Strasbourg Flash September 2009

The highlight of next week's European Parliament plenary week is the scheduled vote on Barroso's second term on Wednesday, 16 September. On Monday, however, the Greens will call for a vote on the agenda to postpone this decision to after the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Whatever the outcome in Ireland, waiting these few weeks will ensure that the Commission President and other Commissioners are nominated under the same treaty: Lisbon in the case of a Yes vote, Nice if the vote is against. It is a legal requirement to nominate the President and 'college' of Commissioners under one treaty, according to the EU institutions' own legal services. 

Tuesday, 10.00-10.30 is the new regular time for the Strasbourg briefing with Greens/EFA Co-Presidents Rebecca Harms and Daniel Cohn-Bendit. 

Monday, 14 September 

17.00 Greens/EFA request to postpone the vote on the nomination of the next EU Commission President 

Commission declaration on forest fires 

Oral question: Consequences of the economic crisis in developing countries
Developing countries are not at fault for the crisis and are disproportionately affected by it. The EP development committee, chaired by Greens/EFA MEP Eva Joly, is following the issue closely.  

Tuesday, 15 September 10.00-10.30 Briefing with Greens/EFA Co-Presidents Rebecca Harms and Dany Cohn-Bendit, Press briefing room, LOW N-1/201 
Council and Commission statements on the upcoming G20 summit in PittsburghCouncil statement on SWIFT
In July, the Greens criticised EU Commission moves to bypass the European Parliament and seal a deal with the US on transfer of bank information. Deep concerns remain on data protection.  

Declaration of the nominee for a further term as EU Commission President, José Manuel Barroso 

Wednesday, 16 September 

Council and Commission statements on the new visa regime in the Western Balkans
The Greens deplore the move to exclude Bosnia-Herzegovina from planned visa liberalisation. Through dual nationality, Bosnian Croats already benefit from visa-free travel to the EU - and Bosnian Serbs would gain the same rights - leaving the Muslim population isolated and the secession efforts of the Republika Srpska administration strengthened. 

Oral question: Lithuanian law on protection of minorsGreens/EFA and other political groups are speaking out on this proposed homophobic amendment to legislation. 

Thursday, 17 September 

Oral question: Crisis in the dairy farming sector
The Commission is underestimating the milk crisis. The Greens want farmers to be empowered to avoid overproduction in the face of the excessive power of suppliers and supermarkets.