Brussels, 17/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - During the May plenary session the European Parliament in Strasbourg will again debate Iraq on Wednesday morning: during the session at the end of March, but was unable to adopt a resolution on the crisis (see EUROPE 27 March, p 3 and 28 March p 6). On the same day, the Greek Presidency and the Commission will make declarations, followed by debates on the EU/Russia Summit on 31 May in Saint Petersburg (see EUROPE 15 April p 8 and 16 April p 6) and on the European Commission initiative to new neighbours of the ten new Member States after enlargement (see EUROPE 15 April p 6). On Wednesday, MEPs will also listen to a speech by the President of Poland and are expected to confirm the appointment of Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell as a member of the board of governors of the European Central Bank (see p 10 on the subject of the economic and monetary committee's hearing). Tuesday, the Commission will present its preliminary draft budget for the EU for 2004 and the Parliament will debate the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPG) and the guidelines for employment in 2003. A common discussion on several reports on energy policy is expected to begin on Monday morning. Here is the detailed agenda, which could still be subject to amendment
Monday 12 (17 H-21 H)
common discussion of several reports on the Council's common positions: reports by McNally (PES, United Kingdom), the "Intelligent Energy" programme for 2003-2006, Turmes (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg), directive abrogating that of 1996 on common rules for the single electricity market, Rapkay (PES, Germany), directive abrogating that of 1998 of the single natural gas market, Mombaur (EPP-ED, Germany), regulation on access conditions to cross-border exchange network, Clegg (ELDR, United Kingdom), decision establishing guidelines on trans-European energy networks (co-decision in all cases, second reading)
Glante report (PES, Germany): draft directive on promotion of cogeneration (co-decision, first reading)
Valdivielso de Cué (EPP-ED, Spain) on situation in naval shipyards throughout the world
Tuesday 13 May (with first night session)
Manders report (ELDR, Netherlands): draft directive on environmental responsibility in view of preventing and repairing environmental damage (co-decision, first reading)
Sacconi report (PES, Italy): environmental reports concluded in the framework of the "Simplify and Improve Environmental Regulation" action plan
Corbett report (PES, United Kingdom): on the amendment of the 1999 decision on the methods for carrying out the competencies of the Commission (consultation)
12 H, voting
common discussion of Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (EPP-ED, Spain) reports on the Broad Economic guidelines of Community Member States for 2003 and Herman Schmid on employment guidelines
17 H, Commission communication on decisions taken on the day
17.30 H questions to the Commission
night session, Commission presentation of the preliminary draft budget for 2004 and the Gill report (PES, United Kingdom) on the projected state of the EP and the Färm report (PES, Sweden) on the draft amended budget No. 1 to the 2003 budget
common discussion on the reports by Gebhardt (PES, Germany) on the draft regulation on the status of European co-operative companies (co-decision, first reading) and de Rossa (PES, Ireland) on the draft budget completing the co-operative status for worker participation (consultation)
Callanan (EPP-ED, United Kingdom): common project of the Conciliation Committee amending 1994 directive on the provisions for pleasure boats Member States (co-decision, third reading).
Wednesday 14 May (with second night session)
Council and Commission declarations on Iraq
12 H, solemn session will speech from President of the Polish Republic, Aleksander Kwasneiwski
12.30 H voting
Council and Commission declaration on the initiative to support new neighbours in Greater Europe
Council and Commission declaration on preparation of the EU/Russia Summit
Question hour to the Council
report on replacing member of the ECB
Malliori report: draft regulation on smoky flavourings use in foodstuffs (co-decision, first reading)
Nicholson report (EPP-ED, united Kingdom): draft regulation on insurance for airliners (co-decision, first reading)
Collins report (UEN, Ireland): Conciliation Committee common draft on directive for reporting events in civil aviation (co-decision, third reading)
Thursday 15 May
Schmitt report (EPP-ED, Germany): draft regulation on prevention of money laundering by way of customs co-operation (co-decision, first reading)
Bouwman report (Greens/EFA, Netherlands): common position of the Council for a regulation on Community statistics on income and living conditions (co-decision, first reading)
Lulling report (EPP-ED, Luxembourg): common Council position for amending regulation on transmission deadlines for main national aggregate accounts in developing countries and the transmission of employment data in hours worked (co-decision, second reading)
Ferrer report (EPP-ED, Spain) on the strengthening of capacity in developing countries
Miranda report (GUE/NGL, Portugal) on the work of the Joint ACP-EU Assembly in 2002
van den Berg report §PES, Netherlands) on the Commission communication on education and training in the context of reducing poverty in developing countries
12 H voting
16.30 H - 17.30 H, debate on violations of human rights, democracy and the State of Law
17.30 H, final votes.