IN THE CHAIR: Miguel Angel MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ Vice-President
1. Opening of the sitting
The sitting opened at 9.00.
2. Documents received
The following documents had been received:
(1) from the Council and Commission:
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 02/2009 - Section III – Commission (N6-0011/2009 - C6-0106/2009 - 2009/2030(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for a Council Regulation amending the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement as regards long stay visa and alerts in the Schengen Information System (COM(2009)0090 - C6-0107/2009 - 2009/0025(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
LIBE
opinion :
JURI
- Proposal for a Council decision amending Decision 2006/326/EC to provide for a procedure for the implementation of Article 5(2) of the Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark on the service of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters (COM(2009)0100 - C6-0108/2009 - 2009/0031(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
- Proposal for a Council decision amending Decision 2006/325/EC to provide for a procedure for the implementation of Article 5(2) of the Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (COM(2009)0101 - C6-0109/2009 - 2009/0034(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
JURI
opinion :
LIBE
- Proposal for a Council regulation on the establishment of an evaluation mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis (COM(2009)0102 - C6-0110/2009 - 2009/0033(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
LIBE
- Proposal for a Council decision on the establishment of an evaluation mechanism to monitor the application of the Schengen acquis (COM(2009)0105 - C6-0111/2009 - 2009/0032(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
LIBE
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 05/2009 - Section III - Commission (N6-0012/2009 - C6-0112/2009 - 2009/2031(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 10/2009 - Section III - Commission (N6-0013/2009 - C6-0113/2009 - 2009/2032(GBD))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
- Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (COM(2009)0150 - C6-0115/2009 - 2009/2033(ACI))
referred to
responsible :
BUDG
opinion :
EMPL
- Proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COM(2008)0530 [[01]] - C6-0116/2009 - 2008/0170(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
EMPL
opinion :
FEMM
- Proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COM(2008)0530 [[02]] - C6-0117/2009 - 2008/0171(CNS))
referred to
responsible :
EMPL
opinion :
FEMM
- Proposal for a Council Decision on the accession of the European Community to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 61 on uniform provisions for the approval of commercial vehicles with regard to their external projections forward of the cab's rear panel (07240/2009 - C6-0119/2009 - 2008/0205(AVC))
referred to
responsible :
INTA
(2) from Members, motions for resolutions (Rule 113):
- Cristiana Muscardini. Motion for a resolution on the economic crisis, environment and quality of life (B6-0162/2009) referred toresponsible: ENVI
- Cristiana Muscardini. Motion for a resolution on searching for missing children (B6-0178/2009) referred toresponsible: LIBE opinion: FEMM
- Roberta Angelilli, Mario Mauro, Roberto Musacchio, Gianni Pittella, Gianluca Susta and Stefano Zappalà. Motion for a resolution on a code of ethics for European journalists regarding children’s rights (B6-0179/2009)
referred to responsible: LIBE opinion: FEMM, CULT
3. Bi-annual evaluation of the EU Belarus dialogue (motions for resolutions tabled)
Council and Commission statements: Bi-annual evaluation of the EU Belarus dialogue
Motion for a resolution to wind up the debate tabled under Rule 103(2):
- Jan Marinus Wiersma and Justas Vincas Paleckis, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jacek Protasiewicz, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra and Elmar Brok, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Konrad Szymański, Wojciech Roszkowski, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Ewa Tomaszewska and Adam Bielan, on behalf of the UEN Group, Milan Horáček and Elisabeth Schroedter, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on bi-annual evaluation of the EU-Belarus dialogue (B6-0177/2009).
Motions for resolutions to wind up the debate tabled under Rule 103(2):
- Martin Schulz, Hannes Swoboda, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Helmut Kuhne, Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez, Justas Vincas Paleckis and Józef Pinior, on behalf of the PSE Group, on European conscience and totalitarianism (B6-0164/2009),
- Tunne Kelam, Gunnar Hökmark, Jana Hybášková, Bernd Posselt, Charles Tannock, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Mario Mauro, Struan Stevenson, Bogusław Sonik and József Szájer, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on European conscience and totalitarianism (B6-0165/2009),
- Gisela Kallenbach, László Tőkés and Milan Horáček, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on European conscience and totalitarianism (B6-0169/2009),
- Konrad Szymański, Adam Bielan, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Wojciech Roszkowski, Inese Vaidere, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Roberts Zīle and Ewa Tomaszewska, on behalf of the UEN Group, on European conscience and totalitarianism (B6-0170/2009),
- Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck and István Szent-Iványi, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on European conscience and totalitarianism (B6-0171/2009).
5. The role of culture in the development of European regions (motions for resolutions tabled)
Oral question (O-0064/2009) by Doris Pack, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, to the Commission: The role of culture in the development of European regions (B6-0226/2009)
Motions for resolutions to wind up the debate tabled under Rule 108(5):
- Doris Pack, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Christa Prets, on behalf of the PSE Group, Hannu Takkula and Grażyna Staniszewska, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the role of culture in the development of European regions (B6-0166/2009),
- Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Ewa Tomaszewska, Wiesław Stefan Kuc, Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk, Bogdan Pęk, Andrzej Tomasz Zapałowski, Sylwester Chruszcz, Leopold Józef Rutowicz, Czesław Adam Siekierski and Adam Bielan, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the role of culture in the development of European regions (B6-0167/2009),
- Helga Trüpel and Gisela Kallenbach, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the role of culture in the development of European regions (B6-0168/2009).
6. Community ecolabel scheme ***I - Voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) ***I (debate)
Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community Ecolabel scheme [COM(2008)0401 - C6-0279/2008 - 2008/0152(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Salvatore Tatarella (A6-0105/2009)
Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) [COM(2008)0402 - C6-0278/2008 - 2008/0154(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Linda McAvan (A6-0084/2009)
Salvatore Tatarella and Linda McAvan introduced the reports.
The following spoke: Stavros Dimas (Member of the Commission).
The following spoke: Nikolaos Vakalis (rapporteur for the opinion of the ITRE Committee), Anders Wijkman, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Gyula Hegyi, on behalf of the PSE Group, Johannes Lebech, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Liam Aylward, on behalf of the UEN Group, Satu Hassi, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Roberto Musacchio, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, and Luca Romagnoli, Non-attached Member.
The following spoke: Martin Bursík (President-in-Office of the Council).
The following spoke: Amalia Sartori, Richard Howitt, Mojca Drčar Murko, Roberta Angelilli, Eva-Britt Svensson, Roberto Fiore, Avril Doyle and Daciana Octavia Sârbu.
IN THE CHAIR: Diana WALLIS Vice-President
The following spoke: Holger Krahmer, Antonio De Blasio, Justas Vincas Paleckis, Dorette Corbey and Martí Grau i Segú.
The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Czesław Adam Siekierski, Reinhard Rack and Silvia-Adriana Ţicău.
The following spoke: Martin Bursík, Stavros Dimas, Salvatore Tatarella and Linda McAvan.
(The sitting was suspended at 10.35 pending voting time and resumed at 11.05.)
IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING President
7. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting
The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.
° ° ° °
Marco Cappato asked for information on Members' activities in plenary and in committee to be published on Parliament's website, in accordance with Parliament's position of 14 January 2009 (P6_TA(2009)0022) (the President replied that the Bureau would discuss the matter at its next meeting).
Anna Záborská, Chair of the FEMM committee, asked the President to express Parliament's disapproval of the 'New Law on the Afghan Family' which had recently been signed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. She also asked for this point to be added to the agenda of the next part-session (this was noted by the President).
8. Welcome
On behalf of Parliament, the President welcomed members of a delegation from the Republic of Rwanda - led by Rosemary Museminali, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation - who had taken their seats in the distinguished visitors' gallery.
9. 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.
9.1. Information in the veterinary and zootechnical fields * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a Council decision correcting Directive 2008/73/EC simplifying procedures of listing and publishing information in the veterinary and zootechnical fields and amending Directives 64/432/EEC, 77/504/EEC, 88/407/EEC, 88/661/EEC, 89/361/EEC, 89/556/EEC, 90/426/EEC, 90/427/EEC, 90/428/EEC, 90/429/EEC, 90/539/EEC, 91/68/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 92/35/EEC, 92/65/EEC, 92/66/EEC, 92/119/EEC, 94/28/EC, 2000/75/EC, Decision 2000/258/EC and Directives 2001/89/EC, 2002/60/EC and 2005/94/EC [COM(2009)0045 - C6-0079/2009 - 2009/0016(CNS)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Neil Parish (A6-0141/2009)
9.2. Community statistics on the information society ***I (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society [COM(2008)0677 - C6-0381/2008 - 2008/0201(COD)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Angelika Niebler (A6-0128/2009)
9.3. Approving the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a Council decision approving the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation amending the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products [15523/2008 - C6-0028/2009 - 2008/0202(CNS)] - Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Béla Glattfelder (A6-0122/2009)
9.4. Mutual recognition of supervision measures as an alternative to provisional detention * (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the draft Council Framework Decision on the application, between Member States of the European Union, of the principle of mutual recognition to decisions on supervision measures as an alternative to provisional detention [17002/2008 - C6-0009/2009 - 2006/0158(CNS)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Ioannis Varvitsiotis (A6-0147/2009)
Ioannis Varvitsiotis (rapporteur), before the vote.
9.5. New types of costs eligible for a contribution from the ESF ***I (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 on the European Social Fund to extend the types of costs eligible for a contribution from the ESF [COM(2008)0813 - C6-0454/2008 - 2008/0232(COD)] - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. Rapporteur: Karin Jöns (A6-0116/2009)
9.6. ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund: provisions relating to financial management *** (Rule 131) (vote)
Recommendation: on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund concerning certain provisions relating to financial management [17575/2008 - C6-0027/2009 - 2008/0233(AVC)] - Committee on Regional Development. Rapporteur: Iratxe García Pérez (A6-0127/2009)
- Christa Prets, before the vote, to propose a linguistic adjustment to paragraphs 5, 8 and 16, and Stavros Lambrinidis, on the preceding speech (the proposal was rejected).
9.8. Application of Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of EU citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on the application of Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of EU citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States [2008/2184(INI)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Adina-Ioana Vălean (A6-0186/2009)
- Adina-Ioana Vălean (rapporteur), before the vote, to move an oral amendment to the footnote to recital S, first indent;
- Stefano Zappalà, before the vote, to propose that the report be referred back to committee.
Parliament rejected the request by electronic vote (293 in favour, 328 against, 0 abstention).
- Roberta Angelilli on the oral amendment.
9.9. Problems and prospects concerning European citizenship (Rule 131) (vote)
Report: on problems and prospects concerning European citizenship [2008/2234(INI)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Urszula Gacek (A6-0182/2009)
9.10. Community statistics on external trade ***II (vote)
Recommendation for second reading: on the Council common position for adopting a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics relating to external trade with non-member countries and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/95 [15248/2/2008 - C6-0065/2009 - 2007/0233(COD)] - Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Helmuth Markov (A6-0126/2009)
9.11. Establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin ***II (vote)
Recommendation for second reading: on the Council common position for adopting a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down Community procedures for the establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 [15079/2/2008 - C6-0005/2009 - 2007/0064(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Avril Doyle (A6-0048/2009)
9.12. Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy for housing (amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 on ERDF)***I (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 on the European Regional Development Fund as regards the eligibility of energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in housing [COM(2008)0838 - C6-0473/2008 - 2008/0245(COD)] - Committee on Regional Development. Rapporteur: Emmanouil Angelakas (A6-0134/2009)
Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on Visas [COM(2006)0403 - C6-0254/2006 - 2006/0142(COD)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Henrik Lax (A6-0161/2008)
Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community Ecolabel scheme [COM(2008)0401 - C6-0279/2008 - 2008/0152(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Salvatore Tatarella (A6-0105/2009)
- Miroslav Ouzký, before the final vote, who requested that a Commission statement be included in the Texts Adopted. Stavros Dimas (Member of the Commission) approved the request.
9.15. Voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) ***I (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) [COM(2008)0402 - C6-0278/2008 - 2008/0154(COD)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Linda McAvan (A6-0084/2009)
9.16. Equal treatment of persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation * (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a Council directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation [COM(2008)0426 - C6-0291/2008 - 2008/0140(CNS)] - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg (A6-0149/2009)
Motions for resolutionB6-0150/2009/rev, B6 0160/2009
Daniel Caspary requested the referral back to committee of the motions for resolution and of his report, pursuant to Rule 168(2).
Stavros Dimas (Member of the Commission) supported the request.
Parliament agreed to the request.
9.18. Interim Agreement with Turkmenistan * (vote)
Report: on the proposal for a Council and Commission decision on the conclusion of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Turkmenistan, of the other part [05144/1999 - C5-0338/1999 - 1998/0304(CNS)] - Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Daniel Caspary (A6-0085/2006)
Under Rule 168(2), the report was referred back to committee (see above).
9.19. Bi-annual evaluation of the EU Belarus dialogue (vote)
Tunne Kelam, Gunnar Hökmark and Jana Hybášková, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck and István Szent-Iványi, on behalf of the ALDE Group Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Wojciech Roszkowski, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Adam Bielan, Roberts Zīle, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Inese Vaidere and Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski, on behalf of the UEN Group Gisela Kallenbach, Milan Horáček and László Tőkés, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Doris Pack and Manolis Mavrommatis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group Christa Prets and Victor Boştinaru, on behalf of the PSE Group Grażyna Staniszewska, on behalf of the ALDE Group Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Domenico Antonio Basile and Ewa Tomaszewska, on behalf of the UEN Group Gisela Kallenbach and Helga Trüpel, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Věra Flasarová, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
9.22. Recommendation to the Council on the new EU-Russia agreement *** (vote)
Report: with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the new EU-Russia agreement [2008/2104(INI)] - Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Janusz Onyszkiewicz (A6-0140/2009)
José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, John Bowis, Tunne Kelam and Eija-Riitta Korhola, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group Véronique De Keyser, Jan Marinus Wiersma and Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group Diana Wallis, on behalf of the ALDE Group Liam Aylward, Adam Bielan, Roberts Zīle, Ewa Tomaszewska and Inese Vaidere, on behalf of the UEN Group Satu Hassi, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Jens Holm and Adamos Adamou, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
Avril Doyle requested that the vote be adjourned under Rule 170(4).
The following spoke: Diana Wallis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, and Véronique De Keyser, on that request.
Parliament agreed to the request by electronic vote (352 in favour, 241 against, 13 abstentions).
9.24. Health concerns associated with electromagnetic fields (vote)
Report: on health concerns associated with electromagnetic fields [2008/2211(INI)] - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Rapporteur: Frédérique Ries (A6-0089/2009)
9.25. Better schools: an agenda for European cooperation (vote)
Report: on better schools: an agenda for European cooperation [2008/2329(INI)] - Committee on Culture and Education. Rapporteur: Pál Schmitt (A6-0124/2009)
(Simple majority)
(Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 22)
ALTERNATIVE MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (tabled by the PPE-DE, PSE, Verts/ALE and GUE/NGL Groups)
Report: Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg - A6-0149/2009 Anja Weisgerber, David Sumberg, Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, Richard Corbett, Frank Vanhecke, Daniel Hannan, Bruno Gollnisch, Neena Gill, Martin Callanan, Ewa Tomaszewska, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Gay Mitchell
Bi-annual evaluation of the EU Belarus dialogue - B6-0177/2009 Laima Liucija Andrikienė and Toomas Savi
European conscience and totalitarianism - RC-B6-0165/2009 Frank Vanhecke, Siiri Oviir, Daniel Hannan, Bruno Gollnisch, Katrin Saks, Syed Kamall, Mario Borghezio and Ioannis Varvitsiotis
The role of culture in the development of European regions - RC-B6-0166/2009 Daniel Hannan
Report: Janusz Onyszkiewicz - A6-0140/2009 Laima Liucija Andrikienė, David Sumberg
Report: Pál Schmitt - A6-0124/2009 Tomáš Zatloukal, Siiri Oviir and Frank Vanhecke
11. 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.
° ° ° °
Jean-Marie Cavada had informed the Chair that her voting machine had not worked during the vote on Amendment 10 to the report by Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg (A6-0149/2009).
Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou had informed the Chair that her voting machine had not worked during the vote on the report by Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg (A6-0149/2009).
° ° ° °
Francis Wurtz had informed the Chair that he had not taken part in the vote on the motion for a resolution entitled European conscience and totalitarianism (RC-B6-0165/2009)
12. Forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting
Pursuant to Rule 172(2), the minutes of that day's sitting would be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of the next sitting.
With Parliament's agreement, the texts that had been adopted would be forwarded forthwith to the bodies named therein.
13. Dates of forthcoming sittings
The next sittings would be held from 21 April 2009 to 24 April 2009.
14. Adjournment of the session
The session of the European Parliament was adjourned.