Minutes of the sitting of Monday 11 May 1998
1. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 167/1 Monday 11 May 1998 I (Information) EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 1998/99 SESSION Sittings of 11 to 15 May 1998 PALAIS DE L EUROPE › STRASBOURG MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF MONDAY 11 MAY 1998 (98/C 167/01) Proceedings of the sitting IN THE CHAIR: Mr GIL-ROBLES GIL-DELGADO President (The sitting opened at 5 p. m. ) 1. Resumption of session The session, adjourned on 2 May 1998, was resumed. The President made a statement on the tragedy in Campania where a mudslide had claimed a high number of victims, caused enormous damage and left thousands homeless. He said that he would be sending condolences on Parliamentís behalf to the Italian authorities. The following spoke: › Mr Monti, Member of the Commission, who endorsed the Presidentís remarks, adding that the Commission was examin- ing possible courses of action; › Mrs D ·ez de Rivera Icaza, who supported the Presidentís statement; › Mr Ripa di Meana, who hoped that the Commission would be able to release very rapidly funding commensurate with the scale of the disaster which had hit Campania, and Mr Bianco and Mrs Marinucci, who thanked the President and the Commission for showing their solidarity with the victims of this disaster; › Mrs D ·ez de Rivera Icaza, who wanted the reasons which had led Air France to suspend its regular flight and special flight from Madrid to Strasbourg to be examined; she also asked for the President to express, on Parliamentís behalf, solidarity in the wake of the environmental disaster which had occurred in the Doñana national park (the President said that he would do so); › Mr Christodoulou, who referred to the tribute paid by the President on Parliamentís behalf to the memory of Mr Kara- manlis, former President of Greece (Minutes of 29. 4. 1998, Item 2), gave a brief summary of his achievements and announced that Greek members of the PPE Group would be meeting at 8. 30 the following morning to pay tribute to him in their turn; › Mr Pome·s Ruiz, who condemned two recent ETA attacks which had claimed the lives of Toma·s Caballero, a local councillor, and Alfonso Parada, a former civil guard; › Mrs Ahern, who asked for Parliament to condemn the underground nuclear test carried out by India that day; › Mr Medina Ortega, on behalf of Spanish members of the PSE Group, and Mr Gutie·rrez D ·az, who also condemned these attacks and paid tribute to the victims; C 167/2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 6. 98 Monday 11 May 1998 › Mr Morris, who first expressed support for Mrs Ahernís remarks and then pointed out that it was Christian Aid Week that week, and asked for a message to be sent to the G8 meeting in Birmingham stressing the need for the debt burden of Third World countries to be eased; › Protocol and Final Act relating to the Agreement on Cooperation and Customs Union between the European Econ- omic 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 (6788/97 › C4-0262/98 › 97/0022(AVC)) › Mr Schifone, who said that he was a Campania regional councillor and stressed the gravity of the disaster there; referred to responsible: RELA › Mr Vallve·, who also condemned the latest ETA attacks. legal basis: Art. 113, 235, 228(2), 2nd subpara. and (3), 3rd subpara. EC 2. Approval of Minutes (b) from the Commission: Mr W. G. van Velzen had informed the Chair that he had been present but his name was not on the attendance register. (ba) proposals and/or communications: The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved. 3. Documents received The President had received the following texts: (a) from the Council: (aa) requests for opinions on: › Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common organiza- tion of the market in oils and fats (COM(98)0171 › C4- 0229/98 › 98/0098(CNS)) referred to responsible: AGRI opinion: ESOC, BUDG legal basis: Art. 043 EC › Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a special framework of assistance for traditional ACP suppliers of bananas (COM(98)0005 › C4-0263/98 › 98/0014(SYN)) referred to responsible: DEVE opinion: AGRI, BUDG legal basis: Art. 130w EC (ab) the following texts: › Council recommendation of 2 May 1998 on the appoint- ments of the President, the Vice-President and the other members of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (7993/98 › C4-0260/98) referred to responsible: ECON › Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive combating transactions (COM(98)0126 › C4-0251/98 › 98/0099(COD)) in commercial late payment referred to responsible: ECON opinion: LEGA legal basis: Art. 100a EC › Communication to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee: The follow-up to the Green Paper on commercial communications in the internal market (COM(98)0121 › C4-0252/98) referred to responsible: ECON opinion: LEGA, ENVI, CULT › Communication on an action plan against racism (COM(98)0183 › C4-0253/98) referred to responsible: CIVI opinion: FASE › Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Council Directive 70/221/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to liquid-fuel tanks and rear underrun protection of motor vehicles and their trailers (COM(98)0097 › C4-0257/98 › 98/0071(COD)) referred to responsible: ECON opinion: ENVI, TRAN legal basis: Art. 100a EC › Amended proposal concerning a European Parliament and Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States (Intrastat) (COM(98)0270 › C4- 0258/98 › 97/0155(COD)) referred to responsible: ECON opinion: REGI legal basis: Art. 109a(2), 109l(1) EC legal basis: Art. 100a EC 1. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 167/3 › Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, with specific reference to the nomenclature of products (Intrastat) (COM(98)0269 › C4-0259/98 › 97/ 0162(COD)) referred to responsible: ECON legal basis: Art. 100a EC (bb) other texts: › Recommendation concerning banking charges for conver- sion to the euro (C(98)0961/1 › C4-0254/98) referred to responsible: ECON opinion: BUDG, CULT › Recommendation concerning dual display of prices and other monetary amounts (C(98)0961/2 › C4-0255/98) referred to responsible: ECON opinion: BUDG, CULT › Recommendation on dialogue, monitoring and informa- tion to facilitate the transition to the euro (C(98)0961/3 › C4-0256/98) referred to responsible: ECON opinion: BUDG, CULT (c) from committees: (ca) reports and recommendations: › Report on the information and communication policy in the European Union › Committee on Culture, Youth, Educa- tion and the Media Rapporteur: Mr Pex (A4-0115/98) › Report on the fish product canning industry and aquacul- ture in the European Union › Committee on Fisheries Rapporteur: Mr Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (A4-0137/98) › Report on the competitiveness of European industry (SEC(96)2121 › C4-0025/97) › Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy Monday 11 May 1998 › 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 a Community strategy to promote combined heat and power (CHP) and to dismantle barriers to its development (COM(97)0514 › C4- 0596/97) › Committee on Research, Technological Develop- ment and Energy Rapporteur: Mrs Estevan Bolea (A4-0145/98) › ***I Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing (transit) (COM(97)0472 › C4-0489/97 › 97/0242(COD)) › Commit- tee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy the Community customs code Rapporteur: Mrs Peijs (A4-0149/98) › Report on the Commissionís interpretative communica- tion on freedom to provide services and the interest of the general good in the second banking Directive (SEC(97)1193 › C4-0465/97) › Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizensí Rights Rapporteur: Mr Wijsenbeek (A4-0152/98) › * Report on the proposal for a Council Recommendation concerning the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services (COM(97)0570 › C4- 0670/97 › 97/0329(CNS)) › Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media Rapporteur: Mr Whitehead (A4-0153/98) › Report on the request for waiver of the immunity of Mr Rau·l Miguel Rosado Fernandes › Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities Rapporteur: Mr Wijsenbeek (A4-0154/98) › Report on the request for waiver of the immunity of Mr Anto·nio Carlos Ribeiro Campos › Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities Rapporteur: Mrs Palacio Vallelersundi (A4-0155/98) › *** Recommendation on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, on the one part, and the United Mexican States, on the other part (COM(97)0525 › 11619/1/97/rev. 1 and 11620/1/97/rev. 1 › C4-0024/98 › 97/0281(AVC)) › Commit- tee on External Economic Relations Rapporteur: Mr Caudron (A4-0138/98) Rapporteur: Mrs Miranda de Lage (A4-0156/98) C 167/4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 6. 98 Monday 11 May 1998 › Report on the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on the control of new synthetic drugs (designer drugs) (COM(97)0249 › C4-0244/97) › Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs payment card industry, where such information is required for the investigation of offences (5683/98 › C4-0136/98 › 98/0906(CNS)) › Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs Rapporteur: Mr Pirker (A4-0157/98) Rapporteur: Mr Schmid (A4-0164/98) › Report on amending Rule 156 of the Rules of Procedure (right of petition) › Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities Rapporteur: Mr Wibe (A4-0158/98) › Report on the annual report on the Cohesion Fund for 1996 (COM(97)0302 › C4-0482/97) › Committee on Regional Policy Rapporteur: Mr Arias Cañete (A4-0159/98) › *** Recommendation on the proposal for a Council and Commission Decision on the signature and on the conclusion of Jordan (COM(97)0554 › C4-0171/98 › 97/0291(AVC)) › Commit- tee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy a Euro-Mediterranean Agreement with Rapporteur: Mrs Aelvoet (A4-0165/98) › Report on the communication from the Commission 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) › Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media › Report on the eighth annual report on the Structural Funds › 1996 (COM(97)0526 › C4-0582/97) › Committee on Regional Policy Rapporteur: Mr Perry (A4-0166/98) Rapporteur: Mrs Klaß (A4-0160/98) › Report on Islam and the European Averroes Day › Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media › **I Report on the proposal for a Council Directive relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air (COM(97)0500 › C4-0662/97 › 97/0266(SYN)) › Committee on the Environ- ment, Public Health and Consumer Protection Rapporteur: Mr Mohamed Al · (A4-0167/98) › Report on the situation of frontier workers in the European Union › Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Rapporteur: Mrs Pollack (A4-0161/98) Rapporteur: Mrs Van Lancker (A4-0168/98) › Report on the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on a strategy to combat acidifi- cation (COM(97)0088 › C4-0436/97) › Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection › Report on the role of the European Union in the world: implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy in 1997 › Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy Rapporteur: Mrs Hulthe·n (A4-0162/98) Rapporteur: Mr Spencer (A4-0169/98) › * Report on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch (COM(97)0576 › C4-0045/98 › 97/0300(CNS)) › Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Rapporteur: Mrs Redondo Jime·nez (A4-0163/98) › * Report on the draft Joint Action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article K. 3 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning arrangements for the better exchange of informa- tion in respect of payment card crime between Member Statesí law enforcement agencies, and between those agencies and the › Report on the gradual establishment of a common defence policy for the European Union › Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy Rapporteur: Mr Tindemans (A4-0171/98) › Report on the Commission communication Towards an urban agenda in the European Unioní (COM(97)0197 › C4-0235/97) › Committee on Regional Policy (Hughes pro- cedure) Rapporteur: Mrs Napoletano (A4-0172/98) 1. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 167/5 › 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 a European initiative in electronic commerce (COM(97)0157 › C4-0297/ 97) › Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy Rapporteur: Mrs Mann (A4-0173/98) › **I Report on the proposal for a Council Directive relating to a reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels and amending Directive 93/12/EEC (COM(97)0088 › C4-0283/97 › 97/0105(SYN)) › Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection Rapporteur: Mrs Hautala (A4-0174/98) (cb) recommendations for second reading: › ***II Recommendation for second reading on the com- mon position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive on the approxima- tion of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products (C4-0034/98 › 00/0194(COD)) › Com- mittee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection Rapporteur: Mr Cabrol (A4-0150/98) › ***II Recommendation for second reading on the com- mon position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive substantively amending for the third time Directive 83/189/EEC laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (C4-0035/98 › 96/ 0220(COD)) › Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy Rapporteur: Mr Hendrick (A4-0151/98) › ***II Recommendation for second reading on the com- mon position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions (C4-0132/98 › 95/ 0350(COD)) › Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizensí Rights Rapporteur: Mr Rothley (A4-0170/98) (d) from Members: (da) oral questions (Rule 40): Monday 11 May 1998 › Fabra Valle·s, Viola, Theato, Lambrias, Martens, Friedrich and Oomen-Ruijten, on behalf of the PPE Group, to the Commission: Euro-Mediterranean cooperation (B4-0467/98); › Souchet, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, to the Commis- sion: Legislation on the use of antibiotics in animal foodstuffs (B4-0468/98); › Souchet, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, to the Council: Euro-Mediterranean cooperation (B4-0469/98); › Roth-Behrendt, Fantuzzi, Iversen and Hulthe·n, on behalf of the PSE Group, to the Commission: Use of antibiotics in animal food (B4-0470/98); › Caligaris and Fassa, on behalf of the ELDR Group, to the Council: Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (B4-0471/98); › Caligaris and Fassa, on behalf of the ELDR Group, to the Commission: Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (B4-0472/98); (db) oral questions for Question Time (Rule 41) (B4-0464/98): Sandbæk, Harrison, Nicholson, Camiso·n Asensio, Gillis, Bowe, Marset Campos, Wibe, Karamanou, Lindqvist, Theorin, Newens, Gahrton, Carnero Gonza·lez, Papakyriazis, Ahern, David W. Martin, Moreau, Corbett, Howitt, McMahon, Kra- rup, Sjo¤stedt, Posselt, Alavanos, Hatzidakis, Papayannakis, Ferrer, Bertens, Schroedter, Ephremidis, Izquierdo Rojo, Gal- lagher, Crowley, Theonas, Watts, McIntosh, Bonde, Ferrer, Watson, Kestelijn-Sierens, Thors, Barros Moura, Howitt, Pos- selt, Kjer Hansen, Watts, McIntosh, Camiso·n Asensio, Anders- son, Theorin, Alavanos, Papayannakis, Hatzidakis, McMahon, Stenzel, Konrad, Theonas, Spiers, Schiedermeier, Izquierdo Collado, Cabezo·n Alonso, Colom i Naval, Colino Salamanca, Sandbæk, Nicholson, Gillis, Morgan, Ephremidis, White, Lomas, Lehne, Terro·n i Cus ·, Frutos Gama, Sauquillo Pe·rez del Arco, Garc ·a Arias, Wijsenbeek, Karamanou, Seppa¤nen, Wibe, Newens, Sjo¤stedt, Carnero Gonza·lez, Papakyriazis, Pailler, Valverde Lo·pez, Ahern, Cars, Jackson, Gerard Collins, Breyer, Kerr, Kaklamanis, Querbes, Riis-Jłrgensen, Holm, Iversen, Hautala, Elliott, Medina Ortega, Ru¤big, Sanz Ferna·n- dez, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Corbett, Killilea, Marset Campos, D ·ez de Rivera Icaza, Izquierdo Rojo, Hyland, Andrews, Fitzsimons, Plooij-van Gorsel, Oddy, Gallagher, Crowley, Lindholm, Bonde, McCartin. 4. 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: 1 April 1998 › Lalumie‘re, on behalf of the ARE Group, to the Council: Euro-Mediterranean cooperation agreements (B4-0465/98); › Viola, Fabra Valle·s, Martens, Friedrich and Oomen- Ruijten, on behalf of the PPE Group, to the Council: Euro- Mediterranean cooperation (B4-0466/98); by Mr Jesu·s Leiro Lo·pez (Ibermadrid, S. L. ) (No 315/98); by Mr Jose· Angel Ferna·ndez Carrasco (Comunidad de Proprie- tarios del Edf. Honda) (No 316/98); by Mr Seppo Pelttari (Laki-ja Konsulttoimisto Seppo Pelttari Oy) (No 317/98); C 167/6 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 6. 98 Monday 11 May 1998 by Mrs Madeleine Raphae¤l (No 318/98); by Mr Carmel Garofolo (No 319/98); by Mr Jose· Maria Miralles Barons (No 320/98); by Mr Olivier Piquot (and 94 signatories) (No 321/98); by Mrs Ginette Petit Padilla (No 322/98); by Mr Jean-Marie Ladire· (No 323/98); by Mr Aldo Arenella (No 324/98); by Mr Antonio Albignese (and 130 signatories) (No 325/98); by Mr Avelino Ferreira Santos (No 326/98); by Mr Manuel Barbas Tanganho (No 327/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 357/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 358/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 359/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 360/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 361/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 362/98); by Mr João Pedro Gonçalves Gomes (Barros, Sobral, J. Gomes & Associados) (and 2 signatories) (No 328/98); by Mr Alberto Fernandez Felix (Sociedad Canina de Valencia) (No 363/98); by Mrs B. Fanciullacci (No 329/98); by Mr Geoffrey Luther (No 330/98); by Jeffrey Lundy and Brigitte Wallen (No 331/98); by Mr Leo Klein Lebbink (No 332/98); by Mr Jack Norton (No 333/98); by Mr Jack Norton (No 334/98); by Mr Steven Hill (No 335/98); by Mr R. Stewart (No 336/98); by Mr Frank Harvey (No 337/98); by Mr Anthony Jones (No 338/98); by Ann and Patrick Young (No 339/98); by Mr Garlath Canney (No 340/98); by Mr Peter Baumann (No 341/98); by Mr Carl Schulte (No 342/98); by Mr Rudolf Neumann (No 343/98); by Mr Kurt Dasbach (No 344/98); by Constantin Freiherr Heeremann (Deutscher Jagdschutz- Verband e. V. ) (No 345/98); by Mr Holger Sticht (Aktionsgemeinschaft der Ausbaugegner- innen des Flughafens Ko¤ln/Bonn e. V. ) (No 346/98); by Mr Bojar Zogjani (and 350 signatories) (No 347/98); by Waltraut and Richard Glo¤ckner (No 348/98); by Mrs Edith Heumann (No 349/98); by Mr Rene· Speller (No 350/98); 17 April 1998 by Mr Nikolaos Paskalidis (No 351/98); by Mr Eftimios Papanastastassiou (No 352/98); by Mr Josep Lluch Vila (and 2 signatories) (No 364/98); by Mr Pablo Rosser Limiñana (Nova Esquerra › Parti Democratic de la Nova Esquerra) (No 365/98); by Mrs Lucia Bravo Matamala (No 366/98); by Mr Yvan Bachaud (Mouvement pour líInitiative Populaire › MIP) (No 367/98); by Mr Yvan Bachaud (Mouvement pour líInitiative Populaire › MIP) (No 368/98); by Mr Jean Michel Toullec (No 369/98); by Mrs Catherine Horn (No 370/98); by Mr Joe¤l Batila (Comite· díAction díAide aux Re·fugie·s Cabindais) (and 189 signatories) (No 371/98); by Mr Jean-Jacques Page (No 372/98); by Mr Michae¤l Bellon (No 373/98); by Mrs Stella Macris (No 374/98); by Mr Arno Weilland (No 375/98); by Mr Salvatore Muscara‘ (No 376/98); by Mr Concetto Anicito (No 377/98); by Mr Fulvio Uliano (Gruppo Archeologico Flegreo Theodor Mommsení) (No 378/98); by Mr Feroldi Vincenzo (No 379/98); by Mr Alfredo Tassone (Consorzio Le Pantaneí) (and 2 signatories) (No 380/98); by Mr Egori Ferruccio (No 381/98); by Mr Egori Ferruccio (No 382/98); by Mr Egori Ferruccio (No 383/98); by Mrs Adelia Celidonia (and 2 signatories) (No 384/98); by Associaça~o Portuguesa para a Defesa do Consumidor › DECO (No 385/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 353/98); 23 April 1998 by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 354/98); by Mr Maurizio Cancelmo (OPEN › Observatoire Permanent de líEnvironnement) (No 386/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 355/98); by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 356/98); by Mrs Angelica Nicoli (No 387/98); by Mr Leonidas Kaloudis (Association of Graduates of the Institute of Professional Training Prefecture of Ioannina) (and 2 signatories) (No 388/98); 1. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 167/7 by Mr Frank Harvey (No 389/98); by Mr Frank Harvey (No 390/98); by Mr Frank Harvey (No 391/98); by Mr Frank Harvey (No 392/98); by Mr Frank Harvey (No 393/98); by Mr John Summerfield (No 394/98); by Mrs Inga von Sydow (No 395/98); by Mr John Clipston (No 396/98); by Mr Mark Dean Harris (No 397/98); by Mr Mahmet Vcaz (No 398/98); by Mr Elias Economou (No 399/98); by Mr Horst Maiwald (No 400/98); by Mr Georg Seidler (No 401/98); by Mr Andic Mirko (No 402/98); by Mrs Ilse Braun (Frauen fu¤r Gerechtigkeit) (and 18 signato- ries) (No 403/98); by Mrs Valeria Maringola (No 404/98); by Familie Slobodtschikow (No 405/98); by Mrs Gabriele Tu¤ney (No 406/98); by Mr Jalil Mohammadi Mossanin (No 407/98); by Mrs Karin Wolz (No 408/98); by Mr Reiner Schmidt (No 409/98); by Mr Heinz Lange (No 410/98); by Mr Axel van Kranenbrock (Rechtsanwa¤lte Bissel Salleck and Partner) (No 411/98); by Mr Thomas Meyer-Falk (No 412/98); by Mr Eyu¤p Kocabay (No 413/98); by Mrs Ursula Knoll (Bu¤rgerinitiative Rettet die Marienfelder Feldmark) (and 3 signatories) (No 414/98); by Mr Kurt Hellmich (No 415/98); by Mr Andreas Paulus (No 416/98); by Mrs Christina Leuthner (No 417/98); by Mrs Ingeborg Bayer-Taylor (No 418/98); by Mr Michael Dreesbach (No 419/98); by Mr Andrej Grefenstein (No 420/98); by Mr Frank Ro¤we (No 421/98); by Mr P. C. J. van Hoof (No 422/98); by Mr Sebastian Sanchez (Unio·n Regional de la Rioja › CC. OO) (and 3 signatories) (No 423/98); by Mr Santiago Mart ·n Barajas (CODA › Coordinadora de Organizaciones de Defensa Ambiental) (and 7 signatories) (No 424/98); by Mr Ce·sar Solveira Rodr ·guez (No 425/98); by Mrs Consolacio·n Redondo Martin (No 426/98); Monday 11 May 1998 by Mr Ricardo de Somodevilla (Plataforma de Opinio·n Reivindicativa) (No 429/98); by Mr Enrique Gonza·lez Blanco (No 430/98); by Mrs Maria del Mar Olivas Tur (and 2 signatories) (No 431/ 98); by Mr Didier Reynders (Parti Re·formateur Libe·ral) (and 106 signatories) (No 432/98); by Mrs Karine Dupre (No 433/98); by Mrs Jocelyne Tison (No 434/98); by Mrs Uta Seier-Maltz (CIFAM › Coordination et Informa- tion en Faveur des Animaux Martyrs) (and 18 signatories) (No 435/98); by Mr Jean Feidt (No 436/98); by Mr Daniel Lemire (No 437/98); by Mrs Daniela Veloccia (and 25 signatories) (No 438/98); by Mr Nardone Aristide (ARCO › Associazione Difesa Consumatori) (No 439/98); by Mrs Antonia Braico (No 440/98); by Mr Massimo Corrado (No 441/98); by Mr Stefano Zuppello (Associazione Verdi Ambiente e So- cieta) (and 2 signatories) (No 442/98); 6 May 1998 by Mr Luis Go·mez de la Sota (Ayuntamiento de Solorzano) (and 2 signatories) (No 443/98); by Mr Miguel Lopez Gaspar (Unio·n Nacional) (No 444/98); by Mr Bernabe· Alias Cañas (No 445/98); by Mr Taisto Halkola (No 446/98); by Mrs Eeva-Liisa Hiltunen (No 447/98); by Mr Jean-Jacques Paino-Canto (No 448/98); by Mrs Andre·e Fleury (No 449/98); by Mr Lwis Nuneís (No 450/98); by Mr Serge Docquier (No 451/98); by Mrs Sonia Dubois (No 452/98); by Mr Gaspard Diamantino (No 453/98); by Mr Georges Geriac (No 454/98); by Mr Egori Ferruccio (No 455/98); by Mr Salvatore Baldarotta (and 2 signatories) (No 456/98); by Mr Egori Ferruccio (No 457/98); by Mr Raffaele Ussia (No 458/98); by Mr Enrico Attilio Roscitano (and 2 signatories) (No 459/ 98); by Mr S. Veloso (Teêxtil Serra da Estrela) (No 460/98); by Mr Duarte Dimas Godinho (and 3 signatories) (No 461/98); by Mrs Molly Beckett (Courtown Woods Preservation Group) (No 462/98); by Mr Jose· Antonio Garcia (Colectivo Cultural La Escalera) (No 427/98); by Mr Manuel Arjona Santana (Ayuntamiento de Archidona) (and 2 signatories) (No 428/98); by Mr Justin Sare (No 463/98); by Mr Harold Ferraby Corkhill (No 464/98); by Mr Jaffer Manek (No 465/98); C 167/8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 6. 98 Monday 11 May 1998 by Mr David Burrage (No 466/98); by Mr Dinh Xuan Minh (Subsidiarita¤t Solidarita¤t Deutsch- Vietnamesischer Studierendenverein Trier) (and 2 000 signa- tories) (No 467/98); by Mrs Gema De Soto (No 468/98); by Mr Seamus Abraham (No 469/98); by Mrs Ingeborg Vurgun-Kern (Selbsthilfegruppe Silikonges- cha¤digter Frauen e. V. ) (and 904 signatories) (No 470/98); by Mr Sepp Herz (No 471/98); by Mrs Vera Bansagi (No 472/98); by Mr Bernhard Bu¤ter (No 473/98); by Mrs Margit Bru¤cklmeier (Tierversuchsgegner Bayern e. V. ) (and 904 signatories) (No 474/98); by Mr Taxi-Unternehmens Wolfgang Vohl (No 475/98); by Mr Reiner Winkler (No 476/98); by Mr Augusto Scandiuzzi (No 477/98); by Mr W. E. Johann (No 478/98); by Mr Carl Decaluwe· (No 479/98); by Mr Shlomo Bareket (No 480/98); by Mr Heinz Huber (No 481/98). 5. Membership of Parliament The President announced that the French authorities had informed him that Mr Bernard Lehideux had been appointed Member of Parliament, to replace Mr Stasi with effect from 25 April 1998, and that the Italian authorities had informed him that Mr Luciano Schifone had been appointed Member of Parliament, to replace Mr Bellere·, with effect from 6 May 1998. He welcomed the new Members and drew attention to the provisions of Rule 7(4). 6. Membership of committees, ACP/EU Joint Assembly and delegations At the request of the PSE and I-EDN Groups, Parliament ratified the following appointments: › FASE: › Mr Marinho, to replace Mr Candal › REGI: › Mr Jean-Pierre, to replace Mr Pinel › CIVI: › Mr Candal, to replace Mr Marinho › Mr Pinel, to replace Mr Jean-Pierre › INST: › Mr Delcroix › ACP/EU Joint Assembly: › Mr Delcroix › Delegation for relations with the Peopleís Republic of China: › Mr Barros Moura, to replace Mr Marinho › Delegation for relations with South Africa: 7. Action taken on Parliamentís opinions and resolutions The Commission communication on action taken on the opinions and resolutions adopted at the January 1998 part- sessions had been distributed. 8. Order of business The next item was the order of business. The President announced that the final draft agenda for the May I and May II 1998 sittings had been distributed (PE 268. 294/PDOJ) and that a number of changes had been proposed (Rule 96). (a) Sittings of 11 to 15 May 1998 in Strasbourg: Monday: › no changes. Tuesday: › the President proposed that the vote on the Cabrol recommendation for second reading (A4-0150/98, Item 10) should be taken at voting time on Wednesday, but that, to ensure that the vote was properly prepared and that political groups had the final voting lists when they met on Tuesday evening, the deadline for tabling separate and split votes should stay at 7 p. m. that evening. Parliament agreed to this proposal. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: › no changes. (b) Sittings of 27 and 28 May 1998 in Brussels: › no changes. Requests for urgent procedure (Rule 97) by the Council, for the sittings of 27 and 28 May 1998: › proposals for Council Decisions on the implementation of the fifth framework programme of the European Community (COM(97)0587 › C4-0015/98 › 97/0309(SYN)) and the European Atomic Energy Community (1998-2002) (COM(97)0587 › C4-0016/98 › 97/0310(CNS)) with regard to rules governing the participation of firms, research centres and universities Reason for request: The Researchí Council would be deciding on this issue at its meeting of 22 June 1998. Parliament would vote on these requests at the beginning of the following dayís sitting. * * * › Mr Marinho, to replace Mr Barros Moura. The order of business was thus established. 1. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 167/9 Monday 11 May 1998 9. Speaking time Speaking time for debates on the agenda for the sittings of 11 to 15 and 27 and 28 May 1998 would be allocated pursuant to Rule 106 (see Agenda PE 268. 294/OJ). The following spoke: Mr Barzanti, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mrs Mosiek-Urbahn, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Pompi- dou, on behalf of the UPE Group, Mr Monfils, on behalf of the ELDR Group, and Mr Ephremidis, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group. 10. Topical and urgent debate (subjects pro- IN THE CHAIR: Mrs SCHLEICHER posed) The President proposed the following five subjects for the next topical and urgent debate to be held on Thursday: › Situation in Sudan › Mochovce nuclear plant (Slovakia) › Human rights › Code of conduct on armaments › Environmental disasters 11. Request for waiver of Mr Ribeiro Camposí immunity (debate) Mrs Palacio Vallelersundi introduced her report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities, on the request for waiver of the immunity of Mr Anto·nio Carlo Ribeiro Campos (A4-0155/98). Mr Wibe spoke on behalf of the PSE Group. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 12. 5. 1998, Part I, Item 11. 12. Request for waiver of Mr Rosado Fernandesí immunity (debate) Mr Wijsenbeek introduced his report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities, on the request for waiver of the immunity of Mr Rau·l Miguel Rosado Fernandes (A4-0154/98). Mr Wibe spoke on behalf of the PSE Group. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 12. 5. 1998, Part I, Item 12. 13. Legal protection of biotechnological inven- tions ***II (debate) Mr Rothley introduced his recommendation for second read- ing, drawn up on behalf of Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizensí Rights, on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions (C4-0132/98 › 95/0350(COD)) (A4-0170/98). Vice-President The following spoke: Mr Tamino, on behalf of the V Group, Mrs Ewing, on behalf of the ARE Group, Mrs Sandbæk, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, Mrs Gebhardt, Mr Carlo Casini, Mr Hyland, Mr De Clercq, chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, Mrs Ahern, Mrs Barthet-Mayer, Mr Blokland, Mrs Raschhofer, Ms Oddy, Mr Liese, Mr Eisma, Mr Querbes, Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf, Mrs Berger, Mrs Palacio Valleler- sundi, Mrs Plooij-van Gorsel, Mr Seppa¤nen, Mr Ullmann, Mr White, Mrs Kirsten M. Jensen, Mrs Malone, Mrs Van Putten, Mr Cot, Mr Monti, Member of the Commission, Mr Graefe zu Baringdorf, to make a personal statement, and Mrs Van Putten, with a question to the Commission which Mr Monti answered. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 12. 5. 1998, Part I, Item 13. 14. Second banking Directive (debate) Mr Wijsenbeek introduced his report, drawn up on behalf of Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizensí Rights, on the Commissionís interpretative communication on freedom to provide services and the interest of the general good in the second banking Directive (SEC(97)1193 › C4-0465/97) (A4- 0152/98). The following spoke: Mrs Peijs, draftsman of the opinion of the Economic Affairs Committee, Mr Rothley, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mrs Mosiek-Urbahn, on behalf of the PPE Group, and Mr Monti, Member of the Commission. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 12. 5. 1998, Part I, Item 14. 15. Agenda for next sitting The President announced the following agenda for the sitting of Tuesday 12 May 1998: 9 a. m. › 1 p. m. , 3 › 7 p. m. and 9 p. m. › 12 midnight: 9 a. m › 12 noon, 3 › 5. 30 p. m. and 9 p. m. › 12 midnight: › topical and urgent debate (announcement of motions tabled) › decision on urgent procedure › conciliation procedure on securities (announcement by President) › Pirker report on control of synthetic drugs C 167/10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 6. 98 Monday 11 May 1998 › Commission presentation of 1999 preliminary draft bud- › Whitehead report on protection of minors in audiovisual get and information services * › Cabrol recommendation on advertising tobacco pro- agreement *** ducts ***II › Peijs report on Community customs code ***I › Miranda de Lage recommendation on EC-Mexico trade › K. Collins recommendation on water quality **II 12 noon: › voting time › joint debate on three reports (Pollack, Hulthe·n, Hautala) on limit value for pollutants in air, combating acidifica- tion, sulphur content of liquid fuels **I › topical and urgent debate (list of subjects selected) › Poggiolini report on eco-label award scheme **I › Question Time (Commission) 5. 30 › 7 p. m. : › Perry report on Europe of Knowledge (The sitting closed at 7. 45 p. m. ) Julian PRIESTLEY Secretary-General Renzo IMBENI Vice-President 1. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 167/11 Monday 11 May 1998 ATTENDANCE REGISTER 11 May 1998 The following signed: díAboville, Aelvoet, Ahern, Ahlqvist, Ainardi, Anastassopoulos, díAncona, Andersson, Andre·-Le·onard, Andrews, Angelilli, Antony, Anttila, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Argyros, Arias Cañete, Augias, Avgerinos, Baldarelli, Baldi, Balfe, Banotti, Bardong, Baro·n Crespo, Barthet-Mayer, Barton, Barzanti, Bazin, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bere‘s, Berger, Bernard-Reymond, Bertens, Berthu, Bianco, van Bladel, Bloch von Blottnitz, Blokland, Bo¤ge, Bo¤sch, Bontempi, Boogerd-Quaak, Botz, Bourlanges, Bowe, Brinkhorst, Brok, Buffetaut, Cabezo·n Alonso, Caccavale, Camiso·n Asensio, Campos, Cardona, Carlsson, Carnero Gonza·lez, Carniti, Carre‘re díEncausse, Cars, Casini Carlo, Castagne‘de, Castagnetti, Castellina, Castricum, Caudron, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chichester, Christodoulou, Coates, Colajanni, Collins Gerard, Collins Kenneth D. , Colombo Svevo, Colom i Naval, Corbett, Cornelissen, Correia, Corrie, Cot, Cox, Crampton, Crawley, Cunningham, Cushnahan, van Dam, Dankert, Dary, Daskalaki, David, De Clercq, De Coene, De Esteban Martin, De Giovanni, Delcroix, De Melo, Deprez, Desama, de Vries, D ·ez de Rivera Icaza, van Dijk, Dillen, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnay, Donnelly Alan John, Donnelly Brendan Patrick, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dupuis, Ebner, Eisma, Elchlepp, Elles, Ephremidis, Eriksson, Ettl, Evans, Ewing, Fabra Valle·s, Fabre-Aubrespy, Falconer, Fantuzzi, Fassa, Ferber, Fe·ret, Ferna·ndez-Albor, Flemming, Florenz, Fontaine, Ford, Formentini, Fraga Este·vez, Friedrich, Frischenschlager, Frutos Gama, Funk, Gahrton, Gallagher, Garosci, Garot, Garriga Polledo, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, de Gaulle, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Gillis, Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado, Girão Pereira, Glase, Goepel, Goerens, Go¤rlach, Gonza·lez Triviño, Graefe zu Baringdorf, Graziani, Green, Gro¤ner, Grosch, Grosseteête, Guinebertie‘re, Gutie·rrez D ·az, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Ha¤nsch, Hager, Hallam, Happart, Hardstaff, Harrison, Hatzidakis, Hautala, Hawlicek, Heinisch, Hendrick, Herman, Hermange, Hernandez Mollar, Herzog, Hindley, Holm, Hory, Howitt, Hughes, Hulthe·n, Hume, Hyland, Ilaskivi, Imaz San Miguel, Izquierdo Collado, Janssen van Raay, Jean-Pierre, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jensen Lis, Jo¤ns, Kaklamanis, Karamanou, Katiforis, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Kerr, Kestelijn-Sierens, Killilea, Kindermann, Kittelmann, Klaß, Klironomos, Koch, Kokkola, Konrad, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Kristoffersen, Kronberger, Kuckelkorn, Kuhn, Laignel, Lalumie‘re, Lambraki, Lambrias, Lange, Langen, Langenhagen, Larive, Lehideux, Lehne, Lenz, Leopardi, Leperre-Verrier, Liese, Lindeperg, Lindholm, Lindqvist, Linkohr, Lo¤o¤w, Lu¤ttge, Lukas, Lulling, Macartney, McGowan, McMahon, McMillan-Scott, McNally, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Malerba, Malone, Mann Thomas, Manzella, Marinho, Marinucci, Martin David W. , Matikainen-Kallstro¤m, Mayer, Medina Ortega, Me·ndez de Vigo, Mendonça, Metten, Miller, Miranda, Miranda de Lage, Mohamed Ali, Mombaur, Monfils, Moorhouse, Moreau, Morgan, Morris, Mosiek-Urbahn, Mouskouri, Mu¤ller, Mulder, Murphy, Mutin, Myller, Nassauer, Needle, Newens, Newman, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson, Nordmann, Novo, Oddy, Ojala, Olsson, Oomen-Ruijten, Oostlander, Orlando, Otila, Paasio, Pack, Palacio Vallelersundi, Panagopoulos, Papakyriazis, Papayannakis, Parigi, Parodi, Pasty, Peijs, Perry, Peter, Pex, Piecyk, Piha, Pirker, des Places, Plooij-van Gorsel, Plumb, Pollack, Pome·s Ruiz, Pompidou, Posselt, Pradier, Provan, Puerta, van Putten, Querbes, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Randzio-Plath, Rapkay, Raschhofer, Read, Reding, Rehder, Ribeiro, Rinsche, Ripa di Meana, de Rose, Roth, Roth-Behrendt, Rothley, Ru¤big, Ruffolo, Ryyna¤nen, Sainjon, Saint-Pierre, Sakellariou, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Sandbæk, Santini, Sanz Ferna·ndez, Sarlis, Scarbonchi, Scha¤fer, Schaffner, Schierhuber, Schifone, Schlechter, Schleicher, Schmidbauer, Schnellhardt, Scho¤rling, Schro¤der, Schroedter, Schulz, Schwaiger, Seal, Secchi, Seppa¤nen, Sichrovsky, Simpson, Sjo¤stedt, Skinner, Smith, Sonneveld, Sornosa Mart ·nez, Soulier, Spaak, Speciale, Spencer, Spiers, Stenmarck, Stenzel, Stewart-Clark, Stockmann, Striby, Sturdy, Svensson, Tajani, Tamino, Tannert, Tappin, Tatarella, Taubira-Delannon, Telka¤mper, Terro·n i Cus ·, Theato, Theonas, Theorin, Thomas, Thyssen, Tindemans, Titley, Tomlinson, Torres Marques, Trakatellis, Truscott, Ullmann, Valdivielso de Cue·, Vallve·, Valverde Lo·pez, Vandemeulebroucke, Vanhecke, Van Lancker, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vaz da Silva, Vecchi, van Velzen W. G. , van Velzen Wim, Verde i Aldea, Verwaerde, Viceconte, Vinci, Virgin, Virrankoski, Voggenhuber, Waddington, Walter, Watts, Weiler, Wemheuer, White, Whitehead, Wibe, Wiebenga, Wieland, Wijsenbeek, Willockx, Wilson, von Wogau, Wolf, Wurtz, Wynn, Zimmermann