected])
2. PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
• Sustainable Development – climate change
− Rapporteur: Mr Kallio (Various interests – FI)
− Reference: Own-initiative opinion – CESE 33/2006
− Key points:
The EESC believes that the EU must significantly step up efforts to combat climate change and begin drawing up adaptation strategies in a consistent way for various policy areas. The EU can contribute to the preparation of sectoral adaptation strategies by bringing the benefit of good coordination and the support of international agreements, which would also help to intensify efforts to this end at global level.
Rural industries, agriculture, forestry and fisheries have made only small contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, as a result of which these sectors have been overlooked in EU climate change policy. The Committee therefore believes that it is important that the EU also prepare the ground for adaptation measures in these sectors. The Committee considers that:
− it is important to study the knock-on effects of climate change on rural industries. − the uncertainties of climate change must be specifically taken into consideration when planning future EU policy on agricultural support and production, trade policy and energy policy. − fisheries policy will have to assess the adjustments the sector needs to make to adapt to changes in water resources and fisheries conditions. − the role of forests in containing climate change should be taken seriously; it is important to increase afforestation both within the EU and globally.
The Committee feels it is essential that the Union substantially increase research resources for analysing climate change and adaptation policies and for the implementation of security programmes. This applies particularly to industries based on natural resources.
The Committee suggests that the Commission propose the launch of a wide-ranging information and education campaign within the EU and at international level, with a view also to raising awareness among civil society players and political decision-makers. The Committee believes that this could help to speed up the preparation and introduction of adaptation strategies.
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− Contact Ms Yvette Azzopardi Tel.: 00 32 2 546 98 18 – e-mail: [email protected] )
3. PUBLIC HEALTH – THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY
• European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (Recast)
− Rapporteur: Mr Olsson (Various Interests – SE)
− References: COM(2005) 399 final – 2005/0166 COD – CESE 44/2006
− Key points:
The EESC underlines that civil society organisations that deal with drug issues should be involved in the work of the EMCDDA.
The EESC welcomes the changed legal basis for the proposal. Proper consultation with the European Parliament is natural here, not least in order to guarantee public transparency in the EMCDDA. Under the new proposal the Parliament is given an enhanced role, including the right to designate two independent experts with specialist knowledge in the field of drugs as members of the Centre's management board. The Committee strongly recommends that the two independent experts should be from NGOs with expertise in the field of drugs.
The European Information Network consists of national focal points which form an interface between the participating countries and the Centre. The Committee recommends that the Centre's guidelines and agreements with Member States should require the focal points to work together with national organisations, including NGOs, which are active in the drugs field.
− Contact: Ms Susanne Johansson (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 84 77 – e-mail: [email protected])
4. INFORMATION SOCIETY
• Retention of electronic data
− Rapporteur: Mr Hernández Bataller (Various interests – ES)
− References: COM(2005) 438 final – CESE 35/2006
− Key points:
The Committee is very surprised and concerned by the submission of such a legislative proposal: its provisions are disproportionate and infringe fundamental rights.
The Committee considers that:
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− The proposal's approach to fundamental rights, particularly the right to privacy, is inappropriate and could clash on certain aspects.
− It runs the risk of undermining the confidence of users of electronic communications and discouraging them from using new technologies. It could also hinder the future development of the information society in the long term and thus jeopardise the Lisbon Strategy.
− The Commission should substantially revise this proposal. As a whole it does not, in the Committee's opinion, comply with either fundamental rights or the rules of access, use and exchange of data.
− Contact: Mr Raffaele Del Fiore (Tel: 00 32 2 546 97 94 – e-mail: [email protected])
5. TAX HARMONISATION
• Excise duty on alcohol
− Rapporteur: Mr Wilkinson (Employers – UK)
− References: COM (2004) 223 final – CESE 34/2006
− Key points:
The current system regularly raises problems over the place of certain products in the currently agreed structures.
There is no conclusive evidence that high rates of excise duty reduce the problems of abuse over the longer term. Consequently, other measures, based essentially on education and prevention, must be employed in order to tackle these problems and improve public health.
It is recommended that the Commission considers dividing alcoholic beverages into two basic categories, with the implementation of a standard basis for all alcoholic beverages included in these two categories, where all alcoholic drinks are taxed according to their type, taking into account their means of production, effects on health and alcohol content. A separate approach should however be adopted for wine and other fermented drinks (beer, cider and perry).
− Contact: Ms Imola Bedő (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 83 62 – e-mail: [email protected])
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PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF 14-15 FEBRUARY 2006
SUMMARY OF OPINIONS ADOPTED
Full text versions of EESC opinions are available in the official languages on the Committee's web site at the following address:
http://www.esc.eu.int/ (under "Documents")
The plenary assembly was attended by Mr Joaquín Almunia, Member of the European Commission, who spoke on the Union's economic and monetary affairs.
1. ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE
• Strengthening economic governance – The reform of the Stability and Growth Pact − Rapporteur: Ms Florio (Employees – IT) − Co-rapporteur: Mr Burani (Employers– IT)
− Reference: Own-initiative opinion – CESE 244/2006
− Key points:
The EESC is seriously concerned about the current stalemate surrounding the issue of European economic governance, and intends to use this document to:
− outline the various viewpoints which have driven the political and economic debate over the six years in which the Stability and Growth Pact has been in existence − provide an assessment of the process of reforming the Stability and Growth Pact which has got underway in recent months − outline guidelines on strengthening European economic governance.
The EESC believes that the Stability and Growth Pact has, since its inception, played a key role in ensuring continued European economic growth within a common framework of monetary stability.
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The successes and failures of the first six years of this experience can essentially be described in terms of the two words which typify the Pact: it has been an unequivocal success as regards monetary stability but just as clear a disappointment when it comes to the EU's economic growth, which has been inadequate.
Regrettably, along the way, there has been a lack of coordination of European economic governance and this at a time when international tensions have been – and are still – running high, both on the economic front and politically.
There has been repeated pressure on the Pact during its six years of existence from a number of Member States calling for its reform.
The reform process must be considered unfinished since it has not provided a guarantee that the process of coordinating European economic policy will genuinely be stepped up – a process which would enable us to make the most of the opportunities provided by Economic and Monetary Union for economic growth and job creation.
− Contact: Roberto Pietrasanta (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 93 13 - e-mail: [email protected])
• Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (2005-2008) − Rapporteur: Mr Metzler (Various Interests – DE)
− Reference: Own-initiative opinion – CESE 245/2006
− Key points:
The Committee expresses the view that – as an integral part of the Lisbon Strategy – a coordinated macropolicy that actively promotes growth and employment is needed to overcome the current economic and employment problems in the EU. It is essential for EU Member States to pursue a fiscal policy that is appropriate to their commitments. The social partners and Member State governments have a role to play in creating an innovation-friendly balance between flexibility and security. As well as an appropriate macroeconomic policy to stimulate growth and employment, microeconomic reforms are needed to strengthen the potential for growth. This means measures to strengthen competition and cut red tape, and further development of the EU internal market. Correct decisions in the areas of lifelong learning, equality of opportunity, support for families, education, research and innovation are key to the knowledge-based society. In general terms, the Committee also emphasises that promoting enterprise deserves particular attention.
− Contact: Mr Gilbert Marchlewitz (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 93 58 - e-mail: [email protected])
• Creation of a common consolidated corporate tax base in the EU − Rapporteur: Mr Nyberg (Employees – SE)
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− References: Exploratory opinion – EESC 241/2006
− Key points:
The deliberations that are needed are partly legal, partly tax technical, and partly economic. The Committee would urge the Commission and the Member States – despite the large number of technical details and the big differences between countries – to nevertheless be guided by the economic advantages that can be secured through a common consolidated corporate tax base.
Our discussions to date can be summarised by the principles for a common consolidated corporate tax: broad bases, neutrality, simplicity, efficiency, stability, legitimacy, fairness, international competition, mandatory, interim/transitional rules, smooth decision making. We have chosen to focus on reasons of principle as we believe that once these principles are accepted, it is easier to choose between different technical solutions.
− Contact: Ms Imola Bedö (Tel. : 00 32 2 546 83 62 – e-mail: [email protected],)
2. CIVIL SOCIETY, CITIZENS' RIGHTS
• The representativeness of European civil society organisations in civil dialogue − Rapporteur general: Mr Olsson (Various Interests – SV)
− References: CESE 238/2005 fin – CESE 240/2006
− Key points:
The "right to participate", which has been claimed by civil society and organisations active at European level for a long time, is now of particular relevance. The issues and challenges faced by the European Union require the mobilisation of all grassroots-level players and their representatives.
In this context, the EESC has already emphasised on several occasions that it is evident that only clearly established representativeness can give civil society players the right to participate effectively in the process of shaping and preparing Community decisions. In addition to being a fundamental democratic principle, the need for civil society organisations to be representative is consistent with the aim of giving them greater visibility and influence at European level.
The drawing-up of this opinion thus takes place, first and foremost, in the context of clarification and rationalisation of the EESC's own relations with European organisations and networks. This opinion thus aims to give the dialogue with organised civil society greater credibility by enhancing the legitimacy of those organisations and networks. This aim is part of the drive to implement reinforced, structured dialogue between the EESC and European civil society organisations and networks.
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However, this opinion could also:
• form a point of reference and material for consideration by the other institutions, especially with a view to consolidating democratic participation at European level and the establishment of a genuine European civil dialogue, and
• open up a field of inter-institutional cooperation, including the exchange of good practice, particularly with the Commission and the European Parliament, without there being any question of interfering with their way of organising the dialogue with European organised civil society.
Taking into account its previous work on the subject, the EESC believes that it is important to establish a clear, uniform and simple procedure to assess the representativeness of European civil society organisations. The procedure must provide for a criteria review that is tailored to the European organisations' existing structure and operating methods. This procedure, which will involve organisations in the assessment process, should be based on five principles: openness; objectivity; non-discrimination; verifiability; participation by European organisations.
Thus, the EESC suggests a procedure including three assessment criteria for the representativeness of European civil society organisations:
• the provisions in the organisation's statute and their implementation; • the organisation's support base in the Member States; • qualitative criteria facilitating an assessment of the organisation's ability to contribute and its level of involvement in consultative processes implemented by the European institutions.
Based on the principles and assessment criteria, the EESC should be able to develop a procedure enabling it to gauge representativeness. This procedure could be implemented by setting up a special evaluation instrument, initially with the Committee's Liaison Group for European Civil Society Organisations and Networks.
− Contact : Mr Patrick Fève (Tel. : 00 32 2 546 96 16 – e-mail: [email protected])
• Fundamental Rights Agency − Rapporteur : Mr Sharma (Various Interests – UK) − Co-rapporteur : Ms Le Nouail Marlière (Employees – FR)
− References : COM(2005) 280 final – 2005/0124 CNS – CESE 239/2006
− Key points :
The Committee welcomes the decision of the European Council to establish a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights to enhance the Union principles and practices enshrined under Article 6 of TEU. It will create a mechanism for the monitoring of fundamental rights in the Union
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that could serve to improve the coordination of the fundamental rights policies pursued by the Member States.
The Committee has a major concern that the proposal does not promote or support wider representation from organised civil society in the Management Board and the Fundamental Rights Forum of the new Agency.
The Agency should always include racism and xenophobia in the thematic areas of its activities within the Multiannual Framework.
The Committee has concerns about the Agency's independence, not only with respect to the EU institutions but also to the Member States.
− Contact : Mr Pierluigi Brombo (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 97 18 – e-mail : [email protected])
• Women representation − Rapporteur : Mr ETTY (Employees – NL)
− References : EP Consultation – CESE 238/2006
− Key points :
In January 2003, the European Parliament requested the EESC to give an opinion on the representation of women in the decision-making bodies of the social and economic interest groups as represented in the EESC. Most of the requests and demands made by Parliament to employers, workers and organised civil society as a whole in the EU has been addressed in a survey, based on a questionnaire, which in 2003 was sent to all of the EESC's (then) 222 members.
• The EESC agrees with the European Parliament that it is very important to strenghten representation of women in the decision-making bodies of social and economic interest groups in the EU and for the organisations concerned and the European Commission to pay closer and more systematic attention to this issue; • the EESC recommends that all represented organisations make the results of their efforts in this area available to the Commission on a regular basis and that the Commission expands its databank and establishes appropriate indicators ; • the EESC thinks it worthwhile to promote separate and auxiliary structures and networks of female staff and members further; • the promotion of policies concerning training/education and work/care arrangements by the Commission remains a top priority; employers organisations and trade unions have an important role to play here;
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• the EESC recommends that quota arrangements, which, in some countries, have proven to be effective both inpolitics and in social organisations, should be explored thoroughly by the organisations concerned and the Commission; • the EESC would be pleased to see a minimum target of 30% representation of the under- represented sex to the EESC in the nominations made by Member States for the 2006-2010 mandate, with the view to raising this target to 40% for the following mandate; • the EESC will revisit the findings of its survey in 2006/2007 in order to see whether or not the policies and practices of organisations in the new Member States differ greatly from those in the old Member States; the Committee suggests that Parliament also review the situation.
− Contact : Mr Torben Bach Nielsen (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 96 19 – e-mail : [email protected])
• European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 − Rapporteur : Ms ANCA (Various interests – LV)
− References : COM(2005) 486 final – CESE 236/2006
− Key points :
The EESC welcomes the Communication as an opportunity to take stock of successes and shortcomings of the EYPD 2003 and to draw lessons for the preparation of other European Years.
The EESC agrees that the success of the EYPD 2003, compared to previous European Years, stems from the fact that it has been called for by disabled people's organisations themselves as well as from their involvement in the planning and implementation of the Year.
The EESC regrets the lack of information in the Communication on action undertaken at national and regional level and that steps taken to increase general awareness and visibility in the media have been assessed in terms of quantity, but not quality.
The EESC believes that the success of the EYPD 2003 should have been translated into policies and legislation, and that the policy response is disappointing given the expectations raised by the Year.
The EYPD 2003 spurred the Committee to undertake a number of initiatives: the creation of a disability task force in the committee; mainstreaming disability in its work; adoption of own initiative opinions concerning people with disabilities; accommodation of accessibility requirements in the renovation of its new headquarters and making changes in the Staff Regulations regarding employment of disabled people.
− Contact : Ms Ewa Kaniewska (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 81 17 – e-mail : [email protected])
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• Transnational mobility for education and training purposes: European quality charter for mobility − Rapporteur : Mr CZAJKOWSKI (Various interests – PL)
− References : COM(2005) 450 final – 2005/0179 (COD) – CESE 235/2006
− Key points :
The EESC welcomes the Commission's proposal for a Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Transnational mobility for education and training purposes: European Quality Charter for Mobility.
The EESC proposes that special attention should be paid to the following areas:
− information on the programmes provided by Member States at local and national levels; − information about equal opportunities for candidates; − clear, transparent and precise procedures for participants; − a clear definition of the range of tasks to be carried out by those in charge of the programme, in order to avoid future complaints or misunderstandings, for example between host and sender organisations; − further coordination of mobility policy at European level (rather than at the level of individual Member States) enabling the objectives set by the Commission and the Lisbon strategy to be achieved.
The EESC considers that the Commission should suggest a date for the Charter to enter into force, as an impetus for action by the Member States.
− Contact: Ms Ewa Kaniewska (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 81 17 – e-mail : [email protected])
• Management of migration flows − Rapporteur: Ms Le Nouail Marlière (Employees – FR)
− References: COM(2005) 123 final – 2005/0046 (COD) – 2005/0047 (COD) – 2005/0048 (CNS) – 2005/0049 (COD)) – CESE 234/2006
− Key points:
The Committee: − supports the proposal to set up a European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals for the period 2007-2013, a European Refugee Fund following on from the existing fund, and an External Borders Fund;
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− asks the Council to examine and adopt together the draft Communication defining the framework of the general programme “Solidarity and management of migration flows” and the decisions setting up specific funds for implementing the general programme;
− calls upon the Commission to take account of the EESC’s recommendations in its action plan linked with the Hague Programme; recommends that the Council and the Commission:
− ensure the transparency of operation of these new structural funds by making an explicit connection between the Hague Programme and the Communication under consideration;
− include practical provisions in the decisions setting up these various funds to ensure that non- state operators are associated at as early a stage as possible in the annual and multi-annual framework of guidelines drawn up by the Member States and by the Commission itself.
− Contact: Ms Susanne Johansson (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 84 77– e-mail: [email protected])
3. ENERGY
• Energy efficiency − Rapporteur: Mr Buffetaut (Employers – FR)
− Reference: Exploratory opinion – CESE 242/2006
− Key points:
Significantly improving energy efficiency must be a key element of the European Union's future energy policy. The Committee fully supports the plan to reduce energy consumption by 20%. and feels that it is vital not only to quickly reach the objective of a 1% annual reduction in energy consumption but to also set an effective reduction target of 2% as part of a second phase.
Public awareness campaigns can also play a useful role. To be successful, these campaigns must take place as close as possible to end consumers and to the professional sectors concerned. It is, therefore, up to the national and local authorities to take responsibility for such action.
The search for energy efficiency has become a necessity for enterprises; accordingly, in most cases, voluntary agreements rather than legislation should provide an adequate solution. Several legal instruments have already been adopted whose implementation must still be assessed.
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As the two sectors with the largest energy consumption, the transport and construction industries must be the focus of intense efforts and the search for innovation.
The European Union and the Member States must become strongly involved in convergent policies aimed at promoting energy efficiency, the ongoing, gradual introduction of efficient, energy saving innovations, the exchange of best practices, the distribution of the best technologies as well as information and incentive campaigns for households and consumers. The European Union could play a particularly useful role in this field.
− Contact: Siegfried Jantscher (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 82 87 - e-mail: [email protected].
4. HEALTH AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
• Health and consumer protection – Rapporteur: Mr Pegado Liz (Various Interests – PT)
– References: COM(2005) 115 final – 2005/0042 COD – CESE 230/2006
– Key points:
The EESC has formed the broad opinion that the proposed decision establishing a joint programme for Community action on health and consumer protection is not sufficiently justified or elucidated in many respects: the reasons given do not seem convincing enough to make this a valid option.
The legal bases of the two policies, which are defined respectively in Articles 152 and 153 of the Treaty, are of a very different nature. It is therefore important to avoid the perverse effect of bringing consumer protection policy into line with the strict complementarity and subsidiarity criteria that underpin public health policy, to the detriment of the EU's own powers in this field. This could also result in an unwanted "consumerisation" of public health, confusing the concepts of "user" and "consumer" and lumping them together as common aspects of "citizenship".
− Contact: M. João Pereira dos Santos (Tél. : 00 32 2 546 92 45 – e-mail : [email protected])
• Eco-labelling schemes for fisheries products – Rapporteur: Mr Sarró Iparraguirre (Various Interests – ES)
− References: COM(2005) 275 final – CESE 237/2006
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– Key points:
The Committee considers that, at the present moment, it is preferable to choose the third of the options set out in the Commission communication on eco-labelling schemes for fisheries products, that proposes the establishment of minimum requirements for voluntary eco-labelling schemes. It points out, however, that these minimum requirements must be sufficiently rigorous and be backed up by rules preventing, and laying down sanctions for, infringement.
The Committee believes that:
− eco-labels should be clearly differentiated from general rules on the labelling of food products.
− the label for fisheries products, like any other extractive or aquaculture product, may be awarded in respect of non-processed products or processed fish products. In the first case, the eco-label must guarantee compliance with the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. In the second case, the correct application of traceability rules for food products must be guaranteed.
− a clear mechanism has to be established for the accreditation of certification bodies, the award of eco-labels, the settlement of disputes, supervision and sanctions in the event of abuse and non-compliance differentiating the labelled product from other fisheries products
− SMEs and developing-country operators may in certain circumstances have difficulty in gaining access to eco-labels. The rules adopted should therefore include intervention mechanisms involving producer organisations, fishermen’s associations and partnership agreements. The rules should also take particular account of the possible validity of eco-labelling for the fisheries industry, with the costs being passed along the commercial value chain without detriment to consumers
− a major educational and publicity effort is needed and public-sector institutions should finance information and awareness-raising campaigns for operators and consumers
− Contact Ms. Yvette Azzopardi (Tel. : 00 32 2 546 98 18 – e-mail : [email protected])
• Aquaculture – Animal health rules − Rapporteur: Mr Fakas(Various Interests – EL)
− References: COM(2005) 362 final – 2005/0153 CNS – CESE 233/2006
− Contact: Ms. Yvette Azzopardi (Tel. : 00 32 2 546 98 18 – e-mail : [email protected])
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5. EXTERNAL RELATIONS
• EU-Mexico relations − Rapporteur : Mr RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA-CARO (Employers – ES)
− Referral : Own-initiative opinion – CESE 246/2006
− Key points :
Since December 1995, when the EESC adopted an opinion on this matter, considerable progress has been made in EU-Mexico relations, resulting in the EU-Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement, signed in October 2000, which provided for a free trade area.
One specific aim referred to therein is the need to develop stronger links between civil society in the two regions, which could be achieved by setting up an EU-Mexico Joint Consultative Committee.
The EESC has therefore drawn up an opinion which will serve as a basis for launching this initiative and will also update and assess the considerable progress made in EU-Mexico relations since 1995, in particular in view of the undertakings made by the EESC in the Declaration adopted at the Third Meeting of European Union, Latin American and Caribbean civil society organisations, which it must now fulfil.
As stated in the Mexico Declaration, the EESC must, through its activities, strive towards the three- fold objective of deepening the partnership between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, establishing an agenda for the promotion of social cohesion, and strengthening the role of organised civil society. That is why this opinion is important. If the EESC does not act, it will be going against the commitments it has made.
In order to enable civil society to participate in Mexico's development, the EESC believes that an EU-Mexico JCC could be set up. The EESC is firmly in favour of the creation of an opposite number in Mexico. The EU-Mexico JCC should be a consultative arm of the Joint Council and would be involved in the development, monitoring and application of the Global Agreement. It would issue opinions on the basis of referrals from the Joint Committee or Joint Council, on such topics as they decide. It could also issue own-initiative opinions or recommendations on matters relating to the Agreement.
In order to study the possibility of setting up an EU-Mexico JCC, the EESC believes it necessary to pursue relations with Mexican civil society – which have thus far been sporadic – in a more systematic fashion. It therefore calls on Mexican civil society to appoint, by consensus, three representatives from each civil society group (employers, employees and the third sector). For its part, the EESC could appoint three representatives from each of its three groups, as a counterpart. The purpose of this Joint EESC-Mexican civil society working group would be to draw up a proposal for the establishment, membership, duties and rules of procedure of an EU-Mexico JCC.
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Moreover, the EESC would be willing – to the best of its ability and insofar as there were a consensus within Mexican society – to support the creation of an equivalent, national body in Mexico. The EESC believes that this body should reflect the pluralism of Mexican civil society and should therefore comprise the three sectors mentioned above. Like the EESC, it should be based on the principles of representativeness, independence and legitimacy.
− Contact: Ms Beatriz Porres (Tel: 00 32 2 546 91 31 – e-mail : [email protected])
6. JUSTICE
• The service of documents in civil and commercial matters − Rapporteur: Ms Sánchez Miguel (Employees – ES)
− References: COM(2005) 305 final – 2005/0126 COD – CESE 231/2006
− Key points:
The EESC congratulates the Commission on the content of the proposed reform, which clarifies the Regulation – a Regulation that has such a key role in making the area of freedom, security and justice a reality in the EU – and will make it easier to comply with. Some of the new points create a degree of confusion, however, as to how its content should be interpreted.
The EESC wishes to express its concern at the lack of consideration the Commission gives to the Regulation's implementation in the new Member States, despite having adapted the annexes to accommodate this new situation.
In any event, the EESC wishes to state that the procedure adopted in the reform is the right one.
− Contact: Mr João Pereira dos Santos (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 92 45 – e-mail: [email protected])
• Settlement of small claims litigation – Rapporteur: Mr Pegado Liz (Various Interests – PT)
– References: COM(2005) 87 final – 2005/0020 COD – CESE 243/2006
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– Key points:
The EESC congratulates the Commission on the technically and legally sound nature of the proposal, the balance struck between the different interests concerned, and the additional provision of a well-structured, well-thought out and clearly-presented impact assessment.
The sole purpose of the EESC's general and specific comments is to enhance the proposal and to fine-tune some of its mechanisms.
− Contact: Mr João Pereira dos Santos (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 92 45 – e-mail: [email protected])
7. TRANSPORT
• The role of railway stations in an enlarged EU − Rapporteur : Mr Tóth (Various Interests – HU)
− Reference: Own-initiative opinion – CESE 232/2006
− Contact: Anna Wagner (Tel.: 00 32 2 546 83 06 – e-mail: [email protected])
______
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ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 93
ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Summary of resolutions and decisions adopted, subjects discussed in plenary and action taken
This document is available at :
http://www.europarl.ep.ec/bulletins/postsession.htm (Intranet) http://www.europarl.eu.int/bulletins/postsession.htm (Internet)
Section produced by the Directorate-General for Committees and Delegations
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New .eu Domain
Changed Web and E-Mail Addresses The introduction of the .eu domain also required the web and e-mail addresses of the European institutions to be adapted. Below please find a list of addresses found in the document at hand which have been changed after the document was created. The list shows the old and new address, a reference to the page where the address was found and the type of address: http: and https: for web addresses, mailto: for e-mail addresses etc.
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