IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING
President

1. Resumption of the session

The sitting opened at 17.00.

2. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

3. Composition of Parliament

Graham Booth had given notice of his resignation as an MEP with effect from 01.10.2008.

In line with Rule 4(1), Parliament established the vacancy as of the above-mentioned date and informed the national authorities concerned.

The Italian authorities had given notice of the following:

- the end of the term of office at the European Parliament of Giuseppe Castiglione on account of incompatibilities within the meaning of Article 7(3) of the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage;

- the election to the European Parliament, replacing Giuseppe Castiglione, of Maddalena Calia, second on the relevant list of replacements, following the decision by the first person on the list, Michele Cimino, not to take up his mandate as an MEP.

Parliament took note, with effect from 12.09.2008.

Under Rule 3(2), until such time as her credentials had been verified or a ruling had been given on any dispute, and provided that she had previously made a written declaration stating that she did not hold any office incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament, Maddalena Calia would take her seat in Parliament and on its bodies and would enjoy all the rights attaching thereto.

4. Verification of credentials

On a proposal from the JURI Committee, Parliament validated the mandates of the following Members: Paolo Bartolozzi and Erminio Enzo Boso, with effect from 23.06.2008, Elisabetta Gardini and Giovanni Robusti, with effect from 30.05.2008, and Maria Grazia Pagano, with effect from 17.06.2008.

5. Composition of committees and delegations

At the request of the ALDE Group, Parliament ratified the following appointment:

Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee: Andrzej Wielowieyski

6. Proclamation of 23 August as European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism - Combating the trafficking of children (written declarations)

Written declaration 0044/2008, submitted by Marianne Mikko, Christopher Beazley, Inese Vaidere, Zita Gurmai and Alexander Alvaro, on the proclamation of 23 August as European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, had been signed by the majority of Parliament's component Members. Consequently, in accordance with Rule 116(4), it would be forwarded to its addressees and published, together with the names of the signatories, in the Texts Adopted of the sitting of 23.09.2008.

Written declaration 0050/2008, submitted by Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva, Zita Gurmai, Diana Wallis, Eva-Britt Svensson and Anna Záborská, on combating the trafficking of children, had been signed by the majority of Parliament's component Members. Consequently, in accordance with Rule 116(4), it would be forwarded to its addressees and published, together with the names of the signatories, in the Texts Adopted of the sitting of 21.10.2008.

7. Signature of acts adopted under codecision

The President announced that, on Wednesday, he and the President of the Council would sign the following acts adopted under the codecision procedure pursuant to Rule 68:

- Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 460/2004 establishing the European Network and Information Security Agency as regards its duration (03643/2008/LEX - C6-0325/2008 - 2007/0291(COD))

- Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the inland transport of dangerous goods (03656/2008/LEX - C6-0322/2008 - 2006/0278(COD))

- Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community (Recast) (03670/2008/LEX - C6-0321/2008 - 2006/0130(COD))

8. 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 15 September 2008 with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (10597/2/2008 - C6-0324/2008 - 2004/0209(COD))
referred to responsible: EMPL

- Common Position adopted by the Council on 15 September 2008 with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary agency work (10599/2/2008 - C6-0327/2008 - 2002/0072(COD))
referred to responsible: EMPL

The three-month period available to Parliament to adopt its position would therefore begin the following day (23.09.2008).

9. Documents received

The following documents had been received:

(1) from committees

(1.1) reports

- ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission (COM(2008)0053 - C6-0054/2008 - 2008/0030(COD)) - ENVI Committee - Rapporteur: Gyula Hegyi (A6-0279/2008)

- ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the colouring matters which may be added to medicinal products (recast) (COM(2008)0001 - C6-0026/2008 - 2008/0001(COD)) - JURI Committee - Rapporteur: József Szájer (A6-0280/2008)

- ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients (recast) (COM(2008)0154 - C6-0150/2008 - 2008/0060(COD)) - JURI Committee - Rapporteur: József Szájer (A6-0284/2008)

- Report on the Bologna Process and student mobility (2008/2070(INI)) - CULT Committee - Rapporteur: Doris Pack (A6-0302/2008)

- Report on concentration and pluralism in the media in the European Union (SEC(2007)0032 - 2007/2253(INI)) - CULT Committee - Rapporteur: Marianne Mikko (A6-0303/2008)

- Report on improving the quality of teacher education (2008/2068(INI)) - CULT Committee - Rapporteur: Maria Badia I Cutchet (A6-0304/2008)

- * Report on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion on behalf of the European Community of the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 (11964/2007 - C6-0326/2007 - 2006/0263(CNS)) - INTA Committee - Rapporteur: Caroline Lucas (A6-0313/2008)

- ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on 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 - Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny (COM(2008)0104 - C6-0087/2008 - 2008/0042(COD)) - ENVI Committee - Rapporteur: Miroslav Ouzký (A6-0314/2008)

- ***I Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of lthe Council concerning the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009) (COM(2008)0159 - C6-0151/2008 - 2008/0064(COD)) - CULT Committee - Rapporteur: Katerina Batzeli (A6-0319/2008)

- * Report on the proposal for a Council framework decision on the protection of personal data processed in the framework of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters (16069/2007 - C6-0010/2008 - 2005/0202(CNS)) - LIBE Committee - Rapporteur: Martine Roure (A6-0322/2008)

- * Report on the proposal for a Council Framework decision amending Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA on combating terrorism (COM(2007)0650 - C6-0466/2007 - 2007/0236(CNS)) - LIBE Committee - Rapporteur: Roselyne Lefrançois (A6-0323/2008)

- Report on amendment of Rule 121 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on proceedings before the Court of Justice (2007/2266(REG)) - AFCO Committee - Rapporteur: Costas Botopoulos (A6-0324/2008)

- Report on the situation and outlook for hill and mountain farming (2008/2066(INI)) - AGRI Committee - Rapporteur: Michl Ebner (A6-0327/2008)

- ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information (COM(2007)0851 - C6-0007/2008 - 2007/0295(COD)) - ENVI Committee - Rapporteur: Matthias Groote (A6-0329/2008)

- Report on the deliberations of the Committee on Petitions during the parliamentary year of 2007 (2008/2028(INI)) - PETI Committee - Rapporteur: David Hammerstein (A6-0336/2008)

- Report with recommendations to the Commission on Hedge funds and private equity (2007/2238(INI)) - ECON Committee - Rapporteur: Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (A6-0338/2008)

- * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (Euratom, ECSC, EEC) No 549/69 determining the categories of officials and other servants of the European Communities to whom the provisions of Article 12, the second paragraph of Article 13 and Article 14 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Communities apply (COM(2008)0305 - C6-0214/2008 - 2008/0102(CNS)) - LIBE Committee - Rapporteur: Agustín Díaz De Mera García Consuegra (A6-0339/2008)

- * Report on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax, as regards the treatment of insurance and financial services (COM(2007)0747 - C6-0473/2007 - 2007/0267(CNS)) - ECON Committee - Rapporteur: Joseph Muscat (A6-0344/2008)

- Report with recommendations to the Commission on the alignment of legal acts to the new Comitology Decision (2008/2096(INI)) - JURI Committee - Rapporteur: József Szájer (A6-0345/2008)

- * Report on the draft Council decision on migration from the Schengen Information System (SIS 1+) to the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) (COM(2008)0196 - 2008/0077(CNS)) - LIBE Committee - Rapporteur: Carlos Coelho (A6-0351/2008)

- * Report on the draft Council regulation on migration from the Schengen Information System (SIS 1+) to the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) (COM(2008)0197 - 2008/0078(CNS)) - LIBE Committee - Rapporteur: Carlos Coelho (A6-0352/2008)

- Report on Draft amending budget No 6/2008 of the European Union for the financial year 2008 - Section III - Commission (2008/2166(BUD)) - BUDG Committee - Rapporteur: Kyösti Virrankoski (A6-0353/2008)

(1.2) recommendations for second reading

- ***II Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations (recast) (05726/2/2008 - C6-0223/2008 - 2005/0237B(COD)) - TRAN Committee - Rapporteur: Luis De Grandes Pascual (A6-0330/2008)

- ***II Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (recast) (05724/2/2008 - C6-0222/2008 - 2005/0237A(COD)) - TRAN Committee - Rapporteur: Luis De Grandes Pascual (A6-0331/2008)

- ***II Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector and amending Directives 1999/35/EC and 2002/59/EC (05721/5/2008 - C6-0226/2008 - 2005/0240(COD)) - TRAN Committee - Rapporteur: Jaromír Kohlíček (A6-0332/2008)

- ***II Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the liability of carriers of passengers by sea in the event of accidents (06389/2/2008 - C6-0227/2008 - 2005/0241(COD)) - TRAN Committee - Rapporteur: Paolo Costa (A6-0333/2008)

- ***II Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2002/59/EC establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system (05719/3/2008 - C6-0225/2008 - 2005/0239(COD)) - TRAN Committee - Rapporteur: Dirk Sterckx (A6-0334/2008)

- ***II Recommendatiojn for second reding on the Council common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on port State control (Recast) (05722/3/2008 - C6-0224/2008 - 2005/0238(COD)) - TRAN Committee - Rapporteur: Dominique Vlasto (A6-0335/2008)

(2) from Members

(2.1) oral questions for Question Time (Rule 109) (B6-0462/2008)

- to the Council

Ţicău Silvia-Adriana, Medina Ortega Manuel, Ryan Eoin, Ó Neachtain Seán, Aylward Liam, Crowley Brian, Doyle Avril, Burke Colm, Van Hecke Johan, Higgins Jim, Mitchell Gay, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou Marie, Hutchinson Alain, Harkin Marian, Posselt Bernd, Droutsas Konstantinos, McGuinness Mairead, Chmielewski Zdzisław Kazimierz, Casaca Paulo, Papadimoulis Dimitrios, Nicholson of Winterbourne , Ludford Sarah, Raeva Bilyana Ilieva, Czarnecki Ryszard, Rübig Paul, Bushill-Matthews Philip, Guerreiro Pedro, Schmidt Olle, Martin David, Pafilis Athanasios, Toussas Georgios, Paleckis Justas Vincas, Hybášková Jana, De Rossa Proinsias

- to the Commission
McGuinness Mairead, Schmidt Olle, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou Rodi, Angelakas Emmanouil, Aylward Liam, Doyle Avril, Mitchell Gay, Arnaoutakis Stavros, Ludford Sarah, Matsis Yiannakis, Paleckis Justas Vincas, Papastamkos Georgios, Corda Giovanna, Crowley Brian, Harkin Marian, Rübig Paul, Mavrommatis Manolis, Badia i Cutchet Maria, Ó Neachtain Seán, Higgins Jim, Cappato Marco, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou Marie, Posselt Bernd, Evans Robert, Ebner Michl, Záborská Anna, Ţicău Silvia-Adriana, Medina Ortega Manuel, Ryan Eoin, Meyer Pleite Willy, Lichtenberger Eva, França Armando, Burke Colm, Hutchinson Alain, Papadimoulis Dimitrios, Nicholson of Winterbourne , Vanhecke Frank, Kuźmiuk Zbigniew Krzysztof, Podkański Zdzisław Zbigniew, Nicholson James, Casaca Paulo, Raeva Bilyana Ilieva, Czarnecki Ryszard, Starkevičiūtė Margarita, Tomaszewska Ewa, Bushill-Matthews Philip, Sonik Bogusław, Guerreiro Pedro, Droutsas Konstantinos, Belet Ivo, Becsey Zsolt László, Martin David, Van Hecke Johan, Pafilis Athanasios, Hybášková Jana, Toussas Georgios, De Rossa Proinsias

(2.2) motions for resolutions (Rule 113)

- Marian Zlotea. Motion for a resolution on consumer information obligations in standard contracts (B6-0418/2008)

- Cristiana Muscardini. Motion for a resolution on the growing presence in the Member States of diseases long since eradicated in the EU (B6-0419/2008)

(2.3) proposals for recommendations (Rule 114)

- Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Jelko Kacin, on behalf of the ALDE Group and Baroness Sarah Ludford, on behalf of the ALDE Group. Proposal for a recommendation to the Council on the mandate of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (B6-0417/2008)

- Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, on behalf of the ALDE Group and Angelika Beer, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. Proposal for a recommendation to the Council on non-proliferation and the future of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) (B6-0421/2008)

- Juan Manuel Salafranca Sanchez-Neyra. Proposal for a recommendation to the Council on an EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership (B6-0437/2008)

- Véronique De Keyser, on behalf of the PSE Group. Proposal for a recommendation to the Council on the European Union-Brazil Strategic Partnership (B6-0449/2008)

10. Oral questions and written declarations (submission)

The following documents had been submitted by Members:

(1) oral questions (Rule 108):

- (O-0066/2008) by Katerina Batzeli and Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, on behalf of the CULT Committee, to the Commission: Progress report on the reform of the European Schools (B6-0454/2008),

- (O-0074/2008) by Helmuth Markov, on behalf of the INTA Committee, to the Commission: International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) 2006 (B6-0458/2008),

- (O-0081/2008) by Giuseppe Gargani, on behalf of the JURI Committee, to the Commission: Collective management of copyrights on-line (B6-0459/2008),

- (O-0082/2008) by Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group, to the Council: Getting a grip on energy prices (B6-0460/2008),

- (O-0083/2008) by Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group, to the Commission: Getting a grip on energy prices (B6-0461/2008)

- (O-0086/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Commission: IASCF: 'Review of the constitution - Public Accountability and the Composition of the IASB Proposals for Change' (B6-0463/2008),

- (O-0089/2008) by Giles Chichester, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Anne Laperrouze, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Sophia in 't Veld, on behalf of the ALDE Group, and Eugenijus Maldeikis, on behalf of the UEN Group, to the Council: Getting a grip on energy prices (B6-0464/2008),

- (O-0090/2008) by Giles Chichester, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Anne Laperrouze, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Sophia in 't Veld, on behalf of the ALDE Group, and Eugenijus Maldeikis, on behalf of the UEN Group, to the Commission: Getting a grip on energy prices (B6-0465/2008)

- (O-0091/2008) by Rebecca Harms and Claude Turmes, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, to the Commission: Getting a grip on energy prices (B6-0466/2008).

(2) written declarations for inclusion in the register (Rule 116):

- Marian Zlotea and Flaviu Călin Rus on the situation of obese children (0072/2008),

- Jean-Claude Martinez on respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of former FARC hostages in Colombia, such as the soldier Tito Velásquez (0073/2008),

- Daniel Strož on the need for greater attention to be paid to problems in the EU, including in the field of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (0074/2008),

- Alexander Alvaro, Piia-Noora Kauppi, Frédérique Ries, Catherine Stihler and Helga Trüpel on holding all European Parliament plenary sessions in Brussels (0075/2008),

- Sharon Bowles, Elspeth Attwooll, Martine Roure and Caroline Lucas on equal recognition of civil partnerships (0076/2008),

- Marian Zlotea, Rareş-Lucian Niculescu and Flaviu Călin Rus on the annulment of politically-motivated judgements delivered in the era of the Communist regimes in Europe (0077/2008),

- Linda McAvan, Anne Laperrouze, Claude Turmes and Elisa Ferreira on reduced VAT levels for energy-efficient household products (0078/2008).

11. Lapsed written declarations

In accordance with Rule 116(5), written declarations 35, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 45/2008 lapsed as they had not obtained the required number of signatures.

12. Texts of agreements forwarded by the Council

The Council had forwarded certified true copies of the following:

- Interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the other part,

- Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania,

- Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union,

- Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the period 1 August 2008 to 31 July 2012,

- Additional agreement between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein extending to the Principality of Liechtenstein the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products,

- Protocol between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the state responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland,

- Protocol between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the state responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland,

- 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 Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union,

- Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis.

13. Petitions

The following petitions, which had been entered in the register on the dates shown below, had been forwarded to the committee responsible pursuant to Rule 191(5):

02.09.2008

Ignacio Enrique Garrido Gomez (363 signatures) (1138/2008); Horia-Calin Cristescu (1139/2008); Antonio Moreno Soler (Colectivo Papas de Alex) (1140/2008); Marc Laurentiu Aurel (1141/2008); Ingo Alberti (1142/2008); Eric Sanitas (Association Fédérative Internationale des Porteurs d'Emprunts Russes) (1143/2008); Werner Schmidt (1144/2008); Giovanni Bosco Maria Cavalletti (2 signatures) (1145/2008); Carmen Fernández Arias Leal (1146/2008); Roberto Giurastante (Greenaction Transnational) (1147/2008); Damien Cassidy (Ringsted Irishtown Sandymount Environmental Group) (1148/2008); Isaac Ibáñez García (1149/2008); A. Clevering (1150/2008); Peter Herzig (1151/2008); Elisabeth Sodies (Curare e.V. ) (1152/2008); Jazz Pabla (1153/2008); Peter Miles (1154/2008); Rosa Vallecillos Merelo (2 signatures) (1155/2008); Wolfgang Depcik (1156/2008); (name confidential) (1157/2008); Luisa Paniagua Aldeano (2 signatures) (1158/2008); Udo Nietz (1159/2008); Aicha Lahrouchi (1160/2008); Serge Tueche (1161/2008); María Begoña Baquero Orgaz (1162/2008); Sergio Prieto Diaz (1164/2008); Stanislaw Habdas (Komitet Obywatelski ds Praworzadnosci i Walki z Korupcja) (1165/2008); Michael Valsamidis (1167/2008); Corneliu Dobrania (1168/2008); Alan Rainey (1169/2008); Xerman Janeiro (Fundacíon Germán Estévez) (1170/2008); Deborah Porter (Radstock Action Group) (1171/2008); Christine Joyce Williams (1172/2008); Klaus Schäfer (LOG-Sped GmbH) (1173/2008); Marin Vergil Teicá (1174/2008); V. Mitica Tufa (1175/2008); José Luis Cort Bas (Corpas S.L.) (1176/2008).

09.09.2008

Alexe Techiradalian (1177/2008); Mary McMahon (1178/2008); Klaus Schäfer (1179/2008); Ludovico Bonfiglio (N.E.W.S. SRL Natural Electric Wind Sea) (1180/2008); (name confidential) (1181/2008); (name confidential) (1182/2008); Victor Galea (AD Gozo Regional Committee) (1183/2008); Zuzanna Jakubowska (1184/2008); Josefa Quintana Fernández (1185/2008); Mariella Cao (43 signatures) (1186/2008); Marek Machniki (1187/2008); Sabin Pag (1188/2008); Ion Bancu (1189/2008); Marten Jackman (1190/2008); Marten Jackman (1191/2008); Marcelino Victoria Sánchez (1192/2008); Matěj Kastner (Občanské sdružení M.O.S.T.) (2154 signatures) (1193/2008); Johann Lambert Beckers (Heimkinderverband Deutschland) (1194/2008); Helena Stanko (2 signatures) (1195/2008); Maciej Ambroziak (1196/2008); Thierry Gutknecht (2 signatures) (1197/2008); Tomsz Major (Izba Pracodawców) (1198/2008); (name confidential) (30 signatures) (1199/2008); Iain Douglas (1200/2008); Ludovico Bonfiglio (1201/2008); Christiane Jacob (5 signatures) (1202/2008); Emil Petrov (1203/2008); Eduardo J. Monfort Bolufer (M I Ajuntament De Xabia Alcaldia) (1204/2008).

10.09.2008

(name confidential) (1205/2008); Víctor Domingo Prieto (Asociación de Internautas) (1206/2008); Konrad Schmidt (1207/2008); Patrick Garnon (1208/2008); Edward Wetzel (1209/2008); Victor Galea (AD Gozo Regional Committee) (1210/2008); Mircea Serbanoiu (Federatia Romana pentru Protectia si Controlul Animalelor (FRPCA)) (1211/2008); Leopoldo Ridruejo Miranda (1212/2008); (name confidential) (1213/2008); Delfina Mas Morales (1214/2008); Clara Samuel (1215/2008); Paolo Brundu (1216/2008); Richard Lingnau (1217/2008); (name confidential) (1218/2008); (name confidential) (1219/2008); (name confidential) (1220/2008); Sergio Niola (1221/2008); Victor Luis Acosta González (1222/2008); (name confidential) (1223/2008); (name confidential) (1224/2008); Yasar Terzioglu (1225/2008); Roberto Stefan (1226/2008); (name confidential) (1227/2008); Christian Schrader (1228/2008); Sabrina Meiering (1229/2008); (name confidential) (1230/2008); (name confidential) (1231/2008); (name confidential) (1232/2008); (name confidential) (1233/2008); Lachezar Todorov (1234/2008); Fatima Algofy-Lewandowski (1235/2008); Karl-Heiz Raab (1236/2008); Nikos Roussis (1237/2008); (name confidential) (1238/2008); Maciej Baum (1239/2008); Wolfgang Lieberknecht (1240/2008); Jozef Kanik (1241/2008); William Bridges (Valencian Healthcare) (1242/2008); Gisela Cruz (1243/2008); Peter Roege (1244/2008); Lukasz, s. Miroslawa Zawadzki (1245/2008); Emilio Francheschi (1246/2008); Ioan Turcu (1247/2008); María Pilar Alzugaray Alconchel (1248/2008); Neil MacNeil (7 signatures) (1249/2008); Sotiris Gkanatsios (1250/2008); Ewa Liolzka Bandura (1251/2008); Roland Lang (1252/2008); Michael Reiner (1253/2008).

17.09.2008

Konstantinos Aivaliotis (3 signatures) (1254/2008); Olimpian Dogaru (1255/2008); Panagiotis Galatis (Bureau d'avocats Panagiotis Galatis et associés) (1256/2008); Szaniszló Ágost László Poniatowski (1257/2008); Alfred Depner (1258/2008); Philip McNally (1260/2008); Jörg Siewert (1261/2008); (name confidential) (1262/2008); Ismo Huuskonen (1263/2008); Stanslav Koutek (1264/2008); David Dorrell (1265/2008); Daniel Barrow (1266/2008); Enrichetta Lucifero (1267/2008); (name confidential) (1268/2008); (name confidential) (1269/2008); (name confidential) (1270/2008); Rudolf Schneider (1271/2008); Silvio Mundiger (Bürgerinitiative Unteres Härtsfeld e.V.) (4 signatures) (1272/2008); Vicente Gutiérrez Solís (Confederación de AA.VV. de Asturias (Cavastur)) (1273/2008); de Karen Palmer (40 signatures) (1274/2008); de Stanisław Rawa (1275/2008); Józef Maksimczuk (1276/2008); Ferenc Tibor Zsák (Tiszántúli Természetvédök Társulata) (2 signatures) (1277/2008); Eufrosina Galan (2 signatures) (1278/2008); Christian Funke (1279/2008); (name confidential) (1280/2008); Danut Claudiu (1281/2008); István Richard Patyi (1282/2008); Dorina Vasilescu (1283/2008); Michael Schropp (1284/2008); Giacomo Saccomanno (Studio legale Saccomanno) (1285/2008).

14. Transfers of appropriations

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 17/2008 (C6-0252/2008 - SEC(2008)1953 final).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation of 25.06.2002, as amended on 13.12.2006.

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The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 20/2008 (C6-0300/2008).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation of 25.06.2002, as amended on 13.12.2006.

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The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 22/2008 (C6-0301/2008).

It had delivered a favourable opinion on the transfer under Article 24(2) of the Financial Regulation of 25.06.2002, as amended on 13.12.2006.

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° ° °

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 25/2008 (C6-0303/2008).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation of 25.06.2002, as amended on 13.12.2006.

15. Action taken on Parliament's positions and resolutions

The Commission communications on the action taken on the positions and resolutions adopted by Parliament during the May II and June I and II part-sessions were available on the Séance en direct site.

16. Statement by the President

The President made a statement condemning the killing by ETA of Sergeant-Major Luis Conde de la Cruz in a car-bomb attack on 21.09.2008. The President expressed Parliament's condolences to the victim's loved ones as well as its sympathy with Spain, with its authorities and security forces, and with those injured in the three most recent attacks.

Parliament observed a minute's silence.

17. Order of business

The next item was the order of business.

The final draft agenda for the September II sittings (PE 412.680/PDOJ) had been distributed and a number of changes had been proposed (Rule 132):

Sittings of 22.09.2008 to 25.09.2008

Monday, Tuesday

- no changes

Wednesday

Request by the ALDE Group to extend the deadline for tabling motions for resolutions and amendments on Parliament's priorities for the Commission's legislative and work programme 2009 until the following day, Tuesday 23.09.2008, at 10.00.

Parliament approved the request.

Thursday

- no changes

The order of business was thus established.

°
° ° °

The following spoke: Daniel Cohn-Bendit, who requested that there be total transparency as regards the sources of funding of the Irish movement Libertas (the President replied that he was following the matter closely).

The following spoke: Philip Bushill-Matthews, who, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group and with the agreement of several political groups, requested that no vote be held on the motions for resolutions on the social package (the President replied that he took note of the request but that the order of business had already been established).

18. One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Pursuant to Rule 144, the following Members who wished to draw the attention of Parliament to matters of political importance spoke for one minute:

Rareş-Lucian Niculescu, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, Filiz Hakaeva Hyusmenova, Monica Frassoni, Eoin Ryan, Mary Lou McDonald, Gerard Batten, Philip Claeys, Colm Burke, Maria Badia i Cutchet, Harald Ettl, Magor Imre Csibi, Milan Horáček, Ewa Tomaszewska, Pedro Guerreiro, Kathy Sinnott, Kinga Gál, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Pál Schmitt, Marian Harkin, Árpád Duka-Zólyomi, Slavi Binev, Iuliu Winkler, Katalin Lévai, Dragoş Florin David, Proinsias De Rossa, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Milan Gaľa, Emmanouil Angelakas, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Zita Pleštinská, Mikel Irujo Amezaga, James Nicholson, Csaba Sógor and Ioannis Gklavakis.

IN THE CHAIR: Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT
Vice-President

19. Hedge funds and private equity - Transparency of institutional investors (debate)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on hedge funds and private equity [2007/2238(INI)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (A6-0338/2008)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on transparency of institutional investors [2007/2239(INI)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Klaus-Heiner Lehne (A6-0296/2008)

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen introduced the report (A6-0338/2008).

Klaus-Heiner Lehne introduced the report (A6-0296/2008).

The following spoke: Charlie McCreevy (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Sharon Bowles (draftsman of the opinion of the ECON Committee), Harald Ettl (draftsman of the opinion of the EMPL Committee), Kurt Joachim Lauk, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Ieke van den Burg, on behalf of the PSE Group, Sharon Bowles, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Eoin Ryan, on behalf of the UEN Group, Pierre Jonckheer, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Konstantinos Droutsas, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, John Whittaker, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, and Jean-Paul Gauzès.

IN THE CHAIR: Martine ROURE
Vice-President

The following spoke: Manuel Medina Ortega, Olle Schmidt, Ilda Figueiredo, Nils Lundgren, Karsten Friedrich Hoppenstedt, Pervenche Berès, Andrzej Wielowieyski, Othmar Karas, Udo Bullmann, Zuzana Roithová, Kristian Vigenin, Tadeusz Zwiefka, Andrzej Jan Szejna, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Antolín Sánchez Presedo, Costas Botopoulos, Manuel António dos Santos and Mia De Vits.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: John Purvis, Victor Boştinaru and Margarita Starkevičiūtė.

The following spoke: Charlie McCreevy, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Klaus-Heiner Lehne.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.12 and minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.13.

20. Citizens' petitions during the year 2007 (debate)

Report: on the deliberations of the Committee on Petitions during the parliamentary year 2007 [2008/2028(INI)] - Committee on Petitions. Rapporteur: David Hammerstein (A6-0336/2008)

David Hammerstein introduced the report.

IN THE CHAIR: Marek SIWIEC
Vice-President

The following spoke: Charlie McCreevy (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Simon Busuttil, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Victor Boştinaru, on behalf of the PSE Group, Marian Harkin, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Marcin Libicki, on behalf of the UEN Group, Eva Lichtenberger, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Kathy Sinnott, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Frank Vanhecke, Non-attached Member, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg and Inés Ayala Sender.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Inés Ayala Sender.

The following spoke: Charlie McCreevy and David Hammerstein.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.24.

21. European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009) ***I (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009) [COM(2008)0159 - C6-0151/2008 - 2008/0064(COD)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Katerina Batzeli (A6-0319/2008)

Katerina Batzeli introduced the report.

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

The following spoke: Mihaela Popa, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Christa Prets, on behalf of the PSE Group, Hannu Takkula, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, and Mikel Irujo Amezaga, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS
Vice-President

The following spoke: Vladimír Železný, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Thomas Wise, Non-attached Member, Pál Schmitt, Leopold Józef Rutowicz, Małgorzata Handzlik and Jerzy Buzek.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Zita Pleštinská, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Dumitru Oprea and Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva.

The following spoke: Ján Figeľ and Katerina Batzeli.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.4.

22. Adaptation of a number of instruments to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny, 'omnibus' Regulation, Part Two ***I - Alignment of legal acts to the new Comitology Decision (Legislative initiative) (short presentation)

Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC, as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC, with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny - Part Two [COM(2007)0824 - C6-0476/2007 - 2007/0293(COD)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: József Szájer (A6-0100/2008)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on the alignment of legal acts to the new Comitology Decision [2008/2096(INI)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: József Szájer (A6-0345/2008)

József Szájer introduced the reports.

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

The item closed.

Vote: minutes of 25.09.2008, item 5.16 and minutes of 25.09.2008, item 5.11.

23. Concentration and pluralism in the media in the European Union (short presentation)

Report: on concentration and pluralism in the media in the European Union [2007/2253(INI)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Marianne Mikko (A6-0303/2008)

Marianne Mikko introduced the report.

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

The item closed.

Vote: minutes of 25.09.2009, item 7.4.

24. Follow-up to the Monterrey Conference of 2002 on Financing for Development (short presentation)

Report: on the follow-up to the Monterrey Conference of 2002 on financing for Development [2008/2050(INI)] - Committee on Development. Rapporteur: Thijs Berman (A6-0310/2008)

Thijs Berman introduced the report.

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

The item closed.

Vote: minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.7.

25. Internal Market Scoreboard (short presentation)

Report: on the Internal Market Scoreboard [2008/2056(INI)] - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. Rapporteur: Charlotte Cederschiöld (A6-0272/2008)

Charlotte Cederschiöld introduced the report.

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

The item closed.

Vote: minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.8.

26. Improving the quality of teacher education (short presentation)

Report: on improving the quality of teacher education [2008/2068(INI)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Maria Badia i Cutchet (A6-0304/2008)

Maria Badia i Cutchet introduced the report.

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

The item closed.

Vote: minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.9.

27. The Bologna Process and student mobility (short presentation)

Report: on the Bologna Process and student mobility [2008/2070(INI)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Doris Pack (A6-0302/2008)

Doris Pack introduced the report.

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

The item closed.

Vote: minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.10.

28. Hill and mountain farming (short presentation)

Report: on the situation and outlook for hill and mountain farming [2008/2066(INI)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Michl Ebner (A6-0327/2008)

Michl Ebner introduced the report.

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

The item closed.

Vote: minutes of 23.09.2008, item 5.25.

29. Agenda of the next sitting

The agenda of the next day's sitting had been established ('Agenda' PE 412.680/OJMA).

30. Closure of the sitting

The sitting closed at 22.30.

The following signed:

Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Allister, Alvaro, Andersson, Andrejevs, Andrikienė, Angelakas, Angelilli, Antinucci, Antoniozzi, Arif, Ashworth, Atkins, Attard-Montalto, Attwooll, Aubert, Audy, Ayala Sender, Aylward, Ayuso, Baco, Badia i Cutchet, Baeva, Barón Crespo, Barsi-Pataky, Bartolozzi, Basile, Batten, Battilocchio, Batzeli, Bauer, Beazley, Beer, Belder, Belet, Belohorská, Bennahmias, Berend, Berès, Binev, Birutis, Blokland, Bobošíková, Bodu, Böge, Bösch, Bono, Booth, Borrell Fontelles, Boştinaru, Botopoulos, Boursier, Bourzai, Bowis, Bowles, Bozkurt, Bradbourn, Braghetto, Brejc, Brepoels, Breyer, Březina, Brie, Budreikaitė, van Buitenen, Bullmann, Bulzesc, van den Burg, Burke, Bushill-Matthews, Busk, Busuttil, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Calia, Callanan, Camre, Cappato, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casa, Casaca, Casini, Castex, Cavada, Cederschiöld, Cercas, Chatzimarkakis, Chichester, Chmielewski, Chruszcz, Claeys, Clark, Coelho, Cohn-Bendit, Corbey, Corda, Cottigny, Coûteaux, Cremers, Corina Creţu, Gabriela Creţu, Crowley, Csibi, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Dahl, Dăianu, Daul, David, Davies, De Blasio, Degutis, De Keyser, Demetriou, Deprez, De Rossa, De Sarnez, Descamps, Désir, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, De Vits, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dičkutė, Dillen, Dimitrakopoulos, Dobolyi, Donnici, Doorn, Douay, Dover, Doyle, Drčar Murko, Droutsas, Dührkop Dührkop, Duff, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Ek, El Khadraoui, Elles, Esteves, Estrela, Ettl, Jill Evans, Jonathan Evans, Färm, Fatuzzo, Fava, Fazakas, Ferber, Fernandes, Fernández Martín, Ferrari, Anne Ferreira, Elisa Ferreira, Figueiredo, Filip, Fjellner, Flasarová, Flautre, Florenz, Foltyn-Kubicka, Fontaine, Fouré, Fourtou, Fraga Estévez, Fraile Cantón, França, Frassoni, Friedrich, Gacek, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, García-Margallo y Marfil, García Pérez, Gaubert, Gauzès, Gawronski, Gentvilas, Georgiou, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gewalt, Gibault, Giertych, Gklavakis, Glante, Glattfelder, Goebbels, Goepel, Golik, Gollnisch, Goudin, Grabowska, Graça Moura, Graefe zu Baringdorf, Gräßle, de Grandes Pascual, Grau i Segú, Grech, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Groote, Grosch, Grossetête, Guardans Cambó, Guellec, Guerreiro, Guidoni, Gurmai, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Guy-Quint, Gyürk, Hall, Hammerstein, Handzlik, Hannan, Harbour, Harkin, Hasse Ferreira, Hassi, Haug, Heaton-Harris, Hedh, Hegyi, Hénin, Hennicot-Schoepges, Hennis-Plasschaert, Higgins, Hökmark, Honeyball, Hoppenstedt, Horáček, Hudacký, Hudghton, Hughes, Hyusmenova, Ibrisagic, Iotova, Irujo Amezaga, Isler Béguin, Itälä, Iturgaiz Angulo, Jacobs, Jäätteenmäki, Jałowiecki, Janowski, Jeggle, Jensen, Jöns, Jørgensen, Jonckheer, Jouye de Grandmaison, Kacin, Kaczmarek, Kallenbach, Kamall, Karas, Karim, Kasoulides, Kaufmann, Kauppi, Kazak, Tunne Kelam, Kilroy-Silk, Kindermann, Kirilov, Kirkhope, Klamt, Klaß, Klinz, Knapman, Koch, Kohlíček, Konrad, Korhola, Kósáné Kovács, Koterec, Kozlík, Krahmer, Krasts, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Krehl, Kreissl-Dörfler, Kristovskis, Krupa, Kuc, Kuhne, Kušķis, Kusstatscher, Kuźmiuk, Lagendijk, Laignel, Lamassoure, Lambert, Lambrinidis, Lang, Langen, Laperrouze, La Russa, Lauk, Lax, Lebech, Lechner, Le Foll, Lefrançois, Lehideux, Lehne, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Lévai, Liberadzki, Libicki, Lichtenberger, Liese, Locatelli, Lo Curto, Louis, Lucas, Ludford, Lulling, Lundgren, Luque Aguilar, Lynne, Lyubcheva, Maaten, McDonald, McMillan-Scott, Maldeikis, Manders, Maňka, Erika Mann, Thomas Mann, Marinescu, Markov, Marques, Martens, David Martin, Hans-Peter Martin, Martinez, Martínez Martínez, Masiel, Masip Hidalgo, Maštálka, Mathieu, Matsakis, Matsouka, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Medina Ortega, Meijer, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mikko, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Mladenov, Mölzer, Morillon, Elisabeth Morin, Mote, Mulder, Muscardini, Muscat, Napoletano, Nassauer, Neris, Newton Dunn, Nicholson, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Niculescu, Niebler, van Nistelrooij, Olajos, Olbrycht, Ó Neachtain, Onesta, Onyszkiewicz, Oomen-Ruijten, Oprea, Őry, Oviir, Paasilinna, Pack, Pafilis, Pagano, Pahor, Paleckis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Pannella, Papadimoulis, Paparizov, Papastamkos, Paşcu, Pęk, Alojz Peterle, Petre, Pflüger, Pietikäinen, Pīks, Pinheiro, Pinior, Piotrowski, Pirker, Piskorski, Pleštinská, Plumb, Podimata, Podkański, Pöttering, Pohjamo, Mihaela Popa, Nicolae Vlad Popa, Prets, Pribetich, Vittorio Prodi, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Rack, Raeva, Ransdorf, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Remek, Reul, Riera Madurell, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Rivera, Rizzo, Rodust, Rogalski, Roithová, Roszkowski, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Rovsing, Rühle, Rus, Rutowicz, Ryan, Sacconi, Saïfi, Sakalas, Saks, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Sanzarello, Sanz Palacio, Sârbu, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Savi, Schaldemose, Schapira, Schenardi, Schierhuber, Schinas, Schlyter, Olle Schmidt, Schmitt, Schnellhardt, Schöpflin, Schroedter, Schulz, Schuth, Schwab, Seeber, Segelström, Seppänen, Severin, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Simpson, Sinnott, Siwiec, Skinner, Škottová, Smith, Sógor, Sommer, Søndergaard, Sonik, Sousa Pinto, Speroni, Staes, Staniszewska, Starkevičiūtė, Šťastný, Stauner, Stavreva, Sterckx, Stevenson, Stihler, Stockmann, Stolojan, Strejček, Strož, Sturdy, Sudre, Sumberg, Surján, Susta, Svensson, Szájer, Szejna, Szent-Iványi, Szymański, Tabajdi, Takkula, Tannock, Tarand, Tatarella, Ţicău, Titford, Tőkés, Tomaszewska, Tomczak, Toussas, Trakatellis, Trautmann, Triantaphyllides, Trüpel, Turmes, Tzampazi, Ulmer, Urutchev, Vakalis, Vălean, Vanhecke, Van Orden, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Varvitsiotis, Vatanen, Vaugrenard, Ventre, Veraldi, Vergnaud, Vidal-Quadras, Vigenin, de Villiers, Virrankoski, Visser, Voggenhuber, Wagenknecht, Wallis, Walter, Watson, Henri Weber, Renate Weber, Weiler, Weisgerber, Westlund, Whittaker, Wielowieyski, Wiersma, Wijkman, Wise, Wohlin, Bernard Wojciechowski, Janusz Wojciechowski, Wurtz, Záborská, Zaleski, Zanicchi, Zapałowski, Zappalà, Ždanoka, Zdravkova, Železný, Zieleniec, Zimmer, Zlotea, Zvěřina, Zwiefka