CELEX: 51977PC0134
Language: en
Date: 1977-04-19
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) on the application of the provisions of the Financial Protocol concluded with Malta (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (77) 134
Vol. 1977/0050
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983,
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1.
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983,
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                     , COM ( 77 ) 134 final \
                                                    l Brussels , 19 April 1977
                              Proposal for a
                          COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC )
                ■ on the application of the provisions of
                  the Financial Protocol concluded with Malta
                                      ^: !     -C-.
                                                                     i
             ( submitted to the Council by the Comm.
                                           ->.                  AV
 COM(77 ) 134 final
                         \
 ---pagebreak---                  EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
                           . Financials Protocol 61 £ne <i with Malta
                  • provides for financial and technical cooperation
between the Community and' this country        •     purpose of the
accompanying proposal' for a regulation is to establish the rules to
be applied within t;;ie Community for the implementation of the co­
operation in question .
The solution proppspd for the division of powers between the Com-
missipn and the Ei),r,ppean Investment Bank as regards the administra­
tion pf the aid was adopted on the basis of contacts with the Bank ,
which expressed itjs agreement      subject to a reservation on one
point ( Article 10 ).
 ---pagebreak---                           PROPOSAL FOR A
                   COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC )
  on the application of the provisions of the financial Protocol
  concluded with Malta
 THE COUNCIL OP THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
 and in particular Article 209 thereof ,
 Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ,
 Whereas the Financial Protocol , which constitutes an integral part of the
 Agreement establishing an Association "between the European Economic
 Community and Malta , has fixed the aggregate amount of Community aid to
Malta at 26 million units of account , comprising 5 million units of account
 in the form of loans on special terms , 5 million units of account in the
 form of grants and 1 6 million units of account in the form of loans granted
"by the EIB from its own resources ;
Whereas the unit of account applicable in the context of the Protocol was
defined in a declaration annexed to the Final Act    of the said Protocol ;
Whereas the detailed rules for the administration of the aid not covered
by the Bank 's own resources must be laid down ;
Whereas provision should be made to lay down the rules for the management
of financial and technical cooperation , the procedure for directing,
 examining and approving aid and the detailed rules for supervising the
use .of that aid ;
Whereas a Committee of representatives of the Member States should be
set up under the auspices of the Commission ;
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas it should be stipulated that the draft financing proposals
drawn up "by the Bank for operations not covered from its own resources
 should he submitted for opinion to a Committee of representatives of
 the Governments of the Member States ;
Whereas the work done by the Commission and the Bank to apply the
Agreements should be harmonized ; whereas it is therefore desirable
 that , as far as possible , the composition of the Committees set up
under the auspices of the Commission and of the Bank should be
 identical ;
Whereas the Council adopted on 16 July 1974 a Resolution on the har­
monization and coordination of Member States' cooperation policies ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                            Article 1
In implementing the aid arrangements for Malta, the Commission shall
see to it that proper application is given to the aid policy as
defined by the Council and to the general guidelines for financial and
technical cooperation as defined by the Association Council established
by the Association Agreement in accordance with Article 21 of the
Protocol laying down provisions relating to the Agreement establishing
an association between the European Economic Community and Malta and
with Articles 9 and 16 of "the Financial Protocol .
                            Article 2
The appropriations for the financing of aid not covered from the
Bank 's own resources shall be administered by the Commission , in
accordance with the Financial Regulation of 25 April 1973 applicable
to the general budget of the Communities .
                                                           ./•
 ---pagebreak---  2 . The Commission shall itself administer the grants for technical
      assistance programme or schemes .
      A general mandate will "be given to the Bank "by the Commission in the
      name of the Community , to administer the interest rate subsidies for
      loams from its own resources , the special loans and the risk capital
      operations .
 3 . Operations covered by the mandate established pursuant to paragraph 2
      shall be undertaken by the Bank on behalf and at the risk of the
      Community .  The Bank shall act in accordance with the procedures laid
      down by its statute , subject to Articles 9 and 10 of this Regulation .
     The special conditions of the mandate - in particular the provisions
     concerning movements of funds and the remuneration for executing the
     mandate - shall be the subject of an agreement between the Commission
     and the Bank .
4 . The limit on the sums which may be committed by the Bank in any year
     in executing the mandate shall be fixed annually .    This limit may be
     reviewed during the year in question.
                                    Article 3
     The unit of account used for applying this Regulation shall be that
     defined in the Declaration by the European Economic Community relating
     to Article 2 of the Financial Protocol and included in the Pinal Act
     signed at the same time as the Protocol .
 ---pagebreak---                                                       k.
                                 Article k
The Commission shall provide the Member States with information
obtained from     Malta -    .    -           as regards the content
arid prospects of their development plans , the objectives they have
set themselves and projects already identified which are likely to
attain these objectives .
The Commission shal^j. compile this* information in collaboration with
the Bank .
Membe.p States shall at the same 1;ime inform the Commission of any
bilateral aid they have granted or intend to grant .
Furthermore , the Commission shall forward to the Committee referred
to in Article 6 all available information on any other bilateral or
multilateral aid granted or envisaged for     Malta .
To this end , and in order to keep Member States informed , the Commis­
sion shall obtain all relevant information on aid to the States con­
cerned which Member States , international institutions and other
aid donors have already granted or intend to grant .
                                 Article 5
The position to be taken by the Community with a view to defining aid
guidelines within the Association Council shall be adopted by the
Council on a proposal from the Commission drawn up in close cooperation
with the Bank . In the event of disagreement , the Bank shall state its
position in the Council .
                                                           ./
 ---pagebreak---                                         Article 6
 1 . A Committee (hereinafter called the "Article 6 Committee "), consisting
      of representatives of the Member States , shall be set up under the
     auspices of the Commission .
     The Article 6 Committee shall be chaired by a representative of the
     Commission ; its secretariat shall be provided by the Commission .
     A representative of the Bank shall take part in its work .
2 . The Council , acting unanimously , shall adopt the rules of procedure
                                  Λ
     of the Article 6 Committee .
3 , Within the Article 6 Committee , the votes of the Member States shall
     be weighted in accordance with Article 1^8 ( 2 ) of th« Treaty .            i
     The Article 6 Committer shall act by a majority of M votes .
                                                                                 I
                                       Article ; 7
1 . The Article 6 Committee shall give its opinion on 'draft financing proposals
     for projects or programmes submitted to it by the Commission .
I • The draft financing proposals for these projects shall explain the relevance   j
    of the projects to -the development prospects of Malta ; where appropri-     I
    ate , they shall mention the use to which Malta has put previous Commu–        >
    nity aid .                                                                     j
                                                                                  \
    They shall include in particular measures promoting, in accordance with       i
    Article 12 of the Financial Protocol , participation by national firms        i
    of Malta in carrying out the projeots .                                       |
     1
        The rules of procedure would make provision for the Committee to be
        consulted by written procedure-
 ---pagebreak---                                                               O»
     The Committee 1 s assessment shall cover conformity of tne projects
     v.ith Community development aid policy , v/ ith the objectives of financial
     and technical cooperation laid down in the Protocol > and with the
     general guidelines adopted by this      Association Council .
                                        Article 8
     ■Lhe draft financing proposa Is referred to in Article 7, tnnether u-ith tt>«.
    opinion of the Article 6 Committee , shall be submitted to the Commis­
    sion for its decision .
    If the Commission decides to differ from the opinion expressed by the
    Committee , or if the Committee has not delivered a favourable opinion ,
    it shall either withdraw the financing proposal         or , at the earliest
    opportunity , refer- the proposal 1;o the Council, which shall decide on
    it by a ; qualified majority . "
                                        Article 9
1 . The draft financing proposals drawn up by the Bank     in imDlementat ion nf
    the general mandate referred to in Article 2 ( 2 ) , shall be submitted
    for an opinion to a Committee consisting of representatives of the
    Member states , herinafter called the "Article 9 Committee ".
    The Article 9 Committee shall be chaired by the representative of the
    Member State currently assuming the Presidency of the Board of Gover­
    nors of the Bank ; its secretariat shall bo provided by the Bank .
                                                                    -/•
 ---pagebreak--- A representative of the Commission shall take part in its work . He
 shall express the Commission 's opinion on the financing r ro POSi'ls
 submitted by the Bank .
 The assessment by the Committee and the Commission shall cover confor­
mity of the projects with Community development aid policy , v/ith the
 objectives of financial and technical cooperation laid down by the
  Protocol     ,./nd with the general guidelines adopted by the Association
Council .
In addition , this Committee shall be informed by the Bank of any
loans without interest rate subsidies that it intends to grant .
The Council , acting unanimously , shall adopt the rules of procedure
                                 1
of the Article 9 Committee
Within the Article 9 Committee , the votes of the Member States shall
be weighted in accordance with Article 148 ( 2 ) of the Treaty .
The Article 9 Committee shall act by a majority of          votes *.
                                     Article 10
The document in which the Bank submits ; draft , financing proposals to the .
Article 9 Committee shall , in particular , explain the relevance of the
projects to the development prospects of the' country or countries
conce-rned and , where appropriate , indicate the situation as regards
loans granted by the Community .
                                                         O
             :       <■                                       ./.
1          _         '•                                   •
   The rules of procedure would make provision for the Committee to be
    consulted by written procedure .                     *
 ---pagebreak---                                                           8.
2 . Where the Article 9 Committee and the Commission deliver a favourable
    opinion in respect of a request for a loan with an interest rate
    subsidy-, the request shall be submitted for a decision to the Board
    of Directors of the Bank , which shall act in accordance with the
    provisions of the Bank 's statute .
    In the absence of a favourable opinion from the Article 9 Committee or
                                              1
    in the event of a unfavourable opinion from the Commission , the Bank
    shall either withdraw the application or request that the Member
    State taking the chair of the Article 9 Committee bring the matter
                                                1
    before the Council as soon as possible        .
5 . Where , in respect of a draft financina nrooosal by snecial Loan or risk
    capital , the Article 9 Committee and the Commission deliver a favourable
    opinion , the proposal shall be submitted for a decision to the Board
    of Directors of the Bank , which shall act in accordance with the
    provisions of the Bank 's statute .
    In the absence of a favourable opinion from the Article 9 Committee
    or in the event of an unfavourable opinion from the Commission , the
    Bank shall either withdraw the proposal or request that the Member
    State taking the chair of the Article 9 Committee bring the matter
    before the Council as soon as possible .
                                                                ./.
    1           . .
      The EIB wishes to replace this subparagraph by the following :
      11 In the absence of a favourable opinion from the Article 9 Committee
         or in the event of an unfavourable opinion from the Commission , the
         Bank shall either withdraw the request or decide to uphold it . In
         the latter event , this request , together with the reasoned opinion
         of the Committee and the opinion of the Commission , shall be sub­
         mitted for a decision to the Board of Directors of the Bank , which
         shall act in accordance with the provisions of the Bank 's statute . "
 ---pagebreak---   Where , in the absence of a favourable opinion from the Article 9
  Committee or in the event of an unfavourable opinion from the Commis­
  sion , the matter is brought before the Council in accordance with
  paragraphs 2 and 3 » the Bank 's request or proposal shall be submitted
  to the Council together with the reasoned opinions of the Article 9
                                    1
  Comnittee and the Commission        .   ' ■
  "he Council shall act ; by a qualified majority.
f                          '
  If the Council decides to confirm the position taken by the Article
  9 Committee of by the Commission , the Bank shall withdraw its proposal .
  If , however , the Council is in agreement with the Back 's proposal , the
 Bank shall implement the procedures provided for in its statute .
                                        Article 11
 The Commission shall ascertain hpw the Community aid administered by
 it is U6ed by .     - Malta ,                     - or by any other recipients .
 It shall also ascertain , in closfc collaboration with the relevant
 authorities of the ,          Malta                         k°w projects fi­
 nanced with Community aid are used by the recipients .
                                                                  ./.
    Wording requested by the EIB in order to take account of its position
    regarding paragraph 2 :
    " In the latter event , the Bank 's proposal shall be submitted to the
       Council together with the reasoned opinions of the Article 9
       Committee and the Commission . "
 ---pagebreak---                                                            10
3 . V.'hen ascertaining how Community aid and projects are used , as provi­
     ded for in paragraphs 1 and 2 , the Commission shall examine jointly
     with the Bank the extent to which the objectives defined pursuant
     to Article 21 of the Protocol and Articles 9 and 16 nf Financial nr^+^c^l
           thereto have been attained .
    The Commission shall inform the Council at least once a year of its
     findings pursuant to paragraphs 1,2 and 3 »
                                     Article 12
    This Regulation shall be applicable for the same period as f the
    Financial Protocol .
    This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly appli­
    cable in all Member States .
    Done at                                     For the Council
                                                The President
 ---pagebreak---                 FICHE   FINANCIERE
  établie pour Le budget de L' exercice 1977
PREMIERE PARTIE : CREDITS D 'INTERVENTION
( pour actions anciennes et nouvelles )
1 . LIGNE BUDGETAIRE CONCERNEE : Article 962
2 . INTITULE DE LA LIGNE BUDGETAIRE : " Coopération financière avec
                                            certains pays tiers ".
3 . BASE JURIDIQUE : Article 238 du Traité CEE
4 . DESCRIPTION, OBJECTIF ( S ), ET JUSTIFICATION DE L' ACTION
    Proposition de règlement du Conseil relatif à l' application
    des dispositions du protocole      financier conclu avec Malte .
    Le présent document a pour but de préciser les procédures de
    décisions applicables à l' intérieur de la Communauté pour la
    mise en oeuvre de l' aide en faveur de Malte ainsi que la répar­
    tition des compétences entre la Commission et la Banque euro-,
    péenne d' investissement pour la gestion de cette aide .
5 . CREDITS ( en u . c . e .)
    Aucun crédit ne sera engagé sur le buç/get 1977/ au titre de
    l' aide financière prévue au protocole financier ( la ligne
    budgétaire est du reste dotée d' un p.m .). Ce n' est qu' à
    partir de l' exercice 1978, ap/ ès ratification du protocole , que
    les crédits budgétaires pourront être utilisés .      Le protocole
    prévoit un montant de 10 M.u.e.e . à engager pendant une période
    expirant cinq ans après l' entrée en vigueur du protocole sur
    crédits budgétaires ( auxquels s' ajoutent 16 M.u.e.e . des prêts
    de la B. E. I. ).     La répartition de ce montant sera fixée
    annuellement au cours de la procédure budgétaire .
 ---pagebreak--- DEUXIEME PARTIE :    INFORMATIONS SUPPLEMENTAIRES POUR UNE ACT1CÎ .-
6 . COUT TOTAL DE L' ACTION PENDANT TOUTE LA DUREE ENVISAGEE
    Les dépenses imputées sur le budget communautaire s' é'.è / crc
    à 10 M.u.c.e . pendant toute La durée d' application du p.-cte
7.   INFORMATION SUR LE PERSONNEL ET SUR LES CREDITS DE FONCTION
    NECESSAIRES POUR LA REALISATION DE L' ACTION
  • L' action sera réalisée dans le cadre du tableau des effecti
    de la Commission
8.   FINANCEMENT DE L' ACTION
    L' aide financière , pour la durée totale du protocole , sera
    financée sur crédits budgétaires communautaires ( 10 M.u.c.e
    et sur les ressources propres de la B. E. I. ( 16 M.u . c>e .)
    Les crédits budgétaires se répartiront comme suit :
    5 M.u.c.e . sous forme de prêts spéciaux
    5 M.u.c.e . sous forme d' aides non remboursables .