A4-0415/98

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on a series of guidelines, including the identification of projects of common interest, for trans-European networks for the electronic interchange of data between administrations (IDA) (COM(97)0661 - C4-0678/97 - 97/0340(COD))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 13a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(13a) Whereas Member States should take account of the telematic networks developed in the framework of Community action in the development of the projects they carry out together in areas that may become included in the EC Treaty as a consequence of the Treaty of Amsterdam, other areas subject to the Treaty on European Union, as well as any other action they may carry out that meets the objectives of the EC Treaty, and in particular Articles 3(d), 7a, 8a and 48 thereof;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 18

>Original text>

(18) Whereas it is essential to maximize interoperability in order to achieve economies of scale and to increase the benefits of such networks;

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(18)

Whereas it is essential to maximize the use of standards, publicly available specifications and public domain applications to ensure seamless interoperability in order to achieve economies of scale and to increase the benefits of such networks;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 21

>Original text>

(21) Whereas in accordance with the subsidiarity and proportionality principles established by Article 3b of the Treaty, the objective of establishing such networks cannot be adequately attained by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale and effects of the proposed action, be better attained at Community level; whereas the proposed action does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the said objective;

>Text following EP vote>

(21)

Whereas in accordance with the subsidiarity and proportionality principles established by Article 3b of the Treaty, the objective of the present programme can be better attained at Community level;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 25

>Original text>

(25) Whereas the Council has adopted Decision 95/468/EC on a Community contribution for telematic interchange of data between administrations in the Community (IDA);

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(25)

Whereas actions have been carried out under Decision 95/468/EC on a Community contribution for telematic interchange of data between administrations in the Community (IDA);

(Amendment 5)

Recital 26

>Original text>

(26) Whereas this Decision establishes a financial framework for the entire duration of the programme which should be the principal point of reference, within the meaning of point 1 of the Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995, for the budgetary authority for the purposes of the annual budgetary procedure,

>Text following EP vote>

(26) Having regard to the Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Comission of 6 March 1995 on the incorporation of financial provisions into legislative acts,

(Amendment 6)

Recital 26a (new)

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>Text following EP vote>

(26a) Mindful of the code of conduct established between Parliament and the Commission on the provision of information and the attendance of representatives of Parliament during the proceedings of committees of the Commission as set out 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);

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___________

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

(Amendment 7)

Article 1(2)

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2. This Decision forms part of the IDA programme.

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2.

This Decision covers all networks under the IDA programme.

(Amendment 8)

Article 2(c)

>Original text>

(c) a sectoral network is a trans-European telematic network for administrations, devoted to the implementation or the administrative support of one particular Community policy or activity which is hereinafter referred to as an 'administrative sector';

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(c)

a sectoral network is a trans-European telematic network for administrations, devoted to the implementation or the administrative support of one particular Community policy, activity or objective which is hereinafter referred to as an 'administrative sector';

(Amendment 9)

Article 4(c)

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(c) support communication between the Community institutions, or

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(c) encourage interinstitutional cooperation between the Community institutions as well as between the latter and national and regional administrations, including national and regional parliaments, or

(Amendment 10)

Article 4(g)

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(g) otherwise provide a direct benefit to the citizens of the European Union.

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(g)

otherwise provide a direct benefit to the citizens or residents of the European Union.

(Amendment 11)

Article 6(1)

>Original text>

1. In the implementation of IDA projects the Community shall bear costs in proportion to its interest.

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1.

In the implementation of IDA projects the Community and European agencies shall bear costs in proportion to their interest.

(Amendment 12)

Article 6(2)

>Original text>

2. The financial contribution of the Community for each IDA project shall be determined in accordance with paragraphs 3 to 7.

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2.

The financial contribution of the Community for each IDA project shall be determined in accordance with paragraphs 3 to 7. This contribution does not include any costs arising from the continued use of applications or specifications which contradict the priorities or the requirements of this Decision or of Decision 98/.../EC adopting a series of actions and measures in order to ensure interoperability of and access to trans-European networks for the interchange of data between administrations (IDA).

(Amendment 13)

Article 8(1), 1st and 2nd subparagraphs

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission. This committee shall be called the Telematics between Administrations Committee (TAC).

>Text following EP vote>

1.

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of one representative per Member State and chaired by a representative of the Commission. This committee shall be called the Telematics between Administrations Committee (TAC).

>Original text>

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.

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The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures

of a general nature 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 in question. 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.

(Amendment 14)

Article 9(2)

>Original text>

2. Two years after the entry into force of this Decision or any subsequent amendment of the Annex, and at three-yearly intervals thereafter, the Commission shall, in coordination with the Member States, carry out an evaluation of the implementation of this Decision.

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2. A qualitative and quantitative evaluation shall be carried out after two years of implementation and at three-yearly intervals thereafter. The findings of this evaluation shall be forwarded to the budgetary authority before the first reading of the budget for the financial year 2001.

(Amendment 15)

Article 9(3), 2nd subparagraph

>Original text>

It shall also examine, in the light of the expenditure incurred by the Community, the benefits yielded by IDA networks to the Community, the Member States, Community industry and citizens of the European Union and identify areas for potential improvement and verify synergy with other Community activities in the field of trans-European telecommunication networks.

>Text following EP vote>

It shall also examine, in the light of the expenditure incurred by the Community, the benefits yielded by IDA networks to the Community

for the advancement of common policies and institutional cooperation, the Member States, Community industry and citizens of the European Union and identify areas for potential improvement and verify synergy with other Community activities in the field of trans-European telecommunication networks.

(Amendment 16)

Article 9(4)

>Original text>

4. The Commission shall forward its evaluation to the European Parliament and the Council together with its proposal for the amendment of the Annex.

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4.

The Commission shall forward its evaluation to the European Parliament and the Council together with a proposal for the renewal or amendment of the Annex.

>Original text>

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In the absence of a decision at the end of the fourth year, the Annex shall be deemed to have lapsed except in respect of projects for which a suitable financing scheme extending beyond that date has been decided prior to the third year.

(Amendment 17)

Article 10(2a) (new)

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>Text following EP vote>

2a. Revenue paid over by the countries of the European Economic Area, the associated countries of central and eastern Europe and Cyprus shall be entered in the general budget and earmarked for the IDA programme.

(Amendment 18)

Article 11(2)

>Original text>

2. The other sectoral networks shall make use of the horizontal actions and measures undertaken by the Community within the framework of Decision 98/. . ./EC adopting a series of actions and measures in order to ensure interoperability of and access to trans-European networks for the interchange of data between administrations (IDA), to the extent that those actions and measures are appropriate to meet the user requirements of the other sectoral networks.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

The other sectoral networks shall make use of the horizontal actions and measures undertaken by the Community within the framework of Decision 98/. . ./EC adopting a series of actions and measures in order to ensure interoperability of and access to trans-European networks for the interchange of data between administrations (IDA), unless those actions and measures are inappropriate to meet the user requirements of the other sectoral networks.

(Amendment 19)

Article 11(6)

>Original text>

6. In the implementation of the other sectoral networks the Community shall bear costs in proportion to its interest.

>Text following EP vote>

6.

In the implementation of the other sectoral networks the Community and European agencies shall bear costs in proportion to their interest and provided these costs do not arise from the continued use of applications or specifications which contradict the requirements of this Decision.

(Amendment 20)

Article 12, 1st paragraph a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

This covers only part of the programme; the other part comes under Decision 98/.../EC adopting a series of actions and measures in order to ensure interoperability of and access to trans-European networks for the electronic Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDA).

(Amendment 21)

Annex(A)(3)

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3. Implementation of those networks which, within the framework of the Community policies and activities and in unforeseen circumstances, are urgently required to support the action of the Community and the Member States in protecting the life and health of humans, animals and plants, the rights of the European consumers, or the fundamental interests of the Community.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

Implementation of those networks which, within the framework of the Community policies and activities and in unforeseen circumstances, are urgently required to support the action of the Community and the Member States in protecting the life and health of humans, animals and plants, the rights of the European consumers, the living conditions of persons residing in the European Union, or the fundamental interests of the Community.

(Amendment 22)

Annex(B)(1)

>Original text>

1. Extension of the communication and management of official documents project to all exchanges of information between the European institutions and Member State Governments and administrations and for the dissemination of Commission autonomous acts.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

Extension of the communication and management of official documents project to all exchanges of information between the European institutions and Member State Governments and administrations and to the dissemination of Commission autonomous acts and of all Community legislation and implementing measures by the Commission and the Member States.

(Amendment 23)

Annex (C)(15)

>Original text>

15. Telematic services for the exchange of information concerning content issues on open networks, to promote the development and free circulation of new audiovisual and information services;

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15.

Telematic services for the exchange of information concerning content issues on open networks, to promote the development and free circulation of new audiovisual and information services and ensure the protection of public interest requirements relating to these services;

(Amendment 24)

Annex (E)(1)

>Original text>

1. Implementation of a telematic link between the Commission, Council, institutions and the site of the EU Presidency;

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1.

Implementation of a telematic network linking the European institutions and the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, including a link with the site of the EU Presidency;

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on a series of guidelines, including the identification of projects of common interest, for trans-European networks for the electronic interchange of data between administrations (IDA) (COM(97)0661 - C4-0678/97 - 97/0340(COD))(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(97)0661 - 97/0340(COD) ((OJ C 54, 21.2.1998, p. 3.)),

- having regard to Articles189b(2) and 129d, first paragraph, of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C4-0678/97),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs (A4-0415/98),

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 incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189b(2) of the EC Treaty;

4. Should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament, calls on the Council to notify Parliament and request that the conciliation procedure be initiated;

5. Points out that the Commission is required to submit to Parliament any modification it may intend to make to its proposal as amended by Parliament;

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