Policy Focus

The Week ahead 19-25 May 2008

The Week ahead
19-25 May 2008

Plenary Session - Strasbourg

Source: European parliament

Climate Change: The interim report of the Temporary Committee onClimate Change, setting out the factual scientific context to theissue, comes to the plenary. (Debate and vote Wednesday)

Burma and China: The aftermath of the cyclone in Burma and theearthquake in China will be the subject of debates with Commissionand Council. (Debate Wednesday, vote Thursday)

EU/Turkey: Parliament will consider its latest report on Turkey’sprogress as negotiations on EU accession continue. (Debate and voteWednesday)

Criminal law/environment: A directive to protect the environmentvia criminal law is set to become law at first reading, followingan agreement between Council and Parliament representatives.(Debate Monday, vote Wednesday)

Road transport: Legislation on licensing for road transportoperators and access to the road passenger and goods transportmarkets comes to first reading. (Debate Tuesday, voteWednesday)

Maritime Policy: MEPs will debate and vote on a report on maritimepolicy as Parliament marks the first European Maritime Day, whichwill be launched with the signing of a joint declaration by theParliament, Council and Commission Presidents. (Tuesday)

Votes on Lebanon, food prices, US visas: After debates at earliersessions, MEPs will vote on the situation in Lebanon, rising foodprices and the US visa waiver programme. (Thursday)

Gas market: Away from the plenary, the Industry Committee will voteon competition rules for the internal market in gas. (Monday)

CAP Health Check: Agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boelwill unveil her legislative proposals for the changes to the CommonAgricultural Policy to the Agriculture Committee. (Tuesday)

Hague Congress 1948-2008: Parliament’s President Hans-GertPöttering and other MEPs will take part in an event in The Haguemarking 60 years since the Congress of Europe which set the coursefor European integration after the Second World War.(Friday-Saturday)