On the Agenda

Today in the EU

Parliament’s president Hans-Gert Pöttering meets the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

The international trade committee has a discussion with Cathy Ashton, the new EU trade commissioner, while the budgetary control committee votes on a report by French EPP member Veronique Mathieu.

The internal market committee has a discussion with EU consumer commissioner Meglana Kuneva on the green paper on ‘collective redress.”

The temporary committee on climate change holds a debate with EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas on preparations for the climate change conference in Poznan.

The industry committee holds a public hearing on the roaming regulation.

The competitiveness council concludes today, after political agreement was reached on the Small Business Act.

Other items on the agenda include innovation clusters for European research, and ownership rights after the revisions of the cosmetics and toys directives.

The Ecofin council also begins today, where EU ministers will look more closely at the commission’s €200bn economic recovery plan.

Ministers will also be preparing the last European Council of the French presidency, due to take place on 11-12 December, as well as the Undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS), the Solvency II directive and bank guarantee mechanisms.

And outside Brussels, the UN's Poznán climate conference sees in its second day.

Daily diary

• The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union holds two events:
 - The cities forum on sustainable cities and climate change in Berlin.
 - The Euro-Japanese symposium on innovative eco-technologies over two days in Lyon.

• DG INFSO of the European Commission holds a car2x communication conference in Ulm.

• The Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance holds a seminar on the Fight against gender stereotypes: a new role for women in society in the European parliament. It also holds a conference on the European Investment Bank in Africa: Who's winning? Who's losing? And what needs to be done?

• MEP Marie Anne Isler-Beguin presents a new study entitles Nuclear energy in France - beyond the myth.

• Istvan Szent-Ivanyi (MEP) holds a seminar on human rights in China after the Olympics and before the UN universal periodic review in the European Parliament.

• Rebecca Harms (MEP) and Anders Wijkman (MEP) participate in a dinner debate held by the World Future Council entitled the climate deal in Poznan must respect the Millennium Development Goals.

• The Information Office of the Wielkopolska Region in Brussels holds an event entitled European Neighborhood policy – interregional cooperation as a road towards the efficient support to democratic transition process in Georgia.

• The Assembly of WEU - the Interparliamentary European Security and Defense Assembly holds the second part of the 54th Session of the WEU Assembly over four days.

• The British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium holds the integrated border management conference 2008.

• Human Rights without Frontiers holds a conference on human rights in China, in Strasbourg.

• Forum for the Automobile and Society holds an event entitled Alternative road transport fuels.

• The European Consumers' Organisation holds a toy safety lunch.

• CIFE and TEPSA hold a seminar on The EU’s next enlargement: what prospects for the western balkans?

• The European Voice holds its annual award for Europeans of the year.

• A Joint Meeting by TOPRA and the European Medicines Agency is held in London.

• The American Chamber of Commerce in the EU hold a seminar entitled the global marketplace 2020: where will Germany be?

• The European Policy Centre hold a policy dialogue entitled Campaigners against the EU: who, where, how and why?

• The French Institute of International Relations holds a lunch debate with a representative of the European commission on the French views of the EU.

Council of the European Union

Ecofin Council
Brussels

International Climate Change Conference in Poznan
Poznan

Political and Security Committee
Brussels

European Commission

ECOFIN council

Siim KALLAS attends the presentation by the Court of Auditors of the Annual Report for 2007 (Council)

Danuta HÜBNER
•    presents the cohesion policy proposals within the European recovery plan to the EP REGIO Committee
•    receives Giulio TREMONTI, Italian Minister for Economy and Finance, and Claudio SCAJOLA, Italian Minister for Economic Development
•    receives Slovenian Minister for Development and European Affairs, Mr Mitja GASPARI

Olli REHN at the Committee on Budgetary Control " 2007 Discharge to the Commission"- Exchange of views (EP)

Vladimír ŠPIDLA
•    opens the Eurofound's Exhibition "Living and Working in Europe" (EP)
•    attends the Conference on Gender Stereotypes (EP)

Catherine ASHTON addresses the INTA committee of the European Parliament

Meglena KUNEVA presents to the Committee for Internal Market and Consumers the Green paper on Consumer Collective Redress (EP)
    
José Manuel Durão BARROSO receives Mr Borut PAHOR, Slovenian Prime Minister + VIP corner

José Manuel Durão BARROSO and Ms Benita FERRERO-WALDNER receive Mrs Tzipi LIVNI, Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel

Mr José Manuel Durão BARROSO, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER and Andris PIEBALGS receive Ahmed Ali ABOUL GHEIT, Foreign Affairs Minister of Egypt, signature of EU-Egypt Memorandum of Understanding on Energy + VIP corner

Margot WALLSTRÖM attends the launch of the 50-50 Campaign for Democracy (Spain)

Jacques BARROT participates in the conference on press and civil rights with Rachida DATI, French minister for justice

Jacques BARROT, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER, Catherine ASHTON and Andris PIEBALGS receive Grigol MGALOBLISHVILI, Prime Minister of Georgia

Mariann FISCHER BOEL meets the Association of European Regions for Products of Origin

Benita FERRERO-WALDNER
•    receives Mr Stephen SMITH, Foreign Minister of Australia
•    participates in the Transatlantic Dinner (Brussels)

Andris PIEBALGS delivers a speech at the International Congress on Biofuels "Fuels of the Future 2008" (Berlin)

Leonard ORBAN participates in the Conference "From Education to Dialogue, the multilingualism in the EU" (Bucharest)

European Parliament

Press conferences    
Brussels, PHS 0A50, Anna Politkovskaya

10.00 - Judicial cooperation in civil matters - Diana WALLIS (ALDE, UK), EP Vice-President
 
10.30 - Nuclear power in France: beyond the myth - Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), vice-president of the temporary committee on climate change
 
13.00 - The European authentic act and an easier access to justice - Manuel MEDINA ORTEGA (PES, ES)
 
14.30 - The situation of fundamental rights in EU 2004-2008 - Giusto CATANIA (GUE/NGL, IT), vice-chair of the LIBE committee


Parliamentary committees    

Committee on Foreign Affairs
09:00 - 12:30    Brussels, PHS 3C50 Discusion with Tzipi LIVNI, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affaires of the State of Israel (10:00 - 11:15)

11:30 - 12:30 - Joint debate:
•    Discussion with Ivica BOCEVSKI, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
•    Motion for a resolution on the 2008 progress report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - Report by Erik MEIJER (GUE/NGL, NL)

15:00 - 18:30    Brussels, PHS 3C50
•    Discussion with Hervé MORIN, Minister of Defence of the French Republic, on European Security and Defence Policy (15:00 - 17:45)
•    The development of the UN Human Rights Council, including the role of the EU - Vote on report by Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENE (EPP-ED, LT)
•    Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean - Vote on report by Pasqualina NAPOLETANO (PES, IT)

Committee on International Trade
11:00 - 12:45    Brussels, ASP 3G2
15:00 - 18:00    Brussels, ASP 3G2
•    Discussion with Commissioner Baroness ASHTON, on International Trade Policy (15:00 - 16:00)
•    Trade and Economic relations with Western Balkans - Vote on report by Bastiaan BELDER (IND/DEM, NL)
•    Presentation by State Secretary Anne-Marie IDRAC, Minister in charge of the External Trade, representing the President-in-office of the Council, on the achievements of the French Presidency in the area of International Trade Policy

Committee on Budgets
09:00 - 12:30    Brussels, ASP 1G3
•    Vote on 2nd reading budgetary amendments - Section III - Report by Jutta HAUG (PES, DE), Other sections - Report by Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP-ED, PL)
•    Amending budget ex-8/2008: food price increases in developing countries - vote on report by Kyösti VIRRANKOSKI (ALDE, FI)
•    Amendment of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management - report by Reimer Böge (EPP-ED, DE)
•    Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument - report by Reimer Böge (EPP-ED, DE)
•    Amending budgets 10/2008 and 11/2008: Section III - Commission - Vote on report by Kyösti VIRRANKOSKI (ALDE, FI)
•    Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund - Vote on report by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE)
•    Draft amending budget n°11: Section III - Commission - Vote on report by Kyösti VIRRANKOSKI (ALDE, FI)

Committee on Budgetary Control
09:00 - 12:30    Brussels, ASP 3G3
•    The budgetary control of EU funds in Afghanistan - Vote on report by Véronique MATHIEU (EPP-ED, FR)
•    2007 Discharge to the Commission - Report by Jean-Pierre AUDY (EPP-ED, FR)

15:00 - 18:30    Brussels, ASP 3G3
•    2007 Discharge to the Commission - Report by Jean-Pierre AUDY (EPPE-ED, FR) - Discussion with Olli Rehn, Commissioner in charge of Enlargement
•    2007 Discharge to the Agencies - Report by Christofer FJELLNER (EPP-ED, SE)

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
09:00 - 12:30    Brussels, PHS 5B1
•    Coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) - Vote on report by Wolf KLINZ (ALDE, DE)
•    Deposit Guarantee Schemes as regards the coverage level and the payout delay - Vote on report by Christian EHLER (EPP-ED, DE)
•    Capital Requirements Directives: Implementing measures (amending certain annexes to Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC) - Report by Othmar KARAS (EPP-ED, AT) - Vote on motion for a resolution
•    Securities settlement systems and financial collateral arrangements - Vote on report by Piia-Noora KAUPPI (EPP-ED, FI)
•    Medals and gokens similar to euro coins - Vote on report by Eoin RYAN (UEN, IE)
•    Application of the regulation concerning medals and tokens similar to euro coins to the non-participating Member States - Vote on report by Eoin RYAN (UEN, IE)

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
11:00 - 12:45    Brussels, ASP 1E2
15:00 - 18:30    Brussels, ASP 1E2
•    European Training Foundation (recast version) - Report by Bernard LEHIDEUX (ALDE, FR) - Recommendation for second reading
•    Proposal for a Council directive implementing the Agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 and amending Directive 1999/63/EC - Vote on report by Mary Lou MCDONALD (GUE/NGL, IE)

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
09:00 - 10:45    Brussels, Plenary Chamber
•    Wilderness in Europe - Vote on report by Gyula HEGYI (PES, HU)
•    Mental Health - Vpte on report by Evangelia TZAMPAZI (PES, EL)
•    Cosmetic products (recast version) - Dagmar ROTH-BEHRENDT (PES, DE)
•    Novel foods (common procedure) - Vote on report by Kartika Tamara LIOTARD (GUE/NGL, NL)

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
09:00 - 12:30    Brussels, ASP 5E2 Mini-Hearing on the Review of the Roaming Regulation (see Public Hearings) (9:00 - 11:00)

15:00 - 18:30    Brussels, ASP 5E2
•    Discussion with Prof. Dr. Martin SCHUURMANS, Chairman of the Governing Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) (15:00 - 16:00)
•    Resolution on the challenge of energy efficiency through Information and Communication Technologies - Vote on report by Vladimír REMEK (GUE/NGL, CZ)
•    The European Research Council (ERC): First Annual Report, Future Strategy Developments and Perspectives - Presentation by Prof. Dr. Fotis C. KAFATOS, ERC President, Prof. Ernst-Ludwig WINNACKER, ERC Secretary-General, and Dr. Jack METTHEY, ad interim director ERC Executive Agency

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
09:00 - 12:30    Brussels, PHS 4B1
•    Discussion with Meglana KUNEVA, Commissioner in charge of Consumer Protection: Presentation of the Green Paper on Collective Redress (9:00 - 10:00)
•    Type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles - Vote on report by Andreas SCHWAB (EPP-ED, DE)

Committee on Transport and Tourism
09:00 - 12:30    Brussels, PHS 1A2
•    An Agenda for Sustainable Future in General and Business Aviation - Vote on report by Luís QUEIRÓ (EPP-ED, PT)
•    Agreement between the EC and the United States of America on cooperation in the regulation of civil aviation safety - Vote on report by Paolo COSTA (ALDE, IT)
•    Agreement between the EC and India on certain aspects of air services - Vote on report by Gabriele ALBERTINI (EPP-ED, IT)
•    Hearing on Eurovignette III (see Public Hearings) (10:00 - 12:30)

Committee on Regional Development
11:00 - 12:45    Brussels, Plenary Chamber Territorial Cohesion - Public Hearing (see Public Hearings) (11:00 - 12:45)

15:00 - 18:30    Brussels, Plenary Chamber
•    Discussion with Danuta HÜBNER, Commissioner for Regional Policies, on the adaptations of Regional Policy legislation aimed at tackling the economic crisis (15:15 - 16:30)
•    Proposal for the revision of article 55 of the Council Regulation (EC) N° 1083/2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) N°1260/1999 - Vote on report by Stavros ARNAOUTAKIS (PES, EL)

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
09:00 - 10:45    Brussels, ASP 1G2
Crop statistics - Vote on report by Elisabeth JEGGLE (EPP-ED, DE)

Committee on Fisheries
11:00 - 12:45    Brussels, ASP 5G2
15:00 - 18:30    Brussels, ASP 5G2
•    The CFP and the eco-system approach to fisheries management - Vote on report by Pedro GUERREIRO (GUE/NGL, PT)
•    Discussion with Harm KOSTER, Executive Director of the Community Fisheries Control Agency in Vigo

Committee on Culture and Education
09:00 - 10:45    Brussels, ASP 3G2 Presentation of the outcomes of the French Presidency: Discussion with Valérie PECRESSE (Minister for Higher Education and Research), and Xavier DARCOS (Minister for Education)

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
09:00 - 12:30    Brussels, ASP 3E2
•    The situation of fundamental rights in the European Union 2004-2007 - Vote on report by Giusto CATANIA (GUE/NGL, IT)
•    Presentation of the conclusions of the French Presidency by Rachida DATI, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals (10:00 - 11:00)
•    Presentation of the conclusions of the French Presidency by Brice HORTEFEUX, Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Cooperative Development (11:00 - 12:00)

Committee on Constitutional Affairs
09:00 - 10:45    Brussels, ASP 1E2
•    Perspectives for developing the civil dialogue under the Treaty of Lisbon - Vote on report by Genowefa GRABOWSKA (PES, PL)
•    Revision of the Rules of Procedure with regard to the petitions process - Vote on report by Gérard ONESTA (Greens/EFA, FR)

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
09:00 - 10:45    Brussels, PHS 7C50
•    Transposition and application of Directive 2002/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the principle o equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions - Vote on report by Teresa RIERA MADURELL (PES, ES)
•    Non-discrimination based on gender and inter-generational solidarity - Vote on report by Anna ZÁBORSKÁ (EPP-ED, SK)

Committee on Petitions
09:00 - 10:45    Brussels, ASP 5G2

Temporary committee on climate change
15:00 - 18:30    Brussels, ASP 1G3
•    2050: The future begins today - recommendations for the EU's future integrated policy on climate change - Vote on report by Karl-Heinz FLORENZ (EPP-ED, DE)
•    Discussion with Stavros DIMAS, Commissioner for the Environment, on the preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 14 in Poznan


Public hearings    

The Review of the Roaming Regulation
09:00 - 11:00    Brussels, ASP 5E2, listening room ASP 5G3
Committee on Industry
 
Hearing on Eurovignette III
10:00 - 12:30    Brussels, PHS 1A002
Committee on Transport
 
Territorial Cohesion
11:00 - 12:45    Brussels, Plenary Chamber
Committee on Regional Development
 

Other events    

Forum on judicial cooperation in civil matters: Debate with National Parliaments
11:00 - 18:30    Brussels, D5, 2Q200

Cultural Diversity Day: Encounters between the EU and the US
15:00 - 18:30    Brussels, JAN J040100

Court Of Justice

Grand Chamber

Hearing C-478/07 Budejovicky Budvar
Agriculture