The following spoke: Daniel Hannan, who referred to his remarks of the previous day(minutes of 30.01.2008, item 13) and said that an objection would be raised that day to the interpretation of Rule 19(1) (the President replied that a vote on that interpretation was scheduled for 11.00).
2. Documents received
The following documents had been received:
(1) from the Council and Commission
- Revised proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of clean and energy efficient road transport vehicles (COM(2007)0817 - C6-0008/2008 - 2005/0283(COD))
referred to
responsible :
ENVI
opinion :
ITRE, TRAN
- Proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (under Article 128 of the EC Treaty) (COM(2007)0803 - C6-0031/2008 - 2007/0300(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
EMPL
opinion :
FEMM, ITRE, ECON
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 1/2008 - Section III – Commission (SEC(2008)0014 - C6-0032/2008 - 2008/2018(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products ("Single CMO Regulation") (COM(2007)0854 - C6-0033/2008 - 2007/0290(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
AGRI
- Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund (COM(2008)0014 - C6-0036/2008 - 2008/2019(ACI))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
opinion :
REGI
- Proposal for a Council Directive on the identification and registration of pigs (Codified version) (COM(2007)0829 - C6-0037/2008 - 2007/0294(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a Council directive on the marketing of vegetable propagating and planting material, other than seed (Codified version) (COM(2007)0852 - C6-0038/2008 - 2007/0296(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a directive …/…/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the legal protection of computer programs (Codified version) (COM(2008)0023 - C6-0042/2008 - 2008/0019(COD))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning mergers of public limited liability companies (Codified version) (COM(2008)0026 - C6-0045/2008 - 2008/0009(COD))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010) (COM(2007)0797 - C6-0469/2007 - 2007/0278(COD))
referred to
responsible :
EMPL
opinion :
FEMM
3. Communication of Council common positions
The President announced, pursuant to Rule 57(1), that the following common positions had been received from the Council, together with the reasons which had led to their adoption, and the Commission's position on:
- Common position adopted by the Council on 20 December 2007 with a view to the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the banning of exports and the safe storage of metallic mercury (11488/1/2007 - C6-0034/2008 - 2006/0206(COD)) referred to responsible: ENVI
- Common Position adopted by the Council on 21 January 2008 with a view to the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (15647/1/2007 - C6-0035/2008 - 2006/0197(COD)) referred to responsible: ITRE
The three-month period available to Parliament to adopt its position would therefore begin the following day, 01.02.2008.
4. Freedom, security and justice (annual debate) (Articles 2 and 39 TEU) (debate)
Oral question (O-0005/2008) by Jean-Marie Cavada, on behalf of the LIBE Committee, to the Council: 2007 annual debate on the progress made in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (FSJA) (Articles 2 and 39 of the EU Treaty) (B6-0006/2008)
Oral question (O-0006/2008) by Jean-Marie Cavada, on behalf of the LIBE Committee, to the Commission: 2007 annual debate on the progress made in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (FSJA) (Articles 2 and 39 of the EU Treaty) (B6-0007/2008)
Gérard Deprez, deputising for the author, moved the oral question.
Dragutin Mate (President-in-Office of the Council) answered the question (B6-0006/2008).
Franco Frattini (Vice-President of the Commission) answered the question (B6-0007/2008).
The following spoke: Manfred Weber, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Claudio Fava, on behalf of the PSE Group, Sarah Ludford, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Seán Ó Neachtain, on behalf of the UEN Group, Jean Lambert, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Giusto Catania, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Johannes Blokland, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Koenraad Dillen, Non-attached Member, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Stavros Lambrinidis, Alexander Alvaro, Mario Borghezio, Jana Bobošíková, Mihael Brejc and Martine Roure.
IN THE CHAIR: Miguel Angel MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ Vice-President
The following spoke: Sophia in 't Veld, Konrad Szymański, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Genowefa Grabowska, Ignasi Guardans Cambó and Roselyne Lefrançois.
The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Jean-Marie Cavada.
The following spoke: Dragutin Mate, Franco Frattini and Sophia in 't Veld, who asked the Council to provide a written answer to her questions.
As the motions for a resolution tabled were not yet available, they would be announced in the House at a later time.
The debate closed.
Vote: March part-session.
5. Cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States * (debate)
Interim report on the Initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council decision on the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States of the European Union in crisis situations [15437/2006 - C6-0058/2007 - 2007/0803(CNS)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Armando França (A6-0507/2007)
Armando França introduced the report.
The following spoke: Franco Frattini (Vice-President of the Commission).
The following spoke: Mihael Brejc, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Bogusław Rogalski, on behalf of the UEN Group, Athanasios Pafilis, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Andreas Mölzer, Non-attached Member, Hubert Pirker and Armando França.
(The sitting was suspended at 10.50 and resumed at 11.00.)
IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING President
The President refuted certain comments made the previous day by Martin Schulz concerning Hans-Peter Martin, and which Mr Martin had condemned, during the one-minute speeches (minutes of 30.01.2008, item 21).
6. Composition of committees and delegations
The President referred to the request to appoint László Tőkés as a member of the Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe (minutes of 30.01.2008, item 11) and said that the decision taken had been the consequence of a misunderstanding.
He proposed that the request by the non-attached Members be put to Parliament again for approval and noted that there was no opposition to this procedure.
The appointment of László Tőkés was approved.
7. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting
The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.
8. Voting time
Details of voting (amendments, separate and split votes, etc.) appear in the Results of Votes annex to the minutes.
The results of roll-call votes are available in electronic form only, as an annex to the minutes, and can be accessed via Europarl.
8.1. Interpretation of the Rules of Procedure (Rule 19(1))
(Simple majority in the presence of a third of Members)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 1)
The following spoke: Nigel Farage, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, who, on the basis of Rule 170(4), requested that the vote be held over until the next part-session.
The following spoke: Martin Schulz, on behalf of the PSE Group, on this request, Daniel Hannan and Joseph Daul, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, the latter condemning the remarks by Daniel Hannan and stating that he would propose that Mr Hannan be excluded from the PPE-DE Group.
8.2. Control of persons at external borders based on unilateral recognition by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia of certain documents as equivalent to their national visas ***I (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council introducing a simplified regime for the control of persons at the external borders based on the unilateral recognition by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia of certain documents as equivalent to their national visas for the purposes of transit through their territories [COM(2007)0508 - C6-0279/2007 - 2007/0185(COD)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Michael Cashman (A6-0511/2007)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 2)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
8.3. Control of persons at external borders based on unilateral recognition by the Member States of certain residence permits issued by Switzerland and Liechtenstein ***I (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision N° 896/2006/EC establishing a simplified regime for the control of persons at the external borders based on the unilateral recognition by the Member States of certain residence permits issued by Switzerland and Liechtenstein for the purpose of transit through their territory [COM(2007)0508 - C6-0280/2007 - 2007/0186(COD)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Panayiotis Demetriou (A6-0509/2007)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 3)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
8.4. Statistics on aquaculture ***I (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture [COM(2006)0864 - C6-0005/2007 - 2006/0286(COD)] - Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Philippe Morillon (A6-0001/2008)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 4)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
8.5. Cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the Initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council decision on the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States of the European Union in crisis situations [15437/2006 - C6-0058/2007 - 2007/0803(CNS)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Armando França (A6-0507/2007)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 5)
INITIATIVE, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
8.6. The European research area: new perspectives (Rule 131) (vote)
Report on the European research area: new perspectives [2007/2187(INI)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Umberto Guidoni (A6-0005/2008)
8.7. Accomplishment of the internal market in Community postal services ***II (vote)
Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/67/EC with regard to the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services [13593/6/2007 - C6-0410/2007 - 2006/0196(COD)] - Committee on Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Markus Ferber (A6-0505/2007)
Pasqualina Napoletano, on behalf of the PSE Group,
Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck and Marco Cappato, on behalf of the ALDE Group,
Romano Maria La Russa, Adam Bielan, Konrad Szymański, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka and Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the UEN Group
Margarita Starkevičiūtė, on behalf of the ALDE Group, had also signed the motion for a resolution.
The following spoke: José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who stated that his group had also signed the joint motion for a resolution.
Vytautas Landsbergis moved oral amendments to paragraphs 6 (incorporated), 9 (not incorporated), 15, 17 (both incorporated) and 19 (withdrawn) and to recitals C, H and R (which were not incorporated).
Paulo Casaca moved an oral amendment to amendment 9, which was incorporated.
Alejo Vidal-Quadras moved an oral amendment to amendment 3, which was incorporated.
8.9. Outcome of the Bali climate change conference (vote)
The following spoke: Godfrey Bloom, on a technical matter.
8.10. Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the Potential (vote)
Report on the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the Potential [2007/2106(INI)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Fiona Hall (A6-0003/2008)
8.11. Reduction in unwanted by-catches and elimination of discards in European fisheries (vote)
Report on a policy to reduce unwanted by-catches and eliminate discards in European fisheries [2007/2112(INI)] - Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Carl Schlyter (A6-0495/2007)
- Roberta Angelilli moved an oral amendment to amendment 9, which was incorporated. Amendment 9 was then rejected.
IN THE CHAIR: Gérard ONESTA Vice-President
9. Composition of committees and delegations
The President had received the following requests for appointments from the ALDE Group:
Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council: Francesco Ferrari
Delegation for relations with Iran: Johannes Lebech
The President established that there were no objections. The appointments were thereby ratified.
10. Explanations of vote
Written explanations of vote:
Explanations of vote submitted in writing under Rule 163(3) appear in the Verbatim Report of Proceedings for the sitting.
Oral explanations of vote:
Interpretation of the Rules of Procedure (Rule 19(1)): Richard Corbett, Bogdan Pęk, Dariusz Maciej Grabowski, Christopher Heaton-Harris, Ewa Tomaszewska, Syed Kamall, Hans-Peter Martin
Report: Armando França - A6-0507/2007: Syed Kamall
Report: Markus Ferber - A6-0505/2007: Jim Higgins, Zuzana Roithová, Zita Pleštinská, Syed Kamall, Christopher Heaton-Harris
Outcome of the Bali climate change conference (B6-0059/2008): Zuzana Roithová
Report: Fiona Hall - A6-0003/2008: Milan Gaľa, Zuzana Roithová, Syed Kamall, Christopher Heaton-Harris
Report: Carl Schlyter - A6-0495/2007: Christopher Heaton-Harris
A European strategy on the Roma (RC-B6-0050/2008): Zita Pleštinská, Philip Claeys, Zuzana Roithová and Milan Horáček
11. 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.
12. Decisions concerning certain documents
Referral to committees
REGI Committee
- The Treaty Amending the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty Establishing the European Community (2007/2286(INI)) referred to responsible: AFCO opinion: DEVE, AFET, ENVI, BUDG, ITRE, CONT, LIBE, INTA
EMPL Committee
- Recommendations on the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women (2008/2012(INI)) referred to responsible: FEMM opinion: EMPL
DEVE Committee
- Towards a reformed World Trade Organisation (2007/2184(INI)) referred to responsible: INTA opinion: DEVE, ECON
13. Forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting
Pursuant to Rule 172(2), the minutes of that day's sitting would be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of the next sitting.
With Parliament's agreement, the texts that had been adopted would be forwarded forthwith to the bodies named therein.
14. Dates for next sittings
The next sittings would be held from 18.02.2008 to 21.02.2008.
15. Adjournment of the session
The session of the European Parliament was adjourned.