ALDE Latest News

Strasbourg Plenary Session, September I 2010

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:53:00 +0200

Parliament will hold the first major State of the Union debate with Commission Barroso on Tuesday which will examine some of the key challenges facing the EU and its citizens. ALDE focus will be on resolving the economic crisis and getting Member States to work more closely together in a common effort.

A much-needed update of a 1986 directive on animal testing will be approved too in which ALDE succeeded in limiting the pain that animals may suffer in some experiments whilst also ensuring that national testing facilities can be monitored and inspected where there is reason for concern. Alternatives to animal tests should always be used, where available.

Recent expulsions of Roma from France have raised serious concerns amongst human rights organisations and many politicians. ALDE called for a debate to take place in Strasbourg to assess whether such collective expulsions of a single community is in breach of Community law.

Read the agenda of the plenary session
ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

Strasbourg Plenary Session, July 2010

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:00:00 +0200

Parliament's last plenary session before the summer recess is a very full agenda. Not only will there be a debate with the out-going (Spain) and in-coming (Belgium) presidencies but three major dossiers are due to be concluded (or near conclusion) on setting up a European Diplomatic Service, approve an EU-US agreement on financial data sharing (Swift) and agree on a package of measures to strengthen financial supervision of banking institutions across Europe in the wake of the recent crisis.

In addition on the agenda, passenger rights are due to be introduced to sea and coach travel and measures put in place to crack down on illegal logging by banning the use of timber from unauthorised sources.

Finally Parliament will be outlining its recommendations for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to ensure it becomes more environmentally sustainable and less driven by unproductive subsidy regimes.

Agenda of the session
Watch the session live
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Strasbourg Plenary Session, June 2010

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:08:00 +0200

The key debate this week will be on the new strategy for jobs and growth (EU 2020) and the need to reform European economic governance where Parliament will send a strong and unified message to Council that the new governance structures need to be enforced and monitored by Community institutions. The blockade in Gaza will also feature heavily this week with the debate on Wednesday and a vote on a joint resolution condemning the assault on the humanitarian flotilla and calling for a lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Working time for persons performing mobile transport activities will be debated with sharp divisions between right and left over the inclusion of self-employed drivers. ALDE is againt their inclusion in the directive. Procedural rights for those facing trials abroad will be discussed in a report by Sarah Ludford which will seal an agreement with Council on rights to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings. Finally an assessment of progress to achieving the Millennium Development Goals will also be made.

ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

Strasbourg Plenary Session, May 2010

Fri, 14 May 2010 14:31:00 +0200

The key discussion amongst MEPs this week in Strasbourg will be Europe 2020 strategy for economic growth, especially in the light of the bailout of Greece and rising concerns for unsustainable balance of payments in the eurozone.

Transport colleagues have also called for a debate on Europe's response to the volcanic ash cloud and emergency measures that followed resulting in the closure of air space.

Parliament will also address teh issue of safety of human organ transplants with a view to strengthening cooperation between Member States.

Draft agenda of the session
ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

Strasbourg Plenary Session, April 2010

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:50:00 +0200

Due to exceptional air traffic restrictions across Europe as a result of the volcanic ash cloud coming from Iceland, not all MEPs are able to make it to Strasbourg for this week's plenary session. As a result Parliament has decided not to hold any votes out of respect to those Members willing but unable to travel. The debates will still be held on the agenda items but the votes themselves will be rescheduled to a forthcoming session.

Parliament will debate the current crisis in the air transport sector with Commission President on Tuesday morning followed by a discussion on the Commission's legislative work programme for 2010 which focuses on four broad themes - the economy, a citizen's Europe, improving effectiveness of external actions and modernising the institutions working methods. Additionally Parliament will be considering the management of the 2008 budget year prior to granting discharge to the institutions concerned. Following the rejection of the SWIFT agreement in February, a new negotiating mandate has now been proposed and will be debated in Parliament, along with similar draft agreements to share air passenger data with the United States. In both cases, Parliament has expressed concerns over security of personal data

European Parliament week ahead document and the agenda of the session
ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

Strasbourg Plenary Session, February 2010

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:54:00 +0100

A draft agenda of the session is available here
ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

The main item for Parliament this week in Strasbourg is approval of the new college of commissioners. The ALDE group will be voting in favour. 8 of the 27 commissioners are Liberals and in key economic portfolios. A new agreement with parliament will also be approved which strengthens parliamentary accountability of the Exectuve in a number of areas including trade negotiations, legislative initiatives and impact assessments on draft legislation.

Parliament is also set to defend the privacy of millions of Europeans utilising international bank transfers by rejecting an interim agreement with the United States for lack of clarity and transparency on the use and nature of the data collected.

MEPs will also be setting out their priorities for a common European position regarding the forthcoming UN conference in March on endangered species and whether to apply a ban to fishing of Atlantic tuna in order to preserve stocks from extinction.

Finally an assessment will be made of the state of negotiations of Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey to join the European Union.

An informal summit in Brussels of Heads of State on Thursday 11th February will also attract some comment as it will attempt to address the Community's response to the economic crisis, the humaniarian disaster in Haiti and the failed climate change talks in December.

Strasbourg Plenary Session January 2010

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:00:00 +0100

Parliament will hold the last 4 of the hearings with commissioners designate early this week and then prepare the overal assessment of the proposed new College of commissioners by Thursday.

Jos� Luis Rodriquez Zapatero is due in Strasbourg on Wednesday to outline the priorities of the Spanish presidency. Otherwise MEPs focus will be on assessing what steps to take on climate change following the failure of the Copenhagen conference and calling on Council to respond to its demands for more information on personal data transfers to the United States via SWIFT.

Parliament will also be holding a debate with the European Commission over relief efforts to Haiti and whether the EU is doing enough.

Draft agenda is available here
The ALDE Plenary session priorities (The Week Ahead)
ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

Strasbourg Plenary Session December 2009

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:38:00 +0100

Next week MEPs will be meeting in Strasbourg whilst world leaders are in Copenhagen to try to finalise agreement on a binding deal to limit global warming. Climate change will be one of the main items for debate on the Wednesday in assessing the results of the European Council in Brussels, along with a strategy for economic recovery and a new programme of action in the area of justice and home affairs.

Parliament will also vote on the final stage of the amounts for next year's budget (approx. �140bn in commitments) for the European Union, debate the issue of Afghanistan and need for a more coherent EU strategy as well as the effectiveness and legality of restrictive measures against suspected terrorists and ministers from third country pariah states.

The annual Sakharov prize will also be awarded for activity in defence of human rights and freedom of thought to representatives of 'Memorial' and other human rights groups in Russia.

Agenda of the session
ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

ALDE Press Conferences: - Watch them live here

Tuesday 15th December
10.40-11.00 Guy Verhofstadt, leader's briefing. The new Commission and strategic political priorities for the next five years.

Wednesday 16th December
10.00-10.30 ALDE climate change team. Progress report from Copenhagen.
14.30-15.00 Pino Arlacchi (EP rapporteur) A new EU strategy for Afghanistan

Strasbourg Plenary Session November II 2009

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:35:00 +0100

This week in Strasbourg Parliament will be looking ahead to the Copenhagen Summit next month and the chances of a global political agreement to fight climate change as well as preparing for the final summit under the Swedish Presidency on the 10/11 December. The EP will also assess Swedish proposals for continuing the work in the area of justice and home affairs (Stockholm programme) and the accession prospects of the Western Balkans countries, Iceland and Turkey . In the area of transport Parliament will be demanding legal protection and compensation for airline passengers in the event of bankruptcy as well as improved safety on the Communities railway network following recent high profile accidents. The safety of EU maritime traffic in the Gulf of Aden will also come under scrutiny as a result of the continued threat from Somali pirates.

Agenda of the session
ALDE Priorites for the plenary session (The week ahead)
ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

Mini-Plenary Session - November I 2009, Brussels

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:27:00 +0100

The plenary session in Brussels this week will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall and the changes in Europe since then. Vaclav Havel former Czech President will be present in Parliament for this event. Following the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, attributions of the President of the European Council and the High representative will be under the spotlight with a Commission statement and Council report. The Parliament will also take a look at the European Ombudsman's work with the adoption of a report on his activities in 2008 and hear statements from the Council and Commmission on the EU Russian Summit next week

ALDE news, videos, adopted documents will appear here during the session. Please come back later.

- Draft agenda of the session is available
- ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group

Strasbourg Plenary Session October II 2009

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:00:00 +0200

MEPs will debate a broad range of issues this week from the Schengen and Visa Information systems to the Budget 2010. The vote on the resolution on freedom of information in Italy will highlight the falling standards of media pluralism in the EU. MEPs will also prepare for the next European Council meeting, discuss the structure of the planned European external action service and for the first time take part in a new question time slot with the President of the Commission."

- Draft agenda of the session
- ALL video speeches of the session by ALDE Group

Mini-Plenary Session - October I 2009, Brussels

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:30:00 +0200

The plenary session in Brussels this week will be dominated by two debates. The first will focus on the Irish referendum last weekend and the renewed momentum it has given to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Liberals and Democrats have also requested a debate on press freedom in Italy and the lack of media pluralism as the Prime Minister and his family owns or controls much of the national media. The EPP contest this and are opposing the debate. The transport committee has also brought the subject of compensation to airline passengers in the event of company insolvency to the plenary agenda. - Draft agenda is available here
- ALDE Plenary Priorities
- ALL video speeches of the session by ALDE Group

Strasbourg Plenary Session September 2009

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:43:00 +0200

The main item on next weeks Plenary agenda is the vote on President Barroso for a second term. Other items of business of key concern to ALDE members include negotiations on a new data transfer agreement with the US and a statement on General Motors manufacturing plants across Europe. Parliament will also seek clarification from the Commission on its strategy for a fairer deal for EU dairy producers.

- Draft agenda of the plenary session is available here.

- ALL video speeches of the session by the ALDE Group here

Strasbourg Plenary Session July 2009

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:21:00 +0200

1st plenary session for the new European Parliament will take place on July 14-16 in Strasbourg. MEPs will first have to elect a new President of the House and 14 Vice Presidents as well as begin the process of establishing the membership and leadership of their parliamentary committees.

Final draft agenda

Strasbourg Plenary Session, May 2009

Mon, 04 May 2009 16:55:00 +0200

Parliament's last plenary session before MEPs leave for election campaigning will be very busy. On major legislation, EP will be signing off its agreement on the telecoms package introducing new rules for regulating the market in telephony in Europe in the digital age whilst protecting and strengthening consumer rights. ALDE is anxious in particular to uphold citizen's access to the internet and protection of private data.

Parliament will also be approving another element in the EU response to the financial crisis by insisting on additional capital adequacy requirements for banks, in particular that they should retain part of their debt securities in transactions with clients as a signal of confidence in their products.

Parliament is also due to confirm a ban on seal products being sold in the EU although an exemption is allowed for indigenous communities in the North pole. ALDE will also be backing opposition to Commission proposals to amend the familiar A to G coding on 'white' consumer goods indicating their energy efficiency. Although products may on the whole be less energy consuming than in 1994 when the doirective was introduced, the simple comparison is a well-known consumer tool for choosing between products.

Finally, whilst not prejudging the outcome of a second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, a number of non-legislative reports examine various implications of the new Treaty on foreign policy, citizens involvement and the inter-institutional power balance.

Following an ALDE group demand, the European Commission will update Parliament on action to combat the growing swine flu virus and EU cooperation to stop it spreading.

Two parliamentary reports will address animal welfare. One will lay down conditions for scientific experiments on animals under whch Liberals and Democrats support tough conditions and a more restrictive use of animals excluding some primates and vertebrates who can feel pain. A separate proposal aims to set standards for animal slaughter. ALDE supports the Commission insistence on all livestock being stunned before killing, but suggests that ritual killing under religious rites shoudl be decided at Member State level.

ALDE Plenary Priorities (The Week Ahead)
Agenda of the session
ALL video speeches of the session by ALDE Group