Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Regulation on the European Regional Development Fund (6405/ 01/99 - C4-0182/99 98/0114(COD))(Codecision procedure: second reading)
C 279/292 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 10. 1999 Thursday 6 May 1999 17. Agenda 2000 ***/***II/* (a) A4-0264/99 Decision on the draft Council Regulation laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (6959/1/99/REV 1 − C4-0215/99 − 98/0090(AVC)) (Assent procedure) The European Parliament, − having regard to the draft Council regulation, 6959/1/99/REV 1 − 98/0090(AVC), − having regard to the Council's request for Parliament's assent pursuant to Article 130d, first paragraph (now Article 161, first paragraph) of the EC Treaty (C4-0215/99), − having regard to Rule 80(1) and (3) of its Rules of Procedure, − having regard to its resolution of 19 November 1998 on the proposal for a Council Regulation laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (COM(98)0131 − C4-0285/98) (1), − having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Regional Policy and the opinion of the Committee on Fisheries (A4-0264/99), 1. 2. Gives its assent to the draft Council regulation; Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission. (1) OJ C 379, 7. 12. 1998, p. 164. (b) A4-0246/99 Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Regulation on the European Regional Development Fund (6405/1/99 − C4-0182/99 − 98/0114(COD)) (Codecision procedure: second reading) The European Parliament, − having regard to the list of Commission proposals pending as at 1 May 1999 for which the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam necessitates a change in legal basis and/or procedure, − having regard to its resolution of 4 May 1999 on the implications of the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam (list of proposals pending as at 1 May 1999 indicating new legal bases and any changes in legislative procedure following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam) (1), − having regard to the common position of the Council (C4-0182/99) confirmed by the Council by letter of 4 May 1999, − having regard to its opinion at first reading (2) on the Commission proposal to the Council COM(98)0131 (3), which it confirmed at the sitting of 4 May 1999, − having regard to the Commission’s amended proposal, COM(99)0018 (4), (1) Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 7. (2) OJ C 379, 7. 12. 1998, p. 193. (3) OJ C 176, 9. 6. 1998, p. 35. (4) OJ C 52, 23. 2. 1999, p. 12. 1. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 279/293 Thursday 6 May 1999 − having regard to Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty, − having regard to Rule 72 of its Rules of Procedure, − having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Regional Policy (A4-0246/99), 1. Amends the common position as follows; Calls on the Commission to support Parliament’s amendments in the opinion it is required to deliver 2. pursuant to Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty; 3. 4. Calls on the Council to approve all Parliament’s amendments; Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission. COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 1) Recital 9 (9) Whereas measures of Community interest undertaken at the initiative of the Commission have an important role to play in achieving the general objectives of Community structural action referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No. /99; whereas, to that end, in view of the value it adds at Community level, it is important that the ERDF continue to promote cross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation, including in the regions located on the external frontiers of the Union within the meaning of the Treaty, the least-favoured islands and the most remote regions, in view of their special features and difficulties; whereas in the context of that cooperation, the harmonious, balanced and sustainable devel- opment of the whole of the Community territory adds value to action to promote economic and social cohesion; whereas the contribution of the ERDF to that development should be continued and increased; (9) Whereas measures of Community interest undertaken at the initiative of the Commission have an important role to play in achieving the general objectives of Community structural action referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No. /99; whereas, to that end, in view of the value it adds at Community level, it is important that the ERDF continue to promote cross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation, including in the regions located on the external frontiers of the Union within the meaning of the Treaty, the least-favoured islands and the most remote regions, in view of their special features and difficulties; whereas in the context of that cooperation, the harmonious, balanced and sustainable devel- opment of the whole of the Community territory, including in connection with spatial planning, adds value to action to promote economic and social cohesion; whereas the contribu- tion of the ERDF to that development should be continued and increased; (Amendment 2) Article 2(1)(b)(i) (i) which, in regions covered by Objective 1, helps to increase the economic potential, development, structural adjust- ment and creation or maintenance of sustainable jobs in those regions, including investment in infrastructure con- tributing to the establishment and development of trans- European networks in the areas of transport, telecommu- nications and energy infrastructures; (i) which, in regions covered by Objective 1, helps to increase the economic potential, development, structural adjust- ment and creation or maintenance of sustainable jobs in those regions, including investment in infrastructure con- tributing to the establishment and development of trans- European networks in the areas of transport, telecommu- nications and energy infrastructures, taking into account the need to link to the central regions of the Commun- ity regions suffering from a structural handicap because of their insular, landlocked or peripheral status; (Amendment 3) Article 2(2)(ca) (ca) the development of tourism and cultural investment, including the protection of cultural and natural heri- tage, provided that they are creating sustainable jobs; C 279/294 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 10. 1999 Thursday 6 May 1999 COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 4) Article 3(1) 1. Pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No. /99, the ERDF shall, in accordance with Article 21 of that Regulation, contribute to the implementation of the Commun- ity initiative for cross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation intended to encourage the harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of the whole of the Community’s territory (‘Interreg’) 1. Pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No. /99, the ERDF shall, in accordance with Article 21 of that Regulation, contribute to the implementation of the Commun- ity initiative for cross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation intended to encourage the harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of the whole of the Community’s territory (‘Interreg’) as well as to the implementation of the Community initiative for economic and social regeneration of cities and urban neighbourhoods in crisis with a view to promoting sustainable urban development (‘URBAN’). (Also applies mutatis mutandis to Recital 2 of the common position) (c) A4-0250/99 Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Regulation (EC) No. /99 on the European Social Fund (6406/1/99 − C4-0183/99 − 98/0115(COD)) (Codecision procedure: second reading) The European Parliament, − 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, − having regard to its resolution of 4 May 1999 (1) on the implications of the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam (list of legislative proposals pending before the Council as at 1 May 1999, indicating new legal bases and any changes in legislative procedure following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam), − having regard to the common position of the Council (C4-0183/99), confirmed by the Council on 4 May 1999, − having regard to its opinion at first reading (2) on the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(98)0131 (3), which was confirmed on 4 May 1999, − having regard to the Commission’s amended proposal COM(99)0044 (4), − having regard to Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty, − having regard to Rule 72 of its Rules of Procedure, − having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A4-0250/99), 1. Amends the common position as follows; Calls on the Commission to support Parliament’s amendment in the opinion it is required to deliver 2. pursuant to Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty; (1) Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 7. (2) OJ C 379, 7. 12. 1998, p. 193. (3) OJ C 176, 9. 6. 1998, p. 39. (4) OJ C 74, 18. 3. 1999, p. 7