A4-0162/99

Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Slovenia in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education (COM(99)0071 - C4-0160/99 - 99/0052(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 3a (new)

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Whereas revenue from the non-member countries is allocated in advance to the above-mentioned programmes and entered as such against the corresponding item of expenditure;

(Amendment 2)

Sole Article, second paragraph (new)

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The annual breakdown of appropriations intended for the cofinancing of this action pursuant to Article 108 of the Europe Agreement referred to in the first recital shall appear in Annex IV, Part B, Section III of the Budget of the European Union.

(Amendment 3)

Draft Decision of the Association Council

Article 2

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This Decision shall apply for the duration of the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes.

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This Decision shall apply for the duration of the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes

, and for the periods for which they are extended whilst the new programmes are being prepared.

(Amendment 7)

Draft Decision of the Association Council

Annex I(2), 2nd subparagraph

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Language preparation and training activities concern the official languages of the Community. In exceptional circumstances, other languages could be accepted if the implementation of the programmes so requires.

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Language preparation and training activities concern the official languages of the Community

and, taking a global approach to integration in the EU, the official languages of the CEECs (future Member States of the EU), particularly as they sometimes also have the status of an official language within the EU (e.g. Slovene in Carinthia, Styria and Italy). Other languages (such as Romany) could be accepted in exceptional circumstances if the implementation of the programmes and the need to emphasise the importance of less widely spoken languages for European cultural diversity so require.

(Amendment 4)

Draft Decision of the Association Council

Annex I (7)

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7. Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission of the European Communities and the Court of Auditors of the European Community in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of the programmes pursuant to the decisions concerning Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates (Articles 10, 9 and 8 respectively), the participation of Slovenia in the programmes will be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission of the European Communities and Slovenia. Slovenia will submit to the Commission relevant reports and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community in that context.

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7.

Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission of the European Communities and the Court of Auditors of the European Community in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of the programmes pursuant to the decisions concerning Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates (Articles 10, 9 and 8 respectively), the participation of Slovenia in the programmes will be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission of the European Communities, which will keep the European Parliament and the Council regularly informed thereof, and Slovenia. Slovenia will submit to the Commission relevant reports and take part from the outset in other specific activities set out by the Community in that context.

(Amendment 5)

Draft Decision of the Association Council

Annex I (8)

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8. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 6 of the Decision on Leonardo da Vinci, Article 6 of the Decision on Youth for Europe and Article 4 of the Decision on Socrates, Slovenia will be invited to coordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Committees. The Commission will inform Slovenia about the results of such regular meetings.

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8.

Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 6 of the Decision on Leonardo da Vinci, Article 6 of the Decision on Youth for Europe and Article 4 of the Decision on Socrates, Slovenia will be invited to coordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Committees. Slovenia may also send a representative to such regular meetings in order to gain from first-hand experience of the Community without, however, being able to influence the Committee's decisions.

(Amendment 6)

Draft Decision of the Association Council

Annex I (9)

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9. The language to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other administrative arrangements for the programmes, will be one of the official languages of the Community.

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9.

The language(s) to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other administrative arrangements for the programmes, will be official languages of the Community. This should not, however, rule out occasional use of the national languages of the country concerned, in particular during informal negotiations.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Slovenia in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education (COM(99)0071 - C4-0160/99 - 99/0052(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(99)0071 - 99/0052(CNS),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 126 and 127 in conjunction with Article 228(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty (C4-0160/99),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0162/99),

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

4. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

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