JOINT DECLARATION ON THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME FOR 1994 (94/C 60/01)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COMMISSION, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE COUNCIL,

- Having regard to the interinstitutional declaration of 25 October 1993 by Parliament, the Council and the Commission on democracy, transparency and subsidiarity, concerning the transparency of the decision-making process of the Union institutions,

- Whereas the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union further accentuates the need for increased interinstitutional planning and coordination, especially as regards acts to be adopted jointly by Parliament and the Council, in cooperation, following assent or via consultation,

- Having regard to the annual legislative programme (COM(93) 0588, COM(93) 0588/2) submitted by the Commission, listing the proposals it intends to submit over 1994 together with an indicative calendar,

- Having regard to the resolution adopted by Parliament on 19 January 1994 on the annual legislative programme,

- Aware of the priorities of the Council Presidency submitted at the January 1994 part-session,

- Having regard to the declaration forwarded by the Council to Parliament on 9 February 1994 in which the Council undertakes to implement the provisions which it considers to have priority,

AGREE:

I. the following joint priorities for 1994:

A. implementation of the Community-level measures for realization of the objectives of the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment, including the establishment of trans-European networks, the institution of the R & TD framework programme and the setting up of the Cohesion Fund, in a context of sustainable economic development;

B. implementation of the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers and application of the protocol on social policy;

II. the following clarificatory and complementary actions in respect of the programme proposed by the Commission:

A. action to ensure that Parliament can more effectively carry out its role in implementing actions and initiatives in the area of the common foreign and security policy and cooperation in the field of justice and internal affairs;

B. reinforcement and enlargement of the rights arising from European citizenship, in the context of a new communication to be submitted by the end of 1994 (under Article 8e of the EC Treaty);

C. adoption of legislative measures for the abolition of controls on persons at the internal frontiers combined with more effective controls at the external frontiers, together with a communication, accompanied where relevant by specific proposals, concerning asylum and immigration (under Article K.1 of the Treaty on European Union);

D. recourse to the social protocol with a view to further reinforcement of the content and acceleration of the adoption of proposals relating to atypical work, parental leave, inversion of the burden of proof, information and consultation of workers, secondment of workers and protection of young people;

E. updating of the fifth programme for the environment, especially as regards the undertakings made at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit ('Agenda 21`), accompanied where relevant by proposals;

F. consideration of a directive on the wearing of seatbelts in coaches;

G. consideration of the question of social protection by Member States for volunteers working in developing countries;

H. consideration of revision of the decision of 13 July 1987 concerning commitology in the implementation of Council acts.

III. all possible measures and/or acceleration by the Commission of its work or further action concerning submission of proposals on:

A. water and air quality (strengthening of the existing provision);

B. a framework directive on foodstuffs;

C. precautionary supervision and monitoring of credit institutions;

D. cooperation programmes linked to the reforms in South Africa;

IV. all possible action with a view to ensuring:

A. that a final decision is reached by the end of the present parliamentary term on the following proposals:

- the fourth R & D framework programme,

- the Cohesion Fund,

- the agency for health and safety at work,

- the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty on European Union relating to education (the Socrates and Youth for Europe programmes) and vocational training (the Leonardo programme);

to this end, Parliament shall ensure that these subjects are debated in good time so that the procedures can be concluded during the first half of 1994;

B. and that a final decision is reached by 1 January 1995 on the following subjects:

- the exercise of citizens' rights, including the right to vote in local elections,

- visas,

- trans-European networks,

- information and participation of workers in transborder enterprises,

- updating of the fifth framework programme for the environment,

- safety in land, sea and air transport;

V. the reinforcement of interinstitutional cooperation:

To this end, the three institutions, in the context of interinstitutional cooperation, are invited:

- to draw up a joint calendar for the common positions and second readings of Parliament and the Council for the period covering the end of the present parliamentary term and the beginning of the next term, to ensure that no delay is incurred by Parliament during the election period, i.e. between the May 1994 part-session and the inaugural post-election part-session,

- to determine means of ensuring effective reciprocal information concerning the progress of work on priorities of common interest (1),

- to revise the EP/Commission code of conduct on cooperation in the area of legislative activity with a view to adapting it to the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union and the interinstitutional agreements of 25 October 1993.

The President of Parliament shall ensure that the present agreement, the legislative programme proposed by the Commission, the resolution of Parliament and the Council declaration are forwarded to the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

The Secretaries-General of the three institutions are instructed:

- to ensure that the present agreement, the legislative programme proposed by the Commission, the resolution of Parliament and the Council declaration are published in the Official Journal,

- to keep the indicative calendar up to date and, wherever possible, to provide any relevant information regarding the possible legal basis for proposals to be submitted by the Commission,

- to ensure the practical implementation of the agreements at administrative and operational level, with a view to effective dialogue between the services concerned and in the interinstitutional coordination group,

- to encourage the provision of adequate information on the progress of the decision-making process, in particular via synergy between the Commission's INFO 92 database facilities and Parliament's 'legislative monitor`.

(1) Parliament points out that from its viewpoint, this includes defining arrangements for the participation of representatives of Parliament in meetings of the Council and its organs.