EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Strasbourg, 21 May 2013
CONFERENCE OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Meeting of 21 May 2013, Strasbourg
Minutes
The meeting opened at 14.00 with Mr LEHNE in the chair.
1. Adoption of draft agenda
The Conference of Committee Chairs adopted the draft agenda (PE 506.433.rev) without
modifications.
2 Approval of the minutes of the meeting on 12 March 2013 (PE 503.451)
The Conference of Committee Chairs approved the minutes without modifications.
3. Adoption of a recommendation concerning the agenda for the June 2013 part-session
(Monday 10 to Thursday 13 June)
The Conference of Committee Chairs took note of the following documents:
- The list of reports and the list of oral questions that the committees wish to have entered on
the agenda of the June part-session;
- A draft letter on Delegated and Implementing Acts - screening of current files in view of
the June plenary.
Ms BERÈS, Chair of the EMPL Committee, required the inclusion in the June part-session
agenda of the Costello report on the "Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived" 2012/0295(COD): as the committee failed to reach the absolute majority required for the
negotiation mandate, it intends to ask Plenary to suspend the vote on the legislative resolution,
after the vote of the amendments, in order to start negotiations on the basis of the Plenary
position.
Having taken into account the above addition, the Conference of Committee Chairs approved
the list of reports and oral questions that the committees wished to place on the June session
agenda (Monday 10 to Thursday 13 June 2013) and invited its CHAIR to submit the
recommendation to the Conference of Presidents.
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4. Adoption of a recommendation concerning requests for authorisation to draw up owninitiative reports
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following documents:
- A letter of 07.05.2013 from Mr BROK, Chair of the AFET Committee;
- Two co-signed letters of 18.04.2013 and 07.05.2013 from Mr BROK, Chair of the AFET
Committee and Mr DANJEAN, Chair of the SEDE Subcommittee;
- Two letters of 23.04.2013 and 02.05.2013 from Ms JOLY, Chair of the DEVE Committee;
- Four letters of 26.04.2013, 07.05.2013 and 15.05.2013 from Ms BERÈS, Chair of the
EMPL Committee;
- Two letters of 10.04.2013 and 21.05.2013 from Mr GROOTE, Chair of the ENVI
Committee;
- A letter of 14.05.2013 from Ms HÜBNER, Chair of the REGI Committee;
- A letter of 02.05.2013 from Mr MATO ADROVER, Chair of the PECH Committee;
- Four letters of 12.04.2013, 17.04.2013 and 15.05.2013 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the
JURI Committee;
- A letter of 16.04.2013 from Mr LOPEZ AGUILAR, Chair of the LIBE Committee;
- Two letters of 26.03.2013 and 21.05.2013 from Mr GUSTAFSSON, Chair of the FEMM
Committee;
- A letter of 16.05.2013 from Ms BOWLES, Chair of the ECON Committee;
- A letter of 15.05.2013 from Mr HARBOUR, Chair of the IMCO Committee;
- The list of INI requests.
The Conference of Committee Chairs approved the list of requests with the following
exceptions that were removed from the list:
a request from the AFET Committee on behalf of the SEDE Subcommittee concerning
a report entitled "The European Defence Technological and Industrial Base" on which the
ITRE Committee has requested the application of Rule 50;
a request from the DEVE Committee concerning a report entitled "Promoting
development through responsible business practices, including the role of extractive industries
in developing countries" on which the JURI Committee has contested the competence;
a request from the EMPL Committee concerning a report entitled "Financial
participation of employees in companies' proceeds" on which the ECON Committee has
requested the application of Rule 50;
a request from the REGI Committee concerning a report entitled "The smart energy
grids: an economic factor of local and regional development" on which the ITRE Committee
has requested the application of Rule 50;
a request from the PECH Committee concerning a report entitled "Specific actions in
the Common Fisheries Policy for developing the role of women" on which the FEMM
Committee has requested the application of Rule 51;
Upon the proposal of its CHAIR, the Conference of Committee Chairs set the deadline of 10
June 2013 for the relevant committees to find an agreement on the own-initiative reports listed
above, where a conflict of competence or a request for Rule 50 or 51 had been raised. The
Conference of Committee Chairs also mandated its CHAIR to make a recommendation to the
Conference of Presidents, based on Annex VII of the Rules of Procedure, in case the
committees involved fail to find an agreement by 10 June 2013.
The Conference of Committee Chairs thereafter heard Mr GROOTE, Chair of the ENVI
Committee, proposing to change the title of the own-initiative report requested by the DEVE
Committee entitled "The EU approach to resilience and disaster risk reduction: learning from
food security crises". The DEVE Committee agreed to modify the title of the own-initiative
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report in question, so as to read "The EU approach to resilience and disaster risk reduction in
developing countries: learning from food security crises", and the modified DEVE request was
thus put back on the list.
The Conference of Committee Chairs also heard Ms BERÈS, Chair of the EMPL Committee,
suggesting to introduce an alert system for urgent requests of own-initiative reports that would
give all committees interested in providing opinions to that own-initiative report enough time
to do it. It subsequently heard Mr HARBOUR, Chair of the IMCO Committee, inform of his
committee's intention not to request the application of Rule 50 from the AFET Committee on
defence procurement issues, but to submit an opinion under Rule 49. Finally, the Conference of
Committee Chairs heard Mr MATO ADROVER, Chair of the PECH Committee, object to the
Rule 51 request submitted by the FEMM Committee.
The Conference of Committee Chairs approved the list of requests and instructed its CHAIR to
forward it to the Conference of Presidents for notification and, where applicable, for final
authorisation.
5. Chair's announcements
5.1 - Deadline to adopt INIs: clarification of the decision of the Conference of Presidents
The CHAIR informed about the reply from President SCHULZ to his letter about the
arrangements for own-initiative reports at committee stage towards the end of this
parliamentary term. More precisely, at the meeting of the Conference of Presidents on 11 April
2013, the Group Chairs agreed on the proposal that all ongoing procedures for which the
committees had not adopted those own-initiative reports within six months of their
authorisation, should be deemed to have lapsed by 1 June 2013. The Group Chairs also recalled
that towards the end of the legislature, requests for authorisation to draw up INI reports must be
submitted no later than July of the year preceding the elections; and they decided to return to
the question of the reinstatement of a general six-month deadline for adoption of INIs in
committee at a subsequent meeting, in the context of a possible further review of arrangements
for own-initiative reports ahead of the next legislature.
In response to a number of requests for derogation from the decision taken by the Conference
of Presidents, submitted by several Committee Chairs, the CHAIR proposed a horizontal
approach whereby an extension until the summer recess could be granted for all ongoing
procedures affected by the relevant decision of the Conference of Presidents. Upon his proposal
the Conference of Committee Chairs agreed to that horizontal approach and mandated the
CHAIR to write a letter on this matter to the President.
5.2 Hearing of the Croatian Commissioner designate
The CHAIR informed that the Conference of Presidents decided last Thursday on the format
and calendar of the hearing. He indicated that, following the formal consultation by Council
and the confirmation by Commission President Barroso of the Consumer Policy portfolio on 2
May 2013, the hearing of the Croatian Commissioner-designate, Mr Neven MIMICA, would
take place on Tuesday 4 June (9.30 - 12.30), followed by the evaluation meeting in the
afternoon. The hearing would be organised by the IMCO committee, with the ENVI committee
associated. The CHAIR further informed that on Wednesday 5 June (probably at 8h30), the
CCC would meet in order to take stock of the committees' findings, and on Thursday 6 June,
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the Conference of Presidents could decide to declare the hearing closed. This would then allow
the EP to vote during the June part-session.
5.3 - Committee hearings: individual requests to the Bureau to changes to the 2013 annual
programme
The CHAIR reminded the Chairs that the Committees should make individual requests directly
to the President (and put the Secretariat in copy) in case they needed to adjust themselves to the
dates of their planned hearings for the second half of 2013, due to changes to the 2013 calendar
of Parliamentary activities.
5.4 - Interpretation of articles 156 and 161 of Rules of Procedure: Oral amendments
The CHAIR informed about the AFCO interpretation of Rules 156 and 161 of Rules of
Procedure on oral amendments (i.e. nature, admissibility, voting order of oral amendments),
drew the attention to the letter in the file and stressed that the AFCO interpretation was
announced in the plenary on Monday and in the absence of any contestation it had been tacitly
adopted and applied as of that moment.
5.5 - Implementation of the EP resolution on an EU approach to criminal law
The CHAIR recalled the CCC discussion in March on the implementation of the EP resolution
on an EU approach to criminal law and informed that he discussed the matter with Mr LOPEZ
AGUILAR and they agreed to setting up a CCC Working group on EU legislation on criminal
law.
As agreed with Mr LOPEZ AGUILAR, the CHAIR proposed that the CCC Working Group,
composed of the Chairs of the LIBE, ECON, CONT, ENVI, AFCO and JURI committees,
would be open to other committee Chairs. It could meet for the first time on Wednesday, 3 July
and would reflect on how to organise best the legal and scientific support when the EP was
dealing with legislative proposals introducing criminal sanctions.
6. Conference of Committee Chairs Away day: adoption of CCC recommendation
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following document:
- Draft recommendations.
The Chair thanked all Chairs for their contributions and for the quality of the discussions, in
particular the chairs who drafted the papers discussed during the Away day. He recalled that,
as agreed at the CCC April meeting, a revised document had been prepared and circulated in
order to give the possibility to the Chairs to make amendments/suggestions aimed at ensuring
that all those points which had been discussed at the Away day, but were missing (or
incomplete) in the first draft final document, were incorporated. He thanked the Chairs for their
comments.
He further recalled the aim of the Away day, i.e. to have an open and frank discussion among
committee chairs "as such", and share their personal experience and expertise as committee
chairs and stated that the final text which can be considered as extensive minutes ("qualified
minutes") should serve as "rough" material to launch and stimulate reflection/discussions at the
level of the Conference of Presidents.
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The CHAIR proposed to adopt the revised draft text with the aim of its transmission to the
Conference of Presidents together with all received contributions in an annex, as it was agreed
at the previous CCC meeting.
The following Chairs took the floor: Mr SIMPSON, Chair of the TRAN Committee; Mr
LOPEZ AGUILAR, Chair of the LIBE Committee; Mr GUSTAFSSON, Chair of the FEMM
Committee; Mr BROK, Chair of the AFET Committee; Ms PACK, Chair of the CULT
Committee; Ms BERÈS, Chair of the EMPL Committee; Mr GROOTE, Chair of the ENVI
Committee; Ms BOWLES, Chair of the ECON Committee; Mr HARBOUR, Chair of the
IMCO Committee; Mr CASINI, Chair of the AFCO Committee, Ms HŰBNER, Chair of the
REGI Committee and Mr LEHNE, the CHAIR.
Mr SIMPSON, Chair of the TRAN Committee, confirmed his personal preference for abolition
of Rule 50, his disagreement with any alignment of committees' competences with
Commissioners portfolios, and, regarding delegations, suggested having a Bureau on
delegations that would bring in members with expertise in the area. Mr LOPEZ AGUILAR,
Chair of the LIBE Committee, recalled the difficulties of dealing with conflicts of competence
and expressed disagreement with any alignment of competence of committees with those of
commissioners. Mr GUSTAFSSON, Chair of the FEMM Committee, stressed the need to take
the necessary time on these important issues and expressed reserve regarding the status of the
document. Mr BROK, Chair of the AFET Committee, while apologizing for not having been
able to participate in the Away day, proposed to reflect in the document that committees were
also involved with scrutiny, and not only legislation. Ms PACK, Chair of the CULT
Committee, expressed her satisfaction with the document - as well as with the procedure,
adding that it correctly represents what had been discussed during the Away day.
She recalled the informal nature of the Away day meeting and stressed that it was a wonderful
opportunity to share difficulties/problems which committees encountered during the last years,
and to make proposals on how to improve the working method. Ms BERÈS, Chair of the
EMPL Committee expressed disagreement with the part on committees' competence (alignment
with commissioners' portfolios), and suggested that the document should be formally voted by
the CCC.
Ms JOLY, Chair of the DEVE Committee, expressed her discontent with the procedure which,
in her view, should not lead to a CCC recommendation. Mr GROOTE, Chair of the ENVI
Committee, pointed to the heading of the draft final document making a reference to the Rule
27 of the Rules of procedure. Ms BOWLES, Chair of the ECON Committee, asked that a
reference to the banking resolution should be added to the document, as presented at the Away
day. Mr HARBOUR, Chair of the IMCO Committee, suggested to submit the document as
soon as possible to the Conference of Presidents as a set of "ideas and suggestions" and to
invite the President or, ideally the entire Conference of Presidents, to discuss the issues raised.
Mr CASINI, Chair of the AFCO Committee, stressed that the Away day was very useful and
underlined that the document contained very valuable suggestions. He pointed out that, of
course, the CCC cannot decide and that AFCO would consider many items raised for future
decisions. Ms HŰBNER, Chair of the REGI Committee, expressed her surprise at some
remarks, regretted that the CCC was not in the position to produce a fully fledged
recommendation and suggested, that after summer, the document be converged into a real
recommendation on parliament's working method.
In response to the concerns raised by some committee chairs, the CHAIR recalled that the
Conference of Committee Chairs could not hold a vote, but could only take decisions by
consensus. He added that all points that were discussed at the Away day and gathered a general
consensus (even though not unanimity) should be reflected in the final document and that,
however, all other contributions and comments will be annexed to the document.
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The Chair also evoked in detail all the steps of the procedure, namely that the discussions at the
Away day were based on the papers prepared by the seven chairs/rapporteurs; that the final
document contained those proposals where a general consensus emerged from the discussions;
that committee chairs were given time to send their contributions to the draft document; that
the deadline was prolonged twice; that all the points discussed at the Away day which were
missing were incorporated in the revised document and that all other received contributions
would be attached to the final document and submitted to the Conference of Presidents.
With regard to the issues raised by some committee chairs, the CHAIR proposed to delete the
second paragraph of the draft final document containing a reference to Rule 27 of RoP, to
stress that on some issues the views differed and to make it clear that the report from the CCC
Away day only provided elements for reflection. The Conference of Committee Chairs agreed
on the proposal.
7. Multiannual financial framework and related legislative proposals - State of play
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following documents:
- Two letters of 26.04.2013 from Ms BERÈS, Chair of the EMPL Committee:
- A letter of 24.04.2013 from Ms HÜBNER, Chair of the REGI Committee;
- A European Parliament Press Release of 07.05.2013 on "2013 Annual budget paves way to
start long-term budget negotiations";
- A Council Press Release of 14.05.2013 on "Council agrees additional funds to 2013
budget"
- Post 2013 EU Programmes and Instruments - Current stage of negotiations;
- A letter of 15.04.2013 from Mr LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Chair of the LIBE Committee.
The Conference of Committee Chairs heard about the latest situation on the MFF and
exchanged views on the status quo on related legislative proposals.
Mr LAMASSOURE briefly presented the state of play on the MFF negotiations, pointing out
that the negotiations entered a new stage: on the one hand, most of the EP committees in charge
of negotiating the regulations, have progressed well in their work. On the other hand, the MFF
negotiation had properly started on 13 May. He informed that a few days before the European
Commission had presented a table for the distributions of the ceilings envisaged by the
European Council amongst all European programs. However, Mr LAMASSOURE insisted on
the fact that this was just a working document, not a legal basis.
Mr LAMASSOURE also noted that the atmosphere in the negotiations was tense. He drew the
attention to the fact that the EU would face difficulties with the lack of payments, engagements
and appropriations for 2013. Mr LAMASSOURE pointed out that, despite the pressure put by
the EP on the Irish Prime Minister, as well as upon ministers for European and economic
affairs, there was a need for a “mini-summit” engaging all the different people involved in
order to try to find solutions. He regretted the essential divergences of views with the Council
about how to deal with payments for 2013 and insisted on the fact that the negotiations on the
MFF were also affected by the negotiations on the draft amending budget for 2013. Finally, he
also noted the financial problems for the current year in Cohesion Funds, research framework,
and lifelong learning, inter alia.
Referring to the table proposed by the European Commission, Mr LAMASSOURE remarked
that there would be a need to choose between the different headings and ceilings. He also
commented that the Budget Committee only negotiated the overall amount (the ceiling), but
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that the other committees had to negotiate the details for each area, meaning that there were
different committees involved in the same headings.
He also announced that on 29 May Mr Janusz LEWANDOWSKI, Commissioner for Financial
Programming and Budget, would present his annual budget proposal for 2014, and suggested to
ask him to explain the way he drew the table proposed by the Commission. Mr
LAMASSOURE also suggested that the Budget Committee would invite the relevant
rapporteurs to take part in its meeting, and informed the Conference of Committee Chairs that
he would write a new letter providing information and asking the Chairs to provide further
clarifications regarding their opinion on the way ceilings were being allocated and whether or
not they had different proposals to make. In his opinion, this would allow to assess whether
there was a need to balance between committees and to see what the Presidents of the Groups
thought of it. Mr LAMASSOURE was of the opinion that the next stage would be a meeting,
chaired by President Schulz, with the Chairs of the committees concerned in order to have an
exchange of views and a common position from the EP. He also considered that the Conference
of Presidents could help arbitrate among the major different opinions. According to him, this
would be the best way to work, because, in his opinion, the Budget Committee delegation was
not entitled to decide where to allocate the available funds.
Ms Doris PACK, Chair of the CULT Committee, considered that the Budget Committee should
be part of the decision-making process, like in previous years. She particularly regretted that, in
the Year of the Citizenship, the Citizenship Programme amounted to 23% less than in the last
programme period. Ms PACK insisted that this was only a small example and called for the EP
to fight for a better budget. In particular, she was of the opinion that it was the task of the
Conference of Presidents, regretting that they were fully engaged with the dossiers. Finally, Ms
PACK considered that there was a need to fulfil the tasks resulting from the Lifelong Learning
Programme, especially concerning the promises already made in areas such as Education and
Training. She was of the opinion that these programmes needed more money, and called for the
Budget Committee to defend those areas.
Ms Pervenche BERÈS, Chair of the EMPL Committee, was of the opinion that, if the EP
wished to exert an influence on the amounts available, it was a little late to get involved in what
Mr LAMASSOURE suggested, in particular due to the tense atmosphere during the
negotiations. She regretted that the Council had requested to interrupt negotiations on delegated
acts. She also regretted that the Commission was an accomplice, arguing that the Commission
would like to get the money for certain programmes and do as it pleased during the following 7
years. As a final point, Ms BERÈS informed that she sent a letter to the Irish Presidency on 26
April. In its response, the Irish Presidency proposed a technical meeting, a solution that was not
acceptable in her opinion, given the importance of this issue for the EP, as Ms BERÈS
highlighted.
The CHAIR concluded this point and pointed out that there were no formal interinstitutional
contacts concerning implementing and delegated acts and that a solution was not really in sight.
8. Exchange of views with Mr Christian EHLER, Co-chair of the Transatlantic
Legislator's Dialogue Steering Committee (TLD) and Chair of the Delegation for
relations with the United States, on the transatlantic legislators' dialogue ahead of the
Conference in Dublin
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following documents:
- Terms of reference and Composition of the Transatlantic Legislator's Dialogue Steering
Committee (Decision of the Conference of Presidents of September 1999);
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-
The Draft Programme of the 74th EU/US Interparliamentary Meeting and Transatlantic
Legislators' Dialogue Meeting 31 May - 1st June 2013 - Dublin.
The Conference of Committee Chairs held its first exchange of views with Mr Christian
EHLER, Co-chair of the Transatlantic Legislator's Dialogue Steering Committee (TLD) and
Chair of the Delegation for relations with the United States.
In his introductory remarks, the CHAIR welcomed Mr EHLER, noted the strategic nature of
the EU-US partnership and stressed the importance of good awareness among parliamentary
committees and the need for their close involvement/association in the process, in particular
with regard to the upcoming negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP).
In his brief intervention, Mr EHLER informed about the activities of the TLD, its agendas and
debates and, in particular, about the forthcoming EU/US Interparliamentary meeting and TLD
meeting in Dublin (31 May - 1st June). He underlined the importance of close and continuous
involvement of committees in the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue and TTIP by means of
permanent contact points - standing rapporteurs.
The following chairs took the floor during the discussion: Ms BOWLES, Chair of the ECON
Committee; Mr SIMPSON, Chair of the TRAN Committee; Mr. MOREIRA, Chair of the
INTA Committee; Mr De CASTRO, Chair of the AGRI Committee; Mr HARBOUR, Chair of
the IMCO Committee; Ms TOIA, acting Chair of ITRE Committee; Mr LEHNE, the CHAIR
and Mr BROK, Chair of the AFET Committee.
The Committee Chairs underlined that involvement of specialist committees was vital,
expressed their readiness to help shaping the agenda and provide specialist support, and pointed
out that an efficient mechanism for such involvement must be found, for example based on
Rule 49+. Some Chairs raised the issue of complexity of regulatory convergence and
recognition of equivalence and the importance of engaging in consumer dialogue. Mr BROK,
Chair of AFET and Co-Chair of the TLD Steering Committee, underscored the need to look at
legislation, joint standards, engaging in broad cooperation with all standing committees, and
the need for proper contacts with specialist committees and US counterparts.
The CHAIR thanked Mr EHLER and suggested to pursue this dialogue on a regular basis.
9. Exchange of views with Mr Reiner WIELAND, Vice-President of the European
Parliament, on eMeeting
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following document :
- "Paperless program: eMeeting and eCommittee' dated 02.05.2013"
The Conference of Committee Chairs exchanged views with Mr Reiner WIELAND, VicePresident of the EP, on the first experience with eMeeting intranet tool. After opening remarks
the CHAIR gave floor to Mr WIELAND. In a brief presentation, he pointed out that the EP was
preparing itself for changes in the working methods made available by the new technologies,
which, at the same time, involved several challenges in terms of human and financial resources.
In his opinion, transparency is a key concern, but, as he pointed out, MEPs had realised that
transparency had to be used friendly. As an example, he highlighted that 800 written
declarations of explanation of vote were presented in the first year, while in the last year there
were 17 000.
After a short introductory video, Mr WIELAND explained that eMeeting was an application
that made all the documents available in different languages, anywhere, anytime and on all
kinds of devices (tablets, laptops, desktops and smartphones). He highlighted that this was a
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user-friendly and easy access application, available to all, except for the points discussed "in
camera", where a solution was needed in his opinion. This application provided the MEPs with
a complete mobile office to do their parliamentary work, made expertise work more efficient,
required less time and money, particularly for printing, and could also reduce the number of
emails.
Mr WIELAND also admitted one shortcoming: the question of the e-signature. He considered
that, in the future, it could be possible to sign amendments, for instance, but it would depend on
the security standards chosen and the policy of every office.
He further informed that DG ITEC was in the process of identifying the way they could involve
MEPs in the use of tablets, which was not a simple issue in his opinion. He highlighted that
these devices costed money and there was a need to promote the culture of “bring your own
device”. He also pointed out that there would be a need to consider changing the policy on
whether the EP should replace desktops with mobile devices or not, a possible change that
would require further discussion at the working group and also in the Bureau.
Finally, Mr WIELAND pointed out that there was a common positive experience in the
ongoing testing period within several committees, such as ENVI and CONT. Nevertheless, he
regretted that only a small number of MEPs were properly involved. He also informed that
during the current year the tool would be available for other committees and that in 2014 there
would be a “Big Bang” to cover all the standing committees at the beginning of the new
parliamentary term. As his final comment, he pointed out that the task now is to manage the
transition period; that is, to decide on a policy to provide these devices to the MEPs and staff,
make a code of procedure to see if changes were needed in some areas, and provide specific
solutions for specific situations, while investing in training and demonstrations at the same
time.
Ms TOIA, acting Chair of the ITRE Committee, shared a positive opinion on the new
instruments, but had questions on some technical aspects. In particular, she inquired about the
way in which all these kinds of open platforms and open source software could tie together and
the actions planned by the EP in that respect.
Mr GROOTE, Chair of the ENVI Committee, commented that the EP was insufficiently
equipped. He particularly pointed out that, in his region, all local authorities were completely
paperless, and that the ENVI committee was using 70% less paper. He welcomed the work
done so far, but he insisted on the need for a better web application, easier to use, at the same
time he called for the “Big Bang” to come as quickly as possible. Finally, he was also of the
opinion that open sources should be used as much as possible.
Mr WIELAND responded that the EP had about 50% open systems, and it seemed that
members were using them. Nevertheless, he pointed out that there were points where security
was very important and that the EP could not grant access to anyone, so he called for
preserving a certain control.
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DECISIONS WITHOUT DEBATE
10. Draft planned committee activities with National Parliaments in the second semester
of 2013
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following document:
- A draft list of Planned Committee Activities with National Parliaments in the 2nd
Semester of 2013.
The Conference of Committee Chairs, without debate, endorsed the list of Planned Committee
Activities with National Parliaments in the 2nd Semester of 2013. The Conference mandated
the Chair to forward the endorsed list to Vice Presidents Othmar KARAS and Miguel Angel
MARTINEZ MARTINEZ, with a view to their submission of the list to the Bureau.
11. Application of Rule 50: 'Procedure with associated committees' - Legislative matters
11.1 IMCO/Libe: High common level of network and information security across the Union
(2013/0027(COD)) COM(2013)0048
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following document:
- A letter of 04.03.2013 from Mr LOPEZ AGUILAR, Chair of the LIBE Committee.
The Conference of Committee Chairs decided without debate, in view of the need for an urgent
solution, to charge its CHAIR to make a recommendation to the Conference of Presidents,
based on Annex VII of Rules of Procedure, jointly with the recommendation to be submitted
under point 15.1 (contestation of competence by the ITRE Committee).
12. Application of Rule 50: 'Procedure with associated committees' - Non-Legislative
matters
12.1 AFET/Deve: The EU comprehensive approach and its implications for the coherence of
EU external action
The Conference of Committee Chairs decided without debate to:
•
urge the two committee Chairs to meet and try to find an agreement, with the assistance
of the CCC Chair if necessary;
•
set a deadline of 31 May 2013 by which an agreement should be reached;
•
(should no agreement be reached by that date) ask its Chair to make a recommendation
to the Conference of Presidents, based on Annex VII of Rules of Procedure.
13. Application of Rule 51: 'Procedure with joint committee meetings' - Legislative
Matters
None.
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14. Application of Rule 51: 'Procedure with joint committee meetings' - Non-Legislative
Matters
None.
15. Conflicts of competence - Non-Legislative matters
15.1 IMCO/Itre: High common level of network and information security across the Union
2013/0027(COD) COM(2013)0048
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following documents:
- Four letters of 22.02.2013, 15.03.2013, 18.04.2013 and 14.05.2013 from Mrs SARTORI,
Chair of the ITRE Committee;
- Two letters of 06.03.2013 and 29.04.2013 from Mr HARBOUR, Chair of the IMCO
Committee.
The Conference of Committee Chairs decided without debate, in view of the need for an urgent
solution, to charge its Chair to make a recommendation to the Conference of Presidents, based
on Annex VII of Rules of Procedure, jointly with the recommendation to be submitted under
point 11.1 (Rule 50 request by the LIBE Committee).
15.2 TRAN/Envi: Maritime spatial
2013/0074(COD) COM(2013)0133
planning
and
integrated
coastal
management
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following document:
- A letter of 8.5.2013 from Mr GROOTE, Chair of the ENVI Committee;
The Conference of Committee Chairs decided without debate to:
•
urge the two committee Chairs to meet and try to find an agreement, with the assistance
of the CCC Chair if necessary;
•
set a deadline of 31 May 2013 by which an agreement should be reached;
•
(should no agreement be reached by that date) ask its Chair to make a recommendation
to the Conference of Presidents, based on Annex VII of Rules of Procedure.
16. Conflicts of competence - Non-Legislative Matters
16.1 AFET/Inta: The EU comprehensive approach and its implications for the coherence of
EU external action
16.2 AFET/Inta: Saudi Arabia, its relations with the EU and its role in the Middle East and
North Africa
16.3 AFET/Inta: The future of EU-ASEAN relations
16.4 AFET/Inta: Assessing and setting priorities for EU relations with the Eastern partnership
countries
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The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following documents:
- Two letters of 16.04.2013 and 21.05.2013 from Mr MOREIRA, Chair of the INTA
Committee;
- A letter of 06.05.2013 from Mr BROK, Chair of the AFET Committee.
The Conference of Committee Chairs decided without debate to charge its Chair to make a
recommendation to the Conference of Presidents, based on Annex VII of Rules of Procedure,
should an agreement be unlikely to find.
17. Taking note of agreements reached and recommendations on the application of Rule
50/51 and conflicts of competence
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following documents:
- A table on the open requests concerning Rule 50, 51 and conflicts;
- A letter of 17.04.2013 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the JURI Committee;
- A co-signed letter of 23.04.2013 from Ms HÜBNER, Chair of the REGI Committee, and
Ms BOWLES, Chair of the ECON Committee;
- A co-signed letter of 14.05.2013 from Ms BOWLES, Chair of the ECON Committee, and
Mr SIMPSON, Chair of the TRAN Committee.
The Conference of Committee Chairs, without debate:
took note of the table concerning ongoing negotiations between committees;
took note of the withdrawal of objections by the JURI Committee to the own-initiative
report requested by the CONT Committee, entitled "The cost-effectiveness of staff
training in the European Commission";
took note of the withdrawal of Rule 50 request by the TRAN Committee to the
legislative report of the ECON Committee (2012/0344(NLE) - "Amendment of Regulation
(EC) No 994/98 on the application of Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty establishing the EC
to certain categories of horizontal State aid and Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 on public
passenger transport services by rail and by road)";
took note of the agreement reached for the application of Rule 50 between committees
REGI and ECON on the own-initiative report entitled "Regional policy as a part of wider
State support schemes";
charged its Chair to forward the agreement to the Conference of Presidents for final
authorisation.
18. Urgent matters and any other business
None
19. Documents for information
19.1 - Information report on ongoing negotiations in ordinary legislative procedures
The Conference of Committee Chairs took note of a draft letter and a table on
codecision/ordinary legislative procedure files currently under negotiation in view of early
agreement.
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19.2- State of play of reasoned opinions
The Conference of Committee Chairs took note of the state of play on reasoned opinions and
contributions submitted by National Parliaments.
19.3 - Early non-objection to delegated acts and/or early non-opposition to draft comitology
measures (RPS)
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted the following documents:
- A letter of 16.05.2013 from Mr BORG, Commissioner to Mr GROOTE, Chair of the
ENVI Committee on "Regulation (EU) n. 142/2011 as regards the transit of certain
animal by products from Bosnia and Herzegovina";
- A letter of 21.05.2013 from Mr GROOTE, Chair of the ENVI Committee to Mr LEHNE,
Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs.
19.4 - Overview of work on Impact Assessment and European Added Value
The Conference of Committee Chairs took note of the overview of work in progress.
19.5 - Overview of work of Policy Departments
The Conference of Committee Chairs took note of the overview of work in progress.
19.6 - Other documents for information
The Conference of Committee Chairs took note of the following documents:
- A letter of 14.05.2013 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs on
the hearing of the Croatian Commissioner-designate, Mr Neven MINICA;
- A letter of 13.05.2013 from Mr HARBOUR, Chair of the IMCO Committee on the hearing
of the Croatian Commissioner designate, Mr Neven MINICA;
- A letter of 06.05.2013 from President Schultz concerning arrangements for own-initiative
reports at committee stage towards the end of this parliamentary term;
- A letter of 13.03.2013 from Mr LEHNE, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs on
Delegated and Implementing Acts - Informal contacts with the Commission and the
Council;
- A letter of 24.04.2013 from Mr CASINI, Chair of the AFCO Committee on Interpretation
of articles 156 and 161 of Rules of Procedure: Oral amendments.
On Intranet:
- A letter of 24.04.2013 from Ms BERÈS, Chair of the EMPL Committee on a report of a
delegation visit to Dublin on 11-12 February 2013;
- A letter of 24.04.2013 from Ms BERÈS, Chair of the EMPL Committee, on a report of a
delegation visit to Frankfurt and Berlin on 13-15 February 2013;
- A letter of 25.04.2013 from Mr SIMPSON, Chair of the TRAN Committee, on a report of
a delegation visit to Washington and New York on 11-14 February 2013;
- A letter of 26.04.2013 from Ms GUSTAFSSON, Chair of the FEMM Committee on a
report of a delegation visit to the UN Commission on the Status of Women 57th Session,
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New York 46 March 2013.
20. Date and place of next meeting
The Conference of Committee Chairs noted that its next ordinary meeting would take place on
Tuesday 11 June in Strasbourg.
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RECORD OF ATTENDANCE
ANNEX
COMMITTEE
I
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Mr Elmar BROK
II
Committee on Development
Ms Eva JOLY
III
Committee on International Trade
Mr Vital MOREIRA
IV
Committee on Budgets
Mr Alain LAMASSOURE
V
Committee on Budgetary Control
Mr Michael THEURER
VI
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Ms Sharon BOWLES
VII
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Ms Pervenche BERÈS
VIII
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food
Safety
Mr Matthias GROOTE
IX
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Ms Patrizia TOIA, acting
X
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer
Protection
Mr Malcolm HARBOUR
XI
Committee on Transport and Tourism
Mr Brian SIMPSON
XII
Committee on Regional Development
Ms Danuta Maria HÜBNER
XIII
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Mr Paolo DE CASTRO
XIV
Committee on Fisheries
Mr Gabriel MATO ADROVER
XV
Committee on Culture and Education
Ms Doris PACK
XVI
Committee on Legal Affairs
Mr Klaus-Heiner LEHNE
XVII
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Mr Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR
XVIII
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Mr Carlo CASINI
XIX
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
Mr Mikael GUSTAFSSON
XX
Committee on Petitions
-------------
Subcommittee on Human Rights
Ms Barbara LOCHBIHLER
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Mr Krzysztof LISEK, acting
Special Committee on Organised crime, corruption and
money laundering
Ms Sonia ALFANO
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