Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on:

- the "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 as regards the budgetary and financial rules applicable to the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network and access to the Agency's documents",

- the "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 as regards the budgetary and financial rules applicable to the European Food Safety Agency and access to the Agency's documents",

- the "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning common rules in the field of civil aviation and creation of a European Aviation Safety Agency", and

- the "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a European Maritime Safety Agency"

(COM(2002) 406 final - 2002/0169 (COD) - 2002/0179 (COD) - 2002/0181 (COD) - 2002/0182 (COD))

(2003/C 85/17)

On 23 September 2002 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 157 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposals.

At its 395th plenary session of 11 and 12 December 2002 (meeting of 11 December), the European Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr Chagas as rapporteur-general and adopted the following opinion by 54 votes for with one abstention.

1. The new Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the EC(1) will enter into force on 1 January 2003. It presents a new approach concerning the budgetary and financial status of the decentralised Community agencies.

2. The entry into force of this regulation requires amendments to the legal acts establishing the agencies, which include:

- the European Environment Agency (Copenhagen)(2);

- the European Food Safety Authority(3);

- the European Aviation Safety Agency(4);

- the European Maritime Safety Agency(5).

3. Amending the legal acts establishing these agencies involves consulting the European Economic and Social Committee.

4. The European Economic and Social Committee welcomes the Commission's proposals.

Brussels, 11 December 2002.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Roger Briesch

(1) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1) - EESC opinion: OJ C 260, 17.9.2001, p. 42).

(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (OJ L 120, 11.5.1990, p. 1) - EESC opinion: OJ C 56, 7.3.1990, p. 20.

(3) Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 June 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1) - EESC opinion: OJ C 155, 29.5.2001, p. 32.

(4) Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation and creating a European Aviation Safety Agency (OJ L 240, 7.9.2002, p. 1) - EESC opinion: OJ C 221, 7.8.2001, p. 38.

(5) Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Maritime Safety Agency (OJ L 208, 5.8.2002, p. 1) - EESC opinion: OJ C 221, 7.8.2002, p. 54.