Brussels, 25/08/2006 (Agence Europe) - An address by the President of Finland, the Eurlings Report on Turkey's progress towards joining the EU, Ilves Report and assent regarding the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania, the Belder Report on relations with China, the Rapkay Report on the European Commission's White Paper on Services of General Interest, the EU's budget for 2007, the Morillon Report on simplifying and improving the Common Fisheries Policy (see related article) and the Rossa-Silva Peneda Report on a European social model for the future - these are some of the highlights of the European Parliament's first plenary session after the summer break. The agenda is provisional and may obviously have be amended in the light of current events, especially given what is happening in the Middle East in general and Lebanon in particular. The agenda in detail:
Monday 4 September: - De Rossa-Silva Peneda Report on a European social model for the future; - Mulder Report on how to cut administrative costs associated with EU legislation; - Riis-Joergensen Report on the draft directive on taxing private vehicles (consultation); - Krasts Report on the draft regulation amending various statistical regulations (codecision, first reading); - Stubb Report on the Court of Auditors' special report to the Commission and Council on European Parliament interpreting costs at the European Parliament; - de Grandes Pascual Report on draft regulation on multi-annual funding of the European Maritime Safety Agency regarding anti-pollution measures (codecision, first reading); - Pittella Reports on draft amending budgets No. 3 (European Data Protection Controller) and No. 4 (revising own resources forecasts, British rebates for 2002, 2004 and 2005).
Tuesday 5 September: - Rapkay Report on the European Commission's White Paper on services of general interest; - Gauzès Report on draft amendment of directives on payments services in the single market (codecision, first reading); - at midday: solemn ceremony and address by Finnish President Taria Halonen; - 15.00 hrs, presentation by Council of preliminary draft EU budget for 2007; - Gröner Report on the decision establishing Daphne programme for 2007-2013 on tackling violence, preventing drug abuse and informing the public; - joint debate on Wallis recommendation on the EC joining The Hague Conference on private international law (assent) and questions by Giuseppe Gargani on the EP's participation in The Hague Conference once the EC joins; - Blokland Report on approving the Rotterdam Convention on the prior assent procedure applicable to various chemical and dangerous pesticides (consultation);- Bowis Report on a mental health strategy for the EU.
Wednesday 6 September: - Eurling Report on Turkey's progress in moving towards accession; - joint debate on a Council statement and the Ilves Report on the conclusion of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania (assent); - Belder Report on the EU's relations with China; - Morillon Report on the 2006-2008 Action Plan to simplify and improve the Common Fisheries Policy; - Fraga Estevez Report on the European Commission's communication on an EU approach to ecolabelling of fisheries products (see related article) - Fraga Estevez Report on the conclusion of a Fisheries Agreement with the Seychelles; - Capoulas Santos Report on the conclusion of a Fisheries Agreement with Comoros.
Thursday 7 September: - Trüpel Report on the recommendation on key skills in education and lifelong learning (codecision, third reading); - Sifunakis Report on the natural, architectural and European cultural heritage of rural regions and islands; - debate on specific violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.