21.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 96/1

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MINUTES

(2004/C 96 E/01)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITTING

IN THE CHAIR: Pat COX

President

1.   Resumption of session

The sitting opened at 15.05.

2.   Approval of Minutes of previous sitting

The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

3.   Membership of Parliament

Joaquim Miranda had given notice in writing of his resignation as member of Parliament, with effect from 1 February 2004.

Yves Piétrasanta had given notice in writing of his resignation as member of Parliament, with effect from 3 February 2004.

Pursuant to Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure and Article 12(2), second subparagraph of the Act on the Election of representatives of the European Parliament by Direct Universal Suffrage, the House noted the vacancies and would inform the Member States concerned.

4.   Verification of credentials

On a proposal from the JURI Committee, Parliament validated the mandate of Martin Kastler.

5.   Membership of committees and delegations

At the request of the PPE-DE Group, Parliament ratified the following appointment:

Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): Cees Bremmer to replace Maria Martens

6.   Membership of political groups

Jan Dhaene had joined the PSE Group with effect from 28 January 2004.

7.   Documents received

The following documents had been received:

(1)

from the Council and Commission: — Comprehensive monitoring report of the European Commission on the state of preparedness for EU membership of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (COM(2003) 675 — C5-0532/2003 — 2003/2201(INI)) referred to responsible: AFET   opinion: all committees concerned — Report of the European Commission on the progress towards accession by Bulgaria (COM(2003) 676 — C5-0533/2003 — 2003/2202(INI)) referred to responsible: AFET   opinion: all committees concerned — Report of the European Commission on the progress towards accession by Romania (COM(2003) 676 — C5-0534/2003 — 2003/2203(INI)) referred to responsible: AFET   opinion: all committees concerned — Report of the European Commission on the progress towards accession by Turkey (COM(2003) 676 — C5-0535/2003 — 2003/2204(INI)) referred to responsible: AFET   opinion: all committees concerned — Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a single framework for the transparency of qualifications and competences (Europass) (COM(2003) 796 — C5-0648/2003 — 2003/0307(COD)) referred to responsible: CULT   opinion: BUDG, EMPL legal basis: Articles 149 and 150 EC — Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (COM(2003) 806 — C5-0032/2004 — 2003/0312(CNS)) referred to responsible: AGRI   opinion: BUDG legal basis: Articles 36 and 37 EC — Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the Republic of Croatia concerning the transitional points system applicable to heavy goods vehicles travelling through Austria (COM(2003) 833 — C5-0033/2004 — 2003/0319(CNS)) referred to responsible: RETT   opinion: ENVI legal basis: Articles 71(1) and 300(2), 1st subparagraph EC — Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the Republic of Slovenia concerning the transitional points system applicable to heavy goods vehicles travelling through Austria from 1 January 2004 to 30 April 2004 (COM(2003) 835 — C5-0034/2004 — 2003/0320(CNS)) referred to responsible: RETT   opinion: ENVI legal basis: Articles 71(1), 300(2), 1st subparagraph EC — Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of an administrative arrangement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the transitional points system applicable to heavy goods vehicles travelling through Austria (COM(2003) 836 — C5-0035/2004 — 2003/0322(CNS)) referred to responsible: RETT   opinion: ENVI legal basis: Articles 71(1), 300(2), 1st subparagraph EC — Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia concerning the transitional points system applicable to heavy goods vehicles travelling through Austria (COM(2003) 837 — C5-0036/2004 — 2003/0323(CNS)) referred to responsible: RETT   opinion: ENVI legal basis: Articles 71(1-2), 1st subparagraph and 300(3), 1st subparagaph EC — Amended proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women (COM(2004) 17 — C5-0037/2004 — 2003/0109(COD)) referred to responsible: FEMM   opinion: BUDG, CONT legal basis: Article 13 EC — Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life (Codified version) (COM(2004) 19 — C5-0038/2004 — 2004/0002(COD)) referred to responsible: JURI   opinion: ENVI legal basis: Article 175(1) EC — Council of the European Union: Initiative of the United Kingdom with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision amending Decision 2000/820/JHA establishing a European Police College (CEPOL) (5121/2004 — C5-0040/2004 — 2004/0802(CNS)) referred to responsible: LIBE legal basis: Articles 30(1) and 34(2) EU — Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion by the European Community of the Agreement on the Accession of the European Community to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (COM(2003) 696 — C5-0041/2004 — 2003/0269(CNS)) referred to responsible: RETT legal basis: Article 71 EC, Article 300 (2-3), 1st subparagraph EC — Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing measures for the recovery of the Southern hake and Norway lobster stocks in the Cantabrian Sea and Western Iberian peninsula and amending Regulation (EC) No 850/98 (COM(2003) 818 — C5-0042/2004 — 2003/0318(CNS)) referred to responsible: PECH   opinion: ENVI legal basis: Article 37 EC — Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's Common Position regarding the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage (COM(2004) 55 — C5-0044/2004 — 2002/0021(COD)) referred to responsible: JURI   opinion: ECON, ITRE, ENVI, PETI legal basis: Article 175(1) EC — Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's Common Position regarding the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of cogeneration based on a useful heat demand in the internal energy market and amending Directive 92/42/CE (COM(2004) 49 — C5-0045/2004 — 2002/0185(COD)) referred to responsible: ITRE   opinion: ENVI legal basis: Article 175(1) EC — Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's Common Position regarding the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on measuring instruments (COM(2004) 40 — C5-0046/2004 — 2000/0233(COD)) referred to responsible: ITRE   opinion: JURI legal basis: Article 95 EC

(2)

from committees (2.1) reports: — *** I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1734/94 on financial an technical cooperation with the Occupied Territories (COM(2003) 523 — C5-0403/2003 — 2003/0204(COD)) — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Mr Berenguer Fuster (A5-0002/2004). — Report on the communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the state of progress of the Galileo programme (COM(2002) 518 — C5-0075/2003 — 2003/2041(INI)) — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Mr Piétrasanta (A5-0003/2004). — Report on the action by the Commission on the observations contained in the resolution accompanying the decision giving discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the 2001 financial year (COM(2003) 651 — C5-0536/2003 — 2003/2200(DEC)) — Committee on Budgetary Control. Rapporteur: Mr Casaca (A5-0004/2004). — *** I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on statistics on the Information Society (Simplified procedure — Rule 158(2) of the Rules of Procedure) (COM(2003) 509 — C5-0401/2003 — 2003/0199(COD)) — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Mr Berenguer Fuster (A5-0005/2004).

(3)

from Members (3.1) oral questions (Rule 42): — Guido Bodrato, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Gilles Savary, on behalf of the PSE Group, Nicholas Clegg, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Konstantinos Alyssandrakis, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Yves Piétrasanta, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Seán Ó Neachtain, on behalf of the UEN Group, to the Commission, on the White Paper on European Space Policy (B5-0003/2004/rev.1). — Concepció Ferrer, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Nicholas Clegg, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Eryl Margaret McNally, on behalf of the PSE Group, Seán Ó Neachtain, on behalf of the UEN Group, Ilda Figueiredo, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, to the Commission, on the communication on ‘The future of the textiles and clothing sector in the enlarged European Union’ (B5-0004/2004/rev.1). — José Ribeiro e Castro, on behalf of the LIBE Committee, to the Council, on the annual debate 2003 on progress in implementing the area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) in the EU (Articles 2 and 39 EU (B5-0005/2004). — José Ribeiro e Castro, on behalf of the LIBE Committee, to the Commission, on the annual debate 2003 on progress in implementing the area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) in the EU (Articles 2 and 39 EC) (B5-0006/2004). (3.2) motions for resolution (Rule 48) — Ilda Figueiredo on the Financial Perspective for the post-2006 period (B5-0043/2004). referred to responsible: BUDG   opinion: RETT (3.3) written declarations for entry in the Register (Rule 51) — Hiltrud Breyer, Alexander de Roo, Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Paul A.A.J.G. Lannoye and Caroline Lucas on noise from airports (4/2004)

(4)

from the Conciliation Committee: — Joint Text approved by the Conciliation Committee Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky (‘the framework regulation’) (PE-CONS 3690/2003 — C5-0603/2003 — 2001/0060(COD)). — Joint Text approved by the Conciliation Committee Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of Air Navigation Services in the Single European Sky (‘the service provision Regulation’) (PE-CONS 3691/2003 — C5-0604/2003 — 2001/0235(COD)). — Joint Text approved by the Conciliation Committee Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the organisation and use of the airspace in the Single European Sky (‘the airspace Regulation’) (PE-CONS 3692/2003 — C5-0605/2003 — 2001/0236(COD)). — Joint Text approved by the Conciliation Committee Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the interoperability of the European Air traffic management network (‘the interoperability Regulation’) (PE-CONS 3693/2003 — C5-0606/2003 — 2001/0237(COD)). — Joint Text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the coordination of procedures for the award of public supply contracts, public service contracts and public works contracts (PE-CONS 3696/2003 — C5-0607/2003 — 2000/0115(COD)). — Joint Text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal service sectors (PE-CONS 3695/2003 — C5-0608/2003 — 2000/0117(COD)). — Joint Text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste (PE-CONS 3697/2003 — C5-0629/2003 — 2001/0291(COD)).

(5)

from the Parliament Delegation to the Conciliation Committee: — ***III Report on the joint text, approved by the Conciliation Committee, for a European Parliament and Council directive amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste (PE-CONS 3697/2003 — C5-0629/2003 — 2001/0291(COD)) — Parliament Delegation to the Conciliation Committee. Rapporteur: Dorette Corbey (A5-0006/2004) — ***III Report on the joint text, approved by the Conciliation Committee, for a European Parliament and Council directive on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts (PE-CONS 3696/2003 — C5-0607/2003 — 2000/0115(COD)) — Parliament Delegation to the Conciliation Committee. Rapporteur: Stefano Zappalà (A5-0007/2004). — ***III Report on the joint text, approved by the Conciliation Committee, for a European Parliament and Council directive coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors (PE-CONS 3695/2003 — C5-0608/2003 — 2000/0117(COD)) — Parliament Delegation to the Conciliation Committee. Rapporteur: Stefano Zappalà (A5-0008/2004). — ***III Report on the joint text, approved by the Conciliation Committee, for a European Parliament and Council regulation. 1. on the provision of air navigation services in the Single European Sky (‘the service provision Regulation’) (PE-CONS 3691/2003 — C5-0604/2003 — 2001/0235(COD)); 2. on the organisation and use of the airspace in the Single European Sky (‘the airspace Regulation’) (PE-CONS 3692/2003 — C5-0605/2003 — 2001/0236(COD)); 3. on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network (‘the interoperability Regulation’)) (PE-CONS 3693/2003 — C5-0606/2003 — 2001/0237(COD)) — Parliament Delegation to the Conciliation Committee; Rapporteur: Marieke Sanders-ten Holte (A5-0009/2004). — ***III Report on the joint text, approved by the Conciliation Committee, for a European Parliament and Council regulation laying down the framework for the creation of the Single European Sky (‘the framework Regulation’) (PE-CONS 3690/2003 — C5-0603/2003 — 2001/0060(COD)) — Parliament Delegation to the Conciliation Committee. Rapporteur: Giovanni Claudio Fava (A5-0010/2004).

8.   Transfers of appropriations

The Committee on Budgets had considered proposal for transfer of appropriations 51/2003 (C5-0655/2003 — SEC(2003) 1470).

The committee authorised the transfer, pursuant to Articles 24(2) and 181(1) of the Financial Regulation of 25 June 2002, in accordance with the following breakdown:

FROM:
Chapter B1-11 — Sugar
— Article B1-110 — Refunds on sugar and isoglucose	NDA	- 204 000 000 EUR
Chapter B1-15 — Fruit and vegetables
— Article B1-150 — Fresh fruit and vegetables
— Item B1-1501 — Compensation for withdrawals and buying in	NDA	-50 000 000 EUR
Chapter B1-16 — Products of the wine-growing sector
— Article B1-161 — Intervention for products of the wine-growing sector
— Item B1-1611 — Distillation of wine	NDA	-42 000 000 EUR
Chapter B1-21 — Beef/Veal
— Article B1-210 — Refunds on beef/veal
— Item B1-2100 — Refunds on beef/veal	NDA	- 220 000 000 EUR
— Article B1-212 — Intervention other than storage of beef/veal
— Item B1-2127 — Compulsory slaughter programme	NDA	-47 000 000 EUR
Chapter B1-31 — Food programmes
— Article B1-310 — Distribution of agricultural products to deprived persons in the Community	NDA	-20 000 000 EUR
TO:
Chapter B1-10 — Arable crops
— Article B1-101 — Intervention storage of cereals
— Item B1-1011 — Technical costs of public storage	NDA	25 000 000 EUR
Chapter B1-12 — Olive oil
— Article B1-121 — Production aid and schemes related to production of olive oil
— Item B1-1210 — Production aid	NDA	1 000 000 EUR
— Article B1-124 — Other intervention for olive oil	NDA	6 000 000 EUR
Chapter B1-18 — Other plant sectors or products
— Article B1-185 — Rice
— Item B1-1854 — Depreciation of stocks	NDA	31 000 000 EUR
Chapter B1-20 — Milk and milk products
— Article B1-200 — Refunds on milk and milk products
— Item B1-2000 — Refunds on butter and butter oil	NDA	12 000 000 EUR
— Article B1-202 — Aid for skimmed milk
— Item B1-2020 — Aid for skimmed-milk powder for use as feed for calves	NDA	11 000 000 EUR
— Item B1-2024 — Aid for skimmed milk processed into casein	NDA	42 500 000 EUR
— Article B1-203 — Intervention storage of butter and cream
— Item B1-2034 — Depreciation of stocks	NDA	44 000 000 EUR
— Article B1-204 — Other measures relating to butterfat	NDA	19 500 000 EUR
Chapter B1-22 — Sheepmeat and goatmeat
— Article B1-222 — Intervention other than storage of sheepmeat and goatmeat
— Item B1-2220 — Ewe and goat premiums	NDA	224 000 000 EUR
— Item B1-2221 — Fixed flat-rate ewe and goat premium in less-favoured and mountain areas	NDA	55 000 000 EUR
— Item B1-2222 — Additional payments for sheepmeat and goatmeat	NDA	1 000 000 EUR
Chapter B1-30 — Refunds on certain goods obtained by processing agricultural products
— Article B1-301 — Refunds on certain goods obtained by processing agricultural products
— Item B1-3010 — Cereals and rice	NDA	5 500 000 EUR
— Item B1-3011 — Sugar and isoglucose	NDA	7 000 000 EUR
— Item B1-3012 — Skimmed milk and other milk products	NDA	6 500 000 EUR
Chapter B1-37 — Clearance of previous years' accounts and reduction/suspension of advances under Chapters B1-10 to B1-39
— Article B1-370 — Clearance of previous years' accounts and reduction/suspension of advances under Chapters B1-10 to B1-39
— Item B1-3700 — Clearance of previous years' accounts under Chapters B1-10 to B1-39	NDA	44 000 000 EUR
— Item B1-3701 — Reduction/suspension of advances under Chapters B1-10 to B1-39	NDA	48 000 000 EUR

9.   Texts of agreements forwarded by the Council

The Council had forwarded certified true copies of the following documents:

—

agreement in the form of letters concerning the provisional application of the Protocol setting out, for the period from 1 June 2002 to 31 May 2005, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe on fishing off the coast of São Tomé e Príncipe;

—

protocol setting out, for the period from 1 June 2002 to 31 May 2005, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe on fishing off the coast of São Tomé e Príncipe;

—

agreement in the form of an exchange of letters relating to the provisional application of the Protocol modifying the Protocol laying down the conditions relating to fishing provided for in the agreement on fisheries between the European Economic Community, on the one hand, and the government of Denmark and the local government of Greenland, on the other, for the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006;

—	agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European community and the state of Israel concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures and the replacement of Protocols Nos 1 and 2 to the EC-Israel Association Agreement;

—	agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Nepal on trade in textile products.

10.   Agenda

The order of business had been established (Minutes of 12.1.2004, Item 8) and a corrigendum to the Agenda had been distributed (340.652/OJ/COR).

No changes were made to the corrigendum.

*

* *

Council request for the application of urgent procedure (Rule 112) for:

four proposals for decisions relating to the conclusion of agreements or administrative agreements in the form of an exchange of letters on the transitional points system for heavy goods vehicles in transit through Austria:

between the European Community and

—	the Republic of Croatia [COM(2003) 833 — C5-0033/2004 — 2003/0319(CNS)];

—	the Republic of Slovenia [COM(2003) 835 — C5-0034/2004 — 2003/0320(CNS)];

—	the Swiss Confederation [COM(2003) 836 — C5-0035/2004 — 2003/0322(CNS)];

—	the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia [COM(2003) 837 — C5-0036/2004 — 2003/0323(CNS)].

Reason for request:

This transitional system should also enter into force on 1 January 2004 for third countries which are already participating in the previous ‘Ecopoints’ system.

Parliament would take a decision on the request for urgent procedure at the beginning of the following day's sitting.

If Parliament agreed to the request, the item would be included on the agenda of the next part-session.

*

* *

Pervenche Berès objected to the President's decision, at the sitting of 12 January 2004, to refer the matter of Michel Raymond's disqualification from office to the JURI Committee under Rule 7(4) (Minutes of 12.1.2004, Item 4). She believed that the President should instead have noted the disqualification (the President replied that he had referred the matter to the relevant committee in order to receive an expert opinion, and that this procedure was perfectly within the Rules).

11.   Official welcome

On behalf of Parliament, the President welcomed members of a delegation from Libyan Parliament, led by Mr Ahmed Mohamed Ibrahim, Vice-President of the General People's Congress of Libya, who had taken their seats in the official gallery.

12.   The programme of the Irish presidency and the European Constitution (debate)

Council and Commission statements: The programme of the Irish presidency and the European Constitution

Dick Roche (President-in-Office of the Council) and Michel Barnier (Member of the Commission) made the statements.

The following spoke: Elmar Brok and Klaus Hänsch (Parliament's delegates to the European Convention).

The following spoke: Hans-Gert Poettering, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Enrique Barón Crespo, on behalf of the PSE Group, Andrew Nicholas Duff, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Esko Olavi Seppänen, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Monica Frassoni, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Gerard Collins, on behalf of the UEN Group, William Abitbol, on behalf of the EDD Group, and Georges Berthu, Nonattached Member.

The following spoke under the ‘catch the eye’ procedure: Thierry Cornillet, Giorgio Napolitano, Carlo Fatuzzo, Richard Corbett, Cecilia Malmström, Luís Marinho, Olivier Dupuis, Jo Leinen, Charles Tannock and Carlos Carnero González, and Dick Roche and António Vitorino (Member of the Commission) spoke to conclude the debate.

Motions for resolution to wind up the debate pursuant to Rule 37(2):

—

Elmar Brok, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo and Thierry Cornillet, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Klaus Hänsch, Giorgio Napolitano and Richard Corbett, on behalf of the PSE Group, Andrew Nicholas Duff, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Johannes Voggenhuber and Monica Frassoni, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the programme of the Irish President-in-Office of the Council and the Constitution (B5-0044/2004/rev.);

—	Gerard Collins and Cristiana Muscardini, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the IGC and the Irish Presidency's proposals (B5-0048/2004).

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Item 7.3.

13.   Members' Statute (statement)

Council statement: Members' Statute

Dick Roche (President-in-Office of the Council) made the statement, to which the President made a brief reply.

Enrique Barón Crespo spoke.

The item was closed.

14.   Competition policy (statement followed by debate)

Commission statement: Competition policy

Mario Monti (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: Othmar Karas, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Bernhard Rapkay, on behalf of the PSE Group, Astrid Thors, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Philippe A.R. Herzog, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Claude Turmes, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, and Benedetto Della Vedova, Non-attached Member.

IN THE CHAIR: James L.C. PROVAN

Vice-President

The following spoke: Bert Doorn, Manuel António dos Santos, Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm, Armonia Bordes and Mario Monti.

Motions for resolution to wind up the debate pursuant to Rule 37(2):

—	Christa Randzio-Plath and Benedetto Della Vedova, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on competition policy (B5-0047/2004)

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Item 7.4.

15.   One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Pursuant to Rule 121a, the following Members who wished to draw the attention of Parliament to matters of political importance spoke for one minute: Miquel Mayol i Raynal, Sarah Ludford and Alexandros Alavanos.

16.   Single European sky — framework regulation ***III — Single European sky — service provision/use of airspace/interoperability ***III (debate)

Report on the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky [PE-CONS 3690/2003 — C5-0603/2003 — 2001/0060(COD)]

Rapporteur: Giovanni Claudio Fava (A5-0010/2004)

Report on the joint texts approved by the Conciliation Committee for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on:

1.	air navigation services in the Single European Sky (the service provision regulation) [PE-CONS 3691/2003 — C5-0604/2003 — 2001/0235(COD)]

2.	the organisation and use of airspace in the Single European Sky (airspace regulation) [PE-CONS 3692/2003 — C5-0605/2003 — 2001/0236(COD)]

3.	interoperability of the European air traffic control system (interoperability regulation) [PE-CONS 3693/2003 — C5-0606/2003 — 2001/0237(COD)]

Rapporteur: Maria Johanna (Marieke) Sanders-ten Holte (A5-0009/2004).

Giovanni Claudio Fava introduced the report (A5-0010/2004).

Maria Johanna (Marieke) Sanders-ten Holte introduced the report (A5-0009/2004).

Loyola de Palacio (Vice-President of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Ingo Schmitt, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Ulrich Stockmann, on behalf of the PSE Group, and Sylviane H. Ainardi, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Giorgos DIMITRAKOPOULOS

Vice-President

The following spoke: Nelly Maes, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Konstantinos Hatzidakis, Gilles Savary, Arlette Laguiller, Georg Jarzembowski, Jacqueline Foster, Giorgio Lisi, Francesco Musotto and Loyola de Palacio.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Items 5.5 and 5.6.

17.   Progress report on the Galileo programme (debate)

Report on the communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the state of progress of the Galileo programme [COM(2002) 518 — 2003/2041(INI)] — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy.

Rapporteur: Yves Piétrasanta (A5-0003/2004)

Yves Piétrasanta introduced the report.

Loyola de Palacio (Vice-President of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Alexander Radwan, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Norbert Glante, on behalf of the PSE Group, Josu Ortuondo Larrea, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Seán Ó Neachtain, on behalf of the UEN Group, Marco Cappato, Non-attached Member, Brigitte Langenhagen and Gilles Savary.

IN THE CHAIR: David W. MARTIN

Vice-President

The following spoke: Reino Paasilinna and Loyola de Palacio.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Item 7.2.

18.   Public sector contracts ***III — Procurement procedures in the water, energy, transport and postal service sectors ***III (debate)

Report on the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committeel for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the coordination of procedures for the award of public supply contracts, public service contracts and public works contracts [PE-CONS 3696/2003 — C5-0607/2003 — 2000/0115(COD)].

Rapporteur: Stefano Zappalà (A5-0007/2004)

Report on the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal service sectors [PE-CONS 3695/2003 — C5-0608/2003 — 2000/0117(COD)].

Rapporteur: Stefano Zappalà (A5-0008/2004)

Charlotte Cederschiöld, deputising for the rapporteur, introduced the reports.

Frits Bolkestein (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Stefano Zappalà, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Maria Berger, on behalf of the PSE Group, Astrid Thors, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Inger Schörling, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Malcolm Harbour, Evelyne Gebhardt, Bill Miller, Joachim Wuermeling, Hans Karlsson and Frits Bolkestein.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Items 5.7 and 5.8

(The sitting was suspended at 19.55 and resumed at 21.05.)

IN THE CHAIR: Alonso José PUERTA

Vice-President

19.   Packaging and packaging waste ***III (debate)

Report on the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste [PE-CONS 3697/2003 — C5-0629/2003 — 2001/0291(COD)].

Rapporteur: Dorette Corbey (A5-0006/2004)

Dorette Corbey introduced the report.

The following spoke: María del Pilar Ayuso González, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, David Robert Bowe, on behalf of the PSE Group, Bent Hindrup Andersen, on behalf of the EDD Group, Avril Doyle, Dana Rosemary Scallon and Michaele Schreyer (Member of the Commission).

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Item 5.9.

20.   2001 discharge: Committee of the Regions (debate)

Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the 2001 financial year

Section VII — Committee of the Regions [SEC(2002) 405 — C5-0247/2002 — 2002/2107(DEC)] — Committee on Budgetary Control.

Rapporteur: María Antonia Avilés Perea (A5-0486/2003)

María Antonia Avilés Perea introduced the report.

The following spoke: Diemut R. Theato, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Michiel van Hulten, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jan Mulder, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Jonas Sjöstedt, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Jean-Louis Bernié, on behalf of the EDD Group, and Herbert Bösch.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Item 5.10.

21.   Follow-up to 2001 discharges (Commission) (debate)

Report on the measures taken by the Commission to follow-up the remarks made in the resolution which accompanied the decision granting discharge for the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for 2001 [COM(2003) 651 — C5-0536/2003 — 2003/2200(DEC)] — Committee on Budgetary Control.

Rapporteur: Paulo Casaca (A5-0004/2004)

Paulo Casaca introduced the report.

Michaele Schreyer (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Juan José Bayona de Perogordo, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Helmut Kuhne, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jan Mulder, on behalf of the ELDR Group, and Jonas Sjöstedt, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Renzo IMBENI

Vice-President

The following spoke: Roberta Angelilli, on behalf of the UEN Group, Rijk van Dam, on behalf of the EDD Group, Diemut R. Theato, Herbert Bösch, María Antonia Avilés Perea, Eluned Morgan and Manuel António dos Santos.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Item 5.11.

22.   European Space policy (Oral question with debate)

Oral question by Guido Bodrato, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Gilles Savary, on behalf of the PSE Group, Nicholas Clegg, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Konstantinos Alyssandrakis, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Yves Piétrasanta, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Seán Ó Neachtain, on behalf of the UEN Group, to the Commission, on the White Paper on European Space Policy (B5-0003/2004/rev. 1)

Guido Bodrato, Gilles Savary and Konstantinos Alyssandrakis moved the oral question.

Christine De Veyrac, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, spoke.

Philippe Busquin (Member of the Commission) answered the oral question.

Motions for resolution to wind up the debate pursuant to Rule 42(5):

—	Guido Bodrato, on behalf of the RETT Committee, on the action plan for implementing the European space policy (B5-0045/2004)

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.1.2004, Item 7.5.

23.   The future of the textiles and clothing sector in the enlarged European Union (Oral question with debate)

Oral question by Concepció Ferrer, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Nicholas Clegg, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Eryl Margaret McNally, on behalf of the PSE Group, Seán Ó Neachtain, on behalf of the UEN Group, and Ilda Figueiredo, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, to the Commission: The Communication on ‘The future of the textiles and clothing sector in the enlarged European Union’ (B5-0004/2004)/rev. 1.

Concepció Ferrer and Luis Berenguer Fuster moved the oral question.

The following spoke: Regina Bastos, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Imelda Mary Read, on behalf of the PSE Group, Ilda Figueiredo, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Bastiaan Belder, on behalf of the EDD Group, José Ribeiro e Castro, on behalf of the UEN Group, Carlos Lage and David Robert Bowe.

Philippe Busquin (Member of the Commission) answered the oral question.

Motions for resolution to wind up the debate pursuant to Rule 42(5):

—	Concepció Ferrer, on behalf of the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy, on the future of the textile and clothing sector in the European Union (B5-0046/2004)

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 29.01.2004, Item 7.6.

24.   Agenda for next sitting

The President referred Members to the document ‘Agenda’ PE 340.652/OJJE.

25.   Closure of sitting

The sitting closed at 23.20.

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