The European Parliament is meeting from 15 to 18 December for its last plenary session under the French Presidency of the Council
European Parliament Headquarters - Strasbourg
© Europa
- from: 15.12.2008
- to: 18.12.2008
- In: Strasbourg, European Parliament
MEPs are meeting on 15 December for a plenary session in which French President Nicolas Sarkozy will take stock of the French Presidency of the Council.
The European Parliament is meeting in Strasbourg from 15 to 18 December for its last plenary session under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of the French Republic, will address the MEPs on Tuesday 16 December to present the results of the European Council of 11 and 12 December 2008, and a review of the period of the French Presidency of the Council.
The other main discussions scheduled for this plenary session are on the following five points:
- The organisation of work. On 15 December the MEPs will debate two reports on working time and the recast of the regulation on the European Works Council. The Council will be represented by Xavier Betrand, the French Minister for Labour and Labour Realtions or by one of his two Ministers for State, Valérie Létard and Nadine Morano.
- The ‘energy and climate change’ legislative package. The MEPs are set to debate a set of six reports on the ‘energy-climate’ package at first reading on 16 December in the context of Sarkozy’s presentation of the results of the December European Council on this subject. Jean-Louis Borloo, the French Minister for Ecology, Energy and Sustainable Development, will represent the Council at this debate.
- Human rights and fundamental rights. On 17 December the 20th Sakharov prize will be awarded. On the same day, the Council and the European Commission are due to present a statement on the EU’s annual report on human rights to the MEPs. Also on the agenda is a discussion on the fundamental rights situation in the EU between 2004 and 2007 and on the progress made in 2008 with regard to the European area of freedom, security and justice. At all of these sessions, the Council will be represented by Rama Yade, the French Minister of State for Human Rights.
- Cooperation in civil law. On 18 December the MEPs are due to debate four reports on the European authentic act, the development of electronic legal administration, the legal protection of adults, and the revision of a section of company law.. The Council will be represented by Rachida Dati, the French Minister for Justice.
- The vote on the 2009 budget. After debating it on 17 December, MEPs are set to vote on the draft EU budget for 2009 on second reading on 18 December. The Council will be represented at this vote by Eric Woerth, the French Minister for the Budget and Public Accounts.
NB: The information provided about the agenda of the plenary session is provisional. The MEPs may modify the agenda at any time.
- Updated: 31.12.2008
