Vote

The European Parliament adopted a second reading legislative report by Lissy GRÖNER (PES, D) on the second stage of the Daphne programme, whose aim is to prevent and combat violence against women, children and young people, and to protect victims and groups at risk.

This second stage (Daphne II) runs from 2004 to 2008, the current programme having expired at the end of 2003. The new programme will have a longer time frame and a higher budget. The European Commission will give grants totalling €50 million to non-governmental organisations and other bodies fighting violence against European citizens, compared with €20 million for Daphne I. Parliament succeeded at first reading in raising the budget from the €41 million originally proposed by the Commission, given the imminent enlargement of the EU and the need to ensure that the new Member States benefit fully from the programme.

It is concern for the situation in new Member states which explains why MEPs now reinstated an amendment at second reading, aiming to "establish a help desk to assist non-governmental organisations, especially those participating for the first time, to elaborate their projects, to liase with other partners and to use and benefit from the Daphne acquis." They argued that such technical assistance was of crucial importance in ensuring that NGOs from the new Member States could have access to the resources of the programme on an equal footing with those from the current Member States.

Other amendments focused on the question of perpetrators of violence and their need for treatment. MEPs want "to develop and implement treatment programmes for victims and people at risk, such as children and young people who witness domestic violence, on one hand, and perpetrators on the other hand, with the aim of preventing violence," but they were concerned that, by including a reference to perpetrators in the article listing the programme objectives, the Council appeared to be creating a new targeted group alongside victims and people at risk, thereby undermining the Commission's well-balanced proposal. MEPs therefore deleted this reference, since greater attention must be paid to the victims, who are the main target group of the programme.
Background: The Daphne II programme allows all areas of violence (domestic violence, violence in schools, in institutions, in the work place, commercial sexual exploitation, genital mutilation, health impact, gender violence, trafficking in human beings, treatment of offenders etc.) to be the subject of initiatives. As the organisations responsible for assistance to victims, NGOs are still the best way to reach and help the individuals concerned. Training bodies, universities, voluntary associations, research centres and local authorities are also eligible.
The first Daphne programme has involved more than 100 NGOs and organisations active in the field in Europe, and they have, in turn, reached several tens of thousands of direct beneficiaries of this programme. With an increased budget, the Daphné II programme will contribute to its general objective of providing citizens with a high level of protection from violence, including the protection of their mental and physical health and this in all 25 Member States.

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Vote

The European Parliament marked International Women's Day on 8 March with a debate focussing on the situation of women in Europe, with many of the speakers raising the need more easily to reconcile professional, family and private lives. Margot WALLSTRÖM, representing the Commission gave a warm welcome to this own initiative report from Regina BASTOS (EPP/ED, P) on the subject. Ms Bastos herself emphasised that there were two challenges for the European Union to tackle: a declining population and the need for economic growth. She argued that family policies encouraging demographic growth are needed, as well as policies to promote the participation of women in the labour market.

The report, adopted today with 424 votes in favour, 51 against and 37 abstentions is based on a survey of the situation regarding family policy in the different Member States. In particular, the report sets out a number of ways in which progress could be made toward the targets set at the Barcelona summit in 2002, namely the elimination of obstacles to the participation of women in the labour market and the provision, by 2010, of childcare facilities for 90 per cent of children between 3 years old and the mandatory school age, and for 33 per cent of younger children.

Among other suggestions, MEPs urge the Commission to draw up a framework directive on reconciling professional, family and private lives and to organise an annual conference on the issue. They propose additional awareness raising measures by both the Commission and the Member States, and call for Member States to avoid taxation measures which penalise families and larger households.

They add that family policy should make it possible for parents to spend more time with their children, and that better contact between parents and children would have a positive impact on family formation and family stability. To achieve these objectives, MEPs say there must be greater public investment in providing affordable, high-quality childcare. Member States are also urged to facilitate access to paid parental leave and other forms of long-term leave, including career breaks, as well as special short-term leave (e.g. for breastfeeding or for the illness of a family member). The report also stresses the importance of flexible working hours and distance working for both male and female employees.

Care for children is the most prominent aspect of this resolution but not the only one. Europe's population is ageing, with 17% of the population of the EU over 65 years old, and this percentage is growing fast, so steps have to be taken now. MEPs urge the Member States to provide the elderly with high quality care and domestic help, and to ensure adequate training for staff working in this area.

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Katarzyna Prandota
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e-mail :   femm-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

The House adopted an own-initiative report on the situation of women from minority groups in the European Union.

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Vote

Parliament adopted a first reading report on the intellectual property rights (IPR) directive, with 330 votes in favour, 151 against and 39 abstentions. The House welcomed a compromise agreement with the Council, which means that the Directive can be finally adopted before the European elections.

The aim of the directive is to approximate legislative systems in order to ensure a high, equivalent and homogenous level of protection of intellectual property rights in the Internal Market. This will help combat counterfeiting and piracy in the single market, a problem which affects a range of products: software, toys, CDs and even pharmaceuticals such as Viagra. Piracy can thus be detrimental not only to innovation and economic interests but also to public health.

An important issue was the scope of the directive. The House voted for an amendment stipulating that main enforcement measures need to be applied only for breaches committed on a commercial scale. Simply put this means that consumers acting in good faith will be excluded from the Directive - for example individuals copying music recordings for their own use would not normally be penalised.
The House also voted against including criminal sanctions for infringements of intellectual property rights, preferring civil and administrative sanctions. Nonetheless, the Directive will not affect any national provisions in Member States on criminal penalties for IPR infringement, nor will it affect Member States' international obligations, including those relating to criminal procedures and penalties.

MEPs adopted an amendment stating that the measures and remedies provided for in the Directive should be determined on a case by case basis, taking into account the specific features of each intellectual property right as well as the intentional or unintentional character of the infringement.

Where evidence for establishing the infringement of intellectual property rights is concerned, Parliament amended the Commission Proposal to include the protection of confidential information. Where infringements are carried out on a commercial scale, courts may order access to banking, financial or commercial documents, but under the control of the alleged infringer. Procedures for obtaining evidence must thus have regard to the rights of the defence.

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Vote

The European Parliament adopted a compromise (codecision, first reading) on a regulation on official controls on food and feed, by 287 votes in favour, 194 against and 23 abstentions. By adopting a number of amendments in a report by Marit PAULSEN (ELDR, S), MEPs clarify the scope of the regulation, introduce transparency to the inspections and incorporate animal welfare and health to the regulation. The compromise was reached after long political negotiations with the Council. It ensures that the regulation enters into force as soon as possible.

MEPs clarified the scope of the official controls: they must prevent, eliminate or reduce to acceptable levels risks to humans and animals. They must also guarantee fair practices in trade and protect consumer interests, including labelling and other forms of consumer information. The Member States must ensure that official controls are carried out regularly and that they identify risks associated with animals, feed or food. The controls must take into account food safety and animal health and welfare. Official controls will be carried out without prior warning, except in cases such as audits. Official controls may also be carried out on an ad hoc basis.
A controversial issue was the question on criminal sanctions. The MEPs passed an amendment which says that Member States shall lay down the rules on sanctions applicable to infringements of feed and food law and protection of animal health and welfare. The sanctions must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

Another difficult issue was the question of transparency and confidentiality of the feed and food controls. As the original proposal only mentions the need to safeguard confidentiality, the Parliament instead today adopted an amendment which puts emphasis on transparency of the controls. MEPs insisted that relevant information held by the food and feed authorities should be made available to the public as soon as possible. Confidentiality however is not overruled, as the authority also has to ensure that it does not disclose information which by its nature is covered by professional secrecy.

MEPs had to decide whether the level of control fees should be dealt within Member States or whether an EU-wide fee should be introduced. The MEPs opted for the first choice and adopted an amendment that allows the Member States to collect fees to cover the costs occasioned by official controls. The fees shall not be higher than the costs and they may be fixed at flat rates on the basis of the costs borne by the competent authorities over a given period of time. The fees may also be fixed, where applicable, at the minimum amounts fixed in the annexes of the regulation.

The regulation also covers issues such as the delegation of control to specific control bodies, imports from third counties, community laboratories, liaison bodies with other Member states and multi-annual control plans.

Finally, the Parliament adopted an amendment on the entry into force of the regulation. The new rules on feed and food controls shall apply from January 2006 instead of 2005 as proposed by the Commission

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Vote

Parliament adopted an own-initiative resolution on population and development with 287 votes in favour, 196 against and 13 abstentions.

The House expects the publication of a comprehensive overview of progress in the implementation of the Cairo Programme of Action to mark the tenth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development in 2004. MEPs also call on the European Union to publish a round-up of the initiatives launched so far, and call on the Member States, in accordance with their undertakings in the area of public development aid (PDA), to make more funding available for the protection of reproductive health.

Parliament also stresses that abortion must not be regarded as a family planning method, but calls for legal and medically safe interventions to be possible for women who have no other way out of their difficulties. MEPs call on the European Union and its Member States, to that end, to co-ordinate activities among the donor countries more efficiently and to provide more funds for programmes in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights in order to fulfil the international commitments made in Cairo in 1994. MEPs also want the EU and the international community as a whole, in the absence of a cure for AIDS, to increase resources for, and commitment to, international research and development of an AIDS vaccine and comprehensive clinical trials, particularly in developing countries.

The House calls on states to refrain from prosecuting women who have had an illegal abortion. MEPs also call on the Commission to work with developing countries to tackle and prevent fistula problems at childbirth among girls and young women, particularly in relation to early marriage

MEPs welcome the fact that fifteen African States have made genital mutilation of girls and women illegal. Parliament calls on the African States where genital mutilation is still practised to also take legislative steps to prohibit it.

Press enquiries:
Armelle Douaud
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74779
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 43806
e-mail :   deve-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution with 449 votes in favour, 45 votes against and 7 abstentions on residence permits issued to third-country nationals who are victims of human trafficking or smuggling.

The European Parliament reinstates the 30-day reflection period. In exceptional cases, such as in the event of physical or psychological distress or for reasons relating to the safety of third parties, this period shall be extended. Furthermore, victims should be able to benefit from free legal aid, something the Council wishes to leave up to the Member States.

MEPs want the Member States, when issuing a residence permit to a victim, to consider issuing family members a residence permit for the same limited period. The absence of papers or possession of false papers may not constitute obstacles to the issuing and renewal of a permit. If a victim, after the expiration of the residence permit, submits an application for another type of residence permit, then the Member States should take into account the victim's cooperation when considering this application.
Should the authorities decide not to renew or to withdraw a third-country national's residence permit, they should assess the risks to that person's safety. Of course, this is the reason that many victims of human trafficking do not seek to co-operate with the authorities in finding their traffickers: they are afraid of being expelled to a country where will be at the mercy of their traffickers. Finally, Parliament introduces the right of appeal against a decision not to renew or to withdraw the residence permit.

Background
The short term residence permit will be issued to victims of human trafficking and smuggling who co-operate with the authorities in finding their traffickers and who have severed all relations with them. The permit will be valid for at least six months. On 5 December 2002, Parliament delivered its advice on the proposal for the first time. In many cases, the victims of human trafficking are girls and women who have been brought to the EU to work in the sex industry. These persons should be eligible for short-term residence permits if they are willing to work together with the authorities to arrest their traffickers. Under the proposal, there would be a 30-day reflection period during which victims can decide whether or not to co-operate with the authorities. A reflection period is deemed necessary, since it is difficult for victims of human trafficking to talk about their situation and since they are often very afraid of the traffickers.

In November 2003, the Council deleted the 30-day period and decided to leave it up to the Member States to decide the duration of the reflection period, according to their national legislation. The changes that were introduced by Council necessitated a re-consultation of Parliament.

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Danny de Paepe
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Vote

In a non-binding vote, Parliament rejected by 54 votes in favour, 411 against and 43 abstentions three initiatives of Ireland for Council Decisions adjusting the Europol staff regulations and basic salaries. MEPs repeat their view that Europol continues to amass powers and operating capabilities which escape democratic and jurisdictional control at both national and European levels. The report deplores the fact that the Parliament continues to have no real powers of decision or control on Europol.

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Pia Siitonen
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73612
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Vote

The Commission is proposing the establishment of a European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Borders. The agency is intended to co-ordinate cooperation between Member States in implementing Community policy on external borders. It would undertake tasks including the training of Member States' border guards, carrying out risk assessments and providing assistance to Member States where particular circumstances on an external border require extra support.

Parliament adopted a non-binding report on the proposal, which gives a broad welcome to the proposed agency, but also adopted some significant amendments. MEPs are opposed to the agency having a role in the removal of people illegally resident in the EU - they are concerned it would come to be seen purely as an expulsions agency. They are also less enthusiastic than the Commission about the possibility of a Corps of European Border Guards, and argue that a thorough study would need to be done on whether such a supranational Corps were needed at all before examining its feasibility. MEPs emphasise that, despite the setting up of this agency, management of national borders remains a sovereign responsibility of each Member State.

Other amendments concern the organisation of the agency: it should be based in one country, without branches in different Member States, say MEPs, who also propose that the host Member State should contribute to the costs by, for example, providing a building. Furthermore, the agency should not be set up until its location has been decided, to avoid having to find a temporary home for its initial period. They say it should not get involved in co-financing projects, as this would require the recruitment of highly specialised staff to run tendering processes, whereas the intention is that the small staff should be made up of border security experts.

Finally, the House is proposing structural changes to make clearer the Commission's ultimate responsibility for the management and administration of the agency, and to make it more clearly a community agency rather than an intergovernmental body.

Press enquiries:
Danny de Paepe
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73605
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Vote

The House adopted a non-binding resolution on laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of drug trafficking.

Press enquiries:
Pia Siitonen
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73612
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 41498
e-mail :   libe-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution on the suppression by customs administrations of illicit drug trafficking on the high seas.
Press enquiries:
Pia Siitonen
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73612
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 41498
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Vote

Parliament adopted by 439 votes in favour, 39 against and 28 abstentions an own-initiative report on the 1995 Data Protection Directive. The House states firmly that transfers of personal data to third country authorities without consent, such as in the case of the US authorities accessing transatlantic passenger data, seriously infringes EU data protection standards. It considers the progress made over a year of talks with the US on this question to be totally inadequate, and calls for arrangements for data protection in such circumstances to be subject to approval by Parliament in the future.

The report deals with a number of other issues, including the need to expand the protection offered by the directive to all areas of EU activity, including measures and bodies created under the 'third pillar', such as Europol and Eurojust.

MEPs are critical of the length of time taken by the Member States to implement the directive, which required the Commission to take legal action against five states. They also regret the continuing differences in the ways in which it is applied at national level, which have prevented economic operators drawing the maximum benefit from it. These and other shortcomings should be addressed by cooperation between Member States, rather than by changes to the directive - though if this does not work, Parliament says the Commission should take Member States to the Court of Justice.

Press enquiries:
Pia Siitonen
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73612
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 41498
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Vote

Parliament adopted by 439 votes in favour, 49 against and 20 abstentions an own-initiative report on the rights of prisoners in the EU.

Press enquiries:
Pia Siitonen
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73612
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 41498
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Vote

Parliament adopted a legislative resolution approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients (codified version).

Press enquiries:
Tanja Rudolf
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74897
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31053
&
Miriam Orieskova
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74864
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31054
e-mail :   lega-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

The House adopted a legislative resolution concerning the activities of certain third countries in the field of cargo shipping (codified version).

Press enquiries:
Tanja Rudolf
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74897
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31053
&
Miriam Orieskova
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74864
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31054
e-mail :   lega-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on waste (codified version)

Press enquiries:
Tanja Rudolf
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74897
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31053
&
Miriam Orieskova
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74864
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31054
e-mail :   lega-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution approving without amendment the Commission's proposals to allow the countries of the western Balkans to participate in tenders under the pre-accession Community assistance programmes.

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Richard Freedman
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73785
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Vote

The House adopted a legislative resolution on establishing a Community action programme to promote activities in the field of the protection of the Community's financial interests.

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Marjory van den Broeke
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 72208
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 44304
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Vote

Parliament adopted a resolution on the Draft Amending Budget N°1/2004 of the European Union for the financial year 2004.

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Jean-Yves Loog
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73636
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 44652
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Vote

The House adopted a resolution on the Draft Amending Budget No 2/2004 of the European Union for the financial year 2004 relating to the budget for the European data protection supervisor.

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Jean-Yves Loog
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73636
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Vote

The House adopted four resolutions relating to technical changes to the budget necessary in light of enlargement.

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Jean-Yves Loog
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Vote

Parliament adopted an own-initiative report on better monitoring of the application of Community law.

Press enquiries:
Tanja Rudolf
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74897
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31053
&
Miriam Orieskova
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74864
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31054
e-mail :   lega-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

The House adopted a non-binding resolution on simplifying and improving the regulatory environment.

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Tanja Rudolf
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74897
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Miriam Orieskova
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74864
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31054
e-mail :   lega-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

The House adopted an own-initiative report on cooperation in the European Union on preparedness and response to biological and chemical agent attacks (health security).

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Pia Siitonen
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73612
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Vote

Parliament adopted a resolution by qualified majority on the Regulation governing the statute and the financing of political parties at European level

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Enrico D'Ambrogio
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 72795
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Vote

Parliament adopted a resolution modifying Parliament's Rules of Procedure.

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Enrico D'Ambrogio
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 72795
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Vote

Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on electromagnetic compatibility. The proposed directive revises current legislation on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC Directive). In general terms, the proposal for revision maintains the objectives of the existing EMC Directive and its field of application. The technical amendments adopted focus on the scope of the directive and its application to certain equipment including specific requirements for fixed installations.

Press enquiries:
Virginija Zabotkaite
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 74642
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 31055
&
Press enquiries:
Richard Freedman
(Strasbourg) tel.(33-3) 881 73785
(Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 41448
e-mail :   indu-press@europarl.eu.int

Vote

Parliament adopted a legislative resolution relating to to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from compression-ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from positive-ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles.

Press enquiries:
Leena Maria Linnus
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Raimon OBIOLS I GERMA (PES, E) was elected by acclamation (only candidate) as Vice-President of the European Parliament. He replaces Joan COLOM I NAVAL (PES, E).