Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on:

- the "Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the Socrates programmes to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries",

- the "Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the third phase of the Youth for Europe programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries", and

- the "Proposal for a Decision of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the Leonardo programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries"

(1999/C 293/06)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to to the list of Commission proposals pending at 1 May 1999 for which the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam implies a change in the legal base and/or a change in procedure (SEC(1999)581 final);

having regard to Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the Socrates and Youth programmes to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries and the proposal for a Decision of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the Leonardo programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries (COM(96) 199 final; 96/0130 (COD) 96/0131 (COD) and 96/0132 (COD) - formerly 96/0132 SYN)(1);

having regard to the decision taken by the Council on 11 May 1999, under Article 149, Article 150 and the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Committee of the Regions on this matter;

having regard to the Decision of its Bureau of 7 May 1999 to appoint John Evans as Rapporteur General - to draw up an opinion on this subject, in accordance with Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee of the Regions;

having regard to the Committee of the Regions Opinion on the new Socrates, Leonardo and Youth Programmes [COM(1998) 329 final, COM(1998) 330 final; COM(1998) 331 final) (CdR 226/98 fin)](2) (Rapporteur: John Evans), adopted 19 November 1998,

adopted the following opinion at its 29th plenary session of 2-3 June 1999 (meeting of 3 June).

On 18 May 1999, the COR received a request from the Council of the European Union to issue an Opinion on the Commission's proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending the basic decision relating to the Socrates and Youth programmes and the proposal for a Council decision amending the Leonardo programme, to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries. This concerns the period of the programmes from 1995 to 1999.

The Committee of the Regions strongly regrets the fact that the Council has not respected the procedure of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing a deadline which in any case may not be less that a month after the communication from the Council has been received by the president of the Committee of the Regions. The letter from the Council concerning this referral is dated 11 May 1999, registered at the Committee of the Regions on 20 May 1999 and the time limit was fixed by the Council for 11 June 1999.

In its Opinion on the new Socrates, Leonardo and Youth programmes establishing the new phase of the programmes from the year 2000 onwards adopted on 19 November 1998 (rapporteur: John Evans) the COR supported the European Commission's proposal to open the three new programmes to Turkey.

The COR notes that the proposal to include Turkey in the programmes during the current programming period will enable preparatory measures to be undertaken with a view to supporting Turkey's participation in the future programmes.

In conclusion, the COR supports the Commission's proposal to open the current programming period (1995-1999) of the Socrates, Leonardo and Youth programmes to include Turkey.

Brussels, 3 June 1999.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Manfred DAMMEYER

(1) OJ C 186, 26.6.1996, p. 8, 9, 10.

(2) OJ C 51, 22.2.1999, p. 77-85.