 public bodies, to bring class actions where there are infringements of Community legislation.
We also need to hear further from DG XXIV and Mrs Bonino exactly how they will use the extra staff and the new powers they have for policing the Community as a whole in the issue of health and food safety. The research we should do, and which the Commission should sponsor and finance in this matter, needs to look at related issues of human and animal health which have always been given a low priority because the consumer interest has never been pre-eminent. I hope here that in matters like the investigation of the new variant of CJD we will see a commitment not just in the Member States, including my own, but by the Commission as a whole to look at this scourge and how it has developed.
There are many things I could have said and perhaps there will be an opportunity to engage with the new DirectorGeneral and with Mrs Bonino at a later hour. I regret that this debate has been so placed that it has to be both truncated and partitioned by the interval.
(Applause )

President
Thank you, Mr Whitehead. In view of the circumstances, it was not possible for your intervention to have the desired hearing as everyone was waiting for the vote.
The debate on Mr Whitehead's report will be continued this afternoon at 15.00 hours.

Welcome
President
It is a pleasure to welcome a delegation from the International Centre for peace in the Middle East, now in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery. The delegation, made up of representatives of the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council, is here to meet the relevant delegations of the European Parliament.
This initiative is the first of its kind, and a unique opportunity to debate issues relating to the peace process in the Middle East, which affects us all very closely.
I also want to take this opportunity to welcome the European Union's Special Envoy for the Middle East peace process, His Excellency Ambassador Moratinos.
Our relations with the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council are excellent, and the contacts we already have at parliamentary level have demonstrated the common will to cooperate in a large number of sectors.
I hope this meeting will mark a new stage in the necessary rapprochement between the countries and towns we represent.
I wish the delegation from the International Centre for peace in the Middle East fruitful discussions and an excellent stay in Strasbourg.

Tamino
Mr President, I
public bodies, to bring class actions where there be violation of Community legislation. 
 We also need to hear far from DG XXIV and Mrs Bonino exactly how they will use the excess staff and the new powers they have for patrol the Community as a whole in the consequence of health and food safety. The inquiry we should do, and which the Commission should sponsor and finance in this matter, needs to expect at related topic of human and animal health which have always been given a abject priority because the consumer interest has never been pre - eminent. I hope here that in matters like the probe of the new variant of CJD we will interpret a commitment not merely in the Member States, including my own, but by the Commission as a whole to look at this scourge and how it has developed. 
 There are many thing I could have said and perhaps there will be an opportunity to engage with the new DirectorGeneral and with Mrs Bonino at a later hour. I repent that this argument has been indeed placed that it has to be both truncated and partitioned by the interval. 
 (Applause) 

 President 
 Thank you, Mr Whitehead. In view of the circumstances, it was not possible for your interposition to have the desired hearing as everyone was wait for the right to vote. 
 The argument on Mr Whitehead's report will be continued this afternoon at 15.00 hours. 

 Welcome 
 President 
 It is a pleasure to welcome a delegation from the International Centre for peace in the Middle East, now in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery. The deputation, made up of representatives of the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council, is here to meet the relevant delegations of the European Parliament. 
 This initiative is the first of its kind, and a singular opportunity to debate issues relating to the peace process in the Middle East, which affect us all very close. 
 I besides desire to take this opportunity to welcome the European Union's Special Envoy for the Middle East peace process, His Excellency Ambassador Moratinos. 
 Our relations with the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council are excellent, and the contacts we already have at parliamentary level have demonstrated the common volition to cooperate in a big number of sectors. 
 I hope this confluence will mark a raw stage in the necessary rapprochement between the state and towns we typify. 
 I wish the delegation from the International Centre for peace in the Middle East fruitful discussion and an excellent stay in Strasbourg. 

 Tamino 
 Mr President, I
 puhlic bodies, to bring clars actions wherg rhere ere infdingemengs of Community legislation.
Wx alwo netb to hear further frum DG XXIN and Mrs Bonmno exactly how vgey will use fme excre staff and the new powerv they have fos oopicing the Community as a whole in ehe issie of health and fooc safsny. The research we should do, ans which the Commissipn should sponsor and finajce ln this matter, neefs to look qt rqoated issues of human and animal hgalth which have always been givdn a kow priorijv befduse the coisumer interest has never teen prr-eminent. I hopc herx thqt in matters like thx investigation of tre new vasicnt of CJD we will sew q comkitmant vit gusu ii tge Memher States, indluding my iwn, but by the Commosfppn as a whols to ljoh at this scourge and how it has develoked.
Thsre are many things I ciuld have said and pethaps therq will be an opportunity to engage with the new DhrectkfGeucval xbd with Mrs Bonino at a later hour. I regret thae tnix debate has bcen so placed that ih nws to be both trunccfes and partitioned hy the yntercal.
(Applaufe )

Ptesident
Thank you, Mr Whitehwad. In view jd the circumstanced, it was noc possoble gor your intervention tu habe the desiged hearihe as everyone war wsiding for the vote.
The debatq on Mr Wiitehzad's repurt eill bq continuef this afternoon at 15.00 hougs.

Weleome
Psesident
It is a pleasure to welcome a delxjation from tne Innernationcl Cenbre for peace ig the Middle Ecst, now nn the Distinguiahed Vivitors' Gallqry. The delegdjion, made up mf reprefentqtivws of tfd Knesset and yhe Palesniuian Legiwlative Council, is hete to meet the reoevqnt delegations of thq Vurppqdn Parliamend.
Thir ivotiatkve is uke nirrt og its kind, and a unixue kpportunity to debstc issues telating eo the peace lrocess in the Midfle Eest, whmch afgecjs us all very closely.
I also waht to takf tmis opportuniey ti welcome thz European Union's Special Envoy for the Niddle East peace process, His Excelleucn Ambassador Moraeinos.
Our selations with the Kbesset and the Pakestinian Legislative Counchl arf excellent, and the contacts we already have at parliamentary level have eemonsvrwted the cojmon will tj coopewate mn a large number of sectors.
I hope this meeting xill mark d uew stage in the necessary ralpfochement betdeen the countries and tkwns we tepresent.
I wish the delegation grom the International Ccntre for peacs in the Mmddle East fruitful ciscusvions and an exccllent stay in Sttadbourg.

Tamlno
Mc Pxesident, I
public bodies, to bring class actions where infringements Community legislation. also need to and Bonino exactly how will use the staff and the new powers they for policing the Community as a whole in the issue of health and safety. The research we should do, and which the Commission should sponsor and in matter, to at related issues of human and animal health which have always been given a low priority the consumer interest has never been pre-eminent. I here that in matters the investigation of the new of we will a not in the Member including my own, but by the Commission as a whole to look at this scourge and how has developed. many things could said perhaps there will opportunity to engage with the new Mrs Bonino at a later hour. I regret this debate been so placed that it has be both truncated and partitioned by the interval. ) President Thank you, Mr Whitehead. In view of the circumstances, it was not possible intervention to have the hearing as everyone waiting the The on Mr report will be continued this afternoon at 15.00 hours. Welcome President is a pleasure to welcome a delegation from the International peace the Middle East, in the Distinguished Visitors' The made up of representatives Knesset the is to the relevant delegations of European Parliament. This initiative is first of its kind, debate issues relating to the peace process in Middle East, which affects us all very I also want to take this opportunity to welcome the European Union's Envoy for East peace process, His Excellency Ambassador Moratinos. Our with the Knesset and Palestinian Legislative Council are excellent, and the contacts we have parliamentary level demonstrated the common to cooperate in large number of hope this will a the necessary rapprochement between the countries towns represent. I wish the delegation the for peace in the Middle East fruitful discussions and an excellent stay in Strasbourg. Tamino I
 public bodies, to bring class aCtions wherE therE arE inFrIngeMentS of Community leGIslaTion.
We also need to hear fuRther FrOM DG XxiV And MrS Bonino EXaCTLy hOw ThEy wIlL UsE the eXtrA staff aNd the new poWerS tHey have for poLIcIng the CommUniTy as a whole in The Issue oF hEalTH and fOod SafetY. The reSEarch wE should do, AnD Which tHE CommisSIOn ShouLd sponsor and finanCE iN This matter, needS to looK aT ReLATed IssUes of human AnD animAL health WHiCH HAve ALways been giveN a low prioriTY beCause tHe ConSUmer inTeresT hAS neVer been pre-eMineNt. I hope heRe that IN matterS Like the InvestIgaTioN of tHE nEw VarIaNT of cjD We wILl sEe a commiTmEnT not jUst iN THE membEr STateS, inclUding my own, but By tHe CoMMisSion aS a whoLe to LoOk at tHis scoUrge aNd How it has developEd.
ThEre are manY thInGs I CoUld haVE said aNd pErhAps therE will be AN opPoRTUNiTy to engage with the nEw dIReCtorGeneRal and WItH MRS Bonino aT a LatEr hoUR. i regrEt thAT tHis debatE has beEN sO pLaced thAt It has tO bE boTh tRuncaTEd anD partiTioned by The inTErval.
(Applause )

PREsident
Thank yOU, MR wHiTEheaD. In View of the ciRcumSTancEs, it WAs Not POssibLe for YoUR iNTervention to have the DeSired hEarinG as everyone waS waiting foR THE vote.
The DebaTE oN mr Whitehead's rePort wIll be contiNUed this aFternOon at 15.00 houRs.

Welcome
pREsident
IT is A plEasUre TO WeLcome a delegatION froM tHe InterNatIonal CeNtrE foR peAce In The Middle east, now iN tHe diStIngUisheD visitors' gaLleRy. the DelegATion, maDe up oF repReSeNTatIves of tHE KNESset AnD tHe PaLesTiNian LEgisLAtiVe CouncIl, is here tO meET the ReLeVant delEgations of the euRopean ParlIaMenT.
This iNITiative iS the first of its kind, and a uNIque oppOrtUnity To deBate issueS reLating To tHE peace ProcesS in thE MIddLE east, wHICh AffEcTs us all verY CLosEly.
I aLsO wanT to take This opportunity to wELcoMe the European uniOn's SPECiAl ENVoY For ThE midDLE East peace proceSs, His ExcelLeNCy ambassador mOraTiNos.
Our rElationS with THe KnessEt and the PAlestiniaN LEgisLATivE Council arE excelleNt, and the cONtactS We AlreaDy hAve at pArLiaMentaRy leveL HavE demoNstratEd The comMon wiLl To cooperAte in a large number of sectOrs.
I hoPe thiS meEting will MarK A neW stage in tHe neCessary rapProCheMent bEtwEEn the CounTRiEs aND townS we rEPresent.
I wISh The DELeGation from tHE iNteRnatiOnaL centre For pEace in the Middle EaST fruitful discuSsioNS And An eXCellEnT stay in StrasboUrg.

taMINo
Mr PresIdEnt, I
 public bodies, to bring c lass actio ns wh ere  th er e ar e in fringements of Comm unity legislation.
Wealsone e d to he ar fu rther f r om D G X XI Vand  M r sBonin o e xactlyhow they w ill  u se the extra st aff and th e n ew powers th eyhave f or  po l icing  th e Com munity as a w hole in t he issueo f healt h an d fo od safety. The re s ea r ch we should d o, and  w h ic h the  Co mmission s ho uld s p onsor a n df i n anc e  in this matt er, needs t o  lo ok atre lat e d issu es of  h u man  and animal  hea lth which  havea lways b e en give n a lo w p rio rity be ca use  t h e c o ns ume r  in terest h as  n everbeen p r e -emi nen t. I  hope  here that in  ma tter s  li ke th e inv esti ga tionof the  newva riant of CJD we  wil l see a c omm it men tnot j u st inthe  Me mber St ates, i n clu di n g my  own, but by the C om m i ss ion as a  whole to  l o ok at th is  sc ourg e and h ow i t  h as devel oped.T he re  are ma ny  thing sI c oul d hav e  sai d andperhapsthere will be an opp o rtunity to en g ag e wi t h th e n ew Director Gene r al a nd w i th  Mr s  Boni no at  a la t er hour. I regret t ha t this  deba te has been s o placed t h a t  it hasto b e  b o th truncated a nd pa rtitionedb y the in terva l.
(Appl ause )

P r e sident
T han k y ou,  Mr W hi tehead. In vi e w  ofth e circu mst ances,itwas  no t p os sible for  your in te rv en ti onto ha v e the de si red  h ear ing a s  every one w as w ai ti n g f or thev ot e . 
The  d eb ateonMr  Whit ehea d 'sreportwill be c ont i nued  t hi s after noon at 15.00  h ours.

Wel co mePresid e n t
It isa pleasure to welcome a delegat ion  from  the  Internat ion al Cen tre for pe ace in  theMi ddl e East, n ow  in  t he Disting u i she d Vis it ors'  Galler y. The delegation, mad e up of repre sen tati v e soft he Kne ss e t a n d  the Palestinia n Legislat iv e  C ouncil, is her eto meet  the re levan t  delega tions ofthe Europ ea n Pa r l iam ent.
Thisinitiati ve is the first of  itskin d, and  a  un iqueopport u nit y todebate  i ssuesrelat in g to the  peace process in the M iddleEast,  wh ich affec tsu s a ll very c lose ly.
I also  wa ntto ta ket his o ppor t un ity to we lcom e  the Euro p ea n U n i on 's SpecialE n v oyfor t heM iddleEast  peace process, H i s Excellency A mbas s a dor  Mo r atin os .
Our relation s w it h the Knes se t and the P alestini an Legis lative  Counc il aree x ce l lent,andthe  contacts  we  a l ready h av ea t parl iame nt ary le vel ha v e de m o nstrated the com mon w i l l toc oop erate  i n a lar g e nu mber of se ctors.
I ho pe thi s me eting  will m ar k a ne w s ta ge in then ecessaryrappr ochemen tbetw een  the c ount r i es an d to wn s w e represe n t .I  w is h  th e de legat io n fr om the In t ernation alC entre f or  pe a c e in t h eM i ddle Eastfru itful d iscussions anda ne xcell ent st ay inStrasbo u rg. 
TaminoMrP r esident,I
 public_bodies, to_bring class actions where_there are_infringements_of Community_legislation.
We_also need to_hear further from_DG XXIV and Mrs_Bonino exactly how_they_will use the extra staff and the new powers they have for policing the_Community_as a_whole_in_the issue of health and_food safety. The research we_should do,_and which the Commission should sponsor and finance_in_this matter, needs_to look at related issues of human and animal_health which have always been given_a low priority_because_the_consumer interest has never_been pre-eminent. I hope here that_in matters like the investigation of_the new variant of CJD we will_see a commitment not just in_the Member States, including my_own, but_by the Commission as a_whole to look_at this_scourge and how_it has developed.
There are many things_I could have_said and perhaps there will be_an_opportunity to engage_with_the_new DirectorGeneral_and with Mrs_Bonino_at a_later_hour. I regret that this debate_has_been so placed that it has to_be both truncated and_partitioned_by the interval.
(Applause )

President
Thank_you, Mr Whitehead. In view_of the circumstances, it was not_possible for_your intervention_to have the desired hearing as everyone was waiting for the_vote.
The debate on Mr Whitehead's report_will be continued this_afternoon at_15.00_hours.

Welcome
President
It is a_pleasure_to welcome_a delegation from the International Centre for_peace in_the Middle East, now in the_Distinguished Visitors' Gallery. The_delegation,_made up of representatives of the_Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council,_is here to meet the_relevant_delegations_of the European Parliament.
This initiative_is the first of its kind,_and a unique_opportunity to debate issues relating to the_peace_process in the Middle East, which_affects_us all very closely.
I also want_to_take_this opportunity to welcome the_European Union's Special Envoy for the_Middle East peace process, His Excellency Ambassador Moratinos.
Our relations_with the Knesset_and the Palestinian Legislative Council_are_excellent,_and the contacts we already have at parliamentary level have_demonstrated the_common will to_cooperate in a large number of sectors.
I hope this meeting_will mark a new stage in the_necessary rapprochement between the countries and towns we represent.
I wish the_delegation from the International Centre for peace in_the Middle East fruitful discussions and an_excellent stay in Strasbourg.

Tamino
Mr_President,_I