Brussels, 07/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament will be meeting in plenary this month in Strasbourg from Monday 12 November to Thursday 15 November inclusive. Soil protection, incorporating aviation in the greenhouse gas emissions trading system, the signing of agreements on short stay visas and readmission with Ukraine and Moldova, Schengen rules and globalisation are some of the main points of discussion at the plenary, which will be attended by the president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, who will be making an official visit to the EP on Tuesday 13 November.
Monday 12 November
17: 00 to 23: 00 - One-minute speeches. Own initiative report by Pál Schmitt on the role of sport in education (1st reading or single reading). Joint debate on soil protection: - report by Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines on framework for the protection of soil (codecision, 1st reading); - own initiative report by Vittorio Prodi on the thematic strategy for soil protection (1st reading or single reading). Report by Peter Liese on amendment of Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (codecision, 1st reading). Joint debate on the EU-Balkans Agreements on short-say visas and readmission: - reports by Barbara Kudrycka on the EU-Ukraine agreement on short-stay visas (consultation) and the EU-Ukraine readmission agreement (consultation); -reports by Marian-Jean Marinescu on short-stay visa agreement between the EU and Moldova (consultation) and the EU-Moldova readmission agreement (consultation). Report by Romana Jordan Cizelj on statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency (consultation).
Tuesday 13 November
9: 00 to 11: 20 - Possible voting on emergency requests. Debate: on European Commission's work programme for 2008.
11: 30 to 12: 00 - Voting on texts and the following reports: - recommendation by Helmuth Markov on Bulgaria and Romania's participation in the European Economic Area (assent); - report by Angelika Niebler on the amendment to Directive 2003/54/EC as regards Estonia (codecision, 1st reading); - reports by Pervenche Berès on the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Committee (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading), transparency requirements for issuers or securities (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading), capital adequacy of investment firms and lending institutions (implementing powers of the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading), the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading), direct life insurance (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading), supervision of credit institutions, insurance undertakings and investment firms (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading), insider dealing and market manipulation (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (co-decision, 1st reading), markets in financial instruments (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (co-decision, 1st reading), prospectus on securities (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (co-decision, 1st reading); - report by Françoise Grossetête on Community code on medicinal products for human use (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading); - report by Åsa Westlund on the placing of biocidal products on the market (codecision, 1st reading); - report by Robert Sturdy on pesticide residue levels in food and feed (codecision, 1st reading); - report by Bert Doorn on statutory audit of general accounts and consolidated accounts (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading); - report by Manuel Medina Ortega on international accounting standards (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading); - report by Philip Bradbourn on preventing money laundering and the funding of terrorism (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading); - report by Michael Cashman on the Community code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) (codecision, 1st reading); - motion for a resolution on international accounting standards.
12: 00 to 12: 30 - Formal sitting, address by Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France.
12: 00 to 13: 00 - Continuation of voting.
15: 00 to 17: 30 and 21: 00 to 24: 00 - Joint debate on Schengen acquis: - Council statement on application of the Schengen acquis; report by Carlos Coelho on application of Schengen acquis in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (consultation). Council and Commission statements on preparing for EuroMed ministerial conference. Own initiative report by Carlos José Iturgaiz Angulo on the deliberations of the petitions committee in 2006. Own initiative report by Nikolaos Vakalis on the regional impact of earthquakes. Report by Karin Scheele on EU public health, and health and safety at work statistics (codecision, 1st reading). Joint debate on humanitarian aid: - European Commission statement - 'Proclamation of consensus on humanitarian aid'; - Own initiative report by Thierry Cornillet on the European Union and humanitarian aid. Report by Iles Braghetto on recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (consultation). Report by Paulo Casaca on data in the fisheries sector and scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy (consultation).
17: 30 to 19: 00 - Commission Question Time.
Wednesday 14 November
9: 00 to 11: 50 - Key debate: Council and Commission statements on 'The European interest: succeeding in the age of globalisation'.
12: 00 to 13: 00 - Voting on motions for resolutions on the EU-Russia summit (debate of 24 October 2007) and texts on which debate is closed.
15: 00 to 18: 00 - Oral questions to the Commission and Council from Guido Sacconi on the Council's strategy for the Bali conference on climate change. Own initiative report by Raimon Obiols i Germà and Charles Tannock on strengthening the European neighbourhood policy. Own initiative report by Zbigniew Zaleski on trade and economic relations with Ukraine.
18: 00 to 19: 30 - Council Question Time
21: 00 to 24: 00 - Report by Jo Leinen on regulations governing political parties at European level (codecision, 1st reading). Commission statement - 'Complaint by Boeing (US) against Airbus (EU) before the WTO'. Report by Alexandru Athanasiu on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies (codecision, 1st reading). Oral question to the Commission from Giuseppe Gargani on cross-border collective copyright management.
Thursday 15 November
10: 00 to 11: 50 - Own initiative report by Henri Weber on the interoperability of digital interactive television services. Own initiative report by Elizabeth Lynne on social reality stocktaking in 2007.
12: 00 to 13: 00 - Voting on texts on which debate is closed.
15: 00 to 16: 00 - Debates on violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
16: 00 (or at the end of the preceding debates) - Voting on: - motions for resolution concerning debates on violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; - texts on which debate is closed. (O.L.)