European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the implementation of operations in the framework of the pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta (COM(1999) 535 — C5-0308/1999 — 1999/0199(CNS))
Date: 2000-02-17
Institutions: Committee on Foreign Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: Cyprus, Malta, accession negotiations, accession to the European Union, enlargement of the Union

C 339/232

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.11.2000

Thursday 17 February 2000

2. Pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta *

A5-0029/2000

Proposal for a Council regulation on the implementation of operations in the framework of the
pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta (COM(1999) 535 & C5-0308/1999 & 1999/0199(CNS))

The proposal was amended as follows:

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

(Amendment 1)
Citation 1a (new)

having regard to conclusions of the Helsinki European
Council of 10 and 11 December 1999,

(Amendment 3)
Recital 3a (new)

(3a) Whereas the Helsinki European Council of December
1999 underlined the need for an efficient and credible
enlargement process and at the same time pledged to
review no later than the end of 2004 how circumstances
have evolved;

(Amendment 4)
Recital 4a (new)

(4a) Whereas, under the terms of the European Treaties
and the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement of
6 May 1999 (1) on budget discipline and improvement of
the budgetary procedure,
is necessary to establish
it
clearly the link between implementation of appropriations
which have been entered in the Community Budget and
the corresponding legal basis;

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999.

(Amendment 5)
Recital 5

(5) Whereas it is necessary to establish accession partnership
instruments for Cyprus and Malta in accordance with the pro-
cedures set out
in Council Regulation (EC) No 622/98 of
16 March 1998 for the applicant States of Central and Eastern
Europe, so that Community assistance can be concentrated on
accession priorities and objectives;

(5) Whereas it is necessary, therefore, to establish accession
partnership instruments for Cyprus and Malta in accordance
with the procedures
in Council Regulation (EC)
No 622/98 of 16 March 1998 for the applicant States of Cen-
tral and Eastern Europe, so that Community assistance, includ-
ing financial aid, can be concentrated on accession priorities
and objectives;

set out

(7) Whereas the financial protocols concluded with Cyprus
and Malta are due to expire on 31 December 1999;

(7) Whereas the financial protocols concluded with Cyprus
and Malta expired on 31 December 1999;

(Amendment 6)
Recital 7

29.11.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 339/233

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

Thursday 17 February 2000

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

(Amendment 7)
Recital 7a (new)

(7a) Whereas the Helsinki European Council noted with
satisfaction the progress made during negotiations with
Cyprus, and decided to convene a bilateral intergovern-
mental conference in February 2000 with Malta, in order
to start negotiations on the conditions for its entry into
the Union and the ensuing Treaty adjustments;

(Amendment 8)
Recital 7b (new)

(7b) Whereas the Community Budget for the financial
year 2000 introduces a new method for showing appro-
priations relating to Cyprus and Malta which should inter
alia lead to sounder management and increased transpar-
ency as regards the financial resources earmarked for
implementation of planned operations is concerned;

(Amendment 9)
Recital 7c (new)

(7c) Whereas this Regulation and in particular its accom-
panying annex makes provision for the taking of multi-
annnual measures of an operational nature entailing a
financial cost for its entire application period;

(Amendment 10)
Recital 7d (new)

(7d) Whereas despite the provisions of the Financial Reg-
ulation in force, although the Commission is proposing a
multi-annual operation, it accepts, on the one hand, that
the financial statement should refer only to the cost of
operations for the year 2000, which is estimated at
€ 15 million, and on the other hand it is making provision
for an assessment method covering operations implemen-
ted over a three-year period;

(Amendment 2)
Recital 7e (new)

(7e) having regard to the European Parliament resolution
of 16 December 1999 on the budget for the financial year
2000,

(Amendment 1)
Recital 8a (new)

(8a) Whereas Malta and Cyprus will participate in the
MEDA facility as foreseen;

C 339/234

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.11.2000

Thursday 17 February 2000

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

(Amendment 11)

Recital 8b (new)

(8b) Whereas, in the light of the progress made in imple-
menting this programme, the Commission is to revise the
financial statement, in particular the estimated schedule of
annual commitment appropriations;

(Amendment 12)

Recital 9a (new)

(9a) Whereas the Helsinki European Council called for
the opening of negotiations on the accession of Malta to
the European Union;

(Amendment 13)

Recital 9b (new)

(9b) Whereas the pre-accession aid for Cyprus and Malta
should be entered for the 2001-2004 period under Sub-
section B7 (pre-accession aid) in order to be consistent
with the provisions in force for the other applicant coun-
tries;

(Amendment 14)

Article 1(1), 3rd indent a (new)

& unimpeded funding of the above operations as defined
in Article 4 for the entire period of validity of this
Regulation, subject to the provisions of Article 10,

(Amendment 15)

Article 1(2)

2.
Acting on a proposal from the Commission, the Council
shall decide by qualified majority on the principles, priorities,
intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the individ-
ual Accession Partnership to be submitted to each applicant
State, as well as on subsequent significant adjustments to them.

2.
Acting on a proposal from the Commission, and after
consulting the European Parliament, the Council shall decide
by qualified majority on the principles, priorities, intermediate
objectives and conditions contained in the individual Accession
Partnership to be submitted to each applicant State, as well as
on subsequent significant adjustments to them.

(Amendment 16)

Article 1(2a) (new)

2a.
The appropriations for pre-accession aid shall be
determined annually for the budget lines created for this
purpose and shall be included in Heading 7 of the Finan-
cial Perspective.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 339/235

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

Thursday 17 February 2000

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

(Amendment 23)
Article 2a (new)

Article 2a

The financial reference amount of € 95 million proposed
by the Council for the implementation of this Regulation
for the period up to 31 December 2004 seems to be
inadequate and should be reviewed in the light of the
objectives set in Article 1. The annual appropriations
shall be approved by the relevant budgetary authority
within the limits of the Financial Perspective.

(Amendment 18)
Article 3, 2nd indent

= any operations to contribute to the reconciliation of the

two Cypriot communities.

= any operations to contribute to a resumption of reconci-
liation efforts between the two Cypriot communities.

(Amendment 19)
Article 5

Where an essential element for the continuation of pre-acces-
sion assistance to Cyprus and Malta is lacking,
in particular
where there is a violation of democratic principles, the rule of
law, human rights, fundamental freedoms or international law
and/or progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria
is insufficient, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a
proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate steps
with regard to any pre-accession assistance granted to Cyprus
or Malta.

Where an essential element for the continuation of pre-acces-
sion assistance to Cyprus and Malta is lacking,
in particular
where there is a violation of democratic principles, the rule of
law, human rights, fundamental freedoms or international law
and/or progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria
is insufficient, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a
proposal
from the Commission, and after consulting the
European Parliament, may take appropriate steps with regard
to any pre-accession assistance granted to either of these
countries.

(Amendment 20)
Article 7

A management committee shall be established (hereinafter referred to
as ‘the Committee’).

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory
committee composed of the representatives of the Mem-
ber States and chaired by the Commission (‘the Commit-
tee’).

Where reference is made to this article, the advisory procedure laid
down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

The Committee shall act in accordance with the pro-

2.
cedure laid down in Article 3 of Decision 1999/468/EC.

The period provided for in Article 4 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall
be three months.

3.
The Committee may consider any other matters
relating to the implementation of this Regulation which
are submitted to its chairman.

(Amendment 21)
Article 10

Three years after this Regulation enters into force, the Commi-
ssion shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council
an overall assessment of operations financed by the Commun-
ity under this Regulation, together with suggestions regarding
the future of this Regulation and, where necessary, proposals
for amending it.

Three years after this Regulation enters into force, the Commi-
ssion shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council
an overall assessment of operations financed by the Commun-
ity under this Regulation, together with suggestions regarding
the future of this Regulation and, where necessary, proposals
amending it. The Commission shall also submit
for

C 339/236

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.11.2000

Thursday 17 February 2000

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

annually, in good time, the necessary budgetary and finan-
cial information to enable the legislature and the budget-
ary authority to assess and justify the financial interven-
tion of the Community in order to ensure the smooth
attainment of the political aim so that this accession pro-
cess may prove successful, adequate and transparent.

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the imple-
mentation of operations in the framework of the pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta
(COM(1999) 535 & C5-0308/1999 & 1999/0199(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

= having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(1999) 535),

= having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 308 of the EC Treaty (C5-0308/1999),

= having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

= having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security

and Defence Policy and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A5-0029/2000),

1.

Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the

2.
EC Treaty;

Calls for the conciliation procedure to be initiated should the Council intend to depart from the text

3.
approved by Parliament;

Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Com-

4.
mission proposal;

5.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

3. Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure *

A5-0013/2000

Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 3605/93 on the application of the
Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty establishing the European
Community (COM(1999) 444 & C5-0174/1999 & 1999/0196(CNS))

The proposal was approved.