FOCUS 2008 - Events with EPP-ED MEPs Participation

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy visit research centres in Italy From 27 until 29 October a delegation of the parliamentary committee on Industry, Research and Energy will go on a study visit to Frascati, Milan and Ispra in Italy. The EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament is represented by Giles Chichester MEP (United Kingdom), Werner Langen MEP (Germany), Christian Ehler MEP (Germany), Paul Rübig MEP (Austria) and Etelka Barsi-Pataky MEP (Hungary). On Monday 27th, the delegation will visit the Frascati research centre, including the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment (ENEA), the High Energy Physics research centre and the European Space Agency (ESA). On Tuesday a visit to the Scala Ansaldo Laboratories in Milan has been planned. The delegation will conclude its study visit with a tour of the Joint Research Centre in Ispra. For any information: EPP-ED Press Service, Greet Gysen, tel.: + 32-497-028054

European Parliament election observation in Azerbaijan Arpád Duka-Zolyomi MEP (Hungary), Alojz Peterle MEP (Slovenia) and Gabriele Stauner MEP (Germany) will participate in Parliament's delegation travelling to Azerbaijan to observe the presidential elections of 15 October 2008. The delegation, which arrived in Baku on 13 October will hold meetings with candidates and media representatives and then continue on to different parts of the country to monitor the election process.

Hearing on the Mediterranean diet British MEP Neil Parish, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development is hosting a hearing on the Mediterranean diet in the framework of the EU's year of Intercultural dialogue. Experts on nutrition and agriculture will discuss the diet as a guarantee for quality of life, as well as the agrarian ecosystem. When and Where? Monday 13 October, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, Brussels 16.00 – 18.00hrs, PHS 3C50 Programme

President of FIFA in the European Parliament Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, will attend a meeting of the Committee on and Culture and Education on 6 October in the European Parliament in Brussels. Invited by Ivo Belet MEP (EPP-ED, Belgium), author of the report 'The future of professional football in the EU', Mr Blatter will participate in a debate on investing in local talent: the 'home grown' rule versus the '6+5' rule. Following the meeting with MEPs, Sepp Blatter and Ivo Belet will hold a press conference at 16.30-17.00 hrs in the Anna Politkovskaya Room, PHS 0A50. When and Where? Monday 6 October, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, Brussels Debate: 15.00-15.30 hrs, Altiero Spinelli building, Room 5G3 Report on the future of professional football in Europe - Ivo Belet MEP

First EU Roma Summit On 16 September 2008, the European Commission’s first ‘EU Roma Summit’ will take place in Brussels, under the joint patronage of the Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The European Parliament will be represented with Lívia Járóka MEP (EPP-ED, Hungary). The summit aims to promote a firm commitment to tackling concrete problems and to creating a better understanding of the situation of Roma across Europe. It will also help identify policies that work in promoting inclusion and highlighting the plight of Roma communities. The outcome of the discussions will contribute significantly to debates at EU level and to further action. The event will bring together more than 400 representatives of EU institutions, national governments and parliaments, and civil society including Roma organisations, which will meet in the Charlemagne Building, rue de la Loi 170, Brussels. Mrs Járóka will participate in the morning panel ‘Time to Act – Building a Strong Partnership for Roma Inclusion’. More information and Agenda

Terrorism and Europe: Threats and Responses Jana Hybášková MEP (EPP-ED, Czech Republic) is organising a luncheon seminar with participation of Gilles de Kerchove, Counterterrorism Coordinator for the EU, Guy Roberts, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for WMD Policy and Director of Nuclear Policy Planning Directorate for NATO on Tuesday 16 September from 12.30 to 14.00 in the European Parliament Room ASP 5G2. The meeting will be opened by Daniel S. Mariaschin, Executive Vice President, B'nai B'rith International and Prof. Yonah Alexander, Director of Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies, Washington D.C. Registration

Jürgen Schröder MEP leads EP mission to Rwanda EPP-ED MEP Jürgen Schröder (Germany) will lead the Election Observation Mission of the European Parliament to Rwanda, scheduled to take place on 15-17 September 2008. MEPs will witness elections in various parts of the country and cooperate with the wider EU election observation mission.

Press Release:

15/09/2008

No election irregularities in Rwanda, so far. Juergen Schroeder MEP

Stop the Scam! Simon Busuttil MEP and the Petitions Committee organised a public workshop in the European Parliament in Brussels entitled "Stop the Scam: Combating misleading business directories" on Thursday 11 September. Many enterprises, often small traders, fall victim to scams operated through misleading advertising. A common scam is whereby victims unwillingly sign up to an insertion into a business directory after having been led to believe that this would be free of charge. As the European Parliament has received more than 400 petitions from small businesses across the EU and even from some third countries, who claim to have fallen victim, a public workshop to discuss this issue was organised by Mr Busuttil on Thursday 11 September at 15.00. Programme and More Information on the Workshop Website Stop European City Guide Invitation (2 MB)

‘Christian Europe’ and Islam in Europe Eija-Riitta Korhola MEP (Finland) will open and chair a conference organised by the Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) on 11 September in the European Parliament.

Food Security The Committee on Agriculture held a public hearing on food security on Wednesday 10 September in the European Parliament. Mairead McGuinness MEP (Ireland), rapporteur of Parliament's report on the Common Agricultural Policy and global food security, and Neil Parish MEP (UK) Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development spoke at the hearing...

Gay Mitchell backs 1 billion euro deal to help alleviate food crisis The European Commission recently proposed a regulation to give one billion euros from surplus funds of the EU farm budget to developing countries, to ease their food and agricultural needs...

Video interview with Gay Mitchell MEP

Tibet and the Olympics The EPP-ED Group is hosting the opening of the photo exhibition "Tibet: Journey on the Olympic Route and Way Forward", organised by the Polish delegation in the EPP-ED Group on Tuesday, July 15th at 18.00 in the European Parliament (ASP building, level 0). A round-table discussion on "Human Rights in Tibet After the Olympics", hosted by Chairman of the Tibet Intergroup, Thomas Mann MEP (Germany) will take place the same day from 16.30 to 17.30 in room A3F383. The round-table debate includes participation of Kelsang Gyaltsen, Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

ECB Monetary Dialogue On Wednesday 25th June, European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet meets the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs for this year's second Monetary Dialogue. This session's topic is: "Safeguarding general support and legitimacy of monetary policy during times of economic distress in a monetary union". Access to the European Parliament's Monetary Dialogue site and briefing papers

Christian Assyrians in Iraq Esther de Lange MEP (EPP-ED, Netherlands) is organising a hearing on the situation of the Assyrian minority in Iraq. The conference is prepared in collaboration with the Assyria Council of Europe. According to figures from UNHCR, more than one million Christian Assyrians are internally displaced persons in Iraq. Others have fled to other countries. Representatives of UNHCR and the European Commission as well as the ambassador of Iraq to the EU, Mr Mohammed Al-Doreky and several MEPs will give their views on the situation. The event takes place on Wednesday 11 June 2008 from 15.00 to 18.30 in the European Parliament.

Victims of Terrorism - Surviving the Aftermath Geoffrey Van Orden MEP (EPP-ED, United Kingdom) is co-organising a conference entitled "Victims of Terrorism - Surviving the Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks" together with the Europe Near East Forum on Wednesday 11 June 2008 from 15.00 to 18.00 in the European Parliament, room ASP 5E3. Representatives of British, French and Israeli organisations for the survivors of terrorist attacks and relatives of the victims will talk at the conference. Invitation (5 MB)

Should the EU talk to Hamas? Jana Hybášková MEP (EPP-ED, Czech Republic) is organising a lunch briefing with Dr. Mark Heller, Director of Research and Principal Research Associate at the Institute for National Security Studies on Wednesday 11 June 2008 from 13.00 to 15.00 in the European Parliament Room ASP 3E2. Dr. Heller has written extensively on Middle Eastern political and strategic issues and has published numerous books, articles in leading newspapers, and made contributions to various publications. Registration

Getting help to stop smoking Gay Mitchell MEP (Ireland) presents a new quit smoking aid on Thursday 5th June in the European Parliament. Nicobloc is the next generation aid to stop smoking, which reduces the amount of tar and nicotine inhaled from smoked cigarettes. The presentation will take place at 14.00 - 15.00 in room ASP 5E3. Invitation

Karl-Heinz Florenz presents climate change report to plenary Karl-Heinz Florenz MEP (Germany) has drawn up Parliament's Temporary Committee on Climate Change's interim report, and presents it to Parliament for adoption in a key debate on Wednesday 21 May. Greenhouse gas emissions have to be reduced by 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 if the rise in global warming is to be limited to two degrees Celsius. People in developing countries are most affected by climate change. CO2 labelling of consumer products could help raise awareness of the need to fight climate change in everyday life. The Temporary Committee on Climate Change has been extended by nine months. The final report is due in Spring 2009.

EPP-ED discusses Justice and Home Affairs Immigration, the protection of external borders, police cooperation and the fight against terrorism were the main subjects of a joint EPP-ED conference with members of the national parliaments on Thursday 15th May. Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) issues, such as the repatriation of illegal immigrants, are playing an increasingly important role in EU policy making. Manfred Weber MEP (Germany), the JHA spokesperson of the EPP-ED Group, welcomed Commissioner Jacques Barrot, Council President Dragutin Mate, the Head of Europol Max-Peter Ratzel, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove and the German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. The conference took place in the European Parliament.

Syria in Transition Jana Hybášková MEP (EPP-ED, (Czech Republic) co-organised a conference 'Syria in Transition' in the European Parliament. The conference considered the current situation in Syria, the National Council of the Damascus Declaration and the Implications for EU Policy - whether to engage or confront Syria. Invitation

Press Release:

13/05/2008

Syria: EU engagement in democratisation process needed. Jana Hybášková MEP

Chad Film Screening Colm Burke MEP (EPP-ED, Ireland) presented a report and a film on his recent visit to Chad (24-30 March) and the EUFOR forces based there, in the European Parliament on Wednesday 7 May 2008 at 19.00 hrs. Poster Chad Mission Analysis

Press Release:

06/05/2008

MEP Burke to show film of Chad visit. Colm Burke MEP

Inaugural Regional ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly A European Parliament delegation is going to Windhoek, Namibia, to participate in the Windhoek regional ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (28-30 April) and meet their counterparts in the SADC (Southern Africa) region. Michael Gahler MEP, Vice-Chairman of the Assembly, and four other members of the EPP-ED Group will subsequently hold the Group's own Windhoek Dialogue on 1-4 May. The Dialogue is the EPP-ED Group's African policy initiative, launched in March 1996. The idea behind it is to develop a network for co-operation and exchange ideas and experiences on democratic development and co-operation, not only between the EPP-ED Group and its African partners, but also among the African political parties themselves.

Carlos Coelho explains the Lisbon Treaty Carlos Coelho MEP, Head of the EPP-ED Group's Portuguese delegation in the European Parliament, has launched a question and answer section on his website, outlining the key points of the Lisbon Treaty, in response to the most-frequently asked queries by citizens on the subject.

Biological diversity Miroslav Ouzký MEP (Czech Republic), Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, leads the debate with the Council and the Commission on Wednesday, 23rd April following the committee's question regarding the Commission and Council strategy for the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The committee, in a resolution on the same subject, has expressed deep concern at the continued loss of biodiversity and at the European Union’s ever increasing ecological footprint, and is calling on the Commission and the Member States to agree to and facilitate concrete measures to protext biodiversity. Convention on biological diversity website

European Parliament election observation in Nepal Filip Kaczmarek MEP (Poland) and Csaba Őry (Hungary) will participate in Parliament's delegation travelling to Nepal to observe the elections for a constituent assembly on 10 April. They are the first elections to be held in the country for 9 years. The assembly is to draft a new constitution for the country, and formally confirm it as a republic after centuries of monarchy.

Conference on Torture in the context of the 'War on terror' Carlos Coelho MEP (Portugal) will host a conference organised by the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims and the Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme on Friday 4 April in the European Parliament in Brussels. The conference will discuss the use of torture in the context of the war on terrorism. The debate will centre on the changing nature of torture in democratic societies and the challenges facing journalists reporting on torture and other human rights violations in this difficult and often dangerous setting: What are the key problems, and what can be done to address them? The event is part of the project Preventing Torture within the Fight against Terrorism, which aims to promote respect for the absolute prohibition against torture and ill-treatment. Programme

Press Release:

01/04/2008

Conference on Torture in the context of the 'War on terror'. Carlos Coelho MEP

Breast cancer and chemicals Avril Doyle MEP (Ireland) hosts a presentation on breast cancer: 'Preventing the preventable' on Wednesday 2 April in the European Parliament in Brussels. Prof Andreas Kortenkamp, author of a new report on 'Breast cancer and exposure to hormonally active chemicals: An appraisal of the scientific evidence', presents new findings showing links between breast cancer and exposure to certain chemicals. The discussion focusses on how EU legislation, such as REACH, can promote effective prevention measures for breast cancer linked to chemical exposure and the role MEPs can play in ensuring policy keeps up to speed with the latest scientific findings.

Press Release:

02/04/2008

Reduce chemical exposure to reduce breast cancer. Avril Doyle MEP

Iran's Nuclear File Jana Hybáškova MEP (EPP-ED, Czech Republic) is organising together with the Transatlantic Institute a briefing entitled "Iran´s Nuclear File: What can the EU do?" on Wednesday 5 March from 3.15pm to 5.00pm. The briefing will be off the record. It will be given by Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, Director of the Transatlantic Institute. It will take place in the room ASP 5E3 of the European Parliament in Brussels.

Protection of vulnerable ecosystems in high seas Duarte Freitas MEP (EPP-ED, Portugal), Member of the Fisheries Committee, will participate in a hearing attended by expert Ricardo Serrão Santos, Director of the Oceanography and Fisheries Department, University of Azores, Portugal, who will speak on vulnerable ecosystems in high seas. The hearing will take place during the Fisheries Committee meeting on Thursday 28th February, 9.00am-12.30pm, in room ASP A1 E2 of the European Parliament in Brussels. For further information, please click here: www.duarte-freitas.org.

		Road Transport and Freight Logistics on the Roads of Europe The SME Union of the EPP and other organisations prepare a working breakfast on Road Transport and Freight Logistics on the Roads of Europe. Markus Ferber MEP (EPP-ED, Germany) will moderate the discussion.

The meeting will take place in the European Parliament Member´s Saloon on Wednesday 27 February from 8.00-9.30am.

The conclusions will be made by Corien Woortmann-Kool MEP (EPP-ED, The Netherlands). Among other speakers will be Kerstin Jorna, EU Commission, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commission Vice-President and EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot, Anne Mette Koch Bangsgaard, Senior Consultant, Confederation of Danish Commercial Transportation and Service Industries (HTS) and Jaana Heikkinen, Counselor of Transports of the Permanent Representation of Finland.

Programme

Observation mission delegation to Pakistan Michael Gahler MEP (EPP-ED, Germany), Ivo Belet MEP (EPP-ED, Belgium), and Nickolay Mladenov (EPP-ED, Bulgaria) are participating in the European Parliament's electoral observation mission to Pakistan to monitor the parliamentary elections on 18 February.

Observation mission delegation to Armenia Gabriele Stauner MEP (EPP-ED, Germany) will participate in a European Parliament election observation mission to monitor the Presidential elections on 19 February in Armenia. The delegation is to hold a press conference on 20 February in Yerevan to announce its initial evaluation of the elections.

67th Meeting of the Intergroup on Tibet Thomas Mann MEP (EPP-ED, Germany), President of the European Parliament´s Intergroup for Tibet invites on meeting in Strasbourg on 20 February.

The meeting will be attended also by Kate Saunders, Communications Director of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT). The meeting will be focused on how China's economic policies and the railroad are transforming Tibet and the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.

Situation in Kosovo Ingo Friedrich MEP (EPP-ED, Germany), President of the Paneuropean Working Group of the EPP-ED invites on a meeting addressed by HE Bishop Dodë Gjergji, Bishop in Kosovo, who will speak on the current situation Kosovo from the viewpoint of the Catholic Church.

The meeting will take place in room LOW N3.3 of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, on Tuesday, 19th of February 2008 at 3.00pm.

Europe@Home The EPP Group in the Committee of Regions of the European Union has just launched a photography competition called Europe@Home in order to encourage young Europeans to have a closer look to Europe's achievements and to encourage young people to consider the impact of Europe on their region.

Information and Rules of the competition

	“What Competition Has Done for Europe” Gunnar Hökmark MEP (Sweden) will introduce a presentation of a policy paper on the competition policies in the European Union: “What Competition Has Done for Europe” by its author, Johnny Munkhammar in Brussels on 31 January.

The conference is organised by the European Enterprise Institute. The event takes place in the European Parliament, Salon des Membres, from 08.00 to 09.00.

Meeting programme

Naming of new Parliament wing in memory of József Antall Hungarian MEPs József Szájer, László Surján and Péter Olajos are hosting a commemorative meeting on Tuesday 22 January at 14.00 hrs, marking the occasion of naming a new Parliament wing after the late Hungarian Prime Minister, József Antall.

Antall was an emblematic figure of the reunification of Europe and the struggle for democracy and human rights. He became the first democratically-elected Prime Minister in the former Soviet Bloc after winning the elections in early 1990. He was a dedicated European under whose premiership Hungary made the first, decisive steps towards integration of the European Union and of NATO. It was Prime Minister Antall who first called for the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact in 1990, and then made several further steps to bring the Soviet-dominated military organisation to an end the following year.

The meeting will take place in room D4 - 4M 004 of the new wing of the European Parliament.

	SME Union - Towards Indirect Taxation to Boost EU Entrepreneurship Paul Rübig MEP (EPP-ED, Austria), will moderate the SME Working Breakfast in Brussels on 22 January.

The event will take place at 08.00 hrs in the Members' Salon.

The keynote speech will be given by Götz M. Werner, Professor at the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Karlsruhe. The conclusions of the meeting will be presented by Christian Weinberger, Adviser for the Entrepreneurship and SME Policy, DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission.

Programme

	Presentation of the ChooseESC! campaign On Tuesday, 15th January in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the ChooseESC! campaign will be presented. The campaign seeks to promote the life-saving technology Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

International accident studies demonstrate that at least 40% of all fatal traffic accidents are caused by skidding. Around 80% of all skidding accidents could be prevented with ESC. Last year, a socio-economic study by the University of Cologne showed that 4,000 traffic deaths and 100,000 injuries could be prevented each year in Europe alone if ESC were installed in all vehicles.

The event will take place at 1pm in room C4.1 and will be hosted by Malcolm Harbour MEP.

An ESC simulator will be available the whole day for those who want to get more familiar with the benefits of ESC. The simulator will be situated in the Gallery Sud (1st floor LOW) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Campaign website

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