A4-0252/95

Decision on the common position established by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Council Regulation on the implementation of the 'European Communities Investment Partners Financial Instrument' for the countries of Latin America, Asia, the Mediterranean region and South Africa (C4-0235/95 - 94/0190(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0235/95 - 94/0190(SYN) ((OJ C 160, 26.6.1995, p. 8.)),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 323, 21.11.1994, p. 494.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(93)0358 ((OJ C 287, 15.10.1994, p. 7.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0252/95),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendement 2)

Article 6(2)

>Original text>

2. The final financing decision shall be taken by the Commission, which shall verify compliance with the criteria set out in paragraph 1 and compatibility with Community policies, in particular development cooperation policy, and the mutual benefit to the Community and the developing country concerned.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The final financing decision shall be taken by the Commission, which shall verify compliance with the criteria set out in paragraph 1 and compatibility with Community policies,in particular development cooperation policy, without neglecting democracy and human rights issues and taking into consideration the necessity to improve working conditions, and the mutual benefit to the Community and the developing country concerned.

(Amendment 3)

Article 9(2)

>Original text>

2. In carrying out this task, the Commission shall be assisted, as appropriate, by the Committee set up under Article 15 of Regulation (EEC) No. 443/92 or by the Committee referred to in Article 7(1) of Regulation (EEC) No. 1763/92, and these Committees shall also deal for the purposes of ECIP, with matters related to South Africa in the absence of a specific Committee.

>Text following EP vote>

2. In carrying out this task, the Commission shall be assisted by a type I consultative committee, as provided for in Article 2 of Council Decision 87/373/EEC (1) laying down the procedures for the exercice of implementing powers conferred on the Commission.

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(1) OJ L 197, 18.7.1987, p. 33.

(Amendment 4)

Article 9(3), introduction

>Original text>

3. The following shall be adopted under the procedure laid down in paragraph 4:

>Text following EP vote>

3. The committee referred to in the above paragraph shall be responsible for the following:

(Amendment 5)

Article 9(4)

>Original text>

4. With regard to the matters mentioned in paragraph 3, the representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the Chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The Chairman shall not vote.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

>Original text>

The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if they are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee.

>Original text>

If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall, without delay, submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.

>Original text>

If, on the expiry of one month from the date of referral to the Council, the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.

(Amendment 6)

Article 9(6)

>Original text>

6. In order to ensure consistency of cooperation and to improve complementarity between operations, the Commission and the European Investment Bank shall exchange any relevant information on financing that they envisage granting.

>Text following EP vote>

6. In order to ensure consistency of cooperation and to improve complementarity between operations, the Commission and the European Investment Bank shall exchange any relevant information on financing that they envisage granting and shall inform the budgerary authority thereof.

(Amendment 7)

Article 10(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall send to the European Parliament and to the Council, by 30 April each year at the latest, a progress report showing the projects selected and their economic impact, notably total investment, the number of joint ventures and jobs created as well as the appropriations granted and the repayments to the general budget of the European Communities and including annual statistics for the previous year.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall send to the European Parliament and to the Council, by 30 April each year at the latest, a progress report showing the projects selected, the appropriations granted and the repayments to the general budget of the European Communities and including annual statistics for the previous year. This report shall be accompanied by the up-dated financial statement.

(Amendment 8)

Article 10(4)

>Original text>

4. Use of external technical assistance may be made, as appropriate, on condition that the technical assistance financed is directly linked to the special nature of the ECIP instrument and is of direct benefit to the Alamed countries and South Africa. The costs of such technical assistance shall be limited to 5% of the budgetary credits available, not including the fees paid to the financial institutions which shall be imputed to the credits allocated to each individual actions financed.

>Text following EP vote>

4. Use of external technical assistance may be made, as appropriate, on condition that the technical assistance financed is directly linked to the special nature of the ECIP instrument and is of direct benefit to the Alamed countries and South Africa. The costs of such technical assistance shall be estimated each year whithin the framework of the budgetary procedure.