# CE2009035EN.01000101.xml

| 12.2.2009 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 35/1 |
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12.2.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 35/1

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MINUTES

(2009/C 35 E/01)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITTING

IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING

President

1.   Resumption of the session

The sitting opened at 15.00.

2.   Approval of the Minutes of the previous sitting

The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

3.   Composition of Parliament

Alexander Radwan had announced that he was resigning as a Member of the European Parliament with effect from 3 December 2008.

Pursuant to Rule 4(1) of the Rules of Procedure, Parliament established that his seat would be vacant from that date and informed the national authority concerned.

4.   Corrigenda (Rule 204a)

(Rule 204a)

The committee responsible had forwarded the following corrigenda to texts adopted by the European Parliament:

| — | Corrigendum to the directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC and 86/280/EEC, and amending Directive 2000/60/EC (11486/3/2007 — C6-0055/2008 — 2006/0129(COD)) — ENVI |
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Corrigendum to the directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC and 86/280/EEC, and amending Directive 2000/60/EC (11486/3/2007 — C6-0055/2008 — 2006/0129(COD)) — ENVI

| — | Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1. Corrected version in OJ L 136, 29.5.2007, p. 3) — ENVI |
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Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1. Corrected version in OJ L 136, 29.5.2007, p. 3) — ENVI

Pursuant to Rule 204a, these corrigenda would be deemed approved unless, within 48 hours, a request was made by a political group or at least 40 Members that they be put to the vote.

The corrigenda were available on the Séance en direct site.

Séance en direct

5.   Statements by the President

The President made the following statements:

| — | he condemned, on behalf of Parliament, the attacks in Mumbai on 26 November 2008, and expressed Parliament's condolences to those who had been injured and the victims' families; he was delighted that the members of the delegation from the INTA Committee and the European Parliament staff who had been in Mumbai at the time of the attacks had returned unharmed; |
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he condemned, on behalf of Parliament, the attacks in Mumbai on 26 November 2008, and expressed Parliament's condolences to those who had been injured and the victims' families; he was delighted that the members of the delegation from the INTA Committee and the European Parliament staff who had been in Mumbai at the time of the attacks had returned unharmed;

| — | he condemned, on behalf of Parliament, the assassination by ETA of the businessman Ignacio Uría in Azpeitia (Spain), which had occurred that day. |
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he condemned, on behalf of Parliament, the assassination by ETA of the businessman Ignacio Uría in Azpeitia (Spain), which had occurred that day.

Parliament observed a minute's silence.

The President made a statement on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of World AIDS day on 1 December 2008.

6.   Documents received

The following reports had been submitted by committees:

| — | ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries (COM(2008)0450 — C6-0280/2008 — 2008/0149(COD)) — DEVE Committee.
  Rapporteur: Gay Mitchell (A6-0396/2008) |
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***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries (COM(2008)0450 — C6-0280/2008 — 2008/0149(COD)) — DEVE Committee.

Rapporteur: Gay Mitchell (A6-0396/2008)

| — | ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community's integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles (COM(2007)0856 — C6-0022/2008 — 2007/0297(COD)) — ENVI Committee.
  Rapporteur: Guido Sacconi (A6-0419/2008) |
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***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community's integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles (COM(2007)0856 — C6-0022/2008 — 2007/0297(COD)) — ENVI Committee.

2

Rapporteur: Guido Sacconi (A6-0419/2008)

| — | * Report on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Community, the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007, of the International Labour Organisation (Convention 188) (COM(2008)0320 — C6-0218/2008 — 2008/0107(CNS)) — EMPL Committee.
  Rapporteur: Ilda Figueiredo (A6-0423/2008) |
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- Report on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Community, the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007, of the International Labour Organisation (Convention 188) (COM(2008)0320 — C6-0218/2008 — 2008/0107(CNS)) — EMPL Committee.

Rapporteur: Ilda Figueiredo (A6-0423/2008)

| — | ***I Report on the proposal for a recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) (COM(2008)0180 — C6-0162/2008 — 2008/0070(COD)) — EMPL Committee.
  Rapporteur: Thomas Mann (A6-0424/2008) |
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***I Report on the proposal for a recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) (COM(2008)0180 — C6-0162/2008 — 2008/0070(COD)) — EMPL Committee.

Rapporteur: Thomas Mann (A6-0424/2008)

| — | Report on the draft decision of the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice, the Court Of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the organisation and operation of the Publications Office of the European Union (SEC(2008)2109 — C6-0256/2008 — 2008/2164(ACI)) — AFCO Committee.
  Rapporteur: Hanne Dahl (A6-0426/2008) |
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Report on the draft decision of the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice, the Court Of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the organisation and operation of the Publications Office of the European Union (SEC(2008)2109 — C6-0256/2008 — 2008/2164(ACI)) — AFCO Committee.

Rapporteur: Hanne Dahl (A6-0426/2008)

| — | Report on the European Court of Auditors' Special Report No 8/2007 concerning administrative cooperation in the Field of value added tax (2008/2151(INI)) — CONT Committee.
  Rapporteur: Bart Staes (A6-0427/2008) |
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Report on the European Court of Auditors' Special Report No 8/2007 concerning administrative cooperation in the Field of value added tax (2008/2151(INI)) — CONT Committee.

Rapporteur: Bart Staes (A6-0427/2008)

| — | ***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control (recast) (COM(2008)0357 — C6-0237/2008 — 2008/0123(COD)) — JURI Committee.
  Rapporteur: József Szájer (A6-0429/2008) |
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***I Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control (recast) (COM(2008)0357 — C6-0237/2008 — 2008/0123(COD)) — JURI Committee.

Rapporteur: József Szájer (A6-0429/2008)

| — | * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing a multi-annual plan for the stock of herring distributed to the West of Scotland and the fisheries exploiting that stock (COM(2008)0240 — C6-0204/2008 — 2008/0091(CNS)) — PECH Committee.
  Rapporteur: Struan Stevenson (A6-0433/2008) |
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- Report on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing a multi-annual plan for the stock of herring distributed to the West of Scotland and the fisheries exploiting that stock (COM(2008)0240 — C6-0204/2008 — 2008/0091(CNS)) — PECH Committee.

Rapporteur: Struan Stevenson (A6-0433/2008)

| — | Report on the adoption of a European Cormorant Management Plan to minimise the increasing impact of cormorants on fish stocks, fishing and aquaculture (2008/2177(INI)) — PECH Committee.
  Rapporteur: Heinz Kindermann (A6-0434/2008) |
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Report on the adoption of a European Cormorant Management Plan to minimise the increasing impact of cormorants on fish stocks, fishing and aquaculture (2008/2177(INI)) — PECH Committee.

Rapporteur: Heinz Kindermann (A6-0434/2008)

| — | Report on the situation of women in the Balkans (2008/2119(INI)) — FEMM Committee.
  Rapporteur: Zita Gurmai (A6-0435/2008) |
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Report on the situation of women in the Balkans (2008/2119(INI)) — FEMM Committee.

Rapporteur: Zita Gurmai (A6-0435/2008)

| — | *** Recommendation on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel's participation in Community programmes (05471/2008 — C6-0180/2008 — 2007/0241(AVC)) — AFET Committee.
  Rapporteur: Véronique De Keyser (A6-0436/2008) |
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*** Recommendation on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel's participation in Community programmes (05471/2008 — C6-0180/2008 — 2007/0241(AVC)) — AFET Committee.

Rapporteur: Véronique De Keyser (A6-0436/2008)

| — | Report on the impact of counterfeiting on international trade (2008/2133(INI)) — INTA Committee.
  Rapporteur: Gianluca Susta (A6-0447/2008) |
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Report on the impact of counterfeiting on international trade (2008/2133(INI)) — INTA Committee.

Rapporteur: Gianluca Susta (A6-0447/2008)

| — | * Report on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax to combat tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions (COM(2008)0147 [[01]] — C6-0154/2008 — 2008/0058(CNS)) — ECON Committee.
  Rapporteur: José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (A6-0448/2008) |
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- Report on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax to combat tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions (COM(2008)0147 [[01]] — C6-0154/2008 — 2008/0058(CNS)) — ECON Committee.

Rapporteur: José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (A6-0448/2008)

| — | * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1798/2003 to combat tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions (COM(2008)0147 [[02]] — C6-0155/2008 — 2008/0059(CNS)) — ECON Committee.
  Rapporteur: José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (A6-0449/2008) |
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- Report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1798/2003 to combat tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions (COM(2008)0147 [[02]] — C6-0155/2008 — 2008/0059(CNS)) — ECON Committee.

Rapporteur: José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (A6-0449/2008)

| — | * Report on the proposal for a Council decision concluding the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the European Community concerning cooperation on anti-competitive activities (SEC(2007)1731 — C6-0398/2008 — 2008/0004(CNS)) — INTA Committee.
  Rapporteur: David Martin (A6-0452/2008) |
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- Report on the proposal for a Council decision concluding the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the European Community concerning cooperation on anti-competitive activities (SEC(2007)1731 — C6-0398/2008 — 2008/0004(CNS)) — INTA Committee.

Rapporteur: David Martin (A6-0452/2008)

| — | * Report on the proposal for a Council regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations (14066/2008 — C6-0384/2008 — 2005/0259(CNS)) — LIBE Committee.
  Rapporteur: Genowefa Grabowska (A6-0456/2008) |
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- Report on the proposal for a Council regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations (14066/2008 — C6-0384/2008 — 2005/0259(CNS)) — LIBE Committee.

Rapporteur: Genowefa Grabowska (A6-0456/2008)

7.   Oral questions and written declarations (submission)

(submission)

The following documents had been submitted by Members:

The following documents had been submitted by Members:

| 1) | oral questions (Rule 108):






  — | (O-0097/2008) by Arlene McCarthy, on behalf of the IMCO Committee, to the Commission: Consumer protection aspects of counterfeiting (B6-0486/2008), |
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1)

1)

oral questions (Rule 108):

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(O-0097/2008) by Arlene McCarthy, on behalf of the IMCO Committee, to the Commission: Consumer protection aspects of counterfeiting (B6-0486/2008),

| — | (O-0124/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Council: The future global architecture of financial markets and an EU economic recovery plan (B6-0487/2008), |
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(O-0124/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Council: The future global architecture of financial markets and an EU economic recovery plan (B6-0487/2008),

| — | (O-0125/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Commission: The future global architecture of financial markets and an EU economic recovery plan (B6-0488/2008), |
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(O-0125/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Commission: The future global architecture of financial markets and an EU economic recovery plan (B6-0488/2008),

| — | (O-0128/2008) by Gérard Deprez, on behalf of the LIBE Committee, to the Council: Progress in 2008 of the European area of freedom, security and justice (FSJA) (B6-0489/2008), |
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(O-0128/2008) by Gérard Deprez, on behalf of the LIBE Committee, to the Council: Progress in 2008 of the European area of freedom, security and justice (FSJA) (B6-0489/2008),

| — | (O-0131/2008) by Guido Sacconi, on behalf of the PSE Group, Satu Hassi, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, John Bowis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Chris Davies, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Jens Holm, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Johannes Blokland, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, and Alessandro Foglietta, on behalf of the UEN Group, to the Commission: Pre-registration of phase-in substances acccording to the REACH Regulation (B6-0490/2008). |
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(O-0131/2008) by Guido Sacconi, on behalf of the PSE Group, Satu Hassi, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, John Bowis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Chris Davies, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Jens Holm, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Johannes Blokland, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, and Alessandro Foglietta, on behalf of the UEN Group, to the Commission: Pre-registration of phase-in substances acccording to the REACH Regulation (B6-0490/2008).

| 2) | written declarations for inclusion in the register (Rule 116):






  — | Esther De Lange, Ivo Belet, Niels Busk, Esther Herranz García and Catherine Stihler on excessive pressure to be extremely thin (0101/2008), |
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2)

2)

written declarations for inclusion in the register (Rule 116):

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Esther De Lange, Ivo Belet, Niels Busk, Esther Herranz García and Catherine Stihler on excessive pressure to be extremely thin (0101/2008),

| — | Mieczysław Edmund Janowski and Wiesław Stefan Kuc on terrorists operating from the soil of Pakistan (0102/2008), |
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Mieczysław Edmund Janowski and Wiesław Stefan Kuc on terrorists operating from the soil of Pakistan (0102/2008),

| — | Maria da Assunção Esteves, Jo Leinen, Gérard Deprez, Hélène Flautre and Giusto Catania on the protection of human rights in closed institutions (0103/2008). |
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Maria da Assunção Esteves, Jo Leinen, Gérard Deprez, Hélène Flautre and Giusto Catania on the protection of human rights in closed institutions (0103/2008).

8.   Texts of agreements forwarded by the Council

The Council had forwarded a certified true copy of the following:

| — | Economic Partnership Agreement between the Cariforum States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part. |
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Economic Partnership Agreement between the Cariforum States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part.

9.   Transfers of appropriations

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 28A/2008 (C6-0374/2008).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

*

**

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 28B/2008 (C6-0374/2008).

It had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(4) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

*

**

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 29/2008 (C6-0355/2008).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

*

**

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 37/2008 (0385/2008).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

*

**

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 39/2008 (C6-0380/2008).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

*

**

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 42/2008 (C6-0390/2008).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

*

**

The Committee on Budgets had considered the Commission's proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 44/2008 (C6-0388/2008).

Having noted the Council's opinion, it had authorised the transfer in full under Article 24(3) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

10.   Order of business

The next item was the order of business.

The final draft agenda for the December I sittings (PE 416.044/PDOJ) had been distributed and a number of changes had been proposed (Rule 132):

Wednesday

Wednesday

Request by the GUE/NGL Group to hold over to a later date the vote on the De Keyser report on Israel's participation in Community programmes (A6-0436/2008) (Item 9 of the final draft agenda) and the vote on the motions for resolutions tabled to wind up the debate on this subject (Item 10 of the final draft agenda).

(Item 9 of the final draft agenda)

(Item 10 of the final draft agenda)

The following spoke: Francis Wurtz, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, who moved the request, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, and José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group.

Parliament agreed to the request by electronic vote (194 in favour, 173 against, 10 abstentions).

Thursday

Thursday

| — | no changes |
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no changes

The order of business was thus established.

11.   Welcome

On behalf of Parliament, the President welcomed members of a delegation of Bulgarian religious dignitaries and leading people in Bulgarian civil society, led by Dometiyan, Metropolitan of Vidin, who had taken their seats in the distinguished visitors' gallery.

12.   Preparation of the European Council (11-12 December 2008) (debate)

(debate)

Council and Commission statements: Preparation of the European Council (11-12 December 2008)

Jean-Pierre Jouyet (President-in-Office of the Council) and José Manuel Barroso (President of the Commission) made the statements.

The following spoke: Joseph Daul, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, on behalf of the PSE Group, Graham Watson, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Rebecca Harms, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, and Brian Crowley, on behalf of the UEN Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU

Vice-President

The following spoke: Mary Lou McDonald, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Hanne Dahl, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Jim Allister, Non-attached Member, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, José Manuel Barroso, Timothy Kirkhope, Jo Leinen, Andrew Duff, Konrad Szymański, Bernard Wojciechowski, Jana Bobošíková, Karl von Wogau, Proinsias De Rossa, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, Inese Vaidere, Irena Belohorská, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Jan Andersson, Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski, Avril Doyle, Jan Tadeusz Masiel, Othmar Karas and Umberto Pirilli.

IN THE CHAIR: Mario MAURO

Vice-President

The following spoke: Vito Bonsignore.

The following spoke under the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure: Elmar Brok, Neena Gill, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Ewa Tomaszewska, Mairead McGuinness, Richard Corbett, Theodor Dumitru Stolojan and Silvia-Adriana Ţicău.

The following spoke: Jean-Pierre Jouyet and Margot Wallström (Vice-President of the Commission).

The debate closed.

13.   Future global architecture of financial markets and EU economic recovery plan (debate)

(debate)

Oral question (O-0124/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Council: The future global architecture of financial markets and an EU economic recovery plan (B6-0487/2008)

Oral question (O-0125/2008) by Pervenche Berès, on behalf of the ECON Committee, to the Commission: The future global architecture of financial markets and an EU economic recovery plan (B6-0488/2008)

Pervenche Berès moved the oral questions.

Hervé Novelli (President-in-Office of the Council) answered the question (B6-0487/2008).

Joaquín Almunia (Member of the Commission) answered the question (B6-0488/2008).

The following spoke: Jean-Paul Gauzès, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, on behalf of the PSE Group, Daniel Dăianu, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Rebecca Harms, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Sergej Kozlík, Non-attached Member, José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil, Elisa Ferreira, Sophia in 't Veld, Hans-Peter Martin, Margaritis Schinas, Donata Gottardi, Margarita Starkevičiūtė and John Purvis.

The following spoke under the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure: Paul Rübig, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Ján Hudacký, Charles Tannock and Colm Burke.

The following spoke: Hervé Novelli and Joaquín Almunia.

The debate closed.

14.   EU strategy on Roma (debate)

(debate)

Council and Commission statements: EU strategy on Roma

Jean-Pierre Jouyet (President-in-Office of the Council) and Vladimír Špidla (Member of the Commission) made the statements.

IN THE CHAIR: Marek SIWIEC

Vice-President

The following spoke: Lívia Járóka, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Jan Marinus Wiersma, on behalf of the PSE Group, Viktória Mohácsi, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Roberta Angelilli, on behalf of the UEN Group, Giusto Catania, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Frank Vanhecke, Non-attached Member, Magda Kósáné Kovács, Jiří Maštálka, Adrian Severin, Katalin Lévai and Zita Pleštinská.

The following spoke under the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure: Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva, Elly de Groen-Kouwenhoven and Hannes Swoboda.

The following spoke: Jean-Pierre Jouyet and Vladimír Špidla.

The debate closed.

15.   Israel's participation in Community programmes *** — Israel's participation in Community programmes (debate)

(debate)

Report on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel's participation in Community programmes [05471/2008 — C6-0180/2008 — 2007/0241(AVC)] — Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Rapporteur: Véronique De Keyser (A6-0436/2008)

Council and Commission statements: Israel's participation in Community programmes

Véronique De Keyser introduced the report.

Jean-Pierre Jouyet (President-in-Office of the Council) and Günter Verheugen (Vice-President of the Commission) made the statements.

The following spoke: Jana Hybášková, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, on behalf of the ALDE Group, David Hammerstein, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Luisa Morgantini, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Bastiaan Belder, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, and Luca Romagnoli, Non-attached Member.

IN THE CHAIR: Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT

Vice-President

The following spoke: Pasqualina Napoletano, Ioannis Kasoulides, Proinsias De Rossa, Elmar Brok and Zbigniew Zaleski.

The following spoke under the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure: Charles Tannock, Jim Allister, Proinsias De Rossa and Hannes Swoboda.

The following spoke: Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Günter Verheugen and Véronique De Keyser.

Motion for a resolution to wind up the debate tabled under Rule 103(2):

| — | Véronique De Keyser, on behalf of the AFET Committee, on the conclusion of a protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel's participation in Community programmes (B6-0616/2008). |
| --- | --- |

—

Véronique De Keyser, on behalf of the AFET Committee, on the conclusion of a protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel's participation in Community programmes (B6-0616/2008).

The debate closed.

Vote: subsequent part-session.

subsequent part-session

16.   Steps towards improving the environment for SMEs in Europe — Small Business Act (debate)

(debate)

Oral question (O-0113/2008) by Edit Herczog, on behalf of the PSE Group, and Nicole Fontaine, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, to the Council: Steps towards improving the environment for SMEs in Europe — Small Business Act (B6-0485/2008)

Edit Herczog and Nicole Fontaine moved the oral question.

Jean-Pierre Jouyet (President-in-Office of the Council) answered the oral question.

The following spoke: Günter Verheugen (Vice-President of the Commission).

The following spoke: Giles Chichester, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Neena Gill, on behalf of the PSE Group, Šarūnas Birutis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Corien Wortmann-Kool, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău and Dominique Vlasto.

IN THE CHAIR: Miguel Ángel MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ

Vice-President

The following spoke: Juan Fraile Cantón, Jacques Toubon and Pierre Pribetich.

The following spoke under the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure: Zita Pleštinská, Ewa Tomaszewska, Ilda Figueiredo, Jim Allister and Paul Rübig.

The following spoke: Jean-Pierre Jouyet and Günter Verheugen.

Motion for a resolution to wind up the debate tabled under Rule 108(5):

| — | Nicole Fontaine and Giles Chichester, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, and Edit Herczog, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the step towards improving the environment for SMEs in Europe — Small Business Act (B6-0617/2008). |
| --- | --- |

—

Nicole Fontaine and Giles Chichester, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, and Edit Herczog, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the step towards improving the environment for SMEs in Europe — Small Business Act (B6-0617/2008).

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.8.

Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.8

17.   Arms exports (Code of Conduct) (debate)

(debate)

Council statement: Arms exports (Code of Conduct)

Jean-Pierre Jouyet (President-in-Office of the Council) made the statement.

The following spoke: Stefano Zappalà, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Ana Maria Gomes, on behalf of the PSE Group, Renate Weber, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Raül Romeva i Rueda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Tobias Pflüger, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Justas Vincas Paleckis and Jan Cremers.

The following spoke under the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure: Ioan Mircea Pașcu.

Motions for resolutions to wind up the debate tabled under Rule 103(2):

| — | Raül Romeva i Rueda and Angelika Beer, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers — failure of the Council to adopt the common position and transform the Code into a legally binding instrument — need to control arms brokering (B6-0619/2008), |
| --- | --- |

—

Raül Romeva i Rueda and Angelika Beer, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers — failure of the Council to adopt the common position and transform the Code into a legally binding instrument — need to control arms brokering (B6-0619/2008),

| — | Ana Maria Gomes, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (B6-0620/2008), |
| --- | --- |

—

Ana Maria Gomes, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (B6-0620/2008),

| — | Stefano Zappalà and Karl von Wogau, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Renate Weber, on behalf of the ALDE Group, and Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (B6-0621/2008), |
| --- | --- |

—

Stefano Zappalà and Karl von Wogau, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Renate Weber, on behalf of the ALDE Group, and Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (B6-0621/2008),

| — | Tobias Pflüger and Willy Meyer Pleite, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers — failure of the Council to adopt the common position and transform the Code into a legally binding instrument — need to control arms brokering (B6-0622/2008). |
| --- | --- |

—

Tobias Pflüger and Willy Meyer Pleite, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers — failure of the Council to adopt the common position and transform the Code into a legally binding instrument — need to control arms brokering (B6-0622/2008).

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.9.

Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.9

18.   One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Pursuant to Rule 144, the following Members who wished to draw the attention of Parliament to matters of political importance spoke for one minute:

Dragoș Florin David, Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva, Marco Cappato, Ewa Tomaszewska, Pedro Guerreiro, Urszula Krupa, Jim Allister, Nicolae Vlad Popa, Neena Gill, Marco Pannella, László Tőkés, Marcin Libicki, Ilda Figueiredo, Desislav Chukolov, Romana Jordan Cizelj, Proinsias De Rossa, Sylwester Chruszcz, Anna Záborská, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Colm Burke, Csaba Sógor, Zita Pleštinská and Avril Doyle.

19.   Facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries ***I (debate)

(debate)

Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries [COM(2008)0450 — C6-0280/2008 — 2008/0149(COD)] — Committee on Development.

Rapporteur: Gay Mitchell (A6-0396/2008)

Gay Mitchell introduced the report.

The following spoke: Louis Michel (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: László Surján (rapporteur for the opinion of the BUDG Committee), Stéphane Le Foll (rapporteur for the opinion of the AGRI Committee), Colm Burke, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Josep Borrell Fontelles, on behalf of the PSE Group, Kyösti Virrankoski, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Marie-Hélène Aubert, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, and Wiesław Stefan Kuc, on behalf of the UEN Group.

IN THE CHAIR: Mechtild ROTHE

Vice-President

The following spoke: Konstantinos Droutsas, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Hélène Goudin, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Czesław Adam Siekierski, Juan Fraile Cantón, Proinsias De Rossa and Silvia-Adriana Ţicău.

The following spoke under the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure: Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf.

The following spoke: Louis Michel and Gay Mitchell.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.5.

Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.5

20.   Combating tax evasion: common system of VAT * — Combating tax evasion * — European Court of Auditors' Special Report No 8/2007 concerning administrative cooperation in the field of value added tax (debate)

(debate)

Report on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax to combat tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions [COM(2008)0147 — C6-0154/2008 — 2008/0058(CNS)] — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.

Rapporteur: José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (A6-0448/2008)

Report on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1798/2003 to combat tax evasion connected with intra-Community transactions [COM(2008)0147 — C6-0155/2008 — 2008/0059(CNS)] — Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.

Rapporteur: José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (A6-0449/2008)

Report on the European Court of Auditors' Special Report No 8/2007 concerning administrative cooperation in the field of VAT [2008/2151(INI)] — Committee on Budgetary Control.

Rapporteur: Bart Staes (A6-0427/2008)

José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil introduced the reports.

Bart Staes introduced the report.

The following spoke: Louis Michel (Member of the Commission).

The following spoke: Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (rapporteur for the opinion of the JURI Committee), Gabriele Stauner, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Vladimír Maňka, on behalf of the PSE Group, Miguel Portas, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Sergej Kozlík, Non-attached Member, and Bogusław Liberadzki.

The following spoke: Louis Michel, José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil and Bart Staes.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.6, Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.7 and Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.10.

Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.6, Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.7 and Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.10

21.   Implementation of REACH (debate)

(debate)

Oral question (O-0131/2008) by Guido Sacconi, on behalf of the PSE Group, Satu Hassi, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, John Bowis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Chris Davies, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Jens Holm, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Johannes Blokland, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, and Alessandro Foglietta, on behalf of the UEN Group, to the Commission: Pre-registration of phase-in substances acccording to the REACH Regulation (B6-0490/2008)

Guido Sacconi and John Bowis moved the oral question.

Günter Verheugen (Vice-President of the Commission) answered the oral question.

The following spoke: Carl Schlyter, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group.

The following spoke under the ‘catch-the-eye’ procedure: Guido Sacconi.

The following spoke: Günter Verheugen.

The debate closed.

22.   The situation of women in the Balkans (short presentation)

(short presentation)

Report on the situation of women in the Balkans [2008/2119(INI)] — Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality.

Rapporteur: Zita Gurmai (A6-0435/2008)

Zita Gurmai introduced the report.

The following spoke: Günter Verheugen (Vice-President of the Commission).

The item closed.

Vote: Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.11.

Minutes of 04.12.2008, Item 7.11

23.   Agenda of the next sitting

The agenda of the next day's sitting had been established (‘Agenda’ PE 416.044).

24.   Closure of the sitting

The sitting closed at 23.55.

Harald Rømer

Secretary-General

Martine Roure

Vice-President

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ATTENDANCE REGISTER

The following signed:

Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Albertini, Allister, Andersson, Andrejevs, Andrikienė, Angelilli, Antinucci, Antoniozzi, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Ashworth, Assis, Atkins, Aubert, Audy, Auken, Ayala Sender, Aylward, Ayuso, Baco, Badia i Cutchet, Baeva, Barón Crespo, Barsi-Pataky, Bartolozzi, Basile, Battilocchio, Batzeli, Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Bedingfield, Beer, Belder, Belet, Belohorská, Bennahmias, Berend, Berès, Berlato, Berlinguer, Binev, Birutis, Blokland, Bobošíková, Bösch, Bono, Bonsignore, Borghezio, Borrell Fontelles, Boso, Boștinaru, Botopoulos, Boursier, Bowis, Bowles, Bozkurt, Bradbourn, Braghetto, Brejc, Brepoels, Březina, Brie, Brok, Budreikaitė, Buitenweg, Bulfon, Bullmann, Bulzesc, Van den Burg, Burke, Bushill-Matthews, Busk, Bușoi, Busquin, Busuttil, Callanan, Camre, Capoulas Santos, Cappato, Carlotti, Carnero González, Carollo, Casa, Casaca, Casini, Caspary, Castex, Catania, Cederschiöld, Cercas, Chichester, Chiesa, Chmielewski, Christensen, Chruszcz, Chukolov, Claeys, Coelho, Cohn-Bendit, Colman, Corbett, Corda, Cornillet, Cottigny, Cramer, Cremers, Gabriela Creţu, Crowley, Csibi, Dahl, Dăianu, Daul, David, Davies, De Blasio, de Brún, Degutis, De Keyser, Demetriou, De Michelis, Deprez, De Rossa, De Sarnez, Descamps, Désir, Deß, De Veyrac, De Vits, Dičkutė, Didžiokas, Dillen, Dimitrakopoulos, Dobolyi, Dombrovskis, Donnici, Doorn, Douay, Dover, Doyle, Drčar Murko, Droutsas, Duchoň, Dührkop Dührkop, Duff, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Ek, Esteves, Estrela, Ettl, Jill Evans, Robert Evans, Färm, Falbr, Farage, Fatuzzo, Fava, Ferber, Fernandes, Fernández Martín, Ferrari, Anne Ferreira, Elisa Ferreira, Figueiredo, Filip, Flasarová, Flautre, Foglietta, Foltyn-Kubicka, Fontaine, Ford, Fourtou, Fraga Estévez, Fraile Cantón, França, Frassoni, Freitas, Friedrich, Gacek, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Garcés Ramón, García-Margallo y Marfil, García Pérez, Gardini, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gaubert, Gauzès, Gebhardt, Gentvilas, Georgiou, Geringer de Oedenberg, Giertych, Gill, Giuntini, Gklavakis, Glante, Glattfelder, Goebbels, Goepel, Gollnisch, Gomes, Gomolka, Gottardi, Grabowska, Grabowski, Graça Moura, Graefe zu Baringdorf, de Grandes Pascual, Grau i Segú, Grech, Griesbeck, Gröner, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Groote, Grosch, Grossetête, Guardans Cambó, Guellec, Guerreiro, Guidoni, Gurmai, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Guy-Quint, Gyürk, Hänsch, Hall, Hammerstein, Hannan, Harbour, Harkin, Harms, Hasse Ferreira, Hassi, Haug, Heaton-Harris, Hedh, Hegyi, Helmer, Hénin, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herczog, Herranz García, Herrero-Tejedor, Higgins, Hökmark, Honeyball, Horáček, Hudacký, Hudghton, Hughes, Hybášková, Hyusmenova, Ibrisagic, in 't Veld, Irujo Amezaga, Isler Béguin, Itälä, Jackson, Jacobs, Jäätteenmäki, Jałowiecki, Janowski, Járóka, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jeleva, Jensen, Jöns, Jørgensen, Jordan Cizelj, Juknevičienė, Juri, Kacin, Kaczmarek, Kallenbach, Kamall, Karas, Kasoulides, Kaufmann, Kauppi, Kazak, Tunne Kelam, Kindermann, Kirilov, Kirkhope, Klamt, Klaß, Klinz, Knapman, Koch, Kohlíček, Konrad, Koppa, Korhola, Kósáné Kovács, Koterec, Kozlík, Krahmer, Krasts, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Krehl, Kristovskis, Krupa, Kuc, Kuhne, Kusstatscher, Kuźmiuk, Lagendijk, Laignel, Lamassoure, Lambert, Lambrinidis, Lambsdorff, Landsbergis, Lang, De Lange, Langen, Laperrouze, Lauk, Lax, Lebech, Lechner, Le Foll, Lefrançois, Lehne, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Marine Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Lévai, Lewandowski, Liberadzki, Libicki, Lienemann, Liotard, Lipietz, Locatelli, Lo Curto, López-Istúriz White, Louis, Lucas, Ludford, Lulling, Luque Aguilar, Lynne, Lyubcheva, Maaten, McAvan, McCarthy, McDonald, McGuinness, McMillan-Scott, Madeira, Maldeikis, Manders, Mănescu, Maňka, Thomas Mann, Marinescu, Marini, Markov, Marques, David Martin, Hans-Peter Martin, Martínez Martínez, Masiel, Masip Hidalgo, Maštálka, Mathieu, Matsakis, Matsouka, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Medina Ortega, Meijer, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mikko, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Mölzer, Moraes, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Morgantini, Morillon, Elisabeth Morin, Mote, Mulder, Musacchio, Mussa, Musumeci, Myller, Napoletano, Naranjo Escobar, Nassauer, Nattrass, Nechifor, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson, Niculescu, Niebler, van Nistelrooij, Olbrycht, Ó Neachtain, Onesta, Onyszkiewicz, Oomen-Ruijten, Ortuondo Larrea, Őry, Ouzký, Oviir, Paasilinna, Pack, Pafilis, Pagano, Paleckis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Panayotov, Pannella, Panzeri, Papadimoulis, Paparizov, Papastamkos, Parish, Pașcu, Patriciello, Peillon, Pęk, Alojz Peterle, Petre, Pflüger, Pieper, Pietikäinen, Pīks, Pinheiro, Pinior, Piotrowski, Pirilli, Pirker, Piskorski, Pittella, Pleštinská, Plumb, Podestà, Podkański, Pöttering, Pohjamo, Poignant, Pomés Ruiz, Mihaela Popa, Nicolae Vlad Popa, Portas, Prets, Pribetich, Vittorio Prodi, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Raeva, Ransdorf, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Remek, Resetarits, Reul, Ribeiro e Castro, Riera Madurell, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Rivera, Rizzo, Robsahm, Robusti, Rocard, Rodust, Rogalski, Roithová, Romagnoli, Romeva i Rueda, Rosati, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Rovsing, Rübig, Rühle, Rus, Rutowicz, Sacconi, Saïfi, Sakalas, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Sanzarello, Sanz Palacio, Sârbu, Saryusz-Wolski, Savi, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Schenardi, Schierhuber, Schinas, Schlyter, Frithjof Schmidt, Olle Schmidt, Schmitt, Schöpflin, Jürgen Schröder, Schroedter, Schulz, Schuth, Schwab, Seeber, Segelström, Seppänen, Severin, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Simpson, Sinnott, Siwiec, Skinner, Škottová, Smith, Sógor, Sommer, Søndergaard, Sonik, Sornosa Martínez, Sousa Pinto, Spautz, Speroni, Staes, Staniszewska, Starkevičiūtė, Šťastný, Stauner, Stavreva, Sterckx, Stevenson, Stihler, Stockmann, Stolojan, Strejček, Strož, Sturdy, Sudre, Sumberg, Surján, Susta, Svensson, Swoboda, Szájer, Szent-Iványi, Szymański, Takkula, Tannock, Tatarella, Teychenné, Thomsen, Thyssen, Ţicău, Titford, Titley, Toia, Tomaszewska, Tomczak, Toubon, Toussas, Trakatellis, Trautmann, Triantaphyllides, Trüpel, Tzampazi, Uca, Urutchev, Vaidere, Vakalis, Vanhecke, Van Hecke, Van Lancker, Van Orden, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Varvitsiotis, Vatanen, Vaugrenard, Ventre, Veraldi, Vergnaud, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vigenin, de Villiers, Virrankoski, Visser, Vlasto, Voggenhuber, Wagenknecht, Wallis, Walter, Watson, Henri Weber, Renate Weber, Weisgerber, Westlund, Wieland, Wielowieyski, Wiersma, Willmott, Iuliu Winkler, Wise, von Wogau, Bernard Wojciechowski, Janusz Wojciechowski, Wortmann-Kool, Wurtz, Yáñez-Barnuevo García, Záborská, Zaleski, Zapałowski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Ždanoka, Zdravkova, Zieleniec, Zīle, Zvěřina, Zwiefka

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