CELEX: 51995PC0594
Language: en
Date: 1995-11-28
Title: Re-examined proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION laying down a series of measures aimed at creating a more favourable context for the development of trans- European networks in the energy sector

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
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                                            Brussels, 28 11 1995
                                            COM(95) 594 final
                                            94/0010 (SYN)
                        Re-examined proposal for a
                          COUNCIL DECISION
      laying down a series of measures aimed at creating a more
                favourable context for the development of
             trans-European networks in the energy sector.
        (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 c (d)
                            of the EC Treaty)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---          OPINION OF THE COMMISSION
on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament
           to the Council's common position
                           I
 ---pagebreak---         BACKGROUND
8 February 1994:              Transmission of the initial proposal COM (93) 685 to the
                              European Parliament and the Council
27 April 1994:                Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee.
17 May 1994:                  Opinion of the Committee of the Regions
18 May 1995:                  European Parliament's opinion on first reading.
29 May 1995:                  Transmission of-the amended proposal COM (95) 226
29 June 1995:                 Adoption by the Council of its common position.
26 October 1995:              European Parliament's opinion on second reading.
2      PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL
The proposal aims to establish a more favourable financial, technical and administrative
context for the implementation of projects of common interest in the field of trans-
European energy networks, as provided for by the second and third indents of Article
I29c(l) of the Treaty.
3      COMMENTS ON PARLIAMENT'S SECOND READING
Parliament adopted three amendments to the Council's common position on its second
reading. It had also adopted the same amendments, in whole or in part, on first reading.
                                           % 3
 ---pagebreak--- The Commission's position on these amendments is as follows:
•      Amendment No I : rejected.
       This amendment specifies the forms which the financial support from the
       resources provided for the trans-European energy networks could take. Although
       it follows the wording of the original proposal, the Commission feels that it is
       unnecessary since it duplicates the recently adopted Council Regulation on
       financial aid in the field of trans-European networks (Regulation (EC) No 2236/95
       of 18 September 1995).
•      Amendment No 2: rejected.
       This amendment advocates that the aid from the other Community funds should
       give particular priority to networks promoting cohesion. This would be
       tantamount to amending the rules and selection criteria for these other funds. This
       is not the objective of this proposal.
•      Amendment No 3: rejected. The objectives are:
       (a)     Introduction of a type I committee.
               Out of concern for simplification, the Commission prefers a type lia
               committee here, i.e. the same committee as provided for in the guidelines
               Decision.
       (b)     Inclusion in the committee procedure clauses of consultation of Parliament
               on the measures submitted to the committee.
               Parliament's legitimate concern to be kept informed of the measures
               submitted to the committee is met already, without amending the
               committee procedure clauses, by virtue of the 1988 Delors-Plumb
               commitment which applies to the case in point, which is covered by the
               cooperation procedure.
4.     CONCLUSIONS
 Phe Commission is unable to accept any of the three amendments adopted by Parliament
on second reading.
                                                      M
 ---pagebreak---                   Re-examined proposal for a
                    COUNCIL DECISION
laying down a series of measures aimed at creating a more
          favourable context for the development of
        trans-European networks in the energy sector.
  (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 c (d)
                      of the EC Treaty)
                               T
 ---pagebreak--- To bring the proposal into line with Regulation (EC) No 2236/95, as adopted by the
Council on 18 September 1995, the Commission makes the following amendment to its
proposal :
•      The fifth recital in the proposal, as amended after the first reading, is replaced by
       "Whereas, in order to speed up the realization of projects of common interest
       identified by Decision No .../95/EC, it is necessary to provide the Community
       with the possibility of supporting the financial efforts made in favour of such
       projects in accordance with the Council Regulation laying down general rules for
       the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks.1"
       (N.B. This is the same wording as in the common position.)
        Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995.
 ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                            COM(95) 594 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                           12
                                     Catalogue number : CB-C0-95-637-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-96709-9
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
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