Verbatim report of proceedings

Friday, 20 September 1996 - Strasbourg

10. Ninth EC‐UNRWA Convention

  President . – The next item is the report (A4‐0280/96) by Mr Kouchner, on behalf of the Committee on Development and Cooperation, on the proposal for a Council Decision to approve the text of the Ninth EC‐UNRWA Convention covering the years 1996‐98 prior to signature of the Convention by the Commission and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (COM(96)0257 – C4‐0422/96‐96/0154(CNS)).

  Liese (PPE). – (DE) On behalf of the Group of the European People's Party, I move that this report, too, should not be debated today and that we should move on to the next item.

  President . – The request has been made by a group, and so we can vote on it. Who votes in favour of this request?

  Dury (PSE). – (FR) Madam President, surely we must take things seriously! I am well aware that Mr Liese is obsessed – ever since this morning he has been visibly perturbed by events in this House. The fact remains that the subject covered by Mr Kouchner's report is an important one. I therefore propose that we move straight to the vote, without debate, but I am opposed to suppressing a report which deals with Palestine, another priority of the socialist group, and I would call upon all Members to pay attention to any important subject.

  President . – Mrs Dury, if you would be kind enough to read Rule 131, you will see that there can be no further debate after the request, and no more speeches for or against. The Commission would like to say something more about this.

  Marín , Vice‐President of the Commission. – (ES) Madam President, I know the atmosphere this morning is not very calm, but I would like to inform the House that the Commission requires a decision on this report today , given that a decision has to be reached before 21 September.

The problem is as follows: firstly, the UNRWA is in an extremely delicate financial position, as is widely known. Secondly, the European Union and Member States are the principal providers of finance for the UNRWA – i.e. the UNRWA is directly dependent upon the Community budget. Thirdly, at this time, the Council is awaiting Parliament's decision to authorize the Commission to sign the new financing Convention with the UNRWA.

I would ask you, please, to understand that, given the political situation and the fact that the UNRWA needs the money from the Community budget, we cannot further delay the approval of this resolution. And so that you can see that the Commission's position is a neutral one, I would advise you that the Commission is not going to accept the amendments proposed by Mr Kouchner. However, I do need the legal instrument in order to be able to sign the cooperation agreement. I would, therefore, ask for your cooperation, although I do understand current difficulties.

  President . – We now come to the vote on the request that has just been made, to the effect that Report 359 should be adjourned. There can be no more debate on it. Who is in favour?

(Parliament decided to postpone the debate)

  Dell'Alba (ARE). – (IT) Madam President, you have done something very serious. I hope that the Conference of Presidents will put you right on this. Rule 126 of the Rules of Procedure lists those items in respect of which the agenda may be changed and – are you listening, Mr Schulz, I am quoting: ’Only the following shall be heard on these motions in addition to the mover: one speaker in favour and one against and the chairman or rapporteur of the committee responsible’. I therefore had the right to speak in favour of or against the motion tabled by my colleague in the Christian‐Democrat group. You have done something very serious, and I am asking you to put it right, because this was in breach of Rule 126 in conjunction with Rule 131. It is not my fault that we have violated the Rules of Procedure at this juncture!