29.11.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 290/1

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MINUTES

(2006/C 290 E/01)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITTING

IN THE CHAIR: Josep BORRELL FONTELLES

President

1.   Resumption of session

The sitting opened at 17.05.

2.   Approval of Minutes of previous sitting

Romano Maria La Russa and Giovanni Rivera had informed the Presidency that they had been present but that their names were not on the attendance register.

The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

3.   Documents received

The following documents had been received:

1)

from committees 1.1) reports — Report on the human rights and democracy clause in European Union agreements (2005/2057(INI)) — Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Agnoletto Vittorio (A6-0004/2006) — * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation correcting Regulation (EC) No 1786/2003 on the common organisation of the market in dried fodder (COM(2005)0572 — C6-0410/2005 — 2005/0225(CNS)) — Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Daul Joseph (A6-0008/2006) — Report on State aid reform 2005-2009 (COM(2005)0107 — 2005/2165(INI)) — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Hökmark Gunnar (A6-0009/2006) — * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3181/78 and Council Regulation (EEC) No 1736/79 in the area of monetary policy (COM(2005)0611 — C6-0010/2006 — 2005/0233(CNS)) — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Berès Pervenche (A6-0010/2006) — *** Recommendation on the proposal for a Council decision on the accession of the Community to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 55 on uniform provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles (11233/2005 — C6-0317/2005 — 2005/0002(AVC)) — Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Barón Crespo Enrique (A6-0011/2006) — *** Recommendation on the proposal for a Council decision amending Decisions 2001/507/EC and 2001/509/EC with a view to making UN/ECE Regulations 109 and 108 on retreaded tyres compulsory (09916/2005 — C6-0315/2005 — 2004/0271(AVC)) — Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Barón Crespo Enrique (A6-0012/2006) — Report on risk and crisis management in the agricultural sector (COM(2005)0074 — 2005/2053(INI)) — Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Graefe zu Baringdorf Friedrich-Wilhelm (A6-0014/2006) — Report on the implementation of a European Union forestry strategy (COM(2005)0084 — 2005/2054(INI)) — Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Kindermann Heinz (A6-0015/2006) — Report on the review of certain access restrictions in the Common Fisheries Policy (Shetland Box and Plaice Box) (COM(2005)0422 — 2005/2190(INI)) — Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Stihler Catherine (A6-0016/2006) — * Report on the proposal for a Council directive laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production (COM(2005)0221 — C6-0190/2005 — 2005/0099(CNS)) — Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: Berman Thijs (A6-0017/2006) — * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation concerning the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Solomon Islands on fishing off Solomon Islands (COM(2005)0404 — C6-0320/2005 — 2005/0168(CNS)) — Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Fraga Estévez Carmen (A6-0018/2006) — Report with recommendations to the Commission on heating and cooling from renewable sources of energy (2005/2122(INI)) — Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Rothe Mechtild (A6-0020/2006) — Report on the effects of globalisation on the internal market (2004/2225(INI)) — Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. Rapporteur: Herczog Edit (A6-0021/2006) — Report on the strategic review of the International Monetary Fund (2005/2121(INI)) — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Hamon Benoît (A6-0022/2006) — * Report on the proposal for a Council decision on Community strategic guidelines for Rural Development (Programming period 2007-2013) (COM(2005)0304 — C6-0349/2005 — 2005/0129(CNS)) — Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Rapporteur: McGuinness Mairead (A6-0023/2006) 1.2) recommendations for second reading — ***II Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community Air Traffic Controller Licence (10724/2/2005 — C6-0399/2005 — 2004/0146(COD)) — Committee on Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: De Veyrac Christine (A6-0007/2006)

2)

from Members 2.1) oral questions for Question Time (Rule 109) (B6-0002/2006) — Papadimoulis Dimitrios, Corbett Richard, Landsbergis Vytautas, De Rossa Proinsias, Andrikienė Laima Liucija, Posselt Bernd, Mitchell Gay, Sakalas Aloyzas, Karas Othmar, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou Marie, Paleckis Justas Vincas, Brejc Mihael, Matsouka Maria, Lynne Elizabeth, Rack Reinhard, Schierhuber Agnes, Moraes Claude, Crowley Brian, Rübig Paul, Pirker Hubert, Ryan Eoin, Ó Neachtain Seán, Czarnecki Ryszard, Guerreiro Pedro, Doyle Avril, Svensson Eva-Britt, Caspary Daniel, Belohorská Irena, Casaca Paulo, Hennicot-Schoepges Erna, Batzeli Katerina, Manolakou Diamanto, Schwab Andreas, Evans Robert, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou Rodi, Paleckis Justas Vincas, Ó Neachtain Seán, Riera Madurell Teresa, Goudin Hélène, Corbett Richard, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou Marie, Starkevičiūtė Margarita, Kristensen Henrik Dam, Kuźmiuk Zbigniew Krzysztof, Kinnock Glenys, Gklavakis Ioannis, Salinas García María Isabel, Papadimoulis Dimitrios, McGuinness Mairead, Papastamkos Georgios, Coveney Simon, Rutowicz Leopold Józef, Miguélez Ramos Rosa, Ebner Michl, Staes Bart, Harkin Marian, Martin David, Doyle Avril, Mölzer Andreas, Posselt Bernd, Vanhecke Frank, Garriga Polledo Salvador, Herranz García María Esther, Gutiérrez-Cortines Cristina, Badia I Cutchet Maria, Carnero González Carlos, del Castillo Vera Pilar, Matsis Yiannakis, Masip Hidalgo Antonio, Purvis John, Moraes Claude, Vidal-Quadras Roca Alejo, Deß Albert, Mitchell Gay, Toussas Georgios, Gahler Michael, Karatzaferis Georgios, Belohorská Irena, Beglitis Panagiotis, Hennicot-Schoepges Erna, Lulling Astrid, Van Hecke Johan, Newton Dunn Bill, Maat Albert Jan, De Rossa Proinsias, Szejna Andrzej Jan, Manolakou Diamanto, Reul Herbert, Andrikienė Laima Liucija, Guerreiro Pedro, Crowley Brian, Aylward Liam, Ryan Eoin, Jensen Anne E., Czarnecki Ryszard, van Nistelrooij Lambert, Montoro Romero Cristobal 2.2) motions for resolutions (Rule 113) — Gentvilas Eugenijus — Motion for a resolution on the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster (B6-0085/2006) referred to responsible: ENVI   opinion: AFET, ITRE — Muscardini Cristiana — Motion for a resolution on the directive on services in the internal market (B6-0092/2006) referred to responsible: IMCO   opinion: ECON, TRAN — Berlato Sergio, Muscardini Cristiana — Motion for a resolution on the Biomass Action Plan (B6-0093/2006) referred to responsible: ITRE   opinion: AGRI, ENVI — Muscardini Cristiana — Motion for a resolution on EU energy policy (B6-0094/2006) referred to responsible: ITRE   opinion: ENVI 2.3) written declarations for entry in the Register (Rule 116) — Filip Kaczmarek, on religious freedom in China (0008/2006) — Mario Borghezio, on threats to the freedom of expression of European newspapers following publication of the cartoons satirising Mohammed and Islam (0009/2006) — Frank Vanhecke, Philip Claeys and Koenraad Dillen, on the reactions in the Islamic world to the cartoons published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten (0010/2006).

3)

from Parliament's Delegation to the Conciliation Committee — ***III Report on the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from physical agents (artificial optical radiation) (19th individual directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (03668/2005 — C6-0001/2006 — 1992/0449B(COD)) — Parliament's delegation to the Conciliation Committee. Rapporteur: Őry Csaba (A6-0026/2006)

4.   Written declarations (Rule 116)

In accordance with Rule 116(5), written declarations 59, 60, 61, 62, 63/2005 lapsed as they had not obtained the required number of signatures.

5.   Action taken on Parliament's positions and resolutions

The Commission communication on the action taken on the positions and resolutions adopted by Parliament during the December 2005 part-session had been distributed.

6.   Petitions

The following petitions, which had been entered in the register on the dates shown below, had been forwarded to the committee responsible pursuant to Rule 191(5):

31.01.2006

Hedi Feibel (1/2006)

Ferdo Colak (2/2006)

Lutz Krajinski and Gottfried Preising (Velo-Pilgertour-Team) (3/2006)

Ursula Winter and Hans-Jürgen Mielenz (4/2006)

Irmgard Ghodss (5/2006)

Gerhard Bühler (6/2006)

Rüdiger Vosloh (7/2006)

Angelika Samuels (8/2006)

Corinna Gram (9/2006)

Patrick Culhane (Cappagh Farmers Support Group) (10/2006)

Vaclav Sroub (11/2006)

David McKee (12/2006)

David Hernandez (13/2006)

Timothy Harrington (14/2006)

Arum Rattan (15/2006)

Sinéad Quinn (16/2006)

Anston Park Junior School (with 30 signatures) (17/2006)

Darryl Williams (18/2006)

Rafael Cañada Núñez (Asociación ciudadana ‘Autopista No’) (19/2006)

Parque y Jardín de la Plaza José-María Orense y colindantes, de Valencia, Asociación de Vecinos (20/2006)

Juan Ignacio Valero Gómez (21/2006)

Matti Niemelä (Dynamic Therapy Center Oy) (22/2006)

Luigina De Santis (Fédération Européenne des Retraités and Personnes Agées) (with 400 000 signatures) (23/2006)

Jacques Suchet (24/2006)

Teresa Jakubowska (Parti anticlerical RACJA) (25/2006)

Rita Pirrotte (26/2006)

Angelo Morini (Movimento federalista europeo) (with 97 signatures) (27/2006)

Comunità Montana Bassa Valle di Susa e Val Cenischia (28/2006)

Giovanna Cavalieri (29/2006)

Maria Gabriella Gavioli (30/2006)

Giampiero Angeli (with 21 signatures) (31/2006)

Carmine D'Imperio (32/2006)

Giuseppe Borriello (33/2006)

Constant Verbraeken (34/2006)

Loohuis (Gemeente Haaksbergen) (35/2006)

T. van der Ven (36/2006)

Rolf Edman (Träkumla Rom AB) (37/2006)

Wojciech Pomorski (38/2006)

Thaleia Kokka (39/2006)

Georgios Foutsitzis (40/2006)

Emmanouil Nikolaidis (41/2006)

Konstantinos Antzas (42/2006)

Christian Schulz (43/2006)

Konstantinos Lympouridis (44/2006)

7.   Texts of agreements forwarded by the Council

The Council had forwarded a certified true copy of the following:

—	Agreement between the European Community and Ukraine on certain aspects of air services.

8.   Signature of acts adopted under codecision

The President announced that, on Wednesday, he and the President of the Council would sign the following acts adopted under the codecision procedure pursuant to Rule 68:

—	Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community (Codified version) (3649/2/2005 — C6-0049/2006 — 2003/0333(COD))

—	Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Management of bathing water quality and repealing Directive 76/160/EEC (3659/6/2005 — C6-0050/2006 — 2002/0254(COD))

—	Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on further European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education (3666/1/2005 — C6-0044/2006 — 2004/0239(COD))

—	Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing accompanying measures for sugar protocol countries affected by the reform of the EU sugar regime (3673/1/2005 — C6-0043/2006 — 2005/0117(COD))

—	Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the International Safety Management Code within the Community and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 3051/95 (3601/2006 — C6-0048/2006 — 2003/0291(COD)).

9.   Order of business

The next item was the order of business.

The final draft agenda for the February part-session (PE 368.298/PDOJ) had been distributed. The following changes had been proposed under Rule 132:

Sittings of 13.02.2006 to 16.02.2006

Monday

—	no changes

Tuesday

—	no changes

Wednesday

The ALDE Group had submitted three requests after the deadline laid down in Rule 132(1). However, having established that there were no objections, the President decided to put the requests to the House:

—	request from the ALDE Group for more than one speaker per group to be allowed to speak during the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the right to freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs (Item 55 on the final draft agenda)

—	request from the ALDE Group for the debate to be wound up with motions for resolutions

—	request from the ALDE Group for the Council and Commission statements on the outlook for Bosnia-Herzegovina (Item 30 on the final draft agenda) to be held over until a later part-session.

The following spoke: Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, on behalf of the ALDE Group, who moved the requests.

The following spoke on the requests: Daniel Cohn-Bendit, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, who called for a block vote on the three requests, Martin Schulz, on behalf of the PSE Group, Hans-Gert Poettering, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who was not in favour of a block vote, and Daniel Cohn-Bendit.

Vote on the ALDE Group's first request:

Parliament rejected the request.

Vote on the ALDE Group's second request:

Parliament approved the request by electronic vote (108 in favour, 72 against, 15 abstentions).

Hannes Swoboda, speaking on behalf of the PSE Group, asked that the vote on the motions for resolutions be included on the agenda for the following part-session.

The following spoke on the request: Monica Frassoni, Johannes Voggenhuber, Hans-Gert Poettering, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Martin Schulz, Bernd Posselt and Johannes Voggenhuber.

Parliament rejected Hannes Swoboda's request by electronic vote (99 in favour, 113 against, 9 abstentions). The vote would thus be taken during that part-session.

Deadlines for tabling amendments and motions for resolutions:

—	motions for resolution: Tuesday, 14.02.2006, 10.00

—	joint motions for resolutions and amendments: Wednesday, 15.02.2006, 10.00.

Vote: Thursday 16.02.2006.

Vote on the ALDE Group's third request:

The following spoke: José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, who took the view that the request should not be put to the vote. The President agreed.

Thursday

—	no changes

The order of business was thus established.

10.   One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Pursuant to Rule 144, the following Members who wished to draw the attention of Parliament to matters of political importance spoke for one minute:

Nirj Deva, Magda Kósáné Kovács, Antolín Sánchez Presedo, Gisela Kallenbach, Jean-Claude Martinez, Mojca Drčar Murko, Pedro Guerreiro, Catherine Trautmann, Georgios Karatzaferis, Józef Pinior, Tunne Kelam, Jan Tadeusz Masiel, Stavros Lambrinidis, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Pasqualina Napoletano, Urszula Krupa, Marc Tarabella, Sarah Ludford, Zita Pleštinská, Alexander Lambsdorff, Marie-Noëlle Lienemann, Nikolaos Sifunakis, Eugenijus Gentvilas, Gerard Batten, Henri Weber, Maria Badia I Cutchet, Bruno Gollnisch, Véronique De Keyser, Evangelia Tzampazi, Marios Matsakis, Eluned Morgan, Georgios Toussas, James Hugh Allister, Danutė Budreikaitė, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, Dariusz Rosati, Bogusław Rogalski and Jeffrey Titford.

11.   Protection of chickens kept for meat production * (debate)

Report on the proposal for a Council directive laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production [COM(2005)0221 — C6-0190/2005 — 2005/0099(CNS)] — Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

Rapporteur: Thijs Berman (A6-0017/2006)

Markos Kyprianou (Member of the Commission) spoke.

IN THE CHAIR: Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN

Vice-President

Thijs Berman introduced the report.

The following spoke: Åsa Westlund (draftsman of the opinion of the ENVI Committee), Esther Herranz García, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Marc Tarabella, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jan Mulder, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Kartika Tamara Liotard, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Jeffrey Titford, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Janusz Wojciechowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, Jean-Claude Martinez, Non-attached Member, Elisabeth Jeggle, María Isabel Salinas García, Carl Schlyter, Albert Jan Maat and Csaba Sándor Tabajdi.

IN THE CHAIR: Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT

Vice-President

The following spoke: Mojca Drčar Murko, James Nicholson, David Martin, Ioannis Gklavakis, Karin Scheele, Neil Parish, Ambroise Guellec and Markos Kyprianou.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 14.02.2006, Item 7.9.

12.   State aid reform (debate)

Report on State aid reform 2005-2009 [2005/2165(INI)] — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.

Rapporteur: Gunnar Hökmark (A6-0009/2006)

Gunnar Hökmark introduced the report.

Neelie Kroes (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Miloš Koterec (draftsman of the opinion of the REGI Committee), José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Gilles Savary, on behalf of the PSE Group, Sophia in 't Veld, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Elisabeth Schroedter, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Diamanto Manolakou, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Graham Booth, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, James Hugh Allister, Non-attached Member, Karsten Friedrich Hoppenstedt, Ieke van den Burg, Helmuth Markov, Zsolt László Becsey and Katerina Batzeli.

IN THE CHAIR: Pierre MOSCOVICI

Vice-President

The following spoke: David Casa, Antolín Sánchez Presedo, Ján Hudacký, Giovanni Pittella, Corien Wortmann-Kool, Riitta Myller, Rolf Berend, Paolo Cirino Pomicino and Neelie Kroes.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 14.02.2006, Item 7.10.

13.   Globalisation and the internal market (debate)

Report on the effects of globalisation on the internal market [2004/2225(INI)] — Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

Rapporteur: Edit Herczog (A6-0021/2006)

Edit Herczog introduced the report.

Charlie McCreevy (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Helmuth Markov (draftsman of the opinion of the INTA Committee), Zuzana Roithová, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Danutė Budreikaitė, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Godfrey Bloom, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Konrad Szymański, on behalf of the UEN Group, Andreas Mölzer, Non-attached Member, Othmar Karas, Zita Pleštinská and Charlie McCreevy.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 14.02.2006, Item 7.11.

14.   Solvit (debate)

Oral question (O-0087/2005/rev) by Arlene McCarthy, on behalf of the IMCO Committee, to the Commission: Solvit (B6-0001/2006)

Arlene McCarthy (author) moved the oral question.

IN THE CHAIR: Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS

Vice-President

Charlie McCreevy (Member of the Commission) answered the oral question.

The following spoke: Malcolm Harbour, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Edit Herczog, on behalf of the PSE Group, Diana Wallis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Godfrey Bloom, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Adam Jerzy Bielan, on behalf of the UEN Group, Danutė Budreikaitė and Charlie McCreevy.

The debate closed.

15.   Confiscation of automobiles by the Greek authorities (debate)

Report on the confiscation of automobiles by the Greek authorities [2005/2005(INI)] — Committee on Petitions.

Rapporteur: Michael Cashman (A6-0394/2005)

Michael Cashman introduced the report.

László Kovács (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Maria Matsouka, on behalf of the PSE Group, David Hammerstein Mintz, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Alessandro Battilocchio, Non-attached Member, László Kovács, Michael Cashman, who made some clarifications in respect of his report, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and László Kovács.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 14.02.2006, Item 7.7.

16.   Exposure of workers to artificial optical radiation ***III (debate)

Report on the joint text approved by the conciliation committee for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from physical agents (artificial optical radiation) (19th individual directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) [PE-CONS 3668/2005 — C6-0001/2006 — 1992/0449B(COD)] — Parliament's delegation to the Conciliation Committee.

Rapporteur: Csaba Őry (A6-0026/2006)

Csaba Őry introduced the report.

Vladimír Špidla (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Thomas Mann, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Stephen Hughes, on behalf of the PSE Group, Elizabeth Lynne, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Sepp Kusstatscher, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Jiří Maštálka, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Anja Weisgerber, Karin Jöns, Marian Harkin, Harald Ettl, Marios Matsakis and Vladimír Špidla.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 14.02.2006, Item 7.8.

17.   Agenda for next sitting

The agenda for the next sitting had been established (‘Agenda’ PE 368.298/OJMA).

18.   Closure of sitting

The sitting closed at 22.25.

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