European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the implementation of operations in the framework of the pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta (COM(1999) 535 — C5-0308/1999 — 1999/0199(CNS))
C 339/232 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 2000 Thursday 17 February 2000 2. Pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta * A5-0029/2000 Proposal for a Council regulation on the implementation of operations in the framework of the pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta (COM(1999) 535 & C5-0308/1999 & 1999/0199(CNS)) The proposal was amended as follows: TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 1) Citation 1a (new) having regard to conclusions of the Helsinki European Council of 10 and 11 December 1999, (Amendment 3) Recital 3a (new) (3a) Whereas the Helsinki European Council of December 1999 underlined the need for an efficient and credible enlargement process and at the same time pledged to review no later than the end of 2004 how circumstances have evolved; (Amendment 4) Recital 4a (new) (4a) Whereas, under the terms of the European Treaties and the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 (1) on budget discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure, is necessary to establish it clearly the link between implementation of appropriations which have been entered in the Community Budget and the corresponding legal basis; (1) OJ C 172, 18. 6. 1999. (Amendment 5) Recital 5 (5) Whereas it is necessary to establish accession partnership instruments for Cyprus and Malta in accordance with the pro- cedures set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 622/98 of 16 March 1998 for the applicant States of Central and Eastern Europe, so that Community assistance can be concentrated on accession priorities and objectives; (5) Whereas it is necessary, therefore, to establish accession partnership instruments for Cyprus and Malta in accordance with the procedures in Council Regulation (EC) No 622/98 of 16 March 1998 for the applicant States of Cen- tral and Eastern Europe, so that Community assistance, includ- ing financial aid, can be concentrated on accession priorities and objectives; set out (7) Whereas the financial protocols concluded with Cyprus and Malta are due to expire on 31 December 1999; (7) Whereas the financial protocols concluded with Cyprus and Malta expired on 31 December 1999; (Amendment 6) Recital 7 29. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 339/233 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION Thursday 17 February 2000 AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 7) Recital 7a (new) (7a) Whereas the Helsinki European Council noted with satisfaction the progress made during negotiations with Cyprus, and decided to convene a bilateral intergovern- mental conference in February 2000 with Malta, in order to start negotiations on the conditions for its entry into the Union and the ensuing Treaty adjustments; (Amendment 8) Recital 7b (new) (7b) Whereas the Community Budget for the financial year 2000 introduces a new method for showing appro- priations relating to Cyprus and Malta which should inter alia lead to sounder management and increased transpar- ency as regards the financial resources earmarked for implementation of planned operations is concerned; (Amendment 9) Recital 7c (new) (7c) Whereas this Regulation and in particular its accom- panying annex makes provision for the taking of multi- annnual measures of an operational nature entailing a financial cost for its entire application period; (Amendment 10) Recital 7d (new) (7d) Whereas despite the provisions of the Financial Reg- ulation in force, although the Commission is proposing a multi-annual operation, it accepts, on the one hand, that the financial statement should refer only to the cost of operations for the year 2000, which is estimated at € 15 million, and on the other hand it is making provision for an assessment method covering operations implemen- ted over a three-year period; (Amendment 2) Recital 7e (new) (7e) having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 16 December 1999 on the budget for the financial year 2000, (Amendment 1) Recital 8a (new) (8a) Whereas Malta and Cyprus will participate in the MEDA facility as foreseen; C 339/234 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 2000 Thursday 17 February 2000 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 11) Recital 8b (new) (8b) Whereas, in the light of the progress made in imple- menting this programme, the Commission is to revise the financial statement, in particular the estimated schedule of annual commitment appropriations; (Amendment 12) Recital 9a (new) (9a) Whereas the Helsinki European Council called for the opening of negotiations on the accession of Malta to the European Union; (Amendment 13) Recital 9b (new) (9b) Whereas the pre-accession aid for Cyprus and Malta should be entered for the 2001-2004 period under Sub- section B7 (pre-accession aid) in order to be consistent with the provisions in force for the other applicant coun- tries; (Amendment 14) Article 1(1), 3rd indent a (new) & unimpeded funding of the above operations as defined in Article 4 for the entire period of validity of this Regulation, subject to the provisions of Article 10, (Amendment 15) Article 1(2) 2. Acting on a proposal from the Commission, the Council shall decide by qualified majority on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the individ- ual Accession Partnership to be submitted to each applicant State, as well as on subsequent significant adjustments to them. 2. Acting on a proposal from the Commission, and after consulting the European Parliament, the Council shall decide by qualified majority on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the individual Accession Partnership to be submitted to each applicant State, as well as on subsequent significant adjustments to them. (Amendment 16) Article 1(2a) (new) 2a. The appropriations for pre-accession aid shall be determined annually for the budget lines created for this purpose and shall be included in Heading 7 of the Finan- cial Perspective. 29. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 339/235 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION Thursday 17 February 2000 AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 23) Article 2a (new) Article 2a The financial reference amount of € 95 million proposed by the Council for the implementation of this Regulation for the period up to 31 December 2004 seems to be inadequate and should be reviewed in the light of the objectives set in Article 1. The annual appropriations shall be approved by the relevant budgetary authority within the limits of the Financial Perspective. (Amendment 18) Article 3, 2nd indent = any operations to contribute to the reconciliation of the two Cypriot communities. = any operations to contribute to a resumption of reconci- liation efforts between the two Cypriot communities. (Amendment 19) Article 5 Where an essential element for the continuation of pre-acces- sion assistance to Cyprus and Malta is lacking, in particular where there is a violation of democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms or international law and/or progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria is insufficient, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate steps with regard to any pre-accession assistance granted to Cyprus or Malta. Where an essential element for the continuation of pre-acces- sion assistance to Cyprus and Malta is lacking, in particular where there is a violation of democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms or international law and/or progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria is insufficient, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, and after consulting the European Parliament, may take appropriate steps with regard to any pre-accession assistance granted to either of these countries. (Amendment 20) Article 7 A management committee shall be established (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’). 1. The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee composed of the representatives of the Mem- ber States and chaired by the Commission (‘the Commit- tee’). Where reference is made to this article, the advisory procedure laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply. The Committee shall act in accordance with the pro- 2. cedure laid down in Article 3 of Decision 1999/468/EC. The period provided for in Article 4 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be three months. 3. The Committee may consider any other matters relating to the implementation of this Regulation which are submitted to its chairman. (Amendment 21) Article 10 Three years after this Regulation enters into force, the Commi- ssion shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council an overall assessment of operations financed by the Commun- ity under this Regulation, together with suggestions regarding the future of this Regulation and, where necessary, proposals for amending it. Three years after this Regulation enters into force, the Commi- ssion shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council an overall assessment of operations financed by the Commun- ity under this Regulation, together with suggestions regarding the future of this Regulation and, where necessary, proposals amending it. The Commission shall also submit for C 339/236 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 2000 Thursday 17 February 2000 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT annually, in good time, the necessary budgetary and finan- cial information to enable the legislature and the budget- ary authority to assess and justify the financial interven- tion of the Community in order to ensure the smooth attainment of the political aim so that this accession pro- cess may prove successful, adequate and transparent. European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the imple- mentation of operations in the framework of the pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta (COM(1999) 535 & C5-0308/1999 & 1999/0199(CNS)) (Consultation procedure) The European Parliament, = having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(1999) 535), = having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 308 of the EC Treaty (C5-0308/1999), = having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure, = having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A5-0029/2000), 1. Approves the Commission proposal as amended; Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the 2. EC Treaty; Calls for the conciliation procedure to be initiated should the Council intend to depart from the text 3. approved by Parliament; Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Com- 4. mission proposal; 5. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission. 3. Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure * A5-0013/2000 Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 3605/93 on the application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community (COM(1999) 444 & C5-0174/1999 & 1999/0196(CNS)) The proposal was approved