Brussels, 09/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - The new Bulgarian and Romanian MEPs will be welcomed, the new president will be elected for the next two and a half years (see other article page 5) and Chancellor Angela Merkel will present the priorities of the German EU Presidency. These will be the highlights of the European Parliament's plenary session next week (15-18 January), in Strasbourg.
The session will begin on Monday 15 January at 18.00 with an opening address by President Josep Borrell. The 35 new MEPs of Romanian nationality and the 18 new Bulgarian members will be officially welcomed.
Tuesday (from 10.00) will be entirely devoted to the election of the president and vice-presidents. The election of EP Quaestors is scheduled to take place on Wednesday morning.
Wednesday morning 17 January (9.30 to 12.20) will be devoted to a debate with Chancellor Angela Merkel on the priorities of the German EU Presidency.
On Wednesday afternoon, the draft agenda (liable to modification) contains the following: - report by Francesco Enrico Speroni on the request to lift the parliamentary immunity of Vural Öger; - report by Raul Romeva i Rueda on the seventh annual report on arms exports; - the recommendation by Georg Jarzembowski for second reading on the development of Community railways; - the recommendation by Gilles Savary for second reading on certification of on-board personnel including locomotive and train drivers on the EU rail network; - the recommendation by Dirk Sterckx for second reading on the rights and obligations of international rail travellers; - report by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen on the European programme for road safety; - and the report by José Ribeiro e Castro on amending the ACP/EU partnership agreement.
On Thursday 18 January, during the morning (10.00-12.00), MEPs will discuss the report by Anna Zaborska on an integrated approach to gender equality in the context of committee work, as well as the report by Diana Wallis on the law applying to non-contractual obligations (Rome II). There will then be voting (12.00-13.00). (hb)