IN THE CHAIR: Luisa MORGANTINI
Vice-President

1. Opening of the sitting

The sitting opened at 9.00.

2. 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. Somalia

- Fiona Hall, Marielle De Sarnez, Marco Cappato, Marco Pannella and Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the stoning of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow (B6-0596/2008)

- Margrete Auken and Marie-Hélène Aubert, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on Somalia (B6-0597/2008)

- Pasqualina Napoletano, Alain Hutchinson, Maria Badia i Cutchet and Raimon Obiols i Germà, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the situation in Somalia (B6-0598/2008)

- Cristiana Muscardini, Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, Konrad Szymański and Ewa Tomaszewska, on behalf of the UEN Group, on Somalia (B6-0599/2008)

- Giusto Catania, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on Somalia (B6-0600/2008)

- Urszula Gacek, Charles Tannock, Colm Burke, Mario Mauro, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Tunne Kelam, Filip Kaczmarek, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Bernd Posselt and Ioannis Kasoulides, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on Somalia (B6-0601/2008)

II. Death penalty in Nigeria

- Marios Matsakis, Marco Cappato and Marco Pannella, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the death penalty in Nigeria (B6-0602/2008)

- Marie-Hélène Aubert and Margrete Auken, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the death penalty in Nigeria (B6-0603/2008)

- Pasqualina Napoletano and Alain Hutchinson, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the death penalty in Nigeria (B6-0604/2008)

- Ryszard Czarnecki, Ewa Tomaszewska, Eoin Ryan and Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the death penalty in Nigeria (B6-0605/2008)

- Vittorio Agnoletto and Feleknas Uca, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the death penalty in Nigeria (B6-0606/2008)

- Michael Gahler, Mario Mauro, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Bernd Posselt and Eija-Riitta Korhola, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on the use of the death penalty in Nigeria (B6-0607/2008)

III. The case of the al-Kurd family

- Chris Davies and Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the al-Kurd family (B6-0608/2008)

- Hélène Flautre, Margrete Auken, David Hammerstein, Jill Evans and Caroline Lucas, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the case of the al-Kurd family (B6-0609/2008)

- Pasqualina Napoletano, Véronique De Keyser, Proinsias De Rossa and Jamila Madeira, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the case of the al-Kurd family (B6-0610/2008)

- Luisa Morgantini and Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the case of the al-Kurd family in East Jerusalem (B6-0611/2008)

- Roberta Angelilli, Ryszard Czarnecki, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, Ewa Tomaszewska and Eugenijus Maldeikis, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the al-Kurd case (B6-0612/2008)

- Ioannis Kasoulides, Jana Hybášková and Mario Mauro, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on the case of the al-Kurd family (B6-0613/2008)

Speaking time would be allocated in accordance with Rule 142.

3. Decision on urgent procedure

Council request for the application of urgent procedure (Rule 134) for:

- on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments (COM(2008)0717 – C6-0389/2008 – 2008/0208(CNS)) – ECON Committee

The following spoke: Pervenche Berès (chair of the ECON Committee).

The request for urgent procedure was approved.

This item was placed on the agenda of the current sitting, in a joint debate with the Commission statement on the same subject (see minutes of 18.11.2008, item 15).

The deadline for tabling amendments for plenary would be Wednesday 19.11.2008 at 10.00.

Vote: minutes of 20.11.2008, item 6.10.

4. Support schemes for farmers under the CAP * - Modifications to the common agricultural policy * - Support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development * - Community strategic guidelines for rural development (2007 to 2013) * (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers [COM(2008)0306 - C6-0240/2008 - 2008/0103(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (A6-0402/2008)

Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation on modifications to the common agricultural policy by amending Regulations (EC) No 320/2006, (EC) No 1234/2007, (EC) No 3/2008 and (EC) No […]/2008 [COM(2008)0306 - C6-0241/2008 - 2008/0104(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (A6-0401/2008)

Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) [COM(2008)0306 - C6-0242/2008 - 2008/0105(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (A6-0390/2008)

Report: on the proposal for a Council decision amending Decision 2006/144/EC on the Community strategic guidelines for rural development (programming period 2007 to 2013) [COM(2008)0306 - C6-0239/2008 - 2008/0106(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (A6-0377/2008)

Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos introduced the reports.

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

The following spoke: Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg (draftsman of the opinion of the ENVI Committee), Markus Pieper (draftsman of the opinion of the REGI Committee), Lutz Goepel, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Stéphane Le Foll, on behalf of the PSE Group, Niels Busk, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Janusz Wojciechowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Vincenzo Aita, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Witold Tomczak, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Peter Baco, Non-attached Member, Neil Parish, Brian Simpson, Jan Mulder, Gintaras Didžiokas, Alyn Smith, Ilda Figueiredo, Georgios Georgiou and Jim Allister.

IN THE CHAIR: Manuel António dos SANTOS
Vice-President

The following spoke: Agnes Schierhuber, Rosa Miguélez Ramos, Donato Tommaso Veraldi, Andrzej Tomasz Zapałowski, Marie-Hélène Aubert, Sylwester Chruszcz, Esther Herranz García, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, Anne Laperrouze, Liam Aylward, Véronique Mathieu, Lily Jacobs, Kyösti Virrankoski, Sergio Berlato, Sebastiano Sanzarello, Vincenzo Lavarra, Mairead McGuinness, Bogdan Golik, Ioannis Gklavakis, Katerina Batzeli, Esther De Lange, Giovanna Corda, Jean-Paul Denanot, María Isabel Salinas García and Alessandro Battilocchio.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Avril Doyle, Paulo Casaca, Francesco Ferrari, Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk, Elisabeth Jeggle, Marian Harkin, Astrid Lulling, Giovanni Robusti, James Nicholson, Katerina Batzeli, Colm Burke and Czesław Adam Siekierski.

The following spoke: Michel Barnier and Mariann Fischer Boel.

IN THE CHAIR: Adam BIELAN
Vice-President

The following spoke: Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 19.11.2008, item 5.4, minutes of 19.11.2008, item 7.1, minutes of 19.11.2008, item 7.2 and minutes of 19.11.2008, item 7.3.

5. School Fresh Fruit Scheme (amendment of Single CMO Regulation) * (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulations (EC) No 1290/2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy and (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) in order to set up a School Fruit Scheme [COM(2008)0442 - C6-0315/2008 - 2008/0146(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Niels Busk (A6-0391/2008)

Niels Busk introduced the report.

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

The following spoke: Maria Petre, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, María Isabel Salinas García, on behalf of the PSE Group, Donato Tommaso Veraldi, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Alyn Smith, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Bairbre de Brún, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Jeffrey Titford, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Christa Klaß, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, Marian Harkin and Hélène Goudin.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: James Nicholson, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Ilda Figueiredo, Neil Parish and Christel Schaldemose.

The following spoke: Michel Barnier, Mariann Fischer Boel and Niels Busk.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 18.11.2008, item 7.15.

IN THE CHAIR: Luigi COCILOVO
Vice-President

6. Draft general budget for the 2009 financial year (deadline for tabling draft amendments)

The deadline for tabling draft amendments for the second reading of the draft general budget for the 2009 financial year had been set as Monday 24.11.2008 at 12.00.

Pursuant to Annex IV, Article 5(3), to the Rules of Procedure, draft amendments must be tabled by at least 40 Members or on behalf of a committee.

7. 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.

7.1. Protocol to the EC-Kazakhstan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a Council and Commission decision on the conclusion of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Kazakhstan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union [COM(2007)0105 - C6-0328/2008 - 2007/0039(CNS)] - Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (A6-0416/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0528)

7.2. Joint undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR) * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation (EC) No.../... amending Council Regulation (EC) No 219/2007 on the establishment of a joint undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR) [COM(2008)0483 - C6-0305/2008 - 2008/0159(CNS)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Angelika Niebler (A6-0439/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0529)

7.3. Statutory markings for two- or three-wheel motor vehicles (codified version) ***I (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on statutory markings for two- or three-wheel motor vehicles (codified version) [COM(2008)0318 - C6-0205/2008 - 2008/0099(COD)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0382/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0530)

7.4. Company law concerning single-member private limited-liability companies (codified version) ***I (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council in the area of company law on single-member private limited-liability companies (codified version) [COM(2008)0344 - C6-0217/2008 - 2008/0109(COD)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0383/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0531)

7.5. The driver's seat on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (codified version) ***I (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the driver's seat on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (codified version) [COM(2008)0351 - C6-0243/2008 - 2008/0115(COD)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0384/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0532)

7.6. Guarantee Fund for external actions (codified version) * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Guarantee Fund for external actions (codified version) [COM(2008)0365 - C6-0273/2008 - 2008/0117(CNS)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0387/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0533)

7.7. Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters *** (Rule 131) (vote)

Recommendation: on the draft Council decision concerning the conclusion of the Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters [09196/2008 - C6-0215/2008 - 2008/0048(AVC)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Hans-Peter Mayer (A6-0428/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0534)

Parliament thereby gave its assent.

7.8. European system of national and regional accounts in the Community ***I (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 on the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission - Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny [COM(2007)0776 - C6-0452/2007 - 2007/0272(COD)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Pervenche Berès (A6-0376/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0535)

7.9. Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with point 28 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)0609 - C6 0345/2008 - 2008/2286(ACI)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Reimer Böge (A6-0430/2008)

(Qualified majority: three fifths of votes cast)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0536)

7.10. Request for waiver of the immunity of Frank Vanhecke (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the request for waiver of the immunity of Frank Vanhecke [2008/2092(IMM)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Klaus-Heiner Lehne (A6-0421/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0537)

The following spoke on the vote:

Before the vote, Bruno Gollnisch requested that the report be referred back to committee.

The President noted that at least 40 Members supported this request and that it was therefore admissible under Rule 168(2).

Parliament rejected the request. The vote was therefore taken.

7.11. Request for waiver of the immunity of Massimo D'Alema (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the request for waiver of the immunity of Massimo D'Alema [2008/2298(IMM)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Klaus-Heiner Lehne (A6-0422/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0538)

7.12. Improving consumer education and awareness on credit and finance (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on protecting the consumer: improving consumer education and awareness on credit and finance [2007/2288(INI)] - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. Rapporteur: Iliana Malinova Iotova (A6-0393/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0539)

7.13. Consumer Markets Scoreboard (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the Consumer Markets Scoreboard [2008/2057(INI)] - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. Rapporteur: Anna Hedh (A6-0392/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0540)

7.14. General arrangements for excise duty * (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a Council directive concerning the general arrangements for excise duty [COM(2008)0078 - C6-0099/2008 - 2008/0051(CNS)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Astrid Lulling (A6-0417/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0541)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0541)

The following spoke on the vote:

Astrid Lulling (rapporteur), before the vote on the amended proposal, to recommend that Members vote against it, and Elisa Ferreira, on those remarks.

7.15. School Fresh Fruit Scheme (amendment of Single CMO Regulation) * (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulations (EC) No 1290/2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy and (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) in order to set up a School Fruit Scheme [COM(2008)0442 - C6-0315/2008 - 2008/0146(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Niels Busk (A6-0391/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 15)

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0542)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0542)

7.16. EMU@10: The first 10 years of Economic and Monetary Union and future challenges (vote)

Report: on the EMU@10: The first ten years of Economic and Monetary Union and future challenges [2008/2156(INI)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Co-rapporteurs: Pervenche Berès and Werner Langen (A6-0420/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 16)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0543)

The following spoke on the vote:

- Pervenche Berès (co-rapporteur), to confirm the withdrawal of her oral amendment to Amendment 13;

- Reinhard Rack.

7.17. Application of the principle of equal pay for men and women (vote)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women [2008/2012(INI)] - Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. Rapporteur: Edit Bauer (A6-0389/2008)

(Qualified majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 17)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0544)

7.18. Supporting early demonstration of sustainable power generation from fossil fuels (vote)

Report: on supporting early demonstration of sustainable power generation from fossil fuels [2008/2140(INI)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Christian Ehler (A6-0418/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 18)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0545)

8. 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 - Iliana Malinova Iotova (A6-0393/2008): Zuzana Roithová, Zita Pleštinská and Syed Kamall

Report - Astrid Lulling (A6-0417/2008): Astrid Lulling, Daniel Hannan and Syed Kamall

Report - Niels Busk (A6-0391/2008): Milan Gaľa, Czesław Adam Siekierski, Hynek Fajmon, Mairead McGuinness and Ewa Tomaszewska

Report - Pervenche Berès and Werner Langen (A6-0420/2008): Ivo Strejček and Czesław Adam Siekierski

Report - Klaus-Heiner Lehne (A6-0422/2008): Siiri Oviir

Report - Christian Ehler (A6-0418/2008): Gyula Hegyi

9. 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.

°
° ° °

Glyn Ford had made it known that he had not had his voting card at the start of voting time and that he had not begun voting until the vote on the report by Astrid Lulling (A6-0417/2008). He had wished to vote with the PSE Group on the previous reports.

(The sitting was suspended at 13.05 and resumed at 15.05.)

IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING
President

10. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

11. EU response to the world financial crisis: follow-up to the informal European Council of 7 November 2008 and to the G20 Summit of 15 November 2008 - Commission's legislative and working plan for 2009 (debate)

Council and Commission statements: EU response to the world financial crisis: follow-up to the informal European Council of 7 November 2008 and to the G20 Summit of 15 November 2008

Commission statement: Commission's legislative and working plan for 2009

Jean-Pierre Jouyet (President-in-Office of the Council) and José Manuel Barroso (President of the Commission) made the statements.

The following spoke: Joseph Daul, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Martin Schulz, on behalf of the PSE Group, Graham Watson, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Brian Crowley, on behalf of the UEN Group, Monica Frassoni, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Roberto Musacchio, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, and Hanne Dahl, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU
Vice-President

The following spoke: Jana Bobošíková, Non-attached Member, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, José Manuel Barroso, Hartmut Nassauer, Hannes Swoboda, Diana Wallis, Ryszard Czarnecki, Hélène Flautre, Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann, Paul Marie Coûteaux, Luca Romagnoli, José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil, Robert Goebbels, Jean Marie Beaupuy, Mario Borghezio, Rebecca Harms, Esko Seppänen, Kathy Sinnott, Andreas Mölzer, Giles Chichester and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.

IN THE CHAIR: Mechtild ROTHE
Vice-President

The following spoke: Andrew Duff, Irena Belohorská, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Pervenche Berès, Lena Ek, Manfred Weber, Jan Andersson, Malcolm Harbour, Ieke van den Burg, Lambert van Nistelrooij, Enrique Barón Crespo, Ingeborg Gräßle, Stavros Lambrinidis, Robert Sturdy, Andrzej Jan Szejna, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Harald Ettl, Philip Bushill-Matthews, Erika Mann, Piia-Noora Kauppi and Gunnar Hökmark.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: John Purvis, Proinsias De Rossa, Olle Schmidt, Marie Anne Isler Béguin and Mairead McGuinness.

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

The motions for resolutions to be tabled under Rule 103(2) would be announced in the House at a later time.

The debate closed.

Vote: the vote would be held at a subsequent part-session.

IN THE CHAIR: Diana WALLIS
Vice-President

12. Question Time (Council)

Parliament considered a number of questions to the Council (B6-0484/2008).

Question 1 (Bernd Posselt): Christians in Turkey: Mor Gabriel monastery.

Jean-Pierre Jouyet (President-in-Office of the Council) answered the question and supplementaries by Bernd Posselt, Reinhard Rack and Jim Allister.

Question 2 (Manuel Medina Ortega): New migratory pressures on Europe.

Jean-Pierre Jouyet answered the question and supplementaries by Manuel Medina Ortega and Bernd Posselt.

Question 3 (Luis Yañez-Barnuevo García): Opening of dialogue in Cuba.

Jean-Pierre Jouyet answered the question and supplementaries by Antonio Masip Hidalgo (deputising for the author), Zita Pleštinská and Bogusław Sonik.

Question 4 (Robert Evans): Lessons from the financial crisis.

Question 5 (Mairead McGuinness): Member States' responses to international financial crisis.

Question 6 (Gay Mitchell): EU response to the financial crisis.

Question 7 (Dimitrios Papadimoulis): Financial crisis and the Stability Pact.

Question 8 (Laima Liucija Andrikienė): Eastern Europe's situation and prospects in the context of the financial crisis.

Jean-Pierre Jouyet answered the questions and supplementaries by Peter Skinner (deputising for Robert Evans), Mairead McGuinness, Gay Mitchell, Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Josu Ortuondo Larrea and Avril Doyle.

Question 9 was not taken as its subject had been covered by a question put to the Council during the October II part-session (minutes of 21.10.2008, item 14).

Question 10 (Hélène Goudin): Political responsibility for abuses that occur during EU military operations.

Question 11 (Hanne Dahl): Political responsibility for abuses that occur during EU military operations.

Jean-Pierre Jouyet answered the questions and supplementaries by Hélène Goudin, Hanne Dahl, Paul Rübig and Mairead McGuinness.

Question 12 (Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou): Coordination of national social security systems.

Jean-Pierre Jouyet answered the question and supplementaries by Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Paul Rübig and Avril Doyle.

Questions 13 to 15 and 17 to 32 would receive written answers (see annex to the Verbatim Report of Proceedings).

Council Question Time closed.

(The sitting was suspended at 19.05 and resumed at 21.00.)

IN THE CHAIR: Manuel António dos SANTOS
Vice-President

13. Publication and translation obligations of certain types of companies ***I (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 68/151/EEC and 89/666/EEC as regards publication and translation obligations of certain types of companies [COM(2008)0194 - C6-0171/2008 - 2008/0083(COD)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Piia-Noora Kauppi (A6-0400/2008)

Piia-Noora Kauppi introduced the report.

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

The following spoke: Margaritis Schinas (draftsman of the opinion of the ECON Committee), Georgios Papastamkos, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Ieke van den Burg, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jean-Paul Gauzès, Manuel Medina Ortega, Françoise Grossetête, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Costas Botopoulos, Charlie McCreevy and Piia-Noora Kauppi.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 19.11.2008, item 5.2.

14. European statistics ***I (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Statistics [COM(2007)0625 - C6-0346/2007 - 2007/0220(COD)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Andreas Schwab (A6-0349/2008)

Andreas Schwab introduced the report.

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

The following spoke: Ieke van den Burg, on behalf of the PSE Group, Margarita Starkevičiūtė, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Joaquín Almunia and Andreas Schwab.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 19.11.2008, item 5.3.

15. A facility providing financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments * - Financial support to Member States (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments [COM(2008)0717 - C6-0389/2008 - 2008/0208(CNS)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Pervenche Berès (A6-0450/2008)

Commission statement: Financial support to Member States

Pervenche Berès introduced the report.

Joaquín Almunia (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: Zsolt László Becsey, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Szabolcs Fazakas, on behalf of the PSE Group, Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk, on behalf of the UEN Group, Nils Lundgren, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Sergej Kozlík, Non-attached Member, and Dariusz Rosati.

IN THE CHAIR: Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT
Vice-President

The following spoke: Edit Herczog and Harald Ettl.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Paul Rübig, Mairead McGuinness, Marian Zlotea and Margarita Starkevičiūtė.

The following spoke: Joaquín Almunia and Pervenche Berès.

The motion for a resolution to be tabled under Rule 103(2) would be announced in the House at a later time.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 20.11.2008, item 6.8 and minutes of 20.11.2008, item 6.10.

16. Documents received

The following report had been received from the ECON Committee:

- * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments (COM(2008)0717 - C6-0389/2008 - 2008/0208(CNS)) - ECON Committee - Rapporteur: Pervenche Berès (A6-0450/2008)

17. Agenda of the next sitting

The agenda of the next day's sitting had been established ('Agenda' PE 415.623/OJME).

18. Closure of the sitting

The sitting closed at 22.50.

The following signed:

Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Albertini, Allister, Alvaro, Andersson, Andrikienė, Angelakas, Angelilli, Antinucci, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Ashworth, Atkins, Attard-Montalto, Aubert, Audy, Auken, Ayala Sender, Aylward, Ayuso, Baco, Badia i Cutchet, Baeva, Barón Crespo, Barsi-Pataky, Bartolozzi, Basile, Batten, Battilocchio, Batzeli, Bauer, Beaupuy, Beazley, Becsey, Bedingfield , Beer, Belder, Belet, Belohorská, Bennahmias, Beňová, Berend, Berès, Berlato, Berman, Bielan, Binev, Birutis, Blokland, Bloom, Bobošíková, Bodu, Böge, Bösch, Bono, Bonsignore, Borghezio, Borrell Fontelles, Boso, Boştinaru, Botopoulos, Boursier, Bowis, Bowles, Bozkurt, Bradbourn, Braghetto, Brejc, Brepoels, Breyer, Březina, Brie, Brok, Budreikaitė, van Buitenen, Buitenweg, Bulfon, Bullmann, Bulzesc, van den Burg, Burke, Bushill-Matthews, Busk, Busuttil, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Calia, Callanan, Camre, Capoulas Santos, Cappato, Carlotti, Carnero González, Carollo, Casa, Casaca, Casini, Caspary, Castex, del Castillo Vera, Catania, Cavada, Cederschiöld, Cercas, Chatzimarkakis, Chichester, Chiesa, Chmielewski, Christensen, Chruszcz, Chukolov, Ciani, Claeys, Clark, Cocilovo, Coelho, Cohn-Bendit, Colman, Corbett, Corbey, Corda, Cornillet, Cottigny, Coûteaux, Cramer, Cremers, Corina Creţu, Gabriela Creţu, Crowley, Csibi, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Ryszard Czarnecki, Dahl, Dăianu, Daul, David, Davies, De Blasio, de Brún, Degutis, De Keyser, Demetriou, Denanot, Deprez, De Rossa, De Sarnez, Descamps, Désir, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, De Vits, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dičkutė, Didžiokas, Dillen, Dimitrakopoulos, Dombrovskis, Doorn, Douay, Dover, Doyle, Drčar Murko, Duchoň, Dührkop Dührkop, Duff, Duka-Zólyomi, Dumitriu, Ebner, Ehler, Ek, El Khadraoui, Elles, Esteves, Estrela, Ettl, Jill Evans, Robert Evans, Färm, Fajmon, Falbr, Farage, Fatuzzo, Fava, Fazakas, Ferber, Fernandes, Fernández Martín, Ferrari, Anne Ferreira, Elisa Ferreira, Figueiredo, Filip, Fiore, Flasarová, Flautre, Florenz, Foglietta, Foltyn-Kubicka, Fontaine, Ford, Fouré, Fourtou, Fraga Estévez, Fraile Cantón, França, Frassoni, Friedrich, Gacek, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Garcés Ramón, García-Margallo y Marfil, García Pérez, Gardini, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gaubert, Gauzès, Gawronski, Gebhardt, Gentvilas, Georgiou, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gewalt, Gibault, Gierek, Giertych, Giuntini, Gklavakis, Glante, Glattfelder, Goebbels, Goepel, Golik, Gollnisch, Gomes, Gomolka, Gottardi, Goudin, Grabowska, Grabowski, Graça Moura, Graefe zu Baringdorf, Gräßle, de Grandes Pascual, Grau i Segú, Griesbeck, Gröner, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Groote, Grosch, Grossetête, Guardans Cambó, Guellec, Guerreiro, Guidoni, Gurmai, Guy-Quint, Gyürk, Hänsch, Hall, Hammerstein, Handzlik, Harangozó, Harbour, Harkin, Harms, Hasse Ferreira, Hassi, Haug, Heaton-Harris, Hedh, Hegyi, Helmer, Hénin, Hennicot-Schoepges, Hennis-Plasschaert, Herczog, Herranz García, Herrero-Tejedor, Hieronymi, Higgins, Hökmark, Holm, Honeyball, Hoppenstedt, Horáček, Howitt, Hudacký, Hudghton, Hughes, Hutchinson, Hybášková, Hyusmenova, Ibrisagic, in 't Veld, Iotova, Irujo Amezaga, Isler Béguin, Itälä, Iturgaiz Angulo, Jackson, Jacobs, Jäätteenmäki, Jałowiecki, Janowski, Járóka, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jeleva, Jensen, Jørgensen, Jonckheer, Jordan Cizelj, Jouye de Grandmaison, Juknevičienė, Juri , Kacin, Kaczmarek, Kallenbach, Kamall, Karas, Karim, Kasoulides, Kaufmann, Kauppi, Kazak, Tunne Kelam, Kindermann, Kirilov, Kirkhope, Klamt, Klaß, Klinz, Knapman, Koch, Koch-Mehrin, Kohlíček, Konrad, Koppa, Korhola, Koterec, Kozlík, Krahmer, Krasts, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Krehl, Kreissl-Dörfler, Krupa, Kuc, Kuhne, Kušķis, Kusstatscher, Kuźmiuk, Lagendijk, Laignel, Lamassoure, Lambert, Lambrinidis, Lambsdorff, Landsbergis, Lang, De Lange, Langen, Langendries, Laperrouze, Lauk, Lavarra, Lax, Lebech, Lechner, Le Foll, Lefrançois, Lehideux, Lehne, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Lévai, Lewandowski, Liberadzki, Libicki, Lichtenberger, Liese, López-Istúriz White, Losco, Louis, Lucas, Ludford, Lulling, Lundgren, Luque Aguilar, Lynne, Lyubcheva, Maaten, McAvan, McCarthy, McDonald, McGuinness, McMillan-Scott, Madeira, Maldeikis, Manders, Mănescu, Maňka, Erika Mann, Thomas Mann, Marini, Markov, Marques, Martens, David Martin, Hans-Peter Martin, Masiel, Masip Hidalgo, Maštálka, Mathieu, Matsakis, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Medina Ortega, Meijer, Menéndez del Valle, Meyer Pleite, Miguélez Ramos, Mikko, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Mladenov, Mölzer, Mohácsi, Moraes, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Morgantini, Morillon, Elisabeth Morin, Mote, Mulder, Musacchio, Muscardini, Mussa , Musumeci, Myller, Napoletano, Naranjo Escobar, Nassauer, Nattrass, Neris, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Niebler, van Nistelrooij, Obiols i Germà, Öger, Olajos, Olbrycht, Ó Neachtain, Onesta, Onyszkiewicz, Oprea, Ortuondo Larrea, Őry, Ouzký, Oviir, Paasilinna, Pack, Pafilis, Pagano, Paleckis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Panayotov, Pannella, Panzeri, Papadimoulis, Paparizov, Papastamkos, Parish, Paşcu, Patriciello, Patrie, Pęk, Alojz Peterle, Petre, Pflüger, Pieper, Pietikäinen, Pinheiro, Piotrowski, Pirilli, Pirker, Pittella, Pleštinská, Plumb, Podestà, Podimata, Podkański, Pöttering, Pohjamo, Poignant, Pomés Ruiz, Mihaela Popa, Nicolae Vlad Popa, Posdorf, Posselt, Prets, Pribetich, Vittorio Prodi, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Radwan, Raeva, Ransdorf, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Remek, Resetarits, Reul, Ribeiro e Castro, Riera Madurell, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Rivera, Rizzo, Robsahm, Robusti, Rocard, Rodust, Rogalski, Roithová, Romagnoli, Rosati, Roszkowski, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Rovsing, Rübig, Rühle, Rus, Rutowicz, Ryan, Sacconi, Saïfi, Sakalas, Saks, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Sanzarello, Sanz Palacio, Sârbu, Saryusz-Wolski, Savi, Schaldemose, Schapira, Schenardi, 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, Søndergaard, Sonik, Sornosa Martínez, Sousa Pinto, Spautz, Speroni, Staes, Staniszewska, Starkevičiūtė, Šťastný, Stauner, Stavreva, Sterckx, Stevenson, Stihler, Stockmann, Stolojan, Stoyanov, Strejček, Strož, Sturdy, Sudre, Sumberg, Surján, Susta, Svensson, Swoboda, Szájer, Szejna, Szent-Iványi, Szymański, Tabajdi, Takkula, Tannock, Tarand, Tatarella, Thomsen, Ţicău, Titford, Titley, Toia, Tőkés, Tomaszewska, Tomczak, Toubon, Toussas, Trakatellis, Trautmann, Triantaphyllides, Trüpel, Turmes, Tzampazi, Uca, Ulmer, Urutchev, Vakalis, Vălean, Vanhecke, Van Lancker, Van Orden, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Varvitsiotis, Vatanen, Vaugrenard, Ventre, Veraldi, Vergnaud, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vigenin, Virrankoski, Visser, Vlasák, Vlasto, Voggenhuber, Wagenknecht, Wallis, Walter, Watson, Henri Weber, Manfred Weber, Renate Weber, Weiler, Weisgerber, Westlund, Wieland, Wielowieyski, Wiersma, Wijkman, Willmott, Iuliu Winkler, Wise, von Wogau, Wohlin, Bernard Wojciechowski, Janusz Wojciechowski, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zahradil, Zaleski, Zani, Zapałowski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Ždanoka, Zdravkova, Zieleniec, Zlotea, Zvěřina, Zwiefka