3. European Parliament resolution on the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the ECSC Consultative Committee, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Expiry of the ECSC Treaty: Financial activities after 2002 (COM(2000) 518 - C5-0204/2001 — 2001/2095(COS))
Date: 2001-10-02
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Community budget, ECSC Treaty, ECSC operating budget, research expenditure (EU)

C 87 E/48

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11.4.2002

Tuesday 2 October 2001

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 10
Recital 5

(5) This Decision respects
and
observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter
of Fundamental Rights of the European Union as general prin-
ciples of Community law,

fundamental

rights

the

the fundamental rights and
(5) This Decision respects all
observes all
the principles recognised in particular by the
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union as gen-
eral principles of Community law,

Amendment 11
Article 1

The multiannual financial guidelines for managing the assets of
the ‘ECSC in liquidation’ and, after the liquidation, the ‘Assets
of the Coal and Steel Research Fund’, hereinafter called ‘finan-
cial guidelines’, are set out in the Annex.

The multiannual financial guidelines for managing the assets of
the ‘ECSC in liquidation’ and, after the liquidation, the ‘Assets
of the Coal and Steel Research Fund’, hereinafter called ‘finan-
cial guidelines’, shall be adopted under the co-decision pro-
cedure, in accordance with Article 251 of the EC Treaty. The
multiannual guidelines are set out in the Annex.

Amendment 12
Article 2

If need be, the financial guidelines shall be reviewed or supple-
mented every five years, commencing from 1 January 2008.
To this end, and at the latest in the first semester of the last
year of each five-year period, the Commission shall reassess
the operation and effectiveness of the financial guidelines and
shall propose any appropriate amendments.

The Commission shall clarify the role of the Coal and Steel
Expert Group in the financial management of the Fund so
that it complies with the principles of commitology.

If need be, the financial guidelines shall be reviewed or supple-
mented every two years, commencing from 1 January 2004.
To this end, the Commission shall reassess the operation and
effectiveness of the financial guidelines and shall propose any
appropriate amendments.

If it sees fit, the Commission may carry out such reassessment
and shall propose any appropriate amendments before the
expiry of the five-year period.

If it sees fit, the Commission may carry out such reassessment
and shall propose any appropriate amendments before the end
of the financial year.

3.
European Parliament resolution on the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the
European Parliament, the ECSC Consultative Committee, the Economic and Social Committee and
the Committee of the Regions on the Expiry of the ECSC Treaty: Financial activities after 2002
(COM(2000) 518 ) C5-0204/2001 ) 2001/2095(COS))

The European Parliament,

. having regard to the Commission’s communication (COM(2000) 518 . C5-0204/2001),

. having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 272, 275

and 276 thereof,

. having regard to the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Commun-

ities, and in particular Article 4 (3) thereof,

. having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament,
the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary pro-
cedure (1), and in particular Article 10 thereof,

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.

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. having regard to the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty of Nice, on the financial consequences of the

expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel,

. having regard to the Commission’s amended proposal for a Council decision establishing the measures
necessary for the implementation of the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty of Nice, on the financial
consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel
(COM(2001) 121 . C5-0165/2001 . 2001/0061(CNS)) (1),

. having regard to the Commission’s amended proposal for a Council decision laying down multiannual
financial guidelines for managing the assets of the ‘ECSC in liquidation’ and, on completion of the
liquidation, the ‘Assets of the Coal and Steel Research Fund’ (COM(2001) 121 . C5-0166/2001 .
2000/0363(CNS)) (2),

. having regard to its resolutions of 21 April 1994 on the future of the ECSC Treaty (3) and of 15 Nov-

ember 1996 on the incorporation of the ECSC into the budget of the European Union (4),

. having regard to its resolution of 26 October 2000 on the draft ECSC operating budget for 2001

(COM(2000) 360 . C5-0340/2000 . 2000/2060(BUD)) (5),

. having regard to Rule 47(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

. having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets and the opinion of the Committee on

Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (A5-0303/2001),

A. whereas the ECSC Treaty will expire on 23 July 2002,

B. whereas the Protocol annexed to the Nice Treaty transfers the ECSC assets to the European Commun-

ity and allocates the net worth of these assets to research in the coal and steel sectors,

C. whereas the Commission has presented legislative proposals to establish the rules for implementing
the Nice Protocol and the decision-making procedures for adopting the multiannual financial guide-
lines for managing the assets of the Coal and Steel Research Fund as well as the multiannual technical
guidelines for the research programme of this Fund,

D. whereas the visibility and transparency of the activities concerned would require that the European
Parliament as one arm of the budgetary authority is fully involved in the financial management of the
Coal and Steel Research Fund,

E. whereas the restructuring of the coal and steel industries has not been completed and these sectors

continue to lose jobs,

F. whereas the expiry of the ECSC Treaty will leave a gap in the different forms of aid provided to the

regions concerned,

Takes note of the Commission’s proposals but considers that they would leave the European Parlia-
1.
ment virtually no say on any of the decisions to be taken on the guidelines of the future Coal and Steel
Research Fund despite the fact that its administrative expenditure would have to be met from the general
budget; wonders how the Parliament as one arm of the budgetary authority could approve this additional
expenditure and give discharge to the Fund if it does not have any influence on the implementation of its
activities; stresses that it cannot accept such a passive role, which is contradictory to present-day require-
ments of transparency and accountability; considers that the legislative acts laying down the multiannual
financial and technical guidelines of the Coal and Steel Research Fund should be brought under the co-
decision procedure, whereby the Parliament would decide on these guidelines on equal terms with the
Council;

(1) OJ C 180 E, 26.6.2001, p. 4.
(2) OJ C 180 E, 26.6.2001, p. 10.
(3) OJ C 128, 9.5.1994, p. 368.
(4) OJ C 362, 2.12.1996, p. 327.
(5) OJ C 197, 12.7.2001, p. 351.

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2.
Points out that Article 4 (3) of the Financial Regulation requires prior authorisation from the Parlia-
ment and the Council before the Commission can accept donations that involve financial charges to the
general budget; warns that the Parliament is prepared to reject this donation unless the multiannual guide-
lines of the Coal and Steel Research Fund are brought under co-decision;

Requests the full budgetisation of the annual interests of the Coal and Steel Research Fund as pre-
3.
allocated revenue,
including administrative costs of coal and steel research; proposes the creation of a
specific budget line in the revenue and expenditure side of the budget following the principles of budget-
ary specificity and neutrality; considers that these arrangements would be in line with the provisions of the
Interinstitutional Agreement and the Financial Regulation;

4.
Emphasises that the Parliament as one arm of the budgetary authority should have the right to decide
with the Council on the financial guidelines which concern the management of ECSC assets; considers that
the Commission’s proposal to delegate the financial management of ECSC assets to the Treasury Manage-
ment Committee is in contradiction with Article 272 of the EC Treaty;

Urges the Commission to clarify the role of the Coal and Steel Expert Group in the financial manage-

5.
ment of the Fund so that it would comply with the principles of commitology (1);

Notes that the coal and steel sectors still employ an estimated 280 000 people in the Community,
6.
and that the importance of these sectors will increase as a result of enlargement; points out that the expiry
of the ECSC Treaty will mean a dramatic drop compared to the current level of support provided to these
two industries through the ECSC operating budget; considers that an integrated approach would require
that all aspects of the coal and steel sectors (social, economic and environment) are taken into account and
incorporated into the general budget once the ECSC Treaty comes to an end;

7.
Considers that the inclusion of these activities in the general budget will require increased appropri-
ations in the corresponding headings; points out that according to the joint statement on financial pro-
gramming approved on 20 July 2000, the budgetary authority must have accurate information about the
financial consequences of each new proposal presented by the Commission; calls on the Commission to
present a financial assessment of the post-ECSC activities being phased into the general budget as they may
have an impact on the margin under the ceiling of each heading of the financial perspective; stresses the
need for further consultation of the budgetary authority should significant changes be made during the
renewal of programmes financed under the general budget; believes this to be the only way to ensure that
these changes are compatible with the current ceilings of the financial perspective;

8.
Proposes the inclusion of an enlargement clause which would enable the ratio of funds available for
coal and steel research to be reconsidered in order to take into account the impact of enlargement; sug-
gests that acceding countries should contribute to the assets of the Coal and Steel Research Fund as they
will be the main beneficiaries of post-ECSC activities and of the modernisation and restructuring pro-
grammes financed by the Community;

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the legislative texts

9.
approved by Parliament;

10.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.