A4-0119/94

Proposal for a Council Decision relating to a multi-annual programme (1994 to 1996) of work for cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations in the Community (COM(93)0650 - C3-0112/94 - 94/0028(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Article 1, second paragraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

'Enterprise in the form of an association' shall mean any non-profit-making association which provides goods or services to the public for a fixed price, whatever the cost-to-price ratio and regardless of whether the price is paid by the beneficiary or by a third organization.

(Amendment 14)

Article 2, first paragraph

>Original text>

The measures embraced by this programme must give the players in the sector easier access to the Community resources.

>Text following EP vote>

The measures embraced by this programme must give each of the enterprises and organisations in the form of cooperatives, mutual societies and associations easier access to the Community resources.

(Amendment 2)

Article 2(I)(A), first indent

>Original text>

- conducting studies on the development of the sector in the Community,

>Text following EP vote>

- conducting studies on the development of the sector in the Community, particularly by establishing an observatory along the lines of the observatory set up for SMEs to monitor the performance and operation of the sector in the single market,

(Amendment 3)

Article 2(I)(A), third indent

>Original text>

- making arrangements for consultation;

>Text following EP vote>

- making arrangements for the setting-up of a consultative/ advisory committee to formalize relations between the Commission and the sector;

(Amendments 4 and 13)

Article 2(I)(B), first indent

>Original text>

- encouraging opportunities for transnational cooperation, especially SMEs in the cooperatives, mutuals and associations sector, and the quest for new fields of activity by groups of partners;

>Text following EP vote>

- encouraging opportunities for transnational cooperation, especially in the smaller cooperatives, mutuals and associations sector, and the quest for new fields of activity by groups of partners, without prejudice, however, to the effects resulting from adoption of the proposals for European Parliament and Council Regulations on the Statute for a European association, the Statute for a European cooperative society, and the Statute for a European mutual society;

(Amendment 5)

Article 2(I)(B), indents 4a and b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- establishing favourable conditions and assessing the impact of Community policies;

- supporting, coordinating and supplementing the Member States and their players in the mutually supportive and social economy sector in developing new forms of employment and new services;

(Amendment 6)

Article 3(2), second indent

>Original text>

- the content and timetable of, and financial assistance for, measures and calls for proposals.

>Text following EP vote>

- the content and timetable of measures and calls for proposals.

(Amendment 7)

Article 4

>Original text>

A committee shall be set up, attached to the Commission, composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall be assisted by a consultative committee composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

>Original text>

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 stipulated 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 shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote.

>Text following EP vote>

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, if necessary by taking a vote.

The opinion shall be entered in the minutes. In addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask for its position to be recorded in the minutes.

>Original text>

The Commission shall adopt measures which shall 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 two months from the date of communication.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall take full account of the committee's opinion. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

>Original text>

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

(Amendment 8)

Article 6(2)

>Original text>

2. The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations available for each financial year in accordance with the principles of good management referred to in Article 2 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations available for each financial year in accordance with 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 the information contained in the updated financial statement.

(Amendment 9)

Annex II(I)(B), indents 4a, b, c and d (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- establishing favourable conditions and assessing the impact of Community policies;

- creating better opportunities for women employers;

- giving small businesses and associations the opportunity to create jobs by employing persons in receipt of social security;

- supporting, coordinating and supplementing the Member States and their players in the mutually supportive and 'économie sociale' sector in developing new forms of employment and new services;

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision relating to a multi-annual programme (1994 to 1996) of work for cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations in the Community (COM(93)0650 - C3-0112/94 - 94/0028(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, (COM(93)0650 - 94/0028(CNS)) ((OJ C 87, 24.3.1994 p. 6.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 235 of the EC Treaty (C3-0112/94),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment and the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media (A4-0119/94),

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

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

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