Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation on the European Social Fund'
C 293/22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13. 10. 1999 Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation on the European Social Fund’ (1999/C 293/05) THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS, having regard to the list of Commission proposals pending at 1 May 1999 for which the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam implies a change in legal base and/or a change in procedure (SEC(1999) 581 final); having regard to the Proposal for a Council Regulation on the European Social Fund [COM(1998) 131 final — 98/0115 (COD) — formerly 98/0115 (SYN)] (1); having regard to the decision taken by the Council according to its letter of 3 May 1999, under Article 265 first paragraph and Article 148 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Committee of the Regions on the matter; having regard to the decision of its Bureau of 7 May 1999 to appoint Ms Matthews and Mr Correia as general rapporteurs, to draw up an opinion on this subject, in accordance with Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure of the COR; having regard to its Opinion on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation on the European Social Fund’ (rapporteurs: Ms Matthews and [COM(1998) 131 final — 98/0115 (SYN)] Mr Correia) adopted at its plenary session on 19 November 1998, (CdR 155/98 fin) (2), adopted the following opinion at its 29th plenary session on 2 and 3 June 1999 (meeting of 3 June). The Committee of the Regions re-endorses its Opinion 1. on the ‘Proposal of the Council Regulation on the European Social Fund’ adopted at its plenary session on 19 November 1998. (1) OJ C 176, 9. 6. 1998, p. 39. (2) OJ C 51, 22. 2. 1999, p. 48. Brussels, 3 June 1999. The Committee of the Regions strongly regrets the fact 2. that the Council has not respected the procedure of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing a deadline which in any case may not be less than a month after the communication from the Council has been received by the president of the Committee of the Regions. The letter from the Council concerning this referral is dated on 3 May 1999, registered at the Committee of the Regions the 5 May and the time limit was fixed by the Council for 3 June 1999. The President of the Committee of the Regions Manfred DAMMEYER