IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING
President

1. Opening of the session

Pursuant to Article 196, first paragraph, of the EC Treaty and Rule 127(2), the 2008-2009 session of the European Parliament opened.

2. Opening of the sitting

The sitting opened at 9.00.

3. Statement by the President

The President made a statement on the occasion of the European Day for the Victims of Terrorism, paying tribute to the victims of terrorism, the most recent being Isaías Carrasco, a former Socialist councillor in the Basque Country. The President again condemned acts of terrorism and expressed Parliament's solidarity with the families of the victims.

Parliament observed a minute's silence in memory of the victims of terrorism.

4. Action taken on Parliament's resolutions

The Commission communication on the action it had taken in response to the resolutions adopted by Parliament during the November II 2007 part-session was available.

5. Documents received

The following documents had been received:

(1) from the Council and Commission

- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the safety of toys (COM(2008)0009 - C6-0039/2008 - 2008/0018(COD))

- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on roll-over protection structures of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (static testing) (Codified version) (COM(2008)0025 - C6-0044/2008 - 2008/0008(COD))

- Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers (COM(2008)0040 - C6-0052/2008 - 2008/0028(COD))

- Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 76/769/EEC as regards restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (Dichloromethane) (amendment of Council Directive 76/769/EEC) (COM(2008)0080 - C6-0068/2008 - 2008/0033(COD))

- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 03/2008 - Section III – Commission (SEC(2008)0016 - C6-0077/2008 - 2008/2042(GBD))

- Council recommendation concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (Sixth EDF) for the financial year 2006 (16744/2007 - C6-0078/2008 - 2007/2064(DEC))

- Council recommendation concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (Seventh EDF) for the financial year 2006 (16745/2007 - C6-0079/2008 - 2007/2064(DEC))

- Council recommendation concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (Eighth EDF) for the financial year 2006 (16746/2007 - C6-0080/2008 - 2007/2064(DEC))

- Council recommendation concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (Ninth EDF) for the financial year 2006 (16748/2007 - C6-0081/2008 - 2007/2064(DEC))

- Council Recommendation on the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2006 (05842/2008 - C6-0082/2008 - 2007/2037(DEC))

- Council recommendation on Discharge to be given to the Executive Agencies in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2006 (05855/2008 - C6-0083/2008 - 2007/2037(DEC))

- Council recommendation on the discharge to be given to the bodies set up by the European Communities in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2006 (05843/2008 - C6-0084/2008 - 2007/2046(DEC))

- Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (COM(2008)0094 - C6-0085/2008 - 2008/2043(ACI))

- Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 as regards the use of the Visa Information System (VIS) under the Schengen Borders Code (COM(2008)0101 - C6-0086/2008 - 2008/0041(COD))

- Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny - Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of amending Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission (COM(2008)0104 - C6-0087/2008 - 2008/0042(COD))

- Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny - Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission, Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (COM(2008)0105 - C6-0088/2008 - 2008/0038(COD))

- Council and Commission Decision on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (16731/2007 - C6-0093/2008 - 2007/0218(AVC))

- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers (recaste) (COM(2008)0100 - C6-0094/2008 - 2008/0044(COD))

- Proposal for a Council directive concerning the general arrangements for excise duty (COM(2008)0078 - C6-0099/2008 - 2008/0051(CNS))

- Draft Amending Budget no. 1 for the financial year 2008 - Section III – Commission (07259/2008 - C6-0124/2008 - 2008/2017(BUD))

- Amended 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(2008)0111 - C6-0127/2008 - 2006/0214(COD))

(2) from committees

(2.1) reports

- Report on the request for waiver of the immunity of Mr Hans-Peter Martin (2007/2215(IMM)) - JURI Committee - Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0071/2008)

6. Debate 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. Armenia

- Marie Anne Isler Béguin, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on Armenia (B6-0110/2008);

- Pasqualina Napoletano, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Hannes Swoboda and Alexandra Dobolyi, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the situation in Armenia (B6-0113/2008);

- Árpád Duka-Zólyomi, Urszula Gacek, Bernd Posselt and Eija-Riitta Korhola, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on Armenia (B6-0114/2008);

- Jaromír Kohlíček, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on Armenia (B6-0119/2008);

- Marios Matsakis, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck and Marco Cappato, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the situation in Armenia (B6-0120/2008);

- Ryszard Czarnecki, Adam Bielan and Ewa Tomaszewska, on behalf of the UEN Group, on Armenia (B6-0121/2008);

II. Arrests of demonstrators following the presidential elections in Russia

- Bernd Posselt, Jana Hybášková, Christopher Beazley, Tunne Kelam and Thomas Mann, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on the arrest of demonstrators following the Presidential election in Russia (B6-0124/2008);

- Janusz Onyszkiewicz and Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the arrest of demonstrators following the Presidential election in Russia (B6-0127/2008);

- Bart Staes and Milan Horáček, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the arrest of demonstrators following the presidential elections in the Russian Federation (B6-0128/2008);

- Jan Marinus Wiersma and Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the demonstrations in Russia after the Presidential elections (B6-0129/2008);

- Ryszard Czarnecki, Adam Bielan, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Ewa Tomaszewska, Konrad Szymański, Marcin Libicki, Roberts Zīle and Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the arrest of demonstrators following the Presidential election in Russia (B6-0130/2008);

III. The case of the journalist Perwez Kambakhsh - The case of the Iranian citizen Seyed Mehdi Kazemi

Perwez Kambakhsh

- Angelika Beer, Joost Lagendijk and Hélène Flautre, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on Afghanistan (B6-0112/2008);

- Thomas Mann, Guido Podestà, Eija-Riitta Korhola and Nicole Fontaine, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on the Afghan citizen sentenced by the Islamist courts (B6-0115/2008);

- Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki and Ewa Tomaszewska, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the case of the journalist Perwez Kambakhsh (B6-0116/2008);

- Pasqualina Napoletano, Ana Maria Gomes, Robert Evans, Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco and Emilio Menéndez del Valle, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the case of the journalist Perwez Kambakhsh (B6-0118/2008);

- Francis Wurtz and André Brie, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on Afghanistan: the case of the journalist Perwez Kambakhsh (B6-0123/2008);

- Jules Maaten, Marios Matsakis and Marco Cappato, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on Afghanistan (B6-0125/2008);

Seyed Mehdi Kazemi

- Jean Lambert and Raül Romeva i Rueda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the case of Mehdi Kazemi (B6-0111/2008);

- Pasqualina Napoletano and Michael Cashman, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the case of Mehdi Kazemi (B6-0117/2008);

- Vittorio Agnoletto, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the case of Mehdi Kazemi (B6-0122/2008);

- Marco Cappato, Marco Pannella, Sophia in 't Veld, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Sarah Ludford and Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the case of Mehdi Kazemi (B6-0126/2008);

Speaking time would be allocated in accordance with Rule 142.

7. Annual policy strategy 2009 (debate)

Commission statement: Annual policy strategy 2009

José Manuel Barroso (President of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: Hartmut Nassauer, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group, Diana Wallis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Brian Crowley, on behalf of the UEN Group, Eva Lichtenberger, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Helmuth Markov, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Godfrey Bloom, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Frank Vanhecke, Non-attached Member, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Catherine Guy-Quint, Adina-Ioana Vălean, Jan Tadeusz Masiel, Jens-Peter Bonde, Luca Romagnoli, László Surján, Véronique De Keyser, Ingeborg Gräßle, Alain Hutchinson, Lambert van Nistelrooij, Göran Färm, Lutz Goepel, Carmen Fraga Estévez, John Bowis, Maria Martens, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski and Othmar Karas.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Mairead McGuinness, Luís Queiró, Katalin Lévai, Zuzana Roithová and Danutė Budreikaitė.

The following spoke: Margot Wallström (Vice-President of the Commission).

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: at a subsequent part-session.

8. European Institute of Innovation and Technology ***II (debate)

Recommendation for second reading: Council common position for adopting 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)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Reino Paasilinna (A6-0041/2008)

Reino Paasilinna introduced the recommendation for second reading.

The following spoke: Ján Figeľ (Member of the Commission).

IN THE CHAIR: Luigi COCILOVO
Vice-President

The following spoke: Romana Jordan Cizelj, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Konrad Szymański, on behalf of the UEN Group, Miloslav Ransdorf, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Jana Bobošíková, Non-attached Member, Angelika Niebler, Gyula Hegyi, Lena Ek, Ryszard Czarnecki, Zdzisław Kazimierz Chmielewski, Teresa Riera Madurell, Grażyna Staniszewska and Pierre Pribetich.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Lambert van Nistelrooij, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Jacek Protasiewicz, Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva, Sylwester Chruszcz, Miroslav Mikolášik, Nina Škottová and Czesław Adam Siekierski.

The following spoke: Ján Figeľ and Reino Paasilinna.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 11.03.2008, item 10.9.

(The sitting was suspended at 11.15 pending voting time and resumed at 11.30.)

IN THE CHAIR: Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT
Vice-President

9. Verification of credentials

Giuseppe Gargani, Chairman of the JURI Committee, gave an oral report giving the committee's proposal in respect of the verification of the credentials of the following Members:

Roberta Alma Anastase, Sebastian Valentin Bodu, Victor Boştinaru, Nicodim Bulzesc, Cristian Silviu Buşoi, Titus Corlăţean, Corina Creţu, Gabriela Creţu, Magor Imre Csibi, Daniel Dăianu, Dragoş Florin David, Constantin Dumitriu, Petru Filip, Sorin Frunzăverde, Monica Maria Iacob-Ridzi, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Cătălin-Ioan Nechifor, Rareş-Lucian Niculescu, Dumitru Oprea, Ioan Mircea Paşcu, Maria Petre, Rovana Plumb, Mihaela Popa, Nicolae Vlad Popa, Daciana Octavia Sârbu, Adrian Severin, Csaba Sógor, Theodor Dumitru Stolojan, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, László Tőkés, Adina-Ioana Vălean, Renate Weber, Iuliu Winkler and Marian Zlotea, with effect from 10.12.2007; of Urszula Gacek and Krzysztof Hołowczyc, with effect from 06.12.2007; and of Brigitte Fouré, with effect from 10.01.2008.

Parliament decided to confirm the validity of the mandates of the Members concerned.

10. 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.

10.1. Management of the assets of the ECSC and the Research Fund for Coal and Steel * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: Proposal for a Council decision amending Decision 2003/77/EC laying down multiannual financial guidelines for managing the assets of the ECSC in liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, the Assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel [COM(2007)0435 - C6-0276/2007 - 2007/0150(CNS)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Reimer Böge (A6-0062/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 1)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0073)

10.2. EC-United Arab Emirates Agreement on certain aspects of air services * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the United Arab Emirates on certain aspects of air services [COM(2007)0134 - C6-0472/2007 - 2007/0052(CNS)] - Committee on Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Paolo Costa (A6-0043/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 2)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0074)

10.3. Common organisation of agricultural markets and specific provisions for certain agricultural products * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: 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)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Neil Parish (A6-0044/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 3)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0075)

10.4. Common organisation of agricultural markets and specific provisions for certain agricultural products * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: 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(2008)0027 - C6-0061/2008 - 2008/0011(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Neil Parish (A6-0045/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 4)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0076)

10.5. Statistical classification of economic activities in the EC ***I (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (Codified version) [COM(2007)0755 - C6-0437/2007 - 2007/0256(COD)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (A6-0055/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 5)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0077)

10.6. Identification and registration of pigs * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: Proposal for a Council directive on the identification and registration of pigs (Codified version) [COM(2007)0829 - C6-0037/2008 - 2007/0294(CNS)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (A6-0057/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 6)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0078)

10.7. Marketing of vegetable propagating and planting material, other than seed * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: 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)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (A6-0056/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 7)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0079)

10.8. Common rules in the field of civil aviation security ***III (vote)

Report: Common position adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules in the field of civil aviation security and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002 [PE-CONS 3601/2008 – C6 0029/2008 – 2005/0191(COD)] - Parliament's delegation to the Conciliation Committee - Rapporteur: Paolo Costa (A6-0049/2008)

(Simple majority for approval)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 8)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0080)

10.9. European Institute of Innovation and Technology ***II (vote)

Recommendation for second reading: Council common position for adopting 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)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Reino Paasilinna (A6-0041/2008)

(Qualified majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 9)

COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL

Declared approved (P6_TA(2008)0081)

10.10. Mobilisation of the European Union's Solidarity Fund (vote)

Report: Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in application of point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management [COM(2008)0014 – C6 0036/2008 – 2008/2019(ACI)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Reimer Böge (A6-0065/2008)

(Qualified majority: three fifths of votes cast)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 10)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0082)

10.11. Amending budget No 1/2008 (vote)

Report: Amending budget No 1/2008 - Solidarity Fund [2008/2017(BUD)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Kyösti Virrankoski (A6-0058/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 11)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0083)

10.12. EC-Guinea-Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement * (vote)

Report: Proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau [COM(2007)0580 - C6-0391/2007 - 2007/0209(CNS)] - Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (A6-0053/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 12)

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0084)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0084)

10.13. EC-Côte d’Ivoire Fisheries Partnership Agreement * (vote)

Report: Proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EC and Côte d’Ivoire [COM(2007)0648 - C6-0429/2007 - 2007/0226(CNS)] - Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (A6-0054/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 13)

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0085)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0085)

10.14. Sustainable European transport policy (vote)

Report: Sustainable European transport policy, taking into account European energy and environment policies [2007/2147(INI)] - Committee on Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Gabriele Albertini (A6-0014/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 14)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0086)

(The sitting was suspended at 11.50 pending the formal sitting.)

IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING
President

11. Formal sitting - Estonia

From 12.00 to 12.30, a formal sitting of Parliament was held on the occasion of the visit of Mr Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia.

IN THE CHAIR: Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT
Vice-President

12. 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:

Report:: Paolo Costa - A6-0049/2008:

Hubert Pirker, Bernard Wojciechowski and Jan Březina

Report:: Reino Paasilinna - A6-0041/2008:

Hubert Pirker, Zuzana Roithová, Tomáš Zatloukal, Hannu Takkula, Syed Kamall and Christopher Heaton-Harris

Report:: Reimer Böge - A6-0065/2008:

Zuzana Roithová and Glyn Ford

Report:: Kyösti Virrankoski - A6-0058/2008:

Zuzana Roithová, Bernard Wojciechowski and Christopher Heaton-Harris

Report:: Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos - A6-0053/2008 and Report:: Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna - A6-0054/2008:

Christopher Heaton-Harris

Report:: Gabriele Albertini - A6-0014/2008:

Christopher Heaton-Harris, Richard Seeber and Zuzana Roithová

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.

°
° ° °

Victor Boştinaru had made it known that his voting machine had not worked during voting time.

(The sitting was suspended at 12.55 and resumed at 15.00.)

IN THE CHAIR: Miguel Angel MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ
Vice-President

14. Agenda

The President announced that, at its meeting of 10.03.2008, the JURI Committee had adopted the report by Diana Wallis on the request for waiver of the immunity of Hans-Peter Martin (A6-0071/2008), pursuant to Rule 131 of the Rules of Procedure.

This report would be voted on during voting time on Wednesday 12.03.2008 at 12.00.

15. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

16. Common organisation of agricultural markets and specific provisions for certain agricultural products as regards the national quotas for milk * (debate)

Report: on the 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) as regards the national quotas for milk [COM(2007)0802 - C6-0015/2008 - 2007/0281(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Elisabeth Jeggle (A6-0046/2008)

The following spoke: Iztok Jarc (President-in-Office of the Council) and Mariann Fischer Boel (Member of the Commission).

Elisabeth Jeggle introduced the report.

The following spoke: Czesław Adam Siekierski, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Rosa Miguélez Ramos, on behalf of the PSE Group, Niels Busk, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Alyn Smith, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Dimitar Stoyanov, Non-attached Member, James Nicholson, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, Margrete Auken, Albert Deß, Bogdan Golik, Astrid Lulling, Katerina Batzeli, Maria Petre, Gábor Harangozó and Béla Glattfelder.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure:Miroslav Mikolášik, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, Jim Allister, Mairead McGuinness, Neil Parish, Agnes Schierhuber and Esther De Lange.

The following spoke: Iztok Jarc, Mariann Fischer Boel and Elisabeth Jeggle.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 12.03.2008, item 5.4.

17. CAP 'Health Check' (debate)

Report: on the CAP 'Health Check' [2007/2195(INI)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Lutz Goepel (A6-0047/2008)

Lutz Goepel introduced the report.

The following spoke: Iztok Jarc (President-in-Office of the Council) and Mariann Fischer Boel (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Bart Staes (draftsman of the opinion of the ENVI Committee) and Neil Parish, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Marek SIWIEC
Vice-President

The following spoke: Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos, on behalf of the PSE Group, Niels Busk, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Sergio Berlato, on behalf of the UEN Group, Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Ilda Figueiredo, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Witold Tomczak, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Peter Baco, Non-attached Member, Agnes Schierhuber, Bernadette Bourzai, Willem Schuth, Janusz Wojciechowski, Alyn Smith, Kartika Tamara Liotard, Vladimír Železný, Jean-Claude Martinez, Mairead McGuinness, María Isabel Salinas García, Jan Mulder, Andrzej Tomasz Zapałowski, Marie-Hélène Aubert, Bairbre de Brún, Derek Roland Clark, Jim Allister, Véronique Mathieu, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, Anne Laperrouze, Liam Aylward, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Lily Jacobs, Kyösti Virrankoski, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Petya Stavreva, Bogdan Golik, Magor Imre Csibi, Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk, Czesław Adam Siekierski, Katerina Batzeli, Francesco Ferrari and Struan Stevenson.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Constantin Dumitriu, James Nicholson, Andrzej Jan Szejna, Markus Pieper and Marian Harkin.

The following spoke: Iztok Jarc, Mariann Fischer Boel and Lutz Goepel.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 12.03.2008, item 5.5.

18. Follow-up after the review of the Lamfalussy process (debate)

Oral question (O-0015/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Council: Follow-up after the review of the Lamfalussy process (B6-0011/2008)

Oral question (O-0016/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Commission: Follow-up after the review of the Lamfalussy process (B6-0012/2008)

Pervenche Berès moved the oral questions.

Janez Lenarčič (President-in-Office of the Council) answered the question (B6-0011/2008).

IN THE CHAIR: Diana WALLIS
Vice-President

Joaquín Almunia (Member of the Commission) answered the question (B6-0012/2008).

The following spoke: Alexander Radwan, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Ieke van den Burg, on behalf of the PSE Group, Josu Ortuondo Larrea, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Piia-Noora Kauppi, Elisa Ferreira, Antolín Sánchez Presedo and Harald Ettl.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Reinhard Rack.

The following spoke: Joaquín Almunia.

The debate closed.

19. Question Time (Commission)

Parliament considered a number of questions to the Commission (B6-0013/2008).

The following spoke: Marian Harkin on the organisation of Question Time

Part one

Question 32 (Stavros Arnaoutakis): Negative impact on business of the international credit crisis.

Joaquín Almunia (Member of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Stavros Arnaoutakis and Danutė Budreikaitė.

Question 33 (Manolis Mavrommatis): Legal downloads of songs from the Internet.

Ján Figeľ (Member of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Manolis Mavrommatis and Josu Ortuondo Larrea.

Question 34 (Avril Doyle): Carbon tariffs on imports?.

Stavros Dimas (Member of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Avril Doyle, Lambert van Nistelrooij and Marian Harkin.

Part two

Question 35 (Colm Burke): Intercultural dialogue in EU.

Ján Figeľ answered the question and supplementaries by Colm Burke, Avril Doyle and Marian Harkin.

Question 36 lapsed as its author was absent.

Question 37 (Bernd Posselt): German-Czech-Austrian cultural cooperation.

Ján Figeľ answered the question and supplementaries by Bernd Posselt, Justas Vincas Paleckis and Reinhard Rack.

Questions 38 to 40 would receive written answers.

The following spoke: Jim Higgins on the conduct of Question Time.

Question 41 (Georgios Papastamkos): Settlement of dispute between the EU and the USA concerning GMOs in the World Trade Organisation.

Peter Mandelson (Member of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Georgios Papastamkos and Mairead McGuinness.

Question 42 (Bart Staes): In-depth evaluation of Economic Partnership Agreements.

Question 43 (Thijs Berman): Economic Partnership Agreements.

Question 44 (Claude Moraes): Impact measurement of Economic Partnership Agreements.

Question 45 (David Martin): EPAs.

Question 46 (Sarah Ludford): Economic Partnership Agreements.

Question 47 (Hélène Goudin): Partnership agreements with developing countries.

Peter Mandelson answered the questions and supplementaries by Bart Staes, Glenis Willmott, David Martin, Sarah Ludford and Paul Rübig.

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: Mario MAURO
Vice-President

20. The situation of women in rural areas of the EU (debate)

Report: on the situation of women in rural areas of the EU [2007/2117(INI)] - Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. Rapporteur: Christa Klaß (A6-0031/2008)

Christa Klaß introduced the report.

The following spoke: Mariann Fischer Boel (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Edit Bauer, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Iratxe García Pérez, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jan Tadeusz Masiel, on behalf of the UEN Group, Raül Romeva i Rueda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Ilda Figueiredo, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Urszula Krupa, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Christa Prets, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Eva-Britt Svensson, Rumiana Jeleva, Ewa Tomaszewska, Esther Herranz García, Corina Creţu and Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Mairead McGuinness, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Danutė Budreikaitė, Avril Doyle, Roberta Alma Anastase, Anna Záborská and Monica Maria Iacob-Ridzi.

The following spoke: Mariann Fischer Boel and Christa Klaß.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 12.03.2008, item 5.6.

21. Sustainable agriculture and biogas: review of EU legislation (debate)

Report: on sustainable agriculture and biogas: a need for review of EU-legislation [2007/2107(INI)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Csaba Sándor Tabajdi (A6-0034/2008)

Csaba Sándor Tabajdi introduced the report.

The following spoke: Mariann Fischer Boel (Member of the Commission).

IN THE CHAIR: Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU
Vice-President

The following spoke: Jens Holm (draftsman of the opinion of the ENVI Committee), Werner Langen (draftsman of the opinion of the ITRE Committee), Albert Deß, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Bogdan Golik, on behalf of the PSE Group, Willem Schuth, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Wiesław Stefan Kuc, on behalf of the UEN Group, Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Derek Roland Clark, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Jim Allister, Non-attached Member, Mairead McGuinness, Gábor Harangozó, Anne Laperrouze, Leopold Józef Rutowicz, Nils Lundgren, Neil Parish, Cristian Silviu Buşoi and Samuli Pohjamo.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Miroslav Mikolášik, Avril Doyle, James Nicholson, Czesław Adam Siekierski and Claude Turmes.

The following spoke: Mariann Fischer Boel and Csaba Sándor Tabajdi.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 12.03.2008, item 5.7.

22. Energy statistics ***I (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy statistics [COM(2006)0850 - C6-0035/2007 - 2007/0002(COD)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Claude Turmes (A6-0487/2007)

The following spoke: Joaquín Almunia (Member of the Commission).

Claude Turmes introduced the report.

The following spoke: Eija-Riitta Korhola, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Catherine Trautmann, on behalf of the PSE Group, Fiona Hall, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Avril Doyle, Teresa Riera Madurell, Jerzy Buzek and Silvia-Adriana Ţicău.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Paul Rübig.

The following spoke: Claude Turmes.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 12.03.2008, item 5.2.

23. Statistics on plant protection products ***I (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning statistics on plant protection products [COM(2006)0778 - C6-0457/2006 - 2006/0258(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Bart Staes (A6-0004/2008)

The following spoke: Joaquín Almunia (Member of the Commission).

Bart Staes introduced the report.

The following spoke: Hartmut Nassauer, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Gyula Hegyi, on behalf of the PSE Group, Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Hiltrud Breyer, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Jens Holm, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Irena Belohorská, Non-attached Member, Christa Klaß and Péter Olajos.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Paul Rübig, Czesław Adam Siekierski, Avril Doyle and Marios Matsakis.

The following spoke: Bart Staes.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 12.03.2008, item 5.3.

24. Agenda of the next sitting

The agenda of the next day's sitting had been established ('Agenda' PE 403.203/OJME).

25. Closure of the sitting

The sitting closed at 23.55.

The following signed:

Agnoletto, Aita, Albertini, Allister, Alvaro, Anastase, Andersson, Andrejevs, Andria, Angelakas, Angelilli, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Ashworth, Atkins, Attard-Montalto, Attwooll, Aubert, Audy, Auken, Ayala Sender, Aylward, Ayuso, Baco, Badia i Cutchet, Baeva, Barón Crespo, Barsi-Pataky, Battilocchio, Batzeli, Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Belder, Belet, Belohorská, Beňová, Berend, Berès, Berlato, Berlinguer, Berman, Binev, Blokland, Bobošíková, Bodu, Böge, Bösch, Bonde, Bonsignore, Borghezio, Borrell Fontelles, Bossi, Boştinaru, Botopoulos, Bourzai, Bowis, Bowles, Bozkurt, Bradbourn, Braghetto, Brejc, Breyer, Březina, Brie, Brok, Brunetta, Budreikaitė, van Buitenen, Bulfon, Bullmann, Bulzesc, van den Burg, Burke, Bushill-Matthews, Busk, Buşoi, Busquin, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Calabuig Rull, Callanan, Camre, Capoulas Santos, Cappato, Carlshamre, Carnero González, Carollo, Casaca, Casini, Caspary, Castex, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Cercas, Chatzimarkakis, Chichester, Chiesa, Chmielewski, Christensen, Chruszcz, Chukolov, Claeys, Clark, Cocilovo, Coelho, Cohn-Bendit, Corbett, Corda, Corlăţean, Cornillet, Paolo Costa, Coûteaux, Cramer, Corina Creţu, Gabriela Creţu, Crowley, Csibi, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Ryszard Czarnecki, Dăianu, Daul, Davies, De Blasio, de Brún, Degutis, Dehaene, De Keyser, Demetriou, De Michelis, Deprez, De Rossa, Descamps, Désir, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, De Vits, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dičkutė, Didžiokas, Dillen, Dimitrakopoulos, Dobolyi, Dombrovskis, Donnici, Doorn, Douay, Dover, Doyle, Drčar Murko, Duchoň, Duff, Duka-Zólyomi, Dumitriu, Ebner, Ehler, Ek, El Khadraoui, Elles, Esteves, Estrela, Ettl, Jonathan Evans, Robert Evans, Färm, Fajmon, Falbr, Farage, Fatuzzo, Fava, Fazakas, Ferber, Fernandes, Fernández Martín, Ferrari, Anne Ferreira, Elisa Ferreira, Figueiredo, Filip, Fjellner, Flasarová, Flautre, Florenz, Foglietta, Foltyn-Kubicka, Fontaine, Ford, Fouré, Fourtou, Fraga Estévez, França, Frassoni, Friedrich, Frunzăverde, Gacek, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Garcés Ramón, García-Margallo y Marfil, García Pérez, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gaubert, Gauzès, Gawronski, Gebhardt, Gentvilas, Georgiou, Geremek, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gewalt, Gibault, Gierek, Giertych, Gill, Gklavakis, Glante, Glattfelder, Gobbo, Goebbels, Goepel, Golik, Gollnisch, Gomes, Gomolka, Gottardi, Goudin, Grabowska, Grabowski, Graça Moura, Graefe zu Baringdorf, Gräßle, de Grandes Pascual, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Groote, Grosch, Grossetête, Guardans Cambó, Guellec, Guerreiro, Guidoni, Gurmai, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Guy-Quint, Gyürk, Hänsch, Hall, Hammerstein, Hamon, Handzlik, Hannan, Harangozó, Harbour, Harkin, Harms, Hasse Ferreira, Hassi, Haug, Heaton-Harris, Hedh, Hegyi, Helmer, Hennicot-Schoepges, Hennis-Plasschaert, Herranz García, Herrero-Tejedor, Hieronymi, Higgins, Hökmark, Holm, Hołowczyc, Honeyball, Hoppenstedt, Horáček, Howitt, Hudacký, Hudghton, Hutchinson, Hyusmenova, Iacob-Ridzi, Ibrisagic, in 't Veld, Iotova, Irujo Amezaga, Isler Béguin, Itälä, Iturgaiz Angulo, Jackson, Jacobs, Jäätteenmäki, Jałowiecki, Janowski, Járóka, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jeleva, Jensen, Jöns, Jørgensen, Jonckheer, Jordan Cizelj, Jouye de Grandmaison, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kaczmarek, Kallenbach, Kamall, Karas, Karim, Kasoulides, Kaufmann, Kauppi, Kazak, Tunne Kelam, Kilroy-Silk, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kirilov, Kirkhope, Klamt, Klaß, Klinz, Knapman, Koch, Kohlíček, Konrad, Koppa, Korhola, Kósáné Kovács, Koterec, Kozlík, Krahmer, Krasts, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Krehl, Kreissl-Dörfler, Kristovskis, Krupa, Kuc, Kuhne, Kułakowski, Kušķis, Kusstatscher, Kuźmiuk, Lagendijk, Lamassoure, Lambert, Lambrinidis, Lang, De Lange, Langen, Langendries, Laperrouze, La Russa, Lauk, Lavarra, Lax, Lebech, Lechner, Le Foll, Lefrançois, Lehideux, Lehne, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Le Rachinel, Lévai, Lewandowski, Liberadzki, Libicki, Lichtenberger, Lienemann, Liotard, Lipietz, Losco, Louis, Lucas, Ludford, Lulling, Lundgren, Lyubcheva, Maaten, McAvan, McCarthy, McGuinness, McMillan-Scott, Madeira, Maldeikis, Manders, Mănescu, Maňka, Thomas Mann, Marinescu, Markov, Marques, Martens, David Martin, Hans-Peter Martin, Martinez, Martínez Martínez, Masiel, Masip Hidalgo, Maštálka, Mathieu, Matsakis, Matsis, Matsouka, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Medina Ortega, Méndez de Vigo, Menéndez del Valle, Meyer Pleite, Miguélez Ramos, Mikko, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Mladenov, Mölzer, Mohácsi, Moreno Sánchez, Morgantini, Morillon, Morin, Mote, Mulder, Musacchio, Muscardini, Myller, Napoletano, Nassauer, Nattrass, Nechifor, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson, Niculescu, Niebler, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Obiols i Germà, Öger, Olbrycht, Ó Neachtain, Onesta, Onyszkiewicz, Oomen-Ruijten, Oprea, Ortuondo Larrea, Őry, Ouzký, Oviir, Paasilinna, Pack, Pahor, Paleckis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Panayotov, Panzeri, Papadimoulis, Paparizov, Papastamkos, Parish, Paşcu, Peillon, Pęk, Alojz Peterle, Petre, Pflüger, Piecyk, Pieper, Pīks, Pinheiro, Pinior, Piotrowski, Pirker, Piskorski, Pistelli, Pittella, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Pleštinská, Plumb, Podestà, Podimata, Podkański, Pöttering, Pohjamo, Polfer, Pomés Ruiz, Mihaela Popa, Nicolae Vlad Popa, Posdorf, Posselt, Prets, Pribetich, Vittorio Prodi, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Rack, Radwan, Raeva, Ransdorf, Rasmussen, Remek, Resetarits, Reul, Ribeiro e Castro, Riera Madurell, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Rivera, Rizzo, Rocard, Rogalski, Roithová, Romagnoli, Romeva i Rueda, Rosati, Roszkowski, Roth-Behrendt, Rouček, Roure, Rovsing, Rübig, Rühle, Rutowicz, Ryan, Sacconi, Saïfi, Sakalas, Saks, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Savi, Sbarbati, Schaldemose, Scheele, Schierhuber, Schinas, Schlyter, Frithjof Schmidt, Olle Schmidt, Schmitt, Schnellhardt, Schöpflin, Jürgen Schröder, Schroedter, Schulz, Schuth, Schwab, Seeber, Segelström, Seppänen, Severin, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Simpson, Sinnott, Siwiec, Skinner, Škottová, Smith, Sógor, Sommer, Søndergaard, Sonik, Sornosa Martínez, Sousa Pinto, Speroni, Staes, Staniszewska, Starkevičiūtė, Šťastný, Stauner, Stavreva, Sterckx, Stevenson, Stihler, Stockmann, Stolojan, Stoyanov, Strejček, Strož, Stubb, Sudre, Sumberg, Surján, Susta, Svensson, Swoboda, Szájer, Szejna, Szent-Iványi, Szymański, Tabajdi, Tajani, Takkula, Tarand, Tatarella, Thomsen, Thyssen, Ţicău, Titley, Toia, Tőkés, Tomaszewska, Tomczak, Toubon, Toussas, Trakatellis, Trautmann, Triantaphyllides, Turmes, Tzampazi, Uca, Ulmer, Urutchev, Vaidere, Vakalis, Vălean, Vanhecke, Van Hecke, Van Lancker, Van Orden, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Varvitsiotis, Vatanen, Vaugrenard, Ventre, Veraldi, Vergnaud, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vigenin, de Villiers, Virrankoski, Visser, Vlasák, Wagenknecht, Wallis, Walter, Watson, Manfred Weber, Renate Weber, Weiler, Weisgerber, Westlund, Whittaker, Wieland, Wiersma, Wijkman, Willmott, Iuliu Winkler, Wise, von Wogau, Bernard Wojciechowski, Janusz Wojciechowski, Wortmann-Kool, Wurtz, Yañez-Barnuevo García, Záborská, Zahradil, Zaleski, Zapałowski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Ždanoka, Zdravkova, Železný, Zieleniec, Zīle, Zimmer, Zlotea, Zvěřina, Zwiefka