draft minutes2016)11-23_en.pdf · pv cpg 23.11.2016 5/29 pe 590.396/cpg en invited: mr buzek, chair...

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG

EN

PE-8/CPG/PV/2016-22

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS

Draft MINUTES

of the ordinary meeting of Wednesday

23 November 2016

Louise Weiss Building, Room R1.1

Strasbourg

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 2/29

EN


MINUTES

of the ordinary meeting of

Wednesday, 23 November 2016

from 13:30 to 15:00 hours

Louise Weiss Building, Room R1.1

Strasbourg

CONTENTS

Page

1. Adoption of the draft agenda .................................................................................................... 8

2. Approval of the draft Minutes of the meeting of 17 November 2016 ...................................... 9

3. Adoption of the final draft agenda for the November II part-session (from 30 November to 1

December 2016) in Brussels and the draft agenda for the December part session (from 12

December to 15 December 2016) in Strasbourg - Scheduling of key debates in plenary ...... 10

4. Communications by the President .......................................................................................... 11

4.1 CETA ..................................................................................................................................... 11

4.2 EU-Turkey Relations .............................................................................................................. 11

4.3 Exchange of views with Commissioner OETTINGER .......................................................... 12

4.4 Date of the meeting during the December 2016 part-session ................................................ 13

4.5 Transparency register ............................................................................................................. 13

5. United Kingdom withdrawal from the EU – Preparation of the exchange of views with Mr

Michel BARNIER .................................................................................................................. 14

6. Request from the Committee on Constitutional Affairs to draw up a non-legislative initiative

report under Rule 45 on the “Composition of the European Parliament” .............................. 16

7. Calendar of Parliamentary activities for 2018 ........................................................................ 17

8. Draft programme of inter-parliamentary activities with National Parliaments for the first half

of 2017 .................................................................................................................................... 19

9. Request from the Committee on Foreign Affairs to send an ad hoc delegation to Israel,

Palestine and Jordan from 2 to 6 January 2017 ...................................................................... 20

PV CPG 23.11.2016

3/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

10. Request from the Delegation for relations with Iran to reschedule the 6th EU-Iran inter

parliamentary meeting in Tehran, Iran, from 10 to 11 December 2016 ................................ 21

11. Requests from the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee to reschedule

the 77th meeting in Ankara, Turkey, to 10 and 11 January 2017, to hold a Bureau meeting in

Brussels or Ankara in Spring 2017 and to hold the 78th EU-Turkey JPC in Ankara, Turkey,

from 19 to 21 April 2017 ....................................................................................................... 22

12. STOA delegations outside the EU during 2017 ..................................................................... 24

13. Urgent matters and any other business .................................................................................. 26

13.1 Departure of Ms HARMS as Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group ....................................... 26

13.2. Request from the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax

Evasion to send a delegation to Valetta, Malta ...................................................................... 27

14. Items for information ............................................................................................................. 28

14.1 Internal correspondence ......................................................................................................... 28

15. Date and place of next meetings ............................................................................................ 29

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 4/29

EN


Draft MINUTES

of the meeting of Wednesday 23 November 2016

from 13:30 to 15:00 hours

Strasbourg

The meeting opened at 13.41 hours with Mr Martin SCHULZ,

President of the European Parliament, in the chair

Present

Mr SCHULZ, President

Political Group Chairs

Mr WEBER (EPP)

Mr GUERRERO SALOM (Acting) (S&D)

Mr KAMALL (ECR)

Mr VERHOFSTADT (ALDE)

Ms ZIMMER (GUE/NGL)

Ms HARMS (Co-Chair) (Greens/EFA)

Mr BORRELLI (Co-Chair) (EFDD)

Ms LE PEN (Co-Chair) (ENF)

Ms DODDS1 (NI)

Also Present

Mr WELLE, Secretary-General

Mr WINKLER, Deputy Secretary-General

1 Present pursuant to Rule 26 (2) of the Rules of Regulations of Procedure

PV CPG 23.11.2016

5/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

Invited:

Mr BUZEK, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs

Also invited - item 5

Ms HÜBNER, Chair of the Committee on Constitutional

Affairs

The Council1

represented by Ms TUTS

Mr KERLEROUX

The Commission1

represented by Mr FORTI

Mr CLEMENS

Mr PINE

The Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security

Policy1

represented by Mr VISENTIN

Office of the President

Mr KNUDSEN

Ms BLAU

Mr FASSINA

Ms NOYON

Mr MASUR

Mr KOEKKOEK

Ms PERETIE

Office of the Secretary-General

Mr MANGOLD

Mr SORENSEN

Ms FERNANDEZ PERLES

Ms KOSTIDOU

Office of the Deputy Secretary-General

Ms JIMENEZ-LOZANO

Secretariat

DG Presidency (PRES) Mr LANE/Ms ROBSON/Ms GANDOLFO/Ms TARDIOLI-

SCHIAVO2/Mr NATSCHERADETZ1/Ms SAILIS1/

Mr WICKER1/Mr JAVELLE3

1 Present for items 1-3

2 Present for items 1-5 3 Present for item 5

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 6/29

EN

DG Internal Policies (IPOL)

Ms VANDENBOSCH/Mr CHIOCCHETTI/Ms KERR/

Ms FONTANILI1/Mr PACHECO2

DG External Policies (EXPO)

Mr AGUIRIANO

DG European Parliamentary Research Services (EPRS)

Mr TEASDALE

DG Communication (COMM)

Ms LAHOUSSE/Mr DUCH GUILLOT

DG Personnel (PERS)

Mr KAISER

DG Infrastructures and Logistics

Ms LINNUS

DG Interpretation and Conferences (INTE)

Ms WALTER-DROP

DG Translation (TRAD)

Mr MAVRIČ

DG Innovation and Technical Support (ITEC)

Mr VILELLA

Legal Service (SJ)

Mr DREXLER/Ms MARTINEZ IGLESIAS

Directorate for relations with political groups

Mr SCHWETZ

Secretariat of the Bureau

Mr TZIORKAS

______________________ 1 Present for items 1-3 2 Present for item 5

PV CPG 23.11.2016

7/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

Political groups

Mr KAMP/Mr RYNGAERT/Ms SCRIBAN/Ms LASKAVÁ (EPP)

Mr MORENO SANCHEZ/Mr BURU/Ms PEREIRA (S&D)

Mr BARRETT/Mr BOYD (ECR)

Mr BEELS/Ms COLERA-GARZÓN/Mr RASMUSSEN/McLAUGHLIN (ALDE)

Ms D’ALIMONTE/Ms LEPOLA (GUE/NGL)

Ms TSETSI/Mr DENKINGER/Mr LINAZASORO (Greens/EFA)

Mr CALAZZO/Ms ALBERTINI (EFDD)

Mr DE DANNE/Mr HOLZFEIND (ENF)

Mr BORDEZ (NI)

Ms WOLLNY, Mr ROHLJE, Ms BERTULESSI, Ms SCHADE and Mr VAUGIER acted as secretaries

to the meeting.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 8/29

EN

1. Adoption of the draft agenda

The Conference of Presidents

- noted and adopted the draft agenda in the form shown in these Minutes (PE 590.394/CPG).

PV CPG 23.11.2016

9/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

2. Approval of the draft Minutes of the meeting of 17 November 2016


- noted and approved the draft Minutes of the ordinary meeting of 17 November 2016, held in

Brussels (PE 590.374/CPG and annex).

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 10/29

EN

3. Adoption of the final draft agenda for the November II part-session (from 30 November to 1 December

2016) in Brussels and the draft agenda for the December part session (from 12 December to 15

December 2016) in Strasbourg - Scheduling of key debates in plenary


- noted the following documents:

a letter dated 22 November 2016 from Mr BUZEK, Chair of the Conference of

Committee Chairs, submitting a recommendation regarding the final draft agenda for

the November II part-session (from 30 November to 1 December 2016) in Brussels, and

the draft agenda for the December part-session (from 12 to 15 December 2016) in

Strasbourg (PE 595.132/CPG and annexes);


Committee Chairs, on co-decision files currently under negotiation (PE 595.133/CPG

and annexes);

- held an exchange of views with the participation of Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group,

Mr GUERRERO SALOM, acting Chair of the S&D Group, Mr KAMALL, Chair of the ECR

Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, Ms ZIMMER, Chair of the

GUE/NGL Group, and Ms HARMS, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, and adopted the

final draft agenda for the November II 2016 part-session with the following modification:

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

- decided that Council and Commission statements on the revision of the Multiannual

financial framework for the years 2014-2020 be included;

- noted and, following a vote, adopted the draft agenda for the December 2016 part-session with

the following modification:

Tuesday, 13 December 2016

- decided that the debate and vote on the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and

Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada of the one part, and the European Union and

its Member States, of the other part be postponed, however, not later than until the February

II 2017 part-session.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

11/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

4. Communications by the President

4.1 CETA


- heard the President recall that, at its meeting on 17 November 2016, the Conference of

Presidents had endorsed that, with a view to the conclusion of CETA, the INTA Committee

be in charge of drafting a recommendation for the consent procedure as lead committee with

a standard opinion to be delivered by AFET;

- heard him further recall that the EMPL and ENVI Committees had requested to give an

opinion;

- held an exchange of views with the participation of Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, Mr

GUERRERO SALOM, acting Chair of the S&D Group, Mr KAMALL, Chair of the ECR

Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, Ms HARMS, Co-Chair of the

Greens/EFA Group, and Mr BUZEK, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs;

- agreed with the President’s proposal that the EMPL and ENVI Committees could give an

opinion to the recommendation drafted by INTA as lead committee with the standard opinion

delivered by AFET.

4.2 EU-Turkey Relations


- heard the President propose that, in view of Parliament’s resolution on EU-Turkey relations

scheduled to be voted in plenary on 24 November 2016, the planned mission of the INTA

Committee to Turkey, from 19 to 21 December 2016, be postponed;


Mr GUERRERO SALOM, acting Chair of the S&D Group, Ms HARMS, Co-Chair of the

Greens/EFA Group, and Mr BORRELLI, Co-Chair of the EFDD Group, during which, inter

alia, the situation of journalists in Turkey was raised, and during which broad support for a

postponement of the INTA mission was expressed;

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 12/29

EN

- agreed to return to the matter after the adoption of Parliament’s resolution.

4.3 Exchange of views with Commissioner OETTINGER


- heard the President recall that, under Parliament’s Rules of Procedure and in line with previous

practice, Commissioner OETTINGER would be invited to appear before the responsible

BUDG, CONT and JURI Committees for an exchange of views, with a view to the future

change of his portfolio;

- further heard him recall that the same procedure had been followed in the case of the portfolio

change of Commissioner DOMBROVSKIS;


Mr GUERRERO SALOM, acting Chair of the S&D Group, Mr KAMALL, Chair of the ECR

Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, Ms ZIMMER, Chair of the

GUE/NGL Group, Ms HARMS, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, and Mr BORRELLI,

Co-Chair of the EFDD Group;

- heard the President propose also that the Conference of Presidents take a decision on the

appearance of Commissioner OETTINGER and the hearing for the new Bulgarian

Commissioner-designate as a package, at a subsequent meeting, following Commission

President JUNCKER’s decision on possible further portfolio changes in the Commission;

- heard him note that it would be for the Conference of Presidents to consider the outcome of

the procedures in the committees;

- endorsed the President’s approach.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

13/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

4.4 Date of the meeting during the December 2016 part-session


- heard the President propose that, in view of the meeting of the European Council in December,

the meeting of the Conference of Presidents during the December 2016 part-session be held

on Wednesday, 14 December 2016 in the afternoon;

- agreed with the President’s proposal.

4.5 Transparency register


- heard the President recall that, at its meeting on 27 October 2016, the Conference of Presidents

had decided that Ms GUILLAUME, Vice-President responsible for the Transparency register,

and Ms HÜBNER, Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, be nominated as

Parliament's lead negotiators for an Inter-institutional Agreement establishing a mandatory

transparency register covering Parliament, Council and Commission, and that each political

group nominate one Member to a contact group chaired by the lead negotiators;

- heard the President note that the political groups had nominated Mr WIELAND, EPP Group,

Mr LEINEN, S&D Group, Ms RUOHONEN-LERNER, ECR Group,

Ms PAGAZAURTUNDÚA RUIZ, ALDE Group, Mr DE JONG, GUE/NGL Group,

Mr GIEGOLD, Greens/EFA Group, Ms ADINOLFI, EFDD Group, and Mr FERRAND, ENF

Group, as their representatives in that contact group;

- further heard the President report that Ms GUILLAUME and Ms HÜBNER had informed him

that the contact group would meet in the following weeks and that a draft mandate for the

negotiations would be presented to the Conference of Presidents for adoption within the first

months of 2017;

- endorsed the approach.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 14/29

EN

5. United Kingdom withdrawal from the EU – Preparation of the exchange of views with Mr Michel

BARNIER


- took note of the following documents:

a letter dated 12 October 2016 from the President to Mr BUZEK, Chair of the Conference

of Committee Chairs, on the organisation of Parliament’s work on the process of the

UK withdrawal from the EU (PE 590.481/CPG);

Parliament’s resolution of 28 June 2016 on the decision to leave the EU resulting from

the UK referendum (P8_TA-PROV(2016)0294);

- heard Mr VERHOFSTADT, coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the

EU, report on his meetings with various interlocutors, inter alia, authorities of Northern

Ireland, Scotland, Gibraltar and Malta, Members of the Finnish and French parliaments, and

with Mr DAVIS, UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, adhering strictly to the principle

of no negotiations before notification;

- heard Mr VERHOFSTADT recall that the Conference of Presidents would hold an exchange

of views with Mr BARNIER, chief negotiator for the preparation and conduct of the

negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU, at its extraordinary meeting on

30 November 2016; and heard him propose that Mr BARNIER be invited to report on his

contacts with politicians and experts from the 27 Members States and from the UK, on the

exchanges of views within the Commission, on the preparation of the Commission’s

recommendations under Article 218 (3) TFEU, and on his reflections on the future of the EU;

- further heard Mr VERHOFSTADT propose that the Conference of Presidents inform Mr

BARNIER that:

the Conference of Presidents was the lead body within Parliament on the UK

withdrawal from the EU;

the Group Chairs were the contact persons for their groups, and that each Group

Chair could appoint one Member to assist them in that role;

PV CPG 23.11.2016

15/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

Parliament’s committees had been asked to undertake fact-finding work, and that

the Commission services should provide technical assistance for the committees’

work, if so requested;

while the main interlocutor for Mr BARNIER was the Conference of Presidents and

Mr VERHOFSTADT, in his role as its coordinator for the negotiations on the UK

withdrawal from the EU, Mr BARNIER could also be invited to meetings of the

Conference of Committee Chairs for an exchange of views;

Parliament intended to adopt a resolution as input to the European Council

guidelines under Article 50 TEU;

- heard Mr VERHOFSTADT further propose that the Conference of Presidents convey to Mr

BARNIER, inter alia, that:

Parliament strongly supported the European Commission’s role as negotiator on

behalf of the EU;

Parliament had to be closely involved from day one of the negotiations, on equal

footing with the Council, and with a view to its role under the Treaties;

the four fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Treaties and their integrity were

non-negotiable and must not be prejudged by any future relationship between the

EU and the UK;

negotiations should be concluded within the two-year timeframe set out in the

Treaty, and before the next European elections take place;

negotiations had to be based on a comprehensive proposal and any transitional

arrangements, if deemed necessary, should have an unambiguous sunset clause;

- held an exchange of views with the participation of Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, and

Mr GUERRERO SALOM, acting Chair of the S&D Group;

- endorsed Mr VERHOFSTADT’s approach.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 16/29

EN

6. Request from the Committee on Constitutional Affairs to draw up a non-legislative initiative report

under Rule 45 on the “Composition of the European Parliament”



a letter dated 18 October 2016 from Mr BUZEK, Chair of the Conference of Committee

Chairs, on the above-mentioned subject (PE 590.342/CPG and annex);

a letter dated 25 October 2016 from Ms HÜBNER, Chair of the Committee on

Constitutional Affairs, on the request for authorisation to draft a non-legislative

initiative report on the “Composition of the European Parliament” (PE 590.423/CPG);

- heard the President propose that the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) be

authorised to begin preparatory work on a non-legislative initiative report on Parliament’s

composition, whereas the authorisation to draw up the report be withheld until the UK

triggered Article 50 TEU, and the appointment of two co-rapporteurs be authorised, on the

understanding that the co-rapporteurs liaised closely with Mr VERHOFSTADT, in his

capacity as coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU;


Mr GUERRERO SALOM, acting Chair of the S&D Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of

the ALDE Group, Mr BORRELLI, Co-Chair of the EFDD Group, and Ms HÜBNER, Chair

of the AFCO Committee;

- endorsed the President’s proposal;

- heard the President undertake to inform the Council of that decision.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

17/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

7. Calendar of Parliamentary activities for 2018



a calendar dated 23 November 2016 on the activities and sessions of the European

Parliament for 2018 (PE 590.314/CPG);


Committee Chairs, on the draft calendar of the European Parliament for 2018

(PE 595.126/CPG);

- took note of the calendar for Parliament’s activities (other than the plenary sessions) in 2018,

dated 23 November 2016;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 27 October 2016, it had endorsed the draft calendar of

Parliament's part-sessions in 2018, and submitted it to plenary for adoption; noted that the vote

in plenary had taken place on Wednesday 23 November 2016;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 16 December 2015, it had agreed that the calendar of activities

for 2017 should follow the pattern of the 2016 calendar, thereby ensuring enough days for

meetings of the standing committees;

- recalled that, when adopting the 2016 draft calendar of activities on 4 June 2015, it had taken

note that the 2016 calendar had foreseen that the Thursdays of weeks set aside for political

groups would be proposed as mixed days for activities both of political groups and

parliamentary committees, but that for this to work, extra meeting rooms for committees

would be required;

- recalled that, as a result, it had agreed that each of the EPP, S&D, ECR and ALDE Groups

would be willing to let committees use one of their meeting rooms, so that parliamentary

committees would be able to have the use of at least eight large meeting rooms on those

Thursdays;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 21 January 2016, it had approved the draft calendar for

Parliament's activities (other than the plenary sessions) in 2017, on the above-mentioned

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 18/29

EN

condition regarding committee meeting rooms, on the understanding that the decision would

be reviewed before the summer break, in the light of the experience of the operation of the

2016 calendar;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 7 July 2016, it had confirmed the 2017 calendar as adopted on

21 January 2016 for Parliament's activities (other than the plenary sessions) in 2017, insisting

that the political groups honour their commitment to make meeting rooms available for

committee meetings, and had noted that that also implied that committees might meet on the

Thursday afternoons of group weeks and on Fridays, and had requested the services concerned

to continue exploring possibilities to optimise the use of rooms and interpretation facilities

and report to the Conference of Presidents by the end of the year;

- noted that the calendar of activities for 2018 should follow, in principle, the pattern of the

2017 calendar, thereby ensuring sufficient days for meetings of the standing committees;

- held an exchange of views with the participation of Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, Mr

GUERRERO SALOM, acting Chair of the S&D Group, and Mr BUZEK, Chair of the

Conference of Committee Chairs;

- agreed that during week 38, which had been set aside for external parliamentary activities,

committees could meet exceptionally if necessary in view of their workload;

- adopted the calendar for Parliament's activities (other than the plenary sessions) in 2018,

inviting the political groups to honour their commitment to make meeting rooms available for

committee meetings, and noted that that also implied that committees might meet on the

Thursday afternoons of group weeks and on Fridays.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

19/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

8. Draft programme of inter-parliamentary activities with National Parliaments for the first half of 2017

The Conference of Presidents, without debate

- took note of a letter dated 14 November 2016 from Mr VALCÁRCEL SISO and

Ms JȀȀTTEENMȀKI, Vice-Presidents with responsibility for relations with National

Parliaments, submitting a draft calendar of inter-parliamentary activities with national

parliaments for the first half of 2017 (PE 590.468/CPG, annex and financial statement);

- noted that the inter-parliamentary meetings (IPMs) in Brussels were scheduled to take place

during days set aside for parliamentary committee activities, with two IPMs also coinciding

with a day set aside for political group activities, while some IPM dates had still to be

confirmed;

- approved the meetings in principle, while noting that committee missions to national

parliaments included in the programme would need to be authorised in the context of the

programme for travel by parliamentary committee missions outside the three places of work

during the first half of 2017;

- further noted that the delegations to the CFSP/CSDP Conference in Valletta, Malta, from

26 to 28 April 2017, and to the COSAC meetings in Valletta, Malta, from 22 to 23 January

2017 and from 28 to 30 May 2017, would each have to be authorised on an individual basis.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 20/29

EN

9. Request from the Committee on Foreign Affairs to send an ad hoc delegation to Israel, Palestine and

Jordan from 2 to 6 January 2017



a letter dated 13 October 2016 from Mr BROK, Chair of the Committee on Foreign

Affairs, requesting authorisation to send an ad hoc delegation to Jerusalem, Israel, and

possibly to Ramallah, Palestine, from 19 to 23 December 2016 (PE 590.364/CPG and

financial statement);

a letter dated 10 November 2016 from Mr BROK, Chair of the Committee on Foreign

Affairs, requesting authorisation send an ad hoc delegation to Jerusalem, Israel, to

Ramallah, Palestine, and to Amman, Jordan, from 19 to 23 December 2016, including

travel time (PE 590.463/CPG and financial statement);

a letter dated 22 November 2016 from Mr BROK, Chair of the Committee on Foreign

Affairs, requesting authorisation to send an ad hoc delegation to Jerusalem, Israel, to

Ramallah, Palestine, and to Amman, Jordan, from 2 to 6 January 2017, including travel

time (PE 595.128/CPG and financial statement);

- noted that the ad hoc delegation had not been included in the draft programme for ad hoc

delegations by parliamentary committees outside the territory of the European Union for the

first half of 2017;

- noted that the proposed dates coincided with a week set aside for external parliamentary

activities;

- recalled that, in principle, the duration of the missions might not exceed five days, including

travel time;

- authorised the sending of an eight Member ad hoc delegation, including the Chair of AFET,

to be appointed by the political groups in accordance with the AFET Committee’s rolling

d'Hondt system, which should also apply to the non-attached Members, that approval being

subject to the security situation on the ground not precluding the sending of such a mission.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

21/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

10. Request from the Delegation for relations with Iran to reschedule the 6th EU-Iran inter parliamentary

meeting in Tehran, Iran, from 10 to 11 December 2016


- took note of a letter dated 10 November 2016 from Mr LEWANDOWSKI, Chair of the

Delegation for relations with Iran, requesting authorisation to reschedule the 6th EU-Iran

inter-parliamentary meeting in Teheran, Iran, to take place from 10 to 11 December 2016

(plus two days travel time) (PE 590.476/CPG and financial statement);

- recalled that, at its meeting on 19 November 2015, the Conference of Presidents had

authorised the 6th EU-Iran inter-parliamentary meeting to take place in Teheran, Iran, from

17 to 19 May 2016, but that the meeting had to be postponed at that time due to general

elections in Iran;

- noted that the new dates proposed for the mission coincided with three days without

parliamentary activities (Friday 9 December to Sunday 11 December 2016) and half a day for

travel to Strasbourg for the December part-session (Monday 12 December 2016 a.m.);

- nevertheless, exceptionally authorised the request, on the understanding that Members would

arrive on time for the December part-session in Strasbourg.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 22/29

EN

11. Requests from the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee to reschedule the 77th

meeting in Ankara, Turkey, to 10 and 11 January 2017, to hold a Bureau meeting in Brussels or Ankara

in Spring 2017 and to hold the 78th EU-Turkey JPC in Ankara, Turkey, from 19 to 21 April 2017



a letter dated 15 November 2016 from Mr KEFALOGIANNIS, Chair of the

Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), requesting to

reschedule the 77th meeting in Ankara, Turkey, to 10 and 11 January 2017

(PE 590.485/CPG and financial statement);

a letter dated 14 October 2016 from Mr PANZERI, Chair of the Conference of

Delegation Chairs, on the activities of standing inter-parliamentary delegations for the

first half of 2017, including a request from the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint

Parliamentary Committee to hold a Bureau meeting in Brussels or Ankara in

spring 2017 and to hold the 78th EU-Turkey JPC in Ankara, Turkey, from 19 to 21

April 2017 (PE 590.365/CPG, annexes and financial statements).

- recalled that, at its meeting on 10 March 2016, it had authorised the 77th EU-Turkey JPC to

take place on 18 and 19 April 2016 in Brussels, but that for political reasons the meeting had

been postponed several times;

- recalled its decision of 15 September 2016, that Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-Turkey

JPC should resume its usual activities and further recalled that, at its meeting on 17 November

2016, it had decided to consider all requests for delegation missions to Turkey at the

subsequent meeting;

- recalled that under the Rules of Procedure of the JPC, the Delegation to the EU-Turkey JPC

might hold up to three joint inter-parliamentary meetings per year, which should, in principle,

be held alternately in Turkey and in one of the workplaces of the European Parliament;

- noted that the 76th EU-Turkey JPC had taken place on 19 and 20 March 2015 in Ankara,

Turkey, and that it was now being proposed also to hold the 77th and 78th EU-Turkey JPC in

Turkey; noted that under the rule of alternating meetings, the next JPC meeting should take

PV CPG 23.11.2016

23/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

place in Brussels or Strasbourg and that the invitation of the Turkish counterparts to the

European Parliament would also constitute a political signal;

- further noted that the new dates proposed for the mission to the 77th EU-Turkey JPC in Ankara

in January 2017 coincided with one day set aside for parliamentary committee activities

(Monday 9 January), with two days set aside for political group activities (Tuesday and

Wednesday 10 and 11 January), and with one day set aside for both, parliamentary committee

and political group activities (Thursday 12 January 2017); therefore, declined to authorise the

77th EU-Turkey JPC in January and invited the Delegation to submit a new request for a

meeting in Brussels or Strasbourg in line with Parliament’s calendar;

- declined to authorise the Delegation’s request for a Bureau meeting in spring 2017 due to the

lack of information on the date and place of the meeting, recalling that under the revised

Implementing provisions bureau meetings were considered as ordinary inter-parliamentary

meetings;

- authorised the request for the 78th EU-Turkey JPC meeting in Ankara, Turkey, during the

April green week, from 19 to 21 April 2017 (plus travel time), on the strict condition that the

Rapporteur on Turkey, Ms PIRI, be allowed to travel to Turkey and provided that the security

situation on the ground would allow for the mission to go ahead, and that the 77th meeting

would take place in one of Parliament’s three places of work.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 24/29

EN

12. STOA delegations outside the EU during 2017


- took note of a letter dated 11 November 2016 from Mr RÜBIG, Chair of the Science and

Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel (STOA), requesting authorisation for seven

STOA missions to destinations outside the European Union in 2017 (PE 590.475/CPG, and

financial statement);

- noted that, in accordance with the relevant rules, the Conference of Presidents was the body

responsible, by analogy, for the authorisation of STOA missions outside the territory of the

European Union, the candidate countries, and the countries of the European Economic Area;

- World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, (up to two Members), Davos, Switzerland, from

17 to 20 January 2017: recalled that under the STOA rules, STOA should carry out ‘visits to

scientific and technical institutions’ and ‘for the purposes of technology option assessments’;

noted that the requested mission coincided with three days set aside for the January 2017

part-session in Strasbourg and one day without parliamentary activities; declined

authorisation;

- Annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and visit to the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, two Members, Boston, USA, from 17 to 21 February

2017: authorised, provided that the mission did not exceed five days including travel time;

- Visit to science-innovation-SMEs in India, up to two Members, from 18 to 22 September

2017: noted that the five-day mission requested for up to two Members to India from 18 to 22

September 2017 did not indicate a specific destination nor was it linked to a specific event or

visit to a specific scientific and technical institution; declined authorisation;

- 14th meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, one Member, Kyoto,

Japan, from 30 September to 3 October 2017: noted that the mission coincided with two days

without parliamentary activities (Saturday and Sunday) and two days reserved for Parliament's

part-session in Strasbourg (Monday and Tuesday); stressed that, as a general rule, since the

plenary sitting was the major forum for the business of Parliament, no other meeting might be

held simultaneously; noted that the STOA Chair was a member of the STS Forum Council

and as such, was involved in the preparations of the STS Forum (attending the preparatory

PV CPG 23.11.2016

25/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

STS Forum Council meetings on 5 May 2017 in London); recalled the decisions of 12 March

2015 and 21 January 2016 to authorise the Chair to attend the 2015 and 2016 meetings of the

Science and Technology in Society Forum in Kyoto, Japan, despite the overlap with

Parliament’s part-session; exceptionally authorised the mission to Kyoto, Japan, as requested,

and invited the President to excuse the absence of the Member travelling to Kyoto, Japan from

the part-session on 2 and 3 October 2017, in line with Article 31(3) of the Implementing

measures for the Statute of Members of the European Parliament;

- Council meeting and Conference of the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment

network (EPTA), up to three Members, Bern, Switzerland, from 2 to 3 November 2017:

authorised;

- World Science Forum, up to two Members, Jordan, November 2017, date and place to be

confirmed, and 2017 Internet Governance Forum, one Member, date and place to be

confirmed: took note of these requests, noting that the dates and the meeting venues of these

forums have yet to be determined; therefore invited STOA to submit requests for authorisation

once all relevant information could be provided.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 26/29

EN

13. Urgent matters and any other business

13.1 Departure of Ms HARMS as Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group


- heard Ms HARMS, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, note that she would not seek another

term as Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, and that it was therefore her last Conference of

Presidents meeting;

- further heard Ms HARMS thank the President and the other Group Chairs for the good and

respectful cooperation in the Conference of Presidents, and underline the importance of a

mutually respectful public dialogue between the political groups;

- heard the President express his appreciation for the work and steadfastness of Ms HARMS,

and thank her for the good cooperation.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

27/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

13.2. Request from the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion to

send a delegation to Valetta, Malta


- heard Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, recall that, at its meeting on 17 November 2016,

the Conference of Presidents had declined authorisation for a number of committee missions

to Member States taking over the rotating Council Presidency or holding the Council

Presidency;

- further heard Mr WEBER propose that the decision to decline authorisation for the request

from the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion to

send a delegation to Valetta, Malta, be reconsidered as the mission fell within the specific

remit of that committee and was duly justified by its mandate;

- agreed to return to the matter at a subsequent meeting.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

PE 590.396/CPG 28/29

EN

14. Items for information

14.1 Internal correspondence



a letter dated 14 November 2016 from Mr RÜBIG, Chair of STOA, on the STOA

missions within the European Union during 2017 (PE 590.482/CPG and financial

statement);

Parliament’s mandate for the inter-institutional negotiations on the joint declaration

following the exchange of views at the meeting of the Conference of Presidents on

17 November 2016 (PE 590.494/CPG);


Committee Chairs, on the screening of current files for the December 2016 part-session

with a view to delegated and implementing acts (PE 595.138/CPG);


Committee Chairs, on the use of delegated and implementing acts (PE 595.143/CPG);

a draft programme for the Conference of Presidents meeting with the incoming Maltese

Presidency of the Council that will be held on 8 December 2016, in Valletta, Malta

(PE 590.355/CPG).

14.2 Inter-institutional correspondence



a letter dated 21 November 2016 from Mr MUSCAT, Prime Minister of Malta, inviting

the Conference of Presidents to a meeting with the incoming Maltese Council

Presidency, in Malta, on 8 December 2016 (PE 595.134/CPG).

14.3 External correspondence

There was none.

PV CPG 23.11.2016

29/29 PE 590.396/CPG

EN

15. Date and place of next meetings


- noted that there would be an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, 30 November 2016 from

15:30 to 17:00 in room 06B 01 in the Paul-Henri SPAAK Building, Brussels.

- noted that the next ordinary meeting would be held on Thursday 8 December 2016 from 16:45

to 17:30 hours, in the House of Representatives of Malta, in Valletta, Malta.

.

* *

*

The meeting closed at 15.12 hours

draft minutes2016)11-23_en.pdf · pv cpg 23.11.2016 5/29 pe 590.396/cpg en invited: mr buzek, chair...

Documents