IN THE CHAIR: Adam BIELAN
Vice-President

1. Opening of the sitting

The sitting opened at 9.05.

2. Disclosure requirements for medium-sized companies and obligation to draw up consolidated accounts ***I - Accounting requirements as regards medium-sized companies (debate)

Report: on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC as regards certain disclosure requirements for medium-sized companies and obligation to draw up consolidated accounts [COM(2008)0195 - C6-0173/2008 - 2008/0084(COD)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Ieke van den Burg (A6-0462/2008)

Commission statement: Accounting requirements as regards medium-sized companies

Ieke van den Burg introduced the report.

Jacques Barrot (Vice-President of the Commission) made the statement

The following spoke: Kristian Vigenin (rapporteur for the opinion of the ECON Committee), Jean-Paul Gauzès, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Sharon Bowles, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Patrick Louis, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Tadeusz Zwiefka, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg and Jacques Toubon.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Ewa Tomaszewska.

The following spoke: Rachida Dati (President-in-Office of the Council), Jacques Barrot and Ieke van den Burg.

Motion for a resolution to wind up the debate tabled under Rule 103(2):

Giuseppe Gargani, on behalf of the JURI Committee, on accounting requirements as regards small and medium-sized companies, particularly micro-entities (B6-0626/2008)

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 18.12.2008, item 6.16 and minutes of 18.12.2008, item 6.20.

3. European Authentic Act - E-Justice - Cross-border implications of the legal protection of adults (debate)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on the European Authentic Act [2008/2124(INI)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Manuel Medina Ortega (A6-0451/2008)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on e-Justice [2008/2125(INI)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0467/2008)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on cross-border implications of the legal protection of adults [2008/2123(INI)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Antonio López-Istúriz White (A6-0460/2008)

Manuel Medina Ortega introduced the report.

Diana Wallis introduced the report.

Antonio López-Istúriz White introduced the report.

The following spoke: Rachida Dati (President-in-Office of the Council) and Jacques Barrot (Vice-President of the Commission).

IN THE CHAIR: Miguel Angel MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ
Vice-President

The following spoke: Panayiotis Demetriou (rapporteur for the opinion of the LIBE Committee), Luca Romagnoli (rapporteur for the opinion of the LIBE Committee), Jean-Paul Gauzès, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Manuel Medina Ortega, on behalf of the PSE Group, Diana Wallis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the UEN Group, Rareş-Lucian Niculescu, Neena Gill, Cristian Silviu Buşoi, Bogusław Rogalski, Dushana Zdravkova, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Toomas Savi and Costas Botopoulos.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Nicolae Vlad Popa, Armando França, Marcin Libicki, Luca Romagnoli, Reinhard Rack and Czesław Adam Siekierski.

The following spoke: Rachida Dati, Jacques Barrot, Manuel Medina Ortega, Diana Wallis, Jacques Toubon (under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure), and Antonio López-Istúriz White.

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 18.12.2008, item 6.21, minutes of 18.12.2008, item 6.22 and minutes of 18.12.2008, item 6.23.

(The sitting was suspended at 11.00 pending voting time and resumed at 11.35.)

IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING
President

4. Welcome

On behalf of Parliament, the President welcomed members of a delegation from the National Assembly of Vietnam - led by Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly - who had taken their seats in the distinguished visitors' gallery.

5. Composition of political groups

Sylwester Chruszcz had joined the UEN Group with effect from 18 December 2008.

°
° ° °

Nicolae Vlad Popa, welcomed the fact that Written Declaration 0069/2008 on fibromyalgia (minutes of 17.12.2008, item 4) had been signed by the majority of Parliament's component Members (the President associated himself with those remarks).

6. 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.

6.1. Amendment of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management *** (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: Amendment of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management [2008/2320(ACI)] - Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Rapporteur: Jo Leinen (A6-0509/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0617)

6.2. Amendment of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on a draft amendment of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management [2008/2325(INI)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Reimer Böge (A6-0504/2008)

(Qualified majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0618)

6.3. Mobilising the Solidarity Fund of the European Union (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, in accordance with point 26 of the 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)0732 – C6-0393/2008 – 2008/2317(ACI)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Reimer Böge (A6-0474/2008)

(Qualified majority: three fifths of votes cast)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0619)

6.4. Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument: facility for a rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument, in accordance with point 27 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)0833 - C6-0466/2008 - 2008/2321(ACI)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Reimer Böge (A6-0493/2008)

(Qualified majority: three fifths of votes cast)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0620)

6.5. Draft amending budget No 10/2008 (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on Draft amending budget No 10/2008 of the European Union for the financial year 2008
Section III - Commission [16264/2008 – C6-0461/2008 – 2008/2316(BUD)] - Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Kyösti Virrankoski (A6-0481/2008)

(Qualified majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0621)

6.6. Draft general budget 2009 as modified by the Council (all sections) (vote)

Draft amendments to the general budget, as modified by the Council.

(Qualified majority)

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

The amendments adopted appear in an annex to the Texts Adopted.

Éric Woerth (President-in-Office of the Council) made the following statement:

'Your vote on the second reading of the budget is the final stage in a procedure characterised by a very high quality of cooperation between the arms of the budgetary authority and with the Commission. I should like to thank warmly all those involved, particularly the Chair of the Committee on Budgets, Reimer Böge, the rapporteurs Jutta Haug and Janusz Lewandowski, and Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaité.

Together, at our conciliation meeting of 21 November 2008, we established a balanced budget for 2009 that provides appropriate funding for the policies of the European Union while defending the interests of the European taxpayer. Together, we agreed on funding for the food facility, thereby fulfilling our duty of solidarity with developing countries, and, together, we drew up specific measures to break the deadlock on cohesion policy and finally launch the programmes for 2007-2013.

The importance of this initiative was underlined by the Heads of State and Government at the European Council and constitutes a major part of Europe's response to the economic crisis, which continues to demand swift action on our part. Your vote ensures that what emerged from conciliation will be fully realised, and therefore, in line with the procedure laid down by the Treaty, I can confirm that the Council accepts the maximum rate of increase resulting from your second-reading vote.'

The President took note and made the following statement:

'I note that the budgetary procedure went ahead in accordance with the Treaty and the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006, and that, pursuant to Article 13 of that Agreement, the Council and Parliament have established that they agree on the maximum rate of increase for non-compulsory expenditure resulting from Parliament's second reading. The budgetary procedure can thus be deemed closed and the budget is declared definitively adopted'

The President invited Éric Woerth, Dalia Grybauskaitė (Member of the Commission), Reimer Böge (Chair of the BUDG Committee), and the rapporteurs Jutta Haug and Janusz Lewandowski to join him.

The President, Éric Woerth and Dalia Grybauskaitė signed the amendment of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (reports by Jo Leinen (A6-0509/2008) and Reimer Böge (A6-0504/2008)).

The President and Éric Woerth signed the decision on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (report by Reimer Böge A6-0474/2008) and the decision on mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument (report by Reimer Böge (A6-0493/2008)).

The President signed the budget.

6.7. Draft general budget 2009 as modified by the Council (all sections) (vote)

Report: on the draft general budget of the European Union for 2009 as modified by the Council (all sections)
[16257/2008 – C6-0457/2008 – 2008/2026(BUD)]
and amending letters:
n° 1/2009 [SEC(2008)2435 - 13702/2008 - C6-0344/2008]
n° 2/2009 [SEC(2008)2707 - 16259/2008 - C6-0458/2008]
n° 3/2009 [SEC(2008)2840 - 16260/2008 - C6-0459/2008]
to the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2009
Section I, European Parliament
Section II, Council
Section III, Commission
Section IV, Court of Justice
Section V, Court of Auditors
Section VI, Economic and Social Committee
Section VII, Committee of the Regions
Section VIII, European Ombudsman
Section IX, European data-protection Supervisor - Committee on Budgets. Co-rapporteurs: Janusz Lewandowski and Jutta Haug (A6-0486/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0622)

The following spoke:

Jutta Haug (rapporteur) moved oral amendments adding a new paragraph 3a and a new paragraph 34a respectively, which were accepted.

6.8. Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and its Protocol on matters specific to aircraft equipment * (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: Amended proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion by the European Community of the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and its Protocol on matters specific to aircraft equipment, adopted jointly in Cape Town on 16 November 2001 [COM(2008)0508 - C6-0329/2008 - 2008/0162(CNS)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Georgios Papastamkos (A6-0506/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Georgios Papastamkos made a statement pursuant to Rule 131(4).

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0623)

6.9. The European Job Mobility Action Plan (2007-2010) (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on the European Job Mobility Action Plan (2007-2010) [2008/2098(INI)] - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. Rapporteur: Monica Maria Iacob-Ridzi (A6-0463/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0624)

6.10. Lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation - "Education and Training 2010 work programme" (Rule 131) (vote)

Report: on delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation - implementation of the "Education and Training 2010 work programme" [2008/2102(INI)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Ljudmila Novak (A6-0455/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Ljudmila Novak made a statement pursuant to Rule 131(4).

Adopted by single vote (P6_TA(2008)0625)

6.11. Toys Directive ***I (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the safety of toys [COM(2008)0009 - C6-0039/2008 - 2008/0018(COD)] - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. Rapporteur: Marianne Thyssen (A6-0441/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

The following spoke: Herbert Reul and Hannes Swoboda, on the voting procedure (the President replied that their comments would be passed on to the Conference of Presidents), Evelyne Gebhardt, who requested that the Commission make a statement before the final vote, Jacques Barrot (Vice-President of the Commission), Hannes Swoboda, who requested that the House proceed to the vote but that the final vote be held over until a later date, and Jacques Toubon, who requested that the final vote be held that day as planned.

By electronic vote (354 in favour, 187 against, 12 abstentions) Parliament decided to proceed to the vote, including the final vote.

The following spoke: Bernd Posselt.

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0626)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0626)

6.12. European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training ***I (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training [COM(2008)0179 - C6-0163/2008 - 2008/0069(COD)] - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. Rapporteur: Jan Andersson (A6-0438/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0627)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0627)

6.13. European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) ***I (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) [COM(2008)0180 - C6-0162/2008 - 2008/0070(COD)] - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. Rapporteur: Thomas Mann (A6-0424/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0628)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0628)

6.14. Securities settlement systems and financial collateral arrangements ***I (vote)

Report: on the 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)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Piia-Noora Kauppi (A6-0480/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0629)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0629)

6.15. Deposit-guarantee schemes as regards the coverage level and the payout delay ***I (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94/19/EC on Deposit Guarantee Schemes as regards the coverage level and the payout delay [COM(2008)0661 - C6-0361/2008 - 2008/0199(COD)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Christian Ehler (A6-0494/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0630)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0630)

6.16. Disclosure requirements for medium-sized companies and obligation to draw up consolidated accounts ***I (vote)

Report: on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC as regards certain disclosure requirements for medium-sized companies and obligation to draw up consolidated accounts [COM(2008)0195 - C6-0173/2008 - 2008/0084(COD)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Ieke van den Burg (A6-0462/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Approved as amended (P6_TA(2008)0631)

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0631)

6.17. Council's approach to revision of OLAF regulation (vote)

Motion for a resolution B6-0627/2008

(Simple majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0632)

6.18. Evaluation and future development of FRONTEX EUROSUR (vote)

Report: on the evaluation and future development of the FRONTEX Agency and the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) [2008/2157(INI)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Javier Moreno Sánchez (A6-0437/2008)

(Simple majority)

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

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0633)

The following spoke on the vote:

Javier Moreno Sánchez (rapporteur) moved an oral amendment to Amendment 4, which was accepted.

Renate Weber moved an oral amendment to Amendment 7, which was accepted.

6.19. Impact of counterfeiting on international trade (vote)

Report: on the impact of counterfeiting on international trade [2008/2133(INI)] - Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Gianluca Susta (A6-0447/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 19)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0634)

The following spoke on the vote:

Carl Schlyter moved an oral amendment deleting paragraph 15, which was accepted.

6.20. Accounting requirements as regards medium-sized companies (vote)

Motion for a resolution B6-0626/2008

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 20)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0635)

6.21. European Authentic Act (vote)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on the European Authentic Act [2008/2124(INI)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Manuel Medina Ortega (A6-0451/2008)

(Qualified majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 21)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0636)

The following spoke: Hartmut Nassauer, on the outcome of the vote on the Susta report (A6-0447/2008).

6.22. E-Justice (vote)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on e-Justice [2008/2125(INI)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0467/2008)

(Qualified majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 22)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0637)

The following spoke: Daniel Caspary on the voting procedure.

6.23. Cross-border implications of the legal protection of adults (vote)

Report: with recommendations to the Commission on cross-border implications of the legal protection of adults [2008/2123(INI)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Antonio López-Istúriz White (A6-0460/2008)

(Qualified majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 23)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0638)

6.24. Development perspectives for peace-building and nation building in post-conflict situations (vote)

Report: on development perspectives for peace-building and nation building in post-conflict situations [2008/2097(INI)] - Committee on Development. Rapporteur: Nirj Deva (A6-0445/2008)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 24)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0639)

IN THE CHAIR: Martine ROURE
Vice-President

7. Composition of Parliament

Piia-Noora Kauppi had given notice in writing of her resignation as Member of Parliament, with effect from 1 January 2009.

Under Rule 4(1) and (7), Parliament established the vacancy and informed the Member State concerned thereof.

8. Composition of committees and delegations

At the request of the PSE Group, Parliament ratified the following appointments:

ENVI Committee: Maria Berger

Temporary Committee on Climate Change: Maria Berger

Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly: Maria Berger

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 by Janusz Lewandowski and Jutta Haug (A6-0486/2008): Zuzana Roithová and Frank Vanhecke

Report by Marianne Thyssen (A6-0441/2008): Ignasi Guardans Cambó, Zuzana Roithová, Hiltrud Breyer, Zita Pleštinská, Kathy Sinnott and Miroslav Mikolášik

Report by Thomas Mann (A6-0424/2008): Milan Gaľa

Report by Christian Ehler (A6-0494/2008): Zuzana Roithová

B6-0627/2008 Council's approach to revision of OLAF regulation: Frank Vanhecke

Report by Javier Moreno Sánchez (A6-0437/2008): Frank Vanhecke, Philip Claeys

Report by Gianluca Susta (A6-0447/2008): Philip Claeys and Syed Kamall

Report by Antonio López-Istúriz White (A6-0460/2008): Kathy Sinnott

Report by Nirj Deva (A6-0445/2008): Kathy Sinnott and Luisa Morgantini, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

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.

11. Documents received

The following documents had been received:

(1) from the Council and Commission

- Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation by the Community in a European metrology research and development programme undertaken by several Member States (COM(2008)0814 - C6-0468/2008 - 2008/0230(COD))

- Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws (COM(2008)0816 - C6-0476/2008 - 2008/0246(COD))

- Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (COM(2008)0721 - C6-0510/2008 - 2008/0216(CNS))

- Proposal for a Council directive imposing an obligation on Member States to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products (COM(2008)0775 - C6-0511/2008 - 2008/0220(CNS))

(2) from Members

(2.1) motion for resolution (Rule 113)

- Nicolae Vlad Popa. Motion for a resolution on EU research of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (B6-0625/2008)

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

IN THE CHAIR: Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU
Vice-President

12. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

13. Debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (debate)

(For the titles and authors of the motions for resolutions, see minutes of 16.12.2008, item 2)

13.1. Zimbabwe

Motions for resolution B6-0628/2008, B6-0633/2008, B6-0634/2008, B6-0639/2008, B6-0642/2008 and B6-0643/2008

Marios Matsakis, Catherine Stihler, Erik Meijer, Mikel Irujo Amezaga, Andrzej Tomasz Zapałowski and Charles Tannock introduced motions for resolutions.

The following spoke: Ioannis Kasoulides, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, on behalf of the PSE Group, and Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, on behalf of the UEN Group.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Michael Gahler, Ewa Tomaszewska and Kathy Sinnott.

The following spoke: Jacques Barrot (Vice-President of the Commission).

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 18.12.2008, item 14.1.

13.2. Nicaragua

Motions for resolution B6-0629/2008, B6-0631/2008, B6-0635/2008, B6-0637/2008, B6-0640/2008 and B6-0644/2008

Marios Matsakis, Manuel Medina Ortega, Pedro Guerreiro, Leopold Józef Rutowicz, Raül Romeva i Rueda and Fernando Fernández Martín introduced motions for resolutions.

The following spoke: Josu Ortuondo Larrea and Jacques Barrot (Vice-President of the Commission).

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 18.12.2008, item 14.2.

13.3. Russia: attacks on human rights defenders, and the Anna Politkovskaya murder trial

Motions for resolution B6-0630/2008, B6-0632/2008, B6-0636/2008, B6-0641/2008, B6-0645/2008 and B6-0646/2008

Marios Matsakis, Józef Pinior, Erik Meijer, Tunne Kelam and Ewa Tomaszewska introduced motions for resolutions.

The following spoke: Michael Gahler, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Mikel Irujo Amezaga, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Andrzej Tomasz Zapałowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, Kathy Sinnott, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, and Bernd Posselt.

The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: John Bowis, Paulo Casaca, Zbigniew Zaleski and Marcin Libicki.

The following spoke: Jacques Barrot (Vice-President of the Commission).

The debate closed.

Vote: minutes of 18.12.2008, item 14.3.

14. 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.

14.1. Zimbabwe (vote)

Motions for resolution B6-0628/2008, B6-0633/2008, B6-0634/2008, B6-0639/2008, B6-0642/2008 and B6-0643/2008

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 25)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION RC-B6-0628/2008

(replacing B6-0628/2008, B6-0633/2008, B6-0639/2008, B6-0642/2008 and B6-0643/2008):

tabled by the following Members:

Geoffrey Van Orden, Colm Burke, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Charles Tannock, Bernd Posselt and Maria Martens, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group,

Pasqualina Napoletano, Glenys Kinnock, Alain Hutchinson, Emilio Menéndez del Valle and Ana Maria Gomes, on behalf of the PSE Group,

Marco Cappato, Marios Matsakis, Fiona Hall and Thierry Cornillet, on behalf of the ALDE Group,

Margrete Auken, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group,

Eoin Ryan, Ewa Tomaszewska, Ryszard Czarnecki, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Marcin Libicki and Adam Bielan, on behalf of the UEN Group,

Kathy Sinnott, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0640)

(Motion for a resolution B6-0634/2008 fell.)

14.2. Nicaragua (vote)

Motions for resolution B6-0629/2008, B6-0631/2008, B6-0635/2008, B6-0637/2008, B6-0640/2008 and B6-0644/2008

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 26)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION RC-B6-0629/2008

(replacing B6-0629/2008, B6-0631/2008, B6-0637/2008 and B6-0644/2008):

tabled by the following Members:

José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil, Fernando Fernández Martín, Tunne Kelam, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Bernd Posselt and Charles Tannock, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group,

Pasqualina Napoletano and Raimon Obiols i Germà, on behalf of the PSE Group,

Renate Weber, Josu Ortuondo Larrea, Marco Cappato and Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group,

Cristiana Muscardini, on behalf of the UEN Group

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0641)

(Motions for resolutions B6-0635/2008 and B6-0640/2008 fell.)

The following spoke on the vote:

Manuel Medina Ortega moved oral amendments to paragraph 2 and to recitals A and F. The oral amendments were rejected.

14.3. Russia: attacks on human rights defenders, and the Anna Politkovskaya murder trial (vote)

Motions for resolution B6-0630/2008, B6-0632/2008, B6-0636/2008, B6-0641/2008, B6-0645/2008 and B6-0646/2008

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 27)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION RC-B6-0630/2008

(replacing B6-0630/2008, B6-0632/2008, B6-0636/2008, B6-0641/2008, B6-0645/2008 and B6-0646/2008):

tabled by the following Members:

Tunne Kelam, Bernd Posselt, Zbigniew Zaleski, Tadeusz Zwiefka, Michael Gahler, Edward McMillan-Scott, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Charles Tannock and Christopher Beazley, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group,

Pasqualina Napoletano, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Hannes Swoboda, Kristian Vigenin and Józef Pinior, on behalf of the PSE Group,

Toomas Savi, Marco Cappato, Marios Matsakis, Henrik Lax, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Marielle De Sarnez and Janusz Onyszkiewicz, on behalf of the ALDE Group,

Bart Staes, Hélène Flautre, Rebecca Harms, Milan Horáček and Marie Anne Isler Béguin, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group,

Ryszard Czarnecki, Inese Vaidere, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Guntars Krasts, Roberts Zīle, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Ewa Tomaszewska and Adam Bielan, on behalf of the UEN Group,

Vittorio Agnoletto, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group,

Kathy Sinnott, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group

Adopted (P6_TA(2008)0642)

The following spoke on the vote:

Michael Gahler moved an oral amendment to paragraph 6, which was incorporated.

15. 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 9 December 2008 with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the insurance of shipowners for maritime claims (14287/2/2008 - C6-0483/2008 - 2005/0242(COD))
referred to responsible: TRAN

- Common position adopted by the Council on 9 December 2008 with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on compliance with flag State requirements (14288/2/2008 - C6-0484/2008 - 2005/0236(COD))
referred to responsible: TRAN

The three-month period available to Parliament to adopt its position would therefore begin the following day (19 December 2008).

16. Decisions concerning certain documents

Decision to draw up own-initiative reports (Rule 45)

CULT Committee

- Better schools: an agenda for European cooperation (2008/2329(INI))
(opinion: EMPL)
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

- Educating the children of migrants (2008/2328(INI))
(opinion: EMPL, LIBE)
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

DEVE Committee

- One year after Lisbon: the EU-Africa partnership at work (2008/2318(INI))
(opinion: AFET, INTA)
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

- The Work of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in 2008 (2008/2303(INI))
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

EMPL Committee

- Renewed Social Agenda (2008/2330(INI))
(opinion: FEMM, CULT, ENVI, ITRE, ECON, LIBE)
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

ENVI Committee

- The implementation of EU legislation on GMO's, in particular Directive 2001/18/EC and Regulations (EC) no. 1829/2003 and 1830/2003 (2008/2306(INI))
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

LIBE Committee

- A Common Immigration Policy for Europe: Principles, actions and tools (2008/2331(INI))
(opinion: FEMM, DEVE, CULT, AFET, EMPL, INTA)
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

- The future of the European Common Asylum System (2008/2305(INI))
(opinion: FEMM, DEVE, CULT, AFET, EMPL)
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

Decision to draw up own-initiative reports (Rule 114(3))

AFET Committee

- On non-proliferation and the future of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) (2008/2324(INI))
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

- The mandate of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (2008/2290(INI))
(opinion: LIBE)

- EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership (2008/2289(INI))
(opinion: DEVE, INTA)

- European Union-Brazil Strategic Partnership (2008/2288(INI))
(opinion: DEVE, INTA)

Decision to draw up own-initiative reports (Rule 192(6))

PETI Committee

- Annual report on the Activity of the Petitions Committee 2008 (2008/2301(INI))
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

Associated committees

FEMM Committee

- Improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding (COM(2008)0637 - C6-0340/2008 - 2008/0193(COD))
(opinion: ITRE)
Associated committees FEMM, EMPL
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11.12.2008)

Amendment of the Rules of Procedure

AFCO Committee

- General review of the Rules of Procedure (2007/2124(REG))

17. Written declarations included in the register (Rule 116)

Number of signatures obtained by the written declarations included in the register (Rule 116(3)):

18. 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.

19. Dates of forthcoming sittings

The next sittings would be held from 12 January 2009 to 15 January 2009.

20. Adjournment of the session

The session of the European Parliament was adjourned.

The sitting closed at 16.35.

The following signed:

Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Albertini, Allister, Alvaro, Andersson, Andrejevs, Angelakas, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Ashworth, Assis, Atkins, Attard-Montalto, Attwooll, Aubert, Audy, Auken, Ayala Sender, Aylward, Badia i Cutchet, Baeva, Barón Crespo, Barsi-Pataky, Bartolozzi, Batten, Battilocchio, Batzeli, Bauer, Beaupuy, Beazley, Becsey, Bedingfield, Belder, Belet, Belohorská, Bennahmias, Berend, Berger, Berlato, Berlinguer, Bielan, Blokland, Bobošíková, Bodu, Böge, Bösch, Bono, Borghezio, Borrell Fontelles, Boso, Boştinaru, Botopoulos, Boursier, Bowis, Bowles, Braghetto, Brejc, Brepoels, Breyer, Březina, Brie, Brok, Budreikaitė, Buitenweg, Bulfon, Bullmann, Bulzesc, van den Burg, Bushill-Matthews, Buşoi, Busquin, Busuttil, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Calia, Callanan, Camre, Capoulas Santos, Cappato, Carlotti, Carnero González, Carollo, Casaca, Casini, Caspary, Castex, del Castillo Vera, Catania, Cavada, Cederschiöld, Cercas, Chatzimarkakis, Chichester, Chiesa, Chmielewski, Christensen, Chruszcz, Claeys, Clark, Coelho, Cohn-Bendit, Corbett, Corbey, Corda, Cottigny, Cramer, Cremers, Corina Creţu, Gabriela Creţu, Crowley, Csibi, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Ryszard Czarnecki, Dahl, Dăianu, Daul, David, 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, Dobolyi, Dombrovskis, Donnici, Doorn, Douay, Dover, Doyle, Drčar Murko, Duchoň, Dührkop Dührkop, Duff, Duka-Zólyomi, Dumitriu, Ebner, Ehler, Ek, El Khadraoui, Elles, Esteves, Estrela, Ettl, Jill Evans, Färm, Fajmon, Falbr, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fernandes, Fernández Martín, Ferrari, Anne Ferreira, Elisa Ferreira, Figueiredo, Fjellner, Flasarová, Flautre, Florenz, Foglietta, Foltyn-Kubicka, Fontaine, Ford, Fouré, Fourtou, Fraga Estévez, Fraile Cantón, França, Frassoni, Freitas, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Garcés Ramón, García-Margallo y Marfil, García Pérez, Gardini, Garriga Polledo, Gauzès, Gebhardt, Gentvilas, Georgiou, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gibault, Gierek, Giertych, Gill, Giuntini, Gklavakis, Glante, Goebbels, Goepel, Gollnisch, Gomes, Gomolka, Gottardi, Goudin, Grabowska, Graça Moura, Graefe zu Baringdorf, Gräßle, Grau i Segú, Grech, Griesbeck, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Groote, Grosch, Grossetête, Guardans Cambó, Guerreiro, Gurmai, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Guy-Quint, Gyürk, Hall, Hammerstein, Hamon, Handzlik, Hannan, Harbour, Harkin, Harms, Hasse Ferreira, Hassi, Haug, Hedh, Hegyi, Helmer, Hénin, Hennicot-Schoepges, Hennis-Plasschaert, Herranz García, Higgins, Hökmark, Holm, Honeyball, Hoppenstedt, Horáček, Hudghton, Hughes, Hutchinson, Hyusmenova, Ibrisagic, in 't Veld, Iotova, Irujo Amezaga, Isler Béguin, Itälä, Iturgaiz Angulo, Jackson, Jacobs, Jäätteenmäki, Janowski, Járóka, Jeggle, Jeleva, Jensen, Jöns, Jørgensen, Jonckheer, Jordan Cizelj, Juknevičienė, Juri, Kacin, Kaczmarek, Kallenbach, Kamall, Karas, Karim, Kasoulides, Kastler, Kaufmann, Kazak, Tunne Kelam, Kilroy-Silk, Kindermann, Kirilov, Klamt, Klaß, Koch, Koch-Mehrin, Koppa, Korhola, Koterec, Kozlík, Krahmer, Krasts, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Krehl, Krupa, Kuc, Kuhne, Kusstatscher, Kuźmiuk, Lagendijk, Laignel, Lamassoure, Lambert, Lambrinidis, Landsbergis, Lang, De Lange, Langen, Laperrouze, Lax, Lebech, Lechner, Le Foll, Lefrançois, Lehne, Leichtfried, Leinen, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Lewandowski, Liberadzki, Libicki, Lienemann, Liese, Liotard, Lipietz, Lo Curto, López-Istúriz White, Louis, Lucas, Ludford, Lulling, Lundgren, Luque Aguilar, Lynne, Lyubcheva, Maaten, McAvan, McGuinness, McMillan-Scott, Madeira, Maldeikis, Manders, Maňka, Erika Mann, Thomas Mann, Marinescu, Marini, Markov, Martens, David Martin, Hans-Peter Martin, Martinez, Martínez Martínez, Masiel, Masip Hidalgo, Maštálka, Matsakis, Matsis, Matsouka, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Medina Ortega, Meijer, Menéndez del Valle, Meyer Pleite, Miguélez Ramos, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Mladenov, Mohácsi, Moraes, Moreno Sánchez, Morgantini, Morillon, Elisabeth Morin, Mulder, Musacchio, Muscardini, Mussa, Myller, Napoletano, Naranjo Escobar, Nassauer, Nattrass, Neris, Newton Dunn, Nicholson, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Niculescu, Niebler, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Obiols i Germà, Öger, Olbrycht, Ó Neachtain, Onesta, Onyszkiewicz, Ortuondo Larrea, Őry, Ouzký, Oviir, Pack, Paleckis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Panayotov, Panzeri, Papadimoulis, Paparizov, Papastamkos, Parish, Paşcu, Patrie, Peillon, Pęk, Alojz Peterle, Petre, Pflüger, Pieper, Pietikäinen, Pīks, Pinheiro, Pinior, Piotrowski, Pirilli, Pirker, Piskorski, Pittella, Pleštinská, Podimata, Podkański, Pöttering, Pohjamo, Poignant, Polfer, Pomés Ruiz, Popa, Portas, Posdorf, Posselt, Prets, Pribetich, Vittorio Prodi, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Raeva, Ransdorf, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Remek, Resetarits, Reul, Riera Madurell, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Robsahm, Robusti, Rocard, Rodust, Rogalski, Roithová, Romagnoli, Romeva i Rueda, Rosati, Roszkowski, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Rovsing, Rübig, Rühle, Rus, Rutowicz, Ryan, Sacconi, Saïfi, Sakalas, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Sanzarello, Sanz Palacio, Sârbu, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Savi, Schaldemose, Schapira, Schenardi, Schierhuber, Schinas, Schlyter, Frithjof Schmidt, Olle Schmidt, Schnellhardt, Schöpflin, Jürgen Schröder, Schroedter, Schulz, Schuth, Schwab, Seeber, Segelström, Seppänen, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Simpson, Sinnott, Siwiec, Skinner, Škottová, Smith, Sógor, Sommer, Søndergaard, Sonik, Spautz, Speroni, Staes, Staniszewska, Starkevičiūtė, Šťastný, Sterckx, Stevenson, Stihler, Stockmann, Strož, Sturdy, Sudre, Surján, Susta, Svensson, Swoboda, Szájer, Szejna, Szent-Iványi, Szymański, Tabajdi, Tannock, Tarand, Tatarella, Teychenné, Thomsen, Ţicău, Titley, Toia, Tőkés, Tomaszewska, Tomczak, Toubon, Toussas, Trautmann, Triantaphyllides, Trüpel, Tzampazi, Uca, Ulmer, Urutchev, Vaidere, Vakalis, Vălean, Van Orden, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Varvitsiotis, Vaugrenard, Veraldi, Vergnaud, Vidal-Quadras, Vigenin, Virrankoski, Visser, Vlasák, Vlasto, Voggenhuber, Wagenknecht, Wallis, Walter, Watson, Henri Weber, Renate Weber, Weiler, Weisgerber, Westlund, Whittaker, Wieland, Wielowieyski, Wiersma, Wijkman, Willmott, Wise, von Wogau, Bernard Wojciechowski, Janusz Wojciechowski, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zaleski, Zapałowski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Ždanoka, Zdravkova, Zieleniec, Zīle, Zlotea, Zvěřina, Zwiefka