Brussels, 24/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The parliamentary plenary session, early March in Strasbourg, will specifically allow MEPs to discuss, on Tuesday, the Commission policy strategy for the budgetary guidelines in 2004 (see yesterday's EUROPE, p. 12). Also on Tuesday, the Parliament will discuss several reports concerning economic and monetary union, and the functioning of the European Central Bank's Board of Governors (see EUROPE of 20 February, p. 7, generally positive of the Commission over the reform proposed, which caused serious criticism from MEPs). With the opening of the session, Monday afternoon, the Commission will make a statement on the delicate theme of the negotiations over services within the WTO (see EUROPE of 6 February, p. 8, concerning the press conference by Commissioner Lamy). On Wednesday, the Parliament will hold a further debate on Iraq (for its last debate in plenary, after the special summit on 17 February, see EUROPE of 19 February, p. 8), and will discuss the EU relief of the NATO mission Allied Harmony, in Macedonia (see EUROPE of 11 February, p. 6). The same day, the MEPs will discuss equal opportunities between men and women and on Thursday they will hold a wide-ranging discussion on the European Commission strategy for consumer policy. Below is the detailed agenda, which remains subject to change:
Monday 10 March (from 17 to 21 hours)
Commission declaration on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in the framework of the WTO, including cultural diversity.
Recommendation by Ayuso Gonzalez (EPP-ED, Spain) on the common position in view of a Directive on promoting the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels in transport (co-decision, third reading)
Recommendation by Jarzembowski (EPP-ED, German) on the common position concerning the Directive on access to the market for port services (co-decision, second reading)
Recommendation by Hedqvist Petersen (ESP, Swedish) on the common position in view of the Directive on the compulsory wearing of seatbelts in vehicles of less than 3.5 tonnes (co-decision, third reading).
Report by Harbour (EPP-ED, Britain) and Medina Ortega (ESP, Spain) on the proposed modification of the status of European Community civil servants (consultation)
Oral question from Struan Stevenson (EPP-ED, Britain, President of the Fisheries Committee) on the socio-economic crisis in the white fish sector
Tuesday 11 March (with a first night session)
Joint discussion over the European Commission strategy for 2004 and the reports by Mulder (ELDR, Netherlands) on the Commission budgetary guidelines for 2004 and Gill (ESP, Britain) on these guidelines for other institutions
Report by Wynn (ESP, Britain) on the reform of the budgetary procedure and the options available in the context of the revision of the treaties
Report by Thomas Mann (EPP-ED, Germany) on the new proposals in view of a strategy for employment and a social policy within the EU
Report by Friedrich (EPP-ED, Germany) on the recommendation modifying the status of the European System Central Banks and the European Central Bank (Board of Governors) in view of enlargement
Joint discussion on the reports by Garcia Margallo y Marfil (EPP-ED, Spain) on the Commission recommendation concerning the broad economic policy guidelines, Tretine (ESP, Italy) on the annual assessment of the implementation of the stability and convergence programmes, Schmidt (ELDR, Sweden) on the report concerning the convergence of Sweden and dos Santos (ESP, Portugal) on the Commission Communication concerning public finances in the EMU
Recommendation by Karas (EPP-ED, Austria) on the common position in view of a Directive on the activities and monitoring on professional pensions institutions (co-decision, third reading)
At 12 o'clock, votes (including on the Frassoni report on comitology and the resolution on the annual debate on the area of freedom, security and justice)
From 17 to 17h30, Commission communication on its decisions that day
From 17h30 to 1900 hours, questions for the European Commission.
Wednesday 12 March (with another night session)
Council and Commission statements on Iraq (from 9 to 12 o'clock)
At 12 o'clock, votes
At 1500 hours, statement from the Council and Commission on the EU military mission in Macedonia
Report by Wallis (ELDR, Britain) on the Commission Green Paper on alternatives methods for resolving disputes stemming from civil and commercial law
Report by Gröner (ESP, Germany) on the integration of the gender dimension in the European Parliament
Report by Avilés Perea (EPP-ED, Spain) on inequalities in the use of structural funds
Report by Lulling (EPP-ED, Luxembourg) on the draft regulation concerning the harmonisation of gross national product revenue at market prices (consultation)
Report by Lehne (EPP-ED, German) on the modification of the Directive on advertising requirements for certain types of companies (co-decision, first reading)
From 17h30 to 1900 hours, questions to the Council
Thursday 13 March
Joint discussions on the reports by Whitehead (ESP, Britain) on the Commission Communication on consumer policy 2002-2006, Patrie (ESP, France) on the implications of the Green Paper on the protection of consumers and Thyssen (Epp-ED, Belgium) on the legal protection of consumers in the light of the Green Paper
At 12 o'clock, votes
At 1500 hours, Commission statement on the closure of companies after the granting of EU financial aid
From 16h30 to 17h30, debate on the violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
At 17h30 end of the votes.