This WEEK in the European Union
LUCIA KUBOSOVA
16.05.2008 @ 17:41 CET
EUOBSERVER / AGENDA (19-25 May) - The EU executive will introduce two key proposals to the European Parliament gathered in Strasbourg this week: a review of the bloc's farm policy, as well as a basic framework for the Mediterranean Union.
Mariann Fischer Boel, agriculture commissioner, will on Tuesday present a detailed blueprint on the steps needed to make Europe's common agriculture policy more efficient, reflecting earlier political debate by member states on the issue.
The EU is due to debate farm policy review in the tense atmosphere of hikes in global food prices (Photo: UNMIK)
Brussels' previous farm reform plans, unveiled last year, sparked controversy with proposed limits on subsidies for big farms. The commissioner then signalled she would address the concerns of the countries where big farms prevail and are most efficient.
But this week's bill will be considered in a context of rising food prices worldwide and debates across Europe about whether to keep limits on farm production and how, if at all, to change the financing of the sector.
On Monday, EU agriculture ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss price hikes for agricultural products and food on the global market with the aim of finding a solution to tone down the adverse effects of such market price trends.
Mediterranean Union moving ahead
Meanwhile, also on Tuesday after the regular meeting of the 27 European Commissioners, external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner will publish a proposal on the planned Mediterranean union.
According to an internal paper reported by EUobserver last week, the new union, a brainchild of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, will be based on a "multilateral partnership" with the countries in the region and "encompass all member states of the European Union."
All countries involved in the so called Barcelona Process would be included - Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Israel, Libya, Syria, Turkey and Albania – as well as other Mediterranean states, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Monaco.
The Union for the Mediterranean is supposed to work on a series of issues that affect both the EU and its southern neighbours, including immigration, security and environment issues.
Other Strasbourg topics
Apart from the topics presented to the European Parliament by the commission, deputies will on Wednesday debate and vote on the interim report of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change, which sets out the scientific context of the phenomenon.
On the same day, MEPs will discuss the aftermath of the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China with both the Slovenian EU presidency and commissioner Louis Michel, following his emergency trip to Burma.
After a debate on the first day of the plenary, parliamentarians will vote on Wednesday on a directive to protect the environment via criminal law. With a deal between the leading MEPs following the topic and the council [representing member states] on the table, the bill, if adopted, will become law after the first reading.
Finally, the assembly will also speak out on the current phase of accession negotiations between the EU and Turkey, with a vote on an evaluation report prepared by the parliament's foreign committee scheduled for Wednesday, following a debate on Tuesday.
EU ties with Ukraine
The Slovenian EU presidency will host a troika meeting with Ukraine's representatives in Brdo, following renewed signals from Kiev that the country wants boost its ties with the EU and eventually become a member.
Ukraine's leaders are expecting a major development at a top-level EU-Ukraine summit in September in Paris, during the French EU presidency, hoping to realise some degree of progress in negotiations on a new bilateral agreement.