13.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 301/1

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MINUTES

(2007/C 301 E/01)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITTING

IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING

President

1.   Resumption of session

The sitting opened at 17.00.

2.   Approval of Minutes of previous sitting

The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

The following spoke: Martin Schulz, Chairman of the PSE Group, in connection with the ceremony that had taken place in the Chamber early that afternoon as part of the third ‘European Day of Commemoration for the Victims of Terrorism’, which, he thought, had not been the subject of enough publicity aimed at Members, a number of whom — himself included — had not been informed of the event (the President replied that the way in which the event had been organised would be looked into with a view to increasing its profile next year).

*

* *

Marian Harkin had informed the Chair that she had been present at the sittings of 02.12.2004, 09.05.2005 and 01.12.2005, but that her name was missing from the attendance register.

3.   Statement by the President

On the occasion of the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Madrid, the President made a statement in which he paid tribute to the victims of terrorism and condemned acts of terrorism perpetrated throughout the world.

Parliament observed a minute's silence in memory of the victims of terrorism.

4.   Documents received

The following documents had been received:

1)

from committees: 1.1) reports: — * Report on the proposal for a Council decision on authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Community, the 2006 Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention of the International Labour Organisation (COM(2006)0288 — C6-0241/2006 — 2006/0103(CNS)) — EMPL Committee. Rapporteur: Mary Lou McDonald (A6-0019/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of 15 July 2002 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency (COM(2005)0579 — C6-0403/2005 — 2005/0228(COD)) — TRAN Committee. Rapporteur: Jörg Leichtfried (A6-0023/2007) — Report containing the European Parliament's recommendation to the Council on the negotiating mandate for an association agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Andean Community and its member countries, of the other part (2006/2221(INI)) — AFET Committee. Rapporteur: Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García (A6-0025/2007) — Report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the negotiating mandate for an association agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the countries of Central America, of the other part (2006/2222(INI)) — AFET Committee. Rapporteur: Willy Meyer Pleite (A6-0026/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 92/49/EEC and Directives 2002/83/EC, 2004/39/EC, 2005/68/EC and 2006/48/EC as regards procedural rules and evaluation criteria for the prudential assessment of acquisitions and increase of shareholdings in the financial sector (COM(2006)0507 — C6-0298/2006 — 2006/0166(COD)) — ECON Committee. Rapporteur: Wolf Klinz (A6-0027/2007) — Report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on Bosnia Herzegovina (2006/2290(INI)) — AFET Committee. Rapporteur: Doris Pack (A6-0030/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on advanced therapy medicinal products and amending Directive 2001/83/EC and Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 (COM(2005)0567 — C6-0401/2005 — 2005/0227(COD)) — ENVI Committee. Rapporteur: Miroslav Mikolášik (A6-0031/2007) — Report on Biotechnology: Prospects and Challenges for Agriculture in Europe (2006/2059(INI)) — AGRI Committee. Rapporteur: Kyösti Virrankoski (A6-0032/2007) — Report on a roadmap for equality between women and men (2006-2010) (2006/2132(INI)) — FEMM Committee. Rapporteur: Amalia Sartori (A6-0033/2007) — Report on compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Commission's legislative proposals: methodology for systematic and rigorous monitoring (2005/2169(INI)) — LIBE Committee. Rapporteur: Johannes Voggenhuber (A6-0034/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks (COM(2005)0125 — C6-0440/2005 — 2005/0028(COD)) — ENVI Committee. Rapporteur: Horst Schnellhardt (A6-0035/2007) — Report on the future of professional football in Europe (2006/2130(INI)) — CULT Committee. Rapporteur: Ivo Belet (A6-0036/2007) — * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1883/78 laying down general rules for the financing of interventions by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guarantee Section (COM(2007)0012 — C6-0057/2007 — 2007/0005(CNS)) — AGRI Committee. Rapporteur: Neil Parish (A6-0038/2007) — Report on local authorities and development cooperation (2006/2235(INI)) — DEVE Committee. Rapporteur: Pierre Schapira (A6-0039/2007) — * Report on the proposal for a Council decision granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans for projects outside the Community (Central and Eastern Europe, Mediterranean countries, Latin America and Asia and the Republic of South Africa) (codified version) (COM(2006)0419 — C6-0302/2006 — 2006/0139(CNS)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0040/2007) — * Report on the proposal for a Council directive laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs (codified version) (COM(2006)0669 — C6-0430/2006 — 2006/0224(CNS)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0041/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer (Codified version) (COM(2006)0657 — C6-0381/2006 — 2006/0220(COD)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0042/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (codified version) (COM(2006)0543 — C6-0315/2006 — 2006/0170(COD)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0043/2007) — Report on the islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of the regional policy (2006/2106(INI)) — REGI Committee. Rapporteur: Francesco Musotto (A6-0044/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators for two- or three-wheel motor vehicles (codified version) (COM(2006)0556 — C6-0323/2006 — 2006/0175(COD)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0045/2007) — ***I Report on the amended proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on injunctions for the protection of consumers' interests (codified version) (COM(2006)0692 — C6-0429/2006 — 2003/0099(COD)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0046/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the steering equipment of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (codified version) (COM(2006)0670 — C6-0404/2006 — 2006/0225(COD)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0047/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the maximum design speed of and load platforms for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (codified version) (COM(2006)0667 — C6-0385/2006 — 2006/0219(COD)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0048/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain parts and characteristics of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (codified version) (COM(2006)0662 — C6-0380/2006 — 2006/0221(COD)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0049/2007) — ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the field of vision and windscreen wipers for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (codified version) (COM(2006)0651 — C6-0377/2006 — 2006/0216(COD)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Diana Wallis (A6-0050/2007) — * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation derogating from Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 as regards drinking milk produced in Estonia (COM(2007)0048 — C6-0076/2007 — 2007/0021(CNS)) — AGRI Committee. Rapporteur: Neil Parish (A6-0051/2007) — Report on the Commission recommendation of 18 October 2005 on collective cross-border management of copyright and related rights for legitimate online music services (2005/737/EC). (2006/2008(INI)) — JURI Committee. Rapporteur: Katalin Lévai (A6-0053/2007) — Report on a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Natural resources (2006/2210(INI)) — ENVI Committee. Rapporteur: Kartika Tamara Liotard (A6-0054/2007) — * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 2040/2000 on budgetary discipline (COM(2006)0448 — C6-0277/2006 — 2006/0151(CNS)) — BUDG Committee. Rapporteur: Janusz Lewandowski (A6-0056/2007) — Report on social services of general interest in the European Union (2006/2134(INI)) — EMPL Committee. Rapporteur: Joel Hasse Ferreira (A6-0057/2007)

2)

from Members: 2.1) oral questions for Question Time (Rule 109) (B6-0012/2007): — to the Council: Andrikienė Laima Liucija, Moraes Claude, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou Marie, Ludford Sarah, Willmott Glenis, Posselt Bernd, Karim Sajjad, Ryan Eoin, Papadimoulis Dimitrios, Henin Jacky, Beglitis Panagiotis, Matsis Yiannakis, Vanhecke Frank, Leichtfried Jörg, Bushill-Matthews Philip, Westlund Åsa, Medina Ortega Manuel, Evans Robert, Budreikaitė Danutė, Doyle Avril, Ó Neachtain Seán, Hutchinson Alain, Mitchell Gay, Coveney Simon, Lundgren Nils, Isler Béguin Marie Anne, Newton Dunn Bill, Ford Glyn, Karatzaferis Georgios, Adamou Adamos, Cashman Michael, Belet Ivo, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou Rodi, Pafilis Athanasios, Van Hecke Johan, Czarnecki Ryszard, Toussas Georgios, Rutowicz Leopold Józef, Guerreiro Pedro, Manolakou Diamanto, Samaras Antonis, Aylward Liam, Crowley Brian — to the Commission: Moraes Claude, Aylward Liam, Samaras Antonis, Tarabella Marc, Posselt Bernd, Papadimoulis Dimitrios, Evans Robert, Mitchell Gay, Van Hecke Johan, Paleckis Justas Vincas, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou Rodi, Andrikienė Laima Liucija, Budreikaitė Danutė, Riera Madurell Teresa, Ludford Sarah, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou Marie, Willmott Glenis, Papastamkos Georgios, Coveney Simon, van Nistelrooij Lambert, Manolakou Diamanto, Mavrommatis Manolis, Lynne Elizabeth, Segelström Inger, Henin Jacky, Matsis Yiannakis, Leichtfried Jörg, Bushill-Matthews Philip, Westlund Åsa, Hasse Ferreira Joel, Medina Ortega Manuel, Hutchinson Alain, Lundgren Nils, Romeva i Rueda Raül, Newton Dunn Bill, Badia i Cutchet Maria, Holm Jens, Ford Glyn, Figueiredo Ilda, Martin David, Karatzaferis Georgios, Ortuondo Larrea Josu, Belet Ivo, Ebner Michl, Gaľa Milan, Hatzidakis Konstantinos, Dimitrov Konstantin, Podkański Zdzisław Zbigniew, Czarnecki Ryszard, Rutowicz Leopold Józef, Szejna Andrzej Jan, Březina Jan, Crowley Brian, Ó Neachtain Seán, Ryan Eoin, Toussas Georgios, Guerreiro Pedro

5.   Written declarations (Rule 116)

In accordance with Rule 116(5), written declarations 80, 81, 82, 83, 84/2006 lapsed as they had not obtained the required number of signatures.

6.   Oral questions and written declarations (tabling)

The following documents had been received from Members:

1)

oral questions (Rule 108): — (O-0002/2007) Enrique Barón Crespo, on behalf of the INTA Committee, to the Commission: Commission Green Paper and public consultation on a possible reform of EU trade policy instruments (B6-0009/2007) — (O-0125/2006) Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Council: Further convergence in supervisory practices at EU level (B6-0010/2007) — (O-0001/2007) Karl-Heinz Florenz, on behalf of the ENVI Committee, to the Commission: Community action on the provision of cross-border health care (B6-0013/2007) — (O-0004/2007) Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Commission: One share, one vote (B6-0014/2007) — (O-0013/2007) Marcin Libicki, on behalf of the PETI Committee, to the Commission: Illegal bird hunting in Malta (B6-0015/2007) — (O-0014/2007) Giuseppe Gargani, on behalf of the JURI Committee, to the Commission: Proportionality between ownership and control in EU listed companies (B6-0016/2007)

2)

written declarations for entry in the Register (Rule 116): — Alyn Smith, Karin Resetarits, Luisa Morgantini, Marie-Arlette Carlotti and Anna Záborská, on conflict diamonds and the Kimberley Process (0021/2007) — Pierre Schapira, Kader Arif, Johan Van Hecke, Luisa Morgantini and Caroline Lucas, on the Novartis trial against the Indian Government (0022/2007) — Mojca Drčar Murko, Jelko Kacin, Sepp Kusstatscher, Karin Resetarits and Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, on the arson attack on a Slovene crèche in Trieste as an attack on the Slovene minority in Italy (0023/2007) — Elizabeth Lynne, Angelika Beer, Véronique De Keyser and Mihael Brejc, on the banning of cluster munitions (0024/2007) — Andreas Mölzer, on the recruitment of non-European workers (0025/2007) — Andreas Mölzer, on the ratification of the European Constitution (0026/2007) — Aldo Patriciello, on Huntington's disease (0027/2007) — Marco Cappato, Gérard Onesta, Riccardo Ventre, Józef Pinior and Marco Pannella, on the European referendum (0028/2007) — Caroline Lucas, Mojca Drčar Murko, Karin Scheele, Satu Hassi and Jens Holm, on introducing a prohibition on the sale of incandescent light bulbs in the European Union (0029/2007)

7.   Texts of agreements forwarded by the Council

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

—	Fisheries partnership agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde.

8.   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):

01.03.2007

(name confidential) (No 1/2007)

Ingrid Schramm-Knoch (No 2/2007)

Roland Ruppert (No 3/2007)

Rudolf Bähr (No 4/2007)

Verena de Vries (No 5/2007)

Thomas Lambert (No 6/2007)

Jürgen Rahf (OY RAHF CONSULT AG) (No 7/2007)

Campbell McPherson (No 8/2007)

Kieran Buckley (The Former Irish Sugar Workers, Mallow) (No 9/2007)

Ewaen Fred Ogieriakhi (No 10/2007)

Butler (No 11/2007)

Silvio Debono (No 12/2007)

Wheeler (No 13/2007)

Kristan Tone (ZDRUŽENJE ŽRTEV OKUPATORJ 1941-1945 KRANJ) (No 14/2007)

Manuel Hernández Barrios (No 15/2007)

Sofía Vílchez López (Asociación de Vecinos Copropietarios Finca ‘El Aljibe’) (No 16/2007)

Manuel Gómez Costa (Asociación de Vecinos ‘San Miguel Arcángel’ de San Miguel de Salinas) (No 17/2007)

Isabel Fernández Sánchez (Amigos de las Cañadas (Proyecto 2000)) (No 18/2007)

Ramiro Pinto Cañón (No 19/2007)

Jean-Pierre Peltier (No 20/2007)

Frans Schuursma (No 22/2007)

Gérard Casanova (Collectif Anti Incinération de Port Saint Louis du Rhône) (+ 53 signatures) (No 23/2007)

(name confidential) (No 24/2007)

Elpidio Mancinelli (No 25/2007)

Monica Sepp (Comitato Cittadino ‘Campagna Nostra’) (+ 3 signatures) (No 26/2007)

Andrea Pianeta (No 27/2007)

Zbigniew Tryczyński (No 28/2007)

Marek Czarnecki (+ 11 signatures) (No 29/2007)

Carlos Alberto Rodrigues (No 30/2007)

Rui Marques Ramos (Comissão de Utentes da Linha de Sintra) (+ 15 signatures) (No 31/2007)

Marcel C. Nicolescu (No 32/2007)

Vlasta Dykasova (No 33/2007)

Marco Dulgerow (No 34/2007)

Christian Waloszek (No 35/2007)

Manfred Pecha (No 36/2007)

(name confidential) (No 37/2007)

Bernd Martens-Parrée (No 38/2007)

Anatoliy Byelashov (No 39/2007)

Georg Lang (No 40/2007)

Karl-Hermann Krog (No 41/2007)

Jens Borowski (Fachschaft Geschichte der Universität Dortmund) (+ 2 signatures) (No 42/2007)

Eckhard Wannewitz (No 43/2007)

(name confidential) (No 44/2007)

Grzegorz Szczupaczynski (No 45/2007)

Janusz Rekowski (No 46/2007)

Wieslaw Zaborek (No 47/2007)

Katarzyna Kaczmarek (No 48/2007)

Michal Burdrey (No 49/2007)

Ernst Dertmann (Pax Christi Bistumsstelle Münster) (No 50/2007)

Marco Kühn (No 51/2007)

Miquel Valls I Maseda (Cambra Oficial de Comerç, Industria i Navegació de Barcelona) (No 52/2007)

Michail Galanakis (No 53/2007)

Jones (No 54/2007)

Lynda Pasquire (No 55/2007)

Jesús Pons Vidal (Associació per a la protecció mediambiental de l'Atzubia — GELIBRE) (No 56/2007)

(name confidential) (No 57/2007)

Rosa Álvarez Álvarez (El Tranqueru Asociación de vecinos de Xivares) (+7 800 signatures) (No 58/2007)

Olegario Álvarez Suárez (Asociación de Vecinos ‘San Felix’) (No 59/2007)

René Maillot (No 60/2007)

Vincenzo Scaduti (No 61/2007)

Michele Bertucco (Associazione Legambiente Verona) (+ 4 signatures) (No 62/2007)

Maria das Dores Barrocas Fortunato (No 63/2007)

Carlos de Carvalho Vidal (No 64/2007)

Gunter Rösch (+ 71 signatures) (No 65/2007)

Jan Sammer (Czech Coordination Office, ING) (No 66/2007)

Ioan Robu (Arhiepiscopia Romano-Cattolica Bucuresti) (+8 656 signatures) (No 67/2007)

08.03.2007

Peter Kostelka (ÖAFV-Verband der Österreichischen Arbeiter-Fischerei-Vereine) (+ 4 signatures) (No 68/2007)

Maria Laura Asprino (No 69/2007)

la Asociación de Vecinos de Hondón de las Nieves (No 70/2007)

David Raya Fernández (No 71/2007)

(name confidential) (+ 4 signatures) (No 72/2007)

Manuel Carbonell Moreno (FEDE. APA. El Zahorí) (No 73/2007)

Oscar Manuel Torremocha Meléndez (No 74/2007)

Pedro de Gea Lozano (Asociación de Comerciantes de Artículos Pirotécnicos de Alicante) (No 75/2007)

(name confidential) (No 76/2007)

André Bamberski (+ 14 signatures) (No 77/2007)

Μαυρούδης Βορίδη (No 78/2007)

Θεόφιλος Τρουλλινός (Dimotiki Kinisi Iraklio Anthropini Poli) (+ 2 signatures) (No 79/2007)

Iωάννης Ιορδανίδης (No 80/2007)

Barbara Fischer (No 81/2007)

Christopher Sansom (No 82/2007)

Ulrich Reppenhagen (No 83/2007)

Hannes Ruokokoski (No 84/2007)

Andrzej Szczesniak (No 85/2007)

Stefano Spinetti (AIGAE-Associazione Italiana Guide Ambientali Escursionistiche) (No 86/2007)

Σπυρίδων Αρβανίτης (No 87/2007)

Νικόλας Χριστοδούλου (No 88/2007)

Periclis Dionyssopoulos (No 89/2007)

9.   Transfers of appropriations

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 01/2007 (C6-0037/2007 — SEC(2007)0026).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation of 25 June 2002.

10.   Action taken on Parliament's positions and resolutions

The Commission communication on the action taken on the positions and resolutions adopted by Parliament at the November I and II part-sessions in 2006 had been distributed.

11.   Membership of Parliament

Camiel Eurlings had given notice that he had been appointed to the Government of the Netherlands.

As this office was incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament under Article 7(1) of the Act concerning the election of representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, Parliament had established the vacancy with effect from 22.02.2007.

In the meantime, the Netherlands authorities had given notice of the appointment of Johannes (Joop) Post to replace Camiel Eurlings as a Member of the European Parliament with effect from 01.03.2007.

Under Rule 3(2) of the Rules of Procedure, until such time as his credentials had been verified or a ruling had been given on any dispute, and provided that he had previously signed a declaration stating that he did not hold any office incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament, Johannes Post would take his seat in Parliament and enjoy all the rights attaching thereto.

12.   Membership of committees and delegations

The President had received the following requests for appointments from the PPE-DE and PSE Groups:

—	AFET Committee: Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos to replace Georgios Papastamkos

—	Subcommittee on Security and Defence: Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos to replace Georgios Papastamkos

—	JURI Committee: Othmar Karas to replace Charlotte Cederschiöld

—	Delegation for relations with Belarus: Aloyzas Sakalas was no longer a member.

—	Delegation for relations with Mercosur: Poul Nyrup Rasmussen to replace Achille Occhetto

—	Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly: Achille Occhetto to replace Nicola Zingaretti

The appointments would be deemed ratified if there were no objections before the approval of these Minutes.

13.   Membership of political groups

Dumitru Gheorghe Mircea Coşea had joined the ITS Group with effect from 12.03.2007.

14.   Signature of acts adopted under codecision

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

—	Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (Inspire) (3685/12/2006 — C6-0087/2007 — 2004/0175(COD))

15.   Order of business

The next item was the order of business.

The final draft agenda for the March I and II sittings had been distributed, and a number of changes had been proposed (Rule 132):

Sittings of 12.03.2007 to 15.03.2007

Monday

—	Request from the PSE Group for the debate on the oral question on Community action on the provision of cross-border healthcare (O-0001/2007 — B6-0013/2007) (Item 81 on the final draft agenda) not to be wound up with motions for resolution.

The following spoke: Robert Goebbels, on behalf of the PSE Group, who moved the request, Evelyne Gebhardt and John Bowis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group.

Parliament rejected the request by electronic vote (61 in favour, 135 against, 6 abstentions).

Tuesday

—	Request from the PSE Group for the report by Kyösti Virrankoski entitled ‘Biotechnology; prospects and challenges for agriculture in Europe’ (A6-0032/2007) (Item 13 on the final draft agenda) to be referred back to committee.

The following spoke: Marc Tarabella, on behalf of the PSE Group, who moved the request, and Kyösti Virrankoski, rapporteur.

The House agreed to the request.

—	Request from the PPE-DE Group for the debate on the oral question on illegal bird hunting in Malta (O-0013/2007 — B6-0015/2007) (Item 94 on the final draft agenda) not to be wound up with motions for resolution.

The following spoke: Simon Busuttil, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who moved the request, David Casa and Monica Frassoni, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group.

Parliament rejected the request by electronic vote (89 in favour, 129 against, 5 abstentions).

Wednesday

—

Request from the Presidency-in-Office of the Council for the Council and Commission statements on the Berlin Declaration (Item 35 on the final draft agenda) to be taken after the debate on the European Council report and the Commission statement on the European Council meeting (8-9 March 2007) (Item 36 on the final draft agenda).

The following spoke: Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group.

The House rejected the request.

Thursday

Debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 115):

—	Request from the PPE-DE Group for the item on Nigeria (Item 88 on the final draft agenda) to be replaced by an item on the imprisonment of feminist activists in Iran.

The following spoke: Michael Gahler, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who moved the request, and Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group.

Parliament rejected the request by electronic vote (87 in favour, 105 against, 4 abstentions).

Sittings of 28.03.2007 and 29.03.2007

No requests for changes.

The order of business was thus established.

16.   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:

Manolis Mavrommatis, Gary Titley, Pál Schmitt, Claude Turmes, Margarita Starkevičiūtė, Eoin Ryan, Gay Mitchell, Magda Kósáné Kovács, Kinga Gál, Willy Meyer Pleite, Viorica-Pompilia-Georgeta Moisuc, Teresa Riera Madurell, Péter Olajos, Libor Rouček, Ioannis Gklavakis, Gerard Batten, Jim Allister and Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski.

IN THE CHAIR: Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU

Vice-President

17.   Social services of general interest (debate)

Report on social services of general interest in the European Union (2006/2134(INI)) — Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.

Rapporteur: Joel Hasse Ferreira (A6-0057/2007)

Joel Hasse Ferreira introduced the report.

Vladimír Špidla (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Bernhard Rapkay (draftsman of the opinion of the ECON Committee), Roberto Musacchio (draftsman of the opinion of the ENVI Committee), Luisa Fernanda Rudi Ubeda (draftsman of the opinion of the IMCO Committee), Gabriele Stauner (draftsman of the opinion of the JURI Committee), Edit Bauer (draftsman of the opinion of the FEMM Committee), Iles Braghetto, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Jan Andersson, on behalf of the PSE Group, and Sophia in 't Veld, on behalf of the ALDE Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Manuel António dos SANTOS

Vice-President

The following spoke: Jean Lambert, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, José Albino Silva Peneda, Anne Van Lancker, Danutė Budreikaitė, Elisabeth Schroedter, Jean Louis Cottigny, Karin Jöns, Harald Ettl, Anne Ferreira, Alexandru Athanasiu, Jean-Claude Martinez and Vladimír Špidla.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 14.03.2007, Item 5.6.

18.   Corporate social responsibility (debate)

Report on corporate social responsibility: a new partnership (2006/2133(INI)) — Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.

Rapporteur: Richard Howitt (A6-0471/2006)

Richard Howitt introduced the report.

IN THE CHAIR: Adam BIELAN

Vice-President

The following spoke: Günter Verheugen (Vice-President of the Commission) and Vladimír Špidla (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Gunnar Hökmark (draftsman of the opinion of the ITRE Committee), Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (draftsman of the opinion of the FEMM Committee), Thomas Mann, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Magda Kósáné Kovács, on behalf of the PSE Group, Siiri Oviir, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Claude Turmes, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Jiří Maštálka, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Roger Helmer, Non-attached Member, José Albino Silva Peneda, Alejandro Cercas, Jean Marie Beaupuy, Jean Lambert, Jacek Protasiewicz, Maria Matsouka, Philip Bushill-Matthews, Joan Calabuig Rull, Gábor Harangozó and Günter Verheugen.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 13.03.2007, Item 8.5.

19.   Equality roadmap (debate)

Report on a roadmap for equality between women and men (2006-2010) (2006/2132(INI)) — Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality.

Rapporteur: Amalia Sartori (A6-0033/2007)

Amalia Sartori introduced the report.

IN THE CHAIR: Luisa MORGANTINI

Vice-President

Vladimír Špidla (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (draftsman of the opinion of the DEVE Committee), Inger Segelström (draftsman of the opinion of the LIBE Committee), Gabriele Zimmer (draftsman of the opinion of the EMPL Committee), Anna Záborská, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Pia Elda Locatelli, on behalf of the PSE Group, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Sebastiano (Nello) Musumeci, on behalf of the UEN Group, Hiltrud Breyer, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Eva-Britt Svensson, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Urszula Krupa, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Angelika Niebler, Anna Hedh, Danutė Budreikaitė, Ilda Figueiredo, Zita Pleštinská, Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva, Pál Schmitt, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg and Vladimír Špidla.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 13.03.2007, Item 8.6.

20.   Cross-border collective copyright management (debate)

Report on the Commission Recommendation of 18 October 2005 on collective cross-border management of copyright and related rights for legitimate online music services (2005/737/EC) (2006/2008(INI)) — Committee on Legal Affairs.

Rapporteur: Katalin Lévai (A6-0053/2007)

Katalin Lévai introduced the report.

IN THE CHAIR: Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS

Vice-President

Vladimír Špidla (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Manolis Mavrommatis (draftsman of the opinion of the CULT Committee), Hans-Peter Mayer, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Manuel Medina Ortega, on behalf of the PSE Group, Toine Manders, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, on behalf of the UEN Group, Eva Lichtenberger, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Daniel Strož, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Jens-Peter Bonde, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Vasco Graça Moura, Diana Wallis, Jacques Toubon and Klaus-Heiner Lehne.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 13.03.2007, Item 8.7.

21.   Prudential assessment of acquisitions and increase of shareholdings ***I (debate)

Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 92/49/EEC and Directives 2002/83/EC, 2004/39/EC, 2005/68/EC and 2006/48/EC as regards procedural rules and evaluation criteria for the prudential assessment of acquisitions and increase of shareholdings in the financial sector (COM(2006)0507 — C6-0298/2006 — 2006/0166(COD)) — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.

Rapporteur: Wolf Klinz (A6-0027/2007)

Vladimír Špidla (Member of the Commission) spoke.

Wolf Klinz introduced the report.

The following spoke: John Purvis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Joseph Muscat, on behalf of the PSE Group, Margarita Starkevičiūtė, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Alexander Radwan, Antolín Sánchez Presedo and Piia-Noora Kauppi.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 13.03.2007, Item 8.4.

22.   Community action on the provision of cross-border health care (debate)

Oral question (O-0001/2007) by Karl-Heinz Florenz, to the Commission: Community action on the provision of cross-border health care (B6-0013/2007)

John Bowis (standing in for the author) moved the oral question.

Markos Kyprianou (Member of the Commission) answered the oral question.

The following spoke: Françoise Grossetête, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Linda McAvan, on behalf of the PSE Group, Antonyia Parvanova, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Kartika Tamara Liotard, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Urszula Krupa, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Irena Belohorská, Non-attached Member, Charlotte Cederschiöld, Bernadette Vergnaud, Thomas Ulmer and Markos Kyprianou.

Motion for a resolution to wind up the debate tabled pursuant to Rule 108(5):

—	Karl-Heinz Florenz, on behalf of the ENVI Committee, on Community action on the provision of crossborder healthcare (B6-0098/2007).

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 5.2.

23.   One share, one vote — Proportionality between ownership and control in EU listed companies (debate)

Oral question (O-0004/2007) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Commission: One share, one vote (B6-0014/2007)

Oral question (O-0014/2007) by Giuseppe Gargani, on behalf of the JURI Committee, to the Commission: Proportionality between ownership and control in EU listed companies (B6-0016/2007)

Pervenche Berès moved the oral question (B6-0014/2007).

Klaus-Heiner Lehne (deputising for the author) moved the oral question (B6-0016/2007).

Markos Kyprianou (Member of the Commission) answered the oral questions.

The following spoke: Manuel Medina Ortega, on behalf of the PSE Group, Wolf Klinz, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Ieke van den Burg, Markos Kyprianou and Pervenche Berès.

The debate closed.

24.   Number and numerical strength of interparliamentary delegations (deadline for tabling amendments)

The President announced that he had received a proposal for a decision tabled under Rule 188 on the number and numerical strength of interparliamentary delegations (B6-0100/2007).

Deadline for tabling amendments: 13.03.2007, noon

Vote: Minutes of 14.03.2007, Item 5.2.

25.   Agenda for next sitting

The agenda for the next sitting had been established (‘Agenda’ PE 385.050/OJMA).

26.   Closure of sitting

The sitting closed at 23.10.

27.   Closure of session

The 2006-2007 session of the European Parliament closed.

In accordance with the Treaty, Parliament would meet the following day, Tuesday 13.03.2007 at 09.00.

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