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I Tagħrif

Kummissjoni

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RAPPORT MILL-KUMMISSJONI

dwar il-ħidma tal-kumitati matul is-sena 2003

[COM(2004) 860]

(2005/C 65 E/01)

1.   KUMMENTI ĠENERALI RIGWARD IS-SISTEMA TAL-KOMITOLOĠIJA

Dan ir-rapport preżenti jkopri l-attivitajiet tal-kumitati tal-komitoloġija matul is-sena 2003. Isegwi l-istruttura bażika tar-rapport preċedenti li jkopri s-sena 2002. Fih introduzzjoni fit-Taqsima 1, deskrizzjoni orizzontali ta' l-attivitajiet tal-kumitati fit-Taqsima 2 u Anness bi statistiċi dettaljati dwar il-kumitati tal-komitoloġija individwali, organizzati skond id-diversi dipartimenti tal-Kummissjoni. (1) Dan ir-rapport isostni t-trasparenza mtejba ta' l-istatistiċi fl-Anness billi jelenka l-kumitati kollha individwali flimkien ma' kummenti testwali fuq l-attivitajiet tagħhom.

1.1   In-natura legali u r-rwol tal-kumitati tal-komitoloġija

L-għan tal-kumitati tal-komitoloġija huwa li jassistu lill-Kummissjoni fl-eżerċizzju tal-poteri ta' implimentazzjoni mogħtija lilha mill-leġiżlatur, i.e. il-Kunsill u l-Parlament Ewropew. Il-kumitati tal-komitoloġija għandhom dawn it-tliet fatturi essenzjali in komuni.

L-ewwelnett, inħolqu mill-leġiżlatur (il-Kunsill u l-Parlament Ewropew) skond il-proċeduri “leġiżlattivi” fis-seħħ fiż-żmien ta' l-adozzjoni ta' l-istrument bażiku li kienu stabbiliti taħtu, jiġifieri l-proċeduri ta' kooperazzjoni jew konsultattivi u, wara t-Trattat ta' Maastricht, il-proċedura ta' kodeċiżjoni. Għaldaqstant, il-bażi legali tal-kumitati tal-komitoloġija hija miġbura fl-hekk imsejjaħ “strument bażiku”.

It-tieni, l-istruttura u l-metodi tal-ħidma tagħhom huma standardizzati f'bosta aspetti. Rappreżentant tal-Kummissjoni jippresiedi kull kumitat, li jikkonsisti f'rappreżentanti ta' l-Istati Membri; dawn huma l-uniċi “membri” tal-kumitati. Il-kumitati jintervjenu fil-qafas tal-proċeduri stipulati fl-istrument bażiku leġiżlattiv, skond id-deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill, dwar il-komitoloġija.

L-Artikolu 9 tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE (2) jirrevoka d-Deċiżjoni l-antika dwar il-komitoloġija 87/373/KEE tat-13 ta' Lulju 1987 (id-Deċiżjoni dwar il-Komitoloġija ta' l-1987) (3). Il-proċeduri ta' l-1987 baqgħu temporanjament fis-seħħ sakemm saru l-emendi ta' l-istrumenti bażiċi leġiżlattivi, skond il-proċeduri tal-komitoloġija skond id-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE. Dan intlaħaq jew permezz ta' atti ta' emenda individwali jew permezz ta' “regolamenti ta' allinjament” (ara t-Taqsima 1.2).

It-tielet, il-kumitati jagħtu opinjonijiet fuq abbozz ta' miżuri ta' implimentazzjoni ppreżentati lilhom mill-Kummissjoni skond l-istrument leġiżlattiv bażiku u jintervjenu fil-qafas tal-proċedura konsultattiva, il-proċedura tat-tmexxija jew il-proċedura regolatorja ħasbu għal dak il-għan.

Skond l-Artikolu 2 tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE, il-proċedura tat-tmexxija għandha tkun riservata għal miżuri ta' tmexxija bħal ma huma dawk relatati ma' l-applikazzjoni tal-politika komuni agrikola u tal-politika komuni tas-sajd jew ma' l-implimentazzjoni ta' programmi li għandhom implikazzjonijiet sostanzjali fuq il-baġit (Artikolu 2(a)). Il-proċedura regolatorja hija stipulata fil-każ ta' miżuri li japplikaw b'mod ġenerali u maħsuba għall-applikazzjoni ta' dispożizzjonijiet essenzjali ta' strumenti bażiċi, inklużi miżuri li jikkonċernaw il-ħarsien tas-saħħa u s-sigurtà tal-bnedmin, ta' l-annimali jew tal-pjanti u għall-aġġornament ta' elementi “tekniċi” ta' strument bażiku (Artikolu 2(b)). Il-proċedura konsultattiva hija applikata kulfejn titqies l-aktar xierqa.

1.2   L-istat ta' l-implimentazzjoni tad-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE

Fid-Dikjarazzjoni Nru 2 dwar l-implimentazzjoni tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE (4), il-Kunsill u l-Kummissjoni qablu li jadattaw, malajr kemm jista' jkun, u skond il-proċeduri leġiżlattivi xierqa, id-dispożizzjonijiet li jirregolaw il-kumitati li jassistu lill-Kummissjoni fl-eżerċizzju tal-poteri tagħha ta' implimentazzjoni taħt id-Deċiżjoni 87/373/KEE sabiex tagħmilhom skond id-dispożizzjonijiet ta' l-Artikoli 3 sa 6 tad-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE.

Mid-dħul fis-seħħ tad-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE, il-proċeduri tal-kumitat ta' numru ta' strumenti bażiċi kienu aġġornati każ b'każ. Sabiex l-aġġornament ikun sħiħ, fl-aħħar tas-sena 2001 il-Kummissjoni ppreżentat pakkett ta' erba' proposti (l-hekk imsejħa “regolamenti ta' allinjament”) (5), li jkopru aktar minn 300 strument bażiku li jistabbilixxu proċeduri ta' implimentazzjoni. Il-Kunsill u l-Parlament adottaw ir-“regolamenti ta' allinjament” tul is-sena 2003 (6) skond il-proċeduri leġiżlattivi rilevanti (il-proċedura ta' approvazzjoni, il-proċedura ta' kodeċiżjoni u l-proċedura ta' konsultazzjoni b'maġġoranza kwalifikata u b'unanimità). Ta' min jinnota li l-atti ta' allinjament ma jaffettwawx id-dispożizzjonijiet sostantivi ta' l-atti leġiżlattivi, u lanqas ma jaffettwaw il-proċeduri ta' salvagwardja jew l-identità tal-kumitati pprovduti fl-atti bażiċi legali.

Bħala element ġdid importanti, l-Artikolu 7 tad-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE, u d-dikjarazzjonijiet tal-Kunsill u tal-Kummissjoni dwar dik id-disposizzjoni (jiġifieri d-dikjarazzjonijiet Nru 4 u 5), daħħlu miżuri maħsuba sabiex itejbu t-trasparenza tal-ħidma tal-kumitati tal-komitoloġija.

F'dan ir-rigward, il-pubblikazzjoni ta' dan ir-rapport annwali dwar il-ħidma tal-kumitati, kif previst fl-Artikolu 7(4), hija fiha nnifisha kontribuzzjoni sinjifikanti li titfa' dawl fuq l-attivitjiet tal-Kummissjoni f'termini ta' l-eżerċizzju tal-poteri ta' l-implimentazzjoni.

B'ħarsien ta' l-Artikolu 7(4), il-Kummissjoni ppubblikat ukoll lista tal-kumitati kollha li jgħinuha teżerċita dawn il-poteri ta' implimentazzjoni. (7) Inventarju tal-kumitati eżistenti, li huwa aġġornat kontinwament, jista' jkun ikkonsultat fir-reġistru (ara hawn taħt) u fir-rapporti annwali.

Fil-31 ta' Jannar 2001, b'ħarsien ta' l-Artikolu 7(1), il-Kummissjoni adottat ir-regoli ta' proċedura standard (8) li fuqhom ifasslu r-regoli ta' proċedura tagħhom il-kumitati eżistenti jew dawk imwaqqfa dan l-aħħar. Il-Kummissjoni għandha l-ħsieb tadotta verżjoni aġġornata tar-regoli ta' proċedura standard, prinċipalment sabiex iġġibhom skond ir-regoli l-ġodda dwar l-aċċess għad-dokumenti (ara hawn taħt). Sa l-aħħar tas-sena 2003, 94 mit-total ta' 263 kumitati adottaw regoli interni ta' proċedura bbażati fuq it-test standard fis-seħħ.

Finalment, l-Artikolu 7(5) tad-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE jipprovdi illi l-Kummissjoni għandha tippubblika reġistru li jagħti r-referenzi tad-dokumenti kollha mibgħuta lill-Parlament Ewropew taħt il-proċeduri tal-komitoloġija. Dan ir-reġistru ilu jopera minn Diċembru 2003 (9). Skond id-dikjarazzjoni tagħha (Nru 5) fuq id-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE, il-Kummissjoni żiedet repositorju fir-reġistru bħala miżura oħra ta' trasparenza, sabiex ħafna dokumenti komunikati lill-Parlament Ewropew saru aċċessibbli direttament mill-pubbliku skond ir-Regolament (KE) Nru 1049/2001 tal-Parlament u tal-Kunsill rigward l-aċċess pubbliku għad-dokumenti ta' l-istituzzjonijiet (10) li daħal fis-seħħ fit-3 ta' Diċembru 2001. Ir-repositorju fih aġendi, rekords sommarji u riżultati ta' votazzjonijiet tal-laqgħat tal-kumitati u xogħol; abbozzi ta' miżuri ta' implimentazzjoni għadhom ma ġewx ippubblikati provviżorjament.

1.3   Id-dritt tal-Parlament Ewropew għall-iskrutinju

Il-Kummissjoni hija obbligata tinforma lill-Parlament Ewropew dwar ix-xogħol tal-kumitati u tibgħatlu l-abbozzi kollha tal-miżuri ta' implimentazzjoni skond strument bażiku adottat taħt l-Artikolu 251 tat-Trattat (kodeċiżjoni), sabiex il-Parlament Ewropew ikun jista' jeżerċita d-dritt tiegħu għall-iskrutinju, li jinsab fl-Artikolu 8 tad-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE.

Fi Frar ta' l-2000, il-Parlament Ewropew u l-Kummissjoni kkonkludew Ftehim dwar proċeduri għall-implimentazzjoni tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE, maħsub speċifikament sabiex jirregola l-proċeduri għall-implimentazzjoni ta' l-obbligazzjonijiet fi dmir il-Kummissjoni (11).

Il-ftehim jaħseb għat-trasmissjoni elettronika tad-dokumenti, biċċa xogħol li kienet implimentata ftit ftit matul is-sena 2001. Dokumenti minn diversi dipartimenti tal-Kummissjoni ikunu l-ewwel trasmessi lis-Segretarjat Ġenerali tal-Kummissjoni, u dan jibgħathom minnufih lil servizz ċentrali fil-Parlament Ewropew. Illum kważi d-dokumenti kollha huma trasmessi elettronikament.

Minbarra f'emerġenzi, il-ftehim jistipula perijodu ta' xahar mir-riċeviment ta' abbozz ta' miżura “definitiva” ta' implimentazzjoni (12) taħt att legali adottat permezz ta' kodeċiżjoni sabiex tippermetti lill-Parlament Ewropew, fejn jixraq, li jadotta riżoluzzjoni (f'sessjoni plenarja), skond l-Artikolu 8 tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE, jekk jikkunsidra illi l-abbozz ta' miżura ma jaqax taħt il-poteri ta' implimentazzjoni miġbura fl-istrument bażiku (13).

Il-ftehim bilaterali ta' Frar ta' l-2000 kien implimentat permezz ta' ftehim amministrattiv ieħor bejn is-Segretarjati Ġenerali tal-Parlament Ewropew u l-Kummissjoni, ta' l-14 ta' Diċembru 2001. Dan il-ftehim amministrattiv huwa maħsub biex jassigura trattament armonizzat mid-dipartimenti tal-Kummissjoni sabiex l-obbligazzjonijiet kollha tal-Kummissjoni taħt il-ftehim bilaterali ta' Frar 2000 jintlaħqu kif jixraq. B'mod partikolari, dan jaħseb għal standards minimi fir-rigward tat-tipi tad-dokumenti u ta' l-istruttura tagħhom. Ta' min jinnota illi matul is-sena 2003 reġa' ma kien hemm l-ebda każ irrappurtat fejn il-Parlament Ewropew ħass il-bżonn li jadotta riżoluzzjoni bbażata fuq l-Artikolu 8 tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE.

1.4   Referenzi lill-Kunsill

L-ebda każ ta' referenza lill-Kunsill ma kien irrappurtat fl-2003. Skond id-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE, abbozzi ta' miżuri jridu jkunu riferiti lill-Kunsill meta l-Kummissjoni ma jirnexxieliex tikseb il-maġġoranza meħtieġa taħt il-proċedura regolatorja jew inkella tiffaċċja maġġoranza kwalifikata li topponi taħt il-proċedura tat-tmexxija. In-nuqqas ta' referenzi (u fi snin preċedenti l-persentaġġi żgħar ta' inqas minn 1 % meta mqabbla man-numru totali ta' strumenti adottati mill-Kummissjoni taħt il-proċedura tat-tmexxija jew taħt il-proċedura regolatorja) juri illi l-ħidma tal-kumitati taħt is-sistema kurrenti tirriżulta fi grad għoli ta' kunsens u li l-proposti mir-rappreżentanti tal-Kummissjoni huma normalment approvati mill-kumitati.

1.5   Żviluppi aktar vasti

F'Diċembru ta' l-2002, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea ppreżentat proposta għal proċedura regolatorja riveduta (14) għal miżuri maħsuba sabiex jimplimentaw aktar l-aspetti essenzjali jew li jadattaw ċerti aspetti oħra ta' atti bażiċi adottati taħt il-proċedura ta' kodeċiżjoni (Artikolu 251 tat-Trattat). Din il-proċedura l-ġdida proposta tpoġġi lill-Parlament Ewropew u lill-Kunsill fuq l-istess livell fir-rigward tas-superviżjoni ta' l-eżerċizzju tal-poteri ta' implimentazzjoni tal-Kummissjoni. Fit-2 ta' Settembru 2003, il-Parlament Ewropew approva b'mod ġenerali l-proposta tal-Kummissjoni, (15) waqt li ssuġġerixxa numru limitat ħafna ta' emendi tekniċi. Fit-22 ta' April 2004, il-Kummissjoni ħarġet proposta emendata (16) sabiex tinkludi l-biċċa l-kbira ta' l-emenda tal-Parlament Ewropew, u sabiex tagħmel aktar ċara l-proċedura l-ġdida. Il-proposta emendata qiegħda preżentement taħt eżami fil-Kunsill.

Il-Konvenzjoni dwar il-Futur ta' l-Ewropa pproponiet lill-Konferenza Intergovernattiva (IGC) fl-abbozz tat-Trattat Kostituzzjonali tagħha sabiex ikunu riorganizzati l-poteri eżekuttivi tal-Kummissjoni (17). L-abbozz tal-Konvenzjoni jintroduċi l-istrument ta' regolamenti “delegati” li għandhom ikunu adottati mill-Kummissjoni sabiex tissupplimenta jew temenda ċerti elementi “li ma humiex essenzjali” tal-liġijiet Ewropej taħt il-kontroll tal-Parlament u tal-Kunsill, li jistgħu jirrevokaw id-delegazzjoni nnifisha jew joġġezzjonaw għal abbozz ta' regolament speċifiku; dawn ir-regolamenti delegati jkunu maħsuba mill-atti ta' implimentazzjoni li l-Kummissjoni se tadotta prinċipalment taħt ftit kontroll mill-Istati Membri. It-test baqa' mingħajr tibdiliet fil-verżjoni finali adottata mill-Konferenza Intergovernattiva fil-laqgħa tal-Kunsill Ewropew tas-17/18 ta' Ġunju 2004 (18).

It-tkabbir ta' l-Unjoni Ewropea seħħ fl-1 ta' Mejju 2004. Wara l-Konklużjonijiet fis-Summit ta' Kopenħagen ta' Diċembru 2002, fil-25 ta' Frar 2003 il-Kummissjoni adottat miżuri (19) li jagħtu stat attiv ta' osservatur lil għaxar stati aderenti. Dan beda japplika mill-ġurnata ta' wara l-firma tat-Trattat ta' l-Adeżjoni fis-16 ta' April 2003. (20) Taħt dan il-ftehim, rappreżentanti mill-istati aderenti kienu mistiedna f'bosta mill-kumitati tal-komitoloġija; kellhom il-possibilità jesprimu l-opinjonijiet tagħhom dwar il-kwistjonijiet diskussi fil-laqgħat iżda ma kellhom l-ebda dritt jieħdu sehem fil-votazzjoni dwar l-abbozz tal-miżuri ta' implimentazzjoni. Għat-tliet pajjiżi kandidati li fadal (il-Bulgarija, ir-Rumanija u t-Turkija), il-parteċipazzjoni kompliet tkun organizzata fuq il-bażi tal-“Komunikazzjoni mill-Kummissjoni lill-Kunsill dwar il-parteċipazzjoni ta' pajjiżi kandidati fi programmi, aġenziji u kumitati tal-Komunità” (21). Tul is-sena ta' rrappurtar, l-għaxar pajjiżi aderenti kienu rrappreżentati approssimattivament f'186 minn total ta' 256 kumitati.

2.   DESKRIZZJONI ORIZZONTALI TA' L-ATTIVITAJIET

2.1   Numru ta' kumitati u tipi ta' proċeduri

Huwa mportanti li ssir distinzjoni bejn il-kumitati tal-komitoloġija, fuq naħa, u entitajiet oħra, b'mod partikolari “gruppi ta' esperti” imwaqqfa mill-Kummissjoni innifisha, fuq in-naħa l-oħra. Dawn ta' l-aħħar huma kkonċernati bil-preparazzjoni u t-twettiq ta' politiki, waqt li l-kumitati tal-komitoloġija huma involuti fil-kuntest ta' l-implimentazzjoni ta' l-atti leġiżlattivi. Ir-rapport preżenti jiffoka esklussivament fuq il-kumitati tal-komitoloġija. In-numru tal-kumitati tal-komitoloġija kien ikkalkulat skond is-settur ta' l-attività (Tabella I) sal-31.12.2003. Il-figuri għas-sena ta' qabel (hekk kif kienu sal-31.12.2002) huma mogħtija għall-komparazzjoni.

Tabella I

Numru totali ta' kumitati

Il-figuri juru l-importanza relativa tal-komitoloġija fl-attivitajiet fid-diversi setturi tal-politika. It-Trasport/Enerġija (45), l-Ambjent (35), l-Intrapriża (33) u l-Agrikoltura (30) għandhom l-akbar numru ta' kumitati. Dawn is-setturi tal-politika waħedhom, b'143 minn total ta' 256 kumitati, jagħmlu aktar min-nofs tal-kumitati. Il-Kummissjoni tkompli bl-isforzi tagħha sabiex tnaqqas iż-żieda fin-numru ta' kumitati. B'hekk, in-numru ta' kumitati fl-2003 huwa stabbli meta kkomparat ma' l-2002. Waqt li l-leġiżlatur f'xi oqsma tal-politika b'attivitajiet miżjuda (jiġifieri fil-qasam tat-Trasport u l-Enerġija) stabbilixxa kumitati ġodda, f'setturi oħra tal-politika n-numru naqas bħala konsegwenza tar-ristrutturazzjoni tal-qafas legali (ara, per eżempju, is-Saħħa u l-Protezzjoni tal-Konsumatur u r-Riċerka).

Il-kumitati tal-komitoloġija jistgħu jkunu klassifikati skond it-tip ta' proċedura taħt liema jaħdmu (proċedura konsultattiva, proċedura ta' tmexxija, proċedura regolatorja, u proċedura ta' salvagwardja – ara t-Tabella II). Għal parti mis-sena 2003, il-proċeduri tal-komitoloġija ta' l-1987 baqgħu japplikaw sad-dħul fis-seħħ tar-“regolamenti ta' allinjament” (ara t-Taqsima 1.2 hawn fuq). Il-varjanti differenti meta mqabbla mal-proċeduri tal-komitoloġija ta' l-1987 (IIa u IIb, IIIa u IIIb) huma magħduda flimkien mat-tipi ta' proċeduri ġodda korrispondenti kif preskritt fid-Dikjarazzjoni Nru 2 dwar l-implimentazzjoni tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE (23).

Peress illi ċerti kumitati japplikaw proċeduri multipli (li jvarjaw mill-proċedura konsultattiva sal-proċedura regolatorja, flimkien mal-proċedura ta' salvagwardja), huma ġew distinti mill-kumitati li jaħdmu skond proċedura unika.

Tabella II

Numru ta' kumitati skond il-proċedura (2003)

Il-figuri jindikaw illi kważi nofs il-kumitati (100 minn 256) jaħdmu esklussivament taħt il-proċedura regolatorja, segwiti min-numru konsiderevolment żgħir ta' kumitati li jaħdmu esklussivament taħt il-proċedura tat-tmexxija (74). Id-diviżjoni skond is-settur tal-politika juri illi l-użu ta' tliet tipi ta' proċeduri jvarja minn settur ta' politika għall-ieħor. Madanakollu, f'xi setturi tal-politika, wieħed jinnota d-dominanza ta' waħda mill-proċeduri: it-Trasport/Enerġija u l-Ambjent jaħdmu b'numru kbir ta' kumitati li jiffunzjonaw taħt il-proċedura regolatorja, waqt li l-Agrikoltura taħdem b'numru kbir ta' kumitati li jiffunzjonaw taħt il-proċedura tat-tmexxija.

2.2   Numru ta' laqgħat

In-numru ta' kumitati ma huwiex l-uniku indikatur ta' attività fuq il-livell tal-komitoloġija. In-numru ta' laqgħat li saru fl-2003 jirrifletti l-intensità tax-xogħol in ġenerali, fuq livell settorjali u f'kumitati individwali (Tabella III).

Tabella III

Numru ta' laqgħat

Bħal fis-sena 2002, l-Agrikoltura tiddomina (bi 322 laqgħat), peress illi t-tmexxija tad-diversi swieq agrikoli teħtieġ laqgħat ta' spiss. Hija segwita mill-Unjoni tat-Tassazzjoni u tad-Dwana (b'113 laqgħat) u s-Saħħa u l-Protezzjoni tal-Konsumatur (b'101 laqgħat) – li huwa responsabbli, fost affarijiet oħra, mis-sigurtà fl-ikel – u grupp ta' setturi oħra, bħall-Intrapriża, l-Ambjent u r-Riċerka, fejn in-numru ta' laqgħat huwa bejn 50 sa 70.

2.3   Numru ta' opinjonijiet u strumenti

Kif introdott fir-rapport preċedenti, ir-rapport preżenti jagħti figuri globali ta' l-opinjonijiet formali ppreżentati mill-kumitati (25) u l-istrumenti sussegwenti (i.e. miżuri ta' implimentazzjoni = atti legali, deċiżjonijiet amministrattivi) adottati mill-Kummissjoni. Dawn il-figuri jiddeskrivu l-isforz konkret tal-kumitati (Tabella IV). In-numru totali ta' opinjonijiet ippreżentati mill-kumitati fl-2003 kien 2,981 (imqabbel ma' 3,610 fl-2002); in-numru ta' strumenti adottati mill-Kummissjoni kien ta' 2,768 (imqabbel ma' 3,077 fl-2002). Iż-żewġ indikaturi juru li kien hemm kwantitattivament “output” daqxejn inqas importanti fis-sena tar-rappurtar, meta mqabbel mal-perijodu preċedenti.

Tabella IV

Numru ta' opinjonijiet u strumenti (2003)

In-numru kbir ta' strumenti adottati f'ċerti setturi tal-politika – Agrikoltura (1,413), is-Saħħa u l-Protezzjoni tal-Konsumatur (392) u l-Intrapriża (352) – għal darba oħra jirriflettu l-intensità tax-xogħol delegat lill-Kummissjoni f'dawn l-oqsma permezz tal-proċeduri tal-komitoloġija. (26)

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(1)  L-Anness huwa ppreżentat bħala working paper tal-ħaddiema tal-Kummissjoni.

(2)ĠU L 184, tas-17.7.1999, p. 23.

(3)ĠU L 197, tat-18.7.1987, p. 33.

(4)ĠU C 203, tas-17.7.1999, p. 1.

(5)  KUMM (2001) 789 finali, adottat fis-27 ta' Diċembru 2001.

(6)  Ir-Regolamenti tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 806/2003 (ĠU L 122, tas-16.05.2003, p. 1) u Nru 807/2003 (ĠU L 122, tas-16.5.2003, p. 36) ta' l-14 ta' April 2003 li jadattaw għad-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE id-dispożizzjonijiet dwar il-kumitati li jassistu lill-Kummissjoni fl-eżerċizzju tal-poteri tagħha ta' implimentazzjoni stabbiliti fl-istrumenti tal-Kunsill adottati skond il-proċedura ta' konsultazzjoni (maġġoranza kwalifikata/unanimità), ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 1105/2003 (ĠU L 158, tas-27.6.2003, p. 3) tas-26 ta' Mejju 2003 li jemenda r-Regolament (KE) Nru 1260/1999 li jistabbilixxi dispożizzjonijiet ġenerali dwar il-Fondi Strutturali (proċedura ta' approvazzjoni) u r-Regolament (KE) Nru 1882/2003 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill (ĠU L 284, tal-31.10.2003, p. 1) tad-29 ta' Settembru 2003 li jadattaw għad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 1999/468/KE id-dispożizzjonijiet dwar il-kumitati li jassistu lill-Kummissjoni fl-eżerċizzju tal-poteri ta' implimentazzjoni tagħha stipulati fl-istrumenti soġġetti għall-proċedura msemmija fl-Artikolu 251 tat-Trattat tal-KE (kodeċiżjoni).

(7)ĠU C 225, tat-8.8.2000, p. 2.

(8)ĠU C 38, tas-6.2.2001, p.3. Wara numru ta' emendi għall-approvazzjoni mill-Kummissjoni u reviżjoni lingwistika, ir-regoli ta' proċedura standard se jkunu ppubblikati mill-ġdid fil-Ġurnal Uffiċċjali.

(9)  Ara l-indirizz ta' l-internet: http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/regcomito/registre.cfm?CL=en Ir-reġistru jkopri d-dokumenti sa mill-bidu tas-sena 2003.

(10)ĠU L 145, tal-31.5.2001, p. 43.

(11)ĠU L 256, tal-10.10.2000, p. 19. Il-ftehim jieħu post ċertu ftehimiet preċedenti: il-Ftehim Plumb/Delors ta' l-1988, il-Ftehim Samland/Williamson ta' l-1996 u l-“modus vivendi” ta' l-1994.

(12)  L-abbozzi l-ewwel jintbagħtu quddiem il-laqgħa tal-kumitat u, jekk ikunu emendati sostanzjalment waqt il-laqgħa, jerġgħu jintbagħtu wara.

(13)  Dan l-istrument bażiku nnifsu kellu wkoll ikun adottat taħt il-proċedura ta' kodeċiżjoni (Artikolu 251 tat-Trattat) bejn il-Kunsill u l-Parlament Ewropew.

(14)  Proposta għal Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill li temenda d-Deċiżjoni 1999/468/KE li tistabbilixxi l-proċeduri għall-eżerċizzju tal-poteri ta' implimentazzjoni konferiti fuq il-Kummissjoni (KUMM(2002) 719 finali, adottati fil-11 ta' Diċembru 2002.

(15)  Riżoluzzjoni adottata fit-2 ta' Settembru 2003 (P5-TA(2003)0352), ibbażata fuq ir-rapport ta' R. CORBETT.

(16)  KUMM(2004) 324 finali, datat it-22 ta' April 2004.

(17)  Abbozz ta' Trattat li jistabbilixxi Kostituzzjoni għall-Ewropa, ippreżentat fil-laqgħa tal-Kunsill Ewropew f'Thessaloniki, l-20 ta' Ġunju 2003, Artikoli I-35 u I-36

(18)  Ara l-verżjoni konsolidata provviżorja ta' l-abbozz tat-Trattat li jistabbilixxi Kostituzzjoni għall-Ewropa, dokument CIG 86/04, datat il-25 ta' Ġunju 2004.

(19)  Dokument tal-Kummissjoni C(2003)341/3.

(20)  LEJN UNJONI IKBAR, Strategy Paper u Rapport tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea dwar il-progress lejn is-sħubija minn kull pajjiż kandidat (9.10.2002), KUMM(2002) 700 finali, ara l-punt 3.3 (p. 25).

(21)  KUMM(1999) 710 finali, adottat fl-20 ta' Diċembru 1999.

(22)  B’differenza mis-sena preċedenti, l-Istanding Committee dwar il-Katina Alimentari u l-Benessri ta’ l-Annimali bid-disa’ taqsimiet u sub-taqsimiet tagħha hija kkunsidrata bħala kumitat wieħed, wara d-dħul fis-seħħ tar-regolament Nru 178/2002, (ĠU L 31, ta’ l-1.2.2002, p. 1).

(23)ĠU C 203, tas-17.7.1999, p. 1. Dan ifisser: Il-Varjant I flimkien mal-proċedura konsultattiva, il-varjanti IIa u IIb flimkien mal-proċedura tat-tmexxija u l-varjanti IIIa u IIIb flimkien mal-proċedura regolatorja.

(24)  Inklużi, rispettivament, il-proċeduri I, II u III skond id-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 87/373/KE.

(25)  Inklużi opinjonijiet favorevoli, mhux favorevoli u l-ebda opinjoni, wara vot formali fil-każ tal-proċeduri regolatorji u tat-tmexxija.

(26)  Madanakollu, ta' min jinnota illi n-numru ta' strumenti adottati biss ma jindikax l-importanza politika, ekonomika jew finanzjarja tad-deċiżjonijiet meħuda.

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ANNESS

ANNEX TO THE REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION ON THE WORKING OF COMMITTEES DURING 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRESENTATION OF ACTIVITIES BY SECTORAL POLICY

Detailed statistics for enterprise policy

Detailed statistics for employment and social affairs

Detailed statistics for agriculture

Detailed statistics for transport and energy

Detailed statistics for environment

Detailed statistics for research

Detailed statistics for information society

Detailed statistics for fisheries

Detailed statistics for internal market

Detailed statistics for regional policy

Detailed statistics for taxation and customs union

Detailed statistics for education and culture

Detailed statistics for health and consumer protection

Detailed statistics for home and justice

Detailed statistics for external relations

Detailed statistics for trade

Detailed statistics for enlargement

Detailed statistics for europeaid (AIDCO + DEV)

Detailed statistics for humanitarian aid (ECHO)

Detailed statistics for statistics

Detailed statistics for budget

Detailed statistics for anti fraud (OLAF)

PRESENTATION OF ACTIVITIES BY SECTORAL POLICY

This working document contains snapshots of the sectoral policies and includes the figures for all the committees in a sector. All individual committees under the responsibility of each Commission department (whether active or not) are listed, together with their relevant data. This approach provides for transparency of the sector policy activities. In addition, textual comments highlight some important aspects of the work in the reporting year (1).

The following explanations are intended for the reader to better understand the statistical data:

Opinions delivered by the committees may be of various kinds: they may concern draft Commission legislative acts (directives, regulations), decisions designed to regulate a specific legal situation or to approve financial projects in the context of any of the many Community programmes, or just position statements (which explains why the total number of favourable opinions may be greater than the total number of legal instruments adopted in a specific sector).

Consequently, the instruments adopted by the Commission follow these categories.

In the event of a favourable opinion, the rule is that the Commission adopts the implementing measure (the instrument); under the management procedure it may also adopt an instrument in the absence of an opinion (shown in the row ‘no opinion’, although formal voting has taken place (2)). Only if there is an unfavourable opinion is the decision referred to the Council as ‘an appeal body’, which then has the power to decide (referrals to the Council). Under the regulatory procedure, the Council is also consulted if there is ‘no opinion’. In the (summary) table IV of the Report, all three categories: favourable opinions, unfavourable opinions and no opinions', appear as one total figure under ‘Opinions’.

A further source of difference between the total number of favourable opinions delivered by committees and the number of instruments adopted by the Commission in a given sector occurs when opinions were delivered in 2002 but the instruments adopted only the following year (2003), or opinions were adopted at the end of 2003 and instruments adopted only in 2004.

In certain cases committees are required to deliver opinions on dossiers which will not be the subject of a draft instrument until some time later. Hence there may be considerable discrepancies between the total number of opinions and the number of instruments adopted by the Commission.

This Annex provides an overview of ‘comitology’ activities during 2003 with a breakdown by sector. For each sector the list of all existing committees (whether they have been active in 2003 or not) with their relevant data is reported.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR ENTERPRISE POLICY

The 33 committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 392 favourable and three unfavourable opinions, giving rise to 352 instruments.

In 2003 16 committees met (five more than in 2002). Two committees (the Committee for the execution of the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on promotion of innovation and encouragement of SME participation (1999 to 2002) and the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of legislation to remove technical barriers to trade in electric materials used in an explosive atmosphere (CATP/EXAT)) have disappeared and a new Committee for the Specific Programme Structuring the European Research Area (configuration Research and Innovation) has been created.

There were three unfavourable opinions delivered in this policy sector (these cases; which are not listed above in section 1.4 because they were not referred to the Council):

As regards individual files with institutional importance, it is worth mentioning the Management Committee for the fourth multi-annual programme for small and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union (2001 to 2005) (EPMC). The principal role of the EPMC is to approve and monitor the annual programming cycle of the multi-annual programme cited. Nevertheless, during 2003 the EPMC adopted a favourable opinion on the implementation report on the 2002 work programme and on the amendments to that programme, and gave a favourable opinion on the 2004 work programme. In addition, an amendment to the recreational craft Directive (2003/44/EC) was adopted by the legislator, which provides for the regulatory procedure for the amending provisions on exhaust and noise emissions (instead of the existing advisory procedure established by Directive 94/25/EC).

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

The eight committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 16 favourable opinions, but no instrument was adopted in the year 2003.

In all committees accession countries were invited to participate, with the active observer status conferred to them. The remaining candidate countries were also invited to participate as observers. In view of the enlargement date in 2004, some committees set up working groups in order to prepare their working agendas.

Following the Council Decision of 22 July 2003 setting up an Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (3) (OJ C 218, 13.9.2003, p. 1), the Committee for Safety and Health in the Mining and Other Extractive Industries ceased to exist on 1 January 2004.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR AGRICULTURE

During the 322 meetings of the 30 existing committees and joint committees in DG AGRI, 1 272 favourable opinions and 141 absences of opinion (no opinion) were delivered/recorded, giving rise to 1 413 drafts adopted by the Commission.

In 2003, following the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, decided on by the Council on 29 September 2003, a new agricultural committee was created. The legal basis for the Management Committee for Direct Payments, governing its operation as a management committee, appears in Article 144 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers (4).

No unfavourable opinions were delivered in the context of the management committees and no absences of opinion (no opinion) were expressed in the context of a regulatory committee: consequently, there were no referrals to the Council in 2003.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR TRANSPORT AND ENERGY

The 45 committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 29 favourable opinions and one absence of opinion (no opinion), giving rise to 24 instruments.

The Developing European Railways Committee (DERC) was informally consulted twice (in January and July) on a draft Commission Recommendation concerning a common format for railway licences that have to be issued by Member States' licensing authorities based on Directive 2001/13.

The Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods delivered favourable opinions on the adoption of certain national derogations to the requirements of Directives 94/55/EC and 96/49/EC and the deferral of the date of implementation of Directive 1999/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment for certain types of equipment.

In addition, the Committee discussed (without any formal voting), modifications of Annexes to Directive 95/50/EC on road-side checks; translations and publication of the international agreements on the transport of dangerous goods (ADR, RID, ADN) in all Community languages in the future and the establishing of an information exchange forum for the national notifying authorities and the EU and notified bodies.

The Committee on the adaptation of technical progress focused on corrigenda and some technical amendments of the Annex 1B to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85, as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2135/98. The opinion of the Committee was favourable.

The Committee for the establishment of conditions for the interoperability of the trans-European rail system gave a second mandate to the ‘Association européenne pour l'interopérabilité ferroviaire’ (AEIF) for the development of conventional rail technical specifications for interoperability (TSIs) on safety in tunnels, accessibility to people with reduced mobility and air pollution. Air pollution by engines used in railway application has since fallen under the scope of a general directive (TSIs for tunnel safety and accessibility are expected for 2005). The Committee also discussed the draft TSIs of the first priority group and gave a favourable opinion on a draft decision relative to the ERTMS parameters and on a draft decision relative to the basic parameters for the ‘telematics application for freight’, ‘noise’ and ‘wagons’ TSIs.

The Committee on driving licences focused in particular on the future revision of Annex III on mental and physical fitness to drive a vehicle (without delivering any formal voting). Another point of discussion concerned the necessary adaptation to technical progress of the definition of (semi)-automatic gearboxes.

The European Aviation Safety Agency, established by Article 54 of Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of 15 July 2002, came into being in July 2003. It was working under great pressure from the outset, as it was required to deliver opinions on texts constituting the regulatory basis for the certification procedures for aeronautical products which, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002, were the responsibility of the EASA from 28 September 2003. Thus, from September, the Committee was delivering favourable opinions on three proposed Commission regulations, concerning (respectively) amendments to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 to bring it into line with the most recent requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the rules implementing Articles 5 (airworthiness) and 6 (environmental requirements) of the same Regulation. In December, a draft Commission Regulation on the organisation and make-up of the EASA appeals chamber also received a favourable opinion, as did a draft Commission Decision laying down the rules on the delegation of the powers of the executive director of the Agency.

Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council came into force on 19 January 2003. The Committee for Civil Aviation Security Committee 2003 met for the first time in February 2003. The Committee delivered favourable opinions regarding four Commission Regulations. Commission Regulations (EC) No 622/2003 and (EC) No 68/2004 were technical regulations that add detail to the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1217/2003 lays down common standards for quality control programmes in the Member States in the field of aviation security — as required by an obligation in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1486/2003 lays down operational requirements for the conduct of inspections of EU airports by the Commission, also meeting obligations laid down in Article 5 of the Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002.

The Committee on Market Access (Aviation) (working under the advisory procedure) examined a draft decision by the Commission on a complaint by Switzerland against Germany concerning certain airspace regulations in the approach to Zürich airport which Switzerland considered to be restrictive. The draft decision proposing not to follow the request received a favourable opinion by the Committee.

Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 November 2002 establishing a Committee on Safe Seas (COSS) and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) came into force on 25 November 2002, and the Committee held its first two meetings in 2003. The COSS replaced all of the existing committees in the area of maritime safety.

An informal meeting of the Marco Polo Programme Committee took place prior to the adoption of the Marco Polo Programme in July 2003. The Committee adopted its Rules of Procedure and delivered a favourable opinion after the Programme adoption regarding the Marco Polo Work programme 2003.

The Committee for the Financing of the Trans-European Network — Transport Section (TEN-T) approved, by favourable opinion, a Commission proposal for the cofinancing of six projects making up a first tranche of the non-MIP fund allocation for 2003, and a Commission proposal for the cofinancing of the second tranche of the non-MIP fund allocation for 2003. The Committee was also informed by the Commission about, and expressed its views on, the ‘outstanding payments’ (Reste à liquider) exercise intended to reduce the number of financial matters awaiting implementation.

The Committee for the Financing of the Trans-European Network — Energy Section (TEN-E) delivered a favourable opinion on a draft Commission decision to support 15 of the 37 applications for financial aid received for a total of EUR 21,6 million.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR ENVIRONMENT

The 35 committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 38 favourable opinions and one unfavourable opinion, giving rise to 31 instruments.

The Eco-label Regulatory Committee gave its opinion on four draft Commission Decisions establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to different kinds of products and services. Three of them (concerning tourist accommodation services, washing machines and refrigerators) received positive opinions by the Committee and were therefore adopted. The fourth, related to furniture, was instead rejected by the Committee. The proposed criteria received a negative vote (in favour: 30; against: 42; abstention: 13). The Commission, decided to withdraw the fourth proposal rather than referring it to Council. The Regulatory Committee for the Adaptation to scientific and technical progress of directive 94/62 on packaging and packaging waste met twice in 2003. It focused on the harmonisation of data provision on recycling and recovery rates, running in parallel with the legislative procedure which lead to the revision of the Directive itself at the end of the year. Another sensitive issue addressed was the clarification of questions raised by Acceding Countries on the implementation of the Directive. The committee also served as a forum to exchange best practice on data collection among the Member States.

The Regulatory Committee on the implementation of the Monitoring Mechanism of Community CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions gave a favourable opinion on the guidelines to be used by installations covered under the Community greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme to monitor and report their emissions. It also prepared the implementing provisions for the new Monitoring Decision which was discussed by the Legislator in 2003.

The (regulatory) Committee on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms adopted a model for the presentation of the results on the deliberate release of superior plants for purposes other than commercialisation. It also gave favourable opinion for setting up a system of GMO indicators.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR RESEARCH

The two committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 74 favourable opinions, giving rise to 60 instruments.

2003 was the first full year of operations for the two (new) Programme committees under the sixth framework programme for research. The specific Programme committees ceased their activities in 2002, which explains the considerable reduction of committees in this policy area. The relationship of the committee members with the services of DG Research continued to be smooth and productive, as under the previous framework programmes for research.

It is important to note the full support provided by the committees on the various revisions proposed by the Commission for the Work programmes of the specific programmes ‘Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area’ and ‘Structuring the European Research Area’.

The two programme committees meet in different sections, according to the nature of the issues on the agenda to be discussed. These sections are:

Programme committee for the specific programme ‘Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area’:

Programme committee for the specific programme ‘Structuring the European Research Area’:

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY

The 13 committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 34 favourable opinions, giving rise to 21 instruments.

Compared to 2002, the PROMISE Committee expired (it was replaced, from 2004 on, by the MODINIS Committee), whereas the Committee ‘Structuring the ERA — Research Infrastructures configuration’ is newly listed in the Information Society policy area, so there is no change in the overall number of 13 committees. Of these 13 committees nine were active committees in the year 2003, whereas four showed no activities in 2003 (SOG-IS, ONP, GAIL/AGLI and ACTE).

e-Signature Committee

During its meeting of July 2003, the committee gave a favourable opinion on the draft Decision on generally recognised standards for electronic signature products. The Commission adopted the final Decision (5).

PROMISE Committee

The committee which was created in order to manage the PROMISE work programme, met for the last time in September 2002. Continuation of the meetings in 2003 was not necessary because the PROMISE programme expired and was replaced by the MODINIS programme (6). This programme in its article 6, stipulates that the Commission shall be assisted in the execution of the MODINIS programme by a committee working according to the management procedure (MODINIS Committee). It will be established and start activities in the year 2004.

Communications Committee (COCOM)

The COCOM, created in 2002, has proven to play a key role for implementing the new framework by both issuing opinions on draft Commission measures and by being a forum to exchange ideas on practical issues. Important implementation measures have found the Committee's favourable opinion under comitology procedure, such as the Commission Recommendation on notifications under Article 7 of the Framework Directive. During the year of people with disabilities, the COCOM established a dedicated subgroup, called Inclusive Communication (Incom), which produced a report on a large scale of issues, including best practice and suggestions on how to overcome barriers for users of telecommunications services with disabilities. More than 60 working documents were distributed to the committee members and made available to them via the CIRCA IT-tool. The CIRCA sites became a major information and transparency tool, with more than 11 000 hits in 2003.

Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC)

The RSC, created in 2002, has proven to play a key role for implementing the new framework as regards radio spectrum issues. A total of four mandates under the Spectrum Decision subject to formal votings according to comitology procedure have found a favourable opinion. Some 50 working documents were distributed and some 4 000 hits were counted at the Committee's website.

eContent Committee

During the year 2003 proceedings to include the ten accession countries and the three remaining candidate countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey) in the committee were concluded and the committee's work focused on the third call of proposals that closed in March 2003. Thanks to the committee members over 20 information days publicizing the programme were organised throughout Europe (total participation in excess of 2 500 people). A mid-term evaluation of the programme was concluded in June 2003.

Safer Internet Programme Committee

Following the late adoption of the extension Decision by the European Parliament and the Council (7), the Committee only met once in 2003. It discussed and delivered opinions on agenda items related to the implementation of the Programme, in particular the Work Programme 2003-2004 and the 2003 call text. Representatives of the acceding countries participated for the first time with an observer status.

Information Society Technologies (IST) Committee

The main task of the committee is the integration and strengthening of the European Research Area (ISTC Priority 2). During the first year of operations under the sixth framework programme (8), the information society technologies (IST) programme Committee screened 197 proposals. The new instruments (52 ‘Integrated Projects’ and 29 ‘Networks of Excellence’) of the sixth framework programme were successfully implemented receiving slightly more than two thirds of the budget allocated, as provided for in the Work Programme. The ‘Specific Targeted Research Project’ was with 85 proposals the most frequently used of the old instruments, while we count 20 ‘Specific Support Actions’ and 11 ‘Coordination actions’.

These operations successfully started implementing the European Research Area for Information Society Technologies. They enabled the programme to increase support for the development of key technologies for the competitiveness of European industry and enable citizens to benefit more from information society services, with a major impact in areas such as health, transport and education and training.

eTEN Committee 2003

The year 2003 was used to put the eTEN programme back on track firmly after a call for proposals had been cancelled in late 2002, and to strengthen the involvement of the (management) committee with a view to the demanding agenda of 2003. This agenda comprised the creation and adoption of a new Work Programme for 2003, preparing and informing the constituencies in the Member States, launching a Call for Proposals based on the Work Programme, and conducting a transparent and fair evaluation and selection process. The eTEN Committee was strongly involved in all these issues. In addition the committee was actively involved in the launching of the 30 % decision (Proposal by the Commission to increase the maximum funding level of Initial Deployment projects to 30 %), and in the preparation of involving the new Member States into the programme after the accession in 2004.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR FISHERIES

The three committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 19 favourable opinions, giving rise to nine instruments.

Committee for Structures on Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Committee was consulted on five occasions in 2003 on the following subjects:

Second revision of Regulation (EC) No 1685/2000 governing the eligibility rules under the Structural Funds. The consultation took place by written procedure and resulted in a favourable opinion.

Information on the accompanying measures and financial needs required by affected MS to address the socio-economic impact of recovery plans, on the 2003 program for innovative actions, and the 2003 programme for technical assistance.

Communication from the Commission on the future of the cohesion policy, information on the impact of the CFP reform on aid to the fleet, consultation on the revised indicative guidelines for structural funds in future Member States (favourable opinion, COM(2003) 0499 final).

Revision of the list of objective 2 eligibility zones. The consultation took place by written procedure and resulted in a favourable opinion.

Information on the results of the call for proposals for innovative actions in 2003 and the implementation of previous projects in the framework of the 2002 similar call for proposals.

Committee for Fisheries Products

The (management) Committee for Fisheries Products focused its work on the common organisation of the fisheries and aquaculture products markets. Mention should be made of the adoption of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1181/2003 amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2136/89 laying down common marketing standards for preserved sardines, following a favourable opinion of the committee.

With regard to current management activities, priority went to the revision of the multi-annual tariff quotas laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 2803/2000.

Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture

The following measures were adopted by the Commission after receiving favourable opinions of the (management) committee:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 728/2003 (of 25 April 2003) adapting certain fish quotas for 2003 pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACIS and quotas.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1438/2003 (of 12 August 2003) laying down implementing rules on the Community Fleet Policy as defined in Chapter III of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1461/2003 (of 18 August 2003) laying down conditions for pilot projects for the electronic transmission of information on fishing activities and for remote sensing.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2244/2003 (of 18 December 2003) laying down detailed provisions regarding satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems.

Commission Decision (of 30 December 2003) on the financial contribution towards carrying out certain operations planned by the Member States in 2003 to implement the control, inspection and surveillance systems applicable to the common fisheries policy (second instalment) (9).

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR INTERNAL MARKET

The 12 committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 10 favourable opinions, giving rise to eight instruments.

Most of the committees in the Internal Market sector share comitology functions with more general advisory functions, which represent the predominant part of their activity. There were significant discussions in the Banking Advisory Committee on the subject of the adequacy of capital in credit institutions and investment firms or the application of the ‘electronic money’ Directive to certain categories of institutions. The Advisory Committee on Public Procurement, for its part, discussed the legislative framework applicable to public/private partnerships and concessions. It also discussed the revision of the ‘appeals’ Directive. In the area of data protection, the committee responsible for the implementation of Directive 95/46/EC was kept regularly updated on the progress of negotiations with the United States in respect of the transfer of data concerning passengers on transatlantic flights.

The role of the Committees in the Internal Market sector should, however, show a shift towards more ‘comitological’ activity over the next few years. This is already the case in the financial services sector following the implementation of what is referred to as the ‘Lamfalussy process’. This new method, approved by the European Parliament and the Council, is specifically intended to grant the Commission increased executive powers. Its scope is, however, limited to the securities sector. In this area, the three first draft implementing measures of Directive 2003/6/EC on ‘market abuse’ submitted by the Commission to the European Securities Committee in accordance with ‘Lamfalussy’ principles, were adopted by the Commission in December 2003. The fact that these draft measures met with the unanimous approval of the Committee can be considered as proof that all concerned place great store by the ‘Lamfalussy’ process.

In a draft Directive adopted on 5 November 2003, the Commission proposed to extend the ‘Lamfalussy’ approach to the banking sector, insurance and pension funds. This proposal also provided for the European Securities Committee to be given the task of assisting the Commission in the exercise of its power to implement Directives 2001/107/EC and 2001/108/EC on UCITS, in place of the Committee currently responsible in this area.

Other notable activities during 2003 include the important favourable opinion delivered by the Accounting Regulatory Committee on the draft Commission Regulation to adopt into Community law all of the International Accounting Standards (IAS) in force at 14 September 2002 with the exception of standards IAS 32 and IAS 39 on financial instruments (which are being contested by the EU banking and insurance industries). The Advisory Committee on Public Procurement, for its part, delivered a favourable opinion on a draft Commission Regulation establishing a Common Procurement Vocabulary.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR REGIONAL POLICY

The two committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 28 favourable opinions and one unfavourable opinion, giving rise to seven instruments.

Committee on the Development and Conversion of the Regions (CDCR)

This CDCR acts under the management procedure when it deals with rules implementing the Structural Funds Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 and under the consultative procedure dealing with other points related to the same Regulation.

The CDCR delivered an unfavourable opinion, under to the management procedure, on a draft amendment to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1685/2000 of 28 July 2000 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 as regards eligibility of expenditure of operations co-financed by the structural funds. Finally, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1145/2003 of 27 June 2003 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 1685/2000 was adopted.

However, requirements with regard to the committee procedure were not fully respected (the text of that Regulation had never been sent to delegations in the consolidated version). As a consequence, the Commission proposed repealing the Regulation (EC) No 1145/2003 and replacing it by the modified text and the Committee gave a favourable opinion.

Furthermore, the Committee has been consulted as a management committee on a decision on the new repartition of Community Initiative allocations 1994 to 1999 in favour of the programme PEACE, in order to respond to a ruling of the Court of Justice.

Under the consultative procedure the CDCR treated the revision of the list of areas eligible under Objective 2 of the Structural Funds for the period 2000 to 2006 in France and Technical assistance measures planned for 2004.

The CDCR also acted as platform to consult the Member States on the revised indicative guidelines on the Structural Funds based on the relevant agreed Community policies, in accordance with Article 10(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999.

In addition, the CDCR acts as a forum for information and discussion of any specific points related to the implementation of the Structural Funds. In 2003 the CDCR therefore discussed a wide range of issues concerning the Structural Funds and in particular the European Regional Development Fund.

The CDCR has been consulted in its role as a sectorial committee on projects related to the ‘Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDA)’.

The Working group‘Territorial and Urban Development’ is charged to assist the CDCR and the Commission in implementing Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, in particular issues related to spatial planning and urban questions.

The ISPA (Management) Committee

This committee acts under the management procedure; representatives of the EIB and EBRD participate as observers.

Its main assignment is to deliver an opinion, on the draft measures proposed by the Commission for ISPA funding. In addition, the committee is entitled to examine, either at the initiative of the Commission or at its own request, ISPA related activities in the fields of programming, implementation, monitoring and financial management and control.

In 2003, one meeting of the ISPA Committee took place where 23 favourable opinions required by Article 7(1) of the ISPA Regulation were gathered.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR TAXATION AND CUSTOMS UNION

The nine committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 34 favourable opinions, giving rise to the same number of instruments.

Advisory Committee on Cultural Goods

The Committee for the export and restitution of cultural goods is intended to administer the implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods and to draw up the relevant rules. Its work during 2003 concentrated on the development of a new model export licence, a project that required an amendment to Regulation (EEC) No 752/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods. In addition to this the Committee dealt with issues regarding the common interpretation of certain legal concepts in Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92, such as ‘collection’ and ‘lawful and definitive’.

‘Customs 2007’ Committee

‘Customs 2002’ is a programme for customs administration within the customs union.

The ‘Customs 2007’ Committee is an essential element of this programme and works specifically towards identical treatment of trade based on the cooperation of customs administrations. The programme administered by the Committee has, in particular, provided a major computer network to process transit and tariffs. The numerous joint activities undertaken in 2003 saw high levels of participation by both the Member States and the candidate countries.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE

The seven committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 97 favourable opinions, giving rise to 47 instruments.

The Leonardo da Vinci Committee held three plenary meetings in 2003. The Committee delivered a favourable opinion on the following: the selection of projects for 2003 under the ‘B’ procedure, the ‘C’ procedure and joint actions for 2003, the ‘innovation transfer’ call for tenders, the financial addendum to the text of the 2004 call, priorities for joint action for 2003, improvements to the ‘B’ selection procedure, the work plan, the ex ante budget for 2004 and the selection of pre-proposals for 2004.

The Socrates Committee met three times in 2003. Its main activities were to adopt opinions, on the basis of proposals submitted by the Commission's services, so as to enable the ongoing implementation of the Socrates programme and its different actions. The most important political items discussed were the following: the political priorities for the forthcoming programme year, national evaluation reports, the Socrates information strategy and budget matters.

The Tempus Committee met in February 2003 and delivered a positive opinion on the new Guide for Applicants.

The MEDIA Committee delivered a favourable opinion on amendments to the guidelines in the various sectors of the MEDIA Plus and MEDIA Training programmes and was consulted for the selection of projects to which a Community contribution would be made.

In addition to its main tasks concerning the Culture 2000 Programme, the Committee also approved financing for a special concert in St. Petersburg in April 2003, as part of the tercentenary celebrations of the city, and financing for four projects issuing from a special call for ‘A cultural celebration of the Enlargement of the European Union in 2004’. Both of these were under the Action 3 of the Culture 2000 Programme.

For the YOUTH Committee in 2003 the most important points on the agendas were the Activity Report 2002 and Work plan and budget 2004.

The Committee for the European Year of Education through Sport 2004 was created by Decision No 291/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (10), establishing the European Year of Education through Sport 2004. This Committee, operating in accordance with the consultation process and bringing together representatives of the States participating in the Year, assists the Commission in defining priorities and implementing activities linked to the initiative. The Committee is also consulted on the list of projects to be co-financed. The Committee met four times during its first year of existence.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR HEALTH AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

The 13 committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 392 favorable opinions, giving rise to the same number of instruments.

Public Health

Committee for the implementation of the programme of community action in the field of public health (2003/2008)

The main activity of the committee consisted of giving a (favourable) opinion on the selection of projects for Community funding following the 2003 call for proposals for public health and on the adoption of the work plan for 2004.

‘Blood’ Regulatory Committee

During its first year of activity, this new committee, established by Directive 2002/98/EC, gave favourable opinions on the setting of standards of quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human blood and blood components and the draft implementing measures on technical requirements for quality and safety of human blood and blood components (11).

Tobacco Products Directive Regulatory Committee

The committee gave its favourable opinion on the draft proposal for a Commission Decision on the use of colour photographs or other illustrations as health warnings on tobacco packages as provided in Article 5(3) of Directive 2001/37/EC (12).

Committee setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases (created by decision 2119/98/EC)

Two important acts obtained the favourable opinion of the committee: a draft Commission Decision updating case definitions and ensuring that pathogens which may be used in bio-terror attacks are monitored by the network and a draft Commission Decision to enhance collaboration among Member States in the surveillance of communicable diseases improving comparability of data and the operation of dedicated surveillance networks (13).

Food Safety

Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

All the sections of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, created by Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, were active during this second year of existence of the committee.

The General Food Law section adopted opinions on, for example, the following issues: decisions concerning authorisations for the marketing of novel foods and novel food ingredients under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 (14) and a regulation on the labelling of products containing added phytosterols (15); directives concerning substances that may be added for particular nutritional uses in food for particular nutritional purposes (16).

On one occasion (authorisation of the placing on the market of sweetcorn from genetically modified maize Bt11) the Committee could not express an opinion with the requested majority and the Commission referred the draft proposal to the Council in accordance with the rules governing the regulatory procedure. The Council failed to adopt measures itself so the Commission adopted them as Decision 2004/657/EC (17).

The Toxicological Safety section gave favourable opinions on a number of technical issues, among which were the establishment of maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (e.g. patulin (18), aflatoxins (19), ochratoxin A, tin in canned foods (20)) and of sampling and analysis methods for the official control of such contaminants (21), favourable opinions were also delivered on issues related to the use of materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (22) and specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (23).

The Animal Nutrition section delivered favourable opinions relating to the authorisation of feed additives (24) and bio-protein (25), to official controls in the field of animal nutrition (26) and to undesirable substances in feedingstuffs (in particular maximum levels of dioxins) (27).

In the plant protection section, the subsection dealing with pesticide residues delivered favourable opinions on Maximum Residues Levels (MRLs) for thirty two substances representing more than four thousand MRLs (taking into account the possible pesticide/commodities combinations) (28). The subsection dealing with regulatory aspects gave its opinion on the draft implementing measures aiming at establishing standard warnings to be used on pesticides in case of special risks or as safety precautions for the protection of the humans and the environment (29). It also voted on the inclusion of 30 active substances in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC and for the withdrawal from the market of more than 100 substances which could not be included in said Annex I (30).

The Animal Health and Welfare section delivered 150 favourable opinions, 25 of which on draft decisions on the eradication of avian influenza in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany (31), eight on the control of classical swine fever in Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg (32), three on outbreaks of Newcastle disease in the United States of America and Australia (33) and two on foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina (34).

The Controls and Import Conditions section gave favourable opinions on 46 draft Commission decisions, on issues ranging from specific conditions and veterinary checks on imports of live animals and animal products from various third countries to measures relating to the presence of residues in food of animal origin and the setting of minimum required performance limits for analysis (35).

The ‘Biological Safety of the Food Chain’ section held this year a joint meeting with the Standing Committee for Waste Management, in order to debate the relationship between the waste framework Directive and the animal by-products Regulation.

The Standing Committee on Plant Health dealing with harmful organisms gave a favourable opinion on 14 draft Commission Decisions and five Commission directives. These cover technical adaptations to the current legislation, emergency measures against the introduction into and spread within the EC of Diabrotica (western corn rootworm affecting Maize) (36) and Pseudomonas solanacearum (potato brownrot) (37) and temporary derogations allowing the entry of certain commodities under strict phytosanitary conditions (38).

The three Standing Committees dealing with seeds and plant propagating material gave their favourable opinions on several draft proposals in particular on the authorisation to Member States to market material subject to less stringent requirements (39), on Community comparative trials and tests (40) and on the establishment of alignments between the requirements of varieties for the Common catalogues and for Plant breeder's rights (41).

The Standing Committee for Community Protection of Plant Variety Rights delivered a favourable opinion on implementation rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 on Community Plant Variety Rights as regards the fees payable to the Community Plant Variety Office (42).

Consumer Protection

2003 was a year of transition for the Advisory Committee on the implementation of a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers. The new legal basis (Council Decision No 20/2004/EC (43)), which came into force at the start of 2004, strengthens the role of this Committee, which, during its meetings in 2003, expressed a favourable opinion on the preparation of the new framework (planning and working method, new duties and prerogatives provided for in the new basic text, etc.).

The General Product Safety Committee gave its favourable opinion on the draft of the four Commission Decisions prolonging the validity of prohibition to place on the market toys and childcare articles intended to be placed in the mouth by children under three years of age made of soft PVC containing one or more of the substances DINP, DEHP, DBP, DIDP, DNOP, and BBP (44).

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR HOME AND JUSTICE

The seven committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 13 favourable opinions, giving rise to seven instruments.

The Visa Committee, which assists the Commission in setting out the secret technical specifications for documents classified as EU-Secret (uniform format for visas, residence permit for third country nationals, FTD, FRTD), met three times in 2003 in a meeting room of the Council. The meetings treated EU-Secret documents. Due to requirements arising from the implementation of the Commission Decision of 29 November 2001 on security issues (45): as no meeting rooms complying with the security rules laid down in the above mentioned Decision are at the disposal of services within the Commission facilities.

In 2003, the SIS (46)II Committee delivered a favourable opinion on the validation of the outcome of the Feasibility Study which addressed in particular the architecture of the SIS II and contributed to the preparation of a part of the documentation needed for the SIS II development.

The European Refugee Fund Advisory Committee was consulted by written procedure on Member States' co-financing requests for 2004. The written procedure was also used for consulting the ARGO Committee and has not been contested so far. This type of procedure proved to be quite useful for the work of the committee as it saves financial resources and time for the Commission and the Member States.

During the only and last meeting (47) of the Committee for the implementation of the Daphne Programme, the Commission proposed projects to be funded in 2003 which were unanimously approved.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The three committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of four favourable opinions, giving rise to the same number instruments.

The Export Promotion (EXPROM) Committee was created by Council Regulation (EC) No 382/2001 of 26 February 2001 concerning the implementation of projects promoting cooperation and commercial relations between the European Union and the industrialised countries of North America, the Far East and Australasia. The only meeting of the Exprom Committee in 2003 focused on the implementation of the Executive Training Programme as well as on the EU Gateway to Japan export promotion campaign. The Committee delivered a favourable opinion on a draft decision concerning the work program and the financing thereof (48).

In 2003, a new Committee (established by Article 22 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 and working under the management procedure) dealing with the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) for the international trade in rough diamonds took up its work. The Committee delivered favourable opinions on a wide range of tasks, including the certification of imports into and exports from the EC, industry self-regulation, trade statistics, and the preparation of participation by the EC in Plenary meetings of the KPCS, as well as the participation by the EC in Working Groups of the KPCS, and provided a formal opinion in three instances on draft Commission Regulations (49).

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR TRADE

The 13 committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 66 favourable opinions, giving rise to 55 instruments.

The Safeguard (import regime) Committees focussed on the two EC safeguard proceeding on imports of steel and Satsumas respectively. The Committees were called at several stages to pronounce on the actions proposed by the Commission, investigative process, provisional and definitive safeguard measures and termination of existing measures (50).

The TBR Committee delivered favourable opinions related to the exercise of the Community's rights under international trade rules, in particular those established under the auspices of the WTO. Among the investigated practices were: Canada — lack of protection of the wines with geographical indication ‘Bordeaux’ and ‘Medoc’, Turkey — measures concerning import of pharmaceutical products and United States — subsidies granted in the United States to oilseed producers.

The Generalised Preferences Committee assists the Commission in implementing the Council regulation on the scheme of generalised tariff preferences granted by the EU to developing countries. In 2003, among other things, the committee discussed matters relating to the requests of beneficiary countries for the special incentive schemes for labour protection. The committee gave opinions on the Commission's graduation proposal for excluding sectors from the GSP scheme, granting Sri Lanka the inventive scheme for labour protection, amending the annexes to the GSP Regulation and on initiating an investigation in Belarus on violations of freedom of association (51).

The Committee dealing with non-textile quotas from the People's Republic of China gave a favourable opinion, in addition to routine management, on criteria and parameters to be used for the allocation of quotas amongst applicant importers.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR ENLARGEMENT

The two committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 83 favourable opinions, giving rise to 90 instruments.

Of the two committees in this policy area, only the PHARE Committee has been operational in 2003. There was no reason for the Commission to convene a meeting of the other committee, treating possible safeguard measures regarding the accession states and remaining candidate countries (Romania and Bulgaria).

Some of the favourable opinions delivered in the PHARE Committee have been related to horizontal programmes, which have been subsequently adopted by individual decisions per beneficiary country (with identical texts for each of the financing proposals). This explains why the number of instruments adopted by the Commission exceeds exceptionally the number of favourable opinions delivered by the committee in this policy area in the reporting period.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR EUROPEAID (AIDCO + DEV)

The eight committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 164 favourable opinions, giving rise to 153 instruments.

Eight committees assist the Commission in the implementation of Community external aid. Five committees are closely involved with cooperation programmes in the following geographical areas: the south Mediterranean and the near and Middle East (MED), the Balkans (CARDS), eastern Europe and central Asia (TACIS), Asia and Latin America (PVD-ALA) and South Africa. The three other committees are involved with programmes covering the following: food safety and food aid, the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, and cooperation with non-governmental organisations.

These committees met 35 times during 2003, to which figure must be added the eight meetings of the European Development Fund Committee (EDF). This Fund is intended to finance Community aid in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). Because of its specific legal context, the EDF committee does not follow the Committee procedure. However, its missions and role are similar to those of the aforementioned committees.

During 2003, the committees' activity focussed mainly on the analysis of projects and programmes that the Commission proposed to finance in 2003 in line with the various external aid programmes. Thus, for example, the ALA Committee delivered a favourable opinion on various programmes of reconstruction in Afghanistan (52).

In order to harmonise the procedures and working methods of the committees in the RELEX family, a standardised internal regulation was adopted in June 2003 in the context of a joint meeting bringing together all of the committees concerned.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID (ECHO)

The Humanitarian Aid Committee (HAC) (53) provided 42 favourable opinions (on draft humanitarian financial decisions) and discussed around 55 strategy and/or policy issues such as ECHO Aid Strategy, ECHO's Information Strategy, disaster preparedness and prevention, needs assessments, ECHO cooperation with partners, and including ECHO missions, evaluations, statistical data etc. In 2003, there were also organised various initiatives to inform and integrate the new acceding countries into the work of the committee and humanitarian aid in general, including visits to the capitals of acceding countries and general information meetings.

In addition to the formal committee meetings, the committee also meets on an informal basis once to twice a year in the capital of the holder of the presidency of the Council (on the expenses of the Member State exercising the presidency). In the informal meetings senior representatives from the authorities responsible for humanitarian aid in Member States and ECHO discuss strategy, policy or thematic issues outside the constraints of the formal HAC meetings. Two such meetings were held in May and October 2003 in respectively Athens and Rome where the topics discussed were ‘Entry-Exit strategies for Humanitarian Assistance’, ‘The European Convention: the future of European Humanitarian Assistance and of International Humanitarian Law’, ‘Humanitarian responses to food crises’, and ‘Joint efforts on Evaluations’.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR STATISTICS

The seven committees in this policy sector have delivered a total of 26 favourable opinions, giving rise to 18 instruments.

Mention must be made of the role of the committees that assisted the Commission with the implementation of the Community statistical programme for 2003 to 2007 (54). This year also saw representatives of the ten new Member States start to take part as observers.

The Committee for the Statistical Programme (CSP), in its general role as coordinator, helped the Commission to coordinate actions at Community level with national statistical programmes. The CSP delivered favourable opinions on social statistics (labour forces, income and living conditions, and index of labour costs) (55), transport (air and rail) (56), company structure, waste and industrial production (57).

Outside the Committee procedure, this Committee discussed a plan of action on economic, monetary and financial statistics for the pre-accession countries. It also expressed its views on the Commission's legislative proposals on economic and monetary statistics, short-term statistics, the information society and ongoing vocational training in companies. Representatives of several other institutions took part as observers (58).

The Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States (Intrastat) and the Committee on Statistics relating to the trading of goods with non-member countries (Extrastat) dealt with all of the issues regarding the implementation of Intrastat and Extrastat regulations. In particular, the Intrastat Committee delivered a favourable opinion on the preparation of the new Commission proposal to simplify the Intrastat system, which is currently under discussion by the European Parliament and the Council. The two Committees also delivered favourable opinions in respect of the continuation of the Edicom programme (adoption of the annual Commission decision; mid-term report; follow-up work). They also regularly dealt with (for discussion or information) points concerning the collection, processing and dissemination of data, various issues on methodology and projects linked to cooperation and enlargement.

The Committee on Statistical Confidentiality met to examine (though did not vote on) the implementation of Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/2002 concerning access to confidential data for scientific purposes, specifically the application of Article 3(1)(c) concerning the admissibility of applications from organisations and institutions not covered by the Regulation.

The new Committee for the harmonisation of gross national income at market prices (GNI Committee) created by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1287/2003 of 15 July 2003 on the harmonisation of gross national income at market prices (GNI Regulation), was established in 2003 and, among other things, took over the role of the Committee on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices (GNP). It provides assistance to the Commission in the verification of the harmonisation of GNI and GNP data. In 2003, GNI inventories of sources and methods submitted by the Member States were checked for compliance with the European system of national and regional accounts. Moreover, annual GNI/GNP data submitted by Member States were considered appropriate for use for Community purposes, receiving a favourable opinion.

The Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics (CPSA) delivered a favourable opinion on the continued application of area frame surveys and remote-sensing techniques to the agricultural statistics (LUCAS project) and on the technical action plan for 2003 on improvements to Community agricultural statistics (TAPAS) (59). The Committee also delivered opinions on winegrowing statistics and statistics on sheep and goat populations and production (60).

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR BUDGET

Only one of the two committees in this policy sector has delivered one favourable opinion, giving rise to one instrument.

The Advisory Committee on Own Resources (ACOR) held its usual forecasting meeting in April. For the first time the then 10 accession countries presented their preliminary predictions of the amounts that they expected to pay to the budget under the four different own resources in 2004. With respect to traditional own resources, the ACOR examined 21 reports of inspection visits carried out in the Member States and also discussed a series of technical questions, in particular concerning import arrangements for certain goods, as well as matters of principle relating to the interpretation of Community provisions on own resources. In the field of VAT- and GNI-based own resources the ACOR similarly examined 6 reports on control missions to Member States and debated a number of general questions concerning the determination of these resources. Each meeting was attended by representatives of the accession countries and the state of preparedness of these countries' financial authorities to meet their budgetary obligations from 1 May 2004 onwards was a regular subject of discussion.

The Executive Agencies Committee was created by Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 of 19 December 2002 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes. In November 2003 this Committee, now operational in accordance with the regulatory procedure, met for the first time and adopted its rules of procedure. The Committee discussed the first draft Commission Decision setting up an ‘executive agency for intelligent energy’ (for the administration of Community activities in the area of energy in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003). As this was the first project of this type, the delegations asked general questions on executive agencies, their operation and their human and budgetary resources, and proposed a certain number of amendments to the project, which were taken into consideration by the Commission. During its second meeting, the Committee issued a favourable opinion on the draft Decision.

DETAILED STATISTICS FOR ANTI FRAUD (OLAF)

The Mutual Assistance Committee (61) delivered no formal opinion (and consequently no instrument was adopted by the Commission in this policy sector):

International Mutual Assistance Convention

The Commission invited the Member States to reflect on the consequences of the adoption of the Draft International Customs Mutual Assistance Convention established by the World Customs Organisation vis-à-vis of the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 515/1997 and the Mutual Assistance Agreement/Protocols in customs matters concluded between the Community and third countries. A consultation is ongoing with the Member States as well as between the Commission services.

Customs System of Information (CIS)

The Commission produced a report describing the first three months of exploitation of the system and reported on the final recommendations on the CIS Seminar hold on March 21 to 24, 2003 in Athens. The committee informally agreed to examine the feasibility of these recommendations on the technical, administrative and legal aspects.

The Commission explained the actions to be undertaken with regard to the calendar aiming to put the CIS database in production status before the enlargement date (1st May 2004). In particular with regard to the existence of an appropriate legal instrument related to the data protection rules, the appointment of the competent authorities and the deployment of the workstations.

Modification of Regulation (EC) No 515/1997

With regard to the extension of the legal frame, the Commission was invited to consider a modification of Article 30(1) of Regulation (EC) No 515/1997 allowing the extract of data integrated into the CIS and to re-use such data in the national systems of risk analysis involving the control of goods. Due to the lack of consensus on the proposition in the committee, the Commission pursued its reflection on the extension of the terms of the Article 27(1) of Regulation (EC) No 515/1997.

Mutual Assistance (MA) Communication

The Commission presented an evaluation report concerning the use of the MA Communications which demonstrated the heteroclite character of the bi-annual follow-up of MA communication by Member States as well as the long storage of cases in the phase of administrative investigation. With a view to allow the Commission to make recommendations or proposals aimed at improving the current system, Member States were invited to communicate their comments for September 2003 and to close at the latest by 1 November 2003 cases communicated between 1 January 1987 and 31 December 2001.

European Customs Files Identification Database ( Fichier d'identification douanière européen) — FIDE

In addition to comitology procedures the Commission presented a proposal to modify Regulation (EC) No 515/1997 aiming to create a customs registration file for the identification of investigation (FIDE first pillar), to expand the use of the CIS into the national risk analysis system, to create a supplementary category concerning the seizure of goods, to create the European Data Pool and to create a permanent infrastructure for the Joint Surveillance Operation. The committee pleads for a feasibility study on a unique search tool for both data bases and proposed that a working group examines the types of infringements to be considered within the framework of the FIDE third pillar. The study started in October 2003, was completed in May 2004 and approved by the Committee in July 2004. It is now under development and implementation by the Member States (due in 2006).

Use of the CIS info on the seizure of cigarettes linked with the World Customs Organization (WCO) database

The Commission informed the Committee on the conclusion of a procedure for the exchange of data related to the seizure of cigarettes. This procedure entered into force on 1 September 2003 and allowed the Member States and the then acceding countries to communicate the data to WCO and OLAF in a single report.

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(1)  The textual comments are based on selective contributions from the Commission services responsible for the committees; they vary in length and subject, which is not necessarily an indicator for the intensity of the activities in the given policy sector. Efforts will be made to harmonise the kind of information given in the following annual reports.

(2)  This situation occurs if neither the necessary quorum for a favourable, nor for an unfavourable opinion has been reached as a result of the voting.

(3)OJ C 218, 13.9.2003, p. 1.

(4)OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 1.

(5)OJ L 175, 15.7.2003, p. 45.

(6)  Decision 2256/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on a multi-annual programme 2003 to 2005, for the monitoring of eEurope 2005 Action plan, dissemination of good practices and the improvement of network and information security (OJ L 336, 23.12.2003, p. 1).

(7)  Decision 1151/2003/EC (OJ L 162, 1.7.2003, p. 1).

(8)  Thus, replacing the Committee for execution of the specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration on a user-friendly information society (1999 to 2002, FP 5).

(9)OJ L 13, 20.1.2004, p. 34.

(10)OJ L 43, 18.2.2003, p. 1.

(11)  Commission Directive 2004/33/EC (OJ L 91, 30.3.2004, p. 25).

(12)  Commission Decision 2003/641/EC (OJ L 226, 10.9.2003, p. 24).

(13)  Commission Decision 2003/542/EC (OJ L 185, 24.7.2003, p. 55).

(14)  Commission Decisions 2004/334/EC (OJ L 105, 14.4.2004, p. 43) and 2004/335/EC (OJ L 105, 14.4.2004, p. 46).

(15)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 (OJ L 97, 1.4.2004, p. 44).

(16)  Commission Directives 2004/5/EC (OJ L 14, 21.1.2004, p. 19) and 2004/6/EC (OJ L 15, 22.1.2004, p. 31).

(17)OJ L 300, 25.9.2004, p. 48.

(18)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1425/2003 (OJ L 203, 12.8.2003, p. 1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 455/2004 (OJ L 74, 12.3.2004, p. 11).

(19)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 2174/2003 (OJ L 326, 13.12.2003, p. 12) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 683/2003 (OJ L 106, 15.4.2003, p. 41).

(20)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 242/2004 (OJ L 42, 13.2.2004, p. 3).

(21)  Commission Directive 2003/78/EC (patulin) (OJ L 203, 12.8.2003, p. 40) and Commission Directive 2004/16/EC (tin in canned foods) (OJ L 42, 13.2.2004, p. 16).

(22)  Commission Directive 2004/1/EC (Azodicarbonamide — Semicarbazide) (OJ L 7 of 13.1.2004, p. 45), Commission Directive 2004/19/EC (Plastics) (OJ L 71, 10.3.2004, p. 8) and Commission Directive 2004/14/EC (regenerated cellulose films) (OJ L 27, 30.1.2004, p. 48).

(23)  Commission Directive 2004/45/EC (OJ L 113, 20.4.2004, p. 19).

(24)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 316/2003 (OJ L 46, 20.2.2002, p. 15), Commission Regulation (EC) No 666/2003 (OJ L 96, 12.4.2003, p. 11), Commission Regulation (EC) No 668/2003 (OJ L 96, 12.4.2003, p. 14), Commission Regulation (EC) No 676/2003 (OJ L 97, 15.4.2003, p. 29), Commission Regulation (EC) No 871/2003 (OJ L 125, 21.5.2003, p.3), Commission Regulation (EC) No 877/2003 (OJ L 126, 22.5.2003, p. 24), Commission Regulation (EC) No 1334/2003 (OJ L 187, 26.7.2003, p. 11 and OJ L 14, 21.1.2004, p. 54), Commission Regulation (EC) No 1801/2003 (OJ L 264, 15.10.2003, p. 16), Commission Regulation (EC) No 1847/2003 (OJ L 269, 21.10.2003, p. 3), Commission Regulation (EC) No 1852/2003 (OJ L 271, 22.10.2003, p. 13), Commission Regulation (EC) No 2112/2003 (OJ L 317, 2.12.2003, p. 22), Commission Regulation (EC) No 2154/2003 (OJ L 324, 11.12.2003, p. 11).

(25)  Commission Directive 2003/104/EC (OJ L 295, 13.11.2003, p. 83).

(26)  Commission Directive 2003/126/EC (OJ L 339, 24.12.2003, p. 78).

(27)  Commission Directive 2003/57/EC (OJ L 151, 19.6.2003, p. 38), Commission Directive 2003/100/EC (OJ L 285, 1.11.2003, p. 33).

(28)  See for instance Commission Directives 2003/60/EC and 2003/62/EC (OJ L 155, 24.6.2003, p. 15), 2003/69/EC (OJ L 175, 15.7.2003 p. 37), 2003/113/EC (OJ L 324, 11.12.2003 p. 24), 2003/118/EC (OJ L 327, 16.12.2003, p. 25).

(29)  Commission Directive 2003/82/EC (OJ L 228, 12.9.2003, p. 11).

(30)  See, for instance Commission Directives 2003/39/EC (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003 p. 30), 2003/68/EC (OJ L 177, 16.7.2003, p. 12), 2003/70/EC (OJ L 184, 23.7.2003 p. 9), 2003/79/EC (OJ L 205, 14.8.2003, p. 16), 2003/81/EC (OJ L 224, 6.9.2003, p. 29), 2003/84/EC (OJ L 247, 30.9.2003, p. 20), 2003/112/EC (OJ L 321, 6.12.2003, p. 32) and Commission Decisions 2004/129/EC (OJ L 37, 10.2.2004, p. 27), 2004/140/EC (OJ L 46, 17.2.2004, p. 32), 2004/141/EC (OJ L 46, 17.2.2004, p. 35), 2004/247/EC and 2004/248/EC (OJ L 78, 16.3.2004, p. 50).

(31)  Commission Decisions 2003/153/EC (OJ L 59, 4.3.2003, p. 32), 2003/156/EC (OJ L 64, 7.3.2003, p. 36), 2003/172/EC and 2003/173/EC (OJ L 69, 13.3.2003, pp. 27 and 29), 2003/186/EC (OJ L 71, 15.3.2003, p. 30), 2003/187/EC (OJ L 73, 19.3.2003, p. 8), 2003/191/EC (OJ L 74, 20.3.2003, p. 30), 2003/214/EC (OJ L 81, 28.3.2003, p. 48), 2003/258/EC (OJ L 95, 11.4.2003, p. 65), 2003/275/EC (OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 57), 2003/289/EC, 2003/290/EC and 2003/291/EC (OJ L 105, 26.4.2003), 2003/317/EC and 2003/318/EC (OJ L 115, 9.5.2003), 2003/333/EC (OJ L 116, 13.5.2003, p. 28), 2003/356/EC, 2003/357/EC, 2003/358/EC and 2003/359/EC (OJ L 123, 17.5.2003), 2003/386/EC, 2003/387/EC and 2003/388/EC (OJ L 133, 29.5.2003), 2003/428/EC (OJ L 144, 12.6.2003, p. 15), 2003/443/EC (OJ L 150, 18.6.2003, p. 64).

(32)  Commission Decisions 2003/135/EC and 2003/136/EC (OJ L 53, 28.2.2003), 2003/146/EC (OJ L 55, 1.3.2003, p. 56), 2003/363/EC (L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 43), 2003/526/EC (OJ L 183, 22.7.2003, p. 46), 2003/626/EC (OJ L 223, 5.9.2003, p. 32), 2003/772/EC (OJ L 280, 30.10.2003, p. 21), 2003/851/EC (OJ L 322, 9.12.2003, p. 30).

(33)  Commission Decisions 2003/377/EC (OJ L 130, 27.5.2003, p. 25), 2003/489/EC (OJ L 167, 4.7.2003, p. 37), 2003/572/EC (OJ L 194, 1.8.2003, p. 87).

(34)  Commission Decisions 2003/658/EC (OJ L 232, 18.9.2003, p. 59), 2003/758/EC (OJ L 272, 23.10.2003, p. 16).

(35)  See for instance Commission Decisions 2004/99/EC (OJ L 29, 3.2.2004, p. 17), 2004/210/EC (OJ L 32, 5.2.2004, p. 45) and 2004/264/EC (OJ L 81, 19.3.2004, p. 89).

(36)  Commission Decision 2003/766/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 49).

(37)  Commission Decision 2004/4/EC (OJ L 2, 6.1.2004, p. 50).

(38)  Commission Decision 2003/248/EC (OJ L 93, 10.4.2003, p. 28) and Commission Decision 2003/69/EC (OJ L 26, 31.1.2003, p. 72).

(39)  Commission Decision 2003/210/EC (OJ L 80, 27.3.2003, p. 25) and Commission Decision 2003/244/EC (OJ L 89, 5.4.2003, p. 39).

(40)  Commission Decision 2003/865/EC (OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 62) and Commission Decision 2003/894/EC (OJ L 333, 20.12.2003, p. 88).

(41)  Commission Directive 2003/90/EC (OJ L 254, 8.10.2003, p. 7) and Commission Directive 2003/91 (OJ L 254, 8.10.2003, p. 11).

(42)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 569/2003 (OJ L 82, 29.3.2003, p. 13).

(43)OJ L 5, 9.1.2004, p. 1.

(44)  Decisions 2003/113/EC (OJ L 46, 20.2.2003, p. 27), 2003/368/EC (OJ L 125, 21.5.2003, p. 45), 2003/610/EC (OJ L 210, 20.8.2003, p. 35) and 2003/819/EC (OJ L 308, 25.11.2003, p. 8).

(45)  Commission Decision of 29 November 2001 amending its internal Rules of Procedure (notified under document number C(2001) 3031) (OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1).

(46)  Schengen Information System.

(47)  In 2004, when Daphne II will be approved, a new Committee will be set up.

(48)  Adopted by the Commission on 15 April 2003.

(49)  Commission Regulations (EC) No 257/2003 of 11 February 2003 (OJ L 36, 12.2.2003, p. 11), (EC) No 762/2003 of 30 April 2003 (OJ L 109, 1.5.2003, p. 10) and (EC) No 1214/2003 of 7 July 2003 (OJ L 169, 8.7.2003, p. 30).

(50)  The Commission terminated the definitive safeguard measures in relation to certain steel products by the Regulation (EC) No 2142/2003 of 5 December 2003 (OJ L 321, 6.12.2003, p. 11). By Commission Regulation (EC) No 1964/2003 of November 2003 (OJ L 290, 8.11.2003, p. 3) the provisional measures in respect of satsumas were adopted.

(51)  The Commission adopted the measures as Commission Regulation (EC) No 2331/2003, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2342/2003, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1686/2003 and Commission Decision 2004/23/EC of 29 December 2003, respectively.

(52)  Adopted by Commission Decision of 28 July, 23 October and 17 December 2003.

(53)  Set up by Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 concerning humanitarian aid.

(54)  Decision No 2367/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the Community statistical programme 2003 to 2007 (OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 1).

(55)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1980/2003 of 21 October 2003 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning Community statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) as regards definitions and updated definitions (OJ L 298, 17.11.2003, p. 1).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1981/2003 of 21 October 2003 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning Community statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) as regards the fieldwork aspects and the imputation procedures (OJ L 298, 17.11.2003, p. 23).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1982/2003 of 21 October 2003 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning Community statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) as regards the sampling and tracing rules (OJ L 298, 17.11.2003, p. 29).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1983/2003 of 7 November 2003 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning Community statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) as regards the list of target primary variables (OJ L 298, 17.11.2003, p. 34).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1216/2003 of 7 July 2003 implementing Regulation (EC) No 450/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the labour cost index (OJ L 169, 8.7.2003, p. 37).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1358/2003 of 31 July 2003 implementing Regulation (EC) No 437/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of passengers, freight and mail by air and amending Annexes I and II thereto (OJ L 194, 1.8.2003, p. 9). Commission Regulation (EC) No 1192/2003 of 3 July 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 91/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on rail transport statistics (OJ L 167, 4.7.2003, p. 13).

(56)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1358/2003 of 31 July 2003 implementing Regulation (EC) No 437/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of passengers, freight and mail by air and amending Annexes I and II thereto (OJ L 194, 1.8.2003, p. 9). Commission Regulation (EC) No 1192/2003 of 3 July 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 91/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on rail transport statistics (OJ L 167, 4.7.2003, p. 13).

(57)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1667/2003 of 1 September 2003 implementing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 58/97 with regard to derogations to be granted for structural business statistics (OJ L 244, 29.9.2003, p. 1).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 317/2004 of 23 February 2004 on adopting derogations from the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste statistics as regards Austria, France and Luxembourg. (OJ L 55, 24.2.2004, p. 43).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 574/2004 of 23 February 2004 amending Annexes I and III to Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste statistics. (OJ L 90, 27.3.2004, p. 15).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1829/2004 of 21 October 2004 adopting derogations from the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste statistics with regard to Belgium, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus. (OJ L 321; 22.10.2004, p. 24).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 210/2004 of 23 December 2003 establishing for 2004 the “Prodcom list” of industrial products provided for by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3924/91 (OJ L 45, 14.2.2004, p. 1).

Commission Decision 2004/452/EC of 29 April 2004 laying down a list of bodies whose researchers may access confidential data for scientific purposes. (OJ L 156, 30.4.2004, p. 1).

(58)

(59)  Commission Decision No 2003/304/EC of 29 April 2003 approving the technical action plan 2003 for improving agricultural statistics (OJ L 110, 3.5.2003, p. 15).

(60)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1402/2003 of 1 August 2003 setting out a schedule of tables and laying down the definitions relating to basic statistical surveys of areas under vines (OJ L 199, 7.8.2003, p. 4).

Commission Decision No 2003/597/EC of 4 August 2003 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Directive 93/25/EEC as regards the statistical surveys on sheep and goat population and production (OJ L 203, 12.8.2003, p. 46).

Commission Decision 2003/654/EC of 8 September 2003 laying down a code and standard rules for the transcription into a machine-readable form of the data relating to intermediate statistical surveys of areas under vines (OJ L 230, 16.9.2003, p. 44).

(61)  Established by Regulation (EC) No 515/1997.

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