European and External Relations Committee, 20 Dec 2005

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Official Report 238KB pdf

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Sift

Item 5 is the regular sift of European Community and European Union documents and draft legislation. As usual, members will see that certain items have been flagged up as being of special importance to other committees. First, of interest to us and to our colleagues on the Enterprise and Culture Committee is the white paper on the financial services policy, which presents the Commission's priorities up to 2010.

The second document is the proposal for a directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, which will be of most interest to the Environment and Rural Development Committee. The third document relates to the rights of disabled people in the enlarged EU, which I recommend we forward to the Equal Opportunities Committee.

Finally, the committee is already familiar with the Commission's plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate. We are considering that, but I propose also to forward it to the Public Petitions Committee, which is the committee that engages most closely with the public. Why are you smiling, Mr Gallie?

I was just thinking that the Public Petitions Committee deserves the plan. As a substitute on that committee, I will ensure that I am not involved on that day.

Do members agree to refer the documents to the suggested committees?

Members indicated agreement.