European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision on Providing Community macro-financial assistance to Moldova (COM(2006)0579 - C6-0342/2006 - 2006/0184(CNS))
Date: 2007-02-14
Institutions: Committee on International Trade, European Parliament
Subjects: EU aid, Moldova, development aid, economic development, economic stabilisation, financial aid

C 287 E/334

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

29.11.2007

Wednesday 14 February 2007

P6_TA(2007)0033

Macro-financial aid for Moldova *

European Parliament
a Council decision on
Providing Community macro-financial assistance to Moldova (COM(2006)0579 — C6-0342/2006
— 2006/0184(CNS))

resolution on the proposal

legislative

for

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2006)0579) (1),

— having regard to Article 308 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C6-0342/2006),

— having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade and the opinion of the Committee

on Budgets (A6-0013/2007),

1.

2.

3.

Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

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

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if

4.
substantially;

it intends to amend the Commission proposal

5.

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

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 1
Recital 9a (new)

(9a) Transdnistria has a significant role in trade, expanded
recently by the ban imposed by Russia on wine imports of
Moldovan origin which does not apply to wine originating
from Transdnistria.

Amendment 2
Recital 9b (new)

(9b) Transdnistria obtains considerable revenue from trade
in terms of customs duties and taxes, which does not consti-
tute revenue for the State budget of Moldova.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.

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TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

Wednesday 14 February 2007

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 3
Recital 9c (new)

(9c) The EU's macro-financial assistance should not merely
supplement programmes and resources from the Bretton
Woods institutions but ensure the added value of Community
involvement.

Amendment 4
Recital 9d (new)

(9d) The Community should ensure that the EU macro-
financial assistance is legally and substantially coherent with
the different areas of external action and other relevant Com-
munity policies. Such coherence should be ensured in formu-
lating policy, including the Memorandum of Understanding
and the Grant Agreement, and in its implementation.

Amendment 5
Recital 9e (new)

(9e) The Community should ensure that the EU's macro-
financial assistance is exceptional and limited in time, comple-
mentary to the assistance from the Bretton Woods institu-
tions, bilateral donors and the Paris Club creditors, as well as
conditional on meeting clearly identified requirements, includ-
ing political pre-conditions, and is carefully monitored and
evaluated
financial
in
irregularities.

prevent

fraud

order

and

to

Amendment 6
Recital 9f (new)

(9f) Russia has explained that the ban on wine imports
from Moldova had been imposed because of non-compliance
with certain phytosanitary requirements.

Amendment 7
Recital 9g (new)

(9g) The Community should provide financial assistance to
Moldova in order to improve quality and food security in the
wine-making sector.

Amendment 8
Recital 10

(10) The release of this grant assistance is without prejudice to
the powers of the budgetary authority.

(10) The release of this grant assistance is without prejudice to
the powers of the budgetary authority. This financial assist-
ance should be provided after verifying whether the conditions
to be agreed with the authorities of Moldova have been satis-
factorily fulfilled. The conditions for the release of the instal-
ments of the exceptional assistance, which should be laid
down in a Memorandum of Understanding and a Grant
Agreement, should include specific targets to be achieved in

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Official Journal of the European Union

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29.11.2007

Wednesday 14 February 2007

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

the following areas: improved transparency and increased sus-
tainability of public finances; the application of macroeco-
nomic and budgetary priorities on the basis of the satisfactory
implementation of the economic programme supported by the
International Monetary Fund under the Economic Growth and
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and of the reforms identified
under
the EU-Moldova European Neighbourhood Policy
Action Plan; and full compliance with international demo-
cratic and human rights standards,
including respect for
minorities and the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
Real progress in attaining the above targets should provide
the basis for the disbursement of the instalments of this
assistance.

Amendment 9
Article 1, paragraph 1

in the

assistance

The Community shall make available to Moldova macro-
1.
financial
a grant of up to
form of
EUR 45 million with a view to supporting Moldova's balance
of payments and,
in this way, alleviating the financial con-
straints on the implementation of the government's economic
programme.

1.
The Community shall make available to Moldova excep-
tional macro-financial assistance in the form of a grant of up
to EUR 45 million with a view to supporting Moldova's balance
of payments in the context of a severe deterioration of Moldo-
va's trade and current account balances and, in this way, alle-
viating the financial constraints on the implementation of the
government's economic programme.

Amendment 10

Article 1, paragraph 2

This Community financial assistance shall be managed by
2.
the Commission in consultation with the Economic and Finan-
cial Committee and in a manner consistent with the agreements
or understandings reached between the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and Moldova.

This Community financial assistance shall be managed by
2.
the Commission in consultation with the Economic and Finan-
cial Committee and in a manner consistent with the agreements
or understandings reached between the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and Moldova. The Commission shall regularly
inform the European Parliament of the Economic and Finan-
cial Committee proceedings and provide it with the relevant
documents.

Amendment 11

Article 1, paragraph 3

3.
The Community financial assistance shall be made avail-
able for two years starting from the first day after the entry
into force of
if circumstances so
require, the Commission, after consultation of the Economic
and Financial Committee, may decide to extend the availability
period by a maximum of one year.

this decision. However,

3.
The Community financial assistance shall be made avail-
able for two years starting from the first day after the entry
into force of this decision.

1.
The Commission is empowered to agree with the authori-
ties of Moldova, after consultation with the Economic and

1.
The Commission is empowered to agree with the authori-
ties of Moldova, after consultation with the Economic and

Amendment 12
Article 2, paragraph 1

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TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

Financial Committee, the economic policy and financial condi-
tions attached to this assistance, to be laid down in a Memor-
andum of Understanding and a Grant Agreement. These condi-
tions shall be consistent with the agreements or understandings
referred to in Article 1(2).

Wednesday 14 February 2007

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Financial Committee and the European Parliament, the eco-
nomic policy and financial conditions attached to this assist-
ance, to be laid down in a Memorandum of Understanding
and a Grant Agreement. These conditions shall be consistent
with the agreements or understandings referred to in Article 1
(2). The Memorandum of Understanding and the Grant
Agreement shall be immediately submitted to the Council
and the European Parliament. These conditions shall include
specific targets in the following areas: improved transparency
and increased sustainability of public finances; the application
of macroeconomic and budgetary priorities on the basis of the
satisfactory implementation of the economic programme sup-
ported by the IMF under the Economic Growth and Poverty
Reduction Strategy Paper and of the reforms identified under
the EU-Moldova European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan;
and full compliance with international democratic and human
rights standards, including respect for minorities and the fun-
damental principles of the rule of
law. Real progress in
attaining the above targets shall provide the basis for the dis-
bursement of the instalments of this assistance. In order to
increase transparency and accountability, the conditionalities
of the EU's macro-financial assistance shall be made public.

Amendment 13
Article 3, paragraph 3

The second and any further instalments shall be released
3.
on the basis of a satisfactory implementation of the economic
programme supported by the IMF under the Poverty Reduction
and Growth Facility and of the EU-Moldova European Neigh-
bourhood Policy Action Plan, and any other measures agreed
with the Commission as set out in Article 2(1), and not before
one quarter after the release of the previous instalment.

The second and any further instalments shall be released
3.
on the basis of a satisfactory implementation of the economic
programme supported by the IMF under the Poverty Reduction
and Growth Facility and of the EU-Moldova European Neigh-
bourhood Policy Action Plan, and any other measures agreed
with the Commission as set out in Article 2(1), in particular
the making of satisfactory progress towards attaining the tar-
gets set out in the Memorandum of Understanding provided
for in Article 2(1), and not before one quarter after the release
of the previous instalment.

Amendment 14
Article 3, paragraph 4

4.
The funds shall be paid to the National Bank of Moldova.
The final recipient of the funds will be the Ministry of Finances
of Moldova.

4.
The funds shall be paid to the National Bank of Moldova
and recorded under the heading ‘Exceptional financial assist-
ance from the European Union’. The final recipient of
the
funds will be the Ministry of Finances of Moldova.

Amendment 15
Article 4

The implementation of this assistance shall take place in accor-
dance with the provisions of the Financial Regulation applicable
to the General Budget of the European Communities and its
implementing rules. In particular, the Memorandum of Under-
standing and the Grant Agreement to be agreed with the autho-
rities of Moldova shall provide for appropriate measures by
Moldova related to the prevention of and the fight against

The implementation of this assistance shall take place in accor-
dance with the provisions of the Financial Regulation applicable
to the General Budget of the European Communities and its
implementing rules. In particular, the Memorandum of Under-
standing and the Grant Agreement to be agreed with the autho-
rities of Moldova shall provide for specific measures to be
implemented by Moldova related to the prevention of and the

C 287 E/338

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

29.11.2007

Wednesday 14 February 2007

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

fraud, corruption and other irregularities linked to this assist-
ance.
It shall also provide for controls by the Commission,
including the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), with the
right to perform on the spot checks and inspections, and for
audits by the Court of Auditors, where appropriate, to be car-
ried out on the spot.

fight against fraud, corruption and other irregularities that may
be linked to this assistance. In order to ensure greater transpar-
ency in the management and disbursement of funds, it shall
also provide for controls by the Commission,
including the
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), with the right to perform
on-the-spot checks and inspections, and for audits by the Court
of Auditors, where appropriate, to be carried out on the spot.

Amendment 16
Article 5

By 31 August of each year the Commission shall submit to the
European Parliament and to the Council a report, including an
evaluation on the implementation of this Decision in the pre-
vious year.

By 31 August of each year the Commission shall submit to the
relevant Committees of the European Parliament and to the
Council a report, including an evaluation on the implementa-
tion of this Decision in the previous year. That report shall
specify the linkage between the targets set out in Article 2(1),
Moldova's ongoing economic and fiscal performance and the
this
Commission's decision to release the instalments of
assistance.

Amendment 17
Article 5a (new)

Article 5a

No later than two years after the expiry of the implementa-
tion period of the assistance provided for in this Decision, the
Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the
Council an ex-post evaluation report.

P6_TA(2007)0034

Conservation of stocks of highly migratory species *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation laying down
the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species
technical measures

for
(COM(2006)0100 — C6-0106/2006 — 2006/0030(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2006)0100) (1),

— having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C6-0106/2006),

— having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A6-0476/2006),

(1) Not yet published in OJ.