IN THE CHAIR: Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT Vice-President
1. Opening of the sitting
The sitting opened at 9.00.
2. 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 amending Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators as regards Article 6(2) on placing batteries and accumulators on the market (COM(2008)0211 - C6-0165/2008 - 2008/0081(COD))
referred to
responsible:
ENVI
opinion:
ITRE, IMCO
- Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel's participation in Community programmes (05471/2008 - C6-0180/2008 - 2007/0241(AVC))
referred to
responsible:
AFET
opinion:
INTA
- Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 98/26/EC on settlement finality in payment and securities settlement systems and Directive 2002/47/EC on financial collateral arrangements as regards linked systems and credit claims (COM(2008)0213 - C6-0181/2008 - 2008/0082(COD))
referred to
responsible:
ECON
opinion:
JURI
- Proposal for a Council Decision on the eligibility of Central Asian countries under Council Decision 2006/1016/EC granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans and loan guarantees for projects outside the Community (COM(2008)0172 - C6-0182/2008 - 2008/0067(CNS))
referred to
responsible:
BUDG
opinion:
AFET, INTA
- Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 423/2004 as regards the recovery of cod stocks and amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 (COM(2008)0162 - C6-0183/2008 - 2008/0063(CNS))
referred to
responsible:
PECH
opinion:
ENVI
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 10/2008 - Section III – Commission (SEC(2008)0410 - C6-0185/2008 - 2008/2110(GBD))
referred to
responsible:
BUDG
3. Framework for the activities of lobbyists in the EU institutions (debate)
Report: on the development of the framework for the activities of interest representatives (lobbyists) in the European institutions [2007/2115(INI)] Rapporteur: Ingo Friedrich (ex-rapporteur: Alexander Stubb) (A6-0105/2008)
Ingo Friedrich introduced the report.
The following spoke: Siim Kallas (Vice-President of the Commission).
The following spoke: José Javier Pomés Ruiz (draftsman of the opinion of the CONT Committee), Pervenche Berès (draftsman of the opinion of the ECON Committee), Claude Turmes (draftsman of the opinion of the ENVI Committee), Diana Wallis (draftsman of the opinion of the JURI Committee), Søren Bo Søndergaard (draftsman of the opinion of the LIBE Committee), Philip Bradbourn, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Carlos Carnero González, on behalf of the PSE Group, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the UEN Group, Monica Frassoni, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Jens-Peter Bonde, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Andreas Mölzer, Non-attached Member, Reinhard Rack, Richard Corbett, Luca Romagnoli, Astrid Lulling, Jo Leinen and Costas Botopoulos.
The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Zita Pleštinská, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Paul Rübig, Carl Schlyter and David Hammerstein.
The following spoke: Siim Kallas and Ingo Friedrich.
Report: on the White Paper on Sport [2007/2261(INI)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Manolis Mavrommatis (A6-0149/2008)
Manolis Mavrommatis introduced the report.
IN THE CHAIR: Mario MAURO Vice-President
The following spoke: Vladimír Špidla (Member of the Commission).
The following spoke: Emine Bozkurt (draftsman of the opinion of the EMPL Committee), Toine Manders, Gerardo Galeote (draftsman of the opinion of the REGI Committee), Neena Gill (draftsman of the opinion of the JURI Committee), Esther De Lange (draftsman of the opinion of the LIBE Committee), Pál Schmitt, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Hannu Takkula, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, on behalf of the UEN Group, Jean-Luc Bennahmias, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Věra Flasarová, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Thomas Wise, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Slavi Binev, Non-attached Member, Ivo Belet, Emine Bozkurt, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Sebastiano (Nello) Musumeci, Doris Pack, Christa Prets, Sharon Bowles, Ryszard Czarnecki, Tadeusz Zwiefka, Richard Corbett, Grażyna Staniszewska, Christopher Heaton-Harris, who also declared a financial interest, Donato Tommaso Veraldi and Christofer Fjellner.
The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Mihaela Popa, Costas Botopoulos, Toomas Savi and Antonio De Blasio.
The following spoke: Vladimír Špidla, Manolis Mavrommatis and Martin Schulz, who complained about the hubbub in the Chamber at the end of the debate and, on behalf of the PSE Group, asked the Bureau to ensure that the five-minute interruption after the vote is respected.
Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the amendments to the Protocol setting out, for the period from 18 January 2005 to 17 January 2011, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles [COM(2007)0664 - C6-0430/2007 - 2007/0232(CNS)] - Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Josu Ortuondo Larrea (A6-0085/2008)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 1)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL, AMENDMENTS and DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
5.2. Excise duty on beer produced locally in Madeira * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Portugal to apply a reduced rate of excise duty on locally produced beer in the autonomous region of Madeira [COM(2007)0772 - C6-0012/2008 - 2007/0273(CNS)] - Committee on Regional Development. Rapporteur: Sérgio Marques (A6-0146/2008)
5.3. Exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the conclusion of an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission on procedures for implementing Council Decision 1999/468/EC laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC [C6-0009/2008 – 2008/2002(ACI)] - Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Rapporteur: Monica Frassoni (A6-0107/2008)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 5)
PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION
The following spoke: László Kovács (Member of the Commission).
5.4. Implementing measures (amendment of Rule 81) (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the amendment of Rule 81 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on implementing measure [2008/2027(REG)] - Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Rapporteur: Monica Frassoni (A6-0108/2008)
5.5. Support schemes for farmers (support for cotton) * (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, as regards the support scheme for cotton [COM(2007)0701 - C6-0447/2007 - 2007/0242(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Ioannis Gklavakis (A6-0166/2008)
Erika Mann, on behalf of the PSE Group, moved an oral amendment to paragraph 13, which was incorporated.
5.7. Human Rights in the World 2007 and the EU's policy on the matter (vote)
Report: on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2007 and the EU's policy on the matter [2007/2274(INI)] - Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Marco Cappato (A6-0153/2008)
Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group, said that the his group was withdrawing its Amendment 3;
Marco Cappato (rapporteur) moved an oral amendment to Amendment 7, which was incorporated.
Hélène Flautre moved an oral amendment to Amendment 22, which was incorporated.
5.8. EU Election Observation Missions (vote)
Report: on EU election observation missions: objectives, practices and future challenges [2007/2217(INI)] - Committee on Foreign Affairs. Co-rapporteurs: Véronique De Keyser and José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (A6-0138/2008)
Michael Gahler moved an oral amendment inserting a new paragraph 6a, which was incorporated.
5.9. Trade and Economic Relations with the countries of South East Asia (ASEAN) (vote)
Report: on trade and economic relations with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) [2007/2265(INI)] - Committee on International Trade. Co-rapporteurs: Glyn Ford and Vincenzo Aita (A6-0151/2008)
Glyn Ford (rapporteur) said before the vote that he was withdrawing Amendment 11 and asked that Amendment 12 be considered an addition (the President noted that there were no objections).
5.10. Management of deep-sea fish stocks (vote)
Report: on the management of deep-sea fish stocks [2007/2110(INI)] - Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Rosa Miguélez Ramos (A6-0103/2008)
5.11. Framework for the activities of lobbyists in the EU institutions (vote)
Report: on the development of the framework for the activities of interest representatives (lobbyists) in the European institutions [2007/2115(INI)] Rapporteur: Ingo Friedrich (ex-rapporteur: Alexander Stubb) (A6-0105/2008)
Hartmut Nassauer, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, asked that Amendment 3 and paragraph 10, 2nd part, be put to a roll-call vote (although submitted after the deadline, this request was approved);
Mario Mauro moved an oral amendment to paragraph 10, which was not incorporated as more than 40 Members objected;
Adina-Ioana Vălean moved an oral amendment to Amendment 3, which was not incorporated as more than 40 Members objected; (Monica Frassoni spoke on this result);
Monica Frassoni, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, said that her group was withdrawing Amendment 15.
5.12. White Paper on Sport (vote)
Report: on the White Paper on Sport [2007/2261(INI)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Manolis Mavrommatis (A6-0149/2008)
Edith Mastenbroek, Jens-Peter Bonde and Adeline Hazan had given written notice of their resignation as Members of the European Parliament with effect from 30.04.2008, 09.05.2008 and 18.05.2008 respectively.
Under Rule 4(1), Parliament established the vacancies and informed the Member States concerned.
The Dutch authorities had given notice of the appointment of Jan Cremers to replace Edith Mastenbroek as Member of Parliament with effect from 30.04.2008.
The Danish authorities had given notice of the appointment of Hanne Dahl to replace Jens-Peter Bonde as Member of Parliament with effect from 09.05.2008.
Under Rule 3(2), until such time as their credentials had been verified or a ruling had been given on any dispute, and provided that they had previously made a written declaration stating that they did not hold any office incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament, Jan Cremers and Hanne Dahl would take their seats in Parliament and on its bodies and would enjoy all the rights attaching thereto.
7. Composition of committees and delegations
At the request of the PSE, UEN and IND/DEM Groups, Parliament ratified the following appointments:
CONT Committee: Ieke van den Burg
EMPL Committee: Jan Cremers to replace Emine Bozkurt
LIBE Committee: Emine Bozkurt
AFCO Committee: Hanne Dahl
Delegation to the Euromediterranean Joint Parliamentary Assembly: Cristiana Muscardini
Delegation for relations with Switzerland, Iceland and Norway and to the European Economic Area (EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committee: Hanne Dahl
Delegation for relations with Israel: Jan Cremers.
8. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting
The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.
IN THE CHAIR: Luisa MORGANTINI Vice-President
9. 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:: Ioannis Gklavakis - A6-0166/2008: Katerina Batzeli
Transatlantic Economic Council - RC-B6-0209/2008: Syed Kamall
Report:: Marco Cappato - A6-0153/2008: Milan Horáček, Tunne Kelam, Dimitar Stoyanov
Report:: Véronique De Keyser and José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra - A6-0138/2008: Martin Callanan
Report:: Glyn Ford and Vincenzo Aita - A6-0151/2008: Syed Kamall
Report:: Ingo Friedrich - A6-0105/2008: Carlo Fatuzzo, Christopher Heaton-Harris, Daniel Hannan, Othmar Karas
Report:: Manolis Mavrommatis - A6-0149/2008: Czesław Adam Siekierski, Christopher Heaton-Harris, Ewa Tomaszewska, Christopher Beazley, Hannu Takkula, Othmar Karas.
10. 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.
° ° ° °
Karl-Heinz Florenz made it known that he had been present at that day's sitting but that he had not taken part in the votes.
11. Decisions concerning certain documents
Referral to committees
IMCO Committee
- 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, IMCO
12. 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.
13. Dates of forthcoming sittings
The next sittings would be held from 19.05.2008 to 22.05.2008.
14. Adjournment of the session
The session of the European Parliament was adjourned.