Brussels, 19/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - As foreseen, the European Parliament legal affairs committee (JURI) confirmed in a vote on Tuesday morning the choice of co-decision procedure for governing proposals made last September by the European Commission on the Schengen evaluation system. This was in response to a request put by the EP committee on civil liberties (LIBE), relevant on the substance of the matter. With its vote, it also contradicted the decision taken by home affairs ministers on 7 June in Luxembourg to agree only to consultation. The Danish justice minister, Morten Bodskov, was present at the JURI committee which took stock of the subjects covered by the Danish Presidency. The committee wished to discuss with Bodskov the disagreement between the Council and the EP relating to future Schengen governance.
This undertaking did not prove too difficult for the Danish minister as most MEPs taking the floor praised the quality of work, the spirit of collaboration and their keenness for working in the best possible conditions with the EP. Only Cecilia Wikström (ALDE, Sweden) fervently expressed the view that the recent spat over Schengen had tarnished the last few days of a presidency that, despite it all, had nonetheless worked effectively.
A spokesman at the EP took the view that this warm welcome reserved for Bodskov and his presidency, against whom the presidents of EP groups nonetheless took retaliatory measures last week, does not mean that relations have suddenly improved over Schengen, or that the EP is any less united over on the matter. The reaction of MEPs from the civil liberties committee (which welcomes the minister on Wednesday morning) should be different, the spokesman Jaume Duch said. Relations between the EP and Council on seven dossiers concerning home affairs, including Schengen, remain suspended and the EP still awaits positive signs to be given by the Council, whether these are signals from Bodskov or from the upcoming Cypriot Presidency, the Parliament spokesman said. (SP/transl.jl)