CELEX: 51981PC0184
Language: en
Date: 1981-04-15
Title: Draft COUNCIL DECISION amending the distribution of contributions and the weighting of votes laid down in the Internal Agreement of 1979 on the financing and administration of Community aid (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (81) 184
Vol. 1981/0072
 ---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(81)184 final
                                                  Brussels , 15 April 1981
       A / V,^ K
                 L\    - v' "TX
      / :/                    'v A
      ti       ^                C~ |
            V- /                      Draft
                                 COUNCIL DECISION
amending the distribution of contributions and the weighting of votes
laid down in the Internal Agreement of 1979 on the financing and
                    administration of Community aid
             ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
C0MC81 ) 184 final
 ---pagebreak---                      Commission Communication to the Council
           Amendment of the  Internal Agreement on the financing and
          administration of Community aid " under the fifth EDF
           following the accession of the Hellenic Republic
1.  Article 118(1 ) of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the
    Hellenic Republic to the Communities stipulates that as from 1 January 1981 ,
    when the Act of Accession enters into force , the Hellenic Republic shall
    apply the provisions of the Agreements concluded by the Community with
    certain third countries and that transitional measures and adjustments shall
    be the subject of protocols concluded with the co-contracting third countries .
                                                                         \
2.  As regards relations with the African , Caribbean and Pacific States ,
    Article 121 of the Act of Accession lays down that the arrangements resulting
     from the ACP-EEC Convention of . Lome signed on 28 February 1975 shall not
    apply in relations between the Hellenic Republic and these States ( with the
    exception of Protocol 3 on sugar ).
    On the other hand, according to Article 122 of the Act of Accession , the
    provisions of Articles 118 and 119 shall apply to any new agreement that
    the Community concludes with the ACP States before the entry into force
    of the Act of Accession . ■
     Hence a protocol adjusting the second ACP-EEC Convention must be concluded
     in order to take account of the accession of the Hellenic Republic .     To this .
     end negotiations between the EEC and the ACP States began on 28 November 1980 .
3.  Quite apart from the conclusion of this protocol or the measures which the
     Community night take under Article 119 of . the Act of Accession , legal
     instruments should be established to enable the Hellenic Republic to
   . contribute to the financing of the fifth European Development Fund and sit on
     the advisory committees set up under the auspices of the Commission and the
     European Investment Bank .
     As the conditions of this contribution and representation are governed
     by the provisions of the Internal Agreement on the financing and
                                                                            ./.
 ---pagebreak---      administration of Community aid signed on 20 November 1979, two groups
     of provisions in this Agreement must be modified :
     r - the distribution of contributions among the Member States as contained
         in Article -1 ( 2 ) ( a ) of the Internal Agreement ;
     -   the weighting of Member States' votes within the EDF Committee set up
         under the auspices of the Commission ( Article 17(3 ) of the Agreement )          ,
         and within the Article 22 Committee set up under the auspices of the
         European Investment Bank .
DISTRIBUTION OF CONTRIBUTIONS AMONG MEMBER STATES
4.   Under Article 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) of the Internal Agreement on the financing and
     administration of Community aid , the schedule of contributions from Member
     States to the EDF may be amended by a decision of the Council , acting
     unanimously , in the event of the accession of a new Member State to the
     Community .
5.   A new scale was worked out to finance the fifth EDF under which the scale
     applied under the fourth EDF lias retained for the financing of an amount
     equal to the fourth EDF and the Vat revenue scale ( basis 1978 ) was used to finance
     the remainder .
   . In the case of the Hellenic Republic / there are no data on which to base this
     calculation .                                                       -
     It is therefore proposed that the Hellenic Republic 's contribution to the
     financing of the fifth EDF should be based on the proportion of its gross
     national product to the sum total of the gross national products of the             ■
     Member States .     ( System laid down by the Counc'i I Decision of 21 April 1970
     on the replacement of financial contributions from Membfer States by the
     Communities' own resources ).
     As regards the reference period , it is proposed that the method laid down
     by Council Regulation No 2891 /77 of 19 December 1977 , implementing the
     Decision of 21 April 1970 should be used .         This means taking as the reference
     period the first three years of the five-year period preceding the year in
     question ( for 1981 , the average of GNP for the years 1976 , 1977 and 1978 ).
 ---pagebreak---     This was the basis used to determine the Hellenic Republic 's contribution to
  '  the general . budget of the Communities for 1981 .  The proportion amounts to
    1.62% and it is proposed that this should represent the new Member State 's
     share in the' financing of the fifth EDF .
6.   At this stage , this percentage must be applied to a sum of 4 636 000 ECU ,
     i.e. what the fifth EDF amounted to before the accession of Zimbabwe . was
     taken into consideration , since the amendment of the Internal Agreement to
     take account of Zimbabwe 's accession has still to be ratified .
     A rate of 1.62% applied to a total of 4 636 000 ECU gives a contribution of
     75 103 000 Ecu for the Hellenic Republic .
     If the amounts initially fixed for-the nine Member States are reduced from
     100% to 98.38% ( 100 - 1.62 ) of the total , the new distribution is as
     fol lows :     -                        i
                      Distribution among nine               , . Distribution among ten
                          . Member States                            Member States
                                Amount                                   Amount                ./1
                                                                                               /o
                                                                                                     )
                                ( '000 ECU )                              ( '000 ECU )
BELGIUM                         273 524         '5.9                     269 093          5 , 81 •
DENMARK                         115 900.         2.5                     114 024         "2 ,  46
GERMANY                       1 311 988    '    28.3                   1 290 734        27 , , 84
                            %            _
GREECE                                                                     75 103      ■ 1 , , 62
FRANCE                        1 186 816         25.6                   1 167 589        25 , , i;9 '
IRELAND                           27 816         0.6                       27 365       . 0 , 59
ITALY                           533 140         11.5                     524 503        11 , 31
LUXEMBOURG                         9 272         0.2                         9 122        o ; 19
NETHERLANDS                     343 064          7.4                     337 506          7 , 28
UNITED KINGDOM                  834 480         18                       820 961        17 , 71
Tota l                        4 636 000        100                     4 636 000        100
       Percentages corrected to two decimal places .
 ---pagebreak---     administration of Community aid signed on 20 November 1979, two groups
    of provisions in this Agreement must be modified :
    T - the distribution of contributions among the Member States as contained
        in Article -1 ( 2 ) ( a ) of the Internal Agreement ;
    -   the weighting of Member States * votes within the EDF Committee set up
        under the auspices of the Commission ( Article 17(3 ) of the Agreement )          ,
        and within the Article 22 Committee set up under the auspices of the
        European Investment Bank .
DISTRIBUTION OF CONTRIBUTIONS AMONG MEMBER STATES
4.  Under Article 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) of the Internal Agreement on the financing and
    administration of Community aid , the schedule of contributions from Member
    States to the EDF may be amended by a decision of the Council , acting
    unanimously , in the event of the accession of a new Member State to the
    Community .
5.  A new scale was worked out to finance the fifth EDF under which the scale
    applied under the fourth EDF Was retained for the financing of an amount
    equal to the fourth EDF and the Vat revenue scale ( basis 1978 ) was used to finance
    the remainder .
  . In the case of the Hellenic Republic , there are no data on which to base this
    calculation .
    It is therefore proposed that the Hellenic Republic 's contribution to the
    financing of the fifth EDF should be based on the proportion of its gross
    national product to the sum total of the gross national products of the
    Member States .     ( System laid down by the Counc'il Decision of 21 April 1970
    on the replacement of financial contributions from Membter States by the
    Communities' own resources ).
                                                              t •
    As regards the reference period , it is proposed that the method laid down
    by Council Regulation No 2891 / 77 of 19 December 1977 , implementing the
    Decision of 21 April 1970 should be used .         This means taking as the reference
    period the first three years of the five-year period preceding the year in
    question ( for 1981 , the average of GNP for the years 1976 , 1977 and 1978 ).
 ---pagebreak---      This was the basis used to determine the Hellenic Republic 's contribution to -
  '' the general . budget of the Communities for 1981 . The proportion amounts to
     1.62% and it is proposed that this should represent the new Member State 's
     share in the financing, of the fifth EDF .
6.   At this stage , this percentage must --be applied to a sum of 4 636 000 ECU ,
     i.e. what the fifth EDF amounted to before the a.ccession of Zimbabwe . was
     taken into consideration , since the amendment of the Internal Agreement to
     take account of Zimbabwe 's accession has still to be ratified .
     A rate of 1.62% applied to a total of 4 63j5 000 ECU gives a contribution of
     75 103 000 Ecu for the Hellenic Republic .                                ^,
     If the amounts initially fixed for -the nine Member States are reduced from
     100% to 98.38% ( 100: - 1 . 62 ) of the total , the new distribution is as
     fol lows :     -                               !                                                     "
                        Distribution among nine                            , . Distribution among ten
                              Member States                  _   -                        Member States
                                                          ..                                      '    .           ..( 1 )
                                    Amount .              %        • ■                         Amount          •   %
                                    ( '000 ECU )                                       -       ( '000 ECU ) '
                                                                       - %
BELGIUM                    '/
                                    273 524             5.9                                    269 093         5.81
DENMARK                             115  900.   f       2.5                                    114 024         2.46
GERMANY                       ■■■1' 311 988   '        28.3                 ,                1 290 734        27.84
GREECE                                                                                          75 103         1.62
                       /
FRANCE                           1  186 816            25.6                                . 1 167 589        25.Î9
IRELAND                               27 816            0.6                        , )          27 365         0.59
ITALY                               533 140            11 .5                                   524 503      . 11 . 31
LUXEMBOURG            -                9 272      ;     0.2                       < ·
                                                                                                    9 122      0.19
NETHERLANDS              \          343 064             7.4                                    337 506         7.28
UNITED KINGDOM                      834 480            18 '    "                         -
                                                                                               820 961        17.71
Total                            4 636 000            100                              •V 4    636 000        100
(1 )  Percentages corrected to two decimal places .
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                        4.
 7.     In accordance with the conclusions of the Conference between the European
        Communities and the Hellenic Republic at the eleventh ministerial meeting '
        held in Luxembourg on 5 April . 1979 , Greece was authorized, for the payment
        of its contribution to the EDF , " to enter a line of credit for its national
        budget only from 1982 , on the understanding that any appropriations which
                                                                                         (2)
        should have been entered from 198'1 would be charged to its 1982 budget '
        If the Hellenic Republic avails itself of this option not to pay its 1981
'<■  ' contribution to the EDF this year , it will pay its 1981 and 1982 contributions
        together in 1982 .
 WEIGHTING OF MEMBER STATES 1 VOTES IN , ADVISORY' COMMITTEES
        According to Article 17(5 ) and Article 22(5 ) of the Internal Agreement
        on the f inane ing and administration of Community aid, the weightings and
        the qualified majority laid down in these articles may be amended by a
        decision of the Council , acting unanimously, in the event of the accession
      . of a new Member State to the Community .        ... .
        As the weighting of votes depends on the Member States 1 shares in the
        financing , it is proposed that the Hellenic Republic be given two votes .
        Such a small amendment does not justify a change in the qualified majority
        ( 69 ).     On the other hand, it would seem advisable to . increase the total
        number of votes to 102 , so that the previous balance in the distribution of
        votes among the original Member , States can be maintained .
                                    Weighting - nine -                   Weighting - ten
                                     Member States                        Member States
 Belgium                                  6                            '         6
 De'nmark         ,                       3                                      3
Germany                                  27  <                                  27
 Greece                                   -                                      2
 F rance                                 24     '  y ■                          24
 Ireland .              _                 2                     '                2
 Italy          '                        12                                     12
 Luxembourg               '               1                                      1
 Netherlands                              8                                      8
 United Kingdom                          17         _ . ■     .                 17
                                        100   ,                                100 '
( 2 ) Conf t GR / 24 / 79 of 8 May 1979 .
 ---pagebreak--- This proposal is presented in ; agreement with the European Investment
Bank .
 ---pagebreak---                                  DRAFT
      Council Decision amending the distribution of contributions and
        the weighting of votes laid down in the Internal Agreement
           of 1979 on the financing and administration of
                            Community aid
THE . COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
       \
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
Having regard to the Internal Agreement on the financing and administration
of Community aid of 20 November 1979 ,
In agreement with the Commission ,
Whereas by reason of its accession Greece must contribute
to the financing of the fifth European Development Fund and be represented
on the advisory committees set up under the auspices of the Commission
                                                                            *
and the European Investment Bank ;
Whereas the conditions of this contribution and representation of the
Member States are governed by the provisions of the Internal Agreement of 1979
                                                          1
on the financing and administration of Community aid ,
and in particular Article 1.(2 ) ( a ), Article 17(2 ) and Article 22(3 ) thereof /
Whereas the Internal Agreement empowers the Council , acting unanimously ,
to amend the schedule of contributions and the weightings of votes laid
down by the said provisions ,                               '
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : *
                              i     c
1 0J No L 347, 22.12.1980, p. 210
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                          2.
                                Article 1
     The Internal Agreement of 1979 on the financing ar.d adriiini stration of Community
     aid is hereby amended as follows :                         •'
     Article 1(2)(a ) shall be replaced by the following :
1 - "( a > The Fund shalt consist of 4-636 million ECU , to be financed by the
             Member States as follows :
       • *
             Belgium                          269 093 million' ECU ( 5,81%)
             Denmark                          114 024 million ECU ( 2.46% )
             Germany                     1' 290 734 million ECU ( 27.84% )           '
             Greece                             75 • 103 million . ECU ( 1.62%)"
             France    ,                 1 167 589 million ECU ( 25.19% )
             Ireland                    '' ■    27 365 million ECU ( 0.59% )
             Italy                            524 503 million ECU ( 11.31%)        -
             |_ uxembourg                         9 122 million ECU ( 0.19% )
             Netherlands                      337 506 million ECU ( 7.28%)       -     .
             United Kingdom                   820 961 million ECU ,( 17.71%)"
2 .. Article 17(3 ) shall be replaced by the following :
     "3.     Within the EDF Committee , the votes of the Member States shall be
             weighted as follows :
             Belgium                          6
              ûenmark                         3 -
           . Germany                         27
             Greece                           2
              France                     '24
              Ireland                 -       2
              Italy                          12
              Luxembourg                      1
         ■   Netherlands                      8
             United Kingdom                  17 "
 ---pagebreak---                                                                 3.
                          Artic Le 2
This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1981 .
                          Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States .
                                             Done at Brussels ,
                                             For the Counc i L
                                                              *
                                                The President
                                                     l