A4-0239/98

Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Regulation concerning the granting of Community financial assistance for actions of an innovative nature to promote combined transport (C4-0173/98 - 96/0207(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0173/98 - 96/0207(SYN),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 200, 30.6.1997, p. 137.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council COM(96)0335 ((OJ C 343, 15.11.1996, p. 4.)),

- having regard to the modified Commission proposal, COM(97)0507 ((OJ C 364, 2.12.1997, p. 5.)),

- 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 Transport and Tourism (A4-0239/98),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

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

(Amendment 1)

Article 2(2)

>Original text>

2. Within the territory of the Community, combined transport actions shall primarily be covered by Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

Within the territory of the Community, combined transport actions shall primarily be covered by Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. These actions shall also take particular account of the trans-European rail freight freeways.

(Amendment 2)

Article 4(1)

>Original text>

1. Any Member State or any public or private natural or legal person, established within the Community, may submit a project to the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

Any Member State or non-member State or any public or private natural or legal person established there may submit a project to the Commission.

>Original text>

Without prejudice to Article 2(3), as a general rule the project should be submitted by two or more public or private natural or legal persons who are nationals of at least two Member States.

>Text following EP vote>

Without prejudice to Article 2(3), as a general rule the project should be submitted by two or more public or private natural or legal persons who are nationals of at least two Member States

or of a Member State and a non-member State.

>Original text>

When a project is submitted in accordance with the first subparagraph, any third country and any public or private natural or legal person, established outside the Community and directly concerned, may be associated with the submission of that project on the understanding that they receive no Community support under this Regulation.

>Text following EP vote>

(Amendment 3)

Article 5(3) and (4)

>Original text>

3. The Community financial assistance provided for by this Regulation shall directly benefit Member States and the persons referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 4(1), in respect of the expenditure and costs incurred in Community territory.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

The Community financial assistance provided for by this Regulation shall directly benefit the Member States, non-member States and public or private natural or legal persons referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 4(1).

>Original text>

This assistance shall be granted for a maximum period of three financial years.

>Text following EP vote>

This assistance shall be granted for a maximum period of three financial years.

>Original text>

4. When examining a project extending beyond Community territory submitted under this Regulation, the Commission shall consider the possibilities of financing the part of the project situated outside the Community by means of other Community budgetary instruments, in order to ensure efficient use of Community resources.

>Text following EP vote>

4.

When supporting a project extending beyond Community territory submitted under this Regulation, the Commission shall consider the possibilities of coordinating the part of the project situated outside the Community with other Community budgetary instruments, in order to ensure efficient use of Community resources.

(Amendment 4)

Article 6(2) (c) fourth indent

>Original text>

- contribution of the project to the development and use of trans-European transport networks;

>Text following EP vote>

-

contribution of the project to the development and use of trans-European transport networks and trans-European rail freight freeways;

(Amendment 5)

Article 7

>Original text>

The Commission shall decide whether to grant financial assistance under this Regulation taking into account, for the selection of the project, the objectives referred to in Article 1, and the information referred to in Article 6(2) and (3) as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall decide whether to grant financial assistance under this Regulation taking primarily into account, for the selection of the project, the objectives referred to in Article 1, and the information referred to in Article 6(2) and (3) as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

2.

It shall also ensure, when making its selection, that due consideration is given to projects which make connections to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and to projects establishing synergies with the PHARE programme and transport projects under the Cohesion Fund.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

3.

10% of the funding for the programme shall be earmarked, as a priority, for projects directly implementing results of innovative research, while also satisfying the other criteria.

>Original text>

It shall inform all beneficiaries and all Member States concerned directly of its decision.

>Text following EP vote>

4. The Commission shall inform all beneficiaries and all Member States concerned directly of its decision.

(Amendment 6)

Article 10, first paragraph

>Original text>

The financial reference amount for the implementation of the actions provided for in this Regulation, for the period 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2001, is ECU 35 million.

>Text following EP vote>

The financial reference amount for the implementation of the actions provided for in this Regulation, for the period 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2001, is ECU

43 million of which ECU 4 million each shall be earmarked for 2000 and 2001 for support for projects in or transport links to the prospective new Member States.