IN THE CHAIR: Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN Vice-President
1. Opening of sitting
The sitting opened at 9.00.
2. Documents received
The following documents had been received:
1) from the Council and Commission
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 39/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1064 – C6-0383/2006 – 2006/2266(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer (Codified version) (COM(2006)0657 – C6-0381/2006 – 2006/0220(COD))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain parts and characteristics of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (Codified version) (COM(2006)0662 – C6-0380/2006 – 2006/0221(COD))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of directive 89/391/EEC) (Codified version) (COM(2006)0652 – C6-0378/2006 – 2006/0214(COD))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the field of vision and windscreen wipers for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (Codified version) (COM(2006)0651 – C6-0377/2006 – 2006/0216(COD))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a new statistical classification of products by activity (CPA) and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) N° 3696/93 (COM(2006)0655 – C6-0376/2006 – 2006/0218(COD))
referred to
responsible :
ECON
opinion :
CULT, ENVI, ITRE, IMCO, TRAN
- Proposal for a Council decision authorising the conclusion of the agreement to renew and modify the agreement on research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) between the European Community and Australia, Canada, the EFTA countries of Norway and Switzerland, Korea, Japan and the United States of America (COM(2006)0343 – C6-0373/2006 – 2006/0111(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
ITRE
opinion :
AFET
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 53/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1354 – C6-0372/2006 – 2006/2264(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 52/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1353 – C6-0371/2006 – 2006/2263(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 44/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1284 – C6-0370/2006 – 2006/2262(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 50/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1351 – C6-0369/2006 – 2006/2261(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 48/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1349 – C6-0368/2006 – 2006/2260(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 49/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1350 – C6-0367/2006 – 2006/2259(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 46/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1286 – C6-0366/2006 – 2006/2258(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 45/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1285 – C6-0365/2006 – 2006/2257(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 43/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1283 – C6-0364/2006 – 2006/2256(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the banning of exports and the safe storage of metallic mercury (COM(2006)0636 – C6-0363/2006 – 2006/0206(COD))
referred to
responsible :
ENVI
opinion :
ITRE, INTA
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 41/2006 – Section III – Commission (SEC(2006)1281 – C6-0361/2006 – 2006/2255(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/67/EC concerning the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services (COM(2006)0594 – C6-0354/2006 – 2006/0196(COD))
referred to
responsible :
TRAN
opinion :
EMPL, ITRE, ECON, IMCO
- Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board (COM(2006)0599 – C6-0348/2006 – 2006/0199(COD))
referred to
responsible :
ECON
opinion :
IMCO
3. Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (announcement of motions for resolutions tabled)
Pursuant to Rule 115, the following Members or political groups had requested that such a debate be held on the following motions for resolutions:
I. Ethiopia
- Luisa Morgantini, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group on Ethiopia (B6-0596/2006)
- Eoin Ryan, Roberts Zīle, Michał Tomasz Kamiński and Adam Bielan, on behalf of the UEN Group, on Ethiopia (B6-0598/2006)
- Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on Ethiopia (B6-0600/2006)
- Pasqualina Napoletano and Ana Maria Gomes, on behalf of the PSE Group, on Ethiopia (B6-0603/2006)
- Michael Gahler, Mario Mauro and Bernd Posselt, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on Ethiopia (B6-0606/2006)
- Marie-Hélène Aubert, Margrete Auken and Raül Romeva i Rueda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group on Ethiopia (B6-0613/2006)
II. Bangladesh
- Vittorio Agnoletto and Esko Seppänen, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group on Bangladesh (B6-0595/2006)
- Frédérique Ries and Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on violence against journalists in Bangladesh (B6-0599/2006)
- Pasqualina Napoletano, Neena Gill and Robert Evans, on behalf of the PSE Group, on Bangladesh (B6-0601/2006)
- Thomas Mann, Charles Tannock and Bernd Posselt, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on Bangladesh (B6-0605/2006)
- Roberta Angelilli, on behalf of the UEN Group, on Bangladesh (B6-0608/2006)
- Jean Lambert and Gérard Onesta, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on Bangladesh (B6-0612/2006)
III.Iran
- Giusto Catania and André Brie, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on Iran (B6-0597/2006)
- Pasqualina Napoletano, Christa Prets and Lilli Gruber, on behalf of the PSE Group, on human rights violations in Iran (B6-0602/2006)
- Marco Pannella, Marco Cappato, Frédérique Ries and Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on human rights in Iran, in particular respect for minority rights (B6-0604/2006)
- Michael Gahler, Bernd Posselt and Charles Tannock, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on Iran (B6-0607/2006)
- Romano Maria La Russa, Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Adam Bielan, Mogens N.J. Camre and Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the human rights situation in Iran (B6-0609/2006)
- Angelika Beer and Monica Frassoni, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on Iran (B6-0614/2006)
Speaking time would be allocated in accordance with Rule 142.
4. Vote on request for urgent procedure
Council request for the application of urgent procedure (Rule 134) for:
- EU-Mauritania fisheries agreement
* Proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania [COM(2006)0506 - C6-0334/2006 - 2006/0168(CNS)] - PECH Committee
The following spoke: Rosa Miguélez Ramos, on behalf of the PECH Committee.
The request for urgent procedure was approved.
The item was added to the agenda for the sitting of Thursday 16.11.2006.
The deadline for tabling amendments for plenary would be Wednesday 15.11.2006 at 10.00.
5. Presentation of the Court of Auditors' Annual Report - 2005 (debate)
Hubert Weber, President of the Court of Auditors, presented the Court's annual report.
Siim Kallas (Vice-President of the Commission) spoke.
The following spoke: Salvador Garriga Polledo, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Dan Jørgensen, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jan Mulder, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Bart Staes, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Kartika Tamara Liotard, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Nils Lundgren, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Ashley Mote, Non-attached Member, Daniel Caspary, Szabolcs Fazakas, Jeffrey Titford, José Javier Pomés Ruiz, Herbert Bösch, Hubert Weber, Siim Kallas, Ashley Mote, who added to his previous remarks, and Jan Mulder who put a question to the Commission which Siim Kallas answered.
The debate closed.
6. Joint Undertaking for the European air traffic management system (SESAR) * (debate)
Report on the proposal for a Council regulation on the establishment of a Joint Undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR) [COM(2005)0602 - C6-0002/2006 - 2005/0235(CNS)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (A6-0382/2006)
Jacques Barrot (Vice-President of the Commission) spoke.
IN THE CHAIR: Gérard ONESTA Vice-President
Erna Hennicot-Schoepges introduced the report.
The following spoke: Philip Bradbourn (draftsman of the opinion of the TRAN Committee), Reinhard Rack, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Britta Thomsen, on behalf of the PSE Group, Fiona Hall, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Eva Lichtenberger, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Jaromír Kohlíček, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, Georgios Karatzaferis, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Emanuel Jardim Fernandes, Seán Ó Neachtain and Jacques Barrot.
Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 76/769/EEC relating to restrictions on the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury [COM(2006)0069 - C6-0064/2006 - 2006/0018(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: María Sornosa Martínez (A6-0287/2006)
Günter Verheugen (Vice-President of the Commission) spoke.
María Sornosa Martínez introduced the report.
The following spoke: Martin Callanan, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Linda McAvan, on behalf of the PSE Group, Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Carl Schlyter, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Adamos Adamou, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Urszula Krupa, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Irena Belohorská, Non-attached Member, Avril Doyle, Dorette Corbey and Jim Allister.
Report on mortgage credit in the EU [ 2006/2102(INI)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: John Purvis (A6-0370/2006)
John Purvis introduced the report.
Charlie McCreevy (Member of the Commission) spoke.
The following spoke: Manuel Medina Ortega (draftsman of the opinion of the IMCO Committee), Kurt Lechner (draftsman of the opinion of the JURI Committee), Harald Ettl, on behalf of the PSE Group, Margarita Starkevičiūtė, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Non-attached Member, and Charlie McCreevy.
Details of voting (amendments, separate and split votes, etc.) appear in the 'Results of votes' annex to the Minutes.
9.1. Rules for direct support schemes under the CAP and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending and correcting Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) [COM(2006)0500 - C6-0335/2006 - 2006/0172(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Joseph Daul (A6-0377/2006)
9.2. EC-Canada Agreement on cooperation in the fields of higher education, training and youth * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada establishing a framework for cooperation in the fields of higher education, training and youth [COM(2006)0274 - C6-0255/2006 - 2006/0096(CNS)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Marie-Hélène Descamps (A6-0338/2006)
9.3. EC-USA agreement in the field of higher education and vocational training * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America renewing the co-operation programme in the field of higher education and vocational education and training [COM(2006)0180 - C6-0174/2006 - 2006/0061(CNS)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Marie-Hélène Descamps (A6-0339/2006)
9.4. Social security schemes to employed persons and members of their families moving within the Community ***I (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community and Council Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 [COM(2005)0676 - C6-0442/2005 - 2005/0258(COD)] - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. Rapporteur: Maria Matsouka (A6-0346/2006)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 4)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
9.5. Aquaculture: alien and locally absent species * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council regulation concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture [COM(2006)0154 - C6-0137/2006 - 2006/0056(CNS)] - Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Philippe Morillon (A6-0331/2006)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 5)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
9.6. Common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products [COM(2006)0233 - C6-0202/2006 - 2006/0081(CNS)] - Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Philippe Morillon (A6-0311/2006)
9.7. Amendment to the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of an amendment to the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters [COM(2006)0338 - C6-0276/2006 - 2006/0113(CNS)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Eija-Riitta Korhola (A6-0336/2006)
9.8. Exemption from valued added tax and excise duty of goods imported by persons travelling from third countries * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council directive on the exemption from valued added tax and excise duty of goods imported by persons travelling from third countries [COM(2006)0076 - C6-0078/2006 - 2006/0021(CNS)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Charles Tannock (A6-0361/2006)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 8)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
9.9. Third Community Contribution for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision on the First Instalment of the Third Community Contribution to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund [COM(2006)0305 - C6-0251/2006 - 2006/0102(CNS)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Janusz Lewandowski (A6-0374/2006)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 9)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
9.10. United Nations Convention against corruption * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the United Nations Convention against Corruption [COM(2006)0082 - C6-0105/2006 - 2006/0023(CNS)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Giusto Catania (A6-0380/2006)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 10)
Giusto Catania (rapporteur) made a statement pursuant to Rule 131(4).
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENT and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
9.11. Support for rural development by the EAFRD * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) [COM(2006)0237 - C6-0237/2006 - 2006/0082(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Jan Mulder (A6-0319/2006)
9.12. Request for defence of immunity of Gabriele Albertini (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the request for defence of the immunity and privileges of Gabriele Albertini [ 2006/2099(IMM)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0378/2006)
9.13. Request for defence of immunity of Gabriele Albertini (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the request for defence of the immunity and privileges of Gabriele Albertini [ 2006/2122(IMM)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0383/2006)
9.14. Request for defence of immunity of Gérard Onesta (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the request for defence of the immunity and privileges of Gérard Onesta [ 2006/2121(IMM)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Klaus-Heiner Lehne (A6-0386/2006)
9.15. Community action in the field of marine environmental policy ***I (vote)
Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Framework for Community Action in the field of Marine Environmental Policy (Marine Strategy Directive) [COM(2005)0505 - C6-0346/2005 - 2005/0211(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Marie-Noëlle Lienemann (A6-0373/2006)
Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 76/769/EEC relating to restrictions on the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury [COM(2006)0069 - C6-0064/2006 - 2006/0018(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: María Sornosa Martínez (A6-0287/2006)
9.17. Voluntary modulation of direct payments under the CAP * (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council regulation laying down rules for voluntary modulation of direct payments provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 [COM(2006)0241 - C6-0235/2006 - 2006/0083(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Lutz Goepel (A6-0315/2006)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 17)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL
Rejected
Charlie McCreevy (Member of the Commission) announced that the Commission was not prepared to withdraw its proposal, as it had been requested to do in accordance with Rule 52(1).
The matter was therefore referred back to the committee responsible.
9.18. Joint Undertaking for the European air traffic management system (SESAR) * (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council regulation on the establishment of a Joint Undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR) [COM(2005)0602 - C6-0002/2006 - 2005/0235(CNS)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (A6-0382/2006)
From 12.05 to 12.55, a formal sitting of Parliament was held on the occasion of the visit by Mikheil Saakachvili, President of the Republic of Georgia.
IN THE CHAIR: Pierre MOSCOVICI Vice-President
11. Voting time (continuation)
11.1. 2006 annual report on the euro area (vote)
Report on the 2006 annual report on the euro area [2006/2239(INI)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (A6-0381/2006)
- Alain Lipietz, who moved an oral amendment to amendment 13.
As more than 37 Members objected to the oral amendment, it was not incorporated.
11.2. Thematic Strategy on the Marine Environment (vote)
Report on a thematic strategy on the protection and conservation of the marine environment [2006/2174(INI)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Aldis Kušķis (A6-0364/2006)
Explanations of vote submitted in writing under Rule 163(3) appear in the Verbatim Report of Proceedings for the sitting.
Oral explanations of vote
Report: Joseph Daul - A6-0377/2006: Andreas Mölzer
Report: Maria Matsouka - A6-0346/2006: Andreas Mölzer
Report: María Sornosa Martínez - A6-0287/2006: Richard Corbett
Report: Lutz Goepel - A6-0315/2006: Richard Corbett, Hynek Fajmon and Michl Ebner
13. Corrections to votes and voting intentions
Corrections to votes and voting intentions appear on the 'Séance en direct' website under 'Votes'/'Results of votes'/ 'Roll-call votes'. They are published in hard copy in the 'Result of roll-call votes' annex.
The electronic version on Europarl will be regularly updated for a maximum of two weeks after the day of the vote concerned.
After the two-week deadline has passed, the list of corrections to votes and voting intentions will be finalised so that it can be translated and published in the Official Journal.
Nils Lundgren had informed the Chair that his voting machine had not worked during the vote on the report by Philippe Morillon (A6-0311/2006).
Brian Crowley had informed the Chair that his voting card had not worked during the vote on the report by Jan Mulder (A6-0319/2006).
Luis Manuel Capoulas Santoshad informed the Chair that his voting machine had not worked during the vote on the report byLutz Goepel (A6-0315/2006).
Arlene McCarthy had informed the Chair that his voting machine had not worked during the vote on amendment 10 to the report by José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (A6-0381/2006).
Piia-Noora Kauppi had informed the Chair that because she did not have her voting card she had not voted during the first nine votes, but that she would have voted as follows:
Report: Philippe Morillon - A6-0331/2006: in favour
Report: Philippe Morillon - A6-0311/2006: in favour
(The sitting was suspended at 13.10 and resumed at 15.10.)
IN THE CHAIR: Josep BORRELL FONTELLES President
14. Approval of Minutes of previous sitting
The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved.
15. Legislative and work programme of the Commission for 2007 (debate)
Commission statement: Legislative and work programme of the Commission for 2007
José Manuel Barroso (President of the Commission) made the statement.
Introduction – Broad policy guidelines
The following spoke: Françoise Grossetête, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Martin Schulz, on behalf of the PSE Group, Silvana Koch-Mehrin, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Pierre Jonckheer, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Gabriele Zimmer, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Brian Crowley, on behalf of the UEN Group, Jens-Peter Bonde, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Frank Vanhecke, Non-attached Member, and José Manuel Barroso.
Growth – Jobs – Competitiveness
The following spoke: Ria Oomen-Ruijten, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group, Lena Ek, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Jean Lambert, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Ilda Figueiredo, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Konrad Szymański, on behalf of the UEN Group, Nils Lundgren, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Roger Helmer, Non-attached Member, and Paul Rübig.
IN THE CHAIR: Dagmar ROTH-BEHRENDT Vice-President
The following spoke: Stephen Hughes, Elizabeth Lynne, Adamos Adamou, Alessandro Battilocchio, Amalia Sartori, Pervenche Berès, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Enrique Barón Crespo, José Javier Pomés Ruiz and Evelyne Gebhardt.
Cohesion – Conservation of natural resources
The following spoke: Konstantinos Hatzidakis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Riitta Myller, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jean Marie Beaupuy, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Elisabeth Schroedter, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, John Bowis, Catherine Guy-Quint, Reino Paasilinna and Carmen Fraga Estévez.
Home affairs
The following spoke: Martine Roure, on behalf of the PSE Group, Sophia in 't Veld, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Giusto Catania, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Michael Henry Nattrass, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Bert Doorn, Maria Berger, Alexander Alvaro, Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, Malcolm Harbour and Jo Leinen.
IN THE CHAIR: Miroslav OUZKÝ Vice-President
Genowefa Grabowska spoke.
Foreign affairs
The following spoke: Maria Martens, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Véronique De Keyser, on behalf of the PSE Group, Andrew Duff, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Angelika Beer, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Konrad Szymański, on behalf of the UEN Group, Georgios Karatzaferis, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Robert Sturdy and Margrietus van den Berg.
Conclusion of debate
Margot Wallström (Vice-President of the Commission) spoke.
Motions for resolutions to wind up the debate tabled pursuant to Rule 103(2):
Deadlines for tabling amendments and motions for resolutions: 6.12.2006, 18.00.
The debate closed.
Vote: Minutes of 13.12. 2006, Item 8.14
(The sitting was suspended at 18.10 pending Question Time and resumed at 18.30.)
IN THE CHAIR: Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN Vice-President
16. Question Time (Commission)
Parliament considered a number of questions to the Commission (B6-0445/2006).
The President announced that the order in which the Commissioners would take the floor during the second part of Question Time be changed as follows. She added that the questioners concerned had been informed.
László Kovács would answer questions 41 and 42, Neelie Kroes questions 43 to 47 and Louis Michel questions 32 to 40.
Part one
Question 30 (Manolis Mavrommatis): European universities.
Ján Figeľ (Member of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Manolis Mavrommatis and Reinhard Rack.
Question 31 (Chris Davies): CO2 emissions from new motor vehicles.
Günter Verheugen (Vice-President of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Chris Davies, Reinhard Rack and Jörg Leichtfried.
Part two
Question 41 (Bernd Posselt): Tax on beer.
Question 42 (Justas Vincas Paleckis): Method used to calculate an increase in rates of excise duty on alcohol.
László Kovács (Member of the Commission) answered the questions and supplementaries by Bernd Posselt, Danutė Budreikaitė, Justas Vincas Paleckis, Andreas Mölzer and Richard Corbett.
Question 43 (Georgios Papastamkos): Decentralised system for competition law.
Neelie Kroes (Member of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Georgios Papastamkos, Richard Corbett and Katerina Batzeli.
Question 44 (Ruth Hieronymi): Support for film productions through tax breaks in the United Kingdom.
Neelie Kroes answered the question and a supplementary by Ruth Hieronymi.
Questions 45 to 47 would receive written answers.
Question 32 (Claude Moraes): HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in South Africa.
Louis Michel (Member of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Claude Moraes and Danutė Budreikaitė.
Question 33 (Manuel Medina Ortega): Immigration: support for repatriated immigrants.
Louis Michel answered the question and supplementaries by Manuel Medina Ortega, Glyn Ford and Jörg Leichtfried.
Questions which had not been answered for lack of time would receive written answers (see annex to the Verbatim Report of Proceedings).
Commission Question Time closed.
(The sitting was suspended at 19.50 and resumed at 21.00.)
IN THE CHAIR: Manuel António dos SANTOS Vice-President
17. Question Time (Council)
Parliament considered a number of questions to the Council (B6-0455/2006).
Question 1 lapsed as its author was absent.
Question 2 (Manuel Medina Ortega): Qualified majority for an area of freedom, security and justice, and for immigration.
Paula Lehtomäki (President-in-Office of the Council) answered the question and supplementaries by Manuel Medina Ortega, Richard Corbett and Danutė Budreikaitė.
Nils Lundgren spoke.
Question 3 (Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou): Promotion of the decent work for all agenda.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and supplementaries by Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Laima Liucija Andrikienė.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and a supplementary by Sajjad Karim.
Question 5 (Sarah Ludford): External Relations Council meeting of 15 September 2006
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and supplementaries by Sajjad Karim (deputising for the author) and Sophia in 't Veld.
Question 6 (Nils Lundgren): The Armenian genocide.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and supplementaries by Nils Lundgren, Danutė Budreikaitė and Piia-Noora Kauppi.
Question 7 (Piia-Noora Kauppi): Homophobia in Poland.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and a supplementary by Piia-Noora Kauppi.
Question 8 lapsed as its author was absent.
Question 9 (Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco): UN Human Rights Council.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and supplementaries by Manuel Medina Ortega (deputising for the author) and Laima Liucija Andrikienė.
Question 10 (Chris Davies): EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and a supplementary by Chris Davies.
Question 11 lapsed as its author was absent.
Question 12 (Brian Crowley): EU-Balkan relations.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and supplementaries by Brian Crowley and Agnes Schierhuber.
Question 13 (Liam Aylward): EU energy efficiency programmes.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and a supplementary by Brian Crowley (deputising for the author).
Question 14 (Eoin Ryan): EU aid to Mozambique.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and a supplementary by Brian Crowley (deputising for the author).
Question 15 had been withdrawn.
Question 16 (Robert Evans): Iceland.
Paula Lehtomäki answered the question and a supplementary by Robert Evans.
Questions 17 to 29, which had not be answered for lack of time, would be answered in writing (see Annex to Verbatim Report of Proceedings.)
Council Question Time closed.
(The sitting was suspended at 22.20 and resumed at 22.25.)
18. Gambling and sports betting in the Internal Market (debate)
Oral question (O-0118/2006) by Arlene McCarthy, on behalf of the IMCO Committee, to the Commission: Gambling and sports betting in the Internal Market (B6-0443/2006)
Arlene McCarthy moved the oral question.
Charlie McCreevy (Member of the Commission) answered the oral question.
IN THE CHAIR: Gérard ONESTA Vice-President
The following spoke: Malcolm Harbour, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who began by expressing his disappointment that the debate had started before the time indicated on the agenda (the President replied that the possibility the debate would begin early had been posted in good time on Parliament's website), Donata Gottardi, on behalf of the PSE Group, Toine Manders, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Kathy Sinnott, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Marianne Thyssen, Manuel Medina Ortega, Andreas Schwab, Joel Hasse Ferreira, Jacques Toubon, Manolis Mavrommatis, Othmar Karas, Brian Crowley and Charlie McCreevy.
The debate closed.
19. A new framework strategy for multilingualism (debate)
Report on a new framework strategy for multilingualism [2006/2083(INI)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Bernat Joan i Marí (A6-0372/2006)
Bernat Joan i Marí introduced the report.
Ján Figeľ (Member of the Commission) spoke.
The following spoke: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Maria Badia I Cutchet, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jolanta Dičkutė, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Raül Romeva i Rueda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Bairbre de Brún, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, on behalf of the UEN Group, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Marianne Mikko, Daniel Strož, Roberts Zīle, Vasco Graça Moura, Seán Ó Neachtain and Ján Figeľ.
20. The European Union's Generalised System of Preferences (debate)
Commission statement: The European Union's Generalised System of Preferences
Peter Mandelson (Member of the Commission) made the statement.
The following spoke: Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Antolín Sánchez Presedo, on behalf of the PSE Group, Sajjad Karim, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Caroline Lucas, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Jan Andersson, Kader Arif and Peter Mandelson.
Motions for resolutions to wind up the debate tabled pursuant to Rule 103(2):
- Helmuth Markov, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (B6-0578/2006)
- Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Ria Oomen-Ruijten and Maria Martens, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (B6-0579/2006)
- Cristiana Muscardini, Eugenijus Maldeikis, Roberta Angelilli and Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (B6-0580/2006)
- Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the European Union's Generalised System of Preferences (B6-0581/2006)
- Antolín Sánchez Presedo, Jan Andersson, Erika Mann and Stephen Hughes, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (B6-0582/2006)
- Jean-Louis Bourlanges, Bernard Lehideux and Johan Van Hecke, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on tariff preferences granted to special incentive arrangement (GSP+) beneficiary countries (B6-0583/2006)