Brussels, 13.09.2001 (Agence Europe) - One of the issues discussed by the EP's mini-plenary session on 19/20 September will be (as is always the case for its meetings in Brussels) the main decision taken that day by the European Commission. The big debate at the heart of this session will be the future of the EU's cohesion policy, in which the Council and Commission will also be taking part. Other major themes include (as long as the agenda is not changed in the meantime) various women's issues (equal pay, harassment - a topic which will be dealt with by a man - genital multilation), refugees' status, the Galileo programme, combating air pollution and e-commerce. The agenda is as follows:
Wednesday 19 September (from 15: 00 to 20: 00 hrs and from 21: 00 to 24: 00 hrs)
From 15: 00 to 16: 00 hrs, Communication by the Commission on decisions taken at its weekly meeting, followed by question time
Statements by the Council and the Commission on the future of the EU's cohesion policy
Joint discussion on reports by Marques (EPP-ED, Portugal) and Nogueira Roman (Greens/EFA, Spain) on the 1999 Annual Reports on the Cohesion Funds and Structural Funds
Report by Valenciano Martinez Orozco (PES, Spain) on female genital mutilation
Report by Smet (Belgian Christian Democrat) on equal pay for equivalent work
Report by Andersson (Swedish Social Democrat) on harassment at work
Report by Langenhagen (German Christian Democrat) on the Commission's Communication on the Galileo programme
Joint discussion on reports by Oomen-Ruijten (Dutch Christian Democrat) on amending the Directive on the emission of certain pollutants into the atmosphere from large combustion plants and by Myller (Finnish Social Democrat) on the Directive setting national emissions ceilings for specific atmospheric pollutants (both reports are on second reading under codecision procedure)
Report by Rübig (EPP-ED, Austria) on the Commission Communication on innovation in a knowledge-based society
Thursday 20 September (from 9: 00 to 13: 00 hrs)
Report by Marinho (Portuguese Socialist) on a Council Framework Decision concerning the implementation in the EU of decisions on the freezing of assets
Report by Coelho (EPP, Portugal) on crossing external borders and developing cooperation under the Schengen framework
Report by Schmitt (EPP, Germany) on the draft Directive on minimum standards for granting or withdrawing refugee status.