Re-examined proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION laying down a series of measures aimed at creating a more favourable context for the development of trans- European networks in the energy sector
Date: 1995-11-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, electrical energy, energy grid, natural gas, technical cooperation, trans-European network

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

•k 

*r 

Brussels,  28  11  1995 
COM(95)  594  final 

94/0010 (SYN) 

Re-examined  proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

laying  down  a  series  of  measures  aimed  at  creating  a  more 
favourable  context  for  the  development  of 
trans-European  networks  in the energy  sector. 

(presented  by the Commission  pursuant to Article  189 c (d) 
of the EC Treaty) 

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION 
on  the  amendments  proposed  by  the  European  Parliament 
to the  Council's  common  position 

I 

BACKGROUND 

8  February  1994: 

Transmission  of  the  initial  proposal  COM  (93)  685  to  the 
European  Parliament  and  the  Council 

27  April  1994: 

Opinion  of  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee. 

17 May  1994: 

Opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the  Regions 

18 May  1995: 

European  Parliament's  opinion  on  first  reading. 

29  May  1995: 

Transmission  of-the  amended  proposal  COM  (95)  226 

29  June  1995: 

Adoption  by  the  Council  of  its  common  position. 

26  October  1995: 

European  Parliament's  opinion  on  second  reading. 

2 

PURPOSE  OF  THE  COMMISSION'S  PROPOSAL 

The  proposal  aims  to  establish  a  more  favourable  financial,  technical  and  administrative 
context  for  the  implementation  of  projects  of  common  interest  in  the  field  of  trans-
European  energy  networks,  as  provided  for  by  the  second  and  third  indents  of  Article 
I29c(l)  of  the  Treaty. 

3 

COMMENTS  ON  PARLIAMENT'S  SECOND  READING 

Parliament  adopted  three  amendments  to  the  Council's  common  position  on  its  second 
reading.  It  had  also  adopted  the  same  amendments,  in  whole  or  in  part,  on  first  reading. 

%  3 

The Commission's  position  on these amendments  is as follows: 

• 

Amendment  No  I :  rejected. 

This  amendment  specifies  the  forms  which  the  financial  support  from  the 
resources provided for  the trans-European  energy  networks could take.  Although 
it  follows  the  wording  of  the  original  proposal,  the  Commission  feels  that  it  is 
unnecessary  since  it  duplicates  the  recently  adopted  Council  Regulation  on 
financial  aid in the field of trans-European networks (Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 
of  18 September  1995). 

• 

Amendment  No 2:  rejected. 

This amendment  advocates that the aid from  the other Community  funds  should 
give  particular  priority  to  networks  promoting  cohesion.  This  would  be 
tantamount to amending the rules and selection criteria for these other funds.  This 
is not the objective  of this proposal. 

• 

Amendment  No 3:  rejected.  The objectives  are: 

(a) 

Introduction  of  a type  I committee. 

Out  of  concern  for  simplification,  the  Commission  prefers  a  type  lia 
committee  here, i.e. the same committee as provided  for  in the guidelines 
Decision. 

(b) 

Inclusion in the committee procedure clauses of consultation of Parliament 
on the measures  submitted  to the committee. 

Parliament's  legitimate  concern  to  be  kept  informed  of  the  measures 
submitted  to  the  committee  is  met  already,  without  amending  the 
committee  procedure  clauses,  by  virtue  of  the  1988  Delors-Plumb 
commitment  which  applies  to the  case  in  point,  which  is covered  by the 
cooperation  procedure. 

4. 

CONCLUSIONS 

Phe Commission  is unable to accept any of the three amendments adopted by  Parliament 
on  second  reading. 

M 

Re-examined  proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

laying  down  a series of  measures  aimed  at creating  a more 
favourable  context for  the development  of 
trans-European  networks  in  the energy sector. 

(presented  by the Commission  pursuant to Article  189 c (d) 
of the EC  Treaty) 

T 

To  bring  the  proposal  into  line  with  Regulation  (EC)  No 2236/95,  as  adopted  by  the 
Council  on  18 September  1995, the Commission  makes the following  amendment  to its 
proposal : 

• 

The fifth  recital  in the proposal, as amended after  the first  reading, is replaced by 

"Whereas,  in  order  to  speed  up  the  realization  of  projects  of  common  interest 
identified  by  Decision  No  .../95/EC,  it  is  necessary  to  provide  the  Community 
with  the  possibility  of  supporting  the  financial  efforts  made  in  favour  of  such 
projects in accordance with the Council  Regulation  laying down  general  rules for 
the granting of Community financial  aid in the field of trans-European networks.1" 

(N.B.  This is the same wording  as in the common  position.) 

Regulation (EC)  No 2236/95 of  18 September  1995. 

ISSN  0254-1475 

COM(95) 594  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

12 

Catalogue number  :  CB-C0-95-637-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-96709-9 

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembouig 

?