Pöttering set for final EU parliament session

MEPs will discuss flu preparations in the EU and hear from parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering in the final plenary before the elections.

Pöttering will mark his swansong plenary as president with a speech to members on Wednesday, which will be followed by comments from the leaders of the political groups. He will also speak on Tuesday to mark five years since the reunification of Europe with the accession of 10 member states in 2004.

The forthcoming European council, set for 18-19 June in Brussels, is also on the agenda. This will be the first European council after the elections 4-7 June and the last under the Czech presidency.

Czech foreign minister Alexander Vondra is due to represent the Czechs at the meeting following the collapse of Mirek Topolánek's government. The schedule includes a speech from the outgoing parliament president, and a nominee for the presidency of the European commission may also be announced.

The recent outbreak of swine flu will be addressed early in the week's session, with the commission making a statement on the EU's ability to tackle such a threat. There are now over 70 confirmed cases of the virus across the EU.

In addition, extended maternity leave arrangements are likely to be agreed this session, increasing the period new mothers spend away from work to at least 20 weeks.

Meanwhile, the trade in seal based products may come a step closer to being banned if a vote on Tuesday is passed. The provisions currently under discussion would preclude their sale in "all but a handful of cases".

The collapse of the conciliation discussions over the working time directive means that a planned vote will not take place, though deputies will be given the chance to air their views in a debate on Monday.

It is the first time since the introduction of the Amsterdam treaty that the EU institutions have been unable to find agreement in the late stages of negotiations. The UK will therefore keep its controversial opt-out, and current legislation will apply.

It seems money will also be on the minds of MEPs this time around, with three separate pieces of legislation regarding financial protocols and management up for the vote.

The first amends the "capital requirements" directives regarding the transparency and supervision of the financial system. It is hoped this move can ensure proper risk management in the banking sector.

The second is the compromise deal, now agreed by the Czechs, on the EU economic recovery plan which will invest €3.98bn in gas and electricity infrastructure, offshore wind parks and carbon capture and storage projects.

Finally, a report from the economics committee will be put forward on a community programme to support financial services and financial reporting and auditing.

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