A4-0171/95

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework for action in the field of public health (1995 to 2000) (COM(94)0223 - C4-0091/94 - 94/0135(COD))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas a certain degree of tolerance towards the use of drugs by young people has developed within the 'nightlife culture', particularly as regards what is known as the recreational use of drugs;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 2a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the findings of the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into the spread of organized crime linked to drugs trafficking in the Community set up in 1991 must be taken into account;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas particular assistance, in the form of funds earmarked for vocational training and development of the supportive infrastructure, should be provided for the developing countries, particularly drug-producing countries, to reduce the rapidly growing domestic demand for drugs in these countries and the subsequent growth in related health/social problems, for example HIV infection;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 6a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas drug dependence is a sickness which can be prevented or treated, and is not a crime which calls for punishment;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 8a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the dissemination and consumption of drugs in the European Union is steadily increasing, despite the substantial resources deployed to reverse this trend;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 9a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the problems of drug dependence are such that they require research into withdrawal symptoms and into the development of new substitute drugs;

(Amendment 8)

Recital 9b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is not realistic to imagine that the drug problem can be resolved completely; whereas there is thus a need for a pragmatic approach whereby policy would focus on the containment and control of the drug problem, without, however, condoning the free distribution and use of drugs;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 9c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas drug addicts are above all people with a health problem;

(Amendment 10)

Recital 9d (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas drugs policy must be implemented simultaneously and consistently, both where the prevention and treatment of drug addiction are concerned and in the area of prosecution, which must focus principally on the production of and trafficking in drugs;

(Amendment 11)

Recital 9e (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the majority of drug addicts are primarily persons suffering from health problems; whereas some of them, especially young ones, are attracted by the fascination of the experience, as a consequence of which drugs become part of youth culture and fashion; whereas drug addicts are primarily victims who must be helped;

(Amendment 12)

Recital 9f (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas a completely drug-free society may be a utopian vision; whereas the policies pursued must contain the problem as effectively as possible;

(Amendment 13)

Recital 9g (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas a humane, tolerant and pragmatic approach, such as the harm reduction strategy, has proved a better way of tackling the problem than the entire mechanism of repression; whereas repression must focus on large-scale trafficking and organized crime;

(Amendment 14)

Recital 9h (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the present system, which has been in force for over 70 years, has had a whole series of undesirable side-effects;

(Amendment 15)

Recital 9i (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas any strategy aimed at preventing drug addiction must take into account every aspect of the drugs problem;

(Amendment 16)

Recital 11a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas policy on drug addiction must focus on prevention, without, however, losing sight of the need to help drug addicts, in order to protect their health and quality of life and, ultimately, to wean them off drugs and effect their rehabilitation and reintegration into society;

(Amendment 17)

Recital 12a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in view of the 1996 integovernmental conference aimed at revising the Treaty on European Union, the struggle against drugs should be brought within the remit of Union policy, since it is a transnational affair;

(Amendment 18)

Recital 13a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas organizations for cooperation with former drug addicts and the parents of or people caring for drug addicts must be strengthened;

(Amendment 19)

Recital 15

>Original text>

Whereas the programme should have as its objective to contribute to the enhancement of awareness on the use of narcotics and psychotropic substances, on the abuse of alcohol and pharmaceutical products, on the misuse of chemical substances or products for drug abuse purposes; to contribute to improve recognition of risk situations, early detection, counselling and advice, health and social support with a view to preventing drug use, facilitating the end of drug use, lowering the mortality rate, reducing the risks of infection by agents of infection and reducing marginalization;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the programme should have as its objective to contribute to the enhancement of awareness on the use and abuse of narcotics, psychotropic substances, alcohol and pharmaceutical products, on the misuse of chemical substances or products for drug abuse purposes; to contribute to improve recognition of risk situations, early detection, counselling and advice, health and social support with a view to preventing drug use, facilitating the end of drug use, lowering the mortality rate, reducing the risks of infection by agents of infection and reducing marginalization;

(Amendment 59)

Recital 15a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the prevention of drug abuse must be conducted by society in many areas, the main concern being to prevent the emergence of drug abuse altogether; whereas schools must identify, in a detailed and objective fashion, the harmful effects of all drugs; whereas society should intervene in such way that it provides tangible support for addicts to return to a drug-free existence in society; whereas the police, welfare services and health services must co- operate with each other and with voluntary organisations (NGOs) in order to prevent drug abuse;

(Amendment 20)

Recital 15b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas prevention can only be effective if it is long-term and coordinated;

(Amendment 21)

Recital 15c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the drug problem, being multidimensional, makes it essential to adopt a multidisciplinary and integrated approach, with two overriding objectives: firstly, to ease the burden that drug addiction in particular imposes on society and secondly, to pursue a policy of reducing harm to the individual user, with care taken to limit adverse consequences such as further damage to health and social exclusion; whereas, to achieve these objectives, such a programme must form part of a policy of limiting risks and counteracting social exclusion, with health and welfare workers, the police, judiciary and the broad field of social services joining forces in an attempt to minimize the damage done by drug abuse to the user;

(Amendment 22)

Recital 15d (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas there is a need both for general preventive action and for preventive measures focusing on specific target groups, particularly the young and marginal groups;

(Amendment 23)

Recital 15e (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas there has been a considerable increase in the supply and use of methadone as a substitute for heroin; whereas further research is needed into the effects of substitution treatment; whereas caution should therefore be exercised with regard to therapies based on substitute products;

(Amendment 24)

Recital 15f (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas no sharp distinction can be drawn between soft and hard drugs; whereas it is not advisable, from the point of view of prevention, to make such a distinction;

(Amendment 25)

Recital 16a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the prison environment, with its high prevalence of drug addiction, is a breeding-ground for addicts; whereas many prisoners become users of addictive substances;

(Amendment 60)

Recital 16b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas a successful model to combat drug abuse in prisons must be based on tight control of the possibilities to smuggle, and adequate supervision of prisoners; whereas prisoners wishing to end their drug abuse should be placed in their own ward, and incentives provided to encourage prisoners to want to end their drug dependence; whereas they must also be given social training;

(Amendment 26)

Recital 19a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas stereotypes of drug users must be discarded and information and prevention strategies should be aimed at all social categories;

(Amendment 27)

Recital 19b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, when prevention strategies are unsuccessful, special consideration should be given to difficulties faced by the socially excluded in gaining access to support systems;

(Amendment 28)

Article 2(1)(a)

>Original text>

(a) improving public awareness, in particular by means of coordinated transnational actions;

>Text following EP vote>

(a) working to improve public awareness of the phenomenon of drug dependence and the risks associated with it, in particular by means of coordinated transnational actions;

(Amendment 29)

Article 2(1)(b)

>Original text>

(b) using the opportunities provided in other Community policies, programmes and instruments, when appropriate, to prevent and combat drug dependency;

>Text following EP vote>

(b) using the opportunities provided in other Community policies, programmes and instruments to prevent and combat drug dependency;

(Amendment 30)

Article 2(1)(ba) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(ba) coordination between the present action on the prevention of drug dependence and the other actions proposed under the three pillars of the European Union's action plan to combat drugs: 'demand reduction' (Article 129 EC), 'combating unlawful drug-trafficking' (Article K.1(4) TEU) and 'international cooperation' (Title V TEU) in order to achieve the objective of a global, integrated response to the problem of drugs;

(Amendment 31)

Article 2(1)(c)

>Original text>

(c) initiatives and actions relating to young people of school-going age in relevant environments - home, leisure and school - and the promotion of best practices in this regard.

>Text following EP vote>

(c) initiatives and actions relating to young people in relevant environments - home, leisure, school and university - and the promotion of best practices in this regard.

(Amendment 32)

Article 2(1)(ca) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(ca) certain actions concerning groups at particular risk, e.g. in prisons, pregnant drug addicts, etc.

(Amendment 33)

Article 2(1)(cb) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(cb) promoting the development and application of the most effective medical and psychosocial assistance to drug addicts, particularly:

- therapies involving the supply of substitutes such as methadone, provided that sufficient support is provided and that substitution takes place within the framework of a course of treatment aimed at reducing dependence, and, if possible, enabling addicts to kick their habit and achieve rehabilitation and reintegration;

- initiatives aimed at reducing health risks, notably through controlled distribution, outside medical circles, of disinfection sets and safe syringes and needles;

(Amendment 34)

Article 2(1)(cc) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(cc) cooperation with and support for organizations of former addicts and addicts' parents;

(Amendment 35)

Article 2(1)(cd) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(cd) improving scientific knowledge by means of research programmes in the field of drug dependence;

(Amendment 36)

Article 2(1)(ce) to (ci) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(ce) developing appropriate preventive strategies that benefit users, experimenters and potential users who do not benefit from conventional preventive strategies, particularly in the sphere of recreational drug use;

(cf) encouraging socio-preventive actions that influence the social causes of drug use, such as deprivation and social exclusion;

(cg) promoting highly specialised social skill programmes that teach young children to cope with the offer of a range of stimulants, including drugs;

(ch) promoting street-level work as an adjusted methodology, to the benefit of risk groups who do not benefit from the conventional strategies of assistance and prevention;

(ci) promoting expertise among intermediaries who come into contact with groups of potential users;

(Amendment 37)

Article 2(1)(cj) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(cj) a general strategy for an overall approach to dealing with all addictive substances.

(Amendment 38)

Article 2(1)(ck) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(ck) promoting an awareness and the use of local experience of combating and preventing drug addiction.

(Amendment 39)

Article 2(1a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

1a. The European Union shall, in the framework of its development cooperation policies, provide special aid to the drug-producing countries in their efforts to control domestic demand, whilst recognizing the high costs of providing basic health care to drug users, who suffer disproportionately from infectious diseases, within the rudimentary health care services in developing countries.

(Amendment 40)

Article 2(3a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

3a. The Commission shall undertake any necessary measures to ensure that the Monitoring Centre liaises with non-governmental and voluntary organizations.

(Amendment 41)

Article 3

>Original text>

The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations available for each financial year.

>Text following EP vote>

The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations available for each financial year taking into account the principles of sound management referred to in Article 2 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and on the basis of information provided by the updated financial statement.

(Amendment 42)

Article 4

>Original text>

For the implementation of the programme the Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee, hereinafter referred to as 'the Committee', comprising two representatives from each Member State and chaired by a Commission representative.

The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft set 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.

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 manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

>Text following EP vote>

1. For the implementation of the programme a Committee shall be set up comprising representatives of the Member States who have experience in the voluntary sector and chaired by the Commission representative. It shall act by the majority provided for in Article 148(2) of the Treaty when adopting the decisions which the Council is required to take on a proposal from the Commission. During voting within the Committee, the votes of the representatives of the Member States shall be weighted as specified in Article 148(2). The chairman shall not take part in the vote.

2. The Commission shall submit to Parliament, represented by its committee responsible, and to the Council, represented by the Committee provided for in paragraph 1, a draft set of the measures to be taken in pursuance of Article 2.

It may lay down, according to the urgency of the matter, a time limit within which Parliament and the Council may adopt a position if they so wish.

3. The Commission shall take account of the position adopted by the parliamentary committee and the Council Committee. It shall amend its draft decision if necessary. The Commission shall inform the parliamentary committee and the Council Committee of the manner in which their position has been taken into account.

The Commission shall adopt the implementing measures accordingly and these measures shall take effect immediately.

(Amendment 45)

Article 5(1)

>Original text>

1. In the course of the implementation of the programme, cooperation with non- member countries, and with international organizations active in the field of public health, will be encouraged.

>Text following EP vote>

1. In the course of the implementation of the programme, further cooperation with non-member countries, and with international organizations active in the field of public health and youth issues, will be encouraged.

(Amendment 46)

Article 6(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall regularly publish information on the actions undertaken in the context of this programme.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall publish an annual report on the actions undertaken during the implementation of this programme.

(Amendment 47)

Article 6(2)

>Original text>

2. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a mid-term report on the actions undertaken, as well as an overall report at the end of the programme.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions the annual report on the actions undertaken by 30 September each year, as well as an overall report at the end of the programme.

(Amendment 48)

Article 6(2a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

2a. In view of the changeable nature of drug demand, the Commission may change its priorities among the various prevention activities with the aim of improving subsequent actions.

(Amendment 49)

ANNEX (a), second subparagraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Activities to be undertaken include the following:

- organization of a European Conference by the end of 1996 on the prevention of drug dependence to promote a joint debate on the policies and actions implemented over the last 20 years by the various Member States to combat the phenomenon of drug dependence, with a view to achieving greater coordination in this field;

- organization of further European Drug Prevention Weeks. These are to be organized periodically and could be devoted, as appropriate, to a different theme to be chosen in liaison with the national coordinators;

- creation and supporting of telephone help-line initiatives directed towards young people, and investigation of the feasibility of introducing a single standard telephone number for such services in all Member States;

- support for pilot projects to improve the effectiveness of information campaigns and determine the awareness of Europeans with regard to drugs, including changes in their attitudes towards drugs;

- support for the creation and testing of tools and models for disseminating information in areas at risk;

- support for the identification and use of appropriate information vectors for particular targets (schools, workplace, hospitals, pharmacies, doctors' waiting rooms, prisons, military barracks, etc);

- facilitating exchanges concerning the most effective methods of conveying information, especially to certain groups identified as being particularly vulnerable;

- making available the anti-doping code of conduct for athletes, with particular emphasis on the adverse and psycho-physical effects of such substances;

- support for activities and projects aimed at the prevention of drug dependence and associated risks, promoted directly by voluntary associations, residential therapy communities and social welfare cooperatives.

(Amendment 61)

ANNEX (b), second subparagraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Activities to be undertaken in this area include the following:

- granting of aid to institutional bodies, residential therapy communities and social welfare associations or cooperatives for the construction, extension or renovation of buildings to be used by residential therapy communities;

- initiatives to assist the relatives or guardians of drug addicts engaged in the difficult task of recovering from drug dependence, who need to be allowed a degree of flexibility with regard to working hours, special leave, and any other measures which might help them in their task;

- staff and student exchanges and exchanges of information and experience, including the establishment of pilot projects for exchanges of experience between local authorities in different Member States concerning prevention models and practices, with a view to developing joint actions;

- further training programmes for health professionals, especially general practitioners and pharmacists;

- development of training material geared to the needs of the professional groups concerned;

- implementation of pilot projects for further training of police and prison officers;

- establishment of multidisciplinary drug prevention training modules;

- financing of projects drawn up by public or private individuals, residential therapy communities or social welfare associations or cooperatives with the aim of providing training and employment for drug addicts who have completed a programme of treatment and are due to be reintegrated into working life;

- programmes and pilot projects offering vocational training opportunities in addict reception centres, with a view to creating standard programmes;

- promoting new lines of research and experimentation in the field of preventing drug dependence which reflect the integrated, global approach proposed by the European Union's action plan on drugs. Particular emphasis should be placed on studies into 'soft' drugs and ways of differentiating policies targeted at users of 'soft' and 'hard' drugs, taking into account:

- legal provisions and the requirements of rationality and equity;

- collective attitudes and social and health policies at cultural level;

- implications for the clandestine drugs market, drug-trafficking and the criminal organizations which control these activities;

- international economic relations, in particular with the drug-producing countries;

- drug prevention and health education policies;

- investigating the possibility of revising the international conventions which currently set out the world strategies for combating drugs, so as to adapt them to:

- changes that have taken place in the international drug-trafficking system;

- economic dynamics between rich and poor countries which are the cause of the illegal market in narcotic substances;

- cultural and environmental problems related to those substances which are considered illegal but which are traditionally consumed in certain countries;

- introduction of new substances onto the market;

- changes in the use and the social and cultural perceptions of other substances;

- organization of a Conference as proposed by the European Union under the aegis of the UN and with the participation of NGOs working to combat drug dependence to engage in a joint analysis of the results of the policies and actions introduced over the last 20 years by governments and international institutions to combat the phenomenon of drugs and drug dependence. A comparison of experiments with various legal arrangements in respect of drugs (prohibition, legalization, liberalization, etc) as well as the different approaches adopted to drug dependence will help to identify the most effective and appropriate strategy, in the light of which pressure can be brought to bear to obtain the revision of the existing international conventions to ensure coordinated action at international level;

- organization of a seminar by the European Drug Observatory with the participation of cities particularly affected by drug problems in order to gain better insight into the possibilities and constraints regarding an effective fight against drugs;

(Amendment 51)

ANNEX (c)

>Original text>

(c) initiatives and actions relating to young people of school-going age in relevant environments - home, leisure and school - and the promotion of best practices in this regard. Young people are considered as the primary target group for the purpose of drug prevention. The diversity of the preventive approaches adopted can provide examples of good practices which help those responsible in the field of drug prevention in the Member States to learn from the experiences of each other. A specific support in particular to the dissemination of information and advice directed towards young people in relevant environments - home, leisure, school - is therefore likely to be of most value.

>Text following EP vote>

(c) initiatives and actions relating to young people in relevant environments such as home, leisure, school and university, and the promotion of best practices in this regard. Young people are considered as the primary target group for the purpose of drug prevention. The diversity of the preventive approaches adopted can provide examples of good practices which help those responsible in the field of drug prevention in the Member States to learn from the experiences of each other. Emphasis will be put on including young people in a dialogue in order to make prevention strategies aimed at youth realistic and credible. A specific support in particular to the dissemination of information and advice directed towards young people in high-risk areas and in all environments where they are likely - not purely for work-related reasons - to come into contact with the phenomenon - home, leisure, school - (and, more especially, actions that teach young people social skills needed to make choices and cope with risks) is therefore likely to be of most value, along with support for activities and projects, aimed at the prevention of drug dependence, promoted directly by associations in the voluntary sector and residential therapy communities.

Specific activities to be undertaken include:

- the creation of a pilot Community network giving priority to drug prevention, based on a selection by Member States of schools located in areas at risk;

- the establishment and implementation of integrated projects, programmes and basic drug prevention guidelines in the schools involved in this network, with the participation wherever possible of children, young people and parents;

- support for the compilation of a Community guide, intended for parents and relatives of drug addicts, listing therapy communities, associations and bodies involved in the rehabilitation of drug addicts and giving details of the costs, methods used, success rates, number of persons accepted and, possibly, the waiting time required for admission. The aim of the guide would be to help and inform parents and relatives and enable them to make the most 'personalized' choices possible, tailored to individual cases;

- support to enable those who have recovered from drug addiction to spend periods working in the public and private sectors so as to facilitate their transition from rehabilitation centres to the world of work;

- initiatives to make education on drugs a more integral part of the vocational training received by teachers and youth leaders in the field of drug prevention, and initiatives to improve coordination between all those involved in the provision of education (parents' organizations, the teaching profession, educators, addict support associations, the medical profession, etc);

- studies and analyses to highlight children's and young persons' perceptions of drugs and the availability of drugs in schools;

- evaluating and strengthening policies and practices concerning the rehabilitation of drug addicts and their reintegration at the work place, including actions taken by the private sector;

- promotion of tertiary prevention projects aimed at harm reduction and identification of the best model for the organization of services involving different means of access, at grassroots level (street help- centres, methadone and syringe distribution, etc), medium level (intermediate reception centres and crisis centres) and high level (outpatient centres and semi-residential and residential therapy centres).

(Amendment 52)

ANNEX (ca) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(ca) Specific groups at risk

>Text following EP vote>

Activities to be undertaken concerning specific groups at risk include:

>Text following EP vote>

- the development of risk reduction projects in prisons taking into account measures which are already implemented in the community;

>Text following EP vote>

- support for the development of training for all categories of staff (prison officers, prison governors and health workers) taking into account experiences which have already been put into practice, including health-related problems such as AIDS;

>Text following EP vote>

- actions for certain groups of inmates with specific drug-related problems;

>Text following EP vote>

- reinforcement of links between the services available in the community and programmes within the prison;

>Text following EP vote>

- promotion of exchanges of experience and support for pilot projects aimed at reducing the risks associated with the injection of drugs, including projects focusing on specific target groups such as pregnant drug addicts;

>Text following EP vote>

- promotion of exchanges of experience in the area of health care for prisoners who are drug addicts and support for pilot projects focusing on certain groups of prisoners with specific problems or seeking to strengthen links between the services available in the community and the programmes carried out in prison.

(Amendment 53)

ANNEX (cb) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(cb) developing educational material appropriate to the needs of various professional contexts, both public and private.

(Amendment 54)

ANNEX (cc) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(cc) promotion of ideas and analytical studies to establish the best means of pursuing a genuinely effective policy to prevent drug addiction; an international conference should be organized to this end under the aegis of the European Parliament and the Commission in partnership with the United Nations.

(Amendment 55)

ANNEX (cd) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(cd) improving scientific knowledge through research programmes in the field of drug dependence:

- research into new substitute drugs and the introduction of such drugs into detoxification treatment;

- the development of clinical trials of existing substitute drugs (for example, Clonidine);

- research into opiate receptors in various tissues and organs, given that they are of considerable importance in creating withdrawal symptoms.

(Amendment 56)

ANNEX (ce) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(ce) developing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with all addictive substances, ie both 'hard' and 'soft' drugs, given that their common, primary characteristic is that they lead to differing degrees of dependence according to the substance and the individual:

- drug users should not be prosecuted, except where they are involved in drug trafficking, drug production or drug dealing;

- drug users should also follow suitable courses of treatment;

- methadone programmes should be continued, since they are currently the focus of studies and can also be a means of weaning addicts off drugs.

(Amendment 57)

ANNEX (cf) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(cf) promoting a strategy of reducing the harm associated with drugs, and more specifically:

- drawing a distinction between drug trafficking and drug use; users should be cared for under health and social programmes;

- provision of sterile syringes, development of therapies based on substitute products (eg methadone) or other treatment chosen by the health authorities for serious and long-term addicts for whom appropriate medical assistance must be assured.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework for action in the field of public health (1995-2000) (COM(94)0223 - C4-0091/94 - 94/0135(COD))

(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(94)0223 - 94/0135(COD) ((OJ C 257, 14.9.1994, p. 4.)),

- having regard to Article 189b(2) and Article 129 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C4-0091/94),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment, the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media, the Committee on Development and Cooperation and the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs (A4-0084/94),

- having regard to the second report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0171/95),

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 incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189b(2) of the EC Treaty;

4. Should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament, calls on the Council to notify Parliament and requests that the conciliation procedure be initiated;

5. Points out that the Commission is required to submit to Parliament any modification it may intend to make to its proposal as amended by Parliament;

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