Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty)
Date: 2003-04-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, births, developing countries, development aid, health care, health policy, population policy, proposal (EU)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 3.4.2003
COM(2003) 168 final

2002/0052 (COD)

Amended proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

On aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in
developing countries

(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty)

2002/0052 (COD)

Amended proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

On aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in
developing countries

1.

BACKGROUND

Transmission  of  the  Proposal  to  the  Council  and  the  European
Parliament (COM (2002) 120 final 2002/0052 (COD)) in accordance
with Article 179 (1) of the EC Treaty

7 March 2002

Opinion by European Parliament – first reading

13 February 2003

2.

OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL

This  Proposal  for  a  regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  aims  to  replace
Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1484/97  on  aid  for  population  programmes  and  policies  in
developing  countries,  which  expired  on  31  December  2002.  This  proposal  reinforces  the
Cairo  Programme  of  Action  adopted  at  the  International  Conference  on  Population  and
Development (ICPD) whilst at the same time aims to increase and accelerate efforts in light of
achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Proposal supports the Cairo Programme of Action by giving all couples and individuals
the  basic  right  and  opportunity  to  fully  protect  their  reproductive  and  sexual  health,  in
particular against unsafe abortion, HIV/AIDS and existing harmful practices, such as Female
genital Mutilation (FGM). It aims to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates, which are
disproportionately  high  in  developing  countries,  in  particular  amongst  the  poorest  girls  and
women.  It  aims  to  give  people  the  right  to  decide  freely  and  responsibly  the  number  and
spacing of their children and to have the information, education and means to do so.

Compared to the previous regulation, the financial framework for the implementation of this
Regulation  reflects  the  considerable  increase  needed  to  scale  up  resources  for  reproductive
and  sexual  health  and  rights  in  developing  countries.  Community  Policy  on  enhanced  co-
operation  within  the  EC,  and  between  EC  and  other  donors  and  international  institutions,
including the United Nations will be taken into account. Use will be made of the possibility to
create new innovative partnerships, and to contribute, where appropriate and duly justified, to
regional or global initiatives.

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3.

COMMISSION  OPINION  ON  THE  AMENDMENTS  ADOPTED  BY  THE
PARLIAMENT

3.1.

Amendments accepted by the Commission

The Commission accepted all the amendments adopted by the Parliament at first reading apart
from the financial framework in view of the fact that in most cases they strengthen and clarify
the text of the regulation without altering the main objectives. In other cases, the amendments
update references made in the Commission proposal and these are welcome.

Concerning the financial framework  of the Regulation, the European Parliament  adopted an
increased  financial  envelope  of  €73.95  million  for  the  period  2003-2006,  compared  to
€60 million proposed by the Commission. The Co mmission’s recent Annual Policy Strategy
(APS) decision (COM (2003) 83 final) defined its 2004 priorities and contributed to prepare
the  programming  of  the  Financial  Perspectives  for  2005-2006.  The  financial  framework
adopted by the European Parliament for this regulation can be accommodated within Heading
4 of the Financial perspectives and, in particular, within the increased envelope foreseen  for
ABB Policy Area Development.

The Commission can therefore accept in its entirety Parliament's position at first reading.

3.2.

Amended proposal

Having regard to Article 250 (2), of the EC Treaty, the Commission modifies its proposal as
indicated above.

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