A4-0291/98

Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Regulation on integrating gender issues in development cooperation (C4-0307/98 - 97/0151(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0307/98 - 97/0151(SYN),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 371, 8.12.1997, p. 69.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council COM(97)0265,

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 130w 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 (A4-0291/98),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

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

(Amendment 1)

Recital 3

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3. Whereas these obstacles include persistent and severe disparities between women and men in the right to equal participation in development for women, access to basic services, access to decision-making and control over economic resources;

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3.

Whereas these obstacles include persistent and severe disparities between women and men in the right to equal participation in development for women, access to basic services, particularly in the areas of education, training and health, access to political and economic decision-making in many areas of society and family life and control over economic resources;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 17

>Original text>

17. Whereas the most effective approach is strategic and precisely targeted sensitization initiatives capable of achieving a substantial multiplier effect, rather than the funding of small-scale operational projects;

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17.

Whereas the most effective approach is not only the funding of small-scale operational projects but especially strategic and precisely targeted sensitisation initiatives capable of achieving a substantial multiplier effect; whereas European Union funds for operational development cooperation projects should also be used to a greater extent for measures specifically targeting women;

(Amendment 3)

Article 1(1)

>Original text>

1. The Community shall provide financial assistance and technical expertise to support the mainstreaming of the gender perspective into all its development cooperation policies and interventions.

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1.

The Community shall provide financial assistance and technical expertise to support the mainstreaming of the gender perspective in its policy in the area of development cooperation.

(Amendment 4)

Article 2(1)(a)

>Original text>

(a) to support the mainstreaming of gender analysis, taking particular account of the legal and actual status of women and men, their needs and their contribution to society and the family; to support the adoption of a gender-sensitive approach in the conception, design and implementation of Community development policies and interventions at macro, meso and micro level, as well as in their monitoring and evaluation;

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(a)

to support gender analysis in all areas of development cooperation, taking particular account of the legal and actual status of women and men, their needs and their contribution to society and the family; to support the adoption of a gender-sensitive approach in the conception, design and implementation of Community development policies and interventions at macro, meso and micro level, as well as in their monitoring and evaluation;

(Amendment 5)

Article 2(1)(b)

>Original text>

(b) to support and facilitate the inclusion of actions addressing major gender disparities and on an appropriately large scale, particularly with regard to access to resources, services and participation in the decision-making processes in political, economic and social life, in the mainstream of Community development interventions;

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(b)

to support and facilitate the inclusion of actions addressing major gender disparities and on an appropriate scale, particularly with regard to access to resources, services and participation in the decision-making processes in political, economic and social life, in the mainstream of Community development interventions;

(Amendment 6)

Article 2(1)(c)

>Original text>

(c) to lead progressively to a situation in 2003 where a substantially increased percentage of Community interventions satisfy the OECD/DAC criteria for gender integration or positive action;

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(c)

to lead progressively to a situation where a substantially increased percentage of Community interventions satisfy the OECD/DAC criteria for gender integration or positive action;

(Amendment 7)

Article 2(1)(da) (new)

>Original text>

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(da) to link actions within the framework of coordination with Member States on integrating gender issues in development cooperation.

(Amendment 8)

Article 2(2), seventh indent

>Original text>

- training and sensitization of key decision-makers in the Commission and the developing countries;

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-

training and sensitization of decision-makers at Community level and in the developing countries;

(Amendment 9)

Article 2(3)

>Original text>

3. Particular attention will be given to incorporating gender issues into emerging areas of development cooperation.

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3.

Particular attention will be given to incorporating gender issues into emerging areas of development cooperation, including emergency operations and crisis prevention, human rights and democratisation, macro-economic analysis, trade, sexual and reproductive health and rights.

(Amendment 10)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

Particular attention will be given to endogenous structures that can play a role in strengthening local capacities with respect to gender.

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Priority will be given to endogenous structures that can act as a catalyst in developing local capacities with respect to gender.

(Amendment 11)

Article 4(1),1st and 2nd subparagraphs

>Original text>

1. Community financing of the operations referred to in Article 1 shall cover a period of five years (1999 to 2003).

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1. Deleted

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The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 1999 to 2003 shall be ECU 25 million.

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The financial reference

indicative amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 1999 to 2003 shall be ECU 25 million.

(Amendment 12)

Article 5(1)

>Original text>

1. The instruments to be employed in the course of the activities referred to in Article 2 shall include studies, appropriate technical assistance, including the use of experts in the short and long term, education, training or other services, supplies and works, as well as audits and evaluation and monitoring missions.

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1.

The instruments to be employed in the course of the activities referred to in Article 2 shall include studies, appropriate technical assistance, including the use of experts in the short and long term, education, training, supplies and works, as well as audits and evaluation and monitoring missions.

(Amendment 13)

Article 7(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall be responsible for appraising, deciding on and administering operations covered by this Regulation according to the budgetary and other procedures in force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

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1.

The Commission shall be responsible for appraising, launching and administering operations covered by this Regulation according to the budgetary and other procedures in force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

(Amendment 14)

Article 7(2)

>Original text>

2. Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 1 million for individual operations financed pursuant to this Regulation shall be adopted under the procedure laid down in Article 8.

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2.

Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million for individual operations financed pursuant to this Regulation shall be adopted under the procedure laid down in Article 8.

(Amendment 15)

Article 7(6)

>Original text>

6. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons of the Member States and of the recipient State. It may be extended to other developing countries and, in exceptional cases which are fully justified, to other third countries.

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6.

Participation in invitations to tender shall be open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons of the Member States, and of the recipient countries and other developing countries.For the award of contracts, where tenders are of equal quality, priority will be given to the recipient countries and developing countries in the same region.

(Amendment 16)

Article 7(7)

>Original text>

7. Supplies shall originate in the Member States, the recipient State or other developing countries. In exceptional cases, where circumstances warrant, supplies may originate in other countries.

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7.

Supplies shall originate in the Member States, the recipient State or other developing countries. In exceptional cases, where circumstances warrant, supplies may originate in other countries. Where supplies are of equal quality priority will be given to those from the recipient countries and the developing countries in the same region.

(Amendment 17)

Article 8

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the geographically determined Committee competent for development.

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1.

The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee made up of one representative per Member State and chaired by the representative of the Commission:

>Original text>

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- in the case of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the EDF Committee set up by Article 21 of Internal Agreement 91/401/EEC on the financing and administration of Community aid under the fourth Lomé Convention, adopted on 16 July 1990 by the representatives of the Member States meeting within the Council,

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-

in the case of the Mediterranean countries, the MED Committee set up by Article 6 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1762/92 of 29 June 1992,

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- in the case of the Asian and Latin American countries, the ALA Committee set up by Article 15 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 of 25 February 1992.

>Original text>

2. 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.

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2.

The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures of a general nature 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.

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition each Member State shall have the right to ask 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 extent to which its opinion has been taken into account.

>Original text>

The Commission shall adopt measures which 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:

The Commission shall defer application of the measures which it has decided for a period of one month from the date of such communication.

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The Commission shall keep the European Parliament fully informed of the work of the committee and shall require from all its members a declaration stating that their membership of the committee is not incompatible with their personal interest, in accordance with the agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission on commitology referred to in the European Parliament's resolution of 24 October 1996 on the draft general budget of the European Communities for the financial year 1997 - Section III - Commission(1).

>Original text>

The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in the previous subparagraph.

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Community cooperation measures and those carried out by Member States on a bilateral basis shall be coordinated within the committee by means of an exchange of information.

>Original text>

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(1) OJ C 347, 18.11.1996, p. 125.

(Amendment 18)

Article 8(2a) (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

2a. A senior EC Steering Group on the integration of gender issues in development cooperation shall be established to set overall performance objectives, advise on implementation and monitor progress.

(Amendment 19)

Article 9

>Original text>

An exchange of views shall take place once a year on the basis of a presentation by the representative of the Commission of the general guidelines for the operations to be carried out in the year ahead, in the framework of a joint meeting of the Committees referred to in Article 8(1).

>Text following EP vote>

An exchange of views shall take place once a year on the basis of a presentation by the representative of the Commission of the general guidelines for the operations to be carried out in the year ahead, in the framework of a joint meeting of the committees referred to in Article 8(1).

A Member of the European Parliament shall take part in the meeting.

(Amendment 20)

Article 11(1), 2nd subparagraph

>Original text>

It shall apply until 31 December 2003.

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Deleted