A4-0304/95

Proposal for a Council Regulation on financial and technical measures to support the reform of economic and social structures in Mediterranean non- member countries and territories (COM(95)0204 - C4-0329/95 - 95/0127(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 33)

Recital -1 (new)

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Whereas there is a need to devise an integration strategy in which the Union's Mediterranean regions can participate, and whereas it is therefore essential to encourage interregional and cross-border cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean;

(Amendment 1)

Recital 3

>Original text>

Whereas it is necessary to pursue efforts to ensure that the Mediterranean becomes an area of political stability and security founded on respect for democracy, good governance and respect for human rights;

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Whereas it is necessary to pursue efforts to ensure that the Mediterranean becomes an area of political stability and security founded on the rule of law, respect for democracy and the rules of international law, good governance and respect for human rights and ethnic and religious minorities;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 3a (new)

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Whereas the Cannes European Council (26-27 June 1995) stated that negotiations on the accession of Malta and Cyprus, which are mentioned in the Annex, shall begin, on the basis of proposals from the Commission, six months after the conclusion of the 1996 IGC;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 14

>Original text>

Whereas to allow for effective management of the measures foreseen in this Regulation and to facilitate policy dialogue with the beneficiary countries a multiannual approach is required;

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Whereas to allow for effective management of the measures foreseen in this Regulation and to facilitate policy dialogue with the beneficiary countries the financial statement should, by way of illustration, contain a multiannual breakdown of the appropriations; whereas the Commission must each year adjust the financial statement on the basis of the amounts entered each year in the budgetary procedure;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 15a (new)

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Whereas the Commission has published a communication on 'The Inclusion of Respect for Democratic Principles and Human Rights in Agreements between the Community and Third Countries'1;

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1 COM(95)0216.

(Amendment 8)

Article 1(2)

>Original text>

2. The beneficiaries of support measures may include not only States and regions but also local authorities, regional organizations, public agencies, local or traditional communities, organizations supporting business, private operators, cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations and non- governmental organizations.

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2. The beneficiaries of support measures may include not only States and regions but also local authorities, regional organizations, public agencies, education and training structures, local or traditional communities, organizations supporting business, trade unions, private operators, cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations and non- governmental organizations.

(Amendment 9)

Article 1a (new)

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Article 1a

The provisions of this Regulation are based on respect for the democratic principles and human rights which underlie the internal and international policy of the Union and its Member States and the beneficiary countries and shall constitute an essential requirement for eligibility to take part in the financial support programmes.

(Amendment 34)

Article 2(1)

>Original text>

1. Support measures shall be undertaken in coherence with the objective of achieving long-term stability and prosperity and in particular in the fields of economic transition, achieving socio-economic equilibrium and regional and cross-border cooperation.

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1. Support measures shall be undertaken in coherence with the objective of achieving long-term stability and prosperity and in particular in the fields of economic transition, achieving socio-economic equilibrium, sustainable management of natural and cultural resources and regional and cross-border cooperation, including cooperation with the regions of the EU.

(Amendment 12)

Article 2(2), indents

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- private sector development and employment creation, including improvement of the business environment and support to SMEs,

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- private sector development and employment creation, including improvement of the business environment and support to SMEs,

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- development of the financial system,

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- promotion of European private investment, including industrial cooperation,

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- promotion of European private investment, including industrial cooperation,

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- upgrading of economic infrastructure,

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- upgrading of economic infrastructure: restructuring and privatization,

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- operations in support of structural adjustment programmes.

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- operations in support of structural adjustment programmes,

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- action to promote demand for Mediterranean products and improve their access to Community markets and other third-country markets.

(Amendment 13)

Article 2(3), indents

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- the improvement of social services,

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- the improvement of social services,

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- harmonious and integrated rural development,

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- the improvement of the level of self-sufficiency in food and harmonious and integrated rural development,

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- development of water resources,

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- development of basic infrastructure, particularly in the transport and telecommunications sector,

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- reinforced cooperation concerning fisheries,

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- reinforced cooperation concerning fisheries,

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- environmental cooperation,

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- sustainable development and environmental cooperation,

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- participation of civil society in development,

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- participation of civil society in development,

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- modernization of public administration,

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- integrated development of human resources, notably in education and vocational training, as well as improving the potential for scientific and technological research,

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- integrated development of human resources, notably in education and vocational training, as well as improving the potential for scientific and technological research,

>Original text>

- strengthening democracy and the respect for human rights,

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- strengthening democracy and the respect for human rights and the rights of ethnic and religious minorities,

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- cultural cooperation,

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- cultural cooperation, including the strengthening of audiovisual media,

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- through the above measures, cooperation and technical assistance in order to reduce illegal immigration, drugs trafficking and international crime.

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- through the above measures, cooperation and technical assistance in order to reduce illegal immigration, the trade in human beings, drugs trafficking and international crime.

(Separate vote)

Article 2(4), third indent

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- cooperation with the Arab League and its agencies as well as other Pan Arab and regional activities.

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Deleted

(Amendment 15)

Article 2(5)

>Original text>

5. Good governance shall be promoted by supporting key institutions, including local government, trade unions, media and organizations supporting business and by assisting in the improvement of the capacity of the public administration to develop policies and manage implementation.

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5. Good governance shall be promoted by supporting key institutions, including local government, trade unions, media and organizations supporting business and by assisting in the improvement of the capacity of the public administration to develop policies and manage implementation. Good governance shall also be promoted through support for projects aimed at encouraging cooperation between local and regional bodies.

(Amendment 16)

Article 2(8)

>Original text>

8. When an essential element for the continuation of support measures is missing, in particular in cases of violation of democratic principles and human rights, the Council may, on a proposal from the Commission, acting by a qualified majority, decide upon appropriate measures concerning the assistance to a Mediterranean partner.

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Deleted

(Amendment 26)

Article 2a (new)

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Article 2a

In the event of violation of democratic principles, the rules of international law, human rights or the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, the Council shall, acting by a qualified majority, either on a proposal from the Commission or further to a recommendation adopted by the European Parliament pursuant to Article J.7 of the TEU, decide upon appropriate measures to be taken in respect of a Mediterranean partner, which may include the suspension of Community aid.

(Amendment 17)

Article 3(2a) (new)

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2a. The Commission shall submit to the budgetary authority an assessment of the indicative programmes referred to in paragraph 2, concerning their compliance with the objectives laid down in Article 1.

(Amendment 18)

Article 9

>Original text>

Measures referred to in this Regulation which are financed from the general budget of the European Communities shall be appraised, decided upon and administered by the Commission, without prejudice to the management by the Bank of interest-rate subsidies and risk- conferred on it by the Commission on behalf of the Community pursuant to Article 105(3) of the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

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Measures referred to in this Regulation which are financed from the general budget of the European Communities (which shall include a breakdown by country of the amounts allocated) shall be appraised, decided upon and administered by the Commission, without prejudice to the management by the Bank of interest-rate subsidies and risk-capital operations under authority conferred on it by the Commission on behalf of the Community pursuant to Article 105(3) of the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

(Amendment 19)

Article 10(3)

>Original text>

3. 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 six weeks.

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3. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the way in which it has taken account of that opinion.

>Original text>

The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the period laid down in the first subparagraph.

(Amendment 20)

Article 10(6)

>Original text>

6. The Commission shall keep the Committee regularly informed and will supply information on the implementation of measures under this Regulation.

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6. The Commission shall keep the Committee and the European Parliament regularly informed and will supply information on the implementation of measures under this Regulation.

(Amendment 21)

Article 14(1)

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1. The Commission shall, together with the Bank, examine progress achieved in implementing the measures undertaken pursuant to this Regulation and shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council an annual report, no later than 30 April. The report shall contain information on the measures that have been financed during the year, with due regard for confidentiality, and provide an assessment of the results obtained.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall, together with the Bank, examine progress achieved in implementing the measures undertaken pursuant to this Regulation and shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council an annual report, no later than 30 April. The report shall contain information on the measures that have been financed during the year, with due regard for confidentiality, and provide an assessment of the results obtained. It shall also include an assessment of developments relating to the democratic principles which are a cornerstone of relations with the Mediterranean countries listed in the Annex. The European Parliament shall, where appropriate, propose modifications to the latter.

(Amendment 22)

Article 14(2a) (new)

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2a. The Commission shall take account of the conclusions of this report in preparing the preliminary draft budget; it shall amend the financial statement relating to the budgetary line concerned accordingly.

(Amendment 27)

Article 14a (new)

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Article 14a

Each quarter the Commission shall draw up and forward to the budgetary authority a review of the position regarding contracts, commitment appropriations and payment appropriations, and reviews of service contracts awarded by restricted invitations to tender and by private treaty, their recipients, the amount of assistance granted and the beneficiary institutions, companies, agencies and public bodies.

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By 1 September of each year, a comprehensive report evaluating the progress of projects and their impact on the progress of development in each of the partner States shall be addressed to the Member States, the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.

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In 1997, this report shall be replaced by an interim report on the implementation of the programme during the whole period until that date, which shall be submitted by the Commission by 30 June 1997.

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Both the annual and the interim reports shall be the basis for decisions concerning the continuation of the programmes within the annual budgetary procedure.

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Before the end of the programme, an evaluation shall be carried out with the aim of adjusting the programme to actual developments in the partner States.

(Amendment 24)

Article 16, first paragraph a (new)

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This Regulation shall be subject to review five years after its entry into force.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on financial and technical measures to support the reform of economic and social structures in Mediterranean non-member countries and territories (COM(95)0204 - C4-0329/95 - 95/0127(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council ((COM(95)0204 - 95/0127(CNS))

((OJ C 232, 6.9.1995, p. 5.))- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 235 of the EC Treaty (C4-0329/95),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on External Economic Relations, the Committee on Regional Policy and the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4-0304/95),

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 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.