Strasbourg, 06/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament's plenary session next week in Strasbourg will above all provide MEPs, on the eve of the end-of-year summit, with an opportunity to express their wishes for the European Council of 14 and 15 December (on 18 December in Brussels, they will take stock of this European Council during a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of political groups open to all MEPs). Also, the Parliament will vote in second reading on the legislation on chemical products, REACH, after years of difficult discussion (see EUROPE 9319 on the subject of the agreement reached during the EP/Council trilogue). The plenary will also discuss enlargement strategy and the EU's ability to integrate new Member States (see in particular EUROPE 9302, 9312 and 9313). As each time in December, the Parliament will award its Sakharov Prize for freedom of spirit. For the year 2006 it goes to the leader of the opposition in Belarus, Alexander Milinkevich (see other article on this also). The detailed agenda, which is subject to change depending on topical developments, is as follows:
Monday 11 December (from 17h00 to 24h00):
REACH joint discussion on recommendations for the second reading by Guido Sacconi (GUE/NGL, Italy) concerning the Council's common position on the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemical substances and the establishment of a European Agency on chemical products and concerning the Council's common position on approximation of legislative, regulatory and administrative provisions for the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances in order to adjust it to the REACH regulation (voting on Wednesday).
Joint discussion of the report by Jannelly Fourtou (ALDE, France) on the proposal for a regulation on the modernised Community customs code and on the decision establishing the Customs 2013 action programme, and the report by Christopher Heaton-Harris (EPP-ED, UK) on the proposal for a decision concerning an environment without paper support for customs and trade.
Report by Kathy Sinnott (IND/DEM, Ireland) on the proposal for a recommendation concerning the prevention of injury and promotion of security.
Report by Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (Greens/EFA, Germany) on amendment to the directive concerning movements of compound animal feed.
Report by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL, Portugal) on the proposal for a decision on certain spending in the veterinary field.
Report by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PES, France) on amendments to the Regulations of 1993 and 2003 on the banana sector.
Tuesday 12 December (from 9h00 to 0h00)
Joint discussion on the recommendation for the second reading by Gay Mitchell (EPP-ED, Ireland) concerning the Council's common position on the regulation establishing an instrument for the financing of development cooperation, and the report by David Martin (PES, UK) on the establishment of a cooperation financing instrument with the industrialised countries and territories and the other high income countries and territories.
Report by Christa Klass (EPP-ED, Germany) on the joint draft directive, approved by the Conciliation Committee, on the protection of subsurface waters against pollution and deterioration.
Voting at 11h30, including on the nomination of Bulgarian and Romanian Commissioners (see EUROPE 9315 and 9316 on the subject of the hearings of the new European Commissioners).
At 12h00, awarding of Sakharov Prize 2006 to Alexander Milinkevich.
Council and Commission Declaration on the annual report by the EU Council on human rights.
Report by James Elles (EPP-ED, UK) and Louis Grech (PES, Malta) on the draft budget for the EU for 2007, modified by the Council (see EUROPE 9317).
Report by Ingeborg Grässle (EPP-Ed, Germany) on the modification of the financial regulation applicable to the Community budget.
Report by Janusz Lewandowski (EPP-ED, Poland) on amendment of the regulation on surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings mainly when this concerns the Community contribution for Bulgaria and Romania.
Report by Giovanni Pittella (PES, Italy) on the draft amending budget 6/2006 concerning the revision of own resources provision and the reduction of EAGGF and Structural Fund financing.
Report by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL, Finland) on the proposal for a Council decision granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans and guarantees for projects outside the EU.
Recommendation for second reading by Lissy Gröner (PES, Germany) and Amalia Sartori (EPP-ED, Italy) on the Council's common position for a regulation for the creation of an Institute for Gender Equality.
Report by Ruth Hieronymi (EPP-ED, Germany) on amending the directive on coordination of certain Member State provisions concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities.
Recommendation by Marielle De Sarnez (ALDE, France) on the Council common position with a view to adoption of the recommendation on protection of minors and human dignity in relation to the competitiveness of European audiovisual and on-line information services industry.
Wednesday 13 December (from 19h00 to 0h00)
Joint discussion of reports by Elmar Brok (EPP-ED, Germany) on the European Commission's communication concerning EU enlargement strategy, and by Alexander Stubb (EPP-ED, Finland) on the institutional aspects of the EU's capacity to take in new Member States.
At 12h00 voting - mainly on REACH, the legislative programme and work of the Commission for 2007 (for the debate, see EUROPE 9306 and 9308) and on the EU/Russia Summit (see EUROPE 9314 and, for the plenary debate, 9318).
At 15h00, Council and Commission declarations on the preparation of the European Council on 14 and 15 December.
Recommendation for the second reading by Mathieu Grosch (EPP-ED, Belgium) on the Council's common position concerning the directive on driving licences (see EUROPE 9313).
Report by Fernand Le Rachinel (NA, French National Front) on the proposal for a regulation of the EP and of the Council for the accelerated introduction of double hull specifications or equivalent design standards for single hull tankers.
Recommendation for second reading by Diana Wallis (ALDE, UK) on a Council common position with a view to adopting the regulation on the law applying to non-contractual obligations (ROME II).
Joint discussion on Reports by Carlos Coelho (EPP-ED, Portugal) on amendment of the 2001 regulation and decision on the development of the 2nd generation Schengen Information System (SIS II).
Thursday 14 December (from 9h00 to 17h00)
Joint discussion of reports by Eluned Morgan (PES, UK) concerning the Green Paper by the Commission on a European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy, and that by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NFL, Finland) on the proposal for a regulation establishing an instrument for nuclear safety and security assistance.
Report by Matthias Groote (PEs, Germany) on the proposal for a regulation on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions and access to vehicle repair information.
Oral question by the Socialist Group on the Convention of The Hague on securities.
Debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and rule of law. (mg)