Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 13 May 1997 - Strasbourg

1. Approval of the Minutes

  President . – The Minutes of the last sitting have been distributed.

Are there any comments?

  Vecchi (PSE). – (IT) Mr President, regarding the Minutes of yesterday's sitting, which have been distributed to us this morning, I should like to point out that my name does not appear on the attendance register. I am sure it's just my forgetfulness – I expect I forgot to sign the register – but since I was here, as can easily be established, I would ask that my name be added in the Minutes to the register of those who were here yesterday.

  Evans (PSE). – Mr President, it is the same point as Mr Vecchi's: my name does not appear in the Minutes and I was here yesterday.

  Hallam (PSE). – Mr President, to clarify the Minutes. Yesterday you might recall that I raised an issue under Rule 3 about the immunities and privileges of this House. According to the Minutes: ’the President suggested Mr Hallam write to the Speaker of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives asking for an explanation of this matter’. According to my memory and also to this document, which is produced by the Session Services, the President undertook to take up my complaint. I would certainly wish the President to take up the complaint on behalf of Parliament and me as a Member, rather than me as an individual.

  President . – Mr Hallam, I take note of your comment.

(Parliament approved the Minutes)

***

  Colom i Naval (PSE). – (ES) Mr President, I would like to make a comment on today's agenda.

The item of today's agenda on questions to the Commission includes my question on Member States' laws' conformity with Community regulations on competence. However, despite the fact that this afternoon one of the Commissioners who will be replying in question time is Mr Van Miert, responsible for this area, my question rather strangely comes under the heading ‚Other questions’, whereas questions which are dated later than mine have been allocated to Mr Van Miert. I would like to know how this rather odd situation has come about.

  President . – Mr Colom i Naval, I take note of the matter. We will see the Commission and at Question Time we will be able to clarify it.

  Ephremidis (GUE/NGL). – (EL) Mr President, this is a more general point of order, but I am obliged to raise it. When, as Members of Parliament, we put certain matters to the Bureau, the latter should give us an answer, whether positive or negative.

That did not happen in the following case: I am a Member of the Delegation to Kazakhstan and the other Central Asian Republics, and indeed, its Vice‐President. The European part of the Delegation met before 1 May and decided that we would go there between 2 and 9 May. Since they informed me that there would not be any interpretation into Greek, I said that this was very difficult and that I could not go and be deaf and dumb while I was there. The President of the Delegation said that he would look into the matter and let me know. A week later, he answered me that the matter could not be taken further to provide an interpreter. I then wrote a letter to the President of Parliament, telling him that I could not go with a delegation of this type and be unable to communicate. They told me that the best you can do is to speak Greek, they will listen to you, but the debate will take place in Russian and English, which means that I would not understand anything because I am not as fortunate as you in knowing all these languages. I therefore told them that again, that was no good. I have been waiting all this time, and have still not been answered by the President of Parliament, about whether my request was accepted, or if not, why. Meanwhile of course, the journey took place.

I therefore ask you to inform the President, so that I may be answered. I think the matter is a personal one, but it is also more general and concerns us all.

  President . – Mr Ephremidis, the Bureau desires, but also has a tradition of making every effort to answer any Member concerning all the problems raised. I will of course ensure that this happens in your case too.⁽¹⁾

(1) Documents received – Topical and urgent debate (subjects selected) – Debate on urgency: see Minutes.