Vote

Parliament largely approved the compromise on the directive on data protection that was worked out between the EPP-ED and the PES, Parliament's two largest groups, in consultation with the Spanish presidency. There will now be no conciliation procedure. Rapporteur Marco CAPPATO (NI, I) rejected any responsibility for the outcome, saying it entailed massive restrictions on civil liberties and ran counter to the position of the Freedoms and Rights Committee.

On data retention, possibly the most contentious issue of the directive, the compromise says that Member States may only lift the protection of data privacy in order to conduct criminal investigations or safeguard national or public security, when this is a "necessary, appropriate and proportionate measure within a democratic society". For the retention of data for a limited period Member States may thus adopt legislative measures, which must be in accordance with the general principles of Community law, including article 6 of the EU Treaty. In a recital the compromise says that lawful interceptions of electronic communications should also be in accordance with the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

On spamming, Parliament left the Council's common position unaltered, thus approving an opt-in system for e-mail, faxes and automated calling systems, which means that users should give prior permission for receiving unsolicited electronic communications for marketing purposes. As regards "cookies", Parliament accepts the Council's position that users should have the right to refuse them, specifying that users should be provided with clear and comprehensive information on their purposes.

On the inclusion of personal data into public directories, Parliament again accepts the Council's common position, saying that users should give prior permission. Parliament has maintained the possibility for Member States to allow reverse search functions.

Finally, Parliament wants a review of the directive within three years of its application.

Press enquiries:
Marjory van den Broeke
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 74838
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e-mail :   Libe-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

In a non-binding vote, MEPs voted 287 to 128 with 43 abstentions in favour of a resolution seeking to delay the introduction of new rules designed to open up Europe’s car industry to EU competition rules. One particular amendment seeks to delay until 2005 the introduction of a new ”location clause” under selective distribution arrangements between manufacturers and dealers, whereby restrictions on advertising in regional territories would be scrapped and then only for the new arrangements to come into force after a review showing that such a change would be necessary to comply with EU competition rules.

During yesterday’s debate, Commissioner Mario MONTI said he could not accept this amendment. This is an area where the Commission has exclusive competence.

With the car industry’s block exemption from EU competition rules set to come to an end in September 2002, the Commission has put forward a draft regulation with a view to gradually opening up the market giving consumers more choice with a general transitional period of one year, i.e. until 30 September 2003 before the new rules come into force.

Other amendments adopted concern the link between distributors and car repairers, showroom sales of various makes, spare parts, legal contracts and a timetable for the new rules. Parliament is anxious to ensure that after-sales services, if subcontracted, are provided close to the distributor and one amendment takes up this point. Other amendments relate to legal guarantees to ensure consumer protection in the new environment.

To protect dealers another amendment approved seeks to stipulate a two-year period of notice for terminating an agreement with the manufacturer. MEPs want the manufacturer to pay compensation in the event of the distributor making substantial investments in a new showroom and related facilities which cannot be covered as a result of the loss of a dealership.

A further amendment takes up safety and environmental concerns and stipulates that manufacturers are not obliged to disclose sensitive technical information relating to, for example, engine speed or exhaust emissions.

Press enquiries:
Roy Worsley
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 74751
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 42941
e-mail :   econ-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament endorsed, after conciliation, a new directive agreed by Parliament and Council that will reduce pollution from motorcycle exhaust fumes and make new motorcycles as clean as new cars have been since 2000.

The package deal agreed in March and approved today, meets Parliament's key aim of setting mandatory emission limits from 2006, to follow the first set of compulsory limits which will be introduced in 2003. Parliament's negotiators also secured realistic methods for testing emissions: two test cycles for measuring emissions will be used in parallel, during a transition period, as a basis for the new, 2006 limit values.

Rapporteur Bernd LANGE (PES, D) welcomed the deal on the new directive as "a good compromise which will improve air quality in Europe". At present, although two and three-wheeled vehicles only make up 2 or 3 per cent of total traffic volume in Europe they produce 15 per cent of transport hydrocarbon emissions. The new legislation also includes measures to prevent tampering with emission control devices, durability criteria and standards for tricycles and quadricycles.

Press enquiries:
Mary Brazier
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 88 763969
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 42672
e-mail :   envi-press@europarl.eu.int

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Parliament passed two resolutions today calling for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to be preserved but updated to meet contemporary needs and for a major shift towards support for sustainable rural development. It advocates a new, third pillar for the CAP to cover food quality and safety. It is also demanding full powers for Parliament over the EU's farm policy and farm budget. The resolutions were drawn up by Francesco FIORI (EPP-ED, I) and María Rodríguez RAMOS (PES, E) from the Agriculture Committee ahead of the Commission's Mid-Term Review of the Agenda 2000 CAP reforms which is now expected on 10 July.
Mr Fiori's resolution, which analyses the common market regimes supported under the CAP, says the CAP is the EU's "longest standing and most accomplished founding policy", whose original objectives under the Treaty of Rome are still valid today. To ensure its continued existence, however, it "should be recast along new, more modern lines".

He and Mrs Rodríguez Ramos, whose resolution assesses progress under the rural development pillar of the CAP created under Agenda 2000, both insist that the CAP must meet society's expectations for high-quality, safe foodstuffs as well as environmental protection and preservation of the landscape and of rural communities and small farms. That means that the CAP must guarantee the multifunctional role of European farming.

The two resolutions call for more resources to be shifted from market support, which currently mops up 90 per cent of the farm budget, to rural development. Mr Fiori's resolution calls for an incomes policy to keep farmers on the land throughout the Union and asks the Commission to draft proposals for the post-2006 period aimed at making direct income support payments a part of rural development policy. It says the "modulation" introduced under the Agenda 2000 agreement - providing for cuts to direct aid and for the resulting savings to be redirected to finance early retirement measures, disadvantaged areas, environment and rural development measures - "fell somewhat short of what was needed" and wants it to be made compulsory under the Mid-Term Review.

The Fiori resolution calls for the link between direct payments and production to be reduced after 2006. It recognises the need to promote area-based livestock farming. Whilst opposing all forms of "dangerous" repatriation of the CAP to Member States, both reporters want to see more compulsory co-financing by the Member States of measures taken under the CAP. Parliament repeats, in the Fiori resolution, previous demands for more support for fruit and vegetables and a permanent aid system for nuts and warns against hasty decisions in the dairy sector or olive oil market organisation.

The Rodríguez Ramos resolution complains that the rural development measures currently in force are applied unevenly in the different Member States, a situation likely to be exacerbated with enlargement. It also calls for the rules, procedures and financing relating to second-pillar, rural development measures to be simplified. Parliament believes that the two pillars of the CAP, namely market regimes and rural development, have to be seen as a whole. It advises against linking the Mid-Term Review of Agenda 2000 with the enlargement negotiations.

Press enquiries:
Mary Brazier
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 88 763969
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e-mail :   Agri-press@europarl.eu.int

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Following last night’s debate, Parliament adopted a joint resolution tabled by the PES, EPP-ED, EUL/NGL and UEN groups, by 285 votes in favour, 79 against and 8 abstentions calling on Council to adopt a proposed regulation on the table that would authorise temporary state aid for European shipbuilders facing unfair competition from South Korea. MEPs would also want the provisions of the proposed regulation to apply to gas tankers and ferries, also facing subsidised competition from South Korea. There is support for the Commission’s approach in taking action before the WTO while at the same time allowing temporary aid to European shipbuilders.
MEPs – rejecting the Commission’s view that there should be a linkage between adopting the temporary defensive mechanism and the opening of proceedings against Korea at the WTO – urged it to initiate the procedures as soon as possible.

Press enquiries:
Gonçalo Macedo
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 75825
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 41361
e-mail :   Pech-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

MEPs approved a conciliation agreement with Council on substances and dangerous preparations.

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Mary Brazier
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e-mail :   envi-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

The EU's Sixth Environment Action Programme, which sets out priorities for environmental policy up until 2012 and forms a basis for the environmental dimension of the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy, was given its seal of approval by Parliament after conciliation.

The new programme addresses Parliament's concerns over the key issues of environmentally harmful subsidies, eco-taxes, Kyoto Protocol emission targets and thematic strategies for tackling environmental priorities and was endorsed today by the House.

The programme will help to mainstream environmental concerns into all Community policy making and will support the reform of environmentally damaging subsidies, as Parliament demanded. It will encourage environmentally related taxes and incentives "at the appropriate national or Community level".

Tougher targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the post-2012 Kyoto Protocol period will be sought, linked to an assessment by the International Panel on Climate Change. The Commission will issue a paper by the end of this year on quantifiable targets for a sustainable transport system, as part of the EU's efforts to reduce greenhouse gases by eight per cent. The rising volumes of urban traffic will also be tackled.
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Mary Brazier
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e-mail :   envi-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament adopted several amendments to the Council's version of the directive on public access to environmental information in a bid to strengthen it after most of its first-reading amendments were ignored.

The directive is intended to ensure that members of the public have access to environmental information held by public authorities. The amendments passed at second reading relate chiefly to stricter deadlines for supplying information, exemptions, the pro-active dissemination of information and the quality of information.

Parliament wants to ensure that any charges levied by public authorities for supplying information on, for example, the pollution of a river or a new building, remain reasonable - as the Council says - and it adds that the charges must not exceed the actual cost of reproducing the material requested. Parliament also wants to prevent information on emissions, discharges and other releases into the environment from being withheld on grounds of commercial or industrial secrecy.

The directive is one of three designed to bring EU legislation into line with the 1998 Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.

Press enquiries:
Mary Brazier
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Vote

Members adopted a report by Guido PODESTÀ (EPP-ED, I) on the amending and supplementary budget 2/2002. In the resolution, Parliament reminded the Commission of the latter’s intention to spend wisely the €4.5 billion that it had foreseen by amendments passed during first reading. Given this development, and to ensure inter-institutional co-operation, this amount will not be reinstated by the Parliament or by the Council.

Parliament was particularly concerned over the accumulation of outstanding payments (which risk, as the Reporter indicated, to be greater than €100 billion). Parliament was also worried about the ability to reach a balanced budget in terms of actual engagements and payments. Parliament asked the Commission to evaluate, before 30 September, the situation regarding outstanding payments, the date when the Commission will, if necessary, present the appropriate adjustments, either by a global transfer or by an amending supplementary budget.

Press enquiries:
Philippe Kamaris
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 73777
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 46670
e-mail :   budg-press@europarl.eu.int

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Parliament welcomed this interim revision of the TENs guidelines and did not propose any changes to the list of specific projects. However, it adopted amendments calling for TENs projects to be removed from the list if they had not been completed within 15 years and for the Trans-European Network not to focus excessively on certain modes of transport such as rail and inland waterways but to seek a balance between the various modes of transport. Other amendments call for sea transport including short-sea shipping to be fully integrated in the TEN proposals, for environmental protection to be reinforced and for links between the EU's neighbouring countries and the Member States to be developed in order to prevent bottlenecks at the EU's external borders.

Press enquiries:
Ton Huyssoon
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 42408
e-mail :   region-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

In a non-binding vote, Parliament rejected a Spanish initiative to set up a European Institute of Police Studies, on the grounds that this would lead to duplication with the work of the European Police College. Parliament wants to see just one European Police Institute.

Press enquiries:
Marjory van den Broeke
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 74838
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Vote

In a further non-binding vote, Parliament followed the advice of the Citizens Freedoms and Rights Committee rejecting a proposal from the Spanish Presidency for setting up a network of contact points to deal with private security on the grounds that the legislation should come under the ‘first’ rather than the ‘third’ pillar.

Press enquiries:
Marjory van den Broeke
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 74838
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 44304
e-mail :   Libe-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament approved a Spanish initiative to improve the cross-border protection of public figures together with a number of non-binding amendments to ensure that there is no duplication with existing cooperation arrangements.

Press enquiries:
Marjory van den Broeke
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 74838
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 44304
e-mail :   Libe-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

In another non-binding vote, MEPs rejected the initiative to amend the Europol Convention by enhancing intergovernmental cooperation and to authorise operational duties such as joint investigations. Instead Parliament prefers to see Europol integrated into justice and home affairs legislation, funded partly from the EU budget and subject to proper democratic control.

Press enquiries:
Marjory van den Broeke
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 74838
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 44304
e-mail :   Libe-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

In another non-binding resolution the House rejected a proposal for a 5.2% increase in the basic salaries and allowances for Europol staff.

Press enquiries:
Marjory van den Broeke
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 74838
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Vote

MEPs approved new arrangements governing state aid from the Member States to the coal industry to take account of the European Coal and Steel Community on 23 July 2002.

The new regulation is based on creating an indigenous primary energy base by maintaining access to coal reserves and continuing the restructuring process while maintaining consistency with competition law. Support for European mines is therefore justified to ensure security of supply, although European production remains uncompetitive when compared to imports from third countries.

Aid for security resources, aid for closure and aid to cover exceptional costs are covered. The new arrangements should remain operative until the end of 2010. Closure aid is to cease at the end of 2007.

Press enquiries:
Klaus Hullmann
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 73781
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 42518
e-mail :   Indu-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament welcomed the declaration of common values shared between the two continents as well as the signing of an agreement on the objectives for a bi-regional strategic partnership. Parliament also welcomed the position taken on the rapid setting up of the International Criminal Court, as well as the agreement to fight terrorism and organised crime in all its forms.

Members agreed to the main cultural economic and political goals of the Summit, but hope that these are turned into concrete actions. The Council and the Commission were invited to work on this, particularly by providing the necessary finance.

Parliament was pleased to see the conclusion of the negotiations on the Association Agreement between the EU and Chile, and hopes that the EU will conclude similar negotiations with Mercosur and the Andean countries as soon as possible. The resolution adopted looks forward to strengthening the multi-lateral system of free trade.
Press enquiries:
Alexandre Stutzmann
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 74005
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 43439
e-mail :   foreign-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament passed a resolution slating the Commission for its slow progress, shortcomings and lack of transparency in implementing a ten-year-old directive that requires risk assessments of the active ingredients in pesticides and the banning of the most dangerous substances.

It backed a resolution by the Environment Committee's reporter Paul LANNOYE (Greens/EFA, B) which points out that the evaluation procedure under Directive 91/414/EEC has only been completed for 31 of the 834 existing active substances and that it will be impossible to meet the July 2003 deadline for the remaining substances.

Parliament reluctantly accepts the Commission's proposal to put back the final deadline for the evaluation procedures to 2008, subject to a number of conditions. It agrees with the Commission's proposals for the amendment of the directive and calls for a revised version of it to be submitted by the end of this year. It is also calling for a new directive establishing a programme to reduce pesticide use to be proposed by July 2003 and for a proposal for a directive regulating the establishment of a Code of Best Practice for each crop with regard to the use of authorised pesticides.
The resolution states that "the Directive is not capable of curbing the constant rise in the use of and dependence on pesticides, and since 1996 there has been a general increase in pesticide use in most Member States". It also points out that the pollution of groundwater by pesticides is still increasing and says priority must be given to the strict enforcement and monitoring of residue levels in all food products. It is calling for legally binding labelling requirements for produce treated with pesticides.

Press enquiries:
Mary Brazier
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 88 763969
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 42672
e-mail :   envi-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

MEPs approved a resolution on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to be defined as a concept whereby companies decide voluntarily to contribute to a better society and cleaner environment. Initiatives in this area include, for example, improved recruiting policies based on non-discrimination, better opportunities for racial minorities, greater involvement with local communities and offering support on changes at work. Other activities include a greater awareness of human rights and working condition abroad.

The resolution proposes the creation of an EU multi-stakeholder CSR platform made up of representatives of business, trade unions, non-governmental organisations, public authorities and representatives of non-EU countries. In addition, the resolution states that companies should be required to supply information on the social and environmental impact of their operations. It calls for mainstreaming of CSR in all areas of EU competence, in particular regional and social funding where companies could play a stronger role in supporting training for socially responsible restructuring. Companies should also, according to the resolution, state their policy regarding social responsibility, human rights and environmental performance, in other words ‘triple bottom line corporate reporting’.

Ultimately, the European institutions are hoping this initiative will offer a new European framework for the promotion of corporate social responsibility.

Press enquiries:
Constanze Beckerhoff
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 73780
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 44302
e-mail :   Empl-press@europarl.eu.int