Brussels, 13/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament will meet in plenary session in Strasbourg from 17-20 November. On Tuesday, MEPs will discuss the financial crisis, following the latest informal European Council (see EUROPE 9778) and forthcoming G20 meeting in Washington on 15 November (within this debate they will discuss the Commission's work plan for 2009). On Wednesday, they will have joint discussion on the situation on the Democratic Republic of Congo (see EUROPE 9779). On the same day, the Chief Rabbi of the UK will address the Chamber and the following day it will be the turn of the President to the Court of Auditors. The EP will also adopt its positions on the common agricultural policy health check and on “blue cards”. It is expected also to vote on lifting the parliamentary immunity of non-attached Belgian MEP and former leader of Vlaams Belang, Frank Vanhecke, who is being taken to court as the editor of a racist publication.
Monday 17 November.
5.00pm to midnight
EMU@10: Successes and challenges of 10 years of economic and monetary union (report by Pervenche Berès and Werner Langen - see EUROPE 9769).
Recommendations on the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women (report by Edit Bauer).
General arrangements for excise duty (report by Astrid Lulling).
Oral question to the Commission on the European Union Solidarity Fund and obstacles to its reform.
Brief presentation of own initiative reports: - Protecting the Consumer: Improving consumer education and awareness on credit and finance (report by Malinova Iotova); - Consumer Markets Scoreboard (report by Anna Hedh); - Supporting Early Demonstration of Sustainable Power Generation from Fossil Fuels (report by Christian Ehler).
Tuesday 18 November
9.00am
Vote on raising the ceiling for medium-term financial assistance to non-euro area member states (see EUROPE 9772).
9.00 to 11.50am
Joint debate on the Common Agricultural Policy and common rules for direct payments (reports by Luis Manuel, Capoulas Santos).
After the main debate: School Fruit Scheme (report by Niels Busk)
Midday to 1.00pm
Votes on Jacek Saryusz-Wolski report - Conclusion of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EC and Kazakhstan to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU; - Angelika Niebler report - Joint undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR); - Neil Parish report - Modification of the single COM regulation; - Diana Wallis report - Statutory markings for two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles (codified version); - Diana Wallis report - Company law concerning single-member private limited liability companies (codified version); - Diana Wallis report - The driver's seat on wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors (codified version); - Diana Wallis report - Guarantee fund for external actions; - Hans-Peter Mayer report - Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters; - Pervenche Berès report - European system of national and regional accounts in the Community; - Reimer Böge report - Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund; - Ville Itälä report - Amending budget no. 9/2008: Economic and Social Committee; - Klaus-Heiner Lehne reports - Request for waiver of the immunity of Frank Vanhecke and Massimo D'Alema.
3.00 to 6.00pm
Statements by the Council and European Commission on the EU response to the global financial crisis and debate on the Commission's legislative and work programmes for 2009 (with the President of the Commission José Manuel Barroso and members of the College and - subject to cancellation - French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde).
6.00 to 7.00pm
Questions to the Council
9.00pm to Midnight
Publication and translation obligations for certain forms of company (Piia-Noora Kauppi)
European statistics (report by Andreas Schwab)
EU statistics on public health and health and safety at work (Karin Scheele).
Commission declaration and discussion on balance of payments support mechanism in member states
Wednesday 19 November.
9.00 to 11.20am.
Joint debate with Council and Commission declarations on the deteriorating situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and an oral question to the Commission on the review of the recommendation 2001/331/EC providing for minimum criteria for environmental inspection in the member states.
11.30 to Midday.
Votes.
Midday to 12.30pm.
Formal sitting - Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth
12.30 to 1.00pm
- Continuation of votes.
3.00 to 6.00pm.
Joint debate - Conditions of entry of third-country nationals for the purposes of employment ( reports by Ewa Klamt on conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment and Patrick Gaubert on the single application procedure for residency and work)
Oral questions to the Commission on: European Space Policy: How to bring space down to earth
Convention on Cluster munitions needs to come into effect before the end of 2008 - oral question to Commission
6.00 to 7.00pm.
Questions to the Commission.
9.00pm to Midnight
Declarations from the Council and Commission on: - demographic tendencies (Economic and social impacts); - HIV/AIDS (early diagnosis and early care) - Council and Commission statements.
The future of social security systems and pensions (report Gabriele Stauner).
Oral question on the bee-keeping sector.
Thursday 20 November.
9.00 to 11.50am.
Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report (2007).
Amendment of Regulation (EC) No.1073/1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) (report by Ingeborg Gräßle).
Midday to 1.00pm
Votes on: - report by Rainer Wieland - Special report from the European Parliament following the draft recommendation 1487/2005/GG; - Motions for resolutions - EU PNR data (the debate took place on 20 October last).
3.00 to 4.00pm.
Debate (followed by votes) on the situation in Somalia, human rights activists in Russia and the case of the al-Kurd family (which was expelled from its house in East Jerusalem). (A.B./trans/rh.)