D under the cooperation procedure, at first read­ing, on the Altener II framework programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources (—» point 1.3.88), the framework programme for the promo­tion of energy efficiency (SAVE II) (—» point 1.3.89), the development of the Community's rail­ways (—» point 1.3.95), the licensing of railway un­dertakings and the conditions of access to railway infrastructure (— > point 1.3.96), and maritime cabo­tage and manning conditions for vessels (—» point 1.3.102) and, at second reading, on transportable pressure equipment (—» point 1.3.90) and regular ro-ro ferry services (—» point 1.3.101); D under the co-decision procedure, at first read­ing, on orphan medicinal products (—» point 1.3.21), the protection of inventions by utility model (— > point 1.3.26), trans-European energy networks (—» point 1.3.82), ports and intermodal terminals (—»point 1.3.81) and the Community Customs Code (—»point 1.4.23) and, at second reading, on the labelling of dangerous substances in Austria and Sweden (—» point 1.3.118) and the European capital of culture (—» point 1.3.161); the Committee of Independent Experts were known. The decision had been a painful one but was necessary to preserve the institution of the Commission and the European Union as a whole. It was now important to learn from the crisis, which should serve as a catalyst for deep and last­ing reform in the European institutions. He con­firmed that the Commission intended to leave of­fice as soon as possible, that it would endeavour to ensure a smooth transition, and that it would not take any new policy initiatives but would deal with matters in hand and any urgent business and meet its legal and institutional obligations. Re­garding the conclusions of the report by the inde­pendent experts, Mr Santer regretted that the tur­bulence of the past few weeks had prevented greater attention being focused on the administra­tive reforms already launched by the Commis­sion. He again called for the resources allocated to the Commission to be commensurate with the tasks entrusted to it. The President of the Council, Mr Fischer, thanked Parliament for exercising its duty of democratic scrutiny. He also stressed that the Commission and its staff deserved respect and thanks for the work accomplished in recent years but made it clear that the European Union needed an operational Commission and quickly. Reas­sured that democracy had stood the test of recent events, the Council President called for the errors uncovered not to discredit the institution, which had to continue as a driving force in the construc­tion of the European Union. Finally, he appealed for lessons to be learnt from the present situation and for the Commission to be given the resources it needed to carry out its work. The resignation of the Commission provided an opportunity to im­prove democracy in the European Union, which needed to be seized by all involved in order to up­hold the interests of the Union. After the debates, Parliament adopted a resolution on the resigna­tion of the Commission and the appointment of a new Commission (—» points 1.10.14 and 2.3.1). Π under the assent procedure, on EC-Cyprus fi­nancial and technical cooperation (—» point 1.4.69), EC-Malta financial and technical cooperation (— > point 1.4.70) and the partnership and coopera­tion agreement with Uzbekistan (—» point 1.4.89). Brussels, 22 and 23 March
1.3.102), och, vid andra behandlingen, om trans portabel tryckutrustning f—» punkt 1.3.90) samt om reguljär trafik med roropassagerarfartyg (- > punkt 1.3.101), D inom ramen för medbeslutandeförfarandet, vid första behandlingen, om särläkemedel (—¥ punkt 1.3.21), om bruksmodellskydd för upp finningar (—» punkt 1.3.26), om transeuropeiska nät inom energisektorn (—* punkt 1.3.82), om hamnar och intermodala terminaler (—» punkt 1.3.81), om gemenskapens tullkodex (— > punkt 1.4.23), och, vid andra behandlingen, om märkning av vissa farliga ämnen i Österrike och Sverige (— > punkt 1.3.118) samt om evenemanget "Europeisk kulturhuvudstad" (— > punkt 1.3.161), och parlamentet för att det tagit sitt ansvar och utövat den demokratiska kontrollen. Han framhöll också den respekt och det tack vi var skyldiga kommissionen och dess anställda för det arbete den utfört under de senaste åren. Europeiska unionen måste ändå snart ha tillgång till en fungerande kommission. Joschka Fischer ansåg att det som hänt gagnat de mokratin och de fel som uppdagats inte misskrediterar institutionen, som måste fortsätta att leda arbetet med att bygga Europeiska unionen. Slutligen be gärde ordföranden att man skulle dra lärdom av den nuvarande situationen och ge kommissionen de medel som krävs för att den skall kunna utföra sitt arbete. Kommissionens avgång innebär en möjlig het att öka demokratin i Europeiska unionen och vi bör alla tillsammans ta tillfallet i akt och stärka unionens intressen. Efter debatten antog parlamentet en resolution om kommissionens avgång och om hur den nya kommissionen skall utses (— > punkterna 1.10.14 och 2.3.1). D inom ramen för samtyckesförfarandet, om finansiellt och tekniskt samarbete EG-Republiken Cypern (—» punkt 1.4.69), om finansiellt och tekniskt samarbete mellan EG och Republiken Malta (—» punkt 1.4.70) och om partnerskapsavtal mellan EU och Republiken Uzbekistan f—» punkt 1.4.89).