COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC93) 379 final 
Brussels, 15 July 1993 
Re-examined proposal for a SYN455 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 
on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness 
and on coordination of their activities between themselves 
and with the operations of the European Investment Bank 
and the other existing financial instruments 
Re-examined proposal for a SYN455 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 
laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 
as regards coordination of the activities 
of the different Structural Funds between themselves 
and with the operations of the European Investment Bank 
and the other existing financial instruments 
Re-examined proposal for a SYN457 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 4254/88 of 19 December 1988 
laying down provisions for implementing 
Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the 
European Regional Development Fund 
Re-examined proposal for a SYN457 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC] 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 4255/88 of 19 December 1988 
laying down provisions for implementing 
Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 
as regards the European Social Fund 
Re-examined proposal for a SYN457 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 of 19 December 1988 
laying down provisions for implementing 
Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 
as regards the European Agricultural Guidance and 
Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guidance Section 
Re-examined proposal for a <?YN4*57 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
laying down provisions for implementing Council Regulation (EEC) 
No 2052/88 as regards the Financial Instrument for 
Fisheries Guidance 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149(2)(d) 
of the EEC Treaty) 
A-
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
On 24 June 1993, following Parliament's first reading on 22 June, the 
Commission sent to the Council amended proposals for the Structural Funds 
Regulations (EEC) Nos 2052/88, 4253/88, 4254/88, 4255/88 and 4256/88 and 
the Regulation for the FIFG. 
In its communication to Parliament of 7 July, the Commission commented on 
the common position adopted by the Council on 3 July, welcoming its 
acceptance of a large number of Parliament's most important amendments, or 
at least those which the Commission itself had accepted: regular 
information to Parliament on the Community's structural measures, greater 
attention to environmental policy and equal opportunities for men and 
women, and a more detailed method for designating the areas eligible under 
Objectives 2 and 5(b). 
However, in its communication the Commission also regretted that the 
Council had watered down the principle of associating the economic and 
social partners in the preparation and implementation of Community 
structural measures. It also deplored the establishment of a new 
Management Committee for the Community initiatives. 
Subsequently, a meeting between Parliament, the Council and the Commission 
on 12 June reached an agreement enabling Parliament to complete its 
consideration of and issue opinions on the six proposed regulations. 
As a result of that arrangement between the three Institutions and the 
votes on amendments at second reading and Parliament's opinions on 14 July, 
the Commission is now sending to the Council its re-examined proposals for 
the Regulations concerned which, in view of the extreme urgency of the 
"patter, comprise only the amendments to the proposals it sent on 24 June. 
Its rë-examination covers in particular: 
a new wording in the Framework Regulation and the ERDF and ESF 
Regulations concerning the association of the economic and social 
partners, as agreed at the meeting between the three institutions; 
communication to Parliament of proposed Community initiatives (under 
the Coordination Regulation and the ERDF Regulation) that are to be 
transmitted to the new Management Committee composed of representatives 
of the Member State; 
a reference to the Green Paper on the Community initiatives in a 
recital to the Coordination Regulation; 
- 2 -
- the laying down of arrangements for the implementation of 
Objective 5(a) by the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission 
and after securing Parliament's opinion before 31 December 1993 
(Framework Regulation, EAGGF Guidance Section Regulation and FIFG 
Regulation). 
The Commission has, however, been unable to accept the other amendments 
voted by Parliament on second reading because it considered that it had 
already taken them into account in large measure, at least in spirit, in 
its amended proposals and because it was necessary to preserve the delicate 
balance of the common position adopted by the Council. However, it must be 
noted that Parliament's main concerns have been met by the statements made 
by the Commission to the whole House and recorded in the minutes of the 
tri-partite meeting of 12 July and in those of Parliament's plenary sitting 
of 13 July. These centred principally on: 
- taking account of the guidelines laid down by Parliament in its debate 
on the Green Paper on the Community initiatives; 
- whenever possible, seeking Parliament's comments before the decision to 
introduce each Community initiative; 
establishment of a code of conduct to give Parliament a greater role in 
the monitoring and assessment of Community structural measures; 
a commitment by the three Institutions to complement assistance from 
the Structural Funds by ad hoc measures in areas of non-member 
countries bordering on the Community to be financed from a specific 
budget heading lying outside Title B-2; 
- presentation as necessary of appropriate proposals on the Regulations 
governing the Structural Funds in the light of the first three-year 
report on economic and social cohesion. 
s 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 
on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness 
and on coordination of their activities between themselves 
and with the operations of the European Investment Bank 
and the other existing financial instruments 
The amended proposal remains unchanged except for the following: 
The first subparagraph of Article 4(1) is replaced by the following: 
"Community operations shall be such as to complement or contribute to 
corresponding national operations. They shall be established through close 
consultations between the Commission, the Member States concerned and the 
competent authorities and bodies - including, within the context of each 
Member State's national institutional rules and current practices, the 
economic and social partners - designated by the Member State at national, 
regional, local or other level, with each party acting as a partner in 
pursuit of a common goal. These consultations are hereinafter referred to 
as the 'partnership*. The partnership shall cover the preparation, 
financing, monitoring and assessment of operations." 
Article 11 is replaced by the following: 
"Article 11 
Objective 5(a) 
The detailed rules for implementing operations relating to the adjustment 
of structures in agriculture and the fisheries sector (Objective 5(a)) 
shall be laid down in accordance with Article 3(4) and (5)." 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 
laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/83 
as regards coordination of the activities 
of the different Structural Funds between themselves 
and with the operations of the European Investment Bank 
and the other existing financial instruments 
The amended proposal remains unchanged except for the following: 
A new recital is inserted: 
'7a. Whereas operations of significant interest to the Community 
undertaken at the initiative of the Commission have an important 
role to play in achieving the general objectives of Community 
structural policy as set out in Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) 
No 2052/88; whereas these initiatives should primarily help to 
promote cross-border, trans-national and inter-regional 
cooperation and assist the most remote regions, in accordance with 
the principle of subsidiarity; whereas the Commission has adopted, 
as COM (93) 282, a Green Paper on the future of the Community 
initiatives in order to encourage a wide discussion on the types 
of Community initiatives to be undertaken in the future;" 
The first subparagraph of Article 11(1) is amended to read as follows: 
"In accordance with Article 5(5) of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88, the 
Commission may on its own initiative, after informing the European 
Parliament [ ] and in accordance with the procedures provided for in 
Title VIII, decide to propose to the Member States that they submit 
applications for assistance in respect of measures of significant interest 
to the Community. Any assistance approved pursuant to this provision shall 
be reflected in the establishment or revision of the relevant Community 
support framework." 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 4254/88 of 19 December 1988 
laying down provisions for implementing 
Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the 
European Regional Development Fund 
The amended proposal remains unchanged except for the following: 
The third subparagraph of Article 3(2) is replaced by the following: 
"When they are undertaken on the initiative of the Commission, the 
Commission, after informing [ ] the European Parliament and after 
consulting the Committee referred to in Article 29a of Regulation (EEC) 
No 4253/88, shall lay down their guidelines and invite the Member States 
concerned to establish requests for assistance. It shall order their 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities." 
Article 9 is replaced by the following: 
"The Community's regional action shall be carried out in close 
consultation between the Commission, the Member States concerned and the 
competent authorities and bodies - including, within the context of each 
Member State's national institutional rules and current practices, the 
economic and social partners - designated by the Member States, in 
accordance with Article 4(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88, for the 
implementation of measures at regional level." 
é 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 4255/88 of 19 December 1988 
laying down provisions for implementing 
Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 
as regards the European Social Fund 
The amended proposal remains unchanged except for the following: 
The second subparagraph of Article 4(1) is replaced by the following: 
"These plans should indicate the manner in which the obligation referred 
to in Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 to involve the economic and 
social partners in the partnership ( ), within the context of each 
Member State's national institutional rules and current practices, has 
been taken into account." 
The second indent of Article 4(3) is replaced by the following: 
"- the way in which the Member States will secure, within the context of 
each Member State's national institutional rules and current practices, 
the participation of the economic and social partners and of vocational 
training bodies at the approporiate level when preparing actions, 
particularly as regards anticipating the effects of industrial changes 
and changes in production systems;" 
> 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 of 19 December 1988 
laying down provisions for implementing 
Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 
as regards the European Agricultural Guidance and 
Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guidance Section 
The amended proposal remains unchanged except for the following: 
The following Article is inserted: 
"Article 11a 
Without prejudice to Article 33 of Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88, the 
Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission in accordance with the 
procedure laid down in Article 43 of the Treaty, shall decide not later 
than 31 December 1993 on adjustments to common measures financed under 
Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88, with a view to achieving the 
goals set out in Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 and in accordance with the 
rules set out in Regulations (EEC) Nos 2052/88 and. 4253/88 as well as with 
Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88." 
Re-examined proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
laying down provisions for implementing Council Regulation (EEC) 
No 2052/88 as regards the Financial Instrument for 
Fisheries Guidance 
The amended proposal remains unchanged except for the following: 
The following is inserted: 
"Article 6 
Without prejudice to Article 33 of Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 and 
Article 9 of this Regulation, the Council, acting on a proposal from the 
Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 43 of the 
Treaty, shall adopt not later than 31 December 1993 the detailed rules and 
conditions for the FIFG contribution to the measures for adaptation of 
structures in the sector covered by this Regulation." 
EN j 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(93) 379 final 
DOCUMENTS 
01 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-93-407-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-58312-6 
Office for Offidal Publications of the European Conuamnities 
L-2985 Luxembourg