25.2.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 47 E/1 Tuesday 14 July 2009 IV (Notices) NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2009-2010 SESSION Sittings of 14 to 16 July 2009 STRASBOURG MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF 14 JULY 2009 (2010/C 47 E/01) Contents Page PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITTING . 2 1. Opening of the sitting (first sitting of the newly elected Parliament) . 2 2. Composition of Parliament . 2 3. Composition of political groups . 3 4. Order of business . 3 5. Formation of political groups . 3 6. Verification of credentials . 4 7. Election of the President of the European Parliament . 4 8. Election of Vice-Presidents (deadline for submitting nominations) . 5 9. Election of Vice-Presidents (first, second and third ballots) . 5 10. Documents received . 7 11. Texts of agreements forwarded by the Council . 11 12. Action taken on Parliament’s positions and resolutions . 12 13. Petitions . 12 14. Transfers of appropriations . 22 15. Closure of the sitting . 23 ATTENDANCE REGISTER . 24 C 47 E/2 EN Official Journal of the European Union 25.2.2010 Tuesday 14 July 2009 Contents (continued) Page ANNEX I ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT . 26 ANNEX II ELECTION OF THE VICE-PRESIDENTS . 28 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITTING IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING 1. Opening of the sitting (first sitting of the newly elected Parliament) The sitting opened at 10.05. In accordance with the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, Hans-Gert Pöttering (provisional chair pursuant to Rule 12(1), Rules of procedure))declared open the first sitting of the European Parliament after the elections, and made a brief speech. 2. Composition of Parliament The following changes to the composition of Parliament since the preceding part-session of 4 to 7 May 2009 were noted. The following Members had resigned: — Carlos Carnero González with effect from 28 May 2009, — Alain Hutchinson with effect from 23 June 2009, — Mia De Vits with effect from 30 June 2009. The Spanish authorities had given notice of the election as a Member of the European Parliament of Joan Vallvé to replace Ignasi Guardans Cambó with effect from 8 May 2009. The Permanent Representation of the United Kingdom to the European Union had given notice of the appointment of Glenys Kinnock to a post incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament under Article 7(1) of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage. Consequently, her mandate had ended with effect from 8 June 2009. 25.2.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 47 E/3 Tuesday 14 July 2009 The Lithuanian authorities had given notice of the appointment of Eugenijus Gentvilas to a post incom­ patible with that of Member of the European Parliament under Article 7(3) of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage. Consequently, his mandate had ended with effect from 16 June 2009. Georgios Georgiou had been appointed to a post incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament under Article 7(2) of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage. Consequently, his mandate had ended with effect from 7 July 2009. Parliament noted these vacancies and would inform the Member States concerned. 3. Composition of political groups Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann had joined the PSE Group with effect from 14 May 2009. 4. Order of business The final draft agenda for the part-session (PE426.692/PDOJ) had been distributed. 5. Formation of political groups Hans-Gert Pöttering announced that he had been notified that the following political groups had been formed: — Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE): 265 members, — Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D): 184 members, — Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE): 84 members, — Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE): 55 members, — European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR): 55 members, — Confederal Group of the European United Left — Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL): 35 members, — Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group (EFD): 32 members, — 26 non-attached Members. The statements concerning the formation of political groups referred to in Rule 30(5) would be forwarded to the President. C 47 E/4 EN Official Journal of the European Union 25.2.2010 Tuesday 14 July 2009 6. Verification of credentials Hans-Gert Pöttering announced that all documents concerning the proclamation of the election of Members would be forwarded to the committee responsible for verifying credentials, which had yet to be set up pursuant to Rule 183. He reminded the House that, pursuant to Rule 3(2), until such time as Members’ credentials had been verified or a ruling had been given on any dispute, Members would take their seats in Parliament and on its bodies and enjoy all the rights attaching thereto. He announced that, pursuant to Article 7 of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, Members performing duties incompatible with the office of a Member of the European Parliament would not be able to take their seats. He asked the 11 Members who had not yet signed the declaration of non-incompatibility to do so immediately. 7. Election of the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering announced that he had received, under Rule 13, the nominations of Jerzy Buzek and Eva-Britt Svensson. Eva-Britt Svensson and Jerzy Buzek spoke to present their nominations. After drawing attention to the provisions of Rule 14(1), he drew lots to appoint eight tellers. The following were appointed: Josefa Andres Barea, Rebecca Harms, Anna Hedh, Jolanta Emilia Hibner, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, Barry Madlener, Adrian Severin and Eleni Theocharous. Hans-Gert Pöttering explained the voting procedure to the House. The vote was taken. (The sitting was suspended at 11.00 for the votes to be counted, and resumed at 11.45.) Hans-Gert Pöttering read out the results of the ballot. — Members voting 713 — Blank or void 69 — Votes cast 644 — Absolute majority 323 The results were as follows: — Jerzy Buzek 555 votes — Eva-Britt Svensson 89 votes (The list of Members voting is annexed to these Minutes.) Jerzy Buzek had obtained an absolute majority of the votes cast. Hans-Gert Pöttering therefore proclaimed him President of the European Parliament and congratulated him on his election. 25.2.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 47 E/5 Tuesday 14 July 2009 IN THE CHAIR: Jerzy BUZEK President The President made a brief speech to mark his election in which he paid tribute to his predecessor, Hans- Gert Pöttering. The following spoke: Joseph Daul, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Martin Schulz, on behalf of the S&D Group, Guy Verhofstadt, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Rebecca Harms, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Timothy Kirkhope, on behalf of the ECR Group, Lothar Bisky, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Nigel Farage, on behalf of the EFD Group, José Manuel Barroso (President of the Commission) and Bruno Gollnisch, Non-attached Member. 8. Election of Vice-Presidents (deadline for submitting nominations) On a proposal from the President, the deadline for submitting nominations for the election of the Vice- Presidents would be 13.00. The election would be held at 15.00. (The sitting was suspended at 12.25 and resumed at 15.05.) 9. Election of Vice-Presidents (first, second and third ballots) The President announced that he had received the following nominations for Vice-President: Roberta Angelilli, Isabelle Durant, Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Silvana Koch-Mehrin, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Stavros Lambrinidis, Edward McMillan-Scott, Miguel Ángel Martínez Martínez, Gianni Pittella, Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, Libor Rouček, Pál Schmitt, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Diana Wallis and Rainer Wieland. The President noted that number of candidates exceeded the number of seats to be filled and recalled the provisions of Rule 15(1). The following spoke: József Szájer, on the voting procedure. The vote was taken. (The sitting was suspended at 15.15 for the votes to be counted, and resumed at 17.15.) The President stated that an Italian soldier had been killed in Afghanistan that day and recalled the deaths of 15 British soldiers in that country over during the preceding month. The President read out the results of the vote: — Members voting 701 — Blank or void 17 — Votes cast 684 — Absolute majority 343 Votes obtained were as follows, in descending order: — Gianni Pittella 360 votes — Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou 355 votes — Stavros Lambrinidis 348 votes — Alejo Vidal-Quadras 332 votes — Miguel Ángel Martínez Martínez 330 votes — Diana Wallis 303 votes C 47 E/6 EN Official Journal of the European Union 25.2.2010 Tuesday 14 July 2009 — Dagmar Roth-Behrendt 299 votes — Libor Rouček 284 votes — Roberta Angelilli 277 votes — Isabelle Durant 268 votes — Rainer Wieland 267 votes — Pál Schmitt 266 votes — Edward McMillan-Scott 237 votes — Michał Tomasz Kamiński 194 votes — Silvana Koch-Mehrin 148 votes (The list of Members voting is annexed to these Minutes.) Gianni Pittella, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou and Stavros Lambrinidis were elected Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament. Eleven seats remained to be filled. The President noted that the nominations would be the same as for the first ballot.