Report from the Commission on the working of committees in 2002 (COM(2003) 530 final)
Date: 2003-09-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Commission, activity report, comitology, committee (EU)

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

on the working of committees in 2002

(COM(2003) 530 final)

(2003/C 223 E/02)

1. PRELIMINARY COMMENTS

This report covers the activities of comitology committees in
2002. It follows the basic structure of the two previous reports
and contains an introductory Section 1, a horizontal overview
of committee activities in Section 2 and an Annex with detailed
regarding the individual comitology committees,
statistics
organised according to the different areas covered by the
services of the Commission. Compared to previous years, this
report significantly improves the transparency of the statistics
in the Annex by listing all committees individually together
with textual comment on the activities of the committees.

1.1. The

legal nature

and role of

the

comitology

committees

The purpose of the comitology committees is to assist the
Commission in exercising the implementing powers conferred
i.e. the Council and the European
upon it by the legislator,
Parliament. The comitology committees share three essential
features.

Firstly, they are created by the legislator (the Council and the
in accordance with the ‘legislative’
European Parliament)
procedures in force at
the basic
instrument under which they are established, namely the coop-
eration or advisory procedures and, since the Maastricht Treaty,
the codecision procedure. Hence, the legal basis of the comi-
tology committees is enshrined in a so-called ‘basic instrument’.

the time of adoption of

their

respects

in several

Secondly,
structure and working
methods are standardised. A representative of the Commission
chairs each committee, which consists of Member State
representatives; these are the only ‘members’ of the committees.
The committees intervene under the procedures set out in the
basic legislative instrument, in compliance with the Council's
comitology decision.

Article 9 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC (1) repeals the old
comitology Decision 87/373/EEC of 13 July 1987 (the 1987
Comitology Decision) (2). The 1987 procedures
remained
temporarily in force until the amendment of the basic legis-
lative instruments in line with the comitology procedures
pursuant to Decision 1999/468/EC. This has been achieved
either by individual amendment acts or the ‘alignment regula-
tions’ (see Section 1.2).

Thirdly, the committees deliver opinions on draft implementing
measures submitted to them by the Commission pursuant to
the basic legislative instrument and intervene under
the
advisory procedure, the management procedure or the regu-
latory procedure provided for that purpose.

(Article 2(a)). The

Pursuant to Article 2 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC, the
management procedure should be reserved for management
measures such as those relating to the application of
the
common agricultural and common fisheries policy or to the
implementation of programmes with substantial budgetary
implications
is
prescribed in the case of measures of general scope designed
to apply essential provisions of basic instruments,
including
measures concerning the protection of the health or safety of
humans, animals or plants and in updating the ‘technical’
elements of a basic instrument (Article 2 (b)). The advisory
procedure is applied wherever it is considered to be the most
appropriate.

regulatory procedure

1.2. The state of implementation of Decision 1999/468/EC

In Declaration No. 2 on the implementation of Council
Decision 1999/468/EC (3), the Council and the Commission
agreed to adapt as soon as possible the provisions governing
the committees assisting the Commission in the exercise of its
implementing powers under Decision 87/373/EEC. This would
bring them into line with the provisions of Articles 3 to 6 of
in compliance with the appropriate
Decision 1999/468/EC,
legislative procedures.

Since the entry into force of Decision 1999/468/EC,
the
committee procedures of a number of basic instruments have
been updated on a case-by-case basis. In order to complete the
update, at
the end of 2001 the Commission presented a
package of four separate proposals (the so-called ‘alignment
regulations’) (4), covering more than 300 basic instruments
laying down implementing procedures. The four proposals
for Council and Parliament Regulations correspond to the
different
legislative procedures (assent procedure, codecision
procedure and consultation procedure with qualified majority
and unanimity). It is worth noting that the proposals do not
affect the substantive provisions of the amended legislative acts
nor do they affect the safeguard procedures or the identity of
the committees provided for by the basic legal acts.

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(2) OJ L 197, 18.7.1987, p. 33.

(3) OJ C 203, 17.7.1999, p. 1.
(4) Proposals COM(2001) 789 final, adopted on 27.12.2001.

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The ‘alignment regulations’ were under examination by the
Council and the European Parliament throughout 2002. By
the time this report was adopted (July 2003) three of the
four regulations had been adopted and had entered into force
without any need for transposition by the Member States (5).

is that Article 7 of Decision
An important new element
and Commission statements
and Council
1999/468/EC,
relating to that provision (notably statements Nos. 4 and 5),
put in place measures designed to improve the transparency of the
working of the comitology committees.

In this respect, publication of this annual report on the working of
the committees, as provided for in Article 7(4),
is in itself a
significant contribution to shedding light on the Commission's
activities in terms of exercising its implementing powers.

Also in compliance with Article 7(4), the Commission has
the committees which help it exercise
published a list of all
these implementing powers (6). This list will be updated and
published again in the course of 2003. On 31 January 2001, in
compliance with Article 7(1),
the Commission adopted the
standard rules of procedure (7) on the basis of which existing or
newly-created committees draw up their rules of procedure.
The Commission intends to adopt an updated version of the
standard rules of procedure by the end of 2003 and to bring
them into line with the new rules on access to documents (see
below). By the end of 2002 89 out of
the total of 257
committees had adopted internal rules of procedure based on
the standard text in force.

sent

to the European Parliament under

Finally, Article 7(5) of Decision 1999/468/EC provides that the
Commission has to publish a register giving the references of all
documents
comitology
procedures. The register will be in operation by the end of
2003. As noted in its statement No 5 on Council Decision
1999/468/EC, the Commission intends, as an additional trans-
parency measure, to widen the scope of the register by adding
a repository, making documents communicated to the European
Parliament available to the public in accordance with Regu-
the
lation (EC) No 1049/2001 of
Council
institutions'
regarding
documents (8), which came into effect on 3 December 2001 (9).

the Parliament and of
the

public

access

to

(5) Council regulations (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1)
and No 807/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36) of 14 April 2003
relating to
adapting to Decision 1999/468/EC the provisions
committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of
its
implementing powers laid down in Council
instruments adopted
in accordance with the consultation procedure (qualified majority/
unanimity) and Council Regulation (EC) No 1105/2003 of 26 May
2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 laying down
general provisions on the Structural Funds (OJ L 158, 27.6.2003,
p. 3).

(6) OJ C 225, 8.8.2000, p. 2.
(7) OJ C 38, 6.2.2001, p. 3. Following a number of amendments to be
approved by the Commission and linguistic review, the standard
rules of procedure will be published afresh in the Official Journal.

(8) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43.
(9) The next report will include an evaluation of the impact of Regu-

lation No 1049/2001, which was adopted during 2001.

1.3. The European Parliament's right of scrutiny

The Commission is obliged to inform the European Parliament
about the work of the committees and to send it all draft
instrument
implementing measures pursuant
the
adopted under Article 251 of
European Parliament
scrutiny
enshrined in Article 8 of Decision 1999/468/EC.

the Treaty,
its

can exercise

to a basic

right of

so that

the

European Parliament

the
In February 2000,
Commission concluded
for
designed
implementing
specifically to regulate the procedures for implementing the
obligations incumbent on the Commission (10).

and
procedures

Council Decision

an Agreement

1999/468/EC,

on

The agreement provides for the electronic transmission of
implemented progressively
documents, a task which was
from the various Commission
during 2001. Documents
departments are first transmitted to the Secretariat-General of
the Commission, which promptly dispatches them to a central
service at
the European Parliament. Today practically all
documents are transmitted electronically.

Except in emergencies, the agreement stipulates a period of one
implementing
month from receipt of a ‘definitive’ draft
measure (11) under a legal act adopted through codecision to
allow the European Parliament, where appropriate, to adopt a
resolution (in plenary session), pursuant to Article 8 of Council
Decision 1999/468/EC, if it considers that the draft exceeds the
implementing powers enshrined in the basic instrument (12). It
should be noted that again during 2002 no cases were reported
the need to adopt a
where the European Parliament
resolution
of Council Decision
on Article
1999/468/EC.

felt
8

based

The bilateral agreement of February 2000 was implemented by
a further administrative agreement by the Secretariats-General of
the European Parliament and the Commission, dated 14
December 2001. This administrative agreement is intended to
the
ensure a harmonised approach by the departments of
Commission so that all
the Commission obligations under
the bilateral agreement of February 2000 are properly fulfilled.
In particular, it provides for minimum standards with regard to
the types of documents and their structure.

(10) OJ L 256, 10.10.2000, p. 19. The agreement nullifies certain
earlier agreements:
the
Samland/Williamson Agreement of 1996 and the ‘modus vivendi’
of 1994.

the Plumb/Delors Agreement of 1988,

(11) The drafts are first sent before the committee meeting and, if they
are substantially modified during the meeting, are sent again
afterwards.

(12) This basic instrument must itself have been adopted under the
the Treaty) between the

codecision procedure (Article 251 of
Council and the European Parliament.

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1.4. Referrals to the Council

Seven cases of referrals to the Council were reported in 2002.
Pursuant
to Council Decision 1999/468/EC, draft measures
must be referred to the Council when the Commission fails
regulatory
to obtain the necessary majority under
procedure or faces an opposing vote under the management
procedure. The seven referrals occurred in different policy
sectors. Two cases concerned Agriculture (see Annex, point
3), two cases Transport policy (see Annex, point 4), one case
Environment
(see Annex, point 5), one case Health and
Consumer Protection (see Annex, point 13) and one case
Trade policy (see Annex, point 16).

the

As in previous years, the small percentage of referrals, about
0,25 %, of the total number of instruments adopted by the
Commission (under the management or regulatory procedure)
shows that the work of the committees under the current
system results in a high degree of consensus and that the
proposals
are normally
approved by the committees.

by Commission representatives

1.5. Wider developments

the regulatory committee procedure would apply to
Thus,
executive measures of general scope concerning the substance
of the basic act (measures designed to widely implement the
essential aspects of
the basic instruments or adapt certain
aspects of it). The proposal is currently under examination in
the Council; the European Parliament is expected to adopt its
resolution in September 2003.

In its draft Constitutional Treaty the Convention on the Future of
Europe proposed to the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)
that the executive powers of the Commission should be reor-
ganised (17). The Convention's draft introduces the instrument
of ‘delegated’ regulations to be adopted by the Commission in
order to supplement or amend certain ‘non-essential’ elements
of European laws under the control of the Parliament and the
Council, which can revoke the delegation itself or object to a
specific draft regulation; a distinction should be made between
these delegated regulations and implementing acts that
the
Commission will adopt under the supervision of the Member
States.

the

conditions

under which

In the White Paper on Governance (13), the Commission proposed
re-examining
adopts
implementing measures
and the need to maintain the
existing committee procedures, in particular the management
and regulatory procedures (14). The Commission announced its
intention to launch initiatives aimed at amending Article 202
of the Treaty with a view to putting the Council and the
European Parliament on an equal footing ‘in supervising the
way in which the Commission exercises its executive role’ (15).

it

A concrete Commission proposal
for reorganising the comitology
framework within the
existing Treaty was presented in
December 2002 (16). In essence the proposal provides for a
for some executive measures in
revised regulatory procedure
the codecision procedure
respect of acts adopted under
(Article 251 of the Treaty). This new procedure would be
divided into an ‘executive phase’,
to allow the comitology
committees to deliver their opinions and a subsequent ‘super-
visory phase’, where the European Parliament and the Council
are placed on an equal footing in supervising the Commission's
exercise of
implies an
implementing powers. The proposal
adjustment of the scope of application of current committee
procedures under acts adopted under the codecision procedure.
In this context, it is proposed to apply the advisory procedure
for certain administrative measures, where the management
procedure is currently used (notably financial aid programmes).

(13) COM(2001) 428 final.
(14) See the White Paper, p. 36.
(15) Idem.
(16) Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 1999/468/EC
laying down the procedures for the exercise of
implementing
powers conferred on the Commission (COM(2002) 719 final,
adopted 11.12.2002).

implementing

Preparations for the enlargement of the European Union include
the participation of representatives of the ten acceding States
and remaining candidate countries as observers in comitology
committees. When concluding the accession negotiations at the
Copenhagen Summit of December 2002, the Member States
and the ten acceding States agreed to establish an information
and consultation procedure for the interim period (running
until the accession date of 1 May 2004), to be supplemented
by an active observer status for acceding States in most EU
institutions and bodies as from the day following the signature
of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003 (18). Both Council
and Commission adopted each for their area of responsibility
certain internal
the
Commission arrangements, acceding States have been granted
an ‘active observer status’ insofar, as representatives of acceding
States should in principle be invited to all meetings of comi-
tology committees and of many working groups chaired by the
Commission (19). They have a possibility to express their views
on the issues discussed in the meetings, but do not have the
right
implementing
measures. For the remaining three candidate countries, partici-
pation continues
the
‘Communication from the Commission to the Council on the
Community
participation
programmes, agencies and committees’ (20). In 2002, though
before active observer status applied to the ten acceding
countries, the then candidate countries were represented in
approximately 50 of the total of 257 committees.

to be organised on the basis of

in the voting on draft

arrangements. Under

to take part

candidate

countries

of

in

(17) Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, submitted to
the European Council meeting in Thessaloniki, 20 June 2003,
Articles I-35 and I-36 (OJ C 169, 18.7.2003).

(18) TOWARDS THE ENLARGED UNION, Strategy Paper and Report
of the European Commission on the progress towards accession by
each of the candidate countries (9.10.2002), COM(2002) 700 final,
see point 3.3 (p. 25).

(19) Commission decision C(2003) 341 of 25.2.2003 (not published).
(20) COM(1999) 710 final, adopted 20.12.1999.

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2. HORIZONTAL OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

2.1. Number of committees and types of procedures

In evaluating the activities of committees as a whole, the first
step is to identify the number of comitology committees in
existence on a specific date. Here it is important to make a
distinction between the comitology committees and other

by

‘expert

created

groups’

in particular

involved in the
report

the
entities,
Commission itself, the latter being concerned with preparing
and carrying out policies, whereas the comitology committees
context of
are
implementing legislative
focuses exclusively on comitology
decisions. This
comitology committees has been
committees. The number of
calculated by
I), updated to
activity
31.12.2002. The figures for the previous year (status as at
31.12.2001) are given for comparison.

sector of

(Table

Table I

Total number of committees

Directorate General

2001

2002

Enterprise (ENTR)

Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)

Agriculture (AGRI)

Transport/Energy/Trans-European Networks (TREN)

Environment (ENV)

Research (RTD)

Information Society (INFSO)

Fisheries (FISH)

Internal Market (MARKT)

Regional Policy (REGIO)

Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD)

Education and Culture (EAC)

Health and Consumer Protection (SANCO)

Justice and Home Affairs (JAI)

External Relations (RELEX)

Trade (TRADE)

Enlargement (ELARG)

EuropeAid (AIDCO)

Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)

Statistics (ESTAT)

Budget (BUDG)

Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

31

7

29

39

36

7 (*)

10

3

10

2

9

6

22

5

2

11

2

8

1

6

1

1

31

8

29

39

35

9

13

3

11

2

9

6

22

7

2

12

2

8

1

6

1

1

(*) Technical adaptation in relation to previous year; no actual increase of the number of committees.

Total

248

257

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These figures show the focus of activities in the different policy
sectors from the comitology perspective. Transport/Energy
(39), Environment (35), Enterprise (31), Agriculture (29), and
Health and Consumer Protection (22) have the largest number
of committees. With 156 out of a total of 257 committees,
these policy sectors alone account for more than half of the
committees. The Commission is continuing its efforts to limit
the growth in the number of committees as far as possible.
However, the increase in the number of committees at the end
of 2002, compared with 2001, is a result of the creation of
new committees in some policy areas with increased activities
(in particular
Information
in the sectors of Environment,
society and Home and Justice Affairs).

the different variants

in accordance with the
Section 1.2),
IIIa and IIIb) are
1987 comitology procedures (IIa and IIb,
counted together with the
corresponding new types of
procedure as prescribed in Declaration No 2 on the implemen-
tation of Council Decision 1999/468/EC (21).

Since certain committees have multiple functions (i.e. they use
different procedures ranging from the advisory procedure to
the regulatory procedure, plus the safeguard procedure), they
have been singled out from the other committees to provide a
true picture of the procedures applicable.

The comitology committees can be classified according to type
of procedure under which they operate (advisory procedure,
management procedure, regulatory procedure, and safeguard
procedure — see Table II). For the year 2002, i.e. before the
(see above
entry into force of

the ‘alignment regulations’

(21) OJ C 203, 17.7.1999, p. 1. This means: Variant I together with the
advisory procedure, variants
IIa and IIb together with the
management procedure and variants IIIa and IIIb together with
the regulatory procedure.

Table II

Number of committees by procedure (2002)

Type of procedure

Advisory (*)

Management (*)

Regulatory (*)

Safeguard

Committees
operating under
more then one
procedure

9

1

—

4

3

—

1

—

1

—

1

—

8

1

1

1

4

—

22

9

6

8

3

2

4

1

5

1

—

—

—

2

16

3

4

20

26

—

4

—

6

—

3

—

9

1

—

2

—

—

—

1

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2

2

4

3

5

—

1

5

1

—

1

—

5

5

5

1

5

ENTR

EMPL

AGRI

TREN

ENV

RTD

INFSO

FISH

MARKT

REGIO

TAXUD

EAC

SANCO

JAI

RELEX

TRADE

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Type of procedure

Advisory (*)

Management (*)

Regulatory (*)

Safeguard

Committees
operating under
more then one
procedure

ELARG

AIDCO (incl. DEV)

ECHO

ESTAT

BUDG

OLAF

Total

—

—

—

—

1

—

32

1

6

—

4

—

—

78

—

2

—

—

—

1

97

1

—

—

—

—

—

4

(*) Including, respectively, procedures I, II and III in accordance with Council Decision 87/373/EEC.

—

—

1

2

—

—

46

exclusively under

The figures indicate that a relative majority of the committees
(97 out of 257) work exclusively under
the regulatory
followed by a considerably smaller number of
procedure,
committees working
the management
procedure (78). The breakdown by policy sector shows that
the use of the three types of procedures varies from policy
sector
the policy
sectors a clear dominance of one of the procedure types can
be noted: Environment and Transport/Energy work with a large
number of committees
the regulatory
procedure, whereas Agriculture works with a large number
of committees functioning under the management procedure.

to policy sector. However

functioning under

in some of

2.2. Number (and days) of meetings

The number of committees is not the only indicator of activity
at comitology level. The number of meetings held in 2002
reflects the intensity of each committee's work (Table III).

Table III

Number of meetings

2001

2002

MARKT

REGIO

TAXUD

EAC

SANCO

JAI

RELEX

TRADE

ELARG

AIDCO

ECHO

ESTAT

BUDG

OLAF

2001

2002

17

16

116

24

122

8

2

29

6

45

10

17

5

2

9

12

106

19

109

28

1

37

7

40

10

15

5

1

ENTR

EMPL

AGRI

TREN

ENV

RTD

INFSO

FISH

43

8

365

41

52

26

30

23

44

17

352

23

49

46

36

22

Agriculture leads the field (with 352 meetings), since managing
the different agricultural markets requires frequent meetings. It
is followed by Health and Consumer (with 109 meetings)
which is responsible among other things for food safety and
Taxation and Customs Union (with 106 meetings), where the
focus
involving trade with third
countries.

is on customs matters

A further indicator, particularly as regards the allocation of
funds, is the number of days taken up by the meetings (Table
IV). Meetings normally take half a day, hence the decimals.

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Table IV

Number of days

2001

41,5

8

302

46

66,5

26

30,5

15

17

22

168

30,5

164,5

8

1,5

15,5

7,5

48

10

20,5

5

2

2002

50

15,5

358

27

59

42

35

23

11

21

146,5

25

138

27

1

22,5

7,5

43

10

15

5

1

ENTR

EMPL

AGRI

TREN

ENV

RTD

INFSO

FISH

MARKT

REGIO

TAXUD

EAC

SANCO

JAI

RELEX

TRADE

ELARG

AIDCO

ECHO

ESTAT

BUDG

OLAF

The figures in Table IV broadly correspond to those of the
preceding table: a large number of meetings means a large
number of meeting days. This shows that meetings do not
normally last more than one day, or two half-days on two
consecutive days.

2.3. Number of opinions and instruments

reports used the number of

Earlier
the
Commission puts on a committee's agenda as a key indicator
of the intensity of activity. This report presents overall figures
on the formal opinions delivered by the committees (22) and
the subsequent instruments (i.e. implementing measures = legal

consultations

(22) Including favourable, unfavourable and no opinions, following a
formal voting in case of regulatory and management procedures

acts, administrative decisions) adopted by the Commission,
since they describe the concrete ‘output’ of the committees
more accurately.
(Table V). The total number of opinions
delivered by the committees in 2002 was 3 610; the number
of instruments adopted by the Commission counted 3 077.

Table V

Number of opinions and instruments (2002)

ENTR

EMPL

AGRI

TREN

ENV

RTD

INFSO

FISH

MARKT

REGIO

TAXUD

EAC

SANCO

JAI

RELEX

TRADE

ELARG

AIDCO

ECHO

ESTAT

BUDG

OLAF

Opinions

Instruments

642

10

601

5

1 455

1 455

40

98

19

48

175

175

56

18

4

49

59

100

465

20

1

57

66

50

17

3

2

54

54

244

10

1

51

66

180

167

96

19

—

—

36

19

—

—

The large number of instruments in certain policy sectors —
Agriculture (1455), Enterprise (601), and Health and Consumer
Protection (244) — again reflect the intensity of the work
delegated to the Commission in these areas via the comitology
procedures (23).

(23) However, it has to be noted that the sheer number of instruments
adopted as such does not qualify the political economic or
financial
importance of the decisions taken. A high number of
instruments may reflect an intense work on projects or decisions
with administrative character.

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3. PRESENTATION OF ACTIVITIES BY SECTORAL POLICY

A sector snapshot of
the activities of committees should
include the figures for all the committees in a sector. In this
report and in all reports in the future, all
the individual
the responsibility of each Directorate-
committees under
General, whether active or not, will be presented together
significantly
with their
relevant data. This approach will
improve the transparency of the sector policy activities.
In
comments are given highlighting some
addition,
important aspects of the work in the reporting year.

textual

The following explanations should enable the reader to better
understand the statistical data:

Opinions delivered by the committees may be of various kinds:
they may concern draft legislative acts (directives, regulations),
decisions designed to regulate a specific legal situation or to
approve financial projects in the context of any of the many
Community programmes, or just position statements (which
explains why the total number of favourable opinions may
be greater
instruments
adopted in a specific sector).

total number of

than the

legal

Consequently, the instruments adopted by the Commission are
listed according to these categories.

the

adopts

the rule is that

implementing measures

the
In the event of a favourable opinion,
Commission
(the
instruments); under the management procedure it may also
adopt an instrument in the absence of an opinion. Only if
there is an unfavourable opinion is the decision referred to the
Council as ‘an appeal body’, which then has the power to
decide
regulatory
to the Council). Under
procedure a draft instrument is subject — even in case of
absence of an opinion — of a formal proposal
to the
Council, which decides with qualified majority.

(referrals

the

A further source of difference between the total number of
favourable opinions delivered by committees and the number
of instruments adopted by the Commission in a given sector
occurs when opinions were delivered in 2001 but
the
instruments only adopted the following year, or opinions
were adopted at
the end of 2002 and instruments only
adopted in 2003.

In certain cases committees are required to deliver opinions on
dossiers which will not be the subject of a draft instrument
some time later. Hence there may be considerable
until
discrepancies between the total number of opinions and the
number of instruments adopted by the Commission.

C 223 E/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

This Annex provides an overview of ‘comitology’ activities during 2002 with a breakdown by sector. For each sector the
list of all existing committees (whether they have been active in 2002 or not) with their relevant data is reported

ANNEX

1. ENTERPRISE

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Management Committee for
the
fourth multiannual programme for
small and medium-sized enterprises
in
Union
(2001-2005) (SMEs)

European

the

the
Committee for execution of
research,
specific programme for
technological
and
demonstration on promotion of
innovation and encouragement of
SME participation (1999-2002)

development

Committee on implementation of
projects, actions and measures to
trans-
ensure
interoperability of
European networks
telematic
data interchange between adminis-
trations (IDA II-TAC)

for

Committee on the harmonisation
of
the provisions relating to the
placing on the market and super-
vision of explosives for civil uses
(EXPLOSIVES)

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation on
the removal of technical barriers to
trade
(CATP-
FERTILISERS)

fertilisers

in

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation on
the removal of technical barriers to
trade
(CATP-
DETERGENTS)

detergents

in

Committee on directives relating to
textile names and labelling

Committee for harmonisation of
national
to
cableway installations designed to
carry persons

regulations

relating

Committee for the harmonisation
of national
legislation relating to
recreational craft

2

2

Management

7

7

Management

9

8

1

0

0

0

2

1

0

0

6

6

Management

9

0

0

2

0

1

1

Management

0

0

Regulatory

0

0

Regulatory

0

1

0

0

1

Regulatory

Advisory

0

Advisory

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

19.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/25

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Management Committee on hori-
zontal questions concerning trade
in processed agricultural products
not listed in Annex I

Standing Committee on medicinal
products for human use

Standing Committee on veterinary
medicinal products

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of the directives
on the removal of technical barriers
to trade in colouring matters which
may
to medicinal
be
products

added

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of the directives
on the removal of technical barriers
in cosmetic products
to trade
(CATP/COSM)

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation on
the removal of technical barriers to
trade in motor vehicles and their
trailers

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation on
the removal of technical barriers to
trade in agricultural and forestry
tractors

Advisory Committee on standard-
isation in the field of information
technology (SOGITS)

the
Committee
Advisory
approximation of the laws of the
Member
to
machinery

relating

States

on

the
Committee
Standing
approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to lifts

on

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation to
remove technical barriers to trade
in lifting and mechanical handling
devices

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation to
remove technical barriers to trade
in
and
equipment

construction

plant

11

11

Management

16

0

0

0

0

0

0

Regulatory

524

Regulatory

Regulatory

38

0

3

3

Regulatory

2

6

6

Regulatory

15

0

0

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Advisory

Advisory

Advisory

Advisory

0

0

Advisory

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

16

525

38

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

on

Standing
the
Committee
approximation of the laws of the
Member
concerning
equipment and protective systems
intended for use
in potentially
explosive atmospheres (EXAT)

States

1

1

Advisory

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation to
remove technical barriers to trade
in electric materials used in an
explosive atmosphere (CATP/EXAT)

0

0

Regulatory

Telecommunications
Assessment
Surveillance Committee (TCAM)

Conformity
Market

and

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation to
remove technical barriers to trade
in pressure vessels

Standing
the
Committee
approximation of the laws of the
Member
concerning
States
pressure equipment

on

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation to
remove technical barriers to trade
(CATP/
aerosol
in
AEROSOLS)

dispensers

Advisory
the
Committee
approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to medical
devices

on

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation to
remove technical barriers to trade
in electro-medical equipment used
in human or veterinary medicine

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation to
remove technical barriers to trade
in measuring instruments

Standing Committee on approxi-
mation of
relating to
the laws
construction products

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

8

Several:
Advisory,
Regulatory

0

Regulatory

0

Advisory

0

Regulatory

0

Several:
Advisory,
Regulatory

0

Regulatory

0

Regulatory

4

Regulatory

0

0

6

0

0

0

1

0

0

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

6

0

0

0

1

0

0

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/27

Among the 31 committees in this policy sector, 11 committees met in 2002. However, a significant number of the 642
opinions adopted in 2002 were approved by written procedure, which did not involve any meetings. Compared with
345 opinions in 2001, the number of opinions has increased within one year by almost one hundred per cent. One of
the main contributors to the increase is the Standing committee on medicinal products for human use. Since 1995, when the
committee was created, the number of opinions has increased steadily. This is due to a permanently increasing number
of authorisations and variations to these authorisations granted under new procedures. However, 2001 was a year of
relatively weak activity, so the figures for 2002 seem to be very high, although they follow the general trend of recent
years.

In 2002, the Commission services continued its approach towards enhanced openness and transparency in this policy
sector by inviting different stakeholders to the committee meetings as experts and/or observers. A questionnaire sent to
the secretaries of the committees revealed that consumer organisations attend most of the committees dealing with
products that are of interest to consumers. An example is the Committee on the adaptation to technical progress of the
directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the cosmetic products sector.

As regards individual files with institutional
importance, the measures taken by the Committee on the adaptation to
technical progress in the cosmetic products sector are worth mentioning. The Directive 76/768/EEC concerning cosmetic
products provided in its article 4, point 1 (i) the ban of marketing cosmetic products containing ingredients or
combinations of ingredients tested on animals after 30 June 2000. The Commission Directive 2000/41/EC of 19
June 2000 prolongated this deadline to 30 June 2002. In September 2002, the Commission proposed a directive to
postpone retroactively this deadline of June 2002. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the 24 September
2002 by which it ‘calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft decision on implementation measures’. As the
European Parliament and the Council have adopted on the 27 February 2003 the Directive 2003/15/EC which solve
the question of testing on animals, there was no more need to use the Comitology procedure to adopt an implementing
measure.

2. EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Employment Incentive Measures

of

Committee
the Community
action programme to encourage
cooperation
between Member
States to combat social exclusion

Committee
Action
discrimination

of
Programme

the Community
combat

to

Committee for the technical adap-
tation of legislation on the intro-
duction of measures to encourage
improvements
in the safety and
health of workers at work

Committee for the technical adap-
tation
the
legislation
of
health
minimum safety
requirements
improved
medical treatment on board vessels

and

for

on

3

4

3

0

1,5

Several:
Advisory,
Management

4

3

0

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Regulatory

0

0

Regulatory

1

1

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/28

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Restricted Committee
for Safety
and Health in the Mining and
Other Extractive Industries

Disability
Committee
Advisory
(established within framework of
the European Year of People with
Disabilities)

Committee for the implementation
of the Programme relating to the
Community
strategy
on gender equality

framework

0

5

2

0

5

Regulatory

Advisory

2

Several

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

In 2002, 2 new committees, both created in 2001, started working in this policy sector:

The Committee for a Community action programme to encourage cooperation between Member States to combat social exclusion,
created by Decision 50/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 December 2001 establishing a
programme of Community action to encourage cooperation between Member States to combat social exclusion (OJ L
10 of 12.1.2002, p. 1), and the Disability Advisory Committee (established within the framework of the European Year of
People with Disabilities), created by Council Decision 2001/903/EC of 3 December 2001 on the European Year of
People with Disabilities 2003 (OJ L 335 of 19.12.2001, p. 15).

Against that, the Committee on exceptional financial support in favour of Greece in the social field was abolished.

The increase of the number of meetings (17 in 2002 compared to 8 in the previous year) is mainly due to the beginning
of the work of the two new committees mentioned above.

3. AGRICULTURE

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Standing Committee
cultural Research (SCAR)

on Agri-

Community Committee on the
Farm Accountancy Data Network
(FADN)

Committee on the protection of
geographical indications and desig-
nations of origin for agricultural
products and foodstuffs (OAP)

on

Committee
specific character
products and foodstuffs

certificates
of
for agricultural

Standing Committee on Organic
Farming

1

3

3

1

7

1

3

3

1

7

Management

Management

Regulatory

Regulatory

Regulatory

0

2

0

0

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

2

1

0

7

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/29

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Management Committee for cereals

Management Committee for dried
fodder

Management Committee for sugar

Management Committee for oils
and fats

45

1

49

17

45

Management

608

1

Management

1

49

17

Management

Management

172

21

Management Committee for
and hemp

flax

6

6

Management

7

Management Committee for milk
and milk products

23

23

Management

135

Management Committee for beef
and veal

21

21

Management

Management
sheepmeat and goatmeat

Committee

for

2

2

Management

Management
pigmeat

Committee

for

14

14

Management

Management
poultrymeat and eggs

Committee

for

13

13

Management

Management Committee for fruit
and vegetables

14

14

Management

Management
for
products processed from fruit and
vegetables

Committee

12

12

Management

71

7

18

76

43

20

Management Committee for wines

27

32

Management

35

Implementation
spirit drinks

Committee

for

Implementation
Committee
aromatised wine-based drinks

on

Management Committee for
tobacco

raw

Management Committee for hops

Management Committee for seeds

Management Committee for
plants and floriculture products

live

Management
bananas

Committee

for

3

1

9

5

3

2

6

Committee
Agricultural
on
Structures and Rural Development
(STAR Committee)

13

13

3

1

Several:
Advisory,
Regulatory

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

10

Management

5

3

2

6

Management

Management

Management

Management

Several:
Advisory,
Management

1

1

9

3

1

1

11

62

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

46

654

0

3

12

0

1

175

33

7

14

149

2

0

5

0

9

1

4

0

0

0

1

0

1

1

0

73

7

23

76

52

21

39

1

1

9

4

1

2

12

62

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Standing Forestry Committee (SFC)

Committee on the conservation,
and
characterisation,
utilisation of genetic resources in
agriculture

collection

6

1

6

1

Regulatory

Management

European Agricultural Guidance
and Guarantee Fund Committee

14

14

Management

Joint meetings of management
committees

30

30

Management

4

0

16

23

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

16

23

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

In 2002, DG AGRI's 29 committees and its joint committees delivered 1 354 favourable opinions and 101 ‘no
opinions’. Two of these ‘no opinions’ were given in the framework of a regulatory committee and were therefore
referred to the Council. These two referrals, along with 45 other proposals relating to rural development, have been
forwarded to the European Parliament for information. The 1 455 drafts have been adopted by the Commission.

One of the two referrals to the Council is reported for the Regulatory Committee for protection of geographical indications and
designations of origin. This Committee has not delivered an opinion on a draft regulation on the registration of ‘Feta’ as a
designation of origin. As the Council has not adopted or voted against the implementation measures proposed within
the period of three months, these measures have been adopted by the Commission (1).

The other referral to the Council relates to the Standing Committee on Organic Farming. This Committee has not delivered
an opinion on the draft regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic
production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs. As the
Council has not adopted or voted against the implementation measures proposed within the period of three months,
these measures have been adopted by the Commission (2).

4. TRANSPORT/ENERGY/TRANS-EUROPEAN NETWORKS

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Ten-Energy
Committee

Financial Assistance

TEN-Energy Guidelines Committee

Ten-Transport Financial Assistance
Committee

multiannual

Committee for implementation of
framework
the
actions
programme
in the
(1998-2002) —
energy
sector
promotion of
energy
renewable
sources (‘ALTENER’)

for

1

0

2

3

1

0

2

Regulatory

Regulatory

Regulatory

3,5

Management

1

0

2

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1829/2002 of 14 October 2002 amending the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 with regard to

the name ‘Feta’ (OJ L 277, 15.10.2002, p. 10).

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 599/2003 of 1 April 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of

agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ L 85, 2.4.2003, p. 15).

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/31

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee for harmonisation of
national measures on the indication
by labelling and standard product
the consumption
information of
of energy and other resources by
household appliances

3

3

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

3

3,5

Management

3

0

0

4

0

multiannual

Committee for implementation of
framework
the
actions
programme
in the
(1998-2002) —
sector
energy
rational
of
efficient
and
energy resources (SAVE)

use

for

Community/Switzerland Transport
Committee (rail and road)

Committee on tachograph (CATP)

Transport infrastructure charging

Ecopoints Management Committee

on

Committee
under

the
Advisory
conditions
which
non-resident carriers may operate
national road passenger transport
services within a Member State
(cabotage)

Committee on adaptation of
the
legislation concerning
reciprocal
recognition
boat-
the
certificates
masters'
carriage of goods and passengers
by inland waterway

national

for

of

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

3

0

Regulatory

Regulatory

Advisory

Management

Several:
Advisory,
Safeguard

0

0

Several:
Advisory,
Management,
Regulatory

Committee on the transport of
dangerous goods

Developing
Committee

European

Railways

Committee on driving licences

Committee for the establishment of
conditions for the interoperability
of
the trans-European high-speed
rail system

Technical Adaptation Committee
on Roadworthiness Testing

2

1

1

3

1

2

1

1

5

2

Regulatory

Several:
Advisory,
Regulatory

Regulatory

Regulatory

Several:
Advisory,
Regulatory

15

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

1

0

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

7

1

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

overseeing

Committee
the
conditions governing imports of
agricultural products originating in
the
third
accident at the Chernobyl nuclear
power station

following

countries

multiannual

Committee for implementation of
framework
the
actions
programme
in the
(1999-2002) —
energy
future
energy
policy (‘ETAP’)

sector
development

for

of

multiannual

Committee for implementation of
framework
the
programme
in the
energy sector (1999-2002) — rein-
forcement of
international coop-
eration (‘SYNERGY’)

actions

for

multiannual

Committee for implementation of
framework
the
actions
programme
in the
(1999-2002) —
energy
clean
technologies
(‘CARNOT’)

sector
solid

fuel

for

for

multiannual

Committee for implementation of
framework
the
actions
programme
in the
energy
(1999-2002) —
installations in
safety of nuclear
the countries participating in the
TACIS programme (‘SURE’)

sector

multiannual

Committee for implementation of
framework
the
actions
programme
in the
(1999-2002) —
sector
energy
rational
of
efficient
and
energy resources (‘SAVE’)

use

for

0

0

Regulatory

1

0

0

0

0

0

Management

0

0

0

0

0

0

Management

0

0

0

0

0

0

Management

0

0

0

0

0

0

Management

0

0

0

0

0

0

Management

0

0

0

0

for
of

the
Committee
Advisory
technical
the
adaptation
Community procedure to improve
the transparency of gas and elec-
tricity prices charged to industrial
end-users

Committee for the implementation
of the series of guidelines for trans-
European energy networks

Committee for harmonisation of
national measures on the indication
by labelling and standard product
information of
the consumption
of energy and other resources by
household appliances

0

0

Advisory

0

0

0

0

Regulatory

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

19.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/33

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

0

0

Several

0

0

0

0

0

0

Advisory Committee on measures
taken in the event of a crisis in
the market
carriage of
in the
laying
goods by road and for
down the conditions under which
non-resident carriers may operate
national
services
within a Member State (cabotage)

haulage

road

0

0

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

regulation

concerning

Committee for implementation of
the
the
granting of Community financial
assistance for actions of an inno-
promote
vative
combined
(PACT)
(1997-2001)

to
transport

nature

Advisory Committee on application
of
for
the legislation on access
Community air carriers to intra-
Community air routes

Committee on application of
the
legislation on harmonisation of
technical requirements and admin-
istrative procedures in the field of
civil aviation

0

0

0

Safeguard

0

Regulatory

0

0

Regulatory

Committee on application of
legislation concerning
nition and use of
technical
procurement
management
systems

specifications
of
air
equipment

the
the defi-
compatible
the
traffic
and

for

Committee on application of
the
legislation on access to the ground-
handling market
at Community
airports

Advisory Committee on unfair
pricing
in maritime
transport

practices

the
Committee on application of
legislation
tonnage
on
measurement of ballast spaces in
segregated ballast oil tankers (SBT)

Committee on application of
the
the minimum
on
legislation
requirements for vessels bound for
or leaving Community ports and
carrying dangerous or polluting
goods

0

0

0

0

0

Advisory

0

Advisory

0

Regulatory

0

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/34

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee for the application of
legislation on the transfer of ships
from one register to another within
the Community

Committee on application of
the
legislation on ship inspection and
the
and
survey
relevant
of maritime
administrations

organisations
activities

the
Committee on application of
legislation on the minimum level
training for seafarers and the
of
recognition of certificates
issued
by training institutes or adminis-
trations of third countries (STCW)

0

0

0

Regulatory

0

Regulatory

0

0

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Committee for implementation of
framework
the
in the
actions
programme
energy sector (1999-2002)

multiannual

for

0

0

Management

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Only a few of the committees working in the policy sector Transport, Energy and Transeuropean Networks held
meetings in 2002. The following committees dealt with cases which are particularly worth reporting because of
their importance for the sector:

The Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods was consulted on the adaptation to technical progress Directives
94/55/EC and 96/49/EC on transport of dangerous goods by road and rail and Directive 1999/36/EC on transportable
pressure equipment and the adoption of certain national derogations to the requirements of Directives 94/55/EC and
96/49/EC. The deferral of the date of application of Directives 94/55/EC and 96/49/EC for certain types of transportable
pressure equipment and the security aspects of the transport of dangerous goods was set in force by two Commission
Decisions (3), after ‘no opinions’ were reached in the Committee and the submission of the files to the Council.

The Committee on driving licences discussed the future revision of Annex III on mental and physical fitness to drive a
vehicle and the necessary adaptation to technical progress of the definition of (semi)-automatic gearboxes. The Committee
on the conventional rail system interoperability discussed and adopted the guidelines for writing technical specifications for
interoperability (TSIs) according to the provisions of Directive 2001/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 19 March 2001 on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system (4). A second mandate
was given to the AEIF for the development of conventional rail TSIs on safety in tunnels, accessibility for people with
reduced mobility and air pollution. The relevant TSIs are expected for 2005. The Committee also discussed and
approved the representative architecture of the conventional rail system and developed formal methodology and
system engineering tools, as provided for by Article 23(3b) of the Directive. This architecture ensures the completeness
and compatibility of the TSIs, as well as a safety assessment of the specifications.

The Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives on Roadworthiness Tests for Motor Vehicles and their
Trailers came into being through the adoption of Council Directive 91/225/EEC that adapted the original framework
Council Directive 77/143/EEC. The Committee is both legislative and advisory. The Committee's terms of reference now
include adaptation to Council Directive 99/37/EC on the Registration Document for Vehicles. Since the Committee's
inception it has approved eight Commission Directives that have adapted to technical progress the Council Directive on
regular roadworthiness testing (consolidated Directive 96/96/EC) and the Council and Parliament Directive on roadside
inspections (Directive 2000/30/EC).

(3) Commission Decision of 7 November 2002 amending Council Directive 94/49/EC as regards the time-limits within which pressure
drums, cylinder racks and tanks for the transport of dangerous goods by road must comply with it (2002/885/EC, OJ L 308,
9.11.2002, p. 44) and Commission Decision of 7 November 2002 amending Council Directive 94/55/EC as regards the time-limits
within which pressure drums, cylinder racks and tanks for the transport of dangerous goods by rail must comply with it
(2002/886/EC, OJ L 308, 9.11.2002, p. 45).

(4) OJ L 110, 20.4.2001, p. 1.

19.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/35

5. ENVIRONMENT

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

2

0

5

0

1

1

1

Committee
instrument
(LIFE)

on

for

the

the

financial
environment

overseeing

Committee
the
conditions governing imports of
agricultural products originating in
third
the
accident at the Chernobyl nuclear
power station

following

countries

Committee for
implementing the
Community action programme in
the field of civil protection (CPC)
(2000-2004)

implementing the
Committee for
directive
a
Community policy regarding water

establishing

Committee for the adaptation to
technical and scientific progress of
the directive on the quality of
water
human
consumption

intended

for

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of the directive
on the quality of bathing water

Committee for the adaptation to
and technical progress
scientific
and
the
directive on urban waste water
treatment

implementation

of

implementation

Committee for the adaptation to
and technical progress
scientific
and
the
directive on protection of waters
against
by
nitrates from agricultural sources

pollution

caused

of

2

0

Management

Regulatory

1

0

7

Management

26

0

1

1

1

Regulatory

Management

Regulatory

Regulatory

2

2

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

Committee

for
Management
application of the directive on the
standardisation and rationalisation
of reports on the implementation
of certain directives relating to the
environment

1

2

Management

1

Committee for the adaptation to
scientific and technical progress of
the directive on conservation of
wild birds (ORNIS)

Committee on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora (HABITAT)

1

2

1

Regulatory

2

Regulatory

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/36

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee for the protection of
species of wild fauna and flora by
regulating trade therein

Advisory Committee for implemen-
tation of the directive relating to a
reduction in the sulphur content of
certain liquid fuels

Committee on implementing legis-
lation on ambient
quality
assessment and management

air

Committee for the application of
the directive relating to the avail-
information
ability of consumer
CO2
economy
on
and
fuel
the
in
emissions
marketing of new passenger cars

respect

of

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of the directive
on the control of volatile organic
compound
resulting
emissions
from the storage of petrol and its
distribution
to
service stations (VOC)

from terminals

on

Committee
the monitoring
mechanism of Community CO2
and other greenhouse gas emissions

Committee

Management
monitor
consumption of
substances
deplete the ozone layer (SDO)

production

to
and
that

the
Committee for application of
voluntary
regulation authorising
in
participation by undertakings
the
a
in
Community eco-management and
audit scheme (EMAS)

industrial

sector

2

2

1

2

2

Regulatory

2

Advisory

1

Regulatory

2

Regulatory

2

2

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

2

2

4

Regulatory

11

4

Management

16

2

4

Regulatory

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

4

0

0

0

0

Standing Committee for implemen-
the directive on the
tation of
accidental
control
hazards
dangerous
substances

of major
involving

2

4

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

19.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/37

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee for the adaptation to
and technical progress
scientific
and
the
directive on the incineration of
hazardous waste

implementation

of

directive

Committee for implementation of
the
integrated
pollution prevention and control
(IPPC)

on

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress and implemen-
the directive on the
tation of
contained
genetically
use
modified micro-organisms

of

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress and implemen-
the directive on the
tation of
into
release
deliberate
the
environment
genetically
of
modified organisms

Standing Committee for implemen-
tation of the directive concerning
the placing of biocidal products
on the market

Advisory Committee for implemen-
tation of the directive on the limi-
tation of
volatile
organic compounds due to the
use of organic solvents in certain
activities and installations

emissions of

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress and implemen-
tation of
the regulation on the
evaluation and control of the risks
of existing substances

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress of legislation to
remove technical barriers to trade
in dangerous substances and prep-
arations

Committee for the adaptation to
and technical progress
scientific
and
the
directives on waste

implementation

of

Committee for implementation of
the directive on packaging and
packaging waste

Committee for the adaptation to
technical progress and application
of the Community award scheme
for an eco-label (ECO-LABEL)

0

0

Regulatory

1

0

1

Regulatory

0

Regulatory

2

2

Regulatory

1

1

1

Regulatory

1

Advisory

0

0

Regulatory

1

1

Regulatory

4

2

4

4

Regulatory

Regulatory

2

2

Regulatory

10

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

4

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

4

2

0

14

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/38

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee for the approximation
of the laws of the Member States
relating to noise emission in the
environment by equipment for use
outdoors

Committee on Marine Pollution

Committee for the approximation
of the laws of the Member States
relating to measures against
the
emission of gaseous and particulate
pollutants
internal
from
combustion engines to be installed
in non-road mobile machinery

Committee for the implementation
of the Community framework for
cooperation to promote sustainable
urban development (2001-2004)

0

0

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

2

0

Management

10

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

10

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

Advisory

1

0

0

1

0

0

In the Environment sector the Committee for the implementation of the Community framework for cooperation to promote
sustainable urban development, created by legislation in 2001 (Decision No 1411/2001/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council of 27 June 2001 on a Community Framework for cooperation to promote sustainable urban devel-
opment OJ L 191, 13.7.2001, p. 1) was set up in 2002 and met for the first time. In this respect, Decision No
1411/2001/EC lays down that, between 2001 and 2004, the Commission will publish every year a call for proposals in
order to finance networks of local authorities active in the field of sustainable urban development. The committee,
working under the advisory procedure, is called to give its opinion on the list of projects selected each year by the
Commission for financing. The total budget available for the four years is EUR 14 million.

The Committee for the Adaptation to Scientific and Technical Progress of Directive 75/442/EEC on waste delivered a ‘no
opinion’ on the draft Commission Decision establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste in landfills.
The file was referred to the Council, which adopted a final Decision on 16 December 2002 (Council Decision
2003/33/EC, establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills, OJ L 11, 16.1.2003, p. 27).
The criteria and procedures will reinforce the protection measures laid down in Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of
waste, in order to reduce as far as possible negative impacts on the environment and human health from landfilling.

The Bathing Water Committee, created under the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC), has assisted the Commission in
the revision of the Directive, which resulted into the Commission proposal for a new Bathing Water Quality Directive
(COM(2002) 581 final), currently going through the first reading in the Parliament. It is a good example of how a
committee can offer field experience. It is expected that the Committee will meet again once the Council and the
Parliament adopt the proposal, in order to discuss the transition between the old and new directive. This will be done
until the directive 76/160/EEC will be repealed (3 years after entry into force of the proposed directive).

The Noise Committee (Committee for the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to noise emission in
the environment by equipment for use outdoors) will in future also work according to Directive 2002/49/EC related to
the assessment and management of environmental noise. The ‘Non-road mobile machinery Committee’ (Committee for the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate
pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery) is currently run by the
services of Directorate General for Enterprise; thus the data only refer to initiatives driven by the services of Directorate
General for Environment. The competence on the impact of the Chernobyl aftermath has been transferred to Directorate
General for Transport/Energy in 2002. Consequently, the ‘Chernobyl Committee’ (Committee overseeing the conditions
governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear
power station) will not be chaired any longer by the services of Directorate General for Environment.

19.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/39

6. RESEARCH

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

0

0

Management

0

0

0

0

0

0

Committee on the arrangements
for application of the rules for the
participation
undertakings,
of
research centres and universities
of
and
research results for the implemen-
fifth framework
tation of
programme
European
Community (1999-2002)

dissemination

the
of

the

the

for

Committee for execution of
specific programme for
technological
demonstration on quality of
and management
resources (1999-2002)

the
research,
and
life
living

development

of

2

2

Management

49

0

0

49

0

the
Committee for execution of
research,
specific programme for
technological
and
demonstration on competitive and
sustainable growth (1999-2002)

development

5

4,5

Management

11

0

0

11

0

3

3

Management

28

0

0

28

0

the
Committee for execution of
research,
specific programme for
and
technological
energy,
demonstration
environment and sustainable devel-
opment
—
environment and sustainable devel-
opment

development
on

(1999-2002)

the
Committee for execution of
research,
specific programme for
and
technological
energy,
demonstration
environment and sustainable devel-
opment (1999-2002) — energy

development
on

3

3

Management

37

0

0

37

0

1

1

Management

26

0

0

26

0

4

4

Management

22

0

0

22

0

Committee for execution of
specific
‘Confirming
role
(1999-2002)

programme
the
Community

the
entitled
international
research’

of

the
Committee for execution of
research,
specific programme for
and
technological
demonstration on improving the
human research potential and the
socio-economic
base
(1999-2002)

development

knowledge

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee for the execution of the
research,
specific programme for
and
technological
and
demonstration:
Strengthening
European
Research Area’ (2002-2006)

development
‘Integrating
the

22

18,5

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

Committee for the execution of the
research,
specific programme for
and
technological
demonstration:
the
European
Area’
(2002-2006)

development
‘Structuring

Research

6

6

Management

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

2002 was the last year of operation for the committees working under the various Specific programmes and the rules
for participation and dissemination for the Fifth Framework Programme for research, technological development and
demonstration. These committees have efficiently continued and concluded their business, maintaining, as in previous
years, the good spirit of collaboration between the Commission and the representatives of the States who sat on them.
Their role in the smooth implementation of the Fifth Framework Programme is greatly appreciated.

The last few months of 2002 saw the work of the two committees under the Specific Programmes for the Sixth
technological development and demonstration commence (5). These new
Framework Programme for
committees have been consulted quickly and effectively on the first work programme for each Specific Programme.
Their support for the Commission's proposals made the timely launch of the new Framework Programme easier.

research,

7. INFORMATION SOCIETY

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee for implementation of a
multiannual
to
stimulate the establishment of the
Information Society
Europe
(PROMISE) (1998-2002)

programme

in

Electronic Signatures Committee

the
Committee
Advisory
implementation of open telecom-
munications
provision
(ONP)

network

on

2

2

Regulatory

1

4

1

4

Management

Several

2

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

(5) The programme committee for the execution of the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration:
‘Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area’ (2002-2006), which is set up by Council 2002/834/EC, published in OJ L
294, 29.10.2002, p. 1, as management and regulatory committee and the programme committee for the execution of the specific
programme for research, technological development and demonstration:
(2002-2006),
which is set up by Council 2002/835/EC, published in OJ L 294, 29.10.2002, p. 44, as management committee.

‘Structuring the European Research Area’

19.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/41

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee for application of
legislation on general
ations and individual
the
services (GAIL)

the
authoris-
licences in
telecommunications

field of

Advisory Committee for Telecom-
munications Equipment (ACTE)

Advisory
information
(SOG-IS)

Committee
systems

on
security

Communications Committee —
framework directive 2002/21/EC
(COCOM)

Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC)
— Decision No
676/2002/EC
(RSC)

Committee for the implementation
of
the multiannual Community
programme to stimulate the devel-
opment and use of European digital
content on the global networks and
to promote linguistic diversity in
the information society (eContent)

Committee on the multiannual
on
action
Community
promoting safe use of the Internet
(1999-2002)

plan

the

Committee for the implementation
for
of
trans-European energy networks
(TEN-TELECOM)

series of guidelines

TEN Financial Regulation Com-
(Regulation no 2236/95)
mittee

the
Committee for execution of
research,
specific programme of
and
technological
demonstration on a user-friendly
information society (1999-2002)

development

3

3

Several

0

0

4

2

4

2

2

1

0

0

4

2

4

Advisory

Several

Several

Several

Management

2

Regulatory

2

Regulatory

1

Regulatory

2

0

0

2

0

5

3

2

1

11

10

Management

37

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

4

3

2

0

37

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Two new committees stemming from the new regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and
services which came into force on 24 April 2002 started work in 2002. These two new committees carry out their
tasks in accordance with the consultation and regulatory procedures laid down by Council Decision No 1999/468/EC.

C 223 E/42

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

The first is the Communications Committee (COCOM — framework directive 2002/21/EC), which replaces the ONP
Committee (provision of an open telecommunications network) and the GAIL (general authorisations and individual
licences) committee assists the Commission in its executive powers in the areas covered by the new regulatory
framework and Regulation No 733/2002 on the implementation of the eu Top Level Domain. The Committee also
offers a platform for exchanging information on market development and regulatory activities.

The second is the Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC — Decision No 676/2002/EC), which assists the Commission in
developing and adopting technical implementation measures to harmonise the conditions of availability and efficient use
of the radio spectrum, and to ensure availability of information on utilisation of the radio spectrum.

During the last year of operations under the fifth framework programme, the IST (Information Society Technologies)
Programme Committee examined over 650 shared cost proposals, concerted actions, support measures, specific measures
aimed at SMEs, etc. These operations consolidated support for the development of key technologies for the competi-
tiveness of European industry and enabled the people of Europe to gain access to more information society services,
resulting in a major impact in areas such as health, transport, education and training.

In preparation for the sixth framework programme (2003-2006), the programme of work for 2003-2004 was drafted
(and adopted) in close conjunction with the authorities in the Member States (with the participation of the associated
countries) and the research community, applying the guidelines suggested by the IST Advisory Group (ISTAG).

8. FISHERIES

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Management
Fisheries Products (MCFP)

Committee

for

Management Committee for
the
Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector
(MCFAS)

Committee for
Aquaculture Sector (CFAS)

the Fisheries and

7

8

7

4

Management

12

Management

7

Several:
Advisory,
Management

7

10

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

7

10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

The following committees dealt with cases which are particularly worth reporting because of their importance for the
sector:

The Management Committee for Fisheries Products focused its work on the common organisation of the fisheries and
aquaculture products markets in the wake of the reform of 2001. Mention should be made of Commission Regulation
(EC) No 2306/2002 on the notification of the prices of imported fishery products.

With regard to current management activities priority went to implementation of the common organisation of the
markets in the Member States. In particular, given the high political sensitivity of this issue in several Member States,
seven interpretative notes on Commission Regulation (EC) No 2065/2001 on information to consumers were drafted
and discussed in detail.

Following a proposal from the Commission, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2346/2002 fixing for the 2003
fishing year the guide prices and Community producer prices. The Commission on this basis adopted six implementing
regulations relating to the prices needed for the operation of the intervention mechanism: Regulations (EC) No
2349/2002, No 2350/2002, No 2351/2002, No 2352/2002, No 2353/2002 and No 2354/2002.

The Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA) was informed of the arrangements for ex-post and mid-term
evaluation of the FIFG programmes, of the communication of irregularities in the implementation of the Structural
Funds and of the closure of programmes for the period 1994-1999, the closure of the operational programmes and
single programming documents and the N+2 rule on the decommitment of unused appropriations, of the implemen-
tation of the MAGP IV and the associated assistance schemes, of the EC proposals on simplification of Structural Fund
management, of the results of the call for ‘innovative actions’ proposals and of the Communication on further indicative
guidelines for the applicant countries (Structural and Cohesion Funds).

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/43

9. INTERNAL MARKET

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Advisory Committee on Public
Procurement (ACPC)

Banking
(BAC)

Advisory

Committee

Insurance Committee

on

Committees
conformity with the
product
products
countries

imported

safety in the

checks

for
rules on
case of
from third

the
Committee for application of
legislation
common
concerning
rules for the development of the
internal market of Community
postal
the
improvement of quality of service

services

and

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Advisory

Regulatory

Regulatory

Management

1

1

Regulatory

Committee of Senior Officials on
Public Health (CSOPH)

Committee on the second general
recognition of
system for
professional education and training

the

Committee on the protection of
individuals with regard to the
processing of personal data and
on the free movement of such data

Committee on fees, implementation
rules and the procedure of
the
boards of appeal of the Office for
Harmonisation
Internal
in
Market (trade marks and designs)

the

Accounting Regulatory Committee

UCITS Contact Committee

0

0

1

7

0

0

0

0

Management

Management

1

Management

9

Regulatory

0

0

Regulatory

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Most of the committees in these areas share the task of implementing legislation with advisory activities outside the
‘comitology’ structure. Important work was carried out in 2002 by the Banking Advisory Committee in the areas of capital
adequacy and international accounting standards.
the Insurance Committee held extensive
discussions on the prudential rules applicable to reinsurance companies, the legislative proposals covering financial
conglomerates and ‘environmental’ accountability. Lastly, in the area of public procurement, the advisory committee
exchanged views on legislative work in progress to amend the existing directives, and on international negotiations to
amend the Government Procurement Agreement — GPA).

In the insurance field,

C 223 E/44

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

In 2002 in the area of financial services a new committee, the Accounting Regulatory Committee, has been set up and the
UCITS Contact Committee (6) was charged with a comitology (regulatory) procedure by Directive 2001/108/EC (7). Activity in this
sector should develop strongly over the coming years with the implementation of the ‘Lamfalussy’ arrangements and the
financial services action programme.

Important opinions delivered in 2002 by the committees managed by DG MARKT include, notably, the opinion on a
draft measure setting out the implementation arrangements and charges concerning the implementation of Regulation
(EC) No 6/2002 on Community designs.

Similarly, with regard to the protection of personal data, a favourable opinion was delivered by the Committee for the
protection of personal data on a proposal for a decision stating that Argentina ensures ‘an adequate level of protection’ in
accordance with Article 25 of Directive 95/46/EC.

10. REGIONAL POLICY

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee on the Development
and
Regions
(CDRR)

Reconversion

of

Committee on the regulation estab-
lishing an Instrument for Structural
Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA)

10

18

Several:
Advisory,
Management

2

2

3

Management

46

1

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

The following committees dealt with cases which are particularly worth reporting because of their importance for the
sector:

In addition,

The Committee on the Development and Conversion of the Regions (CDCR) acts as a management committee when dealing
with rules implementing the Structural Funds Regulation No 1260/1999 and as a consultative committee with other
points.
it acts as a forum for information on and discussion of any specific points relating to the
implementation of the Structural Funds, in particular the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 2002 was
marked in particular by the discussions of the Commission proposals for simplification, clarification, coordination and
flexible management of the structural policies. For the proposed modification of the implementing regulations on
eligibility, a vote by written procedure within the CDCR became necessary because of the widely-divergent views of
the Member States. The results of these discussions have shaped the Communication from the Commission on simplifi-
cation, adopted by the Commission on 25 April 2003.

The ISPA Committee gave a favourable opinion on the draft guidelines for final reports on ISPA measures as well as on a
proposal to strengthen the provisions of Annex III.4 of the Financing Memoranda regarding financial management and
control and irregularities. In addition, the Commission reported on its activities under the ISPA ‘Technical Assistance
action programme 2001’ and on the operational modalities for the transition from ISPA to the Cohesion Fund.

(6) Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities
(7) Directive 2001/108/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 January 2002 amending Council Directive 85/611/EEC
on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in trans-
ferable securities (UCITS), with regard to investments of UCITS (OJ L 41, 13.2.2002, p. 35).

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/45

11. TAXATION AND CUSTOMS UNION

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

3

5

0

5

3

2

0

9

9

0

6

3

4

2

Customs Code
general legislation

Committee —

Customs Code
customs valuation

Committee —

Customs Code
Committee —
customs warehouses and free zones

Customs Code
customs
economic impact

Committee —
with

procedures

Customs Code
counterfeit and pirated goods

Committee —

Customs Code Committee — single
administrative document

Customs Code
Committee —
movement of air or sea passengers'
baggage (technical problems)

Customs Code
transit

Committee —

Customs Code Committee — origin

Customs Code
duty-free arrangements

Committee —

Customs Code Committee — tariff
and statistical nomenclature —
Agriculture and chemicale

Customs Code Committee — tariff
and statistical nomenclature —
Textiles

Customs Code Committee — tariff
and statistical nomenclature —
Mechanical appliances

Customs Code Committee — tariff
and statistical nomenclature — BTI

Customs Code Committee — tariff
and statistical nomenclature —
HS-NC-TARIC

3

7

0

5

3

4

0

9

Regulatory

Regulatory

Regulatory

Regulatory

Management

Regulatory

Regulatory

Regulatory

13,5

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

0

Regulatory

1

1

0

3

0

0

0

2

9

0

13

Regulatory

15

6

8

3

Regulatory

Regulatory

Management

12

23

Management

8

4

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

3

0

0

0

2

7

0

16

8

4

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/46

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Customs Code
economic tariff questions

Committee —

11

13

Customs Code
Committee —
favourable tariff treatment (nature
or end-use of goods)

Committee on economic outward
processing arrangements for textiles

Committee on the
return of cultural goods

export

and

Committee for implementation of
the action programme for customs
in the Community (Customs 2002)
(1996-2002)

Committee for monitoring trade in
substances used
illicit
drugs
of
manufacture
or psychotropic substances
(pre-
cursors)

for
the
narcotic

Committee on the movement of air
or sea passengers' baggage (prin-
ciples)

Committee for mutual assistance
on recovery of claims (assistance)

Committee on excise duties

3

0

1

2

4

0

3

9

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

Regulatory

Regulatory

Advisory

Management

3

0

1

2

4

Management

0

3

Regulatory

Regulatory

12

Regulatory

11

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Standing Committee on Adminis-
trative Cooperation in the field of
indirect
the
FISCALIS
(SCAC)
(1998-2002)

programme

including

taxation,

10

11

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

In 2002, the nine committees working in the Taxation and Customs sector have delivered 58 favorable opinions and
one ‘no opinion’.

The following committees dealt with cases which are particularly worth reporting because of their importance for the
sector:

The ‘Customs 2002’ programme managed by the Customs Committee 2002 provided amongst other things a major
computer network for processing Transit and Tariff under the ‘Customs 2002’ programme. The numerous joint actions
undertaken in 2002 benefited from a high level of participation both by the Member States and by the candidate
countries.

The work of the Committee on the export and return of cultural goods focused essentially on the draft guidelines for the
implementation of Regulation No 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods, on administrative cooperation between the
competent authorities and on a new export licence form.

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The Committee on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims delivered a favourable opinion on draft Commission Directive
2002/94/EC of 9 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Council Directive
76/308/EEC on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims relating to certain levies, duties, taxes and other measures.

The work of the Excise Committee was devoted to the study of a computerised Excise Movement and Control System
(‘EMCS’).

12. EDUCATION AND CULTURE

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

second

Committee for implementation of
the
the
Community action programme in
the field of education ‘Socrates’
(2000-2006)

phase

of

4

7

Several:
Advisory,
Management

32

third phase of

Committee for implementation of
the
trans-
European cooperation scheme for
III)
higher
(2000-2006)

education

(Tempus

the

1

1

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Committee for implementation of
laid down in the
actions
the
the Community
second phase of
vocational
action
programme
‘Leonardo da Vinci’
(2000-2006)

training

3

6

Several:
Advisory,
Management

programme

Committee for implementation of
the
a
single financing and programming
instrument for cultural cooperation
(‘Culture 2000’) (2000-2004)

establishing

programme

Committee on the Community
action
concerning
cooperation policy in the youth
European
field,
voluntary
youth
exchanges within the Community
and with third countries (YOUTH)
(2000-2006)

including
service

and

3

3

Management

2

2

Several:
Advisory,
Management

1

6

5

5

0

0

0

1

0

0

12

0

0

0

0

0

6

4

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

6

Several:
Advisory,
Management

47

1

2

28

0

0

in

the

training programme

Committee for the implementation
of
for
the
European
professionals
industry
audiovisual programme
and
to
of
development,
encourage
distribution
of
works
European
Plus)
(MEDIA-Training/Media
(2001-2005)

the
and
audiovisual

programme

promotion

the

C 223 E/48

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

The committees working in the policy sector of Education and Culture dealt with the following cases which are
particularly worth reporting because of their importance for the sector:

The Socrates Committee gave a favourable opinion on the annual political priorities defined for the programme which are
set against the background of policy discussions going on in the Council and prepared the evaluation of the programme
(national reports, interim evaluation) which will feed into the ex-ante evaluation for the new generation of programmes.

The Tempus Committee discussed the forthcoming extension of the Tempus programme to the MEDA countries. The
committee gave a favourable opinion on the MEDA Supplement to the Guide for applicants. The evaluation of Tempus
IIbis and Tempus III and the results of the 2001 selection exercise were the main information points.

The Leonardo-da-Vinci-Committee delivered formal opinions on the text of the 2003-2004 call for proposals, the statistical
programme for 2003-2004, the draft selection lists for 2002, the timetable for implementing the call for 2003-2004
(1st year of selection), the work programme for 2003 and the draft selection list for pre-proposals (pro. C).

The Committee CULTURE 2000 gave a favourable opinion on the following key issues concerning the Culture 2000
Programme: projects proposed for EU financial support from the Culture 2000 Programme under the call for Proposals
2002, approval of projects proposed for EU financial support following a special call for proposals for a European
presence in St. Petersburg in 2003, organisation of a European Heritage Prize; Budget 2002 [Part B], approval of
projects proposed for EU financial support from the Culture 2000 Programme in 2002 for the ‘European Heritage Days’,
approval of a proposal for a joint action with the Council of Europe in the field of cultural heritage for the Balkan
region.

The two politically most important dossiers examined by the Youth Committee concerned: 1) the distribution of appro-
priations and the criteria and arrangements for implementing the Community youth-related action plan for the cross-
border areas of the European Union bordering on the candidate countries, a plan designed to promote the cultural side
of the run-up to enlargement and to facilitate integration and rapprochement between the populations of the regions
concerned; and 2) policy guidelines for the implementation of the Youth programme in 2003. In addition to adminis-
trative and budgetary management arrangements for implementing the programme, the Committee set out the eight
priorities to be pursued through different actions of the programme in 2003, stemming from the guidelines established
by the Commission's White Paper ‘A new impetus for European youth’.

The MEDIA Committee, sub-committee ‘Media Plus’, has issued a favourable opinion on the modification of guidelines
(concerning Slate funding, single projects, selective support, support to the cinema network, pilot projects, festivals and
promotion in third countries). The Committee has also been informed and consulted in the selection of projects to be
funded. The subcommittee ‘Media Training’ has issued a favourable opinion concerning two calls for proposals published
in 2002. Moreover, the Committee has issued a favourable opinion on 12 training projects (of a total of 35 projects
proposed for funding), for which the community contribution exceeded EUR 200 000.

13. HEALTH AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee
emergencies

on

product

safety

general

Committee on implementation of
the
for
Community activities in favour of
consumers (1999-2003)

framework

Standing Committee on propa-
gating material
and ornamental
plants

2

1

4

2

1

3

Regulatory

Advisory

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

4

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/49

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Standing Committee on propa-
gating material and plants of fruit
genera and species

Standing Committee on seeds and
propagating material
agri-
culture, horticulture and forestry
(SCS)

for

Committee

Standing
for
Community protection of plant
variety rights

3

12

2

0

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

1

10

1

1

Regulatory

14

Standing Committee
health (SCPH)

on

plant

11

21

Regulatory

Standing Committee on Feeding-
Stuffs (SCFS)

Standing Veterinary
(SVC)

Committee

Standing Committee
technics (SCZ)

on Zoo-

Advisory Committee for the adap-
tation to technical progress of the
directive on the approximation of
the laws concerning the labelling
of tobacco products

Advisory Committee for the adap-
tation to technical progress of the
directive on the approximation of
the laws concerning the maximum
tar yield of cigarettes

Committee on the Community
action plan to combat
cancer
(1996-2000)

Committee on the Community
action plan on pollution-related
diseases (1999-2001)

Committee on the Community
action plan on the prevention of
drug dependence (1996-2000)

programme

Committee on the Community
health
on
action
promotion,
information, education
and training within the framework
for action in the field of public
health (1996-2000)

2

7

1

1

4

Regulatory

10

1

1

Several:
Advisory,
Regulatory

Regulatory

Regulatory

1

1

Regulatory

1

0

1

0

1

0

1

0

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Advisory

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Several

21

2

23

1

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

21

2

23

1

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/50

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee on the Community
action programme on health moni-
toring (1997-2001)

Committee on the Community
action
injury
prevention (1999-2003)

programme

on

programme

Committee on the Community
action
the
prevention of AIDS and certain
diseases
communicable
other
(1996-2000)

on

Committee on the decision to set
up a network for
the epidemi-
surveillance and control
ological
of communicable diseases

Committee on the Community
action programme on rare diseases
(1999-2003)

the

Committee for the implementation
action
of
programme
health
(2003-2008)

Community
public
on

Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health —
Section: ‘General food law’

Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health —
Section:
safety of
‘Toxicological
the food chain’

0

0

1

0

1

1

4

4

0

Several

0

Several

0

0

0

0

1

Several:
Advisory,
Management

28

30

0

Regulatory

1

1

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Several:
Advisory,
Management

4

Regulatory

4

Regulatory

0

0

1

3

3

Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health —
Section:
the
food chain’

‘Biological

safety of

Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health —
Section:
import
conditions’

‘Controls

and

9

14

Regulatory

12

9

14

Regulatory

58

Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health —
Section: ‘Animal nutrition’

Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health —
Section:
‘Phytopharmaceuticals —
Legislation’

9

5

11

Regulatory

9

10

Regulatory

37

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

3

3

12

0

0

37

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/51

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health —
‘Phytopharmaceuticals-
Section
Pesticide residues’

6

10

Regulatory

19

Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health —
Section:
and
animal welfare’

‘Animal

health

9

16

Several:
Advisory,
Regulatory

Regulatory Committee
quality and safety of blood

on

the

Standing Committee for Foodstuffs
(CSF)

0

0

0

0

Regulatory

Regulatory

117

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

12

117

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Two major events have marked the organisation of the Committees assisting the Commission in the fields of Food safety
and of Health protection respectively.

With the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, a number of Committees previously active in the field of
Food Safety have been replaced by a single Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH). This is a
consequence of the new overall approach in matters relating to the safety of food as outlined by the White Paper on
food law and by the newly adopted provisions of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.

Thus the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs, the Standing Committee for Feedingstuffs and the Standing Veterinary
Committee have been replaced by the new committee. Similarly, the activities of the Standing Committee on Plant
Health have been replaced by those of the new committee for matters relating to plant protection products and the
setting of maximum residue levels.

In addition, in the field of Public Health protection, a new Programme of Community action in the field of public health
for the years 2003/2008 has been adopted. A new integrated approach is envisaged to replace the seven existing
sectoral programmes, whose implementation has relied on the assistance of seven different committees. The new
Committee for the Public health programme will make use of both the management and the advisory procedures
provided for in Council decision 1999/468/EC, as a function of the matter submitted to it.

The general food law section of the SCoFCAH dealt in particular with and/or adopted favourable opinions on the following
subjects: labelling of caffeine- and quinine-containing foodstuffs, labelling of meat by products (agreement on transi-
tional arrangements) and the drawing up of the list, concentration limits and labelling requirements for the constituents
of natural mineral waters and the conditions for using ozone for the treatment of natural mineral waters and spring
waters.

The Toxicological Safety Section of the SCoFCAH discussed and/or adopted a series of favourable opinions on legislative
measures related to the establishment of maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs and in particular
aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and nitrates, the suspension of the placing on the market and import of jelly confectionery
containing the food additive E 425 konjac, plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs,
specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners, pesticides in infant formulae and follow-on
formulae and pesticides in processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children.

The new ‘Public Health Committee’, after having adopted its rules of procedure, discussed and gave favourable opinions
on the drafts of the (first) annual Work Plan for 2003 as well as the draft rules, criteria and procedures for the selection
and funding of actions under the ‘Public Health’ programme.

C 223 E/52

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

14. JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee Article 6 Visa

European Refugee Fund Advisory
Committee

ARGO Committee

Committee for the implementation
of Daphne Programme

for

Committee
Framework
Programme for civil judicial coop-
eration

the

7

2

2

3

2

8

2

2

1,5

1,5

SIS II Committee

11

11

AGIS Committee

1

1

Regulatory

Advisory

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Several:
Advisory,
Management

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

Several:
Advisory,
Management

3

2

3

5

3

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

3

0

3

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Seven committees were active in this area in 2002. Their work was to assist the Commission in drafting policies, with
focus on sensitive technical aspects of these policies (Visa committee and the committee on the development of the
second generation Schengen Information System — SIS II), and in implementing Commission-managed funding
programmes (DAPHNE, ARGO, AGIS programme committees and the committee for the framework programme on
the area of judicial cooperation in civil matters, and the European Refugee Fund Advisory Committee). The AGIS
programme committee stems from Title VI of the TEU (third pillar) and was set up by Council Decision 2002/630/JAI
of 22 July 2002, which is aligned on Council Decision 1999/468/EC.

15. EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

1

1

Advisory

0

0

0

0

0

Committee on the implementation
of projects promoting cooperation
and commercial relations between
the European Union and the indus-
North
trialised
and
America,
Australasia
(EXPROM Advisory
Committee)

countries
Far
the

of
East

Committee on protection against
the extra-territorial
the effects of
application of
legislation adopted
by a third country, and actions
based
resulting
or
thereon
therefrom (anti-boycott)

0

0

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/53

On 20 December 2002, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 implementing the Kimberley process
certification scheme for the international trade in rough diamonds (8), which creates a new committee, operating under
the management procedure.

The EXPROM Advisory Committee (9) focused on the EU Gateway to Japan export promotion campaign. Information was
given about the final results of the second campaign (1997-2001) and on the implementation mechanisms of the new
Campaign (starting in 2002). As regards the Executive Training Programme, the Commission gave an update on the
implementation of the programme in Japan and Korea. The delegations expressed their satisfaction with the Commission
initiatives.

16. TRADE

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

2

2

8

8

0

9

0

0

2

Several:
Advisory,
Safeguard

1

Management

5,5

Several

5,5

Several

0

Several

2

4

8

8

0

4,5

Regulatory

30

0

Regulatory

0

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

7

7

0

30

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

on

defence

Committee
against
obstacles to trade which affect the
market of
the Community or a
non-member country (TBR)

Management Committee on quanti-
tative import or export quotas

Advisory Committee on common
rules for imports of products orig-
inating in third countries

Advisory Committee on common
rules for imports of products orig-
inating in certain third countries

Committee on common rules for
exports of products

Textile Committee
regime)

(conventional

Committee on common rules for
textile products from
imports of
certain
countries
(autonomous regime)

third

Committee for administering the
system without
double-checking
in respect of
quantitative limits
the
steel
certain
of
export
products covered by the EC and
the ECSC Treaties
the NIS
Russian
(Ukraine,
countries
Federation and Kazakhstan) having
concluded an agreement on steel
with
Union
the
(2000-2001)

European

for

(8) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 28.
(9) According to the Commission's internal arrangements concerning the division of responsibilities within the area of external relations,
DG RELEX has contributed to the functioning of the CARDS, MEDA, ALA, Human Rights' and TACIS committees and, moreover,
presided the meetings of these committees (see point 18, AIDCO).

C 223 E/54

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee
of

on
the
Advisory
implementation
activities
relating to the Community market
access strategy

Committee on harmonisation of
the provisions concerning export
credit
transactions
with medium and long-term cover

insurance

for

Generalised System of Preferences
Committee (GSPC) (1999-2001)

2

0

6

1

Advisory

0

Management

3

Several:
Advisory,
Regulatory

0

0

4

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

1

0

0

0

The following committees dealt with cases which are particularly worth reporting because of their importance for the
sector:

The Safeguard (import regime) Committees focused on the EC safeguard proceeding on imports of steel which was launched
in response to the US safeguard tariffs applied in March 2002. The Committees were called at several stages to
pronounce on the actions proposed by the Commission,
investigative process, provisional
and definitive safeguard measures.

import surveillance,

i.e.

The TBR Committee dealt with several cases related to the exercise of the Community's rights under international trade
rules, in particular those established under the auspices of the WTO. Among the practices investigated were: lack of
indication of ‘Bordeaux and Médoc’, subsidies granted to, or otherwise
protection by Canada of the geographical
benefiting, Korean shipbuilding companies by the Republic of Korea, and US legislation on Copyright which
exempts restaurants, bars, shops or any other public venue from the obligation to obtain licences for the broadcasting
of music works.

The Generalised Preferences Committee discussed matters relating to the requests of beneficiary countries for the special
incentive schemes for environment and labour protection, gave opinions on establishing duty-free tariff quotas for sugar
and rice for the Least Developed Countries. Following an unfavourable vote in the Generalised Preferences Committee,
the draft Commission regulation on implementing Article 12 of the GSP Regulation was referred to the Council. After
discussion, a compromise was reached on the application schedule of graduation. Further, the ‘crisis clause’ (imple-
mented through an amendment to the GSP regulation) was applied in the regulation. The instrument was finally adopted
as a Council Regulation (10).

The Committee dealing with non-textile quotas from the People's Republic of China gave a favourable opinion on the criteria
and parameters to be used for the allocation of quotas amongst applicant importers.

(10) Council Regulation (EC) No 815/2003 of 8 May 2003 implementing Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 applying a
scheme of generalised tariff preferences for the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 (OJ L 116, 13.5.2003, p. 3).

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/55

17. ENLARGEMENT

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee on economic assistance
to certain central
and eastern
European countries and for coor-
dinating
applicant
to
countries in the framework of the
pre-accession strategy (‘PHARE’)

the

aid

the

applying

Committee on certain procedures
for
Europe
Agreements with the CEECs and
the Republic of Slovenia and the
free
trade agreements with the
Baltic countries (safeguard)

7

7,5

Management

66

0

0

66

0

0

0

Safeguard

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

All the programmes (66) presented to the Phare Management Committee were adopted. The whole of the Phare 2002
budget was committed. Phare continues to focus on two main priorities: Institution Building and Investment. Within the
national programmes the total proportion of support for Institution Building and Investment in 2002 was 40 % and
60 % respectively. However, these percentages vary greatly from country to country. In 2002, Phare continued to
increase its support for Economic and Social Cohesion. A strategy was presented for phasing out the Phare national
programmes and Phare Cross-Border programmes in the acceding countries. The Phare guidelines and the Cross-Border
Commission regulation were reviewed. New impetus was given to the EDIS process by adopting a horizontal
programme.

18. EUROPE AID — COOPERATION OFFICE

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

9

11

Regulatory

84

1

0

84

0

6

4

6

Management

19

4

Regulatory

18

0

0

0

0

14

12

0

0

0

0

0

for
Committee
PVD-ALA:
and
of
management
and
assistance
technical
economic
cooperation with the
developing countries in Asia and
Latin America

financial
to

MED: Committee on financial and
technical cooperation between the
Community
and Mediterranean
non-member countries

development

and Democracy:
Human Rights
implementation
Committee
for
of
cooperation
operations which contribute to the
general objective of developing and
consolidating democracy and the
rule of
to that of
respecting human rights and funda-
mental freedoms

law and

C 223 E/56

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.9.2003

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

ONG: Committee on co-financing
European
operations
with
development
non-governmental
interest
organisations in fields of
to the developing countries

Committee
development
on
co-operation with South Africa
(meets under the EDF Committee,
in accordance with the basic rules
in force)

Committee on Food Security and
Food Aid

of

for

Committee

the
CARDS:
Community
implementation
Assistance
Reconstruction,
to
Development & Stabilisation for
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Serbia
and Montenegro
(including province of Kosovo)
and Fyrom

Committee

the
TACIS:
the provision
implementation of
of assistance to the partner States
in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

for

1

1

Management

4

4

Management

1

6

4

7

5

7

Management

15

Management

16

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

6

15

17

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

5

Management

19

0

0

19

0

0

The Commission is assisted by eight committees in implementing external Community aid. Five committees work on the
cooperation programmes in the following geographical zones: the Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East (MED),
the Balkan states (CARDS), Eastern Europe and Central Asia (TACIS), Asia and Latin America (PVD-ALA) and South
Africa. The other three committees work on programmes dealing with the following themes: food safety and food aid,
the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), and cooperation with NGOs (11).

These committees held a total of 40 meetings in 2002 and there were also eight meetings of the European Development
Fund Committee (12). The purpose of this Fund is to finance Community aid in sub-Saharan African, the Caribbean and
the Pacific (ACP).

During the course of their meetings, the Committees continued to examine the national and regional strategy documents
and the multi-annual indicative programmes for the geographical areas for which it had not been possible to terminate
this exercise in 2001. These documents map out for the period 2000-2006 the strategic framework and the priorities
for Community aid action and the relevant budgets to be allocated thereto. They thus provide a crucial tool for ensuring
coherence and concentration of external Community aid, and coordination with action taken by other donors.

The Committees also gave their views on the projects and programmes which the Commission proposed for funding in
2002 under the various external aid programmes (13).

(11) Since the beginning of 2001, with the creation of the EuropeAid Co-operation Office and according to the Commission's internal
arrangements concerning the division of responsibilities within the area of external relations, the Secretariat of the Development
Committees is provided by EuropeAid. The services of Directorate General for Development has contributed to the functioning and
presided the meetings of the EDF, NGOs, South Africa and the Food Security and Food Aid Committee.

(12) While the European Development Fund Committee does not fall within the ‘comitology’ strictu sensu given the specific nature of the

Committee, its work and its role are nonetheless similar to those of the above-mentioned committees.

(13) While coordination with the Member States for the preparation and implementation of projects is carried out primarily at the local
level in the beneficiary country, the Committees provide the appropriate forum for coordinating the policies and strategies to be
pursued, including with respect to crisis situations.

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/57

19. HUMANITARIAN AID

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee on humanitarian aid
measures

10

10

Several:
Management,
Regulatory

36

0

60

36

0

0

The Humanitarian Aid Committee (HAC) (set up under Article 17 of Regulation 1257/96 concerning humanitarian aid)
provided favourable opinions on 36 draft humanitarian financial decisions and discussed around 60 strategy and/or
policy issues such as ECHO Aid Strategy, ECHO's Information Strategy, crisis prevention mechanisms, civil protection,
food crisis in Southern Africa, ECHO cooperation with UN organisations and NGOs, and including ECHO missions,
evaluations and statistical data. In 2002, a working group on Member States' policy on NGOs was set up. In addition to
the formal HAC meetings, the Committee also meets on an informal basis once or twice a year in the capital of the
country which holds the EU presidency. In the informal meetings senior representatives from the humanitarian auth-
orities in Member States and ECHO discuss strategy, policy or thematic issues outside the constraints of the formal HAC
meetings. One such meeting was held in October 2002 in Copenhagen where the topics discussed were ‘Civilian and
Humanitarian Aspects of Crisis Management’ and ‘Lessons Learned and Monitoring in Humanitarian Work’.

20. EUROSTAT

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Confidentiality
Committee

of

Statistics

the

Committee on the harmonisation
of
gross
compilation
national product at market prices
(GNP)

of

Committee on statistics relating to
the
goods with
of
non-member countries

trading

Committee on statistics relating to
the
goods between
Member States

trading of

Statistical Programme Committee
(SPC)

Standing Committee
cultural Statistics (SCAS)

for Agri-

1

2

3

3

4

2

1

2

Management

Management

3,5

Management

3,5

Management

4

1

Several

Several

0

1

1

1

9

7

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

9

7

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

C 223 E/58

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Official Journal of the European Union

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The activities of the committees in this area in 2002 focused on completing implementation of the Community
statistical programme for 1998-2002 (14). The other activities prompted discussions on improving methodology in
order to provide a high quality statistical service for the purposes of the strategies and priorities to support decision-
making at the Community level.

The Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) continued to play an important general coordination role in ensuring
consistency between action to be undertaken and that decided on within the national statistical programmes. In
addition, within the comitology structure,
it delivered favourable opinions on social statistics (salaries and labour
force), transport, the audiovisual sector, the economy and business structure.

The Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics (SCAS) delivered favourable opinions on the organisation of Community
surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and on the continued application of
aerial-survey and remote-sensing techniques to the agricultural statistics for the period 2002-2003 (LUCAS project).

The Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States (Intrastat) and the Committee on statistics
relating to the trading of goods with non-member countries (Extrastat) examined issues relating to the application of Intrastat
and Edicom regulations (favourable opinions on the Commission's annual decision; follow-up work). These committees
looked at questions concerning Edicom, collection/processing and dissemination of data and the various points relating
to methodology. In addition, the Extrastat committee examined projects in the area of international relations.

The Committee on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices (GNP) continued its talks
with the Member States on matters relating to Gross National Income (GNI). It examined the impact of the introduction
of the new European System of Accounts (ESA 95) which would be used to establish the GNP (henceforth termed Gross
National Income); the annual GNP estimates for own resources were also approved.

The Confidentiality of Statistics Committee examined the implementation of Commission Regulation (EC) 831/2002
implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics, concerning access to confidential data
for scientific purposes.

21. BUDGET

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Advisory
Communities'
(ACOR)

Committee
Own

on
the
Resources

5

5

Advisory

0

0

0

0

0

0

Advisory Committee on the Communities' Own Resources (ACOR): its Forecasts Section drew up the budget income forecasts
for 2004 on the basis of figures from the Member States; its Traditional Own Resources Section examined the results of
checks carried out in the Member States on traditional own resources, and also general matters concerning these
resources: and its VAT Section examined the results of checks carried out in the Member States concerning GNP
and VAT resources, as well as general matters relating to these resources.

As the Committee delivered no formal votes, there was nothing to report in terms of the importance of these dossiers.

(14) Council Decision 1999/126/EC of 22 December 1998 on the Community statistical programme 1998-2002 (OJ L 42, 16.2.1999, p.

1).

19.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 223 E/59

22. EUROPEAN ANTI-FRAUD OFFICE

Committee

No of
meetings

No of
days

Procedure

Favourable
opinions

Unfavourable
opinions

No
opinion

Instruments
adopted by
the
Commission

Referred
to Council

Cases in which EP
has adopted a
resolution
according to
Article 8 of
Council Decision
1999/468/EC

Committee on mutual assistance in
customs and agricultural matters

1

1

Regulatory

0

0

0

0

0

0

The Committee on mutual assistance in customs and agricultural matters (set up by Council Regulation (EC) No 515/97)
essentially examined problems related to the management and use of AFIS/CIS computerised anti-fraud modules. The
Member States were asked to have themselves represented by IT Managers. A presentation of the roles and responsi-
bilities in the new Directorate C/OLAF ‘Intelligence, Operational strategy and Information technology’ was given to the
Member States in order to make contacts with the team responsible for managing the AFIS project in OLAF easier. This
was followed by a review of the current status of the AFIS project and of new developments expected in infrastructure
and software such as the ‘AFIS Portal’, the ‘Virtual OCU’ for joint customs operations, and the ‘MIS’ for exporting
sensitive goods to Russia.

The Member States had in October 1999 been invited to implement migration of the AFIS/SID terminals to the CCN/CSI
network (instead of the XXATMI network) by 31 December 2002 in order to increase user security and cut communi-
cations. Considering the increasing number of users of the AFIS system, the current procedure of registering users for
access to AFIS applications was reviewed in order to switch to an automatic procedure managed directly by the Member
States. The minimum security measures of the Customs Information System (CIS), the installation procedure of the CIS
Border Query Tool (simplified search tool) and the preparation of the pilot phase were presented to the Committee with
a view to operational implementation of the system in 2003. OLAF also presented to the Committee the advantages of
using the CIGINFO application in relations with the World Customs Organisation and the BRLR (Cologne).