Brussels, 11/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - MEPs are to discuss their status in plenary next Wednesday, by request of the Greens/FTA and the Liberals, who introduced two oral questions, which the Chairmen's Conference has decided to add to the agenda. The Green group "would like clarity finally to reign on this issue, which is not good for the image of the European Parliament", especially "travel expenses". The Council and the Commission should also make statements on this, and the EP could approve a resolution. Also on Wednesday, the Council and Commission will make statements on the possibility of lifting the embargo on sales of arms to China. On the same day, the plenary will look into the role of the EU in conflict prevention in Africa, especially in Côte d'Ivoire. On the day before, an inter-institutional agreement, "Better legislation", will be signed. At the end of Thursday afternoon, human rights debates will focus on Georgia, the Philippines and Moldova. The Commission will make a statement on the floods in the south of France. The Zappalà report on the recognition of vocational qualifications and the Nobilia report on environmental liability have been postponed until January. A report on road safety has been added for Monday, one on genetically modified crops for Wednesday.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-chairman of the Greens/FTA group to the European Parliament, has written to Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, pointing out the illegality under EU law of the exportation of a German MOX plant to China. Mr Cohn-Bendit stressed that exports from the plant in Hanua, which is "dual use" and "can therefore be used for the production of nuclear arms" violates a European regulation of 2000 imposing checks on the export of dual-use goods. The existing embargo on exports of weapons to China bans this type of export, says the MEP.