Brussels, 24/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - At its first plenary session for the month of October, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament will discuss preparations for the informal European Council in Ghent (19 October) and a have a substantive debate on the European Commission's paper on European Governance, following an initial presentation of the text by President Prodi (see EUROPE of 5 September, p. 7). In addition, they will have several important political debates on: - the Stability Pact (for which some would like a relaxation following the slowdown in economic growth in Europe and in the world: see the conclusions of the European Council of 21 September in our special editions; - the strengthening of economic policy co-ordination within the euro zone (see EUROPE of 15 September, p.14, on the subject of the Beres Report) and the contribution of public finances to growth and employment (Peijs Report). In addition, members will hear the statements by the Council and Commission on the Durban Conference on racism, and within which the EU played a major role of mediation. Here is the detailed agenda, that may still be changed:
Monday 1 October ( from 17.00 to 21. 00 hrs.)
Recommendation by de Roo (Dutch Green) on the common position concerning the directive on the assessmemnt and management of ambient noise (co-decision, second reading);
Hulthén Report (Swedish Social-Democrat) on the fourth amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that weaken the ozone layer (consultation in a single reading);
Lange Report (German Social-Democrat) on the amendment to the directive on gas and polluting particles from non-road internal combustion engines (co-decision, first reading);
Joint discussion on the Turchi Report (Union for a Europe of Nations, Italian) on protocols annexed to the Nice Treaty relating to the financial consequences of the expiry of ECSC Treaty and the steel and coal research funds) and the Linkhor Report (German Social-Democrat) on the multi-annual guidelines for research programmes o the Coal and Steel Research Fund (in both cases consultations).
Tuesday 2 October (with the first night session)
Commission Declaration on the White Paper on European Governance;
Robert Evans Report (British Labour) on the Commission Communication "Towards a common asylum procedure and a valid uniform statute throughout the Union";
Pirker Report (Austrian EP-ED) on the Commission Communication on migration policy;
Titley report (British Labour) on the second annual report on the EU code of conductc on the export of weapons;
Miller Report (British Labour) on the joint draft approved by the Conciliation Committee on the Directive concerning eight-seater vehicles, other than the drivers seat (co-decision, third reading);
Meijer Report (Dutch GUE/NLG) on the draft regulation on the granting of public service contracts in the transport of passengers by rail, road and navigable routes (codecision, first reading);
Jarzembowski Report (German Christian-Democrat) on the draft directive on access port services markets (co-decision, first reading);
McNally Recommendation (British Labour) on the common position on the Community programme labelling programme concerning the energy efficiency of office equipment (co-decision, second reading);
Harbour Recommendation (British Conservative) on the European Community stance on the United Nations' Europe Economic Committee on the Certification of a module of inflatable cushions (assent));
Berger Report (Austrian Social-Democrat) on the Commission' Communication on a "Strategy for an internal market for services";
Hans-Peter Meyer Report (German Christian Democrat on the exhaustion of rights conferred on a brand;
at 12.00 hrs. voting, including the control of EAGGF "Guarantee" expenditure, the modification of the "rice" CMO and the financial regulation applicable to the general budget (Dell'Alba Report on which the final vote was postponed);
at 17.00 hrs, Commission communication on decisions taken that very day
questions to the Commission.
Wednesday 3 October (with the second night session)
Council and Commission Declarations on the European Council of Ghent;
Council and Commission declarations on the UN Conference of Durban on racism;
Council and Commission declarations on the Stability and Growth Pact;
Reports by Zappalà (Forza Italia) on the co-ordination of procedures for the passing of public markets for supplies, services and work ( and the passing of markets in the water, energy and transport markets (in both cases, co-decision, first reading);
Joint discussion on the Peijs Report (Dutch, Christian-Democrat) on the Commission Communication on the "Contribution of public finances to growth and employment" and the Berès Report (French Socialist) on the Commission Communication on the strengthening of co-ordination economic policies within the euro zone;
Agag Longo Report (Spanish, Partido popular) on the 30th Commission report on competition policy (in 2000);
Huhne Report (British Liberal Democrat) on the Commission Communication on electronic trade and financial services;
Radwan Report (German, CSU) on the Commission recommendation on the pre-contractual information of information to consumers by loaners offering loans for houses;
at 12.00 hrs. votes;
questions to the Council.
Thursday 4 October
Gonzalez Alvarez Report (Spanish GUE) on the draft project approved by the Conciliation committee regarding the directive on the general safety of products (co-decision, third reading);
Graefe zu Baringdorf Report (German Green) on the modification to the directive on the marketing of composed feed for animals (co-decision, third reading);
Hieronymi Report (German Christian-Democrat) on the third Commission Report on implementation of the 1989 directive on television broadcasting;
Fruteau Report (French Socialist) on the drat decision concerning the association over the European Community's overseas countries and territories;
Khanbhai Report (British Conservative) on the Commission's Communication concerning acceleration in the fight against transmissible diseases in the context of poverty reduction and the fight against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis;
at 12 hrs. voting;
from 15.00 hrs. to 17.30 hrs. topical issues and urgent and important issues;
at 18.30 hrs., voting.
* * * * * * * * *