Communication of Council common positions: see Minutes
(The sitting was suspended at 12.50 p.m. and resumed at 3.05 p.m.)


4. Agreement between the EC and Egypt on scientific and technological cooperation (vote)
- Report: Angelika Niebler


12. Key objectives for the Conference of the Parties to the CITES (vote)
Before the vote on Amendment 12:
(IT) We have not voted on the original text.
We approved Amendment 7 and the paragraph falls. So sometimes the Presidency is right.
Mr President, could we take that vote again as some people thought they were voting on the section to which the other Member referred? Are we here to vote as we were elected to do, or not? Please put it to the vote again so that people can make the right decision.
We cannot create a precedent, the voting cannot be repeated. In any case, there is a difference of 130 votes. It is not a small difference. I do not think that it will be possible to overturn and change the results of the vote.


Approval of Minutes of previous sitting: see Minutes


Written statements (tabling): see Minutes


6. Petrol vapour recovery during refuelling of motor vehicles (
rapporteur. - (EL) Mr President, as the debate was not held for technical reasons, allow me to say a couple of words before the vote. Following intensive negotiations with the Council and the Commission, I believe that we achieved a good compromise at first reading. With the contribution made by the European Parliament, we have accelerated the application of the directive by one year, broadened the scope to service stations in residential areas, strengthened information and control mechanisms for service stations and information mechanisms for citizens.
This is a change, the application of which will improve the quality of the atmosphere and will considerably limit the greenhouse gases which cause climate change. The Commission has undertaken, at our proposal, to submit a recast proposal after a certain period of time, so that we will have better technology which will allow us to achieve even better results in future.
The final compromise is supported by all the political groups and I think that this is a sign that we have done a good job.


Opening of the sitting
(The sitting was opened at 09:05)


Resumption of the session
I declare resumed the session adjourned on Thursday, 21 February 2008.