A4-0467/98

Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Hungary in a Community programme within the framework of Community audiovisual policy (COM(97)0562 - C4-0637/97 - 97/0311(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas Hungary has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Transfrontier Television, which constitutes an important step in the process of legislative alignment,

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas

although Hungary has just promulgated the Council of Europe Convention on Transfrontier Television and has, through the Law on the Media, adopted a number of provisions aimed at moving closer to fulfilling the obligations entered into in Article 9(2) of the Treaty concluded with the European Community on 31 December 1993, much progress remains to be made in applying to all enterprises in the audiovisual sector legislation which accords with European provisions, which constitutes a fundamental step in the process of legislative alignment;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 6a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Having regard to the code of conduct agreed between the European Parliament and the Commission concerning information to and attendance by representatives of Parliament during the proceedings of the Commission's committees, as referred to in Parliament's resolution of 24 October 1996 on the draft general budget of the European Communities for the financial year 1997 - Section III - Commission(1),

:___________

(1) OJ C 347, 18.11.1996, p. 125.

(Amendment 3)

Proposal for a Council decision, 2nd, 3rd and 4th paragraphs (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Hungary shall participate in any action under the Media II programme, subject to the following conditions:

- adoption of a timetable for the adjustment of Hungarian legislation to European provisions and for the adoption of the acquis communautaire in the audiovisual field, particularly as regards the following aspects:

- definition of the status of broadcasting organisations;

- programming of European works.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

If use is made of funds from the budget of the European Union, as provided for in Article 2 of the Additional Protocol to the Agreements between the European Community and the third country concerned (Hungary) to provide a financial supplement, the Commission shall inform the budgetary authority of this in advance.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

The amount of, and the arrangements for, annual co-financing of the operation shall be indicated in Section III, Part B, Annex IV of the budget.

(Amendment 4)

Draft Decision of the EC/Hungary Association Council

Annex I (6)

>Original text>

6. Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission and the Community's Court of Auditors in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of the programmes pursuant to Articles 7 (Media II - Development and Distribution) and 6 (Media II - Training), the participation of Hungary in the Programme shall be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission and Hungary. Hungary shall submit to the Commission relevant reports and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community to this end.

>Text following EP vote>

6.

Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission and the Community's Court of Auditors in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of the programmes pursuant to Articles 7 (Media II - Development and Distribution) and 6 (Media II - Training), the participation of Hungary in the Programme shall be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission and Hungary. Hungary shall submit relevant reports to the Commission - which shall inform the European Parliament (Committee on Culture, Delegation to the EU-Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee) and the Council thereof - and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community to this end.

(Amendment 5)

Draft Decision of the EC/Hungary Association Council

Annex I (7)

>Original text>

7. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 4 (Media II - Training) and Article 5 (Media II - Development and Distribution), Hungary shall be invited to coordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Programme Committee. The Commission shall inform Hungary about the results of such regular meetings.

>Text following EP vote>

7.

Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 4 (Media II - Training) and Article 5 (Media II - Development and Distribution), Hungary shall be invited to coordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Programme Committee. The Commission shall inform Hungary and the European Parliament (Committee on Culture, Delegation to the EU-Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee) about the results of such regular meetings.

(Amendment 7)

Draft Decision of the EC/Hungary Association Council

Annex I (9)

>Original text>

9. The language to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other administrative arrangements for the Programme, shall be one of the official languages of the Community.

>Text following EP vote>

9.

The language to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other administrative arrangements for the Programme, shall be one of the official languages of the Community, although Hungarian may be used in exceptional circumstances.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Hungary in a Community programme within the framework of Community audiovisual policy (COM(97)0562 - C4-0637/97 - 97/0311(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0562 - 97/0311(CNS) ((OJ C 368, 5.12.1997, p. 14.)),

- having regard to Articles 127(4) and 130(3) of the EC Treaty,

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 228(3), first subparagraph (C4-0637/97),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0467/98),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.