CELEX: 51995PC0446
Language: en
Date: 1995-09-27
Title: Amended proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION on a series of guidelines for trans-European data communications networks between administrations

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                         Brussels, 27.09.1995
                                         COM(95)44(> final COIMW
                    Amended proposal for a
   EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION
                     on a series of guidelines for
trans-European data communications networks between administrations
  (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2)
                      of the EC-Treaty)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                           EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
In response to the opinion adopted by the European Parliament on 17 November 19941 on
the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on a series of guidelines for
trans-European data communications networks between administrations,2 and in
accordance with Article 189a(2) of the EU Treaty, the Commission has decided to amend
the abovementioned proposal.
1.      BACKGROUND
1.1     On 12 March 1993 the Commission submitted to Parliament and the Council a
        communication on trans-European data communications networks between
        administrations (COM(93)69 final) which contained two proposals for Council
       Decisions based on Article 235 of the EC Treaty:
       -   one on a series of guidelines for trans-European data communications
           networks between administrations; and
       -   the other adopting a multiannual Community programme to support the
           implementation of trans-European networks for the interchange of data
           between administrations (IDA).
1.2    On 30 June 1993 the Economic and Social Committee endorsed them.
1.3    Following the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union on
        1 November 1993 the proposal for a Decision on a series of guidelines for
       trans-European data communications networks between administrations is now
       based on the third paragraph of Article 129d and is subject to the cooperation
       procedure (Article 189b(2) of the EU Treaty).3
1.4    On 17 May 1994 the Committee of the Regions endorsed the proposals.4
1.5    On 17 November 1994 the European Parliament adopted a Resolution endorsing
       the proposal on first reading and containing three amendments to the Commission
       proposal.
       OJC 341, 5.12.1994, p. 121.
       OJC 105, 16.4.1993, p. 10.
       Doc. COM(93)570, 10.11.1993.
       OJC 217, 6.8.1994,p. 32.
 ---pagebreak--- 2.      OBJECTIVES OF THE DECISION
The objective of the trans-European data communications networks between
administrations is to contribute to the efficient management of a Community area without
frontiers by means of the joint use of data communications networks. The proposal for a
Decision on a series of guidelines on trans-European data communications networks
between administrations aims at defining.
        the priorities and broad lines of action for attainment of the stated objective;
        the projects of common interest to be carried out.
 ---pagebreak---                 COMMISSION OPINION ON THE EP AMENDMENTS
After examination of the three amendments proposed by the European Parliament on first
reading, the Commission supports them for the following reasons:
 1.     Amendment No 1 adds a reference to the need to develop data communications
        networks between Parliaments. This is compatible with one of the priorities set,
        namely to further the adaptation of the Community decision-making process and
        to help to attain the objective of IDA, namely to improve data interchange
       between the Community institutions and the Member States and between the
       Member States themselves.
2.      Amendment No 2 aims at including data interchange with the countries of Central
        and Eastern Europe. This is particularly desirable in the context of the cooperation
        initiated with these countries and the developments expected in connection with
        the information society.
3.      Amendment No 3 adds a reference to the codecision procedure (Articles 129c(l)
        and 129d) and fits in with the change of legal basis made by the November 1993
       Commission communication (COM(93)570).
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the Commission considers that Parliament's three amendments to the
proposal for a Council Decision add strength to the text and are perfectly compatible with
the objectives of this proposal.
These amendments have been included in the amended proposal.
 ---pagebreak--- Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on a series of
guidelines for trans-European data communications networks between administrations
                 Original text1                                 Amended text
                                          Recital 4a
                                                Whereas trans-European data
                                                communications networks between
                                                 Parliaments also need to be rapidly
                                                developed:
                                         Fifth recital
 Whereas it is important, for the purposes      Whereas it is important, for the purposes
 of the internal market, to facilitate the      of the internal market, to facilitate the
 movement of goods, services, persons            movement of goods, services, persons
 and capital between the Community and          and capital between the Community and
 non-Community countries, and more               non-Community countries, and more
 specifically the member countries of the        specifically the member countries of the
 European Free Trade Association;                European Free Trade Association;
 whereas this calls for interchange of           whereas this calls for interchange of
 information between the administrations         information between the administrations
 in the countries concerned; whereas this        in the countries concerned; whereas such
 in turn requires cooperation with these         interchange of information is also highly
 countries in order to promote data              desirable with the countries of Central
 communications projects of common               and Eastern Europe: whereas this in turn
 interest and ensure the interoperability of     requires cooperation with these countries
 networks;                                       in order to promote data communications
                                                 projects of common interest and ensure
                                                 the interoperability of networks;
                                       New Article 5a
                                                Any addition to or other modification of
                                                the priorities set out in Article 3. the
                                                broad lines of action in Article 4 and the
                                                projects of common interest in Article 5
                                                and Annex 1. shall be decided jointly by
                                                Parliament and Council on a proposal
                                                from the Commission.
  OJC 105, 16.4.1993, p. 10.
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                            COM(95) 446 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                           15
                                     Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-486-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-93782-3
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
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