98/709/EC, ECSC, Euratom: Council Decision of 7 December 1998 amending the Council's Rules of Procedure
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Council of the European Union, administrative structures, legislative procedure, rules of procedure

L 337/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12. 12. 98

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 7 December 1998

amending the Council’s Rules of Procedure

(98/709/EC, ECSC, Euratom)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(a) Article 4(2) shall be replaced by the following:

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 151(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 30(3)
thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article
121(3) thereof,

Whereas it has become necessary to amend the Council’s
Rules of Procedure (1);

Whereas the European Central Bank possesses a power of
initiative in the Community decision-making process
under the conditions laid down in the Treaty establishing
the European Community;

Whereas the order
the
Council is held by the Member States is laid down by the
Council;

in which the Presidency of

Whereas a simplified written procedure is needed for
consultation by the Council of other
institutions or
bodies,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Council’s Rules of Procedure are hereby amended as
follows:

(1) Decision 93/662/EC (OJ L 304, 10. 12. 1993, p. 1). Decision
as amended by Decision 95/24/EC, Euratom, ECSC (OJ L 31,
10. 2. 1995, p. 14).

‘2.
The Commission shall be invited to take part in
meetings of the Council. The same shall apply to the
European Central Bank in cases where the latter exer-
cises its right of initiative. The Council may, however,
decide to deliberate without
the
Commission or of the European Central Bank.';

the presence of

(b) Article 7(2) shall be replaced by the following:

‘2.
The members of the Council shall vote in the
order of the Member States fixed in accordance with
Article 27 of the Treaty establishing the European
Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), Article 146 of the
Treaty establishing the European Community (EC)
and Article 116 of the Treaty establishing the Euro-
pean Atomic Energy Community (EAEC), beginning
with the member who, according to that order, follows
the member holding the office of President.';

(c) the following subparagraph shall be added to Article

8(4):

‘The Council may also, on the initiative of the Pres-
idency and for the purposes of deciding to consult
other institutions or bodies, act by means of a simpli-
fied written procedure in all cases in which consulta-
tion is required by Community legislation. In such
cases the decision to consult shall be deemed to be
adopted at the end of the deadline set by the Pres-
idency according to the urgency of the matter, unless
a member of the Council objects.'

12. 12. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 337/41

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of
the European Communities.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 7 December 1998.

For the Council

The President

W. SCH(cid:154)SSEL