Brussels, 14/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 February, the conference of the presidents of the political groups in the European Parliament adopted the agenda for the plenary session of 18-21 February 2008. The debate on the reports on the safety of consumer products is still scheduled for Tuesday 19 February from 9.00am to 11.50am. Voting on the issue will take place on Thursday 21 February.
The draft agenda (see EUROPE 9595) has been progressively changed and completed over the last few days, at the request of the EP political groups. Thus, the debate on the future of Europe (at which Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt will speak) is still scheduled for Tuesday (3.00pm to 4.30pm), and the order of the debates on the Lisbon strategy and the Lisbon Treaty has been reversed. The debate on the Lisbon strategy will take place on Tuesday at 4.30pm, after discussion on the future of Europe, and the debate on the Lisbon Treaty will be held on Wednesday 20 February at 9.00am (until 11.50am).
The other amendments to the agenda (which still has to be confirmed at the opening of the session) are: - debate on the report by Gérard Deprez on the factors which encourage terrorism and promote recruitment of terrorists, initially scheduled for Wednesday, will now take place in the late evening of Monday 18 February; - similarly, the report by Ignasi Guardans Cambó (EU strategy to ensure better access to foreign markets for European companies) will take place on Monday, not Wednesday as originally scheduled; - on Monday 18 February, the European Commission will make a statement on the reform of trade protection instruments; - voting on the request for defence of the immunity and privileges of Claudio Fava will take place without debate on Tuesday 19 February; - a statement by the Council and the Commission on the of the United Nations 7th Council on Human Rights has been added to the debates on Wednesday 20 February (after Community law and Kosovo); on Wednesday 20 February from 9.00pm until midnight, the EP will discuss the report by Françoise Castex on the demographic future of Europe, and there will also be a statement by the Commission on scientific cooperation with Africa; - voting on the resolution on the situation in Gaza will be held on Thursday 21 February, between midday and 1.00pm; - debates on cases of infringement of human rights will be devoted to East Timor, Belarus and North Kivu (Democratic Republic of Congo). (L.C.)