The Portuguese authorities had forwarded a request to waive the immunity of José Manuel Fernandes in relation to criminal proceedings initiated against him by the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Department (Departamento de Investigação e Ação Penal - DIAP) of Porto.
Pursuant to Rule 9(1), the request had been referred to the committee responsible, the JURI Committee.
3. Women on boards - Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies (debate)
Question for oral answer (O-000123/2018) by Iratxe García Pérez, Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann, Evelyn Regner and Anna Hedh, on behalf of the S&D Group, to the Council: Women on Boards directive proposal (B8-0002/2019)
Question for oral answer (O-000125/2018) by Heidi Hautala and Terry Reintke, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, to the Council: Proposal for a directive on gender balance among non-executive directors of companies (B8-0003/2019)
Iratxe García Pérez and Heidi Hautala moved the questions.
Melania Gabriela Ciot (President-in-Office of the Council) and Věra Jourová (Member of the Commission) answered the questions.
The following spoke Agnieszka Kozłowska-Rajewicz, on behalf of the PPE Group, Evelyn Regner, on behalf of the S&D Group, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, on behalf of the ECR Group, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Ernest Urtasun, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Stefan Eck, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Margot Parker, Stanisław Żółtek, on behalf of the ENF Group, Dobromir Sośnierz, non-attached Member, Michaela Šojdrová, Jytte Guteland, Czesław Hoc, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Eleonora Forenza, Daniela Aiuto, Seán Kelly, Sergio Gaetano Cofferati and Kostadinka Kuneva.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Caterina Chinnici, Maria Grapini, Notis Marias, Pina Picierno, Gesine Meissner, Julie Ward, Ana Miranda and Maria Gabriela Zoană.
The following spoke Věra Jourová and Melania Gabriela Ciot.
The debate closed.
(The sitting was suspended for a short time)
IN THE CHAIR: Antonio TAJANI President
4. Resumption of the sitting
The sitting resumed at 10.13.
5. Debate with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr Juha Sipilä, on the Future of Europe (debate)
Debate with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr Juha Sipilä, on the Future of Europe (2018/2773(RSP))
The President made a brief statement introducing the debate.
The following spoke: Juha Sipilä (Prime Minister of Finland).
The following spoke: Jean-Claude Juncker (President of the Commission).
The following spoke Manfred Weber, on behalf of the PPE Group, Jeppe Kofod, on behalf of the S&D Group, Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner, on behalf of the ECR Group, Guy Verhofstadt, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Ska Keller, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Neoklis Sylikiotis, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Rosa D'Amato, on behalf of the EFDD Group, Mario Borghezio, on behalf of the ENF Group, and Lampros Fountoulis, non-attached Member.
The following spoke: Juha Sipilä.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Danuta Jazłowiecka, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Notis Marias, Elsi Katainen, Klaus Buchner, Merja Kyllönen, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Salvatore Cicu, Maria Gabriela Zoană, Ruža Tomašić, Nils Torvalds, Heidi Hautala, Henna Virkkunen, José Blanco López, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Maria Grapini, Mirja Vehkaperä, Juan Fernando López Aguilar and Anneli Jäätteenmäki.
The following spoke: Juha Sipilä.
The debate closed.
(The sitting was suspended briefly.)
IN THE CHAIR: Sylvie GUILLAUME Vice-President
6. Resumption of the sitting
The sitting resumed at 12.06.
7. Situation in Venezuela (motions for resolutions tabled)
Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Situation in Venezuela (2019/2543(RSP))
Motions for resolutions to wind up the debate tabled under Rule 123(2):
— Manfred Weber, Esteban González Pons, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Cristian Dan Preda, David McAllister, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Paulo Rangel, Nuno Melo, Gabriel Mato, José Inácio Faria, Francisco José Millán Mon, Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Fernando Ruas, Ivan Štefanec, Eduard Kukan and Tunne Kelam, on behalf of the PPE Group, on the situation in Venezuela (2019/2543(RSP)) (B8-0082/2019);
— Charles Tannock, Jan Zahradil, Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner, Monica Macovei, Hans-Olaf Henkel, Angel Dzhambazki and Ruža Tomašić, on behalf of the ECR Group, on the situation in Venezuela (2019/2543(RSP)) (B8-0083/2019);
— Javier Nart, Petras Auštrevičius, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Enrique Calvet Chambon, Dita Charanzová, Gérard Deprez, María Teresa Giménez Barbat, Ivan Jakovčić, Petr Ježek, Valentinas Mazuronis, Gesine Meissner, Ulrike Müller, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Pavel Telička, Ivo Vajgl and Renate Weber, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the situation in Venezuela (2019/2543(RSP)) (B8-0084/2019);
— Ramón Jáuregui Atondo, Francisco Assis and Elena Valenciano, on behalf of the S&D Group, on the situation in Venezuela (2019/2543(RSP)) (B8-0085/2019);
— João Pimenta Lopes, João Ferreira, Miguel Viegas, Marina Albiol Guzmán, Paloma López Bermejo, Neoklis Sylikiotis, Takis Hadjigeorgiou, Nikolaos Chountis, Eleonora Forenza, Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez and Younous Omarjee, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the situation in Venezuela (2019/2543(RSP)) (B8-0086/2019);
— Molly Scott Cato and Tilly Metz, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the situation in Venezuela (2019/2543(RSP)) (B8-0087/2019).
On behalf of Parliament, the President welcomed members of a delegation from the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Parliament of Kazakhstan - led by Mukhtar Erman - who had taken their seats in the distinguished visitors' gallery.
° ° ° °
The following spoke William (The Earl of) Dartmouth and Ana Miranda.
9. Voting time
Detailed voting results (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. Amendments to Parliament's Rules of Procedure (vote)
Report on amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure affecting Chapters 1 and 4 of Title I; Chapter 3 of Title V; Chapters 4 and 5 of Title VII; Chapter 1 of Title VIII; Title XII; Title XIV and Annex II [2018/2170(REG)] - Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Rapporteur: Richard Corbett (A8-0462/2018)
(Majority of Parliament's component Members required for the text of the regulation, simple majority required for interpretations and the proposal for a decision.) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 1) Secret ballot on Amendment 20 (2nd and 3rd parts) (Rule 180a) The list of Members voting is annexed to these Minutes ( annex 1 and minutes of 31.1.2019 annex 2)
The following spoke, before the vote, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, on behalf of the EFDD Group to request that the report be referred back to committee in accordance with Rule 188(2), and Richard Corbett (rapporteur), against the request.
Parliament rejected the request by electronic vote (228 in favour, 402 against, 15 abstentions).
TEXT OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
Amendments adopted: Results of votes Annex, item 1
The amendments would enter into force on the first day of the next part-session, with the exception of those inserting the second indent of paragraph 3(e) of Article 11 and paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Code of appropriate behaviour for Members of the European Parliament in exercising their duties, and the amendments to Rules 196 and 204, which would enter into force at the opening of the first part-session following the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament, scheduled for 2019.
The following had spoken:
Elmar Brok, who made a personal statement, following the speech by William (The Earl of) Dartmouth (minutes of 31.1.2019, item 8).
9.2. Union Customs Code: inclusion of the municipality of Campione d'Italia and the Italian waters of Lake Lugano in the customs territory of the Union ***I (vote)
Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the Union Customs Code [COM(2018)0259 - C8-0180/2018 - 2018/0123(COD)] - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. Rapporteur: Jasenko Selimovic (A8-0368/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 2)
9.3. Rules on direct payments and support for rural development in respect of the years 2019 and 2020 ***I (vote)
Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 as regards certain rules on direct payments and support for rural development in respect of the years 2019 and 2020 [COM(2018)0817 - C8-0506/2018 - 2018/0414(COD)] - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Czesław Adam Siekierski (A8-0018/2019)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 3)
9.4. Accession of the Dominican Republic to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction * (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and the United Kingdom to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of the Dominican Republic to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction [COM(2018)0526 - C8-0376/2018 - 2018/0276(NLE)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Mary Honeyball (A8-0451/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 4)
9.5. Accession of Ecuador and Ukraine to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction * (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Ecuador and Ukraine to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction [COM(2018)0527 - C8-0375/2018 - 2018/0277(NLE)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Mary Honeyball (A8-0452/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 5)
9.6. Accession of Honduras to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction* (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Honduras to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction [COM(2018)0528 - C8-0377/2018 - 2018/0278(NLE)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Mary Honeyball (A8-0457/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 6)
9.7. Accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction * (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction [COM(2018)0530 - C8-0378/2018 - 2018/0279(NLE)] - Committee on Legal Affairs. Rapporteur: Mary Honeyball (A8-0458/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 7)
9.8. Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the European Union including relations between the EU, Greenland and Denmark * (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council Decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union, including relations between the European Union, on the one hand, and Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark, on the other (‘Overseas Association Decision’) [COM(2018)0461 - C8-0379/2018 - 2018/0244(CNS)] - Committee on Development. Rapporteur: Maurice Ponga (A8-0480/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 8)
9.9. Annual report 2017 on the protection of the European Union’s financial interests- fight against fraud (vote)
Report on the Annual Report 2017 on the protection of the European Union’s financial interests – fight against fraud [2018/2152(INI)] - Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Marian-Jean Marinescu (A8-0003/2019)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 9)
9.10. Implementation and functioning of the .eu top level domain name ***I (vote)
Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation and functioning of the .eu Top Level Domain name and repealing Regulation (EC) No 733/2002 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 874/2004 [COM(2018)0231 - C8-0170/2018 - 2018/0110(COD)] - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Fredrick Federley (A8-0394/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 10)
9.11. Harmonisation of gross national income at market prices (GNI Regulation) ***I (vote)
Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of gross national income at market prices (GNI Regulation) repealing Council Directive 89/130/EEC, Euratom and Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1287/2003 [COM(2017)0329 - C8-0192/2017 - 2017/0134(COD)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Roberto Gualtieri (A8-0009/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 11)
9.12. Objection pursuant to Rule 106: genetically modified oilseed rapes Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 × Rf3(vote)
Motion for a resolution submitted by the ENVI Committee, pursuant to Rule 106(2) and (3),on the draft Commission implementing decision amending Implementing Decision 2013/327/EU as regards the renewal of the authorisation to place on the market feed containing or consisting of genetically modified oilseed rapes Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 × Rf3 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D059688/02 2019/2521(RSP)) (B8-0073/2019) - Members responsible: Bart Staes, Guillaume Balas, Lynn Boylan, Eleonora Evi, Sirpa Pietikäinen and Valentinas Mazuronis
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 12)
Motion for a resolution submitted by the ENVI Committee, pursuant to Rule 106(2) and (3),on the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize 5307 (SYN-Ø53Ø7-1), pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically modified food and feed (D059689/02 2019/2522(RSP)) (B8-0074/2019) - Members responsible: Bart Staes, Guillaume Balas, Lynn Boylan, Eleonora Evi, Sirpa Pietikäinen and Valentinas Mazuronis
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 13)
Motion for a resolution submitted by the ENVI Committee, pursuant to Rule 106(2) and (3), on the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize MON 87403 (MON-874Ø3-1), pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D059691/02 2019/2523(RSP))) (B8-0075/2019) - Members responsible: Bart Staes Guillaume Balas, Lynn Boylan, Eleonora Evi, Sirpa Pietikäinen and Valentinas Mazuronis
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 14)
Motion for a resolution submitted by the ENVI Committee, pursuant to Rule 106(2) and (3),on the draft Commission implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton GHB614 × LLCotton25 × MON 15985 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D059692/02 2019/2524(RSP)) (B8-0076/2019) - Members responsible: Bart Staes Guillaume Balas, Lynn Boylan, Eleonora Evi, Sirpa Pietikäinen and Valentinas Mazuronis
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 15)
— Manfred Weber, Esteban González Pons, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Cristian Dan Preda, David McAllister, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Paulo Rangel, Nuno Melo, Gabriel Mato, José Inácio Faria, Francisco José Millán Mon, Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Fernando Ruas, Ivan Štefanec, Eduard Kukan, Tunne Kelam, Antonio López-Istúriz White and Maria Spyraki, on behalf of the PPE Group;
— Ramón Jáuregui Atondo and Francisco Assis, on behalf of the S&D Group;
— Charles Tannock, Monica Macovei, Ruža Tomašić and Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner, on behalf of the ECR Group;
— Javier Nart, Petras Auštrevičius, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Enrique Calvet Chambon, Dita Charanzová, Gérard Deprez, María Teresa Giménez Barbat, Ivan Jakovčić, Petr Ježek, Louis Michel, Valentinas Mazuronis, Gesine Meissner, Ulrike Müller, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Pavel Telička, Ivo Vajgl and Renate Weber, on behalf of the ALDE Group.
Esteban González Pons submitted an oral amendment adding a new paragraph after paragraph 4. The oral amendment was accepted.
The President made the following statement after the vote:
'It is a pleasure to announce that the European Parliament recognises Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim President of Venezuela.
The European Parliament is the first EU institution to do so. We urge Member States and the High Representative to do the same as soon as possible in order to have a united and strong position.'
IN THE CHAIR: Sylvie GUILLAUME Vice-President
9.17. Annual report on competition policy(vote)
Report on the Annual Report on Competition Policy [2018/2102(INI)] - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Michel Reimon (A8-0474/2018)
(Simple majority) (Voting record: 'Results of votes', Item 17)
Explanations of vote submitted in writing under Rule 183 appear on the Members' pages on Parliament's website.
Oral explanations of vote:
Report: Richard Corbett - A8-0462/2018 Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Bruno Gollnisch, Rory Palmer, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Notis Marias, José Inácio Faria, Seán Kelly, Angel Dzhambazki, Andrejs Mamikins, Daniel Hannan, Dobromir Sośnierz, Stanislav Polčák and John Howarth
Report: Marian-Jean Marinescu - A8-0003/2019 Michaela Šojdrová, Rosa D'Amato, on behalf of the EFDD Group, Notis Marias, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Angel Dzhambazki, Andrejs Mamikins, Daniel Hannan and Stanislav Polčák
Report: Fredrick Federley - A8-0394/2018 Michaela Šojdrová, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Seán Kelly, Andrejs Mamikins, Dobromir Sośnierz and Alex Mayer
Situation in Venezuela (2019/2543(RSP)) - RC-B8-0082/2019 Xabier Benito Ziluaga, Paloma López Bermejo, Maria Spyraki, Marina Albiol Guzmán, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, José Inácio Faria, Dobromir Sośnierz, Georgi Pirinski and Daniel Hannan
Report: Michel Reimon - A8-0474/2018 Notis Marias, Alex Mayer, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Seán Kelly, Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner, Angel Dzhambazki and Stanislav Polčák.
11. Corrections to votes and voting intentions
Corrections to votes and voting intentions appear on the Europarl website under 'Plenary/Votes/Results of Votes (Results of roll-call votes)'.
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.
12. Decisions concerning certain documents
Associated committees (Rule 54)
(Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 11 December 2018)
LIBE Committee
- Preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online (COM(2018)0640 - C8-0405/2018 - 2018/0331(COD)) (opinion: ITRE, IMCO, CULT (Rule 54))
Referral to committees (Rule 53)
JURI Committee
- General arrangements for excise duty (recast) (COM(2018)0346 - C8-0381/2018 - 2018/0176(CNS)) referred to committee responsible: ECON opinion: ITRE, IMCO, JURI (Rule 104)
Reports containing motions for non-legislative resolutions (consent procedure) (Rule 99(2))
(Following notification of the Conference of Committee Chairs of 11 December 2018)
INTA Committee
- Conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (2018/0356M(NLE) - 2018/0356(NLE)) opinion: DEVE
- Conclusion of the Investment Protection Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, of the other part (2018/0358M(NLE) - 2018/0358(NLE)) opinion: DEVE
13. Documents received
The following documents had been submitted by Members (Rule 133)
- Philippe Loiseau. Motion for a resolution on producing reliable statistics on suicide rates by socio-professional category (B8-0592/2018)
referred to
responsible :
ENVI
opinion :
EMPL
- Nicola Caputo. Motion for a resolution on the new action plan against fake news (B8-0593/2018)
referred to
responsible :
CULT
opinion :
LIBE
- Ivan Jakovčić and Jozo Radoš. Motion for a resolution on giving a new impetus to the process of decentralisation in the Member States (B8-0594/2018)
referred to
responsible :
REGI
- Lorenzo Cesa, Salvatore Cicu, Alberto Cirio, Lara Comi, Andrea Cozzolino, Paolo De Castro, Raffaele Fitto, Elisabetta Gardini, Enrico Gasbarra, Giovanni La Via, Innocenzo Leontini, Barbara Matera, Stefano Maullu, Luigi Morgano, Alessandra Mussolini, Aldo Patriciello, Massimiliano Salini and Remo Sernagiotto. Motion for a resolution on establishing a European Mediterranean Diet Day (B8-0595/2018)
referred to
responsible :
ENVI
- Mireille D'Ornano. Motion for a resolution on reinvesting people smugglers’ earnings in humanitarian aid and the development of migrants’ countries of origin (B8-0596/2018)
referred to
responsible :
LIBE
opinion :
DEVE
- Dominique Bilde. Motion for a resolution on the creation of a Kosovo army (B8-0597/2018)
referred to
responsible :
AFET
14. Approval of minutes and forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting
Pursuant to Rule 192(3), the minutes of the current sitting and of the previous day's sitting would be submitted for Parliament's approval at the start of the subsequent sitting.
With Parliament's agreement, the texts that had been adopted would be forwarded forthwith to the bodies named therein.
15. Dates of forthcoming sittings
The next sittings would be held from 11 February 2019 to 14 February 2019.
16. Closure of the sitting
The sitting closed at 13.28.
17. Adjournment of the session
The session of the European Parliament was adjourned.