A4-0343/98

Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Estonia in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education (COM(98)0308 - C4-0361/98 - 98/0172(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 earmarked for the above-mentioned programmes and entered as such against the corresponding item of expenditure;

(Amendment 2)

Enacting terms, 2nd paragraph (new)

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

(Amendment 3)

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, in so far as the terms and conditions of financing remain unchanged.

(Amendment 4)

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 Estonia in the programmes will be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission of the European Communities and Estonia. Estonia 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 Estonia in the programmes will be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission of the European Communities, which will keep Parliament and the Council regularly informed thereof, and Estonia. Estonia 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)

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, Estonia 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 Estonia 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, Estonia will be invited to coordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Committees. Estonia may also send a representative to such regular meetings in order to gain first-hand experience of the Community without, however, being able to influence the Committee's decisions.

(Amendment 6)

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 countries 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 Estonia in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education (COM(98)0308 - C4-0361/98 - 98/0172(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(98)0308 - 98/0172(CNS) ((OJ C 205, 1.7.1998, p. 6.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 126 and 127 in conjunction with Article 228(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty (C4-0361/98),

- 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 (A4-0343/98),

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 notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

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

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