52006SC0350

[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 22.3.2006

SEC(2006) 350 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

ANNUAL REPORT 2005 ON THE RELATIONS WITH THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

ANNUAL REPORT 2005 ON THE RELATIONS WITH THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

“Eager to increase the degree of participation in the dialogue on Europe and in discussion and public debate, but also to improve the quality of exchanges of information, thoughts and points of view on these issues”[1], the European Commission turned its attention in 2005 to the principles of its relations with the national parliaments. On 9 February 2005, Ms Wallström notified the College of ten concrete targets for the coming year (see below) and of more general targets of relations with citizens and their elected representatives that determine its action in this area.

This annual report gives concrete expression to one of these targets. It is short and factual and refers to a series of documents and minutes drafted by the Secretariat-General.

2005 was characterised by the periods before and after the referenda. While, in defining a “national parliaments approach”, the Commission sought to implement the principles of governance, until the referenda were held it was expecting the Constitution to enter into force without delay. Since then, as everyone knows, the Constitution is in abeyance and the Union has entered a period of reflection.

Nevertheless, relations with the national parliaments are still developing strongly.

The Commission cannot remain indifferent to the representation of the national assemblies of 21 Member States in Brussels. It cannot ignore the extension of the paradigms of prior parliamentary examination since enlargement; nor can it afford not to exchange views with the national parliaments during the period of reflection.

The Commission wishes to ensure that this new national parliaments approach fully respects the institutional balance. The Commission is not calling into question the relations of the institutional triangle. When it comes to the parliamentary representation of the European Union, the European Parliament is its prime discussion partner. Likewise, for the representation of the Member States, the Commission first talks to the Council.

Another key aspect of its approach to the national parliaments is respect for the constitutional diversity of the Member States. Indeed, is it not one of its concrete targets to prevent European practices and procedures from being considered to short-circuit national parliaments? The European Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties of the Union, cannot be indifferent to respect for the basic rules of each Member State.

This activity report looks back over the achievement of pragmatic and modest objectives; it should also make it possible to carry out some fine-tuning, to adapt the road map or even to set new objectives for 2006 under two headings: the need to pursue the dialogue during the period of reflection, but also the establishment of an internal monitoring mechanism for subsidiarity.

2. OBJECTIVES SET FOR 2005

On 9 February 2005, Ms Wallström put forward her objectives, in ten points, for relations with the national parliaments (NPs) for the coming year.

1. Visits to national parliaments, participation in the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments and in the work of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC)

2. Drafting of an annual report

3. Accessibility of Commissioners and officials to requests for assistance from the committees of national parliaments in their investigations

4. Greater attentiveness to the national parliaments as regards the provision of information and the method of cooperation in order to prevent the Commission from being perceived as seeking to short-circuit the national parliaments and citizens

5. Drafting of a newsletter

6. Maintenance of close contacts between the private office of the Vice-President and the services and the network of liaison officers in the national parliaments

7. Commission’s role of facilitator in the IPEX (Interparliamentary EU information exchange) network[2]

8. Role of facilitator for the implementation of the guidelines on cooperation between the national parliaments as defined by the Conference of Speakers in The Hague in July 2004

9. Information meetings for the permanent representatives of the national parliaments on specific issues

10. The Secretariat-General of the Commission will appoint a service or person as a contact for the coordination of requests from the administrations of the national parliaments.

3. ACHIEVEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

3.1. Visits to national parliaments

Ms Wallström has decided to visit all the national parliaments in this term of office: in 2005 she visited the Danish and Swedish parliaments, the Spanish Congress, and the Parliaments of Ireland, the Netherlands, Latvia (Saeimas), Germany and Belgium.

Ms Wallström also took part in the meetings of the heads of delegations of COSAC in Luxembourg on 9 February 2005 and London on 18 July 2005 (see also under point 4, pilot project).

Finally, she took part in the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments in Budapest on 6 May 2005.

It should also be noted that the Commissioners made more than 60 visits to national parliaments this year.

3.2. Drafting of an annual report

This annual report attains the objective concerned.

3.3. Accessibility of Commissioners and officials to requests from the parliamentary committees of national parliaments

The Commissioners responded positively to the requests submitted by national assemblies, especially their parliamentary committees, since almost 100 contacts or visits to national parliaments were recorded.

Commission officials took part in various types of meeting at the request of the national parliaments: parliamentary committees of national parliaments (nine), permanent representatives of the national parliaments (14) and one meeting of COSAC.

On 9 December 2004 the College also asked each Directorate-General to appoint one official with specific responsibility for keeping track of NP files and responding openly to requests from the NP.

3.4. Greater attentiveness to the NP in the performance of their institutional responsibilities

Contacts were maintained throughout the year with the permanent representatives of the NP and the liaison officers. Two main concerns should be stressed:

The importance for the NP, and especially for those that practice prior parliamentary examination, of having access to Commission documents in good time and in all the languages. This is generally true for all Commission documents, but it is considered to be particularly important for planning documents: Annual Policy Strategy and Legislative and Work Programme. Given the constraints under which its translation services operate, the Commission was able to satisfy these requests to only a limited degree. The introduction of the protocols on nationals parliaments and subsidiarity attached to the Constitution would have been particularly difficult from this point of view.

As far as the planning of the Commission’s work is concerned, the liaison officers asked for systematic access to the Commission’s agendas (schedule of meetings and items on the agenda). This request was satisfied on a pragmatic basis.

3.5. Drafting of a newsletter

Three newsletters were drafted and disseminated internally and to the EP and the NPs on 28 February, 12 May and 4 October 2005 (see annexes).

3.6. Liaison officers

On 18 April 2005, Ms Wallström took part in the annual meeting of liaison officers of the national parliaments of the Member States and the European Parliament in Brussels.

All the national assemblies were informed by letter of 24 May 2005 that Mr Godts (Secretariat General of the Commission) had been appointed liaison officer with responsibility for relations with the national parliaments.

3.7. IPEX

Ms Wallström responded positively, on behalf of the Commission, to the request for cooperation made on 21 January 2005 by Mr Forsberg, the General Secretary of the RIKSDAG, as regards cooperation with IPEX.

The Commission’s Institutional Relations Group had previously examined this request and concluded that active involvement of the Commission’s services in the technical work of IPEX could be envisaged, with a view to eventual electronic transmission of the documents referred to in the protocols attached to the Constitution.

The Commission’s services took part in four technical-level IPEX meetings and assisted in the test mailing of documents.

3.8. Conference of the Speakers of the EU parliaments

Ms Wallström took part in the Conference of Speakers of EU parliaments on 6 May 2005.

As regards the application of the guidelines on interparliamentary cooperation as defined in The Hague in July 2004, please refer in particular to the points concerning COSAC and IPEX.

3.9. Permanent representatives

The Commission took part in 14 meetings of the permanent representatives of the national parliaments in Brussels (see annexes). It should also be noted that the Commission took part in three meetings organised in 2004.

3.10. Contact person

As mentioned above, Mr Godts was appointed liaison officer for the national parliaments.

4. SUBSIDIARITY PILOT PROJECT

On 23 November 2004 in The Hague, COSAC decided to launch a pilot project for the examination of subsidiarity foreseen by the protocol on subsidiarity annexed to the Constitution. COSAC wished this examination to concern the “third railway package”. The arrangements for this experiment were finalised on 9 February 2005 in Luxembourg.

In its concern not to anticipate the Constitution, the Commission did not wish to send its proposals directly to the national assemblies. However, it showed its desire for good cooperation by forwarding these texts to the Secretariat of COSAC.

5. PARTICIPATION IN THE MEETINGS ORGANISED BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The Commission responded favourably to the many requests for participation in the meetings with the national parliaments organised by the EP at Parliamentary-committee level and on an ad hoc basis.

Mention may be made of the following cases of participation, among others:

- the participation of President Barroso and Vice-President Verheugen in the meeting on the Lisbon strategy on 16 and 17 March 2005;

- the participation of Ms Grybauskaitė in the meeting on the future multi-annual financial framework of the EU on 4 and 5 April 2005;

- the participation of Mr Almunia in the meeting on the broad European economic policy guidelines on 25 April 2005;

Mention should also be made of the regular meetings held by the LIBE Committee with the NPs, which were attended by Vice-President Frattini.

6. OBJECTIVES FOR 2006

For 2006, the objectives and targets set in February 2005 are maintained, and those that have not been fully achieved will be further explored (visits, establishing requirements for types of information and ways of co-operation, electronic exchange of information, systematic political participation at COSAC meetings), particularly taking into account the Commission’s specific obligations during the period of reflection.

Special attention will be given to the good interinstitutional co-operation already manifested in 2005, in particular, with the Commission’s main interlocutor: the European Parliament.

The Commission will, in close co-operation with the European Parliament and the national parliaments, explore ways for ensuring proper information on the Annual Policy Strategy, as well as the Annual Work and Legislative Programme. Furthermore, it stands open to receive input from the national parliaments to initiatives at the pre-legislative stage, based on the provisions of the current Treaties.

The Commission will broaden its efforts and enhance its internal co-ordination in the area of visits to (and from) the national parliaments and interparliamentary meetings, and to visualising the progress in this area.

The Commission will explore the possibilities for its Representations to participate more actively as a local interlocutor for the national parliaments.

Annexes

RÉUNIONS COSAC (2005)

Date | Sujet |

09.02.2005 | Échange de vues avec Mme Wallström, Vice-présidente de la Commission sur les objectifs stratégiques de la Commission et le programme de travail 2005 |

17-18.05.2005 | Questions d’actualité / échange de vues avec M. JUNCKER, Président en exercice du Conseil Projet pilote – contrôle du respect du principe de la subsidiarité – troisième paquet ferroviaire Stratégie de Lisbonne Contrôle du budget de l’Union européenne - renforcement de la coopération entre les Parlements Liberté, sécurité et justice – rôle des Parlements nationaux |

18.07.2005 | Secrétariat de la COSAC Statut d’invité spécial Aspects parlementaires de l’avenir du Traité Constitutionnel Echange de vues avec Mme WALLSTRÖM sur le contrôle de subsidiarité et la possibilité d’un second projet pilote Méthodes de contrôle du programme de travail annuel de la Commission Calendrier |

10-11.10.2005 | SECRÉTARIAT DE LA COSAC Statut d’invité spécial ASPECTS PARLEMENTAIRES DE L’AVENIR DU TRAITÉ CONSTITUTIONNEL Scrutiny et PESC Better regulation : impact assesment/ échange de vues avec M. MOAVERO MILANESI Secrétaire général adjoint de la Commission européenne Débats d’actualité |

RÉUNIONS AVEC LES REPRÉSENTANTS PERMANENTS des PN (2005)

Date | Sujet |

17.01.2005 | Les représentants permanents des Parlements nationaux ont été informés par M. GODTS (SG) sur la Nouvelle approche de la Commission à l’égard des PN |

31.01.2005 | Les représentants permanents ont eu un échange de vues avec M. SLEATH (SG) sur le programme stratégique de la Commission et le programme de travail 2005. L’accent a été mis sur l’organisation du contrôle de subsidiarité. Ils ont souhaité être informés des projets de la Commission en JLS. |

14.02.2005 | The permanent representatives of the National Parliaments were briefed by M. HERVAS SORIANO (SG) on the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy. |

28.02.2005 | Les représentants permanents ont été informés par Mme MONTAGNON (DG BUDG) sur les perspectives financières. L’élaboration d’une stratégie de coopération entre PE et PN a été mise en question. |

21.03.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Mr PHILIPPART (SG) on the application of subsidiarity principle by the Commission. They exchanged information about the state of play in the subsidiarity test concerning the third railway package which was being carried in almost all National Parliaments. |

18.04.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Mr FELKE (DG ECFIN) on the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP). They exchanged their views on the role of the National Parliaments which had been strengthened in this regard by the recent ECOFIN decisions. |

25.04.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Mr GODTS (SG) on the Commission’s reaction to the request made by the chair of the IPEX Steering Group. They have divergent views on the subject whether unique transmission of documents by the Commission to the IPEX database could be accepted. |

13.06.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Ms ADAMO (DG JLS) on the Hague Programme and the Action Plan for Freedom, Justice and Security. Permanent representatives asked questions concerning added value of the Constitution in the field and possible effects of abandonment of the text on the programme and the plan. |

20.06.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Ms DE LA TORRE (DG RTD) on proposals for the 7th Research Framework Programme 2007-2013. They asked questions concerning mainly the future of the 7th RFP in the light of lack of agreement on the Financial Perspectives. |

11.07.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Mr KOPPELBERG (DG PRESS) on the Commission plans for the communication strategy to be launched in the autumn. They presented their own ideas which could improve the Commission communication with the citizens. |

12.09.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Mr WIEDOW (DG TAXUD) on the Commission proposal on passenger car related taxes. Some of them expressed their concerns of higher costs which could be induced by the proposal, especially for owners of the older cars. |

17.10.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Mr SANTIAGO DOS SANTOS (DG ENTR) on the recent Commission initiative for better regulation. They showed great interest in the subject. Some of them were particularly interested in the idea of an access to a Commission database with impact assessments linked to roadmaps, which could serve as an early warning system for parliamentary scrutiny. |

07.11.2005 | The permanent representatives were briefed by Mr FAROSS (DG TREN) on the Commission’s revised proposal on public transport services and state of play in the co-decision procedure of the file. They were interested in the situation and plans for further debate in the Council, relation with the third railway package and the importance of the Altmark case for the file. |

05.12.2005 | Les représentants permanents ont échangé leurs vues à propos de la méthode ouverte de coordination en Education et Formation ainsi que sur le programme Jeunesse. Des questions sont été soulevées concernant le respect du principe de subsidiarité. |

LIAISON OFFICERS

18.04.2005 | Annual Meeting of the Liaison Officers of the National Parliaments of the EU Member States and the European Parliament. Vice-President WALLSTRÖM presented the new Commission’s approach to the National Parliaments. (NPs). It focused on active networking and continuous and open dialogue. Vice-President WALLSTRÖM listed a series of goals/actions already kicked off by the Commission. She answered the questions concerning i.a. the subsidiarity check after the possible entry into force of the Constitutional Treaty and the scenarios in case of non-ratification. |

NEWSLETTERS

Date | Sommaire |

04.03.2005 | Introduction de Mme Margot WALLSTRÖM, Vice-présidente de la Commission européenne Interviews de M. Pierre MOSCOVICI, Vice-président du PE en charge des relations avec les Parlements nationaux M. Pierre LEQUILLER, président de la délégation de l’Assemblée nationale française pour l’Union européenne Ms Inese KRISKANE, représentante permanente de la Saeima (LV) Ms Sarita KAUKAOJA, représentante permanente de l’Eduskunta (FI) M. Morten KNUDSEN, fonctionnaire permanent au secrétariat de la COSAC M. Bo Manderup JENSEN, directeur responsable des relations avec les parlements nationaux au Parlement européen |

13.05.2005 | Introduction de M. VERHEUGEN, Vice-président de la Commission européenne Contributions de M. Herman DE CROO, Président de la Chambre des représentants (BE) M. László SINKA, représentant permanent (interview de la Présidente de l’Assemblée nationale) (HU) M. Martyn ATKINS, représentant permanent de la House of Commons (UK) M. Kevin LEYDON, représentant permanent de la Oireachtas (IE) M. Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT, Vice-président du Parlement européen, responsable des relations avec les parlements nationaux |

05.10.2005 | Interviews de M. Hubert HAENEL, président de la délégation du Sénat français pour l’Union européenne Mr Wlodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ, outgoing Marshal of the Sejm (PL) Ms Heike MALICEK, représentante permanente du parlement autrichien (AT) Mr. Andrew DUFF, member of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |

VISITES DE COMMISSAIRES DANS LES PARLEMENTS NATIONAUX

NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS – COMMISSIONERS’ VISITS

Commissioner | Date | Place |

President Barroso | 18.04.2005 | Intervention devant le parlement hellénique (EL) |

30.06.2005 | « The EU Constitution – the Big Picture », National Forum on Europe, Plenary Session, Dublin (IE) |

Vice-President Wallström | 17.01.2005 | Visit by Folketing’s EU Affairs Committee (DK) |

20.01.2005 | Address at Riksdag seminar, Stockholm (SE) |

24.01.2005 | Visit by Riksdag’s Speaker (SE) |

09.02.2005 | Address at COSAC Chairpersons meeting in Luxembourg |

10.02.2005 | Congress and Senate (ES) |

02.03.2005 | Visit by Hungarian Speaker (HU) |

10.03.2005 | Allocution devant la commission des Affaires européennes du Parlement (IE) |

21.04.2005 | Meeting with the Members of the European Affairs Committees of the Eerste and Tweede Kamers of the Parliament (NL) |

06.05.2005 | Conférence des Présidents Budapest (HU) |

18.07.2005 | COSAC Chairpersons – London (UK) |

21.10.2005 | Rencontre avec le Comité des Affaires Européennes du Saeimas (LV) |

30.11.2005 - 01.12.2005 | Rencontres avec le président et la vice-présidente du Bundestag, Norbert Lammert et Katrin Goring-Eckardt, et divers membres du Parlement. Réunion avec des membres du Comité européen du Bundesrat (DE) |

20.12.2005 | Participation à une réunion commune du Comité d’avis fédéral chargé de questions européennes et des commissions des Relations extérieures (Chambre et Sénat) (BE) |

Vice-President Verheugen | 26.01.2005 | Meeting with the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament |

02.02.2005 | Meeting with a delegation of the SPD faction (federal parliament, DE) |

16.02.2005 | Ausschussitzung des Europa-ausschusses des deutschen Bundestages in Berlin (DE) |

29.03.2005 | Meeting with the young members of the group of CSU (federal parliament and regional parliament) |

04.07.2005 | Meeting with Selected Committee House of Lords (better regulation) (UK) |

26.09.2005 | Meeting with the heads of CDU faction (federal parliament and regional parliaments (DE) |

28.11.2005 | Meeting with the members of Assemblée Nationale (FR) |

07.12.2005 | Meeting with the young members of the FDP faction |

Vice-président Barrot | 03.02.2005 | Audition par la délégation pour l’UE du Sénat français sur les services portuaires (FR) |

08.09.2005 | Réunion avec la commission des Transports du parlement suédois (SV) |

16.11.2005 | Participation à une conférence sur la politique européenne des transports à la délégation pour l'Union Européenne de l'Assemblée Nationale (FR) |

28.11.2005 | Rencontre avec Catherine Colonna, Ministre déléguée aux Affaires Européennes, et une délégation de parlementaires (Assemblée Nationale et Sénat) (FR) |

Vice-President Kallas | 15.09.2005 | et Mme GRYBAUSKAITĖ recoivent une délégation de la commission des Finances du Parlement danois (DK) |

28.10.2005 | Rencontre les commissions des Affaires européennes et des Affaires étrangères du Parlement (EE) |

Vice-President Frattini | 14-15.02.2005 | Bundestag – Représentants de la Commission des Affaires européennes, des représentants de la commission juridique et de la commission de l’intérieur (DE) |

23.03.2005 | Rencontre avec la Délégation pour l’Union européenne de l’Assemblée nationale et les parlementaires chargés des questions de justice, liberté et sécurité au Sénat (FR) |

04.04.2005 | Meeting with the House of Lords and the House of Commons EU Committees (UK) |

19.04.2005 | Intervention sur la lutte contre l’immigration illégale et le contrôle aux frontières à la Chambre des Députés (IT) |

21.07.2005 | Meeting with the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the Maltese Parliament (MT) |

19.09.2005 | Intervention á la réunion de l'assemblée parlementaire euro-méditerranéenne du Sénat italien (IT) |

16.11.2005 | Participation à l'audition de la commission des Affaires étrangères de la Chambre des députés 'Initative de l'UE en matière de lutte contre le terrorisme' (IT) |

24.11.2005 | Meeting with the Chairmen of Home Affairs Committees of the EU's national parliaments (UK) |

Commissioner Reding | 10.03.2005 | Visit to the Bundestag in the framework of Media and Culture. Discours à la commission des medias et de la culture (DE) |

03.06.2005 | Discours sur i2010 au Sénat belge (BE) |

07.12.2005 | Lithuania : Presentation of the Commission’s Legislative and Work Programme 2006 at the Seimas (LT) |

Commissioner Dimas | 17.01.2005 | Brussels: Meeting with the EU committee of the Danish Parliament (DK) |

27.05.2005 | Parliamentary Speech on Environment (EL) |

21.11.2005 | Speech and participation at the conference of chairman of environmental committees of national parliament organised by the House of Lord and House of Commons (UK) |

Commissioner Almunia | 04.02.2005 | Meeting with Mr Arturas Paulauskas, President of the Saeimas, and with members of the parliamentary commissions for Economic and European affairs (LT) |

05.04.2005 | Audition devant les commissions des Affaires étrangères et des Finances de l’Assemblée Nationale (FR) |

29.04.2005 | Rencontre avec les membres de la commission des Affaires économiques et monétaires de l’Assemblée Nationale (SI) |

19.05.2005 | Meeting with the Chairman and Members of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives (CY) |

06.10.2005 | Audition devant les commissions des Affaires européennes et économiques du Parlement (EL) |

08.12.2005 | Rencontre avec le président de la Chambre des Députés, Lubomir Zaoralek, et les membres du comité budgétaire de la Chambre des Députés (CZ) |

Commissioner Hübner | 25.11.2004 | The Grand Committee of Eduskunta (FI) |

17.01.2005 | Meeting with Members of the Bundestag (Brussels) |

25.01.2005 | Meeting with two Parliamentary Committees: Budget and European Affairs, Camera dei Deputati (IT) |

26.01.2005 | Meeting with Members of the Polish Sejm (Brussels) |

17-18.02.2005 | Mr Arturas Paulauskas, Chairman of the Lithuanian Seimas (LT) |

04.03.2005 | Meeting with the Presidium of the European Union Committee of the Polish Sejm (PL) |

07.03.2005 | Meeting with Members of the Polish Sejm (PL) |

27.06.2005 | Meeting with the Speaker of the Polish Sejm (PL) |

29.11.2005 | Rencontre des parlementaires des pays de VISEGRAD |

Commissioner Borg | 21-23.04.2005 | Rencontre avec des représentants des commissions parlementaires (PL) |

07.10.2005 | reçoit une délégation de la commission Agriculture, Nature et Qualité alimentaire de la Chambre des Représentants (NL) |

Commissioner Grybauskaitė | 11.01.2005 | Meeting with M. Arturas PAULAUSKAS, Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament |

29.03.2005 | Meeting with Members of Committee on European Affairs of LTU Parliament (LT) |

15.09.2005 | et Mr KALLAS reçoivent une délégation de la commission des Finances du Parlement danois (DK) |

11.10.2005 | Meeting with M. Arturas PAULAUSKAS, Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament |

22.11.2005 | reçoit une délégation du Parlement (LT) |

Commissioner Potočnik | 01.02.2005 | National Assembly (SI) |

07.02.2005 | Participation au débat sur la stratégie de Lisbonne à l'Assemblée nationale (SI) |

27.05.2005 | Meeting with the Danish Parliament’s EU Committee (DK) |

02.06.2005 | participation á la réunion de la commission parlementaire « Recherche » Bundestag (DE) |

14.12.2005 | Participation à la réunion des commissions des Affaires étrangères et des Affaires européennes de l'Assemblée nationale sur le programme législatif 2006 (SI) |

Commissioner Figel | 31.05.2005 | Brussels: Meeting with the Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, M. Bela BUGAR (SK) |

02.06.2005 | Brussels: Meeting with the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, M. Pavol HRUSOVSKY (SK) |

23.06.2005 | Rome: Joint hearing of the Committees for Education and Culture of the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives (IT) |

01.12.2005 | Prague: Meeting with the President of the Senate, M. Premysl SOBOTKA (CZ) |

Commissioner Kyprianou | 02.02.2005 | Meeting in Brussels with delegation of liberal members of the Bundestag (DE) |

05.04.2005 | Meeting in Brussels with a delegation of Members of the Bundestag Committee for Health and Social Security (DE) Meeting in Brussels with the rapporteur of the French Assemblée Nationale for the Consumer Credit Directive (FR) |

04.10.2005 | Visit to the Cypriot Parliament for a general appraisal of the EU policies and politics |

01.12.2005 | Visit to the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen, Health Committee, to deliver a speech on food safety, pandemic preparedness and the platform on diet, physical activity and health (DK) |

Commissioner Rehn | 17.12.2004 | Meeting with the Speaker of the Finish Parliament, Paavo Lipponen, in Brussels |

04.02.2005 | Meeting with the Grand Committee in the Finish Parliament (FI) |

18.08.2005 | Meeting with the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Paavo LIPPONEN (FI) |

17-18.10.2005 | Participation à la réunion conjointe des Commissions des Affaires étrangères de la Chambre des Députés et du Sénat (IT) |

21.10.2005 | Meeting with the Grand Committee in the Finnish Parliament (FI) |

18.11.2005 | Meeting with the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Paavo LIPPONEN (FI) |

06.12.2005 | Discours à la commission des Affaires étrangères de l'Assemblée nationale (FR) |

Commissioner Michel | 07.12.2004 | Participation à la Conférence « Coopération au développement » suivie par un débat public au Sénat (BE) |

24.02.2005 | International Development Committee, House of Commons (UK) |

25.02.2005 | Comité des Affaires Etrangères, Chambre des députés (CZ) |

02-03.03.2005 | Rencontre avec le président de la commission des Affaires étrangères à l’Assemblée nationale, Edouard Balladur (FR) |

13.04.2005 | Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development, Bundestag (DE) |

22.04.2005 | Commissions Développement et Affaires étrangères du Parlement (HU) |

06.05.2005 | Comité des Affaires Etrangères, Chambre des Députés (PL) |

09.05.2005 | Représentants des Comités des Affaires Etrangères et des Affaires européennes de la Chambre des Députés (EE) |

19.05.2005 | Commission des Affaires Etrangères de la Chambre des Députés et du Sénat (IT) |

09.06.2005 | Meeting with the members of three Parliament’s Committees : Foreign Committee, EU Affaires Committee and Financial Committee (SK) |

10.06.2005 | Sous-commission en charge de la politique de développement du Parlement (AT) |

28.11.2005 | House of Commons International Development Committee and the Chairman of the house of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Policy (UK) |

Commissioner Kovacs | 05.04.2005 | Meeting in Brussels with the Tax Section of the Finance Committee of the Finnish Parliament (FI) |

19.05.2005 | French National Assembly: Closing speech of M. Kovacs at the conference on savings taxation (FR) |

24.05.2005 | Swedish Parliament- Meeting with MPs from the Advisory Committee on EU Affairs and the Committee on taxation (SV) |

19.12.2005 | Rencontre avec les membres de la commission des Affaires européennes du Parlement hongrois (HU) |

Commissioner Kroes | 24.11.2005 | Audition devant le Parlement (IT) |

02.12.2005 | Appearance before the Danish Parliament (DK) |

08.12.2005 | Joint session of Economic and European Affairs Committees (NL) |

Commissioner Fischer Boel | 20.01.2005 | Bundestag - Agriculture and European Union joined committee (DE) |

18.03.2005 | Rencontre avec la présidente du Comité européen du Folketing, Elisabeth Arnold (DK) |

04.04.2005 | Participation et conférence de presse à la Conférence ´Politique agricole et alimentaire allemande et européenne´, organisée par le Groupe DP du Bundestag (Münster, DE) |

29.06.2005 | discours « Cadre financier et PAC » à l’Assemblée nationale (FR) |

06.10.2005 | Meeting with the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of The House of Representatives of States-General (NL) |

04.11.2005 | Rencontres avec des commissions parlementaires (DK) |

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner | 18.01.2005 | House of Commons « Foreign Affairs Committee » (UK) |

18.03.2005 | Rencontre avec le président du Parlement, Arturas Paulauskas (LT) |

13.03.2005 | Conférence au Parlement « Les relations extérieures de l’UE » (AT) |

06.06.2005 | UK House of Lords (Bruxelles) |

31.10.2005 | House of Commons, Conference of Foreign Affairs Committee (UK) |

06.12.2005 | M. Rupert Polenz, Chairman of the Committe of Foreign Affairs, Parliament (DE) |

08.12.2005 | M. Pierre Lequillier, Président de la Délégation pour l’UE, Assemblée Nationale (FR) |

Commissioner McCreevy | 05.10.2005 | Rencontres avec le Ministre de l’Industrie et du Commerce, Thomas Ostros, et avec des membres de la Commission Commerce et Industrie du Parlement et du National Board of Trade (SE) |

Commissioner Špidla | 04.07.2005 | Meeting with House of Lords (Select Committee on the European Union on Economic migration to the EU) (UK) |

14.11.2005 | Participation et discours "Les périodes transitoires de la circulation libre des travailleurs" à la Conférence internationale au Parlement (CZ) |

Commissioner Mandelson | 07.02.2005 | International Development Committee of House of Commons (UK) |

13.10.2005 | European Scrutiny Committee (UK) |

Commissioner Piebalgs | 03.02.2005 | Public hearing on research in nuclear waste in the French Parliament (FR) |

09.05.2005 | Speech in front of the Latvian Parliament (LV) |

[1] “European governance, preparatory work for the White Paper”, p. 7, June 2001.

[2] The IPEX network was set up by a decision of the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments in Rome in September 2000.