B4-0395/95

Resolution on information and consultation of the European Parliament in relation to Articles 103, 103a, 104, 104a, 104b and 104c EC

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Council and Commission answers to Oral Questions B4-0024 and 0025/95,

A. having regard to the proposals put forward by Commissioner de Silguy and the French Presidency that all possible measures be taken to facilitate the transition to the third stage of EMU in 1997,

B. whereas a preliminary study is about to be drawn up on the economic and social consequences for the populations of the Member States (purchasing power, poverty, unemployment and social security) of the application of the convergence criteria established under the Treaty on European Union,

1. Requests the Council and the Commission to report in writing on the results of multilateral surveillance;

2. Suggests the following calendar for the procedures and information of Parliament:

- late spring (before the Member States adopt their budgets for the following year): broad guidelines of the economic policies and recommendations on excessive deficits

- end of the year: annual economic report and the report on the results of multilateral surveillance;

3. Invites the Commission to consult it on draft texts before submitting to the Council recommendations for the broad economic guidelines (Article 103(2)), multilateral surveillance reports (Article 103(3)) and reports and recommendations on whether excessive deficits exist (Article 104c), and to send the final texts to Parliament at the same time as it sends them to the Council;

4. Reminds the Commission and the Council that the Member States are required by Article 102a of the Treaty to conduct their economic policies with a view to advancing the EU's objectives, as defined in Article 2;

5. Therefore insists that the broad economic guidelines should indicate a policy framework that will contribute to the full range of objectives in Article 2, and that both the Council's report on the implementation of the guidelines and the multilateral surveillance reports should measure progress against these objectives, giving appropriate weight to each;

6. Emphasizes that the convergence of the economies of the Member States must be based on quantitative and real criteria relating to the upward harmonization of the living standards and purchasing power of citizens of the Union, the elimination of poverty, unemployment and regional and structural disparities and economic and social cohesion;

7. Requests the Spanish Presidency to prepare an ECOFIN meeting before 10 July 1995 with a view to adopting its recommendation on the broad guidelines (Article 103(2)) and to inform Parliament at its July part-session;

8. Instructs its President to insist with the Commission and the Council that an interinstitutional agreement should be reached whereby the European Parliament is involved in an appropriate way in the procedures for coordinating the economic policies of the Community and the Member States;

9. Requests the Council to adopt detailed rules for multilateral surveillance procedure in accordance with Article 103(5), taking the outcome of these negotiations into account;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the parliaments and governments of the Member States.