Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION - Renewal of the Membership of the European Social Fund Committee

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. Article 47 of Council Regulation 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, provides that in implementing this Regulation, the Commission shall be assisted by four Committees, of which: b) the Committee pursuant to Article 147 of the Treaty.

2. The provisions relating to the organisation and tasks of this Committee are laid down in the implementing regulations, principally in Article 49 of Council Regulation 1260/99 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds.

3. This Article provides that the Committee shall be composed of two government representatives, two representatives of the workers' organisations and two representatives of the employers' organisations from each Member State. For each Member State, an alternate shall be appointed for each category of representative. The members and alternates are appointed by the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission for a period of three years.

4. The Council decided, on 8 October 2001, to appoint the members and alternate members of the European Social Fund Committee, on a proposal from the Commission for the period from 23 October 2001 to 22 October 2004.

During this period, additional decisions have been taken by the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, to replace members and alternate members of the Committee. The term of office of these replacements also expires on 22 October 2004.

5. Article 52(3) of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded provides that upon accession, the membership of the Committees listed in Annex XVIII shall be completely renewed. The Committee of the European Social Fund is one of the Committees listed in Annex XVIII.

6. Consequently, having consulted the Member States, the Commission submits to the Council the present proposal for a Council Decision appointing members and alternate members of the European Social Fund Committee for the period from 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2007.

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION - Renewal of the Membership of the European Social Fund Committee

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 147 thereof,

Having regard to the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded [1], and in particular the third paragraph of Article 52 and Annex XVIII thereof,

[1] OJ L236 23.9.2003, p.17

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No. 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds [2] and in particular the third paragraph of Article 49 (1) thereof,

[2] OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p.1.Regulation as last amended by the Act of Accession

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Under Council Decision of 8 October 2001 appointing the members of the Committee referred to in Article 147 of the EC Treaty [3], the term of office of those members expires on 22 October 2004.

[3] OJ C 292, 18.10.2001, p.1.

(2) The Act of Accession provides that the membership of the European Social Fund Committee shall be completely renewed upon accession.

(3) The members and alternate members of the Committee referred to in Article 147 of the Treaty should therefore be appointed for a period of 3 years.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The persons listed in the annex are hereby appointed members and alternate members of the European Social Fund Committee for the period 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2007:

Article 2

This Decision shall be published, for information, in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

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