Re-examined proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) ON HUMANITARIAN AID
Date: 1996-05-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, aid system, cooperation policy, financial management, humanitarian aid

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Brussels, 23.05. î996 
COM(96)  739 fmai 

95/0119 (SYN) 

Re-examined proposal  fov a 

COUNCH. REGULATION  (EC) 

ON  HUMANITARIAN  AID 

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

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

On  31  May  1995  the  Commission  presented  to  the  Council  and  Parliament  a 
proposal for a Regulation concerning humanitarian aid aimed at defining the scope 
of  humanitarian  action,  the  arrangements  for  coordination  and  the  terms  of 
cooperation  between  the  Community,  the  Member  States,  international  agencies 
and non-governmental  organizations.1 

Based on Article  130w of the Treaty, the proposed Council  Regulation  concerning 
humanitarian aid is subject to the cooperation procedure laid down in Article  189c 
of  the Treaty. 

In accordance with the cooperation procedure, Parliament delivered its opinion on 
a  first  reading  on  30  November  1995,  tabling  23  amendments  in  all.2  Under 
Article  189a(2)  of  the  Treaty,  the  Commission  presented  an  amended  proposal 
incorporating  those  amendments  that  it  accepted.3 

On 29  January  the Council  adopted  a common  position,4  which  the  Commission 
endorsed.5 
Parliament  acknowledged  receipt  of  the  common  position  on 
16 February. 

On 21  May,  Parliament  delivered  its  opinion  on  a second  reading,  adopting  two 
amendments.  They  concern:  (1)  the  exemption  of  the  operations  under  the 
Regulation  from  taxes,  charges  and  customs  duties,  and  (3)  the  holding  of  an 
annual  meeting  at  which  the  Commission  and  its  NGO  partners  would  study 
common  strategies.6 

The  Commission,  in  accordance  with  Article  189c(d)  of  the  Treaty,  is  now 
presenting  a revised  proposal  incorporating  the  amendments  accepted. 

COM  (95)  201  final,  OJ  No  C  180,  14.7.1995. 
PE213.938/fin. 
COM  (95)  721  final,  OJ  No  C  58,  28.2.1996. 

Document  12768/3/95,  29.1.1996. 
SEC(96)  203  final,  7.2.1996. 
PE  217.665/lln. 

â 

The  Commission  has  accepted  amendment  No  1,  adding  a  new  paragraph  to 
Article  5 of the common position.  This is a provision found  in other development 
regulations; the difficulties  often  encountered  by  relief  agencies trying to get aid 
to its destination  make it particularly  appropriate  in this case. 

The Commission  has not included  amendment 3. 

As for  amendment  No  3 adding  a new  paragraph  to  Article  19 of  the  common 
position  (see  Annex  1 ),  the  Commission  is  all  in  favour  of  greater  cooperation 
with  humanitarian  agencies,  but  does  not  think  it  wise  to  make  such  an  annual 
meeting obligatory  under the Regulation. 

Re-examined  proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  RFGULATION  (Fr) 

ON HUMANITARIAN  AID 

Article  5 reads as  follows: 

5.1 

Community  financing  under  this Regulation  shall take the form  of grants. 

5.2 

ITie operations referred to in this Regulation shall be exempt from tax, levies 

and customs duty. 

</ 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 239  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

11 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-96-249-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-04541-1 

Office  for Official Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

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