Brussels, 13/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament is meeting for a mini-plenary in Brussels on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 February 2009. Debates on the Middle East, foreign relations and the defence policy are scheduled for Wednesday, and a debate on reduced VAT and a visit by the Czech president, Vaclav Klaus, for Thursday.
Wednesday 18 February.
3.00pm - midnight.
Statements of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and of the European Commission on the role of the EU in the Middle East (followed by a vote on a resolution).
Joint debate on CFSP/ESDP in the presence of Javier Solana on: - Annual Report (2007) on the main subjects and basic choices of the CFSP (Jacek Saryusz-Wolski); - European Security Strategy and ESDP (Karl von Wogau); - The role of NATO in the security architecture of the EU (Ari Vatanen).
Debate on: - The review of the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument (Konrad Szymañski); - Financing of actions other than Official Development Assistance in countries falling under Regulation (EC) 1905/2006 (Thijs Berman); - Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure (Teresa Riera Madurell).
Short presentation of the following reports: - A special place for children in EU external action (Glenys Kinnock); - Implementation of Directive 2002/14/EC establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community (Jean Louis Cottigny); - Social economy (Patrizia Toia); - Mental health (Evangelia Tzampazi); - Facing challenges in relation to oil supply (Herbert Reul); - Follow-up of the energy efficiency national action plans: a first assessment (András Gyürk); - Applied research relating to the Common Fisheries Policy (Rosa Miguélez Ramos).
Thursday 19 February.
9.00 - 10.20am
Debate on reduced levels of value-added tax (Ieke van den Burg).
10.30 - 11.00am and 11.30 - 1.00pm
Votes on report including the following: - Competition Policy 2006 and 2007 (Jonathan Evans); - European professional card for service providers (Charlotte Cederschiöld); - Community action in relation to whaling (Elspeth Attwooll); - Community involvement in the European Audiovisual Observatory (Ivo Belet); - Crop statistics (Elisabeth Jeggle); - Amendments to the convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North-East Atlantic fisheries (Philippe Morillon); - Organisation and operation of the EU Publications Office (Hanne Dahl); - Revision of the Rules of Procedure with regard to the petitions process (Gérard Onesta); - Aromatised wines, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised win-product cocktails (József Szájer); - Alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners (resolution).
11.00 - 11.30am.
Formal sitting - Statement by Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic. (A.B./transl.fl)