10. Highlights the fact that the external action of the EIB should be in line with EU policy objectives as stipulated in the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union; takes the view that the EIB, as an EU-policy-driven bank, should keep a balance in terms of lending between the different regions in the EU neighbourhood; considers that, as regards regions where EIB activity may overlap with other regional or international publicly funded financial institutions, a clear division of labour may be necessary; welcomes the Western Balkan Investment Framework in this respect; reiterates, however, ...[+++]that the current cooperation agreement between the Commission, the EIB and the EBRD as regards financing operations in the Eastern Neighbourhood, Russia and Central Asia needs to be revised; welcomes, therefore, the fact that the Steering Committee of ‘wise persons‘ agrees with the recommendations adopted in March 2009 by the European Parliament on a better mutual understanding between the EIB and the EBRD.

12. Highlights the fact that the external action of the EIB should be in line with EU policy objectives as stipulated in the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; takes the view that the EIB, as an EU-policy-driven bank, should keep a balance in terms of lending between the different regions in the EU neighbourhood; considers that, as regards regions where EIB activity may overlap with other regional or international publicly funded financial institutions, a clear division of labour may be necessary; welcomes the Western Balkan Investment Framework in this respect; reiterates, however, that ...[+++] the current cooperation agreement between the Commission, the EIB and the EBRD as regards financing operations in the Eastern Neighbourhood, Russia and Central Asia needs to be revised; welcomes, therefore, the fact that the Steering Committee of ‘wise persons’ agrees with the recommendations adopted in March 2009 by the European Parliament on a better mutual understanding between the EIB and the EBRD;

29. Considers that the recurrent question of the establishment of a kind of WTO ‘restricted Council’ or ‘Steering Committee’ to prepare and facilitate consensus-based decisions in the General Council should be looked into more closely; questions though how representation on a case by case basis could be achieved and stresses that there is a strong need for such a body to be accountable to the entire WTO membership and internally transparent; ...[+++]

The Commission has continued to play an active role in developing international guidelines, standards and recommendations in the relevant sectors and within established international forums such as UN-organisations, OECD, the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Bioethics.

- the number of women in internal decision-making structures is limited and just as disproportionate to the percentage of members, although an increase has actually been recorded (between 1993 and 1998, the percentage of women appointed as congress delegates increased from 23% to 28%, of those serving on executive committees from 15% to 20%, on steering committees or as members of executive bodies from 20% to 29% and of departmental heads from 23 % to 32 %).

6. Stresses that the Scientific Steering Committee needs to consider all other possible origins of the disease that are mooted by the international scientific community, such as copper deficiency and the influence of pesticides, in order to ensure a European policy based on the precautionary principle, while preventing unnecessary consternation amongst European citizens and consumers; considers that consideration must in particular be given to a moratorium on organophosphates, in accordance with the precautionary ...[+++] principle, in order to take account of other possible origins of the disease, such as copper deficiency and the influence of pesticides;