26.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 77/1

---

MINUTES

(2004/C 77 E/01)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITTING

IN THE CHAIR: Pat COX

President

1.   Resumption of session

The sitting opened at 17.05.

2.   Statements by the President

The President paid tribute to Anna Lindh, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs and former President-in-Office of the Council, who had died on 11 September 2003 following an attack.

He noted that he had sent, in his own name and on behalf of Parliament, his condolences to Anna Lindh's family, friends and colleagues, as well as to the Swedish people.

Parliament observed a minute's silence.

Jan Andersson endorsed the President's remarks.

*

* *

The President welcomed the positive result of, and the high level of participation in, the Latvian referendum on accession to the European Union.

3.   Approval of Minutes of previous sitting

The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

4.   Membership of committees and delegations

At the request of the PSE, PPE-DE and ELDR Groups, Parliament ratified the following appointments:

—	CONT Committee: Arlene McCarthy to replace Eluned Morgan;

—	EMPL Committee: Anne André-Léonard;

—	AFCO Committee: Giorgio Calò to replace Paolo Costa;

—	Delegation for relations with the countries of South America and Mercosur: Giorgio Calò;

—	Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee: Charles Tannock to replace Werner Langen.

5.   Verification of credentials

On a proposal from the JURI Committee, Parliament validated the mandates of Peter Pex, Anne André-Léonard, Koenraad Dillen and Philip Claeys.

6.   Membership of political groups

Pietro-Paolo Mennea had become a Non-attached Member with effect from 8 July 2003.

7.   Documents received

The following documents had been received:

1)

from the Council and Commission: — Council of the European Union: Preliminary draft general budget of the European Communities for the financial year 2004 (11357/2003 and 11358/2003 — C5-0300/2003 — 2003/2001 and 2003/2002(BUD)) referred to responsible: BUDG   opinion: AFET, CONT, LIBE, ECON, JURI, ITRE, EMPL, ENVI, AGRI, PECH, RETT, CULT, DEVE, AFCO, FEMM, all Committees concerned legal basis: Article 272 EC, Article 177 Euratom — Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste (COM(2003) 379 — C5-0365/2003 — 2003/0139(COD)) referred to responsible: ENVI legal basis: Article 175(1) EC — Proposal for the transfer of appropriations 24/2003 between Chapters in Section III — Commission — Part B — of the General Budget for the European Union for the financial year 2003 (SEC(2003) 969 — C5-0386/2003 — 2003/2175(GBD)) referred to responsible: BUDG legal basis: Article 274 EC — Proposal for the transfer of appropriations 26/2003 between Chapters in Section III — Commission — Part B — of the General Budget for the European Union for the financial year 2003 (SEC(2003) 2 — C5-0387/2003 — 2003/2176(GBD)) referred to responsible: BUDG legal basis: Article 274 EC — Proposal for the transfer of appropriations 23/2003 between Chapters in Section III — Commission — Part B — of the General Budget for the European Union for the financial year 2003 (SEC(2003) 993 — C5-0388/2003 — 2003/2177(GBD)) referred to responsible: BUDG legal basis: Article 274 EC — Draft Commission Regulation on a standard financial regulation for the executive agencies pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes (SEC(2003) 803 — C5-0389/2003 — 2003/0904(CNS)) referred to responsible: BUDG   opinion: CONT — Proposal for a Council Regulation introducing a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French departments of Guyana and Réunion as a result of those regions' remoteness (COM(2003) 516 — C5-0390/2003 — 2003/0202(CNS)) referred to responsible: PECH   opinion: BUDG, RETT legal basis: Article 37 EC — Proposal for a Council Regulation on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radionavigation programme (COM(2003) 471 — C5-0391/2003 — 2003/0177(CNS)) referred to responsible: ITRE   opinion: RETT legal basis: Article 308 EC — Proposal for a Council decision approving the accession of the European Community to the International Plant Protection Convention, as revised and approved by Resolution 12/97 of the Twenty-ninth Session of the FAO Conference in November 1997 (COM(2003) 470 — C5-0392/2003 — 2003/0178(CNS)) referred to responsible: AGRI   opinion: ITRE, ENVI legal basis: Articles 37, 300(2), 1st subparagraph and 300(3) EC — Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1734/94 on financial and technical cooperation with the Occupied Territories (COM(2003) 523 — C5-0403/2003 — 2003/0204(COD)) referred to responsible: ITRE   opinion: AFET, BUDG legal basis: Article 178(1) EC — The European convention: Revenue and expenditure account and balance sheet — financial year 2002 (I5-0016/2003 — C5-0406/2003 — 2003/0903(AVC)) referred to responsible: CONT — Draft Interinstitutional Agreement on better law-making between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission (I5-0017/2003 — C5-0407/2003 — 2003/2131(ACI)) referred to responsible: AFCO   opinion: JURI legal basis: Article 5 EC — Proposal for the transfer of appropriations 25/2003 between Chapters in Section III — Commission — Part B — of the General Budget for the European Union for the financial year 2003 (SEC(2003) 994 — C5-0426/2003 — 2003/2174(GBD)) referred to responsible: BUDG legal basis: Article 274 EC — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 90/435/EEC on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States (‘ROME II’) (COM(2003) 462 — C5-0427/2003 — 2003/0179(CNS)) referred to responsible: ECON   opinion: JURI legal basis: Article 93 EC — Proposal for a Council Decision on additional macro-financial assistance to Serbia and Montenegro amending Decision 2002/882/EC providing further macro financial assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (COM(2003) 506 — C5-0428/2003 — 2003/0190(CNS)) referred to responsible: ITRE   opinion: AFET, BUDG legal basis: Article 308 EC — Amended proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle and amending Directive 70/156/EEC (COM(2003) 553 — C5-0432/2003 — 2003/0033(COD)) referred to responsible: RETT   opinion: JURI, ENVI legal basis: Article 95 EC — Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's Common Position regarding the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste (COM(2003) 536 — C5-0433/2003 — 2001/0291(COD)) referred to responsible: ENVI   opinion: ITRE legal basis: Article 95(2) EC — Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's Common Position regarding the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of mirrors and supplementary systems for indirect vision and of vehicles equipped with these devices and amending Directive 70/156/EEC (COM(2003) 547 — C5-0434/2003 — 2001/0317(COD)) referred to responsible: JURI   opinion: ITRE, RETT legal basis: Article 95 EC — Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation No 79/65/EEC setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Economic Community (COM(2003) 472 — C5-0437/2003 — 2003/0183(CNS)) referred to responsible: AGRI   opinion: BUDG legal basis: Article 37 EC — Proposal for a Council regulation on the protection of animaux during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EEC (COM(2003) 425 — C5-0438/2003 — 2003/0171(CNS)) referred to responsible: AGRI   opinion: ENVI, RETT legal basis: Article 37 EC — Council of the European Union: Initiative of the Italian Republic with a view to adopting a Council Directive on assistance in cases of transit through the territory of one or more Member States in the context of removal orders taken by Member States against third-country nationals (12026/2003 — C5-0439/2003 — 2003/0822(CNS)) referred to responsible: LIBE legal basis: Article 63 EC — Council of the European Union: Initiative of the Italian Republic with a view to adopting a Council Decision on the organisation of joint flights for removals of third-country nationals illegally present in the territory of two or more Member States (12025/2003 — C5-0440/2003 — 2003/0821(CNS)) referred to responsible: LIBE legal basis: Article 63(3) EC — Proposal for a Council Regulation on the establishment of a regime of local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States (COM(2003) 502 — C5-0442/2003 — 2003/0193(CNS)) referred to responsible: LIBE   opinion: AFET legal basis: Article 62 EC — Proposal for a Council Regulation on the establishment of a regime of local border traffic at the temporary external land borders between Member States (COM(2003) 502 — C5-0443/2003 — 2003/0194(CNS)) referred to responsible: LIBE   opinion: AFET legal basis: Article 62 EC — Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 850/98 as regards the protection of deep-water coral reefs from the effects of trawling in an area north west of Scotland (COM(2003) 519 — C5-0446/2003 — 2003/0201(CNS)) referred to responsible: PECH   opinion: ENVI legal basis: Article 37 EC

2)

from committees: 2.1) reports: — Report on insertion of a new Rule 29a in Parliament's Rules of Procedure: activities and legal situation of the political groups — 2003/2114(REG)) — Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Rapporteur: Mr Dell'Alba (A5-0283/2003). — Report on the Draft Amending Budget No 4/2003 of the European Union for the financial year 2003, Section III — Commission — 2003/2113(BUD)) — Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Mr Färm (A5-0285/2003). — Report on the Structural Funds: trend in outstanding commitments and requirements for 2004 — 2002/2272(INI)) — Committee on Budgets. Rapporteur: Mr Pittella (A5-0286/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on Investment services and regulated markets, and amending Council Directive 85/611/EEC, Council Directive 93/6/EEC and European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/12/EC (COM(2002) 625 — C5-0586/2002 — 2002/0269(COD)) — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Mrs Villiers (A5-0287/2003). — * Report 1. on the initiative by the Hellenic Republic on a Council decision on procedures for amending the Sirene Manual (7180/2003 — C5-0149/2003 — 2003/0808(CNS)); 2. on the initiative by the Hellenic Republic on a Council regulation on procedures for amending the Sirene Manual (7179/2003 — C5-0148/2003 — 2003/0807(CNS)) — Committee on Citizens, Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Mr Coelho (A5-0288/2003). — * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the extension of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of Mauritius on fishing in Mauritian waters for the period 3 December 2002 to 2 December 2003 (COM(2003) 202 — C5-0236/2003 — 2003/0074(CNS)) — Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Mr Souchet (A5-0289/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision for a monitoring mechanism of Community greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol (COM(2003) 51 — C5-0031/2003 — 2003/0029(COD)) — Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy. Rapporteur: Mr Sacconi (A5-0290/2003). — * Second report on the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to adopting a Council directive on assistance in cases of transit for the purposes of removal by air (14848/2002 — C5-0011/2003 — 2003/0801(CNS)) — Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Mr Kirkhope (A5-0291/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in decorative paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products and amending Directive 1999/13/EC (COM(2002) 750 — C5-0632/2002 — 2002/0301(COD)) — Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy. Rapporteur: Mr Lisi (A5-0292/2003). — * Report on the proposal for a Council directive repealing Council Directives 68/414/EEC and 98/93/EC imposing an obligation on Member States of the EEC to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products, and Council Directive 73/238/EEC on measures to mitigate the effects of difficulties in the supply of crude oil and petroleum products (COM(2002) 488 — C5-0489/2002 — 2002/0221(CNS)) — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Mr Karlsson (A5-0293/2003). — Report on European space policy — Green Paper (COM(2003) 17 — C5-0209/2003 — 2003/2092(INI)) — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Mr Bodrato (A5-0294/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply (COM(2002) 488 — C5-0449/2002 — 2002/0220(COD)) — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Mr Mombaur (A5-0295/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the law of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from interna combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery (COM(2002) 765 — C5-0636/2002 — 2002/0304(COD)) — Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy. Rapporteur: Mr Lange (A5-0296/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive concerning the alignment of measures with regard to securit of supply for petroleum products (COM(2002) 488 — C5-0448/2002 — 2002/0219(COD)) — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. Rapporteur: Mr Karlsson (A5-0297/2003). — Report on public access to Parliament, Council and Commission documents (implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 in the year 2002) — 2003/2022(INI)) — Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Mr Cashman (A5-0298/2003). — * Report on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and the European Parliament's opinion on the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) (CONV850/03 — C5-0340/2003 — 2003/0902(CNS)) — Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Co-rapporteurs: José María Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado and Dimitri Tsatsos (A5-0299/2003). — * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation repealing Regulation (EEC) No 3975/87 and amending Regulation (EEC) No 3976/87 and Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, in connection with air transport between the Community and third countries (COM(2003) 91 — C5-0107/2003 — 2003/0038(CNS)) — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Mr Mayer (A5-0300/2003). — * Report on the draft Council directive restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity (Renewed consultation) (8084/03 — C5-0192/2003 — 1997/0111(CNS)) — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Mr Jonckheer (A5-0302/2003). — Report on the communication from the Commission concerning an integrated framework for fisheries partnership agreements with third countries (COM(2002) 637 — C5-0070/2003 — 2003/2034(INI)) — Committee on Fisheries. Rapporteur: Mr Cunha (A5-0303/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive amending Council Directive 77/541/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to safety belts and restraint systems of motor vehicles (simplified procedure — Rule 158(1) of the Rules of Procedure) (COM(2003) 363 — C5-0282/2003 — 2003/0130(COD)) — Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Mr Costa (A5-0304/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive amending Council Directive 76/115/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to anchorages for motor-vehicle safety belts (Simplified procedure — Rule158(1) of the Rules of Procedure) (COM(2003) 362 — C5-0286/2003 — 2003/0136(COD)) — Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Mr Costa (A5-0305/2003). — Recommendation to the Council on the situation in Iraq — 2003/2178(INI)) — Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy. Rapporteur: Mr Brok (A5-0306/2003). — * Recommendation on the appointment of Mr Jean-Claude Trichet as President of the European Central Bank (10893/2003 — C5-0332/2003 — 2003/0819(CNS)) — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteur: Mrs Randzio-Plath (A5-0307/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive amending Council Directive 92/24/EEC relating to speed limitation devices or similar speed limitation on-board systems of certain categories of motor vehicles (Simplified procedure — Rule 158(1) of the Rules of Procedure) (COM(2003) 350 — C5-0272/2003 — 2003/0122(COD)) — Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Mr Costa (A5-0308/2003). — Report on the request for defence of parliamentary immunity and privileges submitted by Jannis Sakellariou (IMM032023 — 2003/2023(IMM)) — Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market. Rapporteur: Mr Lehne (A5-0309/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on the harmonisation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning credit for consumers (COM(2002) 443 — C5-0420/2002 — 2002/0222(COD)) — Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market. Rapporteur: Mr Wuermeling (A5-0310/2003). — ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the Trans-European Road Network (COM(2002) 769 — C5-0635/2002 — 2002/0309(COD)) — Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Mr Rack (A5-0311/2003). 2.2) recommendations for second reading: — ***II Recommendation for second reading on the Council common position adopting a European Parliament and Council directive on the safety of third countries aircraft using community airports (8478/1/2003 — C5-0278/2003 — 2002/0014(COD)) — Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Mrs Maes (A5-0301/2003).

3)

from Members: 3.1) oral questions (Rule 42): — Caroline F. Jackson, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy, on the interim progress report on the EU's contribution to the WSSD Plan of Implementation (B5-0275/2003), — Astrid Lulling and Dominique F.C. Souchet, on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, on the difficulties encountered by European beekeeping (B5-0276/2003), — Johanna L.A. Boogerd-Quaak, on behalf of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs, on the transfer of personal data by airlines in connection with transatlantic flights (B5-0277/2003), — Klaus-Heiner Lehne, Othmar Karas, Giuseppe Gargani and Stefano Zappalà, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on the market regulations and competition rules for the liberal professions (B5-0278/2003). 3.2) motions for resolution (Rule 48): — Nicholas Clegg, on the Commission Communication on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), Proposal for an Action Plan (B5-0397/2003) referred to responsible: ITRE   opinion: ENVI 3.3) proposal for a recommendation (Rule 49): — Marco Cappato and Giuseppe Di Lello Finuoli, on the rights of prisoners in the European Union (B5-0362/2003/rev.) referred to responsible: LIBE 3.4) written declarations for entry in the Register (Rule 51): — Struan Stevenson, Bob van den Bos, Nelly Maes, Mihail Papayannakis and Phillip Whitehead on a ban on cat and dog fur (17/2003), — André Brie, Willi Görlach, Joost Lagendijk and Philippe Morillon on the need to improve the human rights situation of the Kurdish population in Syria (18/2003), — Marie Anne Isler Béguin and Alexander de Roo, on making the conclusion of EU agreements with third countries conditional upon ratification of the Kyoto Protocol (19/2003).

8.   Written declarations (Rule 51)

In accordance with Rule 51(5), written declarations Nos 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14/2003 lapsed as they had not obtained the required number of signatures.

9.   Action taken on Parliament's positions and resolutions

The Commission communication on the action taken on Parliament's resolution on the crisis in the international coffee market (P5_TA(2003)0189) had been distributed.

10.   Petitions

The following petitions, which had been entered in the register on the dates shown below, had been forwarded to the committee responsible, pursuant to Rule 174(5):

9 September 2003

by Mr Jesús Sánchez Jaén (No 834/2003);

by Mr Diego Javier Ríos (No 835/2003);

by Mrs Dolores Corbí Fernández de Ibarra (No 836/2003);

by Mrs Maria Grazia Mocci Deriu (No 837/2003);

by Mrs Julie Guillemin (No 838/2003);

by Mr Jean-Pierre Moisson (No 839/2003);

by Mr Libia Oberhofer (No 840/2003);

by Mr Giuseppe Cruciata (No 841/2003);

by Mr Gianpaolo Chendi (No 842/2003);

by Mr Roberto Berion (No 843/2003);

by Mr Francisco Elói Gomes Viana (No 844/2003);

by Riacho Investimentos Imobiliários S.A. (No 845/2003);

by Mr Damião Vellozo Ferreira (No 846/2003);

by Mr Sigurd Viborg (No 847/2003);

by Mrs Sonja Hary (Siedlergemeinschaft Hans-Mayer-Siedlung in Geesthacht) (No 848/2003);

by Mr Hagen Schusser (No 849/2003);

by Mr Joerg Fuelling (No 850/2003);

by Mr Cemal Uygun (No 851/2003);

by Mr Hans Dobbelstein (No 852/2003);

by Mr Thomas Bich (and 2 signatories) (No 853/2003);

by Mr Rolf Moebus (No 854/2003);

by Mrs Regina Rolide (No 855/2003);

by Mr Thomas Handke (No 856/2003);

by Mr Thomas Paschke (No 857/2003);

by Mr Stefan Beckers (No 858/2003);

by Mr Klaus Braden (No 859/2003);

by Mr Ulrich Hohle (No 860/2003);

by Mr Ulrich Barner (No 861/2003);

by Mr Guenther Reichert (No 862/2003);

by Mr Malcolm Lace (No 863/2003);

by Mr Pedro Giffuni (No 864/2003);

by Mr Carwyn Edwards (No 865/2003);

by Mr David McNamara (No 866/2003);

by Mr Mika Leppänen (No 867/2003);

by Mrs Ilona Junk (The Finnish-Arab Friendship Society) (No 868/2003);

by Mr Sven Herschel (No 869/2003);

by Mr Mathias Teikari (No 870/2003);

by Mr Donal McMullan (No 871/2003);

by Mr Christian Mautendorfer (No 872/2003);

by Mr Henk Steghuis (Transportbedrijf Steghuis) (and 2 signatories) (No 873/2003);

by Mr H. Baas (and 66 signatories) (No 874/2003);

by Mr Michel Vanraes (No 875/2003);

by Mr Nils Söderbäck (No 876/2003);

by Mr Peika Heikkinen (No 877/2003);

by Mr Stefan Andersson (No 878/2003);

by Mr Kent Hansson (No 879/2003);

by Mrs Dagmar Raab (Bürgerinitiative Zapfendorf) (No 880/2003);

15 September 2003

by Mr Javier Barrio Herrero (No 881/2003);

by Mr Juan José del Río Holgado (No 882/2003);

by Mr Patricio Oschlies (No 883/2003);

by Mr Rafael Cordero Mourin (No 884/2003);

by Mr Daniel Paschkes (No 885/2003);

by Mrs Monique Voisin (No 886/2003);

by Mr François Bourseau (No 887/2003);

by Mr Jean-Michel Devillard (No 888/2003);

by Mr Luca Casaro (No 889/2003);

by Mr Oscar Alitta (No 890/2003);

by Mr Alberto De Gregorio (No 891/2003);

by Mr Giovanni Panunzio (No 892/2003);

by Mr Antonio Cecoro (No 893/2003);

by Senator Pianetta (No 894/2003);

18 September 2003

by Mr Florian Kneidl (No 895/2003);

by Mrs R. Ratheiser (Lebenshilfe Kärnten) (and 40 signatories) (No 896/2003);

by Mr Rudolf Bartunek (No 897/2003);

by Mrs Sonja Rauth (No 898/2003);

by Mr Werner Ruschmeier (No 899/2003);

by Mr John Wilson (No 900/2003);

by Mr Gerd-Michael Weiss (No 901/2003);

by Mr Werner Kraus (No 902/2003);

by Mr Günther Reichert (No 903/203);

by Mr Peter Wengler (No 904/2003);

by Mr Thomas Schreiber (No 905/2003);

by Mr Thomas Heinkel (No 906/2003);

by Mr Jonathan Pascal Chapman (No 907/2003);

by Mr Thomas Klein (No 908/2003);

by Mr Marcus Baker (No 909/2003);

by Mr Emmanuil Batsis (No 910/2003);

by Mr Michele Fadda (No 911/2003);

by Mr Raoul Pankau (No 912/2003);

by Mrs Jutta Stahl-Strelitz (No 913/2003);

by Mr Peter David Preston (No 914/2003);

by Mr Thomas Gaukel (No 915/2003);

by Mr Peter Bradley (No 916/2003);

by Mrs Karen Farrel (No 917/2003);

by Mr Willem Atsma (No 918/2003);

by Mrs Sylvie Poelling (STMP 2003) (No 919/2003);

by Mr Stanislas Kalinowski (No 920/2003);

by Mr Eric Wooding (No 921/2003);

by Mr Joonas Lehtinen (No 922/2003);

by Mrs Alice Tromm (No 923/2003);

by Mr Pal Erdelyi (No 924/2003);

by Mr Ralf Larsson (No 925/2003).

11.   Transfers of appropriations

The Committee on Budgets had considered a proposal for transfer of appropriations 24/2003 (C5-0386/2003 — SEC(2003) 969).

The committee authorised the transfer, pursuant to Articles 24(2), 24(3) and 181(1) of the Financial Regulation of 25 June 2002, in accordance with the following breakdown:

FROM:
Chapter B0-40 — Provisions
— Article B7-8211 — Annual fees for the European Union's membership of international organisations in the coffee, cocoa and jute sectors and for other tropical products	CA	-1 035 000 EUR
	PA	-1 035 000 EUR
TO:
Chapter B7-82 — Financial obligations linked to agreements between the European Union and international organisations
— Article B7-821 — International agricultural agreements
— Item B7-8211 — Annual fees for the European Union's membership of international organisations in the coffee, cocoa and jute sectors and for other tropical products	CA	1 035 000 EUR
	PA	1 035 000 EUR

12.   Referral to committees — Authorisation to draw up own-initiative reports

Referral to committees

The ENVI Committee was asked for an opinion on:

—	Coexistence of genetically modified farming with conventional and organic farming (2003/2098(INI)) (Committee responsible: AGRI)

The EMPL Committee was asked for an opinion on:

—	Situation of the European economy: report on the broad guidelines for economic policies (2003/2135(INI)) (Committee responsible: ECON)

Authorisation to draw up own-initiative reports, pursuant to Rule 104:

AFET:

—	Recommendation on the situation in Iraq (2003/2178(INI)) (Following the Conference of Presidents' decision of 28 August 2003)

Authorisation to draw up own-initiative reports, pursuant to Rule 49:

LIBE:

—	The second-generation Schengen information system (SIS II) (B5-0268/2003 — 2003/2180(INI))

—	Minimum standards common to all Member States for procedural safeguards for suspects and defendants in criminal proceedings throughout the European Union (B5-0359/2003 — 2003/2179(INI)) (Asked for an opinion: JURI)

13.   Order of business

The next item was the order of business.

The final draft agenda for the September II and October I 2003 sittings (334.423/PDOJ) had been distributed and a number of changes had been proposed (Rule 111):

Sittings of 22 to 25 September 2003

Monday

—	no changes

Tuesday

—	request by the GUE/NGL Group to add to the agenda a Commission declaration on the situation of the Alstom group.

Francis Wurtz, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, moved the request.

The following spoke: Martin Schulz, on behalf of the PSE Group, and Othmar Karas, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group.

Parliament approved the request by EV (114 for, 109 against, 1 abstention).

Wednesday

—	no changes.

Thursday

—	request by the PSE Group to refer the Perry report (A5-0203/2003) (Item 42 of the PDOJ) back to the committee responsible (PETI).

Michael Cashman, on behalf of the PSE Group, moved the request and, at the same time, requested Parliament's services to examine whether the report was admissible.

The following spoke: Roy Perry and Michael Cashman.

Parliament rejected the request.

The President indicated that he would refer the question of the admissibility of the report to the services concerned, so that the problem might be resolved by the President in the chair at the time of the debate.

Sittings of 8 and 9 October 2003

—	Request by the AGRI Committee to wind up the debate on the oral question on the difficulties encountered by European beekeeping (B5-0276/2003) by the tabling of a motion for a resolution which would be put to the vote on 9 October (Item 72 of the PDOJ).

As co-author of the oral question, Astrid Lulling moved the request.

Parliament approved the request.

The deadline for tabling of amendments was established as follows:

—	motions for resolutions: 12.00 on 2 October.

—	amendments and joint motions for resolutions: 12.00 on 7 October.

*

* *

The order of business was thus established.

14.   One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Pursuant to Rule 121a, the following Members who wished to draw the attention of Parliament to matters of political importance spoke for one minute:

Proinsias De Rossa, Joan Vallvé, Konstantinos Alyssandrakis, Geoffrey Van Orden, José Ribeiro e Castro, Jan Dhaene, Efstratios Korakas, Marco Cappato, Mary Elizabeth Banotti (Quaestor), Carlos Lage and Anne André-Léonard.

15.   Safety at sea (debate)

Report on improving safety at sea in response to the Prestige accident [2003/2066(INI)] — Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism.

Rapporteur: Dirk Sterckx (A5-0278/2003).

Draftsman of the opinion: Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy, pursuant to Rule 162a.

Dirk Sterckx introduced the report.

Loyola de Palacio (Vice-President of the Commission) spoke.

IN THE CHAIR: Gérard ONESTA

Vice-President

The following spoke: Josu Ortuondo Larrea (draftsman of the opinion of the ITRE Committee), Manuel Pérez Álvarez (draftsman of the opinion of the EMPL Committee), Marie Anne Isler Béguin (draftsman of the opinion of the ENVI Committee), Bernard Poignant (draftsman of the opinion of the PECH Committee), Konstantinos Hatzidakis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Brian Simpson, on behalf of the PSE Group, Herman Vermeer, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Helmuth Markov, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Camilo Nogueira Román, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, José Ribeiro e Castro, on behalf of the UEN Group, Rijk van Dam, on behalf of the EDD Group, Dominique F.C. Souchet, Non-attached Member, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Rosa Miguélez Ramos, Astrid Thors, Sylviane H. Ainardi, Jan Dhaene, Bent Hindrup Andersen, Hugues Martin, Wilhelm Ernst Piecyk, Samuli Pohjamo, Arlette Laguiller, Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya, Reino Paasilinna, Peter Pex, Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Camilo Nogueira Román (the President cut him off), Jorge Moreira Da Silva, Cristina García-Orcoyen Tormo, John Walls Cushnahan, Eija-Riitta Anneli Korhola, Dirk Sterckx and Loyola de Palacio.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 23.9.2003, Item 18.

16.   Security of natural gas supply ***I — Security of supply for petroleum products ***I — Supply of crude oil and petroleum products * (debate)

Report on a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply [COM(2002) 488 — C5-0449/2002 — 2002/0220(COD)] — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy.

Rapporteur: Peter Michael Mombaur (A5-0295/2003).

Report on a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the alignment of measures with regard to security of supply for petroleum products [COM(2002) 488 — C5-0448/2002 — 2002/0219(COD)] — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy.

Rapporteur: Hans Karlsson (A5-0297/2003).

Report on a proposal for a Council directive repealing Council Directives 68/414/EEC and 98/93/EC imposing an obligation on Member States of the EEC to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products, and Council Directive 73/238/EEC on measures to mitigate the effects of difficulties in the supply of crude oil and petroleum products [COM(2002) 488 — C5-0489/2002 — 2002/0221(CNS)] — Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy.

Rapporteur: Hans Karlsson (A5-0293/2003).

Loyola de Palacio (Vice-President of the Commission) spoke.

IN THE CHAIR: Catherine LALUMIÈRE

Vice-President

Peter Michael Mombaur introduced the report (A5-0295/2003).

Hans Karlsson introduced his reports (A5-0297/2003 and A5-0293/2003).

The following spoke: Johannes (Hans) Blokland (draftsman of the opinion of the ECON Committee), Hans Kronberger (draftsman of the opinion of the ENVI Committee), Werner Langen, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Bernhard Rapkay, on behalf of the PSE Group, Elly Plooij-van Gorsel, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Esko Olavi Seppänen, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Ward Beysen, Non-attached Member, Giles Bryan Chichester, Rolf Linkohr, Samuli Pohjamo, Gérard Caudron, Hans-Peter Martin, Konstantinos Alyssandrakis, Catherine Stihler, James (Jim) Fitzsimons and Loyola de Palacio.

IN THE CHAIR: Alonso José PUERTA

Vice-President

Giles Bryan Chichester.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 23.9.2003, Items 13, 14 and 15.

17.   Safe third states * (debate)

Report on the initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council Regulation establishing the criteria for determining the States which qualify as safe third States for the purpose of taking the responsibility for examining an application for asylum lodged in a Member State by a third-country national and drawing up a list of European safe third States [14712/2002 — C5-0010/2003 — 2003/0802(CNS)] — Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs.

Rapporteur: Olle Schmidt (A5-0210/2003).

Olle Schmidt introduced the report.

António Vitorino (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Hubert Pirker, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Luís Marinho, on behalf of the PSE Group, Philip Claeys, Non-attached Member, Carlos Coelho and Olga Zrihen.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 23.9.2003, Item 10.

18.   Assistance in cases of transit (removal by air) * (debate)

Report on the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to adopting a Council Directive on assistance in cases of transit for the purposes of removal by air [14848/2002 — C5-0011/2003 — 2003/0801(CNS)] — Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs.

Rapporteur: Timothy Kirkhope (A5-0291/2003).

Timothy Kirkhope introduced the report.

António Vitorino (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Carlos Coelho, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Martine Roure, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jean Lambert, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Johannes (Hans) Blokland, on behalf of the EDD Group, and Olga Zrihen.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 23.9.2003, Item 17.

19.   Agenda for next sitting

The President referred Members to the document ‘Agenda’ PE 334.423/OJMA.

20.   Closure of sitting

The sitting closed at 22.00.

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