BETA


2006/2083(INI) Multilingualism: framework strategy for language learning and linguistic diversity

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead CULT JOAN I MARÍ Bernat (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Committee Opinion ITRE
Committee Opinion EMPL
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2007/02/05
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2007/01/11
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2006/11/15
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2006/11/15
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Bernat JOAN I MARÍ (Greens/EFA, ES) on the Commission's new framework strategy for multilingualism. (For a summary of the main points of the report, please refer to the document dated 09/10/2006.) The report was adopted by 537 votes in favour to 50 against and 59 abstentions.

Documents
2006/11/15
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2006/10/23
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2006/10/23
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2006/10/09
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The committee adopted the own-initiative report drawn up by Bernat JOAN I MARÍ (Greens/EFA, ES) on the Commission's new framework strategy for multilingualism. The committee pointed out that "multilingualism is a special feature of the EU" and a "basic component" of European culture. It welcomed the Commission's action to promote languages in the Community and reminded the Member States of the need to take suitable measures for a genuine policy of learning foreign language skills.

The report said that there was a lack of detailed and reliable data and appropriate indicators related to the current situation of foreign language competence in the Member States and therefore welcomed the proposal for a European Indicator of Language Competence. This should include all official EU languages and could be extended beyond the five widely-spoken languages to include the other EU languages, in order to gain a true picture of language competence.

MEPs said that the widest opportunities should be provided for migrants to learn the language(s) of host countries. They also welcomed the greater use of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), where pupils learn a subject through the medium of a foreign language. And they supported a European Standard for Translation Services and said that there should be a proactive policy for developing translation services for less widely used languages.

The report called for a clear, coherent EU language plan and EU language legislation, and also urged the European institutions and bodies to improve their communication with citizens in their own national language, regardless of whether the language has official status at Member State or EU level.

Lastly, the committee supported the proposals to develop language-related professions and industries, saying that "all European languages will need new technologies such as speech processing, voice recognition and so on, as well as work on terminology, developing language teaching, certification and testing; otherwise lesser-used languages will be left behind with their linguistic social space taken over by the more widely spoken languages - especially English".

2006/08/01
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2006/06/29
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2006/04/06
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2006/01/23
   EP - JOAN I MARÍ Bernat (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in CULT
2005/11/22
   EC - Non-legislative basic document
Details

PURPOSE: the presentation of a new framework strategy for multilingualism.

CONTENT: this Commission Communication is the first report to explore the role of multilingualism in Europe and reflects the fact that a European Commissioner has, for the first time, been given explicit responsibility for multilingualism. The report seeks:

- to reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to multilingualism in the EU;

- to set out the Commission’s strategy for promoting multilingualism;

- to propose a number of specific actions which stem out of this strategic framework.

The Commission reminds its readers that the EU is founded on the concept of “unity in diversity”, which naturally includes the twenty official languages of the Union as well as the 60 or so other indigenous languages and scores of non-indigenous languages spoken by the migrant community.

In this document, the term multilingualism is used to describe the new field of Commission policy that promotes a climate conducive to the full expression of all languages. As such the Commission’ policy in this field is centred on three main objectives:

- to encourage language learning in society;

- to promote a healthy multilingual economy;

- to give citizens access to EU legislation, procedures and information in their own languages.

The Commission, however, reminds the Member States that progress rests in their hands – be it at a national, regional or local level.

In its conclusions, the Commission states that multilingualism is essential for the functioning of the EU. The Commission proposes that the current state of multilingualism can, indeed must, improve for the sake of job security and better jobs in a global environment. Within this context it urges the Member States to take additional measures to promote widespread individual multilingualism and to foster a society that respects all citizens’ linguistic identities. In order to promote this issue the Commission will:

- set up a High Level Group on Multilingualism to provide support and advice on initiatives;

- organises a ministerial conference on multilingualism in order to allow Member States to share progress thus far and to plan future work;

- present a further Communication proposing a comprehensive approach to multilingualism in the EU.

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.

2005/11/21
   EC - Non-legislative basic document published
Details

PURPOSE: the presentation of a new framework strategy for multilingualism.

CONTENT: this Commission Communication is the first report to explore the role of multilingualism in Europe and reflects the fact that a European Commissioner has, for the first time, been given explicit responsibility for multilingualism. The report seeks:

- to reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to multilingualism in the EU;

- to set out the Commission’s strategy for promoting multilingualism;

- to propose a number of specific actions which stem out of this strategic framework.

The Commission reminds its readers that the EU is founded on the concept of “unity in diversity”, which naturally includes the twenty official languages of the Union as well as the 60 or so other indigenous languages and scores of non-indigenous languages spoken by the migrant community.

In this document, the term multilingualism is used to describe the new field of Commission policy that promotes a climate conducive to the full expression of all languages. As such the Commission’ policy in this field is centred on three main objectives:

- to encourage language learning in society;

- to promote a healthy multilingual economy;

- to give citizens access to EU legislation, procedures and information in their own languages.

The Commission, however, reminds the Member States that progress rests in their hands – be it at a national, regional or local level.

In its conclusions, the Commission states that multilingualism is essential for the functioning of the EU. The Commission proposes that the current state of multilingualism can, indeed must, improve for the sake of job security and better jobs in a global environment. Within this context it urges the Member States to take additional measures to promote widespread individual multilingualism and to foster a society that respects all citizens’ linguistic identities. In order to promote this issue the Commission will:

- set up a High Level Group on Multilingualism to provide support and advice on initiatives;

- organises a ministerial conference on multilingualism in order to allow Member States to share progress thus far and to plan future work;

- present a further Communication proposing a comprehensive approach to multilingualism in the EU.

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.

Documents

Activities

Votes

Rapport Joan i Mari A6-0372/2006 - am. 4 #

2006/11/15 Outcome: -: 556, +: 75, 0: 6
LV IE PT LU MT SI CY EE PL LT SK DK BE FI SE EL AT HU NL CZ IT ES FR GB DE
Total
7
11
23
4
5
6
6
6
47
11
12
12
20
11
17
18
18
22
23
22
64
45
67
67
93
icon: UEN UEN
26

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
25

Slovakia NI

Abstain (2)

3

Austria NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (2)

3
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
23

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Greece IND/DEM

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

France IND/DEM

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
34

Portugal GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

3

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Netherlands GUE/NGL

1

Spain GUE/NGL

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1

France GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

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1
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39

Latvia Verts/ALE

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1

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1

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1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

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1

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2

Italy Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4
icon: ALDE ALDE
73

Latvia ALDE

1

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2

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1

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2

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3

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3

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1

Hungary ALDE

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1

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1
icon: PSE PSE
170

Ireland PSE

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3

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1

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2

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2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
247

Latvia PPE-DE

2
4

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2

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1

Finland PPE-DE

2

Rapport Joan i Mari A6-0372/2006 - am. 3 #

2006/11/15 Outcome: -: 507, +: 114, 0: 13
LT FI CY DK SI EE SE LU NL MT LV IE SK CZ BE HU EL AT PT IT PL ES GB FR DE
Total
13
11
6
12
6
6
17
5
23
5
7
11
12
23
21
22
18
18
21
64
47
44
65
65
92
icon: ALDE ALDE
74

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

2

Sweden ALDE

Against (1)

3

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

Against (1)

1
2

Austria ALDE

1

Spain ALDE

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
34

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Netherlands GUE/NGL

1

Greece GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

3

Spain GUE/NGL

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1

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1

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2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
23

Denmark IND/DEM

1

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2

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1

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1

Greece IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

France IND/DEM

2
icon: NI NI
26

Slovakia NI

Abstain (2)

3

Czechia NI

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1

Belgium NI

3

Austria NI

2

United Kingdom NI

3
icon: UEN UEN
26

Lithuania UEN

Against (1)

2

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Latvia UEN

3

Ireland UEN

Abstain (1)

4
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
39

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

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For (1)

1

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1

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4

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1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

2

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4
icon: PSE PSE
168

Lithuania PSE

2

Finland PSE

3

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3

Ireland PSE

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1

Slovakia PSE

2

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2
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244

Lithuania PPE-DE

2

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2

Denmark PPE-DE

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1

Slovenia PPE-DE

4

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1

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3

Malta PPE-DE

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2

Latvia PPE-DE

2
4

Rapport Joan i Mari A6-0372/2006 - par. 9 #

2006/11/15 Outcome: -: 361, +: 258, 0: 21
GB SE FI LT LV FR BE IE DK PL CY LU MT SI NL EE IT EL SK AT CZ HU PT ES DE
Total
67
17
11
12
7
65
21
11
11
47
6
5
5
6
23
6
65
18
12
18
23
23
23
45
93
icon: ALDE ALDE
74

Sweden ALDE

3

Latvia ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

2

Austria ALDE

1
2

Spain ALDE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
39

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Italy Verts/ALE

2

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2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
22

Sweden IND/DEM

2

France IND/DEM

2

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Greece IND/DEM

1

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1
icon: NI NI
26

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

3

Slovakia NI

Abstain (1)

3

Austria NI

2

Czechia NI

1
icon: UEN UEN
26

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

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1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
34

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1

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2

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2

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2

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1

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2

Portugal GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

3

Spain GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
248

Finland PPE-DE

2

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2

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2
4

Denmark PPE-DE

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1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

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2

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4

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1
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171

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3

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2

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1

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3

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3

Slovakia PSE

2

Czechia PSE

2

Rapport Joan i Mari A6-0372/2006 - am. 1 #

2006/11/15 Outcome: +: 408, -: 226, 0: 5
GB FR IT BE PL DK SE NL LT FI AT PT EE LV IE ES CZ MT CY DE LU SI HU SK EL
Total
67
65
64
21
48
12
17
23
13
11
18
22
6
7
11
44
23
5
6
93
5
6
22
12
18
icon: PSE PSE
169

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

2

Estonia PSE

3

Ireland PSE

1

Czechia PSE

2

Slovakia PSE

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
75

Sweden ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

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1

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1

Cyprus ALDE

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1

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For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2
2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
39

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4

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

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1

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2

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1

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1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
33

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

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2

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1

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2

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1

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1

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2

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1

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2

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Abstain (1)

2
icon: UEN UEN
27

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2
icon: NI NI
26

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

3

Austria NI

2

Czechia NI

1

Slovakia NI

Abstain (2)

3
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
23

France IND/DEM

2

Denmark IND/DEM

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Netherlands IND/DEM

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1

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For (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

1

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1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
247

Denmark PPE-DE

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1

Lithuania PPE-DE

2

Finland PPE-DE

2

Estonia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE-DE

2
4

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Slovenia PPE-DE

4

Rapport Joan i Mari A6-0372/2006 - par. 17 #

2006/11/15 Outcome: -: 443, +: 184, 0: 12
GB LT DK BE FI LU SI EE CY LV MT PL IE SK NL AT IT SE HU EL CZ PT FR ES DE
Total
67
13
12
21
11
5
6
6
6
7
5
48
11
12
21
18
64
17
23
18
23
23
64
45
93
icon: ALDE ALDE
74

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

For (1)

Against (2)

3
2

Spain ALDE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
36

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

2

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2

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

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1
icon: NI NI
26

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Slovakia NI

Abstain (1)

3

Austria NI

2

Czechia NI

Abstain (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
27

Lithuania UEN

Against (1)

2

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Latvia UEN

3

Ireland UEN

For (1)

4
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
23

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Ireland IND/DEM

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1

Netherlands IND/DEM

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1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Greece IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

France IND/DEM

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
34

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

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1

Finland GUE/NGL

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1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

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1

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2

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Abstain (1)

2

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3

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2

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1
icon: PSE PSE
172

Lithuania PSE

2

Finland PSE

3

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3

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1

Slovakia PSE

2

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2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
247

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2

Denmark PPE-DE

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1

Finland PPE-DE

2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

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4

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1

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2
4

Rapport Joan i Mari A6-0372/2006 - par. 20/1 #

2006/11/15 Outcome: +: 384, -: 246, 0: 11
GB FR IT BE PL DK SE LT FI AT NL EE SK LV PT CY ES LU MT SI IE EL CZ DE HU
Total
67
67
64
21
48
12
17
12
11
18
23
6
12
7
22
6
44
5
5
6
11
19
23
92
23
icon: PSE PSE
170

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Finland PSE

Against (1)

3

Estonia PSE

Against (1)

3

Slovakia PSE

2

Malta PSE

Against (1)

3

Ireland PSE

1

Czechia PSE

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
76

Sweden ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Spain ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1
2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
39

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4

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

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1

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2

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1

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1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
34

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1

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2

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1

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2

Finland GUE/NGL

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1

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3

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2

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1

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2
icon: NI NI
26

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

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3

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2

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1
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27

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1

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4
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23

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2

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1

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2

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1

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1

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1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
246

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1

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2

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2

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1

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2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

4
4