Thursday 6 May 1999C 279/292 EN 1.10.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities
17. Agenda 2000 ***/***II/*
(a) A4-0264/99
Decision on the draft Council Regulation laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds
(6959/1/99/REV 1 − C4-0215/99 − 98/0090(AVC))
(Assent procedure)
The European Parliament ,
− having regard to the draft Council regulation, 6959/1/99/REV 1 − 98/0090(AVC),
− having regard to the Council's request for Parliament's assent pursuant to Article 130d, first paragraph
(now Article 161, first paragraph) of the EC Treaty (C4-0215/99),
− having regard to Rule 80(1) and (3) of its Rules of Procedure,− having regard to its resolution of 19 November 1998 on the proposal for a Council Regulation laying
down general provisions on the Structural Funds (COM(98)0131 − C4-0285/98) (
1),
− having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Regional Policy and the opinion of the
Committee on Fisheries (A4-0264/99),
1. Gives its assent to the draft Council regulation;
2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and the Commission.
(1) OJ C 379, 7.12.1998, p. 164.
(b) A4-0246/99
Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European
Parliament and Council Regulation on the European Regional Development Fund (6405/1/99 −
C4-0182/99 − 98/0114(COD))
(Codecision procedure: second reading)
The European Parliament ,
− having regard to the list of Commission proposals pending as at 1 May 1999 for which the entry into
force of the Treaty of Amsterdam necessitates a change in legal basis and/or procedure,
− having regard to its resolution of 4 May 1999 on the implications of the entry into force of the Treaty
of Amsterdam (list of proposals pending as at 1 May 1999 indicating new legal bases and any changesin legislative procedure following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam)(
1),
− having regard to the common position of the Council (C4-0182/99) confirmed by the Council by letter
of 4 May 1999,
− having regard to its opinion at first reading (2) on the Commission proposal to the Council
COM(98)0131 (3), which it confirmed at the sitting of 4 May 1999,
− having regard to the Commission’s amended proposal, COM(99)0018 (4),
(1) Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 7.
(2) OJ C 379, 7.12.1998, p. 193.
(3) OJ C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 35.
(4) OJ C 52, 23.2.1999, p. 12.
Thursday 6 May 19991.10.1999 EN C 279/293 Official Journal of the European Communities
− having regard to Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty,
− having regard to Rule 72 of its Rules of Procedure,− having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Regional Policy
(A4-0246/99),
1. Amends the common position as follows;
2. Calls on the Commission to support Parliament’s amendments in the opinion it is required to deliver
pursuant to Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty;
3. Calls on the Council to approve all Parliament’s amendments;4. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.
COMMON POSITION
OF THE COUNCILAMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT
(Amendment 1)
Recital 9
(9)Whereas measures of Community interest undertaken at
the initiative of the Commission have an important role to playin achieving the general objectives of Community structuralaction referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No .../99;whereas, to that end, in view of the value it adds at Communitylevel, it is important that the ERDF continue to promotecross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation,including in the regions located on the external frontiers of theUnion within the meaning of the Treaty, the least-favouredislands and the most remote regions, in view of their specialfeatures and difficulties; whereas in the context of thatcooperation, the harmonious, balanced and sustainable devel-opment of the whole of the Community territory adds value toaction to promote economic and social cohesion; whereas thecontribution of the ERDF to that development should becontinued and increased;(9)Whereas measures of Community interest undertaken at
the initiative of the Commission have an important role to playin achieving the general objectives of Community structuralaction referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No .../99;whereas, to that end, in view of the value it adds at Communitylevel, it is important that the ERDF continue to promotecross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation,including in the regions located on the external frontiers of theUnion within the meaning of the Treaty, the least-favouredislands and the most remote regions, in view of their specialfeatures and difficulties; whereas in the context of thatcooperation, the harmonious, balanced and sustainable devel-opment of the whole of the Community territory , including in
connection with spatial planning, adds value to action to
promote economic and social cohesion; whereas the contribu-tion of the ERDF to that development should be continued andincreased;
(Amendment 2)
Article 2(1)(b)(i)
(i) which, in regions covered by Objective 1, helps to increase
the economic potential, development, structural adjust-ment and creation or maintenance of sustainable jobs inthose regions, including investment in infrastructure con-tributing to the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the areas of transport, telecommu-nications and energy infrastructures;(i) which, in regions covered by Objective 1, helps to increase
the economic potential, development, structural adjust-ment and creation or maintenance of sustainable jobs inthose regions, including investment in infrastructure con-tributing to the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the areas of transport, telecommu-nications and energy infrastructures, taking into account
the need to link to the central regions of the Commun-ity regions suffering from a structural handicapbecause of their insular, landlocked or peripheralstatus ;
(Amendment 3)
Article 2(2)(ca)
(ca) the development of tourism and cultural investment,
including the protection of cultural and natural heri-tage, provided that they are creating sustainable jobs ;
Thursday 6 May 1999C 279/294 EN 1.10.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities
COMMON POSITION
OF THE COUNCILAMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT
(Amendment 4)
Article 3(1)
1. Pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No ... /99,
the ERDF shall, in accordance with Article 21 of thatRegulation, contribute to the implementation of the Commun-ity initiative for cross-border, transnational and inter-regionalcooperation intended to encourage the harmonious, balancedand sustainable development of the whole of the Community’sterritory (‘Interreg’)1. Pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No ... /99,
the ERDF shall, in accordance with Article 21 of thatRegulation, contribute to the implementation of the Commun-ity initiative for cross-border, transnational and inter-regionalcooperation intended to encourage the harmonious, balancedand sustainable development of the whole of the Community’sterritory (‘Interreg’) as well as to the implementation of the
Community initiative for economic and social regenerationof cities and urban neighbourhoods in crisis with a view topromoting sustainable urban development (‘URBAN’) .
(Also applies mutatis mutandis to Recital 2 of the common
position)
(c) A4-0250/99
Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council
Regulation (EC) No .../99 on the European Social Fund (6406/1/99 − C4-0183/99 − 98/0115(COD))
(Codecision procedure: second reading)
The European Parliament ,
− having regard to the list of Commission proposals pending at 1 May 1999 for which the entry into
force of the Treaty of Amsterdam implies a change in legal base and/or a change in procedure,
− having regard to its resolution of 4 May 1999 (1) on the implications of the entry into force of the
Treaty of Amsterdam (list of legislative proposals pending before the Council as at 1 May 1999,indicating new legal bases and any changes in legislative procedure following the entry into force ofthe Treaty of Amsterdam),
− having regard to the common position of the Council (C4-0183/99), confirmed by the Council on
4 May 1999,
− having regard to its opinion at first reading (
2) on the Commission proposal to the Council,
COM(98)0131 (3), which was confirmed on 4 May 1999,
− having regard to the Commission’s amended proposal COM(99)0044 (4),
− having regard to Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty,− having regard to Rule 72 of its Rules of Procedure,− having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Employment and
Social Affairs (A4-0250/99),
1. Amends the common position as follows;
2. Calls on the Commission to support Parliament’s amendment in the opinion it is required to deliver
pursuant to Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty;
(1) Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 7.
(2) OJ C 379, 7.12.1998, p. 193.
(3) OJ C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 39.
(4) OJ C 74, 18.3.1999, p. 7.