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Parliamentary week 8-11 February - what’s on?

08 February 2010 21:43 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. MEPs will vote Tuesday on whether to approve or reject the new Barroso II European Commission, APA reports quoting European Parliament web-age. Also in Strasbourg next week is a key vote on the interim EU-US data sharing agreement on Thursday. Midweek MEPs debate the progress that Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey have made on the road to joining the EU. Find all the information on the debates and votes here. Get daily updates here.
Also on the agenda this week a proposal on providing social housing across Europe, the Ukraine in the wake of the second round of the presidential election, resolutions on Haiti, Iran and Yemen.
Monday: Opening of Strasbourg session: vote on new Commission the highlight of the week
At the start of this week’s plenary session in Strasbourg, Parliament President Jerzy Buzek commented on tomorrow’s vote on the new European Commission, the Ukrainian presidential elections and the death of a former EP colleague in Haiti.
The president first expressed sorrow at the death following the earthquake in Haiti of Ms Pilar JuÃ¡rez Boal, head of the EU delegation in Haiti and a former EP official. He then commented on the outcome of the presidential elections in Ukraine, saying he had been told by MEPs who had observed the polls that, despite some complaints, the elections had followed the procedures.
He now believed that "democracy is well rooted in that country" and looked forward to good working relations between the EU and Ukraine. A debate on the Ukrainian elections is on Parliament’s agenda for this Wednesday. Lastly, Mr Buzek drew attention to Tuesday’s key votes on the election of the new Commission and the framework agreement on cooperation between the Commission and Parliament.
Two changes to the week’s agenda were approved by the House. On Tuesday afternoon at 3pm a debate will take place on Eurozone countries in difficulty and on Wednesday the debates on progress towards enlargement by Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey will be merged into a joint debate.
Parliament votes on the new Commission
MEPs vote on the election of the European Commission on Tuesday afternoon. They may elect or reject the new College of Commissioners, which will hold office for the next five years. Parliament will also vote on a resolution on a new cooperation agreement between the two institutions and on resolutions by the political groups setting out their views of the Commission.
EU membership candidates: keep on reforming to stay on track
Parliament is expected to give a positive overall assessment of last year’s efforts by Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to qualify for EU membership. It is also expected to underline the limited progress Turkey has made towards meeting the "Copenhagen" EU eligibility criteria, in resolutions to be debated and approved on Wednesday (10 February).
SWIFT: Parliament to vote on interim accord
Next Thursday in Strasbourg MEPs will have the final say on the provisional nine-month agreement signed by EU government ministers on the transfer of bank data to the United States for counter-terrorism purposes. A rejection by MEPs - as recommended on 4 February by the EP Civil Liberties Committee - would render the agreement legally void.
Use of body scanners for security in airports
Plans to use body scanners in airport security checks, following the December 2009 failed bomb attack on a flight to Detroit, will be debated by MEPs with the Council and Commission on Tuesday afternoon. An impact evaluation report on body scanners is to be published by the Commission in the coming weeks.
Resolutions on Haiti, Iran and Yemen
On Wednesday (10 February) Parliament will adopt resolutions on Haiti, Iran and Yemen following debates at its January plenary session in Strasbourg on developments in these countries.
Marginalised communities could get EU regional funds for housing
Poor communities could get EU regional funding in all Member States for renovation or replacement of their houses, according to a regulation to be put to the vote on Wednesday.
Gender equality: fighting domestic violence and ensuring the right to paternity leave
Parliament will debate and vote on the annual report on equality between women and men in the European Union for 2009. Gender equality should be mainstreamed into all policy areas, say MEPs, to improve the lot of women and remedy the effects of the financial, economic and social crisis on their personal lives and position in the labour market.
Resettlement of GuantÃ¡namo detainees
Since the GuantÃ¡namo Bay prison has not been closed as originally scheduled on 22 January by the US administration, MEPs, Council and the Commission will discuss possible cooperation with the US for resettling prisoners.
Preventing needle-stick injuries in the health sector
Parliament will vote on an agreement between the European social partners to prevent needle-stick injuries in hospitals, one of the most widespread and serious risks to health workers across the EU.
Copenhagen climate change summit
MEPs will vote on a resolution on the outcome of the December 2009 climate change summit in Copenhagen. In a debate on 20 January, they said the agreement reached there was weak and a huge disappointment. MEPs stressed that EU needs to do more and speak with one voice. Some also said that UN negotiating methods should be revised.
On-line gambling: restrictions may be justified
MEPs want to know how the Commission plans to respond to a recent European Court of Justice decision upholding the right of the Portuguese authorities to ban a foreign on-line gambling site, given that the Commission itself has brought infringement proceedings against many EU Member States for failing to respect the free movement of services.
Ukraine after the presidential elections
The situation in Ukraine following the second round of presidential elections on 7 February will be the subject of a debate in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Parliament will vote on a resolution at its February II plenary session (25 February).
A ban on trade in blue fin tuna and polar bears?
Parliament will vote on a resolution calling on the European Commission and EU Member States to back a ban on international trade in endangered animals or their products, such as blue fin tuna and polar bears, and to maintain an existing ban on trade in African elephants.
Situation of Opel in Europe
Following a Commission statement, MEPs will debate the situation of Opel in Europe, in particular in the light of the closure of the company’s Antwerp plant, announced on 21 January.