Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, with specific reference to the nomenclature of products (COM(97)0275 - C4-0257/97 - 97/0162(COD))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 3)

Recital 4

>Original text>

Whereas the simplification of the product nomenclature to be used for Intrastat purposes is one such proposal, since information providers generally regard the classification of products as difficult;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the

simplified use of the Combined Nomenclature for Intrastat purposes, together with the availability to information providers of tools facilitating the classification of goods, is one such proposal, since information providers generally regard the classification of products in the Combined Nomenclature as difficult;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 4a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the simplification of the Combined Nomenclature has been proposed as a pilot project as part of the second phase of the SLIM initiative(1);

__________

(1) (SEC(97)0951)

(Amendment 5)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas, therefore, there is a need to simplify this nomenclature while maintaining its link with the nomenclature used for the trading of goods with non-member countries and its compatibility with other statistical classifications;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, therefore, there is a need to simplify

the use of this nomenclature while preserving a single nomenclature for the trading of goods within the single market and with non-member countries which is compatible with other statistical classifications;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas the Commission considers it desirable to establish a partnership with the national authorities and the European representatives of the providers and users of statistical information in order to draw up proposals for simplifying the nomenclature applicable for Intrastat purposes;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it

is desirable to establish a partnership with the national authorities and the European representatives of the providers and users of statistical information in order to draw up proposals for simplifying the Combined Nomenclature;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 6a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas this partnership must still make it possible to preserve a sufficiently detailed level of information to meet the specific needs of some sectors,

(Amendment 8)

ARTICLE 1

Article 21(1) to (5) (Regulation (EEC) 3330/91)

>Original text>

1. On the statistical medium to be transmitted to the competent authorities, goods shall be identified by the subheadings of the current version of the nomenclature applicable to the trading of goods between Member States (Intrastat Nomenclature).

>Text following EP vote>

1.

On the statistical medium to be transmitted to the competent authorities, goods shall be identified by the subheadings of the current version of the Combined Nomenclature.

>Original text>

2. The Intrastat Nomenclature shall be a goods code nomenclature based on the Harmonized System in force. In order to take account of specific needs, it may contain a strictly limited number of subdivisions below Harmonized System subheading level. Any such subdivisions below Harmonized System subheading level shall be identified by subheadings of the current version of the Combined Nomenclature.

>Text following EP vote>

2. However, in accordance with the detailed procedures set out in paragraph 3, providers of statistical information may, in the interests of reducing their statistical burden, limit themselves to using the Harmonized System nomenclature to identify certain goods.

>Original text>

3. This nomenclature shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 30, account being taken of the results of the work of a group composed of representatives of the providers and users of statistical information on the trading of goods.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The arrangements for the application of paragraph 2, and any other technical measures intended to facilitate the classification of goods for statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 30, account being taken of the results of the work of a group composed of representatives of the providers and users of statistical information on the trading of goods.

>Original text>

4. The operational procedures of this group shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 30.

>Text following EP vote>

4.

The operational procedures of this group shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 30.

>Original text>

5. To take account of their internal organization, providers of statistical information may use the Combined Nomenclature to identify goods on the statistical data medium.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States, with specific reference to the nomenclature of products (COM(97)0275 - C4-0257/97 - 97/0162(COD))(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(97)0275 - 97/0162(COD) ((OJ C 245, 12.8.1997, p. 12)),

- having regard to Articles 189b(2) and 100a of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C4-0257/97),

- 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 (A4-0102/98),

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 requests 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.