A4-0371/97

Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Regulation on co-financing operations with European non-governmental development organizations (NGOs) in fields of interest to the developing countries (C4-0442/97 - 95/0168(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0442/97 - 95/0168(SYN),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 453.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(95)0292) ((OJ C 251, 27.9.1995, p. 18.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0371/97),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendment 1)

Article 1(1)

>Original text>

1. The Community shall co-finance operations in the field with European non-governmental development organizations (NGOs), as defined in Article 3, to meet the basic needs of disadvantaged people in developing countries. Such operations shall be proposed by European NGOs and conducted in cooperation with their partners in the developing countries and shall be aimed at poverty alleviation as well as at enhancing the target group's quality of life and own development capacity.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Community shall co-finance operations in the field with European non-governmental development organizations (NGOs), as defined in Article 3, to meet the basic needs of disadvantaged people in developing countries. Priority shall be assigned to the proposal of operations based on an initiative by partners in developing countries. Such operations shall be proposed by European NGOs and conducted in cooperation with their partners in the developing countries and shall be aimed at poverty alleviation as well as at enhancing the target group's quality of life and own development capacity.

(Amendment 2)

Article 2(1)

>Original text>

1. The operations co-financed in the developing countries pursuant to Article 1(1) shall in particular concern local social and economic development in rural and urban areas, the development of human resources and institutional support for local partners in the developing countries.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The operations co-financed in the developing countries pursuant to Article 1(1) shall in particular concern local social and economic development in rural and urban areas, the development of human resources, particularly by means of training, and institutional support for local partners in the developing countries.

>Original text>

Within those fields of activity, though the quality of the operation is paramount, particular attention shall be given to operations connected with:

- the strengthening of civil society and participatory development, and the promotion and defence of human rights and democracy,

- the role of women in development,

- sustainable development.

>Text following EP vote>

Within those fields of activity, though the quality of the operation is paramount, particular attention shall be given to operations connected with:

- the strengthening of civil society and participatory development, and the promotion and defence of human rights and democracy,

- the role of women in development,

- sustainable development.

>Original text>

Particular attention shall also be paid to:

- the protection of threatened cultures, especially endangered indigenous cultures,

- the protection and improvement of the circumstances of children in the developing countries.

>Text following EP vote>

Particular attention shall also be paid to:

- the protection of threatened cultures, especially endangered indigenous cultures,

- the protection and improvement of the circumstances and of the rights of children in the developing countries.

(Amendment 3)

Article 4(1), introduction

>Original text>

1. Community co-financing for the operations referred to in Article 1 may cover, in foreign or local currency:

>Text following EP vote>

1. Community co-financing for the operations referred to in Article 1 may cover, in foreign or local currency, in which connection changes in the exchange rate shall be taken into account:

(Amendment 4)

Article 5

>Original text>

Community co-financing pursuant to this Regulation shall take the form of grants.

>Text following EP vote>

Community co-financing pursuant to this Regulation shall take the form of grants; NGOs may agree with the beneficiaries that part of the funding is to be repaid and invested in new projects for the beneficiaries.

(Amendment 9)

Article 6(1), second and third subparagraphs (new)

>Text following EP vote>

As a rule, the decision as to whether an operation is to be supported should be taken within six months of the date of receipt of the application. If, in examining the file, it emerges that the application is incomplete, the six-month period shall run from the date of receipt of the information required. If the decision is negative, verifiable reasons shall be given to the NGO concerned.

The completeness of the documents shall be checked within one month.

(Amendment 6)

Article 7(1)

>Original text>

1. During the second six months following each budget year, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council, summarizing the operations financed in the course of that year, evaluating the implementation of this Regulation in that period and proposing general guidelines for the following year. The report shall set out the conclusions of any independent evaluations performed.

>Text following EP vote>

1. By 30 June of each year the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council, giving details of the NGOs benefiting from co-financing, summarizing the operations financed in the course of the previous budget year, evaluating the implementation of this Regulation in that period and proposing general guidelines for the following year. Where block grants are concerned, the annual report shall contain a list of the recipient NGOs, while a list of the projects financed with these block grants shall appear in the report of the following year. The report shall set out the conclusions of any independent evaluations performed.

(Amendment 7)

Article 8

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission and which reflects the country or region benefiting from the measures.

>Original text>

2. Where the procedure laid down in this paragraph is to be followed, 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.

>Text following EP vote>

2. Where the procedure laid down in this paragraph is to be followed, 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, if necessary by taking a vote.

>Original text>

The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged, which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event:

(a) the Commission shall defer application of the measures which it has decided for a period of one month as from the date of communication;

(b) the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in (a).

>Text following EP vote>

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to have its position recorded in the minutes. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

>Original text>

3. Where the procedure laid down in this paragraph is to be followed, 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.

The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged, which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event:

(a) the Commission may defer application of the measures which it has decided for a maximum period of one month from the date of such communication;

(b) the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in (a).

>Text following EP vote>

3. The committee shall meet as a rule in public, unless a specific duly motivated decision is taken to the contrary and published in good time. It shall publish agendas two weeks before its meetings. It shall publish minutes of its meetings. It shall establish a public register of declarations of interest by its members.

(Amendment 8)

Article 11, first paragraph a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

This Regulation shall be subject to review five years after it enters into force.