Minutes of the sitting of Monday 15 December 1997
19. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 14/1 Monday 15 December 1997 I (Information) EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 1997/98 SESSION Sittings of 15 to 19 December 1997 PALAIS DE L EUROPE › STRASBOURG MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF MONDAY 15 DECEMBER 1997 (98/C 14/01) Proceedings of the sitting IN THE CHAIR: Mr GIL-ROBLES GIL-DELGADO President › Mr Medina Ortega, on behalf of the PSE Group, in support of these remarks. (The sitting opened at 5. 05 p. m. ) The President said that the three speakers had aptly summar- ized feelings in the House. 1. Resumption of session The session, adjourned on 4 December 1997, was resumed. The following spoke: 2. Approval of Minutes The following spoke: › Mr Galeote Quecedo who, on behalf of the PPE Group, pointed out that the European Council had unanimously adopted on 12 December a statement condemning the Basque terrorist organization ETA and that, the following day, the Basques had demonstrated in favour of peace, freedom and democracy. He asked the President to make a public statement on behalf of Parliament expressing solidarity with the Bas- quesí demonstration and to send condolences to the family of Jose· Luis Caso who had been assassinated for the simple reason that he had been democratically elected; › Mr Papakyriazis, who referred to the award of the 10th Sakharov Prize the following Wednesday and noted that Leyla Zana, who had been awarded the prize in 1995, was still imprisoned in Turkey. He asked for the President to send a message to the Turkish authorities with a view to securing her release (the President replied that the best way of showing solidarity with her would be to attend the award ceremony on Wednesday); › Mr McMillan-Scott, who referred to reports that the US had banned imports of European beef and called for a Commission statement that week on the subject (the President replied that the Conference of Presidents had discussed this subject, but that as the reports were only based on rumours, it had decided to wait for the January part-session); › Mr Puerta, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, who endorsed these remarks, adding that Vice-President Cot was organizing a meeting the following day in support of victims of terrorism in Spain and elsewhere in Europe; › Mr Hallam, who said that his constituency was in a state of crisis due largely to imports of beef from other European countries where standards of hygiene were far lower than those in the United Kingdom; C 14/2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 1. 98 Monday 15 December 1997 › Mrs Roth-Behrendt, who announced that Mrs Bonino, Member of the Commission, had told her that as far as she knew she was due to make a statement on the subject at 9 p. m. the following day (the President confirmed that there would indeed be a Commission statement then, followed by a debate); The President replied that he had signed the referral the moment he had been free to do so after his various missions and that the Rules Committee should receive it that day. The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved. › Mr De Vries, on these remarks; › Mrs Banotti, on Mr Hallamís remarks; › Mr Macartney, who asked for the problem of sheepmeat to be included in this statement (the President replied that this would depend on the Commission); › Mr Berthu, who was unhappy that the debate would not be followed by a vote, as was also the case for the debate on the labelling of products made from genetically modified soya and maize on Friday; he felt that the Parliament was bound to take a stance on such important subjects in good time, in other words now (the President replied that the Conference of Presidents, in his presence, had taken this decision because it considered there was not enough information to draw up a resolution); › Mr Sturdy, on Mr Hallamís remarks; › Mrs Roth-Behrendt, who pointed out that Parliament had adopted a resolution on BSE in November, that it was planned to discuss the subject again in February and that a debate was more than adequate at that stage; › Mr Gallagher, on Mr Hallamís remarks (the President cut him off, saying that the matter was now closed); › Mr Posselt, who protested that, in the absence of authori- zation, the Committee on External Economic Relations would be obliged to meet informally the following day in the presence of Sir Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the Commission, to discuss an extremely important matter (the President replied that this was a result of the Conference of Presidentsí decision taken on the basis that committee meetings should be in Brussels); › Mrs Van Bladel, who called for the Bureau to give its urgent attention to the premises provided for the internal mail service and the drivers in the new buildings in Brussels; › Mr Provan, who congratulated the Parliament departments responsible for having ensured that the move to the new buildings in Brussels had gone smoothly. The President said that the Secretary-General was currently seeking a solution to the problem raised by Mrs Van Bladel. He took the opportunity of congratulating the Secretary- General on the successful move. Mr Fabre-Aubrespy, who referred to a reply he had received from the President, in response to his remarks made on the basis of Rule 48 at the opening of the sitting of Thursday 4 December (Minutes of that sitting, Part I, Item 1), that he had referred the matter to the Rules Committee; he said that the committee had still not received any referral. 3. Extraordinary European Council on employ- ment The President announced that, following the deliberations of the extraordinary European Council on employment of 20-21 November and on the basis of proposals by the Commission, the Council was due to adopt its employment guidelines that day, 15 December. He had therefore forwarded the opinion adopted on this subject by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs to the President-in-Office of the European Council, Mr Juncker, in the form of a letter (1), so that the European Parliamentís position could be taken into account in anticipation of the entry into force of the relevant articles of the Amsterdam Treaty. He added that the opinion reaffirmed the position Parliament had taken in its resolutions of 21 October 1997 embodying its proposal to the extraordinary European Council meeting on employment (20-21 November) (Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 6) and of 19 November 1997 on the Commission report Employment in Europe › 1997í (Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 18). 4. Verification of credentials On a proposal from the Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities, Parliament ratified the appointment of Mr Wieland. 5. Referrals to committees Committees had been asked for opinions as follows: › RTDE on the Commission report on the application of Directives 92/73/EEC and 92/74/EEC on homeopathic medi- cines (COM(97)0362 › C4-0484/97) (responsible: ENVI, already asked for opinions: AGRI, LEGA, ECON) › WOME on the 8th annual report on the Structural Funds (1996) (COM(97)0526 › C4-0582/97) (responsible: REGI, already asked for opinions: AGRI, BUDG, ESOC, CONT, FISH); › ECON, on the agreement on the procedure for consulting Parliament under Article 109j(4) of the EC Treaty for the adoption of a decision following the recommendations of Ecofin on the implementation of a single currency (responsi- ble: RULE); › PETI, on the responsibilities of the Petitions Committee (Crowley report) (responsible:RULE). (1) Annexed to these Minutes. 19. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 14/3 Monday 15 December 1997 6. Documents received (ab) opinions on proposals for transfers of appropriations: The President announced that he had received the following texts: (a) Council: (aa) requests for opinions: › Proposal for a Council Directive on the list of less- favoured farming areas within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 950/97 (Denmark) (COM(97)0575 › C4-0644/97 › 97/ 0308(CNS)) referred to responsible: AGRI opinion: BUDG › Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Frame- work Agreement on Cooperation between the European Econ- omic Community and the Cartagena Agreement and its member countries, namely the Republic of Bolivia, the Repub- lic of Colombia, the Republic of Ecuador, the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Venezuela (reconsultation) (C4-0651/97 › 00/0906(CNS)) referred to responsible: RELA opinion: FASE, RTDE, TRAN, CULT, DEVE legal basis: Art. 113, 130y, 228 (2)(3) EC languages not available: FI; SV › Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector (COM(97)0606 › C4-0653/97 › 97/0328(CNS)) referred to responsible: AGRI opinion: BUDG legal basis: Art. 043 EC › Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directives 89/48/EEC and 92/51/EEC on the general system for the recognition of professional qualifications and supplementing Directives 77/452/EEC, 77/453/EEC, 78/686/ EEC, 78/687/EEC, 78/1026/EEC, 78/1027/EEC, 80/154/EEC, 80/155/EEC, 85/384/EEC, 85/432/EEC, 85/433/EEC and 93/ 16/EEC concerning the professions of nurse responsible for general care, dental practitioner, veterinary surgeon, midwife, architect, pharmacist and doctor (COM(97)0638 › C4-0657/97 › 97/0345(COD)) referred to responsible: LEGA opinion: ESOC, CULT legal basis: Art. 049, 057(1)(2), 066 EC › Opinion on transfer of appropriations No 52/97 between Chapters in Section III › Commission › Part A › of the General Budget for the European Union for the financial year 1997 (C4-0646/97) referred to responsible: BUDG › Opinion on transfer of appropriations No 53/97 between Chapters in Section III › Commission › Part A › of the General Budget for the European Union for the financial year 1997 (C4-0647/97) referred to responsible: BUDG › Opinion on transfer of appropriations No 54/97 between Chapters in Section VI › Economic and Social Committee › Committee of the Regions › of the General Budget for the European Union for the financial year 1997 (C4-0652/97) referred to responsible: CONT (ac) the following texts: › Draft general budget of the European Communities for the financial year 1998 with amendments and proposed modifica- tions (12968/97 › C4-0600/97) referred to responsible: BUDG opinion: all committees concerned › Letter of amendment No 1 to the draft budget for 1998 (12973/97 › C4-0645/97) referred to responsible: BUDG opinion: AGRI (b) Commission: (ba) proposals and/or communications: › Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 97/33/EC with regard to opera- tor number portability and carrier pre-selection (COM(97)0674 › C4-0642/97 › 97/0250(COD)) referred to responsible: ECON opinion: LEGA legal basis: Art. 100a EC › Communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: ensuring security and trust in electronic communica- tion › towards a European framework for digital signatures and encryption (COM(97)0503 › C4-0648/97) referred to responsible: LEGA opinion: ECON, ENVI, CULT C 14/4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 1. 98 Monday 15 December 1997 › Communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Towards a Europe of Knowledgeí (COM(97)0563 › C4-0649/97) referred to responsible: CULT opinion: ESOC › Communication: Action plan for free movement of work- ers (COM(97)0586 › C4-0650/97) referred to responsible: ESOC opinion: LEGA, CIVI › Report on the Commission communication Support for structural adjustment and debt relief in heavily indebted ACP States › A Community response to the HIPC Debt Initiativeí, together with a proposal for a Council Decision concerning Exceptional Assistance for Heavily Indebted ACP countries (COM(97)0129 › C4-0243/97) › Committee on Development and Cooperation Rapporteur: Mr Torres Couto (A4-0382/97) › Report on the communication from the Commission on the impact of the introduction of the euro on capital markets (COM(97)0337 › C4-0443/97) › Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy › Communication on environment and employment (Build- ing a sustainable Europe) (COM(97)0592 › C4-0655/97) Rapporteur: Mr Friedrich (A4-0383/97) referred to responsible: ESOC opinion: REGI, ENVI languages available: DE; EN; FR (bb) the following text: › Report to the European Council on better lawmaking 1997 (COM(97)0626 › C4-0656/97) referred to responsible: LEGA (c) committees: (ca) reports: › Report on the Note to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on the olive and olive oil sector (includ- ing economic, cultural, regional, social and environmental aspects), the current common market organisation, the need for a reform, and the alternatives envisaged › Options Paper (COM(97)0057 › C4-0096/97) › Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Rapporteur: Mr Jove· Peres (A4-0374/97) › Report on the conduct of debates in Plenary (Amendment of Rules 47, 106, 107 and of Annex III to the Rules of Procedure) › Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities › Report on the communication from the Commission to the Council and to the European Parliament: The European Union and Space: fostering applications, markets and industrial competitiveness (COM(96)0617 › C4-0042/97) › Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (Hughes procedure) Rapporteur: Mr Desama (A4-0384/97) › * Report on the proposal for a Council Regulation introducing a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French depart- ment of Guiana as a result of those regionsí remoteness (COM(97)0389 › C4-0451/97 › 97/0200(CNS)) › Committee on Fisheries Rapporteur: Mr Medina Ortega (A4-0385/97) › Report on the communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on Benchmark- ing › the implementation of an instrument available to economic actors and public authorities (COM(97)0153 › C4-0387/97) › Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy Rapporteur: Mr Murphy (A4-0387/97) › * Report on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 establishing a control fisheries policy system applicable (COM(97)0341 › C4-0416/97 › 97/0189(CNS)) › Committee on Fisheries the common to Rapporteur: Mr Wijsenbeek (A4-0375/97) Rapporteur: Mr Eisma (A4-0389/97) › Report on the Commission report on the implementation of measures intended to promote observance of Human Rights and Democratic principles (for 1995) (COM(96)0672 › C4- 0095/97) › Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy › Report on the draft budget of the European Union for the financial year 1998 as modified by the Council (all sections) (C4-0600/97) and on Letter of Amendment No 1/98 to the preliminary draft budget for 1998, Section III › Commission (12973/97 › C4-0645/97) › Committee on Budgets Rapporteur: Mr Imbeni (A4-0381/97) Rapporteurs: Mr Tillich and Mr Tomlinson (A4-0390/97) 19. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 14/5 › Report on the Court of Auditorsí Special Report No 2/97 concerning humanitarian aid from the European Union between 1992 and 1995 (C4-0219/97) › Committee on Bud- getary Control Rapporteur: Mr Fabra Valle·s (A4-0391/97) › Report on setting up a single coordinating structure within the European Commission responsible for human rights and democratisation › Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy Rapporteur: Mrs Lenz (A4-0393/97) › * Report on the draft Council and Commission Decision on the position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council Agreement established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of the necessary rules for the implementation of Articles 64(1)(iii) and (2) of the Europe Agreement and Article 8(1)(iii) and (2) of Protocol 2 to the said Agreement on ECSC products (1706/97 › C4-0383/97 › 96/0237(CNS)) › Committee on External Economic Relations Monday 15 December 1997 › Report on the Commission communication on cohesion and the information society (COM(97)0007 › C4-0044/97) › Committee on Regional Policy Rapporteur: Mrs Sierra Gonza·lez (A4-0399/97) › Report on the amendment of Rule 75 of Parliamentís Rules of Procedure (Delegation to Conciliation Committee) › Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities Rapporteur: Mr Ford (A4-0400/97) › * Report on the draft Council Act drawing up the Convention concerning the establishment of Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints of applicants for asylum and the Convention drawn up on the basis of Article K. 3 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning the establishment of Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints of applicants for asylum (11079/97 › C4-0506/97 › 97/0915(CNS)) › Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs Rapporteur: Mrs díAncona (A4-0402/97) › Report on the Commissionís report on access to continu- ing training in the Union (COM(97)0180 › C4-0208/97) › Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Rapporteur: Mr Schwaiger (A4-0394/97) Rapporteur: Mrs Waddington (A4-0405/97) › * Report on the proposal for a Council Decision concern- ing the fifth framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for research and training (1998- 2002) (COM(97)0142 › C4-0234/97 › COM(97)0439 › C4-0410/97 › 97/0120(CNS)) › Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy Rapporteur: Mrs Quisthoudt-Rowohl (A4-0395/97) › ***I Report on the proposal and the modified proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision concerning the fifth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activ- ities C4-0186/97 COM(97)0439 › C4-0410/97 › 97/0119(COD)) › Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (COM(97)0142 › (1998-2002) Rapporteur: Mrs Quisthoudt-Rowohl (A4-0396/97) › * Report on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the conclusion of Protocol I to the Agreement on Fisheries Relations between the European Community and the Republic of Latvia, laying down the conditions relating to joint enter- prises provided for in the said agreement (COM(97)0323 › C4-0364/97 › 97/0177(CNS)) › Committee on Fisheries › **I Report on the proposal for a Council Directive on limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain industrial activities (COM(96)0538 › C4-0139/97 › 96/0276(SYN)) › Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection Rapporteur: Mr Cabrol (A4-0406/97) › Report on the draft ECSC operating budget for 1998 (SEC(97)0933 › C4-0270/97) › Committee on Budgets Rapporteur: Mr Giansily (A4-0409/97) › Report on the Commission communication: Europe and the US: the way forwardí (COM(95)0411 › C4-0411/95) › Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy Rapporteur: Mr Souchet (A4-0410/97) (cb) recommendations for second reading: › **II Recommendation for second reading on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adoping a Council Regulation on denominations and technical specifica- tions of euro coins intended for circulation (C4-0598/97 › 97/0154(SYN)) › Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy Rapporteur: Mr Macartney (A4-0397/97) Rapporteur: Mrs Soltwedel-Scha¤fer (A4-0386/97) C 14/6 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 1. 98 Monday 15 December 1997 › **II Recommendation for second reading on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Directive amending Directive 92/14/EEC on the limitation of the operation of aeroplanes covered by Part II, Chapter 2, Volume I of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, second edition (1988) (C4-0530/ 97 › 96/0209(SYN)) › Committee on Transport and Tourism Lo·pez, Gahrton, Habsburg-Lothringen, Cushnahan, Kestelijn- Sierens, Sandbæk, Valdivielso de Cue·, Macartney, Trakatellis, Ephremidis, Imaz San Miguel, Berthu, David W. Martin, Crowley, Eriksson, Smith, Anttila, Scho¤rling, Cederschio¤ld, Andrews, Colino Salamanca, Malone, Riis-Jłrgensen, Oddy, Hyland, Gallagher, Ferrer, Howitt, Ferri, McIntosh Rapporteur: Mr Van Dam (A4-0404/97) (d) Members: (da) oral questions (Rule 40): › Naussauer, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs, to the Council: Annual debate pursuant to Article K. 6, last sentence, on progress in implementing measures in the field of justice and home affairs (B4-0915/97); › Naussauer, Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs, to the Commission: Annual debate pursuant to Article K. 6, last sentence, on progress in implementing measures in the field of justice and home affairs (B4-0916/97); › Papayannakis and Gonza·lez A· lvarez, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, to the Commission: Labelling for genetical- ly engineered soya and maize (B4-1003/97); › Schmidbauer and Simpson, on behalf of the PSE Group, to the Commission: Further development of postal services (B4-1004/97); (e) Conciliation Committee › Joint texts approved by the Conciliation Committee for a European Parliament and Council Directive on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers (3631/97 › C4-0643/97 › 95/0148(COD)) (f) Parliamentís Delegation to the Conciliation Committee › ***III Report on the joint text, approved by the Concilia- tion Committee, for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 93/38/EEC coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and telecommunications sectors (C4-0619/97 › 95/0080(COD)) Rapporteur: Mr Langen (A4-0398/97) › ***III Report on the joint text, approved by the Concilia- tion Committee, for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery (C4-0627/97 › 95/ 0209(COD)) › Donnay, on behalf of the UPE Group, to the Commission: Postal services (B4-1005/97); Rapporteur: Mr Kenneth D. Collins (A4-0413/97) › Souchet and Nicholson, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, to the Commission: Labelling of products made from genetically modified soya and maize (B4-1006/97); › ***III Report on the joint text, approved by the Concilia- tion Committee, for a European Parliament and Council Directive on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers (C4-0643/97 › 95/ 0148(COD)) › Scarbonchi, on behalf of the ARE Group, to the Commis- sion: Postal services and terminal dues (B4-1007/97); Rapporteur: Mrs Oomen-Ruijten (A4-0414/97) › Moreau, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group to the Com- mission: Future of postal services in the EU (B4-1008/97). (db) oral questions for Question Time (Rule 41) (B4-1002/97): cil 7. Texts of agreements forwarded by the Coun- › Ru¤big, Bonde, Izquierdo Rojo, Gerard Collins, Wibe, Habsburg-Lothringen, Watts, Cushnahan, Robles Piquer, Alavanos, Posselt, Sjo¤stedt, Gu¤nther, Smith, Kaklamanis, Gallagher, Andrews, Fitzsimons, Howitt, Ephremidis, Oddy, Crowley, Hyland, McIntosh, Cars, Robles Piquer, Hardstaff, Van Putten, Fitzsimons, McMahon, Cassidy, Plooij-van Gor- sel, Sjo¤stedt, Truscott, Waidelich, Wijsenbeek, Wibe, Watts, Schmid, Papayannakis, Svensson, Andersson, Ahern, Hautala, Holm, Breyer, Posselt, Theorin, Ahlqvist, Thors, Titley, Alav- anos, Kjer Hansen, D ·ez de Rivera Icaza, Striby, Dybkjær, Piha, McKenna, Izquierdo Rojo, Gerard Collins, Valverde The President announced that he had received from the Council certified true copies of the the following documents: › Protocol to the agreement on cooperation and customs union between the European Economic Community and the Republic of San Marino consequent upon the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union and the Final Act; › Cooperation agreement between the European Comunity and the Republic of Yemen and the Final Act. 19. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 14/7 8. Petitions Pursuant to Rule 156(5), the President had forwarded to the Committee on Petitions the following petitions which had been entered in the register on the dates shown below: 26 November 1997 by Mr Konstantinos Bourboulas (No 1158/97); by Mr Dimitrios Antoniou (No 1159/97); by Mr Engelber van den Burg (No 1160/97); by Mr Mario Lipovsek (No 1161/97); by Mr K. Klont (No 1162/97); by Mrs Katharina Scha¤fer (No 1163/97); by Mr J. Bringmann (No 1164/97); by Mrs Tina Greggila¤-Jouini (No 1165/97); by Mr Svante Thunberg (No 1166/97); by Mr Leo Jans (No 1167/97); by Mr Rudolf Karsdorf (No 1168/97); by Mr Adolf Stollorz (No 1169/97); by Mr Otto Dickgießer (No 1170/97); by Mrs Manuela Trottmann (No 1171/97); by Mrs Roswitha Pullmer (No 1172/97); by Mrs Erna Pullmer (No 1173/97); by P. Bieber (UNIAT) (No 1174/97); by Mr T. Appelyard (No 1175/97); by Mr T. Appelyard (No 1176/97); by Mr T. Appelyard (No 1177/97); by Mr Jack Healy (No 1178/97); by Mr Richard Barber (No 1179/97); by Mr Michael Byrne (No 1180/97); by Mr Florin Marinescu-Firica (No 1181/97); by Mr Norman Berdichevsky (No 1182/97); by Mrs Irene Neira Dopazo (No 1183/97); by Mr George Alan Gibson (No 1184/97); by Mr Jim Fitzpatrick (and 3 signatories) (No 1185/97); by Mr Vassiliki Papakyriakou (No 1186/97); by Mr Alvaro Ortega Santos (No 1187/97); by Mr Ramon Luis Valcarcel Siso (Comunidad Autonoma by de Region de Murcia) (No 1188/97); by Mr Tomas Hernandez Velasco (No 1189/97); by Mr Alfonso Quintana Bouzas (and 840 signatories) (No 1190/97); by Mr Emilio Beceiro Mosquera (AFDPT › Asociacion Ferrolana do deporte para Todos) (No 1191/97); Monday 15 December 1997 by Mr Thierry Gallienne (No 1195/97); by Mr Georges Esquerre (MrAP/ARAC Fe·de·ration du Tarn) (and 21 signatories) (No 1196/97); by Mr Mohanaraj Kandasamy (No 1197/97); by Mr R. Petri-Guasco (Conseil Superieur des Français de líEtranger) (No 1198/97); by Mrs Agatha Witteman (No 1199/97); by Mr Alain Bournet (Deux Mains Pour Demain) (No 1200/ 97); by Mr Alessandro Roveri (No 1201/97); by Mr Marini Pietro (No 1202/97); by Mr Giuseppe Vesca (Comitato Promotore per Dire no allíInceneritoreí) (and 4 518 signatories) (No 1203/97); by Mrs Maria Antonietta Bezzi (No 1204/97); by Mrs Giuseppa Papa (No 1205/97); by Mrs Elena Crostoni (No 1206/97); by Mr Virgilio Bettini (Coordinamento Nazionale delle Administrazioni Locali dei Comitati Cittadini delle Associa- zioni Ambientaliste in Tutela dei Territori Interessati dalla Realizzazione delle Linee Ferroviarie ad Alta Velocita in Italia) (and 35000 signatories) (No 1207/97); by Mrs Maria Pia Colmano (Comiatto Civico Ecologico Fornese) (No 1208/97); by Mr Abel Gardete Cabaço (No 1209/97); by Mr Al ·rio Lu ·s Pereira da Silva (No 1210/97); by Mrs Anne-Marie Bauer (Comite· díEntreprise › Hoêpital Saint-Joseph) (and 9 200 signatories) (No 1211/97); by Mrs Annemarie Zimmerer (No 1212/97); 15 December 1997 by Mr Elias Gutierrez Juarez (No 1213/97); by Mr Tony Barrientos (and 50 signatories) (No 1214/97); by Mr Alberto Alfalla Maqueda (No 1215/97); by Mr Carlos Sol ·s Carini (No 1216/97); by Mr Marcelino Valle Fernandez (No 1217/97); by Mr Silvestre Iranzo (Asociacion de Vecinos de Can Domenech) (and 2 signatories) (No 1218/97); by Mr Felicisimo Garcia Lopez (No 1219/97); by Mr Uwe Umbach Schumm (No 1220/97); by Mrs Yolanda Menor de Gaspar Rodr ·guez (Confederacion Ecologista Pacifista Andaluza › CEPA) (No 1221/97); by Mrs Francisca Chopo Comin (Federacion Española de Sociedades Protectoras de Animales y Plantas) (No 1222/97); by Mr Fernando Lago Lo·pez (Coordinadora Nacional Asocia- ciones Afectados Sindrome Aceite Toxico) (and 2 signatories) (No 1223/97); by Mr Daniel Zanone (No 1224/97); by Mr Francisco Javier Echavarren Lezaun (No 1192/97); by Mr Robert Marcelin (No 1225/97); by Mr Laurent D. Faure (Neuromedia International) (and 5 signatories) (No 1193/97); by Mr Mohamed Mohamed-Abdi (Somali Peace Line) (No 1226/97); by Mrs Arlette Farina (No 1194/97); by Mrs Isabelle Molinaro (No 1227/97); C 14/8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 1. 98 Monday 15 December 1997 by Mr Mavoungou Nombo-Li (Collectif des e·tudiants et stagiaires congolais en Belgique) (and 39 signatories) (No 1228/97); by Mr Cugini Paris (No 1229/97); by Mrs Anastasia Serban (No 1230/97); by Mrs Sabine Lehr (Terra Vacanzia) (No 1231/97); by Mr Pierre Walhain (Mouvement Demographie › Ecologie) (and 103 signatories) (No 1232/97); by Mr T. Priem (No 1233/97); by Mr Alain Rillet (and 2 signatories) (No 1234/97); by Mr I. C. Ulagaratnam (Tamils of Kreis Neuss) (and 163 signatories) (No 1267/97); by Mr Douglas McLaughlin (No 1268/97); by Mrs Joan Marjorie Martin McKetty (No 1269/97); by Mr Malcolm Coxall and Conny Feij (No 1270/97); by Mrs Josephine Mary Turner (No 1271/97); by Mr Frank Harvey (No 1272/97); by Mrs Pricilla Stewart-Smith (No 1273/97); by Mr Richard Sabban (Association Maccabi-Inter) (No 1235/ 97); 9. Order of business by Mr J. P. Verspieren (Vivre dans la presquí êle de Saint Tropez) (No 1236/97); by Mrs Isabella Salerno (Revisioni Consulenze Progettazioni › RCP Srl) (No 1237/97); by Mr G. Butolino (Comune di Foglizzo) (No 1238/97); by Mr Gerardo Corrado (No 1239/97); The next item was the order of business. The President announced that the final draft agenda for the December II 1997 sittings had been distributed (PE 264. 937 PdOJ) and that a number of changes had been proposed (Rule 96). by Mr Luigi Lovato (Comune di Bovolone) (No 1240/97); Monday › Thursday by Mr Vincenzo Cerceo (No 1241/97); by Mr Paolo Badiale (No 1242/97); by Mr Giorgio Gambarotto (No 1243/97); by Mr Rosario Musumeci (No 1244/97); by Mr Andras Bereny (European Pro Democracy Petition) (and 200 signatories) (No 1245/97); by Mrs Helena Mota (No 1246/97); by Mr Anto·nio Diogo de Andrade (No 1247/97); by Mrs Inger Andersson (No 1248/97); by Mrs Tarja Lehtela¤ (No 1249/97); by Mr Axel Jłrgensen (No 1250/97); by Mr F. -Harry Lennicke (No 1251/97); by Mrs Barbara Witt (No 1252/97); by Mr Erwin Seel (No 1253/97); by Mr Guy Gerome (No 1254/97); by Mr Gu¤nther Alois Wagner (No 1255/97); by Mrs Hannelore Lemanczyk (No 1256/97); No change Friday › Mrs Redondo Jime·nez, with the agreement of the Agricul- ture Committee which was responsible, asked for her report, A4-0370/97 › Item 484, to be taken without debate under Rule 99. Mr Colino Salamanca, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, spoke. Parliament approved the request by Mrs Redondo Jime·nez. The vote on this report would be at 12 noon on Tuesday. › Mr Ford and 28 other Members asked for the inclusion in the agenda of a Commission statement on UEFAís decision not to allow the Coca-Cola Cup Winners to participate in European cup competitions. (The President said that, if this request was approved, the statement could only be taken at the end of Fridayís sitting. ) by Mr Henrique Ko¤hler (No 1257/97); Mr Ford said he could agree with this proposed timing. by Mr Hans Offenhaus (and 10 signatories) (No 1258/97); by Mr Abdelghani Moussadak (No 1259/97); by Mr Ludolf Lange (and 3 signatories) (No 1260/97); by Mr Edeltraud Blanz (Internationale Gesamtschule Initiativ- gruppe Nesheí) (No 1261/97); by Mrs Loretta Grego-Burkhardt (Anwaltskanzlei Grego- Burkhardt & Coll. ) (No 1262/97); by Mrs Nesa Premakumaran (No 1263/97); by Mr Patrick OíDonnell (No 1264/97); Parliament approved the request. * * * The order of business was thus established. 10. Speaking time by Mr J. B. Mortell (Rochestown Action Group) (No 1265/97); by Sports Car Centre Ltd. (No 1266/97); Speaking time for debates on the agenda for the sittings of 15-19 December would be allocated pursuant to Rule 106 (see separate Agenda PE 264. 937OJ). 19. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 14/9 Monday 15 December 1997 11. Topical and urgent debate (subjects pro- 14. Pollutants from internal combustion en- posed) gines ***III (debate) The President proposed the following three subjects for the next topical and urgent debate to be held on Thursday, bearing in mind that one hour had been set aside for a Commission statement on the Kyoto Conference followed by a debate. › Anti-personnel mines › Burundi › Human rights Mr Kenneth D. Collins, chairman of the Environment Commit- tee, introduced his report, drawn up on behalf of Parliamentís delegation to the Conciliation Committee, on the joint text, approved by the Conciliation Committee, for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road machinery (C4-0627/97 › 95/0209(COD)) (A4-0413/97). 12. Organisation of work (debate) Mr Andersson introduced his report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, on the Com- mission Green Paper Partnership for a new organisation of workí (COM(97)0128 › C4-0187/97) (A4-0313/97). The following spoke: Mr Hughes, chairman of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, who spoke on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Chanterie, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Crowley, on behalf of the UPE Group, Mrs Boogerd- Quaak, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Mrs Ojala, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Mrs Scho¤rling, on behalf of the V Group, Mr Sainjon, on behalf of the ARE Group, Mrs Weil- er, Mr Santini and Mr Menrad. IN THE CHAIR: Mr HAARDER Vice-President The following spoke: Mrs Dybkjær, Mr Theonas, Mr Blak, Mrs Carlsson, Mr Olsson, and Mrs Gradin, Member of the Commission. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 16. 12. 1997, Part I, Item 16. 13. Trafficking in women for sexual exploitation (debate) Mrs Waddington introduced her report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Womenís Rights, on the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation (COM(96)0567 › C4-0638/96) (A4-0372/97) (Hughes procedure: CIVI). The following spoke: Mrs Colombo Svevo, draftsperson of the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Mrs Van Lancker, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mrs Banotti, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mrs Larive, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Mrs Eriks- son, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Mrs Van Dijk, chairman of the Committee on Womenís Rights, who spoke on behalf of the V Group, Mrs Leperre-Verrier, on behalf of the ARE Group, Mr Antony, Non-attached Member, Mrs Karama- nou, Mr Mann, Mrs Anttila, Mrs Gro¤ner, and Mrs Gradin, Member of the Commission. The President closed the debate. IN THE CHAIR: Mr AVGERINOS Vice-President Mrs Gradin, Member of the Commission, spoke. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 16. 12. 1997, Part I, Item 7. 15. Consumer protection ***III (debate) prices in indication of Mrs Oomen-Ruijten introduced her report, drawn up on behalf of Parliamentís delegation to the Conciliation Committee on the joint text, approved by the Conciliation Committee, for a European Parliament and Council Directive on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers (C4-0643/97 › 95/0148(COD)) (A4-0414/97). The following spoke: Mr Whitehead, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mrs Thyssen, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mrs Hau- tala, on behalf of the V Group, Mr Souchet, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, Mr Fitzsimons and Mrs Gradin, Member of the Commission. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 16. 12. 1997, Part I, Item 8. 16. Postal services (debate) The next item was a joint debate on six oral questions to the Commission by the following Members: › Ferber, on behalf of the PPE Group, on further develop- ment of postal services in the EU (B4-0911/97). › Wijsenbeek, on behalf of the ELDR Group, on the reimbursement of terminal dues between postal services (B4-0914/97). › Schmidbauer and Simpson, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the future of postal services (B4-1004/97). › Donnay, on behalf of the UPE Group, on postal services Vote: Minutes of 16. 12. 1997, Part I, Item 17. (B4-1005/97). C 14/10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 1. 98 Monday 15 December 1997 › Scarbonchi, on behalf of the ARE Group, on postal services and terminal dues (B4-1007/97). › Moreau, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the future The following spoke: Mr Tappin, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Giansily, on behalf of the UPE Group, and Mr Bangemann, Member of the Commission. of postal services in the European Union (B4-1008/97). The President closed the debate. Mr Ferber moved oral question B4-0911/97. Vote: Minutes of 16. 12. 1997, Part I, Item 9. Mr Simpson moved oral question B4-1004/97. Mrs Schaffner, deputizing for the author, moved oral question B4-1005/97. Mr Scarbonchi moved oral question B4-1007/97. Mrs Moreau moved oral question B4-1008/97. 18. Agenda for next sitting The President announced the following agenda for the sitting of Tuesday 16 December 1997: 9 a. m. › 1 p. m. , 3 › 7 p. m. and 9 p. m. › 12 midnight: Mr Bangemann, Member of the Commission, answered the questions. 9 › 9. 15 a. m. : The following spoke: Mrs Schmidbauer, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Stenmarck, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Wolf, on behalf of the V Group, Mr Van Dam, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, Mrs Moreau and Mr Bangemann. The President announced that he had received motions for resolutions pursuant to Rule 40(5) from the following Mem- bers: › Simpson and Schmidbauer, on behalf of the PSE Group, Ferber, on behalf of the PPE Group, Wijsenbeek, on behalf of the ELDR Group, and Van Dijk, on behalf of the V Group, on terminal dues (B4-1033/97); › Donnay, Kaklamanis and Danesin, on behalf of the UPE Group, on terminal dues in the postal services (B4- 1034/97); › Scarbonchi and Dary, on behalf of the ARE Group, on postal services and terminal dues (B4-1035/97). The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 17. 12. 1997, Part I, Item 14. 17. Procurement procedures in water, energy, ***III transport and telecommunications (debate) Mr Langen introduced his report, drawn up on behalf of Parliamentís delegation to the Conciliation Committee on the joint text, approved by the Conciliation Committee, for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Direc- tive 93/38/EEC coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and telecom- munications sectors (C4-0619/97 › 95/0080(COD)) (A4-0398/ 97). › topical and urgent debate (announcement of motions tabled) 9. 15 a. m. › 12 noon, 3 › 5. 30 p. m. and 9 p. m. › 12 midnight: › joint debate on two reports by Mr Tillich/Mr Tomlinson and Mr Giansily on the 1998 draft general budget › oral questions on justice and home affairs › joint debate on two reports by Mrs Quisthoudt-Rowohl on the fifth framework programme for research ***I/* › Scapagnini report on energy policy › Sindal report on aid to shipbuilding * › Billingham report on services of general interest in Europe › Soltwedel-Scha¤fer recommendation for second reading on denominations of euro coins **II 12 noon: › voting time › topical and urgent debate (subjects selected) 5. 30 › 7 p. m. : › Question Time to the Commission 9 p. m. › Commission statement on beef and veal products (fol- lowed by debate) (The sitting closed at 8. 15 p. m. ) Julian PRIESTLEY Secretary-General Nicole FONTAINE Vice-President 19. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 14/11 Monday 15 December 1997 ATTENDANCE REGISTER 15 December 1997 The following signed: díAboville, Adam, Aelvoet, Ahern, Ahlqvist, Ainardi, Aldo, Amadeo, Anastassopoulos, Andersson, Andre·-Le·onard, Andrews, Antony, Anttila, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Areitio Toledo, Argyros, Arias Cañete, Augias, Avgerinos, Azzolini, Baldarelli, Baldi, Balfe, Banotti, Bardong, Baro·n Crespo, Barthet-Mayer, Barton, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bere‘s, Bernard-Reymond, Bertens, Berthu, Billingham, van Bladel, Blak, Bloch von Blottnitz, Blokland, Blot, Bo¤ge, Bo¤sch, Bonde, Bontempi, Boogerd-Quaak, Botz, Bourlanges, Bowe, de Bre·mond díArs, Breyer, Brinkhorst, Brok, Buffetaut, Burenstam Linder, Cabezo·n Alonso, Caccavale, Camiso·n Asensio, Campos, Carlotti, Carlsson, Carnero Gonza·lez, Carniti, Carre‘re díEncausse, Casini Carlo, Cassidy, Castagne‘de, Castellina, Castricum, Caudron, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chesa, Chichester, Christodoulou, Colajanni, Colino Salamanca, Collins Gerard, Collins Kenneth D. , Colombo Svevo, Colom i Naval, Corbett, Cornelissen, Correia, Cot, Cottigny, Cox, Crawley, Crowley, Cunha, Cunningham, Cushnahan, van Dam, Dankert, Dary, David, De Coene, De Esteban Martin, De Giovanni, DellíAlba, De Melo, Deprez, Desama, de Vries, D ·ez de Rivera Icaza, van Dijk, Dillen, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnay, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dupuis, Dury, Dybkjær, Elchlepp, Elles, Elliott, Eriksson, Escudero, Estevan Bolea, Ettl, Evans, Ewing, Fabra Valle·s, Fabre-Aubrespy, Falconer, Farassino, Fassa, Ferber, Fe·ret, Ferna·ndez-Albor, Ferna·ndez Mart ·n, Ferrer, Fitzsimons, Florenz, Fontaine, Ford, Fourçans, Funk, Gahrton, Galeote Quecedo, Gallagher, Garc ·a Arias, Garc ·a-Margallo y Marfil, Garosci, Garot, Garriga Polledo, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, de Gaulle, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Giansily, Gillis, Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado, Glase, Goepel, Goerens, Go¤rlach, Gomolka, Gonza·lez Triviño, Graziani, Gro¤ner, Grosseteête, Gu¤nther, Gutie·rrez D ·az, Haarder, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Ha¤nsch, Hager, Hallam, Hardstaff, Harrison, Hatzidakis, Haug, Hautala, Hawlicek, Heinisch, Hendrick, Herman, Hernandez Mollar, Herzog, Hoff, Holm, Hoppenstedt, Hory, Howitt, Hughes, Hulthe·n, Hyland, Ilaskivi, Imaz San Miguel, Imbeni, Iversen, Izquierdo Rojo, Janssen van Raay, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jensen Lis, Jo¤ns, Jove· Peres, Kaklamanis, Karamanou, Karoutchi, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Kerr, Killilea, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kjer Hansen, Klaß, Kofoed, Kokkola, Konrad, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Kristoffersen, Kuckelkorn, Kuhne, Laignel, Lalumie‘re, Lambraki, Lambrias, Lang, Lange, Langen, Langenhagen, Lannoye, Larive, de Lassus Saint Genie‘s, Lehne, Lenz, Leperre-Verrier, Lienemann, Lindeperg, Lindholm, Linkohr, Lo¤o¤w, Lukas, Lulling, Macartney, McCarthy, McCartin, McGowan, McKenna, McMillan-Scott, McNally, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Malerba, Manisco, Mann Erika, Mann Thomas, Manzella, Marinho, Marinucci, Martens, Martin David W. , Martin Philippe-Armand, Mather, Mayer, Medina Ortega, Megahy, Me·ndez de Vigo, Mendiluce Pereiro, Menrad, Mezzaroma, Miller, Miranda de Lage, Mohamed Ali, Mombaur, Monfils, Moorhouse, Moreau, Moretti, Morgan, Morris, Mosiek-Urbahn, Mouskouri, Mu¤ller, Mulder, Murphy, Muscardini, Mutin, Musumeci, Myller, Napoletano, Nassauer, Needle, Newens, Newman, Nicholson, Nordmann, Ojala, Olsson, Oomen-Ruijten, Otila, Paasilinna, Paasio, Pack, Papakyriazis, Papayannakis, Parodi, Pasty, Peijs, Pe·rez Royo, Perry, Peter, Pettinari, Piecyk, Piha, Pimenta, Pinel, Pirker, des Places, Plooij-van Gorsel, Plumb, Podesta‘, Poettering, Poggiolini, Poisson, Pome·s Ruiz, Pompidou, Posselt, Pronk, Provan, Puerta, Querbes, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Rapkay, Raschhofer, Rauti, Read, Reding, Redondo Jime·nez, Rehder, Ribeiro, Riis-Jłrgensen, Rinsche, Ripa di Meana, Rosado Fernandes, Roth, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rothley, Roubatis, Ruffolo, Ryyna¤nen, Sainjon, Sakellariou, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Samland, Sandbæk, Santini, Sarlis, Scarbonchi, Schaffner, Schiedermeier, Schierhuber, Schlechter, Schleicher, Schmid, Schmidbauer, Schnellhardt, Scho¤rling, Schro¤der, Schroedter, Schulz, Schwaiger, Seal, Secchi, Seppa¤nen, Sichrovsky, Simpson, Sindal, Siso· Cruellas, Sjo¤stedt, Skinner, Smith, Soltwedel-Scha¤fer, Sonneveld, Souchet, Spaak, Spencer, Spiers, Stenmarck, Stevens, Stockmann, Striby, Sturdy, Svensson, Tajani, Tamino, Tappin, Tatarella, Taubira-Delannon, Telka¤mper, Terro·n i Cus ·, Teverson, Theato, Theonas, Theorin, Thomas, Thyssen, Tillich, Tindemans, Titley, Tomlinson, Torres Couto, Trakatellis, Trizza, Truscott, Ullmann, Va¤yrynen, Valdivielso de Cue·, Vandemeulebroucke, Vanhecke, Van Lancker, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vaz da Silva, Vecchi, van Velzen W. G. , Verde i Aldea, Verwaerde, Viceconte, Vinci, Virgin, Virrankoski, Waddington, Waidelich, Walter, Watts, Weber, Weiler, Wemheuer, West, White, Whitehead, Wibe, Wiebenga, Wieland, Willockx, Wilson, von Wogau, Wolf, Wurtz, Wynn, Zimmermann C 14/12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 1. 98 Monday 15 December 1997 Dear Mr President, ANNEX The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament has taken good notice of the draft resolution presented by the Commission on the 1998 Employment Guidelines which conforms with the relevant conclusions of the Extraordinary European Council of Luxembourg (20-21/11/97). The European Parliament adopted on 21 October 1997 (1) its contribution to the extraordinary European Council supporting the overall strategy proposed by the Commission. Furthermore, on 19 November 1997 it adopted its resolution on the Commission report Employment in Europe › 1997í (2) pointing out the political priority of implementing the close matching of economic and employment guidelines, as well as, targeting structural policies and community instruments towards employment creation. Parliamentís view of the outcome of the Extraordinary European Council of Luxembourg and the final version of the Commissionís employment guidelines for 1998 should be judged against the content of these resolutions. In accordance with the timetable set by the European Council, and the exceptional circumstances of the anticipated implementation of the new provisions of the Title VIII on Employment of the Treaty of Amsterdam, the European Parliament, without prejudice to its right to be consulted in conformity with Article 128, paragraph 2 of the consolidated version of the Treaties, reaffirms its position as expressed in the abovementioned resolutions. The European Parliament extends its appreciation to you for fully involving the European Parliament in the preparation of the Luxembourg Extraordinary European Council and wishes the continuation for the close cooperation in this policy area. In this spirit, the European Parliament expects the Presidency of the Council to keep it officially informed of the implementation of the guidelines by the Member States in the framework of Article 128, paragraph 4 of the consolidated version of the Treaties. The European Parliament attaches particular importance to its proper consultation in the course of the preparation by the Commission of the employment guidelines for 1998. Therefore, for it to be able to consider in useful time the employment guidelines for 1998 invites the Commission to submit them at the latest by 1 October 1998. Yours sincerely, Jose· Mar ·a GIL-ROBLES GIL-DELGADO (1) (2) (A4-0307/97) van Velzen report. (A4-0353/97) Hernandez Mollar report