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PV BUR 24.10.2011 PE 473.165/BUR/rev PE-7/BUR/PV/2011-17 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT B U R E A U MINUTES of the meeting of 24-10-2011 Louise Weiss Building - Room R 1.1 - - - Strasbourg
PV BUR 24.10.2011
PE 473.165/BUR/rev
PE-7/BUR/PV/2011-17
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
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B U R E A U
MINUTES
of the meeting of
24-10-2011
Louise Weiss Building - Room R 1.1 - - -
Strasbourg
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PE-7/BUR/PV/2011-17
BUREAU
MINUTES
of the meeting of Monday, 24 October 2011 from 18:30 to 20:30 hrs
Louise Weiss Building – Room R 1.1
Strasbourg
Contents page
1. Adoption of draft agenda...................................................................................................7
2. Approval of Minutes of meeting of 12 October 2011 .......................................................8
3. Statements by the President...............................................................................................9
3.1 Farewell event for Mr TRICHET, President of the ECB, in Frankfurt, 19 October 2011.....9
3.2 Conference co-organised by the European Parliament, the Polish Council Presidency and the European Commission with national Parliaments on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) on 20-21 October 2011 in Brussels ....................................9
3.3 European Council on 23 October 2011 ...........................................................................10
3.4 CIVIS Media Price ..........................................................................................................10
3.5 Article on Parliament's internal audit reports in the Daily Telegraph of 20 October 2010.................................................................................................................................10
4. Brussels - Property policy for the medium-term (Brussels Building Concept) - Note from the Secretary-General .............................................................................................12
5. Staff Matters - Notes from the Secretary-General .............................................................16
6. Changes to the internal rules governing the reception of Visitors' Groups - Note from the Secretary-General ......................................................................................................18
7. Request from the Subcommittee on Security and Defence to send a delegation to Warsaw on 15 and 16 December 2011 - Letter from Mr DANJEAN, Chair of the Subcommittee concerned.................................................................................................20
8. Request from the Committee on Petitions to send a fact-finding mission to Romania
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from 23 to 26 November 2011 - Letter from Ms MAZZONI, Chair of the Committee concerned ........................................................................................................................ 21
9. Request from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to send a delegation to Palermo, Lampedusa and Porto Empedocle (Italy) from 23 to 26 November 2011 - Letter from Mr LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Chair of the Committee concerned ........................................................................................................................ 23
10. Request from the Committee on Foreign Affairs to send a delegation to Turkey on 10-11 November 2011 - Letter from Mr ALBERTINI, Chair of the Committee concerned ........................................................................................................................ 24
11. Request from the Committee on Budgetary Control to authorise a public hearing on "Discharge to decentralised agencies: governance and operational effectiveness" on 21 November 2011 in Brussels - Letter from Mr MULDER, Chair of the Committee concerned ........................................................................................................................ 25
12. Request from the Subcommittee on Human Rights to authorise three public hearings on "Human Rights in South-East Asia with focus on Indonesia" on 29 November 2011, on "Human Rights situation of Turkmen minority in Iraq" and on "Human Rights in China" on 5 December 2011 in Brussels - Letter from Ms LOCHBIHLER, Chair of the subcommittee concerned............................................................................. 26
13. Urgent matters and any other business ........................................................................... 27
13.1 Hotel accommodation costs in Strasbourg...................................................................... 27
14. Items for information ....................................................................................................... 28
15. Date and place of next meeting......................................................................................... 29
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BUREAU
MINUTES
of the meeting of Monday, 24 October 2011
Strasbourg
Mr Jerzy BUZEK, President of the European Parliament, opened the meeting at 18:42 hours.
Present
Mr Jerzy BUZEK, President*
Excused Mr PITTELLA* Mr TİKÉS Ms KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU* Ms PODIMATA* Mr MARTÍNEZ* Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS* Ms ROTH-BEHRENDT* Mr ROUČEK* Ms DURANT* Ms ANGELILLI * Ms WALLIS* Mr McMILLAN-SCOTT* Mr WIELAND* Mr CHICHESTER* Quaestors Excused Ms GERINGER DE OEDENBERG*** Mr HIGGINS* Ms LULLING* Mr MAŠTÁLKA* Mr NEWTON DUNN*
Also Present Mr WELLE, Secretary-General* List of officials present at the meeting: * present for Items 4 and 5 in camera *** Present for Item 5 in camera
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Private Office of the President Ms ROSINSKA* Mr TEASDALE* Ms WORUM* Mr HUBER Mr GOLAŃSKI Mr FISCHER Mr ALPERMANN Private Office of the Secretary-General Mr DREXLER*
Mr MANGOLD* Ms LUEDDECKE** Mr SCHEIBA Ms BLAU Ms CARRO*** Secretariat DG Presidency (PRES) Ms RATTI*/ Mr O'BEARA DG Internal Policies (IPOL) Mr RIBERA d'ALCALA/ Ms
VANDENBOSCH/ Mr REY DG External Policies (EXPO) Mr AGUIRIANO/ Mr ŠTOKELJ/ Mr
PENALVER GARCIA DG Information (COMM) Ms LAHOUSSE/ Mr DUCH-GUILLOT/
Mr WARASIN/ Ms VAN DEN BROEKE/ Mr LÖFFLER
DG Personnel (PERS) Mr QUITIN*** DG Infrastructure and Logistics (INLO) Mr STRATIGAKIS**/ Mr
CHAMPETTER** DG Translation (DG TRAD) Ms PITT
DG Interpretation and Conferences (INTE) Mr JIMENEZ MARÍN DG Finance (FINS) Mr VANHAEREN**/ Mr GUILLEN
ZANON DG Innovation, Technical Support (ITEC) Mr VILELLA Legal Service Mr PENNERA*, Jurisconsult/ Mr PASSOS/
Mr PETTERSHEIM Conference of President's Secretariat Mr HILLER Relations with the secretariats of the political groups
Mr WINKLER
* present for Items 4 and 5 in camera ** present for Item 4 in camera *** present for Item 5 in camera
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Political group secretariats Mr RIPOLL (EPP) Ms PEARSON (S&D) Mr BOUTER (ALDE) Mr PRUMMEL (Greens/EFA) Mr WOODARD (ECR) Mr RAECK (GUE/NGL) Ms LAIKAUF (EFD) Mr SERVELLON (Non-attached Members) Vice-Presidents' and Quaestors' assistants Mr MARTINELLI Mr PITTELLA's assistant Ms TRAKADAS Ms KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU's assistant Ms ASTERIADI Ms PODIMATA's assistant Mr GUERRA REINA Mr MARTÍNEZ's assistant Ms CABANELAS ALVAREZ Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS's assistant Mr SCHWARZ Ms ROTH-BEHRENDT's assistant Ms ZANELLA Mr ROUCEK's assistant Mr VALETTE Ms DURANT's assistant Mr LOMBARDO Ms ANGELILLI's aassistant Ms THIEL Ms WALLIS's assistant Mr SZILAGYI Mr TİKÉS's assistant Ms BIESEMANS Mr McMILLAN-SCOTT's assistant Mr BECKER Mr WIELAND's assistant Ms ALDEEN Mr CHICHESTER's assistant Ms ZIELINSKA Ms GERINGER de OEDENBERG's assistant Ms KEARNEY Mr HIGGINS's assistant Mr ROMANOVSKIS Ms LULLING's assistant Ms ŘEHOŘOVÁ Mr MAŠTÁLKA's assistant Ms KONTÁR Mr NEWTON DUNN's assistant Ms LINNUS*, Mr SCHROEDER, Mr CALINOGLOU and Mr TZIORKAS acted as secretary to the meeting.
* present for Items 4 and 5 in camera
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1. Adoption of draft agenda
The Bureau
- noted the draft agenda (PE 473.163/BUR) and adopted it as shown in these minutes.
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2. Approval of Minutes of meeting of 12 October 2011
The Bureau
- noted and approved the minutes of the meeting of 12 October 2011 in Brussels
(PE 473.112/BUR).
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3. Statements by the President
3.1 Farewell event for Mr TRICHET, President of the ECB, in Frankfurt, 19 October 2011
The Bureau,
- heard the President inform the meeting that he - together with Mr VAN ROMPUY,
President of the European Council, and Mr BARROSO, President of the European
Commission and Ms MERKEL, German Chancellor - participated in an event in
Frankfurt on 19 October 2011 in honour of the retirement of Mr TRICHET, out-going
President of the European Central Bank (ECB).
3.2 Conference co-organised by the European Parliament, the Polish Council Presidency and the
European Commission with national Parliaments on the EU Multiannual Financial
Framework (MFF) on 20-21 October 2011 in Brussels
The Bureau
- heard the President inform the meeting that he had opened the abovementioned
conference and made, together with Mr BARROSO, President of the European
Commission, and Mr TUSK, President-in-Office of the Council, some introductory
remarks to a large audience. The President recalled the importance of the Parliament
working closely with national parliaments on the subject matter. Underlining the
success of the conference, the President informed the meeting that he had invited the
two forthcoming EU-Council Presidencies to organise each a follow-up conference,
which could again be co-hosted by the European Parliament and the Danish Presidency
has already responded positively;
- heard Ms PODIMATA, Vice-President, share President's positive analysis of the event,
in particular the useful exchanges with national parliaments, but also point at certain
organisational difficulties during the part of the conference which took place in the
Commission's premises, which had affected the attendance of some Members of the
European Parliament, including herself;
- heard the President assure Ms PODIMATA that the responsible services will look into
the matter in order to avoid problems of a similar kind in the future.
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3.3 European Council on 23 October 2011
The Bureau
- heard the President inform the meeting that he participated at the European Council
meeting on 23 October 2011, which focussed on the current sovereign debt crisis, and
that another European Council will take place in the evening of Wednesday, 26
October 2011.
3.4 CIVIS Media Price
The Bureau
- heard Ms PODIMATA, Vice-President, inform the meeting that the Bureau Working
Party on Information and Communication Policy, at its meeting of 18 October 2012,
had unanimously adopted a recommendation to the Bureau that the CIVIS Media Prize
2012 for integration and cultural diversity in Europe, be held at the premises of the
European Parliament on 9 May 2012 and that therefore a change of the date of the
2012 Open Days in Brussels might become necessary;
- heard Mr WIELAND, Vice-President, recall that Parliament had already adopted its
2013 calendar of meeting and that therefore the dates for the 2013 Open Days could be
agreed as soon as possible;
- heard Ms DURANT, Vice-President responsible for relations with the Belgian
authorities, underline the importance of a close cooperation between the European
Parliament and the Brussels' regional authorities in the planning of the 2012 Open
Days, and mention that the Open Days were , traditionally, combined with the "Fête de
Bruxelles", which takes place each year around 8 May;
- endorsed the abovementioned recommendation by the Bureau Working Party on
Information and Communication Policy and decided to move the 2012 Open Days in
Brussels, originally foreseen to take place on 5 May 2012, to 12 May.
3.5 Article on Parliament's internal audit reports in the Daily Telegraph of 20 October 2010
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The Bureau
- heard Mr MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ, Vice-President, request further information
concerning an article on Parliament's internal audit reports published in the Daily
Telegraph on 20 October 2010 and a quote made by Ms WALLIS, Vice-President
responsible for transparency, in this context;
- heard Ms WALLIS, Vice-President, provide the Bureau with background information
concerning the said article and various measures taken by herself and Parliament's
press services in that respect;
- held an exchange of views on the matter with the participation of Mr MARTÍNEZ
MARTÍNEZ, Ms ROTH-BEHRENDT and Ms WALLIS, Vice-Presidents, and Ms
GERINGER DE ODENBERG, Quaestor;
- heard the President request Parliament's press services to do their utmost so that the
false accusations contained in the article can be publically clarified by the publisher, in
line with the applicable law.
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From 19:00 in camera
4. Brussels - Property policy for the medium-term (Brussels Building Concept) - Note from the
Secretary-General
The Bureau, meeting in camera
- took note of a note from the Secretary-General on progress relating to Brussels building
policy, distributed to the Members of the Bureau under separate and confidential cover;
- heard the President remind the meeting that, on 24 March 2010, the Bureau had
adopted its medium-term buildings policy with the aim of improving Parliament's
working conditions following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon; the President
recalled that, as general principles, the policy favours purchasing to renting, certain
geographic concentration, early payments so as to reduce financing costs,
environmental responsibility, accessibility to persons with disabilities and ensuring the
safety, health and well-being of persons;
- heard the President indicate that the purpose of the item being on the agenda of the
meeting was to hold an exchange of views on the progress relating to implementing the
new building policy in Brussels and the corresponding negotiation mandates, but that
the Bureau would revert to final decisions of the procedure at the following meetings;
- heard Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS, Vice-President with primary responsibility on building
policy, recall that the Bureau had endorsed the main principles of the building policy in
March 2010, as Parliament had reached it utmost capacity to host more Members and
staff in the current buildings; heard Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS recall that, since the two
last enlargements, Parliament had accommodated more than 2000 new staff members
in Brussels and that, since the entry into force of Lisbon, another 300 had been
recruited; furthermore, there was a growing and justified demand from Members and
political groups for more office space;
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- heard Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS explain that following the abovementioned Bureau
decision of 24 March 2010, a property market survey has been carried out, with a
purpose to identify buildings which would enable Parliament to increase the floor area
available for its own needs (30 000 to 35 000 m2); to vacate the building currently
occupied in rue Montoyer in order to meet professional training needs (3 500 m2); and
to house the other institutions (the Ombudsman, the Court of Auditors and the
European Data Protection Supervisor) (2 400 m2), which rent offices in Parliament's
current buildings; heard Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS, specify that on the basis of a shortlist
approved by the Bureau on 4 July 2011, the selected candidates were invited to submit
an offer of which three for own needs were deemed suitable by the multidisciplinary
property committee on the basis of the cost/performance assessment (Trebel: 33 000
m2, Science 15: 19 200 m2
and Lighthouse: 5 700 m2);
- heard Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS, further specify that for the needs of the professional
training, one offer was considered acceptable on the basis of the cost/performance
assessment (ART-LUX: 6 500 m2); for the other Institutions (Ombudsman, Court of
Auditors and European Data Protection Supervisor), of the two offers submitted, one
was deemed suitable on the basis of the cost/performance assessment
(Science/Montoyer: 5 350 m2);
- lastly, heard Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS refer to the Bureau decision of 26 September
2011 which authorised the Secretary-General to continue negotiations with MTY 70's
owner with a view to possible purchase of the building; noted that the negotiations
appeared to be progressing well according to the information provided by the
administration; noted that negotiations were continuing on a piece of land next to MTY
70 building (land surface 440 m2) for the construction of the second crèche, which had
been offered following a property market survey,;
- heard Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS stress, as a conclusion, that there was a wide consensus
for Parliament needing more space; the Bureau Working Party on Building Policy had,
at its meeting of 12 October 2011, considered the various options and agreed that in
view of the importance of the decisions, a wide political agreement on the
implementation of the building policy in Brussels was crucial;
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- heard Mr PITTELLA, Vice-President with secondary responsibility on building policy,
align himself fully with the presentation made by Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS and stress
that, on behalf of the S&D Group, support could already be given to certain of the
proposals made, but that, regarding the acquisition of the current Trebel building
project, there was a need to come up with another solution; heard Mr PITTELLA
emphasise the importance of finding a rapid solution to the implementation of the
general building policy principles in Brussels as the need for more office space was
severe;
- heard the Secretary-General further stress that the proposals made were in line with the
decisions taken by the Bureau in particular on 24 March 2010 and 4 July 2011. The
Secretary-General reminded that, due to the amount the Belgian State owed Parliament,
which was to be used to building projects, as well as the possible use of unspent funds
from the 2011 budget, the implementation of the Brussels building policy was feasible
from existing budgetary resources but required naturally the widest possible political
support;
- furhermore, heard the Secretary-General inform the Bureau of a further potential
alternative that he intends to explore, which would entail contacts with the Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions; noted that a meeting on the
matter with the three respective Secretaries-General was foreseen the following week;
- held a wide-ranging exchange of views on the matter with the participation of Ms
DURANT, Mr CHICHESTER, Ms ROTH-BEHRENDT, Mr McMILLAN-SCOTT,
Ms PODIMATA, Vice-Presidents and Mr MASTALKA and Ms LULLING,
Quaestors;
- heard Mr VIDAL-QUADRAS conclude that the discussion held had been very useful
and of high quality and that it had brought to light the clear need to distinguish between
"spending" and "investment" in building policy;
- agreed on the proposed line for the further preparation of final decisions, including
further negotiations with the candidates which submitted the best offers, and to revert
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back to the matter at the following meeting.
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5. Staff Matters - Notes from the Secretary-General
The Bureau, meeting in camera
- took note of seven notes from the Secretary-General, distributed to the Members of the
Bureau under separate and confidential cover;
- heard the Secretary-General introduce the matter relating to the appointment of one
Director-General and six Directors in Parliament, in accordance with the Bureau
decision of 20 February 2008 laying down the stages in the procedure for the
appointment of senior officials;
- further heard the Secretary-General inform the meeting of one withdrawal that had
been received on the same day for the post of Resource Director in DG Innovation and
Technological Support;
- considered seven reports from the Advisory Committees set up in accordance with the
above rules;
- held an exchange of views with the participation of Ms ROTH-BEHRENDT and Ms
ANGELILLI, Vice-Presidents responsible for staff policy, and Ms LULLING,
Quaestor;
- congratulated the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committees for the exemplary
balance being proposed for these senior management positions in Parliament;
- approved, unanimously, the appointment of Mr Giancarlo Vilella as Director-General
in the Directorate-General for Innovation and Technological Support;
- approved, unanimously, the appointment of Mr Herwig Kaiser as Director for Impact
Assessment in the Directorate-General for Internal Policies;
- approved, unanimously, the appointment of Ms Ute Kassnitz as Director for Resources
in the Directorate-General for Infrastructure and Logistics;
- approved, unanimously, the appointment of Ms Bernadette Ligeti as Director for
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Resources in the Directorate-General for Translation;
- approved, unanimously, the appointment of Mr Carlos Neto as Director for Resources
in the Directorate-General for Personnel;
- approved, unanimously, the appointment of Mr. Walter Petrucci as Director for
Resources in the Directorate-General for Innovation and Technological Support;
- approved, unanimously, the appointment of Ms Izabela Wisniewska Craven-Green as
Director for Resources in the Directorate-General for Interpretation and Conferences.
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A. DECISIONS/EXCHANGE OF VIEWS
6. Changes to the internal rules governing the reception of Visitors' Groups - Note from the
Secretary-General
The Bureau,
- took note of the note from the Secretary-General, dated 19 October 2011 on the above-
mentioned matter (PE 473.195/BUR and annex);
- heard the Secretary-General recall the exchanges of views held on the subject matter at
the previous Bureau meetings of 12 September and 12 October 2011, and present to the
meeting the amendments proposed to the current rules governing the reception of
groups of visitors and the Euroscola and Euromed-Scola programmes, aiming at
o introducing a real flat rate scheme based on objective criteria respecting the spirit
of the Financial Regulation with regard to the grant of subsidies and their control;
o introducing three categories of costs as part of the subsidy (accommodation, meal,
distance);
o ensuring a simple, quick and transparent calculation of the subsidy for travel
expenses;
o adapting the overall amounts to recent price developments for meals and by
introducing a subsidy for hotel accommodation;
o reducing security risks for all parties concerned by adapting the payment method;
- heard the Secretary-General stress, furthermore, that the proposed amendments to the
current rules will not lead to a deterioration of the financial support given to visitors
groups coming from the different Member States, and that due to the moderate increase
of approximately 1,5% for every year since 2006, no changes to the current budget line
would be required;
- held an exchange of views on the matter with the participation of Mr MARTÍNEZ
MARTÍNEZ, Mr CHICHESTER, Mr PITTELLA, Ms KRATSA-
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TSAGAROPOULOU, Ms ROTH-BEHRENDT, Mr McMILLAN-SCOTT, Vice-
Presidents and Ms GERINGER DE OEDENBERG, Ms LULLING and Mr HIGGINS,
Quaestors, raising in particular the following issues:
o the method of the calculation of the distance km allowance if there is no common
point of departure and the clarification of the common starting point;
o the different payment methods and the possibility to maintain cash payments for
travel and meal subsidies for groups travelling shorter distances;
o the suggested amount of accommodation subsidies in view of the hotel price levels
in Brussels and Strasbourg;
o the need for further clarification with regard to Art. 15(3) of the proposed
amendments;
- heard the Secretary-General provide clarification for the questions asked;
- referred the matter to the Quaestors for consultation and agreed to take the final
decision on the matter at its next meeting on 14 November 2011.
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B. DECISIONS WITHOUT DEBATE
7. Request from the Subcommittee on Security and Defence to send a delegation to Warsaw on
15 and 16 December 2011 - Letter from Mr DANJEAN, Chair of the Subcommittee
concerned
The Bureau, without debate,
- noted the following document:
• a letter from Mr DANJEAN, Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence,
dated 2011 (PE 473.151/CPG draft programme and financial statement).
- noted the request from the Subcommittee on Security and Defence for authorisation to
send a delegation of up to five Members to Warsaw on 15-17 December 2011,
including journey times;
- noted that the delegation does not feature in the 2011 programme of committee
delegations outside Parliament's three places of work, which was approved by the
Bureau on 13 December 2010, where authorisation was also granted for committee
delegations which coincide, inter alia, with days without parliamentary activity
(Fridays) and weekends;
- noted the positive recommendation given by the Conference of Presidents at its
meeting of 20 October 2011;
- granted the request, on an exceptional basis, it being understood that the Committee's
2011 quota is respected and that the Members concerned will leave Strasbourg on
Thursday 15 December following the votes.
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8. Request from the Committee on Petitions to send a fact-finding mission to Romania from 23
to 26 November 2011 - Letter from Ms MAZZONI, Chair of the Committee concerned
The Bureau, without debate,
- noted the following document:
• a letter from Ms MAZZONI, Chair of the Committee on Petitions, dated 6 October
2011 (PE 473.162/CPG, draft programme and financial statement);
- noted the request from the Committee on Petitions for authorisation to send a five-
member delegation to Romania from 23 to 26 November 2011, including journey
times;
- noted that the duration of the visit exceeds the three-day limit, including journey times,
set in Article 6(1) of the Rules on travel by committee delegations outside Parliament's
three places of work, although a visit to Romania does not justify any extension of the
above-mentioned limit;
- noted that the delegation does not feature in the 2011 programme of committee
delegations outside Parliament's three places of work, which was approved by the
Bureau on 13 December 2010, where authorisation was also granted for committee
delegations which coincide, inter alia, with weekends;
- noted that, in addition to the five Members from the Committee's 2011 quota, the list of
participants includes three "ex-officio" (out of quota) Members who are elected in
Romania. In this respect, emphasise once again the fact that, in their present form, the
Rules on travel by committee delegations outside Parliament's three places of work lay
down a quota system for determining the number of Members who may travel as part
of committee delegations. It follows that only Members travelling from within a
committee's annual quota may be considered official members of a delegation;
- noted the positive recommendation given by the Conference of Presidents at its
meeting of 20 October 2011;
- authorised the sending of a delegation to Romania composed of five Members, on
condition that the Committee's 2011 quota is respected and that the visit lasts no more
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than three days, including journey times.
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9. Request from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to send a
delegation to Palermo, Lampedusa and Porto Empedocle (Italy) from 23 to 26 November
2011 - Letter from Mr LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Chair of the Committee concerned
The Bureau, without debate,
- noted the following document:
• a letter from Mr LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties,
Justice and Home Affairs dated 10 October 2011 (PE 473.168/CPG, programme
and financial statement);
- noted the request from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs for
authorisation to send a twelve-member delegation to Palermo, the island of Lampedusa
and Porto Empedocle (Italy) from 23 to 26 November 2011;
- noted the specific request for the delegation to be granted one additional day, pursuant
to Article 6(2) of the Rules on travel by committee delegations outside Parliament's
three places of work, on account of the limited flight possibilities and the time required
to travel between the places concerned;
- noted that the delegation does not feature in the 2011 programme of committee
delegations outside Parliament's three places of work, which was approved by the
Bureau on 13 December 2010, where authorisation was also granted for committee
delegations which coincide, inter alia, with weekends;
- noted the positive recommendation given by the Conference of Presidents at its
meeting of 20 October 2011;
- authorised the LIBE Committee to send a twelve-member delegation to Palermo, the
island of Lampedusa and Porto Empedocle (Italy), provided that the duration of the
visit does not exceed three days, including journey times and it being understood that
the Committee's 2011 quota is respected.
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10. Request from the Committee on Foreign Affairs to send a delegation to Turkey on 10-11
November 2011 - Letter from Mr ALBERTINI, Chair of the Committee concerned
The Bureau, without debate,
- noted the following document:
• a letter from Mr ALBERTINI, Chair of Committee on Foreign Affairs dated
11 October 2011 (PE 473.182/CPG, draft programme and financial statement);
- noted the request from the Committee on Foreign Affairs for authorisation to send an
eight-member delegation to Ankara, Turkey on 10-11 November 2011(excluding
journey times);
- noted that the draft programme and the financial statement indicate that the total
duration of the visit is four days (9-12 November 2011). This is within the five-day
limit, including journey times, set in Article 6(2) of the Rules on travel by committee
delegations outside Parliament's three places of work and is attributable to the long
journey times involving connecting flights; point out, nevertheless, that a specific
request should have been made to that effect;
- noted that the delegation does not feature in the 2011 programme of committee
delegations outside Parliament's three places of work, which was approved by the
Bureau on 13 December 2010, where authorisation was also granted for committee
delegations which coincide, inter alia, with weekends;
- noted the recommendation given by the Conference of Presidents at its meeting of
20 October 2011;
- authorised, on an exceptional basis, owing to the fact that 9 November 2011 is a day
set aside for Group meetings and pursuant to Article 6(2) of the applicable Rules, the
sending of an eight-member delegation to Ankara on 9 - 12 November 2011, including
journey times, on the condition that Members leave after the above-mentioned
meetings and provided that the Committee's 2011 quota for travel within the EU and
the applicant countries is respected.
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11. Request from the Committee on Budgetary Control to authorise a public hearing on
"Discharge to decentralised agencies: governance and operational effectiveness" on 21
November 2011 in Brussels - Letter from Mr MULDER, Chair of the Committee concerned
The Bureau,
- noted the following document:
• a letter from Mr MULDER, Chair of Committee on Budgetary Control dated
5 October 2011 (PE 473.160/BUR, programme);
- noted the aforementioned letter from the Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control
requesting authorisation to hold a public hearing on 21 November 2011;
- noted that the hearing is scheduled to take place on a date set aside for a meeting of the
Committee on Budgetary Control and that reimbursement of the costs of one of the
invited experts can be covered by the Committee's annual quota;
- approved the aforementioned request on the condition that the Committee will remain
within its 2011 quota for invited experts and invited the Chair of the Committee to
notify the President prior to the event of the final programme and all other relevant
information, in particular the names and capacities of the invited guests, as required by
Article 3 of the applicable rules.
PV BUR. 24.10.2011
PE 473.165/BUR 26/29
12. Request from the Subcommittee on Human Rights to authorise three public hearings on
"Human Rights in South-East Asia with focus on Indonesia" on 29 November 2011, on
"Human Rights situation of Turkmen minority in Iraq" and on "Human Rights in China" on 5
December 2011 in Brussels - Letter from Ms LOCHBIHLER, Chair of the subcommittee
concerned
The Bureau, without debate
- noted the following document:
• a letter from Ms LOCHBIHLER, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights
dated 10 October 2011 (PE 473.185/BUR);
- noted the abovementioned letter of the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights,
requesting authorisation to hold three public hearings;
- noted that the hearings are envisaged to take place on 29 November and 5 December
2011 during Sub-Committee meeting time;
- noted that the abovementioned three hearings were not included in the Sub-Committee's
2011 programme of public hearings adopted by the Bureau on 22 November 2010;
- granted, on an exceptional basis, the authorisation requested, it being understood that the
Sub-Committee concerned should notify the President prior to the event of all relevant
information, in particular the final programmes and the names and capacities of the
invited guests, as required by Article 3 of the applicable rules, and that the Su-
Committee will remain within its 2011 quota for invited experts.
PV BUR. 24.10.2011
27/29 PE 473.165/BUR
13. Urgent matters and any other business
13.1 Hotel accommodation costs in Strasbourg
The Bureau,
- heard Ms DURANT, Vice-President, request that the Bureau discusses the issue of hotel
accommodation costs in Strasbourg at a future meeting.
PV BUR. 24.10.2011
PE 473.165/BUR 28/29
14. Items for information
14.1 Interinstitutional mail
None
14.2 External mail
None
14.3 Internal mail
The Bureau
- took note of the following documents:
� Follow-up note dated 14 October 2011 from the Secretary-General concerning the
Action to be taken on the resolution of 9 March 2011 on the guidelines for the 2012
budget procedure (2017/2011(BUD))- §9 (PE 473.155/BUR);
� A letter from Mr RÜBIG, Chair dated 29 September 2011 on the 2010 STOA
Annual Report (PE 473.155/BUR and annex).
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29/29 PE 473.165/BUR
15. Date and place of next meeting
The Bureau
- decided to hold its next meeting on Monday 14 November 2011, from 18:30 to 20:30
hours, in Room R 1.1 in the Louise Weiss Building in Strasbourg.
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The meeting closed at 21:41 hours
*
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