Verbatim report of proceedings

Friday, 20 September 1996 - Strasbourg

11. Working time in maritime transport

  President . – The next item is the oral question (B4‐0851/96‐0‐0194/96) by Mr Hughes, on behalf of the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment, to the Commission, on working time in maritime transport.

  Liese (PPE). – (DE) Once again, I should like to propose that this item be adjourned, or perhaps dealt with as rapidly as possible without debate. On behalf of my group, I ask that this item be dealt with as quickly as possible without debate.

  Dury (PSE). – (FR) Madam President, I don't know whether Mr Liese has elected to boycott our sitting, but if that was his intention he could hardly do better. He is actually compromising the credibility of the cause he is trying to defend. None of us has asked that bioethics should not be debated. I would like that to be duly recorded in the Minutes. I can accept little tactical ploys in defence of fundamental problems, but I must ask for your cooperation, Mr Liese. We are interested in Mr Hughes's question on working time in maritime transport, because the ILO Conference takes place on 8 October. I also know why you want to vote on your own motion for a resolution today, but try to show a little consideration for the other groups' interests. I find your attitude scandalous, unparliamentary and undemocratic, and I consider there are times when the methods used in defence of a cause deprive that cause of its credibility.

  Oomen‐Ruijten (PPE). – (NL) I find all this extremely tiresome. But there is one thing I would say to Mrs Dury. Following the vote on the most important report, Mr Funk's report, we asked that the wish expressed by this House on Monday should be honoured. That was a democratic decision, and I note that Mrs Dury, Mr Cot and a number of other honourable Members keep opposing it. Different arguments are brought to bear each time and I say that it is a good thing that we should tell the European Council and the European Commission what decisions Parliament thinks need to be taken on this very important matter which is one of life and death. I am thus in favour of Mr Liese's proposal, Madam President.

  Schulz (PSE). – (DE) Madam President, it was in order to avoid what is happening here now that I asked you to ask the interpreters whether they would stay until 1.30 p.m. so that we can debate Mr Kouchner's report, Mr Hughes's question and the bioethics question. We have heard from the Commission that the Palestine question only involves a vote, and we can do that. Mr Hughes's question, too, only involves a vote, if we adopt the same procedure there as we have with many other reports today. Then we shall have time to debate until 1.30 p.m. so I ask you, Madam President, are the interpreters now staying until 1.30 p.m., yes or no? If so, then please let us vote on the Kouchner report and the Hughes question and then talk about bioethics. It's as simple as that!

  President . – I am responsible for ensuring that proper procedure is followed, and it is important that things should go smoothly. So I will propose this: no more debate, but we will vote now on the three reports. Do you agree to that?

  Dury (PSE). – (FR) Madam President, we agree to vote immediately on the UNRWA report, and, as my colleague said, we are happy for things to take their normal course with the Hughes question and the oral question on bioethics. I think we shall have time for that before 1.30 p.m.

  Oomen‐Ruijten (PPE). – (NL) Looking around the House, it seems to me that everyone agrees that we should get on with the voting quickly rather than discussing it any further and then starting a debate.

  Menrad (PPE). – (DE) Mr Hughes has asked me to make this request. I think that, for reasons of time, it would be sensible to adopt a procedure whereby we proceed immediately to the vote. Now, this report is about extending the European Working Hours Directive to maritime transport, and an international conference of the International Labour Organization is taking place here in October and hopes to see a regulation to that effect on working hours in maritime transport. That is the content of our motion for a resolution, and I would ask you to vote on it now.

  Dury (PSE). – (FR) I should have liked to hear the Commissioner's reply, but, in any case, what we want is a commitment regarding support for the various ILO conventions on working hours in the maritime sector.

I should simply like to conclude by saying that my group deeply regrets the vote which has just taken place on the Kouchner report. I believe we shall have a great deal of difficulty in explaining to the Palestinian authorities and the Palestinian refugees the attitude of certain Members in this House.

  Martens (PPE). – (NL) Madam President, I would like us to vote and to respect the wish of Parliament as expressed last Monday, and I would like us to deal with Mr Liese's oral question.

Explanation of vote

  Wolf (V), in writing. – (DE) Working conditions in maritime transport are not just a scandal – they are a cancer that threatens to spread to affect working conditions everywhere. I should like to invite honourable Members to consider a theoretical experiment: what would happen if we had to steer this European Parliament, with all its different languages and working conditions, across the high seas – and without interpreters of any kind?

It is long past time that we tried to find European solutions here – perhaps using the instrument of port state control, since it has proved impossible to prevent outflagging and second registration – and ensure that shipboard workers, too, once again have working and communication conditions which respect the rights of the workforce and promote safety at sea!

(Parliament adopted the resolution)

  Dell'Alba (ARE). – (IT) Madam President, we have to enter the proceedings of this sitting in the minutes, and the Bureau will then be able to study them in the appropriate fora. I believe this to be the first time in the history of this House that the Commission has deemed it inappropriate to answer an oral question – it was not a report, Madam President, it was an oral question from Mr Hughes. I think this is all part of the madness currently afflicting our proceedings.

  President . – That has been noted.

  Marín , Vice‐President of the Commission. – (ES) Mr Dell'Alba, the Commission would like to make a contribution on all points but, frankly, at the moment, what with all the files I have in front of me – 8, to be precise – I cannot see how this is possible. I admit that I do not know how I am to do this. Please do not ask me to perform miracles when the situation here is changing every 30 seconds. I can do no more than I am doing and am, quite frankly, disappointed.