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Brussels, 19.12.2007

COM(2007) 822 final

2007/0282 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC, as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC, with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Part Three

(presented by the Commission)

2007/0282 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC, as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC, with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny Part Three

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 61(c), 63, first paragraph, point 1(a), and 67 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission[1],

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee[2],

Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank[3],

Following consultation of the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty[4],

Whereas:

1. Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission[5] was amended by Decision 2006/512/EC, which introduced the regulatory procedure with scrutiny for measures of general scope designed to amend non-essential elements of a basic instrument adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty, inter alia by deleting some of those elements or by supplementing the instrument by the addition of new non-essential elements.

2. In accordance with the joint statement of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission[6] on Decision 2006/512/EC, for this new procedure to be applicable to instruments adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty which are already in force, those instruments must be adopted in accordance with the applicable procedures.

3. The United Kingdom and Ireland, which took part in the adoption and application of the instruments amended by this Regulation, in accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, are taking part in the adoption and application of this Regulation.

4. In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark does not take part in the adoption of the present Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In this Regulation, the term "Member State" shall mean all Member States with the exception of Denmark.

Article 2

The instruments listed in the Annex are hereby adapted, in accordance with that Annex, to Decision 1999/468/EC, as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC.

Article 3

References to provisions of the instruments listed in the Annex are understood to be references to those provisions as adapted by this Regulation.

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Done at Brussels, […]

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

[…] […]

ANNEX

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) NO 44/2001 OF 22 DECEMBER 2000 ON JURISDICTION AND THE RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGEMENTS IN CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS [7]

As regards Regulation (EC) No 44/2001, power should in particular be conferred on the Commission to update or make technical adjustments to the forms set out in its Annexes. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5(a) of Decision 1999/468/EC.

Accordingly, Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 is amended as follows:

(1) In Article 74, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

"2. The updating or technical adjustments of the forms, specimens of which appear in Annexes V and VI, shall be adopted by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 75(2)."

(2) Article 75 is replaced by the following:

"Article 75

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5(a)(1) to (4), and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof."

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) NO 1206/2001 OF 28 MAY 2001 ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE COURTS OF THE MEMBER STATES IN THE TAKING OF EVIDENCE IN CIVIL OR COMMERCIAL MATTERS [8]

As regards Council Regulation (EC) No 1206/2001, power should in particular be conferred on the Commission to update or make technical amendments to the standard forms set out in its Annex. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of Council Regulation (EC) No 1206/2001, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5(a) of Decision 1999/468/EC.

Accordingly, Regulation (EC) No 1206/2001 is amended as follows:

(1) In Article 19, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

"2. The updating or making of technical amendments to the standard forms set out in the Annex shall be carried out by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 20(2)."

(2) Article 20 is replaced by the following:

"Article 20

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5(a)(1) to (4), and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof."

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) NO 343/2003 OF 18 FEBRUARY 2003 ESTABLISHING THE CRITERIA AND MECHANISMS FOR DETERMINING THE MEMBER STATE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXAMINING AN ASYLUM APPLICATION LODGED IN ONE OF THE MEMBER STATES BY A THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONAL[9]

As regards Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 , power should in particular be conferred on the Commission to adopt the conditions and procedures for the implementing of the humanitarian clause and to adopt the criteria necessary for carrying out transfers. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to supplement Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 by the addition of new non-essential elements, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC.

Accordingly, Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 is amended as follows:

(1) In Article 15, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

"5. The conditions and procedures for implementing this Article including, where appropriate, conciliation mechanisms for settling differences between Member States concerning the need to unite the persons in question, or the place where this should be done, shall be adopted by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 27(3)."

(2) In Article 19, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

"5. The Commission may adopt supplementary rules on carrying out transfers. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 27(3)."

(3) In Article 20, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:

"4. The Commission may adopt supplementary rules on carrying out transfers. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 27(3)."

(4) In Article 27, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

"3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4), and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof."

REGULATION (EC) NO 805/2004 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 21 APRIL 2004 CREATING A EUROPEAN ENFORCEMENT ORDER FOR UNCONTESTED CLAIMS [10]

As regards Regulation (EC) No 805/2004, power should be conferred on the Commission to amend the standard forms set out in its Annexes. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of Regulation (EC) No 805/2004, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5(a) of Decision 1999/468/EC.

Accordingly, Regulation (EC) No 805/2004 is amended as follows:

(1) Articles 31 and 32 are replaced by the following:

"Article 31

Amendments to the Annexes

The Commission shall amend the standard forms in the Annexes. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 32(2)."

Article 32

Committee

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the committee provided for by Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5(a)(1) to (4), and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof."

[1] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

[2] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

[3] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

[4] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

[5] OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).

[6] OJ C 255, 21.10.2006, p. 1.

[7] OJ L 12, 16.1.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1).

[8] OJ L 174, 27.6.2001, p.1.

[9] OJ L 50, 25.2.2003, p. 1.

[10] OJ L 143, 30.4.2004, p. 15. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1869/2005 (OJ L 300, 17.11.2005, p. 6 and OJ L 321M, 21.11.2006, p. 145.