A4-0048/99

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending the basic Decision relating to the Socrates programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries (COM(96)0199 - C4-0293/96 - 96/0130(COD))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 2a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas a considerable amount of time needs to be allowed between the amendment of the Decision establishing this programme (the subject of this Decision) enabling it to be opened up to Turkey and the end of the negotiations on the arrangements (particularly financial arrangements) for Turkey's participation, on the one hand, and between the end of those negotiations and its actual participation, on the other;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2b (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the principle of such an opening-up, however, apart from giving a tangible sign of the European Union's oft-repeated willingness to develop sectoral cooperation with Turkey, would make it possible to undertake preparatory measures and measures to increase awareness, with a view to full participation under the current programme or under the future framework programme which is currently being drawn up;

(Amendment 3)

ARTICLE 1

Article 7(3), 2nd sentence (Decision 819/95/EC)

>Original text>

This programme shall be open to the participation of Cyprus and Malta on the basis of additional appropriations in accordance with the same rules as apply to the EFTA countries and Turkey following procedures to be agreed with the countries in question.

>Text following EP vote>

This programme shall be open to the participation of Cyprus, Malta and

Turkey on the basis of additional appropriations in accordance with procedures to be agreed with the countries in question, taking as a starting-point the rules applied to the EFTA countries, and in compliance with the provisions of Article 3 of the current Financial Regulation.

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 1a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

This Decision concerns full or partial participation by Turkey in the Socrates programme in its current form, to the extent permitted by negotiations, as well as the launch of preparatory measures or measures to increase awareness with a view to such participation or to that provided for under the future framework programme (2000-2004), at the earliest possible date.

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 1b (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1b

The purpose of such participation in the Socrates programme is to enable genuine exchanges to take place between young people from both sides and the staff accompanying them, while respecting their linguistic, educational and cultural diversity, as provided for in Article 126(1) of the Treaty, and bearing in mind the need to ensure fair representation of minorities.

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 2

>Original text>

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

>Text following EP vote>

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the

Official Journal of the European Communities. The European Parliament shall be kept informed about the various measures taken to implement this Decision.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision amending the basic Decision relating to the Socrates programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries (COM(96)0199 - C4-0293/96 - 96/0130(COD))(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(96)0199 - 96/0130(COD) ((OJ C 186, 26.6.1996, p. 8.)),

- having regard to Articles 189b(2) and 126 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C4-0293/96),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media and the opinions of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, the Committee on External Economic Relations and the Committee on Budgets (A4-0048/99),

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. 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;

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