Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive concerning the quality of water intended for human consumption (COM(94)0612 C4- 0199/95 95/0010(SYN))
Date: 1996-12-12
Institutions: Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, European Parliament
Subjects: consumer, drinking water, food industry, foodstuff, water consumption













EUR-Lex - 51996AP0394(01) - EN






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51996AP0394(01)

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive concerning the quality of water intended for human consumption (COM(94)0612 C4- 0199/95 95/0010(SYN))  


Official Journal C 020 , 20/01/1997 P. 0121 





A4-0394/96Proposal for a Council Directive concerning the quality of water intended for human consumption (COM(94)0612 - C4-0199/95 - 95/0010(SYN))The proposal was approved with the following amendments:(Amendment 3)Recital 2>Original text>Whereas in keeping with the provision of Article 3(b) of the Treaty, whereby any action by the Community should not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaty, it is necessary to revise the provisions of Directive 80/778/EEC so as to focus on compliance with essential quality and health parameters, leaving Member States free to add secondary parameters if they see fit;>Text following EP vote>Whereas in keeping with the provision of Article 3(b) of the Treaty, whereby any action by the Community should not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaty, it is necessary to revise the provisions of Directive 80/778/EEC so as to focus on compliance with essential quality and health parameters, leaving Member States free to add other parameters if they see fit;(Amendment 1)Recital 2a (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas, in compliance with the subsidiarity principle, Community action must support and supplement action by the competent authorities in the Member States;(Amendment 2)Recital 2b (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas an agreement on a 'modus vivendi' between the European Parliament, Council and Commission concerning the implementing measures for acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty was concluded on 20 December 1994;(Amendment 4)Recital 3>Original text>Whereas, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the differences in natural and socio-economic features of the regions in the Union require that most decisions on monitoring, analysis, and on the measures to be taken to redress failures be taken at a local, regional or national level;>Text following EP vote>Whereas, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the differences in natural and socio-economic features of the regions in the Union require that most decisions on monitoring, analysis, and on the measures to be taken to redress failures be taken at a local, regional or national level, in so far as the differences do not detract from the establishment of the framework of laws, regulations and administrative provisions laid down by this Directive;(Amendments 64 and 5)Recital 4>Original text>Whereas Community standards for essential health-related quality parameters in water intended for human consumption are necessary in order to define the minimum environmental quality goals to be achieved in connection with other Community measures, in order to safeguard the sustainable use of water intended for human consumption;>Text following EP vote>Whereas Community standards for essential and preventive health-related quality parameters in water intended for human consumption are necessary in order to define the minimum goals for a high level of environmental protection to be achieved in connection with other Community measures, in order to safeguard and promote the sustainable use of water intended for human consumption;(Amendment 6)Recital 4a (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas the scientific benchmark adopted for the purpose of establishing the values and the classification of the parameters laid down in Annex I to this Directive was constituted - in order to comply with the principle of precaution contained in the Treaty on European Union - by the 1993 World Health Organization (WHO) Recommendations on the Quality of Drinking Water;(Amendment 118)Recital 5a (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas, since water for human consumption is indispensable for good health, it is necessary to lay down Community rules to ensure supply of water for domestic households at all times; whereas this obligation is without prejudice to Member States' right to raise taxes and fix charges for water supplies;(Amendment 65)Recitals 6a and 6b (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas to enable the quality standards to be observed by the supply undertakings, appropriate water protection measures must be applied to ensure that surface and groundwater is kept clean;>Text following EP vote>Whereas the coherence of European water policy presupposes a suitable water framework directive and requires uniform committee procedures and reporting obligations;(Amendment 7)Recital 8>Original text>Whereas measures are required to meet specified values for all directly health- relevant parameters and for other parameters if a deterioration in quality has occurred; whereas furthermore such measures should not prejudice the implementation of Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, as last amended by Commission Directive 94/79/EC;>Text following EP vote>Whereas measures are required to meet specified values for all directly health- relevant parameters and for other parameters if a deterioration in quality has occurred; whereas furthermore such measures should be carefully coordinated with the implementation of Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, in accordance with the ruling of the European Court of Justice of 18 June 1996 (case C-303/94);(Amendment 8)Recital 8a (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas, in order to comply with the provisions of Directive 91/414/EEC, the Member States shall take appropriate measures to guarantee the protection of catchment areas and all waters from pesticides;(Amendment 9)Recital 8b (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas, in order to comply with the provisions of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC), the Member States shall take appropriate measures to guarantee the protection of catchment areas and all waters from nitrates;(Amendment 10)Recital 11a (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas there is no conclusive evidence on which to base precautionary parameters, yet there is increasing concern about the potential impact on humans and wildlife of the effects of substances harmful to health, including endocrine disrupting chemicals;(Amendment 11)Recital 13>Original text>Whereas the parametric values are to be complied with at the point where water intended for human consumption is available to the consumer;>Text following EP vote>Whereas the parametric values are to be complied with in all cases at the point where water intended for human consumption is available to the consumer;(Amendment 12)Recital 14>Original text>Whereas the quality of water intended for human consumption can be influenced by the condition and materials used in household installations; whereas, furthermore, it is recognized that responsibility for the condition and the materials used in household installations may not be borne by the Member States;>Text following EP vote>Whereas the quality of water intended for human consumption can be influenced by the condition and materials used in household installations; whereas the Commission will bring about the drawing up of European standards in respect of materials for the supply of drinking water; whereas, furthermore, it is recognized that responsibility for the condition and the materials used in household installations may not be borne by the Member States;(Amendment 14)Recital 15>Original text>Whereas monitoring programmes should be established by the Member States to check that water intended for human consumption meets the requirements of the Directive; whereas such monitoring programmes should be appropriate to local needs and should meet the minimum monitoring requirements set out in the Directive;>Text following EP vote>Whereas monitoring programmes should be established by the Member States to check that water intended for human consumption meets the requirements of the Directive; whereas such monitoring programmes should be appropriate to local needs and should meet the minimum monitoring requirements set out in the Directive; whereas they should be submitted regularly to the appropriate departments of the Commission, which should keep the European Parliament informed of the situation in the Member States;(Amendment 16)Article 1(2)>Original text>2. The objective of the Directive is to protect human health from the adverse effects resulting from the contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is wholesome.>Text following EP vote>2. The objective of the Directive is to protect human health from the adverse effects resulting from the contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is wholesome and clean.(Amendment 17)Article 2(2)>Original text>2. For the purpose of this Directive, 'domestic distribution system¨ shall mean all pipe work and fittings which connect a consumer's tap to the supply and which, according to the relevant national law, are not the responsibility of the water supplier.>Text following EP vote>Deleted(Amendment 18)Article 3(d)>Original text>(d) without prejudice to Article 5(1), water intended for human consumption from an individual source serving 15 or less households, unless the water is offered for sale.>Text following EP vote>(d) without prejudice to Article 5(1), water intended for human consumption from an individual supply serving 15 or fewer households, unless the water is offered for sale.(Amendment 73)Article 3(da) (new)>Text following EP vote>(da) water used for industrial production in closed systems.(Amendment 19)Article 4(1)(b)>Original text>(b) is free of pathogenic micro-organisms and parasites in numbers which constitute a potential danger to human health.>Text following EP vote>(b) is free of pathogenic micro-organisms and parasites, environmental endocrine disrupters, or other substances harmful to health, in numbers which constitute a potential danger to human health.(Amendment 20)Article 4(2)>Original text>2. Member States shall take all other measures necessary to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets the objective set out in Article 1.>Text following EP vote>2. Member States shall take all other measures necessary to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets the objective set out in Article 1. This shall include catchment protection measures that take full account of the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principle.(Amendment 119)Article 4(2a) (new)>Text following EP vote>2a. Without prejudice to their right to fix charges for water supply, Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that a supply of wholesome water to meet domestic requirements is maintained at all times.(Amendment 21)Article 5(3)>Original text>3. Member States may establish guidelines to assist the competent authorities to fulfil their obligations under paragraph 2.>Text following EP vote>3. Member States may establish guidelines to assist the competent authorities to fulfil their obligations under paragraph 2, and shall inform the Commission of any such guidelines.(Amendment 22)Article 6(4)>Original text>4. When a Member State deems it necessary to adopt standards more stringent than those set out in Annex I, Part B, or standards for additional parameters not included in Annex I but necessary to protect human health, it shall communicate this to the Commission in accordance with the procedures under Council Directive 83/189/EEC3.>Text following EP vote>4. When a Member State deems it necessary to adopt standards more stringent than those set out in Annex I, Part B, or standards for additional parameters not included in Annex I but necessary to protect human health, it shall inform the Commission immediately.>Original text>3 OJ L 109, 26.4.1983, p. 8.(Amendment 23)Article 6(5)>Original text>5. Without prejudice to the procedures under Directive 83/189/EEC, and in particular Article 9 thereof, Member States may take such envisaged measures only after three months following such communication and provided that the Commission's opinion is not negative.>Text following EP vote>Deleted(Amendment 24)Article 6(6)>Original text>6. In the latter event, before the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 5, the Commission shall initiate the procedure provided for in Article 15 in order to determine whether the envisaged measures may be implemented subject, if necessary, to appropriate amendments.>Text following EP vote>Deleted(Amendment 25)Article 7(2)>Original text>2. For water intended for human consumption supplied from a distribution network, the parametric values shall be complied with as it emerges from at least one tap in the consumer's premises.>Text following EP vote>2. For water intended for human consumption supplied from a distribution network, the parametric values shall be complied with as it emerges from all cold water taps which are representative for human consumption.(Amendment 26)Article 7(3)>Original text>3. Member States are deemed to have fulfilled their obligations under this Article and under Articles 4 and 9(2) where it can be established that non- compliance with the parametric values set in accordance with Article 6(1), (2) and (3) is due to the domestic distribution system.>Text following EP vote>Deleted(Amendment 77)Article 8(1)>Original text>1. Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure regular, representative monitoring of the quality of water intended for human consumption, in order to check whether the water available to consumers meets the requirements of this Directive. In addition, Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that, where disinfection forms part of the preparation of water intended for human consumption, the efficiency of the disinfection treatment applied is verified.>Text following EP vote>1. Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure regular, representative monitoring of the quality of water intended for human consumption, in order to check whether the water available to consumers meets the requirements of this Directive. In particular, Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that, where disinfection forms part of the preparation of water intended for human consumption, the efficiency of the disinfection treatment applied is verified and that there is no new contamination from disinfection degradation products.(Amendment 27)Article 8(2)>Original text>2. To meet the obligations contained in paragraph 1 appropriate monitoring programmes shall be established by the competent authorities for all water intended for human consumption. Those monitoring programmes shall meet the minimum requirements set out in Annex II.>Text following EP vote>2. To meet the obligations contained in paragraph 1 appropriate monitoring programmes shall be established by the competent authorities for all water intended for human consumption. Those monitoring programmes shall meet the minimum requirements set out in Annex II, and shall be forwarded to the appropriate departments of the Commission, which shall assess their results and communicate them to the European Parliament so that the latter and, inter alia, the budgetary authority are informed of the follow-up to the action.(Amendment 28)Article 8(3)>Original text>3. The sampling points shall be determined by the competent authorities.>Text following EP vote>3. The sampling points shall be determined by the competent authorities, without prejudice to 7(2).(Amendment 29)Article 8(6)>Original text>6. The Commission shall review at regular intervals the reference methods of analysis specified in Annex III.>Text following EP vote>6. The Commission shall review at least every three years the reference methods of analysis specified in Annex III.(Amendment 30)Article 9(2)>Original text>2. If, despite the measures taken to meet the obligations under Article 4(1), water intended for human consumption does not meet the requirements of Annex I, Member States shall ensure that the necessary remedial action is taken as soon as possible to restore its quality.>Text following EP vote>2. If, despite the measures taken to meet the obligations under Article 4(1), water intended for human consumption does not meet the requirements of Annex I, Member States shall ensure that the necessary remedial action is taken as soon as possible to restore its quality, and that consumers are notified.(Amendment 31)Article 9(3a) (new)>Text following EP vote>3a. Member States shall prioritise their enforcement action, having regard to the extent to which the relevant parameter has been exceeded.(Amendment 32)Article 10(1)>Original text>1. Member States may make provision for derogations from the parametric values set out in Annex I part B for a limited period of time and up to a maximum value to be determined by them, provided that the derogation during such period does not constitute a potential danger to human health and provided that the supply of water intended for human consumption in the area concerned cannot otherwise be maintained by any other reasonable means.>Text following EP vote>1. Member States may make provision for derogations from the parametric values set out in Annex I part B up to a maximum value to be determined by them, provided that the derogation does not constitute a potential danger to human health and provided that the supply of water intended for human consumption in the area concerned cannot otherwise be maintained by any other reasonable means. Derogations should not exceed two years after which a review must be conducted and forwarded to the Commission to determine whether sufficient progress has been made. The Commission may, on the basis of the review, permit a further derogation up to two years.(Amendment 33)Article 10(2)(d)>Original text>(d) an appropriate monitoring scheme, with an increased monitoring frequency where necessary;>Text following EP vote>(d) an appropriate monitoring scheme, with an increased monitoring frequency where necessary and relevant, and earlier monitoring results where available;(Amendment 34)Article 11, second paragraph (new)>Text following EP vote>Member States shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the materials used in household installations are not associated with impurities which remain in the water in concentrations exceeding those set out in Annex I part B.(Amendment 35)Article 12>Original text>Member States shall ensure that the measures taken to implement the provisions of this Directive shall in no circumstances have the effect of allowing, directly or indirectly, either any deterioration of the present quality of water intended for human consumption so far as this is relevant to the protection of human health or any increase in the pollution of waters used for the production of drinking water>Text following EP vote>Member States shall ensure that the measures taken to implement the provisions of this Directive shall in no circumstances have the effect of allowing, directly or indirectly, either any deterioration of the present quality of water intended for human consumption or any increase in the pollution of waters used for the production of drinking water.(Amendment 36)Article 14(1)>Original text>1. At least every 10 years, the Commission shall review Annex I in the light of scientific and technical progress and shall make proposals for amendments, where necessary, under the procedure in Article 189c of the Treaty.>Text following EP vote>1. At least every five years, the Commission shall review Annex I in the light of scientific and technical progress and shall make proposals for amendments, where necessary, under the procedure in Article 189c of the Treaty.(Amendment 37)Article 15, first paragraph>Original text>The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.>Text following EP vote>Deleted(Amendment 38)Article 16(4)>Original text>4. The formats and the minimum information for the reports referred to in paragraph 3 shall be determined having special regard to the measures referred to in Articles 3(d), 5, 6(3) and 9, and shall if necessary, be amended in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15.>Text following EP vote>4. The formats and the minimum information for the reports referred to in paragraph 3 shall be determined having special regard to the measures referred to in Articles 3(d), 5, 6(3), 8(2), 9, 10(5 and 6) and 18(1), and shall if necessary, be amended in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15.(Amendment 39)Article 18(1)>Original text>1. Member States may in exceptional circumstances and for geographically defined population groups submit a special request to the Commission for a longer period than provided for in this Directive for complying with individual parametric values set in Part B of Annex I. This provision does not apply to water intended for human consumption offered for sale in bottles or containers.>Text following EP vote>1. Member States may in exceptional circumstances and for geographically defined population groups submit a special request to the Commission for a longer period (though not exceeding two years) than provided for in this Directive for complying with individual parametric values set in Part B of Annex I. This provision does not apply to water intended for human consumption offered for sale in bottles or containers.(Amendment 87)Annex I, Part A, entries 3a and 3b (new)(after 'Sulphite-reducing clostridia')>Original text>ParameterParametric value>Text following EP vote>Unit>Original text>Coliforms0>Text following EP vote>number/100 ml>Original text>colony nos.no abnormal change(Amendment 92)Annex I, Part B, heading>Original text>Chemical parameters>Text following EP vote>Physical and chemical parameters(Amendment 40)Annex I, Part B, entry 5>Original text>Boron 300 ìg/l>Text following EP vote>Boron 1.0 mg/l (= 1000 ìg/l)(Amendment 121)Annex I, Part B, entries 7 and 9>Original text>Bromodichloromethane 15 ìg/lChloroform 40 ìg/l(Note 2)>Text following EP vote>Total Trihalomethanes (THM)80 ìg/l- Chloroform- Bromoform- Dibromochloromethan- Bromodichloromethane(Notes 1 and 2)(Amendment 52/fin.)Annex I, Part B, entry 11(this entry to be transferred from part B to part C)>Original text>Annex I, part B, entry 11>Text following EP vote>Annex I, part C, entry 2a>Original text>Copper 2 mg/l (note 1)>Text following EP vote>Copper 2 mg/l (note -1)>Text following EP vote>Note -1: The values and classification of these parameters may be amended, after notification and consultation of the European Parliament, in the light of new scientific evidence which is expected to become available shortly.(Amendment 42)Annex I, Part B, entry 21a (new), (after 'pesticides¨)>Original text>Total pesticides0.5>Text following EP vote>ìg/l (Note 5a)(Amendment 53)Annex I, Part B, entry 23a (new)>Text following EP vote>Total value for: trichlorethene, tetrachlorethene, tetrachloromethane, 1,1,1- trichlorethane and dichloromethane10 ìg/l>Text following EP vote>(replaces the values for trichlorethene and tetrachlorethene)(Amendment 43)Annex I, Part B, entry 26a (after 'Vinyl chloride¨) (new)>Original text>Endocrine disruptersValue not yet determined>Text following EP vote>(Note 5b)(Amendment 61)Annex I, Part B, new line at end>Original text>ParameterParametricvalue>Text following EP vote>Unit>Original text>Radioactivity:total á activitytotal â activity(except 40 K and tritiumtritiumtotal dose constraint0,11100(to fall to 20 in the 7 years following adoption of the directive0,05>Text following EP vote>becquerel/lbecquerel/lbecquerel/lmSv/year(Amendment 44)Annex I, Part B, Note 1>Original text>Note 1: The values and classification of these parameters may be amended in the light of new scientific evidence which is expected to become available shortly.>Text following EP vote>Note 1: The values and classification of these parameters may be amended, after notification and consultation of the European Parliament, in the light of new scientific evidence which is expected to become available shortly.(Amendment 45)Annex I, Part B, Note 2>Original text>Note 2: The samples for these parameters are to be taken after any chlorine contact time and at the outlet of the water treatment plant. Where necessary, the parametric value for bromodichloromethane can be increased to 25 ìg/l provided that the parametric value for chloroform is reduced to 30 ìg/l.>Text following EP vote>Note 2: The samples for these parameters are to be taken at the tap and must be met at the latest 10 calendar years from the date of entry into force of this Directive. When implementing the measures to achieve this value, Member States shall give priority to those areas where THM concentrations in water intended for human consumption are high.Member States shall ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to reduce the concentration of THMs in water intended for human consumption as much as possible during the period needed to achieve compliance with the parametric value.The parametric value for total THMs from 5 years after the entry into force of this directive until 10 years after it has entered into force is 110 ìg/l to be met at the tap.Member States must produce a report and forward it to the Commission, in accordance with Article 16(5), on areas with high THM values and come forward within 5 years with a plan to reduce THMs to 80 ìg/l.(Amendment 46)Annex I, Part B, Note 3>Original text>Note 3: The value applies to a representative sample of water drawn from the tap and has to be met at the latest 15 calendar years from the date of entry into force of this Directive. When implementing the measures to achieve this value, Member States shall give priority to those areas where lead concentrations in water intended for human consumption are high.Member States shall ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to reduce the concentration of lead in water intended for human consumption as much as possible during the period needed to achieve compliance with the parametric value.The parametric value for lead from 5 years after the entry into force of this Directive until 15 years after it has entered into force is 25 ìg/l.>Text following EP vote>Note 3: The value applies to a representative sample of water drawn from the tap and has to be met at the latest 10 calendar years from the date of entry into force of this Directive. When implementing the measures to achieve this value, Member States shall give priority to those areas where lead concentrations in water intended for human consumption are high.Member States shall ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to reduce the concentration of lead in water intended for human consumption as much as possible during the period needed to achieve compliance with the parametric value.The parametric value for lead from 5 years after the entry into force of this Directive until 10 years after it has entered into force is 25 ìg/l.(Amendment 47)Annex I, Part B, Note 3, paragraph 3a (new)>Text following EP vote>Where water sampled at a tap within a household does not comply with the parametric value, Member States need not oblige individual householders to replace or permit the replacement of those lead pipes or components containing lead which are exclusively within their household plumbing system. In such cases, Member States shall be deemed to have fulfilled their obligations under Articles 4, 7, and 9 (2), providing that the water supplied to the household or group of households in question complies with the parametric value. Member States must produce a report and forward it to the Commission, in accordance with Article 16 (5), on the incidence of lead piping in households and come forward within five years with a plan to replace the lead piping in these homes.(Amendment 58)Annex I, Part B, Note 3, paragraph 3b (new)>Text following EP vote>Sampling and lead-concentration monitoring methods shall be defined in a harmonized fashion.(Amendment 48)Annex I, Part B, Note 5(a)>Original text>(a) Pesticides means:- organic insecticides,- organic herbicides,- organic fungicides,- organic nematocides,- organic acaricides,- organic algicides,and related products [growth regulators].>Text following EP vote>(a) Pesticides means:- organic insecticides,- organic herbicides,- organic fungicides,- organic nematocides,- organic acaricides,- organic algicides,and related products [growth regulators and metabolites with an effect similar to pesticides].(Amendment 50)Annex I, Part B, Note 5(d)>Original text>(d) The Commission shall examine whether an individual value can be set for a given substance, after an evaluation of the available scientific information.>Text following EP vote>Deleted(Amendment 49)Annex I, Part B, Note 5a (new)New note to new line in table (Total pesticides)>Text following EP vote>Note 5a: (a) Pesticides means:- organic insecticides;- organic herbicides;- organic fungicides;- organic nematocides;- organic acaricides;- organic algicides;and related products [growth regulators and metabolites with an effect similar to pesticides](b) Only those pesticides which are likely to be present in a given supply need to be monitored.(Amendment 51)Annex I, Part B, Note 5b (new)New note to new line in table (Endocrine disrupters)>Text following EP vote>Note 5b: The Commission shall carry out a study on which to base a proposal on the basis of Article 189b.(Amendment 91)Annex II, Table A(1), new entry>Text following EP vote>ColiformsLegislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive concerning the quality of water intended for human consumption (COM(94)0612 - C4-0199/95 - 95/0010(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)The European Parliament,- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(94)0612 - 95/0010(SYN) ((OJ C 131, 30.5.1995, p. 5.)),- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty and Article 130s(1) of the EC Treaty (C4-0199/95),- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights (A4-0394/96),1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a 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 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.