12. 11. 94 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 293/9 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 31 October 1994 on the system of the European Communities’ own resources (94/728/EC, Euratom) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 201 thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 173 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas Council Decision 88/376/EEC, Euratom of 24 June 1988 on the system of the Communities’ own resources (4) expanded and amended the composition of own resources by capping the VAT resources base at 55 % of gross national product (‘GNP’) for the year at market prices, with the maximum call-in rate being maintained at 1,4 %, and by introducing an additional resource based on the total GNP of the Member States; Whereas the European Council meeting in Edinburgh on 11 and 12 December 1992 reached certain conclusions; No C 300, 6. 11. 1993, p. 17. No C 61, 28. 2. 1994, p. 105. No .C 52, 19. 2. 1994, p. 1. No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 24. Whereas the Communities must have- adequate resources to finance their policies; Whereas, in accordance with these conclusions, the Communities will, by 1999, be assigned .a maximum amount of own resources corresponding to 1,27 % of the total of the Member States’ GNPs for the year at market prices; Whereas observance of this ceiling requires that the total amount of own resources at the Community’s disposal for the period 1995 to 1999 does not in any one year exceed a specified percentage of the sum of the Member States’ GNPs for the year in question; Whereas on overall ceiling of 1,335 % of the Member States’ GNPs is set for commitment appropriations; - whereas an orderly progression of commitment appropriations and payment appropriations should be ensured; Whereas these ceilings should remain applicable until this Decision is amended; Whereas, in order to make allowance for each Member State’s ability to contribute to the system of own . resources and to correct the regressive aspects of the current system for the least prosperous Member States, in accordance with the Protocol on economic and social cohesion annexed to the Treaty on European Union, the.