The EEF was represented this week at the first Parliament Plenary Meeting under the UK Presidency in Strasbourg, where MEPs voted on a number of key issues:
Security of Electricity Supply
The report by Giles Chichester (EPP-ED, UK) on Security of Electricity Supply and Infrastructure Investment was adopted. This means that the co-decision procedure can now be concluded at the first reading stage. The purpose of the Commission proposal is to set up an internal framework within which Member States will define general, transparent and non-discriminatory policies on the security of electricity supply compatible with the requirements of a competitive single market for electricity.
Equal Opportunities
Parliament adopted a first reading co-decision report from Angelika Niebler (EPP-ED, Germany) on a European Commission proposal to recast the Directive on equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and work. The revised Directive would simplify, clarify and modernise Community law by merging seven existing Directives and incorporating case-law of the European Court of Justice into legislation.
The European Parliament supports the goal of recasting the Directive, but also seeks to make some substantial changes and improvements. MEPs want to clarify that parental leave is an individual right of each parent. They wish to ensure that any less favourable treatment of a woman who is pregnant or on maternity leave should also be considered as discrimination.
MEPs are also calling for requirements that Member States ensure that employers and unions promote flexible working arrangements with the aim of facilitating the reconciliation of work and private life.
EU Eco-technologies Strategy
The European Parliament adopted a non-legislative resolution in response to the EU Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP). ETAP’s objective is to promote environmental technologies within the EU.
The Action Plan sets out a number of actions that the Commission will take and some that other stakeholders, such as industry and national and regional governments, should undertake for the plan to be successful.
In response, the European Parliament calls on the Commission for more ambitious, sustained and predictable environmental policies based on best available technology. MEPs, lead by Finnish Rapporteur Riitta Myller of the Socialist Group, stress the need to remove barriers to greener technologies, such as environmentally damaging subsidies and especially state aid for fossil fuels and nuclear power.
They call on the Commission to propose “shortly” a list of environmental performance targets for products, services and product development targets. They would also like to see measures put in place to promote green public procurement such as making it a "general rule" that all public procurement should include environmental criteria.
As regards legislation to carry ETAP forward, MEPs call on the Commission to propose legislation to "minimise the use of both renewable and non-renewable natural resources" and advocate more community level economic instruments, such as taxes.
Finally, at Member State level, the European Parliament would like Governments to develop standard guidelines by 2007 for the most important products and services, and to establish roadmaps for meeting ETAP requirements.
Parliament Reception coinciding with the launch of UK Presidency
The EEF was represented at the Parliament Reception to mark the beginning of the UK Presidency of the European Union, organised by the CBI. Gary Titley MEP, Timothy Kirkhope MEP and Chris Davies MEP sponsored the event. The reception provided excellent networking opportunities with 50 UK MEPs from all main parties attending.
EU CALENDAR - WEEK BEGINNING 11 JULY 2005
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Economic & Financial Affairs Council, 12th and 15th July 2005
Presidency Work Programme
The new UK Presidency will present its work programme to the Economic and Financial Affairs Council in Brussels.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Committee on Budgets, 13th – 14th July 2005
Chemicals – REACH system and European Chemicals Agency
Draftsperson: Jutta D. Haug (PES, Germany)
Consideration and vote on a draft opinion
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, 12th – 13th July 2005
The United Kingdom Presidency’s ECOFIN Programme
Exchange of views with Gordon Brown, President of the ECOFIN
Chemicals: REACH system and European Chemicals Agency
Draftsperson: Satu Hassi (Greens, Finland)
Consideration of amendments
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, 11th – 12th July 2005
The UK Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Presentation of the programme of the UK Presidency by David Blunkett, President-in-office of the Council of the European Union, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Health and Safety at work: the exposure of workers to optical radiation
Rapporteur: Csaba Őry (EPP-ED, Hungary)
Consideration of amendments and adoption of a draft report
Chemicals: REACH system and European Chemicals Agency
Draftsperson: Thomas Mann (EPP-ED, Germany)
Consideration of amendments and adoption of a draft opinion
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, 12th – 13th July 2005
Fluorinated greenhouse gases
Decision on procedure in committee
Exchange of views with Margaret Beckett, President-in-office, Secretary of State for Environment
Winning the battle against global climate change
Rapporteur: Anders Wijkman (EPP-ED, Sweden)
First exchange of views without a draft report
REACH amendments 1184, 1185 + 1106/Rev. –ADDENDUM II
Rapporteur: Guido Sacconi (PES, Italy)
Consideration of amendments
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, 11th – 13th July
Chemicals: REACH system and European Chemicals Agency
Draftsperson: Hartmut Nassauer (EPP-ED, Germany)
Consideration of amendments and vote in committee
Exchange of views with UK President-in-office Alan Johnson on the priorities of the Presidency
Committee on Legal Affairs, 13th – 14th July 2005
Exchange of views with the British Presidency
Alan Johnson Secretary of State DTI