22 april 2010 - european parliament...pv cpg 22.04.2010 (1) present for items 1, 2 and 3 2/34 pe...
TRANSCRIPT
PV CPG 22.04.2010
PE 439.855/CPG
EN EN
PE-7/CPG/PV/2010-10
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS
MINUTES
of the ordinary meeting of Thursday
22 April 2010
Louise Weiss Building - Room R 1.1 - - -
STRASBOURG
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PE-7/CPG/PV/2010-10
CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS
MINUTES
of the ordinary meeting of
Thursday, 22 April 2010
from 09.00 to 11.00 hours
Louise Weiss - Room LOW R 1.1
Strasbourg
CONTENTS
Page
1. Adoption of draft agenda ............................................................................................................ 8
2. Approval of the Minutes of the meeting of 15 April 2010 ......................................................... 9
3. Adoption of the final draft agenda for the May I part-session (5-6 May 2010 in
Brussels) and draft agenda for the May II part-session (17 - 20 May 2010 in
Strasbourg) - Scheduling of priority debates in plenary ........................................................... 10
4. Communications of the President ............................................................................................. 12
4.1 Official visit of the President to Washington DC and New York ............................................ 12
4.2 Practical implications of restrictions on air traffic ................................................................... 12
5. Initial draft calendar of part-sessions for the parliamentary year 2011 .................................... 13
6. Interim report on the negotiations for the revision of the Framework Agreement
between the European Parliament and the European Commission - Letter from Mr
LEHNE, Chair of the EP working party ................................................................................... 14
7. Request to extend the terms of reference of the national parliaments steering group
until July 2010 – Letter from Miguel Angel MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ, Vice-
President of the European Parliament ...................................................................................... 16
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8. Request from the Committee on Foreign Affairs to hold a discussion, at its meeting
on 2 June 2010, with representatives of the relevant national parliaments about the
European External Action Service (EEAS), among other matters - Letter from Mr
Gabriele ALBERTINI, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs ........................................ 17
9. Proposal to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty during the
October 2010 part-session in Strasbourg – inviting prominent figures – Letter from
Ms BERÈS, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs ............................... 18
10. Sending of an ad hoc delegation of seven Members to the Review Conference of the
Rome Statute, to be held in Kampala from 31 May to 3 June 2010 – financial
statement – draft programme - Letter from the Chairs of the committees concerned ............. 19
11. Request to send a delegation to observe the parliamentary and regional elections in
Ethiopia on 23 May 2010 – invitation – financial statement – Letter from the co-
Chairs of the coordination group .............................................................................................. 20
12. Request to send an ad hoc delegation from the AFET Committee to the municipal
elections in Georgia on 30 May 2010 (a public holiday) – invitation – financial
statement – Letter from Mr Gabriele ALBERTINI, Chair of the committee concerned .......... 21
13. Request to send a four-Member delegation from the INTA Committee to Romania
from 1 to 4 June 2010 – draft programme – financial statement – Letter from Mr
Vital MOREIRA, Chair of the committee concerned ............................................................... 23
14. Change of date for the visit to Iceland by the delegation from the Committee on
Women's Rights and Gender Equality (2 to 4 June 2010) – financial statement –
Letter from Ms Eva-Britt SVENSSON, Chair of the committee concerned ............................ 24
15. Visit to Washington by a delegation from the JURI Committee from 1 to 4 June 2010
– financial statement – Letter from Mr Klaus-Heiner LEHNE, Chair of the
committee concerned ................................................................................................................ 25
16. Request to send a joint delegation from the AFET, DEVE and BUDG committees to
Israel and the Palestinian Territories from 24 to 28 May 2010, in conjunction with
the Working Group on the Middle East – Letter from the Chairs of the committees
concerned .................................................................................................................................. 26
17. Request from the WTO steering group for authorisation to visit Geneva on 24 and
25 June 2010 (a day without any meetings) for the WTO meetings – financial
statement – Letter from Mr Vital MOREIRA and Ms Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-
ROWOHL , co-Chairs of the group concerned ........................................................................ 28
18. Request from the Bureau of the EP delegation to the EU-Turkey JPC to attend the
EU-Turkey CPM joint meeting to be held in Istanbul on 10 May 2010 in preparation
for the 64th meeting of the JPC in Turkey on 25 and 26 May 2010 – financial
statement – Letter from Ms Hélène FLAUTRE, Chair of the delegation concerned ............... 29
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19. Urgent Matters and Any Other Business .................................................................................. 30
19.1 Postponing of adoption of the Employment Guidelines ........................................................... 30
19.2 Setting up of a Special Committee on the Financial Perspectives ........................................... 31
19.3 Establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS) ............................................ 32
21. Date and place of next meeting ................................................................................................ 34
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CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS
MINUTES
of the meeting of Thursday, 22 April 2010
from 09.00 to 11.00 hours
Strasbourg
The meeting opened at 09.08 hours, with Mr Gianni PITTELLA,
Vice-President of the European Parliament, in the chair.
Present
Mr Gianni PITTELLA, Vice-President, replacing Mr BUZEK, President
Political group Chairs
Mr DAUL (EPP)
Mr SCHULZ (S&D)
Mr VERHOFSTADT (ALDE)
Mr COHN-BENDIT (Co-Chair) (Greens/EFA)
Mr CALLANAN (acting) (ECR)
Mr BISKY (GUE/NGL)
Mr SPERONI (Co-Chair) (EFD)
Also Present
Mr WELLE, Secretary-General
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Invited
Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs
Also Invited
The Council (1)
represented by
Mr MILTON
Ms TYLIACOS
The Commission (1)
represented by Mr ANASTOPOULOS
Ms CORDINA
*
* *
Office of the President
Mr TEASDALE
Mr O'BEARA
Mr ALPERMANN
Ms STUTZMANN
Mr FREEDMAN
Office of the Secretary-General
Mr DREXLER
Mr MANGOLD
Ms BLAU
Ms FREDSGAARD
Mr HILLER
Secretariat
DG Presidency (PRES) Ms F. RATTI/Mr DUNSTAN/Ms TANESE/Ms
DUDZINSKA/Mr KNUDSEN/Mr SÁNCHEZ
RODRÍGUEZ/Mr CAHEN/Mr SCOTT/Ms
JIMENEZ LOZANO/Mr LANE
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DG Internal Policies (IPOL) Mr RIBERA D'ALCALÀ/
Ms VANDENBOSCH/Ms JIMINEZ VALS/
Ms CALATOZZOLO/
DG External Policies (EXPO) Mr AGUIRIANO NALDA/Mr STOKELJ/
Mr C. HUBER/Ms ECKER
DG Communication (COMM) Ms LAHOUSSE/Mr DUCH GUILLOT/ Mr
WARASIN/Ms VAN DEN BROEKE
DG Finances (FIN) Mr VANHAEREN
Legal Service Mr PENNERA/Mr PERILLO
Ms O. RATTI, Director for relations with the secretariats of the political groups.
Political groups
Mr KAMP/Mr RYNGAERT/Ms SCRIBAN/Mr RIPOLL (EPP)
Mr VALLI/Ms BAPTISTA/Mr WINKLER/
Mr MARTINELLI (Assistant to Mr PITTELLA) (S&D)
Mr BEELS/Mr DEBEUF/Mr RASMUSSEN/Ms COLERA (ALDE)
Ms TSETSI/Mr DENKINGER/Mr LINAZASORO (Greens/EFA)
Mr BARRETT/Mr ISAACS (ECR)
Mr RAECK (GUE/NGL)
Mr BORDEZ/Mr VAUGIER (EFD)
Mr BUGALHO (Non-attached)
Ms LINNUS, Ms SHEIL, Mr SCHROEDER, and Ms CASALPRIM acted as secretaries to the
meeting.
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1. Adoption of draft agenda
The Conference of Presidents
- heard Vice President PITELLA, in the chair, inform the meeting that, exceptionally,
he was replacing President BUZEK, who was obliged to return to Poland to
participate in further state funerals for victims of the Smolensk air tragedy.
- noted the draft agenda (PE 439.853/CPG) and adopted it in the form shown in these
Minutes.
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2. Approval of the Minutes of the meeting of 15 April 2010
The Conference of Presidents
- noted and approved the Minutes of the meeting of 15 April 2010, held in Brussels
(PE 439.752/CPG and annex).
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3. Adoption of the final draft agenda for the May I part-session (5-6 May 2010 in Brussels)
and draft agenda for the May II part-session (17 - 20 May 2010 in Strasbourg) - Scheduling
of priority debates in plenary
The Conference of Presidents
- noted the following documents:
a letter dated 21 April 2010 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of
Committee Chairs, on the recommendations concerning the "EU 2020" proposal
for the May I and II plenary sessions (PE 440.800/CPG and annex);
a letter dated 20 April 2010 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of
Committee Chairs, on the recommendations concerning the agenda for the May II
part-session 2010 (17 - 20 May 2010), (PE 440.794/CPG and annex);
a letter dated 12 April 2010 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of
Committee Chairs, on the recommendations concerning the agenda for the May I
part-session 2010 (5 - 6 May 2010) (PE 439.833/CPG and annex);
letters dated 21 April and 12 March 2010 on the request from Ms HUEBNER for
a debate in the May plenary on the own-initiative report on the "contribution of
cohesion policy to the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy"
(PE 439.727/CPG).
- considered the final draft agenda for the May I part-session (5-6 May 2010 in
Brussels) and draft agenda for the May II part-session (17 - 20 May 2010 in
Strasbourg) in the light of a note drafted by DG Presidency setting out the various
options, distributed after the preparatory meeting of 21 April 2010 with the
secretaries-general of the political groups, and adopted the proposals contained in
that note with the following modifications or comments:
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May I 2010 part-session
- decided that the part-session should open at 13.30 hours on Wednesday 5 May,
commencing with the votes that were postponed from the April session due to the
air-traffic disruption.
May II 2010 part-session
- decided, following a vote, to maintain the vote on a resolution on the Europe 2020
Strategy on the agenda for the May II part-session; reiterated that, as had been
outlined at previous meetings, it will be for the Conference of Committee Chairs to
assemble and coordinate the contributions of the relevant committees on this issue,
on an on-going basis, and to submit these to the Conference of Presidents. It would
then be for the Conference to propose a Draft Resolution to be voted in plenary.
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4. Communications of the President
4.1 Official visit of the President to Washington DC and New York
The Conference of Presidents
- heard Vice-President PITTELLA, in the Chair, inform the meeting of President
BUZEK's upcoming visit to the United States from 25-30 April 2010, where he
would officially open the Parliament's new liaison office with the US Congress in
Washington DC. His schedule would include meetings with Vice-President Joseph
BIDEN, Secretary of State Hillary CLINTON, Speaker of the House of
Representatives Nancy PELOSI, and other senior US Congressional and
Administration figures, as well as a meeting with UN Secretary-General BAN Ki-
Moon in New York.
4.2 Practical implications of restrictions on air traffic
The Conference of Presidents
- heard Vice-President PITTELLA, in the Chair, inform the meeting that the President
had been in contact with the Chairs of the various committee and inter-parliamentary
delegations which were scheduled to travel on delegation during the following week,
and that the great majority of those concerned had expressed the intention to
maintain their schedules, where possible; the situation regarding the evolution of the
air travel restrictions would continue to be monitored and, if necessary, the
Conference would be invited to adopt decisions or recommendations to the Bureau as
appropriate.
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A. DECISIONS
5. Initial draft calendar of part-sessions for the parliamentary year 2011
The Conference of Presidents
- noted the following documents:
initial draft calendar of part-sessions for the parliamentary year 2011
(PE 439.862/BUR);
a letter dated 21 April 2010 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of
Committee Chairs, on the initial draft calendar of part-sessions 2011
(PE 440.798/CPG);
a letter dated 20 April 2010 from Mr YANEZ BARNUEVO, Chair of the
Conference of Delegation Chairs, on the initial draft calendar of part-sessions for
the parliamentary year 2011 (PE 440.787/BUR);
- noted the draft calendar and the proposal, outlined by Mr LEHNE, Chair of the
Conference of Committee Chairs, that the September I part-session be brought
forward by a week.
- held an exchange of views on this issue, with the participation of Mr DAUL, Chair of
the EPP Group, Mr SCHULZ Chair of the S&D Group, Mr COHN-BENDIT, Co-
Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, Mr CALLANAN, acting Chair of the ECR Group,
and Mr SPERONI, Co-Chair of the EFD Group;
- decided, following a vote, to endorse the draft calendar as it stood, and refer it to
plenary, with a view to its being voted upon in May II.
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B. EXCHANGE OF VIEWS
6. Interim report on the negotiations for the revision of the Framework Agreement between
the European Parliament and the European Commission - Letter from Mr LEHNE, Chair
of the EP working party
The Conference of Presidents
- noted the above-mentioned letter and report by Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Working
Party on the Revision of the Framework Agreement, dated 20 April 2010 (PE
440.788/CPG and annex);
- heard Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Working Party concerned, inform the meeting of the
latest state of play in the negotiations between Parliament and Commission on the
revision of the Framework Agreement for the period 2009-2014, noting in particular the
following points:
good progress had been made to date and the bulk of the negotiations had been
completed in a manner which, in his view, was satisfactory to the Parliament
and in line with its resolution of 9 February 2010 on the matter;
nonetheless, certain key areas remained as yet unresolved, including the role
of the Parliament in international negotiations and the detailed provisions on
legislative programming;
furthermore, due to the specific institutional role of the Vice-President for
External Relations/High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy, the Commission did not want to update the relevant provisions of
the Framework Agreement within the Working Party, as it considered that
this should be addressed directly by way of a separate agreement with
Baroness Ashton;
as far as the timetable was concerned, Mr LEHNE concluded that an
agreement should be possible before the summer holiday period;
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- heard Mr LEHNE provide clarification, in response to a question raised by Mr
SPERONI, Co-Chair of the EFD Group, on the deadlines proposed with regard to the
Commission's handling of legislative initiative requests from Parliament;
- thanked Mr LEHNE, Chair, and the other Members of the EP Working Party, for
their efforts to date and the results achieved in the negotiations so far.
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C. PROPOSALS FOR DECISIONS WITHOUT DEBATE
7. Request to extend the terms of reference of the national parliaments steering group until
July 2010 – Letter from Miguel Angel MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ, Vice-President of the
European Parliament
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following document:
a letter dated 15 April 2010 from Mr MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ, Vice-President,
and Chair of the Steering Group on national parliaments, proposing that the
mandate of the Steering Group in its current, wider composition be prolonged
until July 2010 (PE 439.864/CPG);
- recalled that the Conference of Presidents, at is meeting of 17 December 2009, had
decided to establish a Steering Group on national parliaments;
- recalled that the mandate of the Steering Group in its current wider composition
would end in May 2010;
- noted that it would be appropriate to take into account the conclusions of the
Conference of EU-Speakers in Stockholm on 14-15 May and of the XLIII COSAC
on 31 May - 1 June 2010 in Madrid, for the final report of the Steering Group;
- endorsed the proposal in question and requested the Steering Group, in its wider
composition, to submit its final report to the Conference of Presidents by the end of
July 2010;
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8. Request from the Committee on Foreign Affairs to hold a discussion, at its meeting on
2 June 2010, with representatives of the relevant national parliaments about the European
External Action Service (EEAS), among other matters - Letter from Mr Gabriele
ALBERTINI, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following document:
a letter dated 12 April 2010 from Mr ALBERTINI, Chair of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, on the above-mentioned subject (PE 439.802/CPG);
- took note of the request from the Chair of the AFET Committee to organise an inter-
parliamentary meeting with national parliaments on the establishment of the
European External Action Service, during a normal committee meeting on 2 June
2010;
- authorised the event in question.
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9. Proposal to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty during the
October 2010 part-session in Strasbourg – inviting prominent figures – Letter from
Ms BERÈS, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following document:
a letter dated 22 February 2010 from Ms BERES, Chair of the Committee on
Employment and Social Affairs, (PE 439.590/CPG);
- took note of the above-mentioned proposal from the Chair of the Committee on
Employment and Social Affairs, proposing that the Parliament mark the International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty during the October 2010 part-session in
Strasbourg;
- endorsed this proposal in principle and decided, as also proposed by the Committee
on Employment and Social Affairs, to invite Mr Paul BOUCHET, the Honorary
Chair of ATD Fourth World, to address the event as a guest of honour.
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Visits outside the three places of work
10. Sending of an ad hoc delegation of seven Members to the Review Conference of the Rome
Statute, to be held in Kampala from 31 May to 3 June 2010 – financial statement – draft
programme - Letter from the Chairs of the committees concerned
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following document:
a letter of 16 March 2010 from Mr ALBERTINI, Ms HAUTALA and Ms
JOLY, Chairs of the Committees concerned, on the above-mentioned subject
(PE 439.736/CPG, financial statement and annexes);
- took note of the letter from the Chairs of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and
Development, and the Subcommittee on Human Rights, requesting that Parliament
send an ad hoc delegation of seven Members to the Review Conference of the Rome
Statute, scheduled to take place in Kampala, Uganda, from 31 May to 3 June 2010,
dates which fall within a week set aside for committee meetings;
- further noted the supplementary information provided concerning the invitation to,
and the programme for, the Review Conference and, exceptionally, authorised the
aforementioned request.
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11. Request to send a delegation to observe the parliamentary and regional elections in
Ethiopia on 23 May 2010 – invitation – financial statement – Letter from the co-Chairs of
the coordination group
The Conference of Presidents
- noted the following document:
the above-mentioned letter of 8 April 2010 (PE 439.832/CPG, financial statement
and annexes);
- took note of the request from the Co-Chairs of the Election Coordination Group, Ms
JOLY and Mr ALBERTINI, to authorise the deployment of an election observation
delegation to observe federal parliamentary and regional assembly elections in
Ethiopia, which are due to be held on 23 May 2010;
- recalled that the deployment of an election observation delegation to Ethiopia was
approved by the Conference of Presidents, at its meeting on 21 January 2010, as part
of a programme for election observation delegations during the first half of 2010;
- took note that a European Union Election Observation Mission will be deployed to
observe the federal parliamentary and regional assembly elections, which will enable
the European Parliament’s delegation to be fully integrated into a long-term
observation framework;
- authorised the aforementioned request and the sending of the election observation
mission composed of 7 Members appointed by the political groups, using the
d'Hondt system, which would also apply to the non-attached Members.
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12. Request to send an ad hoc delegation from the AFET Committee to the municipal elections
in Georgia on 30 May 2010 (a public holiday) – invitation – financial statement – Letter
from Mr Gabriele ALBERTINI, Chair of the committee concerned
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following documents:
the above-mentioned letter dated 7 April 2010, on the above-mentioned subject
(PE 439.838/CPG);
- took note of the letter from Mr ALBERTINI, Chair of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, requesting authorisation to send an ad hoc delegation composed of seven
Members to Georgia around the date of the municipal elections on 30 May 2010;
- took note that the OSCE/ODHIR has exceptionally decided to dispatch a long-term
election observation mission to monitor the municipal elections in Georgia, whilst a
European Union Election observation mission will not be deployed in the country;
- recalled that the rules on election observation missions, as adopted by the Conference
of Presidents on 12 May 2005, preclude the sending of an official election
observation delegation;
- recalled the rules in force governing the work of delegations which stipulate that ad
hoc delegations may be established in response to unforeseen events of major
political significance which cannot be dealt with on the basis of the annual
programme;
- recalled its decision of 22 October 2009 to authorise a seven-Member ad hoc
delegation to Kosovo from 13-16 November 2009, in order to follow the mayoral
and municipal elections scheduled for 15 November 2009;
- authorised, on an exceptional basis, in view of the political importance of the
municipal elections in Georgia, the sending of an ad hoc delegation, composed of
seven Members, around the date of the municipal elections on 30 May 2010, in order
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to follow these elections. The delegation should comprise seven Members appointed
by the political groups, using the d'Hondt system, which would also apply to the non-
attached Members.
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13. Request to send a four-Member delegation from the INTA Committee to Romania from
1 to 4 June 2010 – draft programme – financial statement – Letter from Mr Vital
MOREIRA, Chair of the committee concerned
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following document:
the above-mentioned letter, dated 18 March 2010, from Mr MOREIRA, Chair
of the Committee responsible (PE 439.837/CPG, financial statement and
annexes);
- took note of the letter from Mr MOREIRA, Chair of the Committee on International
Trade, requesting authorisation for a Committee delegation composed of four
Members to visit Romania from 1 to 4 June 2010, the dates coinciding with a week
reserved for committee activities;
- recalled that the visit was included in the 2010 annual programme for committee
delegations, approved by the Bureau at its meeting of 14 December 2009;
- recommended to the Bureau to authorise the visit, on the understanding that it is in
accordance with the annual quota for Members authorised to travel on committee
delegations, and to grant the requested derogation to extend the travel time by one
half day starting on 1 June in the afternoon.
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14. Change of date for the visit to Iceland by the delegation from the Committee on Women's
Rights and Gender Equality (2 to 4 June 2010) – financial statement – Letter from Ms Eva-
Britt SVENSSON, Chair of the committee concerned
The request was withdrawn.
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15. Visit to Washington DC by a delegation from the JURI Committee from 1 to 4 June 2010 –
financial statement – Letter from Mr Klaus-Heiner LEHNE, Chair of the committee
concerned
The request was withdrawn.
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16. Request to send a joint delegation from the AFET, DEVE and BUDG Committees to Israel
and the Palestinian Territories from 24 to 28 May 2010, in conjunction with the Working
Group on the Middle East – Letter from the Chairs of the committees concerned
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following document:
the above-mentioned letter dated 8 April 2010 (PE 439.835/CPG and annex);
- took note of letter from Mr ALBERTINI, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Ms JOLY, Chair of the Committee on Development, and Mr LAMASSOURE, Chair
of the Committee on Budgets, dated 8 April 2010, requesting authorisation to send a
joint delegation to Israel and the Palestinian Territories from 24 to 28 May 2010
(turquoise week/week set aside for external activities), composed of 25 Members;
- recalled that the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Development and
the Committee on Budgets had included visits to Israel and the Palestinian Territories
in the 2010 annual programme for committee delegations, approved by the Bureau at
its meeting of 14 December 2009;
- noted that the breakdown of the Members of the joint delegation was not indicated in
the request; urged therefore the Committees involved to ensure that a sufficient part
of their quotas remains available for future mission to countries outside the EU and
the applicant countries;
- recalled in particular that the Committee on Budgets did not indicate the number of
Members participating in a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the 2010
annual programme and further recalled that the Committee plans to conduct a total of
three delegations outside the European Union with a maximum quota of eight
Members;
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- took note that a joint delegation to Israel and the Palestinian Territories could
optimise synergies and complementarities and help to send a strong, coherent
political and institutional message;
- endorsed the proposal that former President Mr PÖTTERING, Chair of the Working
Group on the Middle East, as well as the Chairs of the Delegations for relations with
Israel and Palestinian Authority, would form part of the delegation (outside
committees' quotas);
- recommended to the Bureau to authorise the requested joint delegation (including
three participating Members outside the quota) under the condition that the
respective Committees respect their annual quota for the reminder of the year.
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17. Request from the WTO Steering Group for authorisation to visit Geneva on 24 and
25 June 2010 (a day without any meetings) for the WTO meetings – financial statement –
Letter from Mr Vital MOREIRA and Ms Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL, co-Chairs
of the group concerned
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following document:
the above-mentioned letter dated 23 March 2010, from the Co-Chairs of
Parliament's delegation to the Steering Committee of the WTO Parliamentary
Conference (PE 439.809/CPG, financial statement and annex);
- noted the request from Mr MOREIRA and Ms QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL that
Parliament send a six-member delegation to attend the next meeting of the Steering
Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO, which will take place in
Geneva on 24 and 25 June 2010, dates which coincide with one day reserved for
committee activities and one 'white' day;
- authorised the request in question, it being understood that the delegation will be
composed in accordance with the relevant decision of the Conference of Presidents
of 18 November 2004, namely two Members from the EPP Group, two Members
from the S&D Group, and one Member from the ALDE Group, with one place
rotating amongst the other groups wishing to participate in the Steering Committee.
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18. Request from the Bureau of the EP delegation to the EU-Turkey JPC to attend the EU-
Turkey CPM joint meeting to be held in Istanbul on 10 May 2010 in preparation for the
64th meeting of the JPC in Turkey on 25 and 26 May 2010 – financial statement – Letter
from Ms Hélène FLAUTRE, Chair of the delegation concerned
The Conference of Presidents, without debate,
- noted the following document:
the above-mentioned letter dated 14 April 2010, from the Committee Chair
concerned (PE 439.866/CPG, financial statement and annex);
- took note of the above-mentioned letter from Ms FLAUTRE, Chair of the delegation
concerned, requesting authorisation for the Bureau of the EU-Turkey Joint
Parliamentary Committee to attend a meeting in Istanbul on 10 May 2010, in
preparation for the EU-Turkey JPC meeting which is scheduled to take place on 25
and 26 May 2010 in Turkey;
- recalled that pursuant to the rules in force, preparatory meetings for inter-
parliamentary meetings should be held in one of the Parliament's places of work;
- authorised, in light of the justifications presented and on an exceptional basis, since
the day in question falls on a date reserved for committee and group activities, the
request in question.
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19. Urgent Matters and Any Other Business
19.1 Postponement of adoption of the Employment Guidelines
The Conference of Presidents
- noted the following document:
a letter dated 20 April 2010 from Mr SCHULZ, Chair of the S&D Group, on
the adoption of the Employment Guidelines (PE 440.803/CPG).
- heard Mr SCHULZ, Chair of the S&D Group, who: i) noted with concern the lack of
time for the Parliament to be consulted on the Commission proposals for the
Employment Guidelines, thus undermining the Parliament's right as enshrined by the
Treaty of Lisbon; ii) argued therefore that the European Council should be asked to
postpone the endorsement of the Employment Guidelines, currently envisaged for
17-18 June 2010; and iii) noted furthermore that the Employment Guidelines should
be viewed in the context of the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and were linked
with the EU 2020 Strategy;
- held an exchange of views on this matter, with the participation of Mr DAUL, Chair
of the EPP Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, Mr COHN-
BENDIT, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, Mr BISKY, Chair of the GUE/NGL
Group, and Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs;
- endorsed Mr SCHULZ's comments on the matter, and noted that the Employment
Guidelines could not be adopted until the Parliament had given its opinion on the
matter;
- agreed to link the issue of the Employment Guidelines with the Parliament's
resolution on the EU 2020 Strategy and to request that the European Council
postpone its decision on those Guidelines, in order that the Parliament could fully
exercise its right to be consulted on them.
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19.2 Establishment of a Special Committee on the Financial Perspectives
The Conference of Presidents
- noted the following document:
a letter dated 21 April 2010 from Mr SCHULZ, Chair of the S&D Group, on
the establishment of a special committee on the financial perspectives (PE
440.804/CPG);
- heard Mr SCHULZ, Chair of the S&D Group, propose that the Conference of
Presidents consider the establishment of a special committee on the future financial
perspectives of the European Union;
- held an exchange of views on this matter, with the participation of Mr DAUL, Chair
of the EPP Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, and Mr COHN-
BENDIT, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group;
- unanimously endorsed the principle of establishing a special committee on the
financial perspectives, and invited the Secretary General to submit a proposal to the
Conference of Presidents for the mandate of such a committee - which would include
close cooperation with the President of the European Parliament - as well as its
composition.
19.3 Establishment of a Special Committee on the A(H1N1) influenza virus
The Conference of Presidents
- noted the following document:
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a letter dated 21 April 2010 from Mr COHN-BENDIT and Ms HARMS, Co-
chairs of the Green/EFA Group, on the establishment of a special committee on
"the management of the H1N1 pandemic" (PE 440.810/CPG);
- decided to come back to this issue - put forward by Mr COHN-BENDIT, Co-Chair of the
Greens/EFA Group - at the next meeting.
19.4 Establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS)
The Conference of Presidents
- heard Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, request that an item on the
establishment of the EEAS, and in particular, the budgetary aspects of the matter, be
included on the agenda for the following meeting.
20. Items for information
20.3 Internal correspondence
The Conference of Presidents
- noted the following documents:
a note dated 21 April 2010 from Mr WELLE, Secretary-General, on
restrictions on air travel in Europe - first report on implications for Members -
an update on decisions taken to date and further proposed measures (PE
440.811/CPG);
letter dated 21 April from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of Committee
Chairs, on the list of requests under Rule 50 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure
concerning the procedure with associated committees (PE 440.797/CPG and
annex);
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a letter dated 21 April from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of Committee
Chairs, on a request under Rule 51 of the Rules of Procedure with joint
meetings of committees and a joint vote (PE 440.808 and annexes);
a letter dated 21 April 2010 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of
Committee Chairs, on the updated list of files for co-decision
(PE 440.797/CPG and annexes);
a letter dated 9 March 2010 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of
Committee Chairs, on requests from parliamentary committees to draw up own
initiative reports (PE 440.796/CPG and annex);
a revised draft programme for the Joint Parliamentary Meeting (JPM) of 7 and
8 June in Brussels, with the Spanish Presidency, on "Towards a European
Energy Community for the 21 Century" (PE 439.681/CPG/REV).
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21. Date and place of next meeting
The Conference of Presidents
- noted that:
its next extraordinary meeting - in the form of an exchange of views with US
Vice-President BIDEN - would take place on Thursday 6 May 2010 from 12.45 to
13.15 hours in a room to be decided in Brussels.
its next ordinary meeting would take place on Wednesday 12 May 2010 from
11.00 to 13.00 hours in Room 06B01 of the PHS Building in Brussels.
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The meeting closed at 10.40 hours.
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*