title: Minutes of the sitting of Tuesday 31 March 1998

text: 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/15 MINUTES OF THE SITTING OF TUESDAY 31 MARCH 1998 Tuesday 31 March 1998 (98/C 138/02) PART I Proceedings of the sitting IN THE CHAIR: Mrs SCHLEICHER Vice-President reducing methane emissions (COM(96)0557 › C4-0001/97) › Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (The sitting opened at 9 a. m. ) 1. Approval of Minutes Mr von Habsburg and Mr Balfe had informed the Chair that they had been present the previous day but that their names were not on the attendance register. The following spoke: › Mr Posselt, who referred to the remarks by Mr Ru¤big (Item 3) and noted that the President of the sitting had not replied to his question concerning referral to the Rules Committee of the question of the admissibility of the point concerning crime in Brussels for the topical and urgent debate (the President replied that the matter would be checked); › Mr Hager, who pointed out that, contrary to the impression given by Mr Berthu(cid:146)s remarks in the verbatim report, he, not Mr Gallagher, was the author of some amendments to the Herman report on improving the functioning of the institutions (A4-0117/98); › Mr Teverson, who said that he had been present the previous day but that his name was not on the attendance register. The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved. Mr Poggiolini complained that Air France had cancelled its Rome-Milan-Strasbourg flights and had blamed Parliament for this cancellation (the President noted that question of flights had been raised the previous day and assured the House the matter would receive due consideration). 2. Written declarations (Rule 48) The President announced that written declaration 1/98 had not received the required number of signatures and had conse- quently lapsed under the provisions of Rule 48(5). 3. Documents received The President had received the following reports from commit- tees: › Report on the communication from the Commission to the Council and to the European Parliament on the strategy for Rapporteur: Mr Marset Campos (A4-0120/98) › * Report on the Draft Council Act drawing up the Convention on driving disqualifications (5217/98 › C4- 0061/98 › 98/0901(CNS)) › Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs Rapporteur: Mrs Reding (A4-0121/98) › * Report on the Draft Convention on mutual, legal assistance in criminal matters between the Member States of the European Union (5202/98 › C4-0062/98 › 98/0902(CNS)) and on the draft joint action on good practice in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (13300/97 › C4-0069/98 › 98/0903(CNS)) › Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs Rapporteur: Mr Buffetaut (A4-0122/98) › * Report on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Council Regulation 1628/96, of 25 July 1996, relating to aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (COM(98)0018 › C4-0105/98 › 98/0023(CNS)) › Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy Rapporteur: Mr Schwaiger (A4-0123/98) 4. Topical and urgent debate (motions for reso- lutions tabled) The President announced that he had received from the following Members or political groups requests for the inclu- sion in the debate on topical and urgent subjects of major importance of motions for resolutions pursuant to Rule 47(1): › Bertens and Eisma, on behalf of the ELDR Group, on the forest fires in Brazil (B4-0391/98); › Andre·-Le·onard and Fassa, on behalf of the ELDR Group, on freedom of expression in Cameroon (B4-0392/98); › Ephremidis, Theonas, Alavanos and Papayannakis, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on disasters caused by the latest floods in Greece (B4-0393/98); C 138/16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 › Ferrer and Oomen-Ruijten, on behalf of the PPE Group, on detention of two Spanish nuns and five Rwandan novices (B4-0394/98); › Vecchi, on behalf of the PSE Group, on the arrest of Dino Frisullo, an Italian citizen, in Turkey (B4-0411/98); › Pack, von Habsburg and Oomen-Ruijten, on behalf of the PPE Group, on constitutional reform in Albania (B4-0395/98); › Dell(cid:146)Alba, Weber and Dupuis, on behalf of the ARE Group, on the fires devastating northern Brazil (B4-0396/98); › Frischenschlager and Thors, on behalf of the ELDR Group, on the situation in Kosovo (B4-0397/98); › Watson and Cars, on behalf of the ELDR Group, on the EU position on human rights in China and Hong Kong (B4- 0398/98); › Bertens, on behalf of the ELDR Group, on a code of conduct for arms exports (B4-0399/98); › Dupuis, Dell(cid:146)Alba and Hory, on behalf of the ARE Group, on sale of organs of persons condemned to death in China (B4-0400/98); › Hory and Scarbonchi, on behalf of the ARE Group, on freedom of expression in Cameroon (B4-0401/98); › Manisco and Ojala, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on exploiting the death penalty in China for the purpose of trafficking in organs (B4-0402/98); › Pasty and Azzolini, on behalf of the UPE Group, on freedom of expression in Cameroon (B4-0403/98); › Graziani, on behalf of the PPE Group, on respect for human rights in Turkey (B4-0412/98); › Christodoulou, Trakatellis, Mouskouri, Argyros, Dimitra- kopoulos, Sarlis, Lambrias, Anastassopoulos and Hatzidakis, on behalf of the PPE Group, on natural disasters in Greece (B4-0413/98); › Manisco, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the death penalty in China and the sale of organs (B4-0414/98); › Habsburg-Lothringen, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Valdiv- ielso de Cue· and Oomen-Ruijten, on behalf of the PPE Group, on the serious problems faced by Peru and Ecuador as a result of the El Nin(cid:152)o phenomenon (B4-0415/98); › Habsburg-Lothringen, on behalf of the PPE Group, on the trade in human organs in China (B4-0416/98); › Aelvoet and Telka¤mper, on behalf of the V Group, on freedom of expression in Cameroon (B4-0417/98); › Telka¤mper, McKenna and Holm, on behalf of the V Group, on the new forest fires in south east Asia (B4- 0418/98); › McKenna, Schroedter, Gahrton, Hautala and Telka¤mper, on behalf of the V Group, on the European code of conduct on arms exports (B4-0419/98); › Azzolini, Pasty, Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Baldi and Viceconte, on behalf of the UPE Group, on the fires affecting the rain forests of South America and South-East Asia (B4-0404/98); › Orlando, Tamino, Ripa di Meana, Aglietta and Roth, on behalf of the V Group, on the arrest of Dino Frisullo, an Italian citizen, in Dyarbakir, Turkey (B4-0420/98); › Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Papayannakis, Ainardi, Sornosa Mart(cid:14)·- nez, Sjo¤stedt, Seppa¤nen, Gutie·rrez D(cid:14)·az, Miranda and Theo- nas, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on forest fires in Brazil (B4-0405/98); › Miranda, Wurtz, Puerta, Sornosa, Jove· Peres, Vinci, Seppa¤nen, Sjo¤stedt, Ephremidis and Alavanos, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on human rights and the escalation of violence against landworkers in Brazil (B4-0406/98); › Manisco, Wurtz, Marset Campos, Miranda, Eriksson, Sierra Gonza·lez, Pailler, Ojala, Ephremidis, Papayannakis and Alavanos, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal in the United States (B4-0407/98); › Pettinari, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on human rights in Cameroon (B4-0408/98); › Vinci, Bertinotti, Pettinari, Manisco, Castellina, Alavanos and Ephremidis, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the arrest of Dino Frisullo, an Italian citizen, in Dyarbakir, Turkey (B4-0409/98); › Aelvoet, Kreissl-Do¤rfler and Telka¤mper, on behalf of the V Group, on forest fires in Brazil (B4-0421/98); › Aglietta and Tamino, on behalf of the V Group, on the death penalty in China and the sale of organs of the condemned (B4-0422/98); › Orlando and Roth, on behalf of the V Group, on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal in the United States (B4-0423/98). The President announced that, pursuant to Rule 47(2), first subparagraph, Parliament would be informed at the end of the morning(cid:146)s sitting of the list of subjects to be included on the agenda for the next debate on topical and urgent subjects of major importance to be held on Thursday. 5. Budget implementation and discharge (debate) › Van Putten and Newens, on behalf of the PSE Group, on forest fires in Latin America and south east Asia (B4-0410/98); The next item was the joint debate on five reports on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/17 Mr Elles introduced his report on postponement of the discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the 1996 financial year (A4-0097/98). Mr Wynn introduced his reports on: › giving discharge to the Commission in respect of the financial management of the sixth and seventh European Development Funds for the 1996 financial year (A4- 0091/98) › the report from the Commission on the measures taken in response to the comments made in Parliament(cid:146)s resolu- tions accompanying the decisions giving discharge in respect of the general budget of the European Communi- ties for the 1995 financial year (COM(97)0571 › C4- 0126/98) (A4-0094/98). Mr Blak introduced his report on giving discharge to the Commission in respect of the management of the European Coal and Steel Community for the 1996 financial year (A4-0093/98). Mr Kellett-Bowman introduced his report on the specific annual reports of the Court of Auditors on the financial statements of the decentralized Community agencies (OJ C 393, 29 December 1997) › 1996 discharge procedure (includ- ing the decisions giving discharge to the Administrative Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin) and to the Management Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Thessaloniki) in respect of the implementation of their budgets for the 1996 financial year) (A4-0092/98). The following spoke: Mr Mayer, draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Agriculture, Mrs Napoletano, draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Regional Policy, Mrs Liddell, President-in-Office of the Council, Mr Liikanen, Member of the Commission, Mrs Wemheuer, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mrs Theato, chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control, who also spoke on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Giansily, on behalf of the UPE Group, Mr Mulder, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Mr Miranda, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Mrs Mu¤ller, on behalf of the V Group, and Mr Dell(cid:146)Alba, on behalf of the ARE Group. IN THE CHAIR: Mr IMBENI Vice-President The following spoke: Mr Fabre-Aubrespy, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, Mr Tappin, Mr Bourlanges, Mr Virrankoski, Mr Seppa¤nen, Mr Holm, Mr Tomlinson, Mr Fabra Valle·s, Mr Dankert, Mr Bardong, Mrs Kjer Hansen, Mr Bo¤sch, Mr Rack, Mr Sarlis and Mr Liikanen. The President closed the debate. Vote: Item 14. Tuesday 31 March 1998 6. Criminal proceedings in protection of Uni- on(cid:146)s financial interests (debate) Mrs Theato introduced her report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Budgetary Control, on criminal proceedings relating to the protection of the Union(cid:146)s financial interests (A4-0082/98); she began by expressing the hope that the Commissioner(cid:146)s speech would not be disrupted by movement in the Chamber as on a previous occasion (see Minutes of 12. 3. 1998, Part I, Item 6). The following spoke: Mr Tomlinson, who questioned the wording of the first corrigendum to this report, and Mrs Thea- to, who replied that there was a translation problem (the Pre- sident said the matter would be checked). The following spoke: Mr Bo¤sch, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Rack, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Rosado Fernandes, on behalf of the UPE Group, Mrs Kjer Hansen, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Mr Le Gallou, Non-attached Member, Mr Tom- linson, Mr Bourlanges, Mr De Luca, Mr Hager, Mr Sarlis and Mrs Gradin, Member of the Commission. The President closed the debate. He pointed out that the Conference of Presidents would have to address the problem of debates taking place just before voting time, since Mrs Gra- din(cid:146)s speech had once again been disrupted by movement in the Chamber caused by the arrival of Members for voting time. Vote: Item 15. IN THE CHAIR: Mr COT Vice-President The President announced that the Bureau had decided to send a message congratulating Mrs Pery, former Vice-President of Parliament, on her appointment to the French government. VOTING TIME 7. Financing CAP * (Rule 99) (vote) Proposal for a Council Regulation on the financing of the (consolidated version) common agricultural policy (COM(97)0607 › C4-0680/97 › 97/0317(CNS)) (Simple majority) referred to responsible: LEGA opinion: AGRI, BUDG PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION COM(97)0607 › C4- 0680/97 › 97/0317(CNS) Parliament approved the Commission proposal (Part II, Item 1). C 138/18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 8. Ship safety **II (Rule 99) (vote) Recommendation for second reading on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Directive amending Council Directive 95/21/EC concerning the enforcement, in respect of shipping using Community ports and sailing in the waters under the jurisdiction of the Member States, of international stan- dards for ship safety, pollution prevention and shipboard living and working conditions (port State control) (C4- 0082/98 › 97/0215(SYN)) (A4-0090/98, rapporteur: Mr Bazin) (without debate) COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL C4-0082/98 › 97/0215(SYN): The President declared the common position approved (Part II, Item 2). 11. Airport charges **I (vote) Va¤yrynen report › A4-0088/98 (Simple majority) PROPOSAL FOR A DIRECTIVE COM(97)0154 › C4- 0362/97 › 97/0127(SYN): Amendments adopted: 1 to 6 collectively; 8; 9 (part covering introduction and paras 1 to 3); 21 by EV (264 for, 214 against, 4 abstentions); 9 (part covering paras. 5, 5a and 6); 20 (part covering para. 1, introduction and points (a) and (b)) by RCV; 10 (part covering para. 1(c)); 20 (part covering para. 1(d) to (ea)); 10 (part covering para. 2, introduction) by RCV; 20 (part covering para. 2(a) to (c)) by RCV; 20 (para. 2a) by RCV; 11; 12; 13 (1st part); 13 (2nd part); 13 (3rd part); 13 (5th part); 13 (6th part); 13 (7th part); 9. Parking card for people with disabili- **II (vote) ties Megahy recommendation for 2nd reading › A4-0098/98 Amendments rejected: 16; 18 by RCV; 19 by EV (230 for, 260 against, 8 abstentions); 22 by EV (240 for, 260 against, 2 abstentions); 25; 23; 17; 13 (4th part); 14; 24; 15 by EV (220 for, 279 against, 2 abstentions) COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL C4-0033/98 › 95/0353(SYN): The President declared the common position approved (Part II, Item 3). Amendments fallen: 9 (part covering point 4); 26 (part covering para. 1, introduction and points (a) and (b)); 10 (part covering para. 1, introduction and points (a) and (b)); 26 (part covering para. 1(c)); 26 (part covering para. 1, points (d) and (e)); 26 (part covering para. 2(a) to (c)); 26 (para. 2a) 10. Recording equipment in road trans- port **II (vote) Wijsenbeek recommendation for 2nd reading › A4- 0116/98 (Qualified majority) Amendment not put to the vote (Rule 125(1)(e)): 7 Separate votes: recital 18 (PSE); art. 8, first paragraph (ELDR, PSE) and art. 8, second paragraph (ELDR, PSE) were rejected, the latter by EV (239 for, 261 against, 4 abstentions) COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL C4-0009/98 › 94/0187(SYN): Split votes: Amendments adopted: 3; 5; 6; 7 to 12 and 14 collectively; 15 to 17 collectively; Amendments rejected: 1 by EV (230 for, 219 against, 11 ab- stentions); 2; 4; 19; 20; 21; 22 Amendments cancelled: 13,18 The following spoke during the vote: am. 13 (ELDR, PSE, PPE, GUE/NGL) 1st part: title: (cid:145)Consultation(cid:146) 2nd part: title (cid:145)Arbitration and legal remedy(cid:146) 3rd part: para. 1 4th part: para. 1a 5th part: para. 2 6th part: para. 3 up to (cid:145)before a national court(cid:146) 7th part: para. 3 remainder › Mrs Van Dijk pointed out after the vote on am. 1 that her voting machine was not working; Results of RCVs: › the rapporteur spoke after the vote on am. 4 on the implications of its rejection; am. 18 (PSE): Separate votes: ams. 1 (PSE); 2; 4 (PSE, ELDR); 5 (UPE) The common position was thus amended (Part II, Item 4). Members voting: For: Against: Abstentions: 498 213 261 24 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/19 am. 20 (part covering para. 1, introduction and points (a) and (b)) (ELDR, PSE): Members voting: For: Against: Abstentions: 490 268 212 10 am. 10 (part covering para. 2, introduction) (ELDR, PSE): Members voting: For: Against: Abstentions: 499 251 243 5 am. 20 (part covering para. 2(a) to (c)) (ELDR, PSE): Members voting: For: Against: Abstentions: am. 20 (para. 2a) (ELDR, PSE): Members voting: For: Against: Abstentions: 495 264 195 36 506 266 203 37 Parliament approved the Commission proposal as amended by RCV (PSE): Members voting: For: Against: Abstentions: (Part II, Item 5). 500 413 11 76 DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION: Parliament adopted the legislative resolution (Part II, Item 5). 12. Social security schemes * (vote) Oomen-Ruijten report › A4-0052/98 (Simple majority) Tuesday 31 March 1998 The following spoke: Mr Hughes, chairman of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Mr Crowley, Mr Wolf, Mr Flynn, Member of the Commission, who explained the Commission(cid:146)s position on the amendments, and the rappor- teur. Parliament approved the request for referral back to committee by EV (251 for, 237 against, 20 abstentions). 13. Tourism (vote) Aparicio Sa·nchez report › A4-0071/98 (Simple majority) MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Amendments adopted: 1 by EV (297 for, 168 against, 25 abstentions); 3 by EV (287 for, 204 against, 10 abstentions); 4; 2 by EV (260 for, 236 against, 2 abstentions) The different parts of the text were adopted in order (the 2nd part of recital A by EV (298 for, 182 against, 14 abstentions)). Separate votes: recital N (PPE); paras. 8, 9, 10 (V); 26, 30 (PPE); 31, 33 (V) Split votes: recital A (PPE) 1st part: up to (cid:145)European Union(cid:146) 2nd part: remainder para. 6 (PPE) 1st part: up to (cid:145)high-speed trains(cid:146) 2nd part: remainder para. 13 (PPE) 1st part: up to (cid:145)travel agency bankruptcies(cid:146) 2nd part: remainder para. 23 (PPE) 1st part: up to (cid:145)single market(cid:146) 2nd part: remainder Parliament adopted the resolution (Part II, Item 7). PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION COM(97)0378 › C4- 0450/97 › 97/0201(CNS): Amendments adopted: 1 to 4 collectively Parliament approved the Commission proposal as amended (Part II, Item 6). DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION: 14. Budget implementation and discharge (vote) Elles report (A4-0097/98) › Wynn reports (A4-0091 and 0094/98) › Blak report (A4-0093/98) and Kellett-Bow- man report (A4-0092/98) (Simple majority) (a) A4-0097/98 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The rapporteur called for the report to be referred back to committee pursuant to Rule 129(1). Mrs Wemheuer withdrew am. 1 which she had tabled on behalf of the PSE Group, on condition that am. 4 or, if this am. was rejected, para. 1 was inserted after para. 9. C 138/20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 The President established that there was no opposition to this procedure. Amendments adopted: 4 (inserted after para. 9); 2 amended orally; 3 by EV (273 for, 195 against, 29 abstentions); 5 15. Criminal proceedings in protection of Uni- on(cid:146)s financial interests (vote) Theato report › A4-0082/98 (Simple majority) Amendment withdrawn: 1 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The different parts of the text were adopted in order (para. 2 fell following the adoption of am. 4). The following spoke: The following spoke during the vote: › Mrs Mu¤ller, with the agreement of the political groups, proposed an oral amendment to am. 2 withdrawing the words (cid:145)as (cid:145)Mr/Mrs Reconstruction(cid:146): Mr Giansily, on behalf of the UPE Group supported this proposal and the President esta- blished that there was no opposition in the House; Parliament adopted the resolution (Part II, Item 8(a)). (b) A4-0091/98 PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION I: Parliament adopted the decision (Part II, Item 8(b)). PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION II: Parliament adopted the decision (Part II, Item 8(b)). MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Parliament adopted the resolution (Part II, Item 8(b)). › Mr Tomlinson, who recalled the remarks he had made during the debate concerning the first corrigendum to the report, the wording of which he disagreed with; › Mr Dankert who endorsed his remarks, saying that it was not in fact a corrigendum but a change to the text; › the rapporteur who pointed out that voting in committee had been carried out on the basis of the German text; considering that the words (cid:145)Europa¤ische Justizbeho¤rde(cid:146) had been wrongly rendered in various language versions, she had asked that a corrigendum be issued to bring these versions into line; › Mr De Luca who suggested that the words used in the corrigendum be replaced by the words (cid:145)European judicial body(cid:146); › Mr Bourlanges who considered that the German version should be used as a basis; › Mrs Wemheuer, on behalf of the PSE Group, who asked the rapporteur to withdraw her corrigendum, failing which she would move that the report be referred back to committee; › Mrs Green, the rapporteur, and Mrs Green on these remarks; › the rapporteur, who withdrew the corrigendum; (c) A4-0094/98 › Mr Tillich, on a point of procedure. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Parliament adopted the resolution (Part II, Item 9). Parliament adopted the resolution (Part II, Item 8(c)). * * * (d) A4-0093/98 PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION Explanations of vote were made by the following Members: Megahy recommendation for 2nd reading › A4-0098/98 Parliament adopted the decision (Part II, Item 8(d)). › in writing: Caudron; Titley MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Parliament adopted the resolution (Part II, Item 8(d)). (e) A4-0092/98 PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION I: Wijsenbeek recommendation for 2nd reading › A4-0116/98 › in writing: Schlechter; Lindqvist; Langenhagen; Rovsing Va¤yrynen report › A4-0088/98 › orally: the rapporteur › in writing: Wibe; Fayot; Cushnahan; Theonas; Waidelich, Andersson, Theorin, Ahlqvist, Hulthe·n, Lo¤o¤w; Eriksson; Kes- telijn-Sierens Parliament adopted the decision (Part II, Item 8(e)). Aparicio Sa·nchez report › A4-0071/98 PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION II: › in writing: Wibe; Cushnahan; Titley; Eriksson Elles report › A4-0097/98 Parliament adopted the decision (Part II, Item 8(e)). › in writing: Berthu 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/21 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Blak report › A4-0093/98 › in writing: Kirsten M. Jensen, Blak Kellett-Bowman report › A4-0092/98 › in writing: Papakyriazis Theato report › A4-0082/98 › in writing: Wibe; Kirsten M. Jensen, Blak, Sindal, Iversen * * * Corrections to votes/Members not voting Before voting, Mr Cot, who was chairing the sitting, notified the sittings services that he would not be voting. Va¤yrynen report (A4-0088/98) › am. 18 had intended to vote for: Mr Fabre-Aubrespy › am. 10 (part covering para. 2 introduction) had intended to vote against: Mr Bertens › am. 20 (part covering para. 2 introduction) had intended to vote for: Mrs Bloch von Blottnitz, Mrs Boogerd-Quaak, Mrs Kestelijn-Sierens had intended to vote against: Mr Konrad END OF VOTING TIME 16. Topical and urgent debate (list of subjects selected) The President informed Parliament that, in accordance with Rule 47(2), the list of subjects for the debate on topical and urgent subjects of major importance to be held on Thursday had been drawn up. It contained 19 motions for resolutions grouped together as follows: I. FOREST FIRES IN LATIN AMERICA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA B4-0391/98 by the ELDR Group B4-0396/98 by the ARE Group B4-0404/98 by the UPE Group B4-0405/98 by the GUE/NGL Group B4-0410/98 by the PSE Group B4-0415/98 by the PPE Group B4-0418/98 by the V Group B4-0421/98 by the V Group II. HUMAN RIGHTS Arrest of Dino Frisullo in Turkey B4-0409/98 by the GUE/NGL Group B4-0411/98 by the PSE Group B4-0412/98 by the PPE Group B4-0420/98 by the V Group Cameroon B4-0392/98 by the ELDR Group B4-0401/98 by the ARE Group B4-0403/98 by the UPE Group B4-0408/98 by the GUE/NGL Group B4-0417/98 by the V Group Death penalty in the United States B4-0407/98 by the GUE/NGL Group B4-0423/98 by the V Group As the topical and urgent debate would exceptionally last only two hours, speaking time for Members would be 45 minutes. In accordance with Rule 47(2), second subparagraph, any objections to this list, which would have to be tabled and justified in writing by a political group or at least 29 Members, had to be tabled by 8 p. m. that evening. The vote on these objections would be taken without debate at the beginning of the next day(cid:146)s sitting. (The sitting was suspended at 1. 10 p. m. and resumed at 3 p. m. ) IN THE CHAIR: Mr AVGERINOS Vice-President 17. Financial assistance for SMEs * (debate) Mr Pronk introduced his report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, on the proposal for a Council Decision on measures of financial assistance for innovative and job-creating small and medium-sized enter- prises (SMEs) › The Growth and Employment Initiative (COM(98)0026 › C4-0138/98 › 98/0024(CNS)) (A4-0114/98) (Hughes procedure). The following spoke: Mr Tillich, draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Budgets, Mr Harrison, draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Mr Wim van Velzen, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Schiedermeier, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Crowley, on behalf of the UPE Group, Mrs Boogerd-Quaak, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Mrs Ojala, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Mrs Ewing, on behalf of the ARE Group, Mr Nicholson, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, Mrs Angelilli, Non-attached Member, Mrs Ghi- lardotti, Mr Chanterie, Mr Gallagher, Mrs Raschhofer, Mrs Waddington, Mr Formentini, Mr de Silguy, Member of the Commission, Mr Chanterie and Mr Wim van Velzen, who put questions to the Commission which Mr de Silguy answered, and Mr Pronk, rapporteur, who also put a question to the Commission which Mr de Silguy answered. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 1. 4. 1998, Part I, Item 12. 18. Follow-up to social development world sum- mit (debate) Mrs Scho¤rling introduced her report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, on the Com- mission(cid:146)s communication on the European Union(cid:146)s follow-up to the world summit for social development (COM(96)0724 › C4-0142/97) (A4-0105/98). C 138/22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 The following spoke: Mrs Schmidbauer, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Pronk, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Lindqvist, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Mrs Gonza·lez A· lvarez, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Mr Wolf, on behalf of the V Group, Mr Papakyriazis, Mr Amadeo, Non-attached Mem- ber, Mr Burenstam Linder, Mrs Pailler and Mr Lannoye. IN THE CHAIR: Mr PODESTA‘ Vice-President Mr Flynn, Member of the Commission, spoke. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 1. 4. 1998, Part I, Item 15. 19. Horizontal state aid * (debate) Mrs Bere‘s introduced her report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty to certain categories of horizontal state aid (COM(97)0396 › C4- 0512/97 › 97/0203(CNS)) (A4-0100/98). The following spoke: Mr Wibe, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Areitio Toledo, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Garosci, on behalf of the UPE Group, Mrs Riis-Jłrgensen, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Mrs Hautala, on behalf of the V Group, Mrs McCarthy, Mrs Carlsson, Mr Alavanos, Mr Van Miert, Member of the Commission, Mrs McCarthy, who put a question to the Commission which Mr Van Miert answered. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 1. 4. 1998, Part I, Item 13. 20. Shipbuilding * (debate) Mr Sindal introduced his report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, on the proposal for a Council Regulation establishing new rules on aid to shipbuilding (COM(97)0469 › C4-0527/97 › 97/0249(CNS)) and the communication from the Commis- sion to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions (cid:145)Towards a new shipbuilding policy(cid:146) (COM(97)0470 › C4- 0548/97) (A4-0101/98). The following spoke: Mrs Matikainen-Kallstro¤m, draftsman of the opinion of the Research Committee, Mr Ilaskivi, draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on External Economic Relations, who protested at the fact that the Economic Committee had adopted its report before the External Econ- omic Relations Committee had given its opinion, which he said made a nonsense of the opinion procedure, Mr Kaklamanis, draftsman of the opinion of the Transport Committee, who also criticized the Committee on Economic Affairs for not taking account of the Transport Committee(cid:146)s opinion, and Mr Sain- jon, draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on External Economic Relations. As it was now Question Time, the debate was adjourned to 9 p. m. (Item 22). IN THE CHAIR: Mr GUTIE· RREZ DI·AZ Vice-President 21. Question Time (Commission) Parliament considered a number of questions to the Commis- sion (B4-0272/98). The President announced that, at its meeting of Monday 9 March 1998 the Bureau, in an attempt to make the existing Question Time procedure as topical and politically interesting as possible, had taken the following decisions: 1. Observance of the period for tabling questions › Questions for Question Time may not be tabled outside the period set aside for that purpose in anticipation of the relevant part-session; › The departments concerned are requested to reject ques- tions for Question Time when they are tabled too early. The period for tabling questions for a given Question Time runs from the end of the period for tabling questions for the previous part-session to 1 p. m. on the Thursday of the last week but one before the relevant part-session. 2. Supplementary questions The Bureau requests Presidents of sittings to refrain from accepting requests to table supplementary questions until after the main question has been announced. It is up to the President of a sitting to rule on the admissibility of supplementary questions, which must relate directly to the subject of the main question. 3. Admissibility The Bureau recommends that the appropriate departments bring greater rigour to bear when enforcing the criteria governing admissibility of questions laid down in Annex II to the Rules of Procedure. More specifically, it requests Members to comply with the provisions on the maximum length of questions and confine themselves to a single question in each text tabled. The following spoke: › Mr McMahon, who protested against these decisions which he considered undemocratic and noted that the political groups had not discussed this initiative (the President replied that the sole aim of these decisions was to make Question Time function better, with particular regard to supplementary ques- tions. The decisions could be reviewed if necessary); 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/23 Tuesday 31 March 1998 › Mr Crowley, who agreed with Mr McMahon and chal- lenged in particular the second paragraph of point 2 (the Pre- sident pointed out that this paragraph merely repeated one of the provisions of Annex II to the Rules of Procedure); Mrs Bonino answered the question and a supplementary by Mrs Fraga Este·vez. Questions 48 to 52 would receive written answers. › Mr Wijsenbeek, on the Bureau(cid:146)s attitude and on proceed- ings at Question Time in general (the President stressed that the Bureau had in no way exceeded its powers). * * * First part Third part Question 53 by Mr Bonde: National compliance with social Directives Mr Flynn, Member of the Commission, answered the question and supplementaries by Mrs Lis Jensen (deputizing for Mr Bonde) and Mr Krarup. Question 54 by Mrs Izquierdo Rojo lapsed as its author was absent. Question 41 by Mrs Ferrer: Policy in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises Question 55 by Mr Simpson: Star Alliance Mr de Silguy, Member of the Commission, answered the question and supplementaries by Mrs Ferrer, Mrs Ewing and Mr Crowley. Question 42 by Mr Kaklamanis: Increase in subsidized quantity of olive oil Mr de Silguy answered the question and supplementaries by Mr Kaklamanis, Mr Colino Salamanca and Mr Camiso·n Asensio. Mrs Izquierdo Rojo raised a point of order (the President cut her off on the grounds that it was not a point of order). Question 43 by Mr Whitehead: Consumers and the euro Mr de Silguy answered the question and a supplementary by Mr Whitehead. Question 44 by Mrs Lis Jensen would receive a written answer as the time allotted to the first part of Question Time had expired Second part Question 45 by Mrs Flemming: Transport of animals Mrs Bonino, Member of the Commission, answered the question and supplementaries by Mrs Flemming, Mr Elliott and Mr von Habsburg. Mrs Lis Jensen pointed out that she had tabled question 44, not Mrs Kirsten M. Jensen as indicated in document B4-0272/98; she then complained about the President(cid:146)s inflexibility in not calling this question which was extremely important for Denmark (the President took note of her remarks). Mr McMahon spoke on the order of the questions. Question 46 by Mr Teverson: MAGP IV › Beam trawler length Mr Flynn answered the question and a supplementary by Mr Simpson. Question 56 by Mr Needle lapsed as its author was absent. Question 57 by Mr Posselt: Strengthening the family Mr Flynn answered the question and a supplementary by Mr Posselt. Questions 58 to 62 would receive written answers. Question 63 by Mr Watts: Proposed abolition of duty free concessions for 1999 Mr Monti, Member of the Commission, answered the question and supplementaries by Mr Watts, Mr Corbett and Mr McMa- hon. Question 64 by Mrs Malone: Abolition of duty free sales in 1999 Mr Monti answered the question and supplementaries by Mrs Malone and Mrs Banotti. The President announced that questions which had not been answered would receive written answers. Mrs Hardstaff spoke on the order of questions; she complained that her question 79 was not in a favourable position even though it had been tabled in February. The President reminded her of the relevant provisions but added that he had taken note of her remarks. The President closed Question Time. (The sitting was suspended at 7. 20 p. m. and resumed at 9 p. m. ) IN THE CHAIR: Mr COT Vice-President Mrs Bonino answered the question and a supplementary by Mr Teverson. 22. Shipbuilding * (continuation of debate) Question 47 by Mrs Fraga Este·vez: New Argentinian fisheries law The following spoke in the continuation of the debate: Mr Glante, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Jarzembowski, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Parodi, on behalf of the UPE C 138/24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Group, Mrs Riis-Jłrgensen, on behalf of the ELDR Group, Mr Theonas, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Mrs Schroedt- er, on behalf of the V Group, Mr Buffetaut, on behalf of the I-EDN Group, Mr Paasilinna, Mr Pome·s Ruiz, Mr Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Mrs Moreau, Mr Blokland, Mr Pe·rez Royo, Mr Alav- anos, Mr Torres Couto, Mrs Garc(cid:14)·a Arias, Mr Caudron, Mr Van Miert, Member of the Commission, Mr Sindal, rapporteur, on the earlier remarks by Mr Ilaskivi and Mr Kak- lamanis: he explained that lack of time had prevented the Economic Committee from taking account of the opinions of committees which had been asked for them. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 1. 4. 1998, Part I, Item 14. 23. Passenger vehicles ***I (debate) Mr Murphy introduced his report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on special provisions for vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver(cid:146)s seat and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC (COM(97)0276 › C4-0545/97 › 97/0176(COD)) (A4-0113/98). The following spoke: Mrs Schmidbauer, draftsman of the opinion of the Transport Committee, Mrs Billingham, on behalf of the PSE Group, Mr Wibe, Mr Howitt, Mr Bange- mann, Member of the Commission, Mr Ru¤big, on behalf of the PPE Group, Mr Koch, Mr Bangemann, Mr Murphy, Mr Ban- gemann and Mr Murphy. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 1. 4. 1998, Part I, Item 10. 24. Trading of goods ***I (debate) Mrs Lulling introduced her report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, on the proposals for European Parliament and Council Regulations amending I. Council Regulation (EEC) 3330/91 on the statistics relat- ing to the trading of goods between Member States COM(97)0252 › C4-0248/97 › 97/0155(COD) and II. Council Regulation (EEC) 3330/91 on the statistics relat- ing to the trading of goods between Member States, with specific reference to the nomenclature of products (COM(97)0275 › C4-0257/97 › 97/0162(COD)) (A4- 0102/98). The following spoke: Mr Philippe-Armand Martin, on behalf of the UPE Group, Mr Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, on behalf of the ELDR Group, and Mr de Silguy, Member of the Commission. The President closed the debate. Vote: Minutes of 1. 4. 1998, Part I, Item 11. 25. Agenda for next sitting The President announced the following agenda for the sitting of Wednesday 1 April 1998: 9 a. m. › 1 p. m. , 3 › 7 p. m. and 9 p. m. › 12 midnight: 9 a. m. › 12 noon, 3 › 5. 30 p. m. and 9 p. m. › 12 midnight: › topical and urgent debate (objections) › joint debate on a Council statement, Rocard report and Vecchi recommendation on development policy **II › Lalumie‘re report on relations with Russia › Randzio-Plath report on democratic accountability › Council statement on the London European Conference (followed by debate) › Joint debate on Schwaiger and Daskalaki reports on Bosnia-Herzegovina * › Marset Campos report on methane emissions › Cabrol report on blood and plasma donors * › Joint debate on Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop and Viola reports on 1999 budget procedure and financial perspective 12 noon: › Voting time 5. 30 › 7 p. m. : › Question Time (Council) (The sitting closed at 11 p. m. ) Julian PRIESTLEY Secretary-General Jose· Mar(cid:14)·a GIL-ROBLES GIL-DELGADO President 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/25 Tuesday 31 March 1998 PART II Texts adopted by the European Parliament 1. Financing CAP * (Rule 99) Proposal for a Council Regulation on the financing of the common agricultural policy (consolidated version) (COM(97)0607 › C4-0680/97 › 97/0317(CNS)) (Consultation procedure) The proposal was approved. 2. Ship safety **II (Rule 99) A4-0090/98 Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Directive amending Council Directive 95/21/EC concerning the enforcement, in respect of shipping using Community ports and sailing in the waters under the jurisdiction of the Member States, of international standards for ship safety, pollution prevention and shipboard living and working conditions (port State control) (C4-0082/98 › 97/0215(SYN)) (Cooperation procedure: second reading) The European Parliament, › having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0082/98 › 97/0215(SYN), › having regard to its opinion at first reading (1) on the Commission proposal to the Council COM(97)0416 (2), › having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty (C4-0456/97), › having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure, › having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A4-0090/98), Approves the common position; Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission. 1. 2. (1) Minutes of 4. 12. 1997, Part II, Item 1. (2) OJ C 264, 30. 8. 1997, p. 33. C 138/26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 3. Parking card for people with disabilities **II A4-0098/98 Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Recommendation on a parking card for people with disabilities (C4-0033/98 › 95/0353(SYN)) (Cooperation procedure: second reading) The European Parliament, › having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0033/98 › 95/0353(SYN), › having regard to its opinion at first reading (1) on the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0696, › having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty, › having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure, › having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A4-0098/98), Approves the common position; Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission. 1. 2. (1) OJ C 20, 20. 1. 1997, p. 386. 4. Recording equipment in road transport **II A4-0116/98 Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and Directive 88/599/EEC on standard procedures for the implementation of Regulations (EEC) Nos 3820/85 and 3821/85 (C4-0009/98 › 94/0187(SYN)) (Cooperation procedure: second reading) The European Parliament, › having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0009/98 › 94/0187(SYN), › having regard to its opinion at first reading (1) on the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(94)0323 (2), › having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty, › having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure, › having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A4-0116/98), (1) OJ C 249, 25. 9. 1995, p. 128. (2) OJ C 243, 31. 8. 1994, p. 8. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/27 Tuesday 31 March 1998 1. 2. Amends the common position as follows; Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission. COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 3) Recital 7a (new) (7a) Whereas no new distortions of competition must occur in connection with transport with third countries, and whereas the Council and Commission should therefore ensure that agreement is reached without delay with the other AETR States on the adoption of identical arrange- ments; (Amendment 5) ARTICLE 1(2) Articles 4-9, 11 and 15(1) and (2), first subparagraph (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) 2) Articles 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 and 15(1) and (2) first subparagraph shall be amended by adding the words (cid:145)or driver card(cid:146) where reference is made to (cid:145)record sheet(cid:146) or (cid:145)record sheets(cid:146). 2) Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 shall be amended by adding the words (cid:145)or memory card(cid:146) where reference is made to (cid:145)record sheet(cid:146) or (cid:145)record sheets(cid:146). Article 15(1) and (2) first subparagraph shall be amended by adding the words (cid:145)or driver card(cid:146) where reference is made to (cid:145)record sheet(cid:146) or (cid:145)record sheets(cid:146). (Amendment 6) ARTICLE 1(2a) (new) Article 4, paragraph (cid:150)1 (new) (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) (a) in Article 4, the following new paragraph shall be inserted before the first paragraph: (cid:145)For the purposes of this chapter the words (cid:145)recording equipment(cid:146) shall mean (cid:145)recording equipment or its components(cid:146). (cid:146) (Amendment 7) ARTICLE 1(4)((cid:150)a) (new) Article 12(1) (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) ((cid:150)a) The following shall be added to paragraph 1: (cid:145)The period of administrative validity of approved workshop and fitter cards shall not exceed one year. If a card issued to an approved workshop or fitter is to be extended, is damaged, malfunctions, is lost or is stolen, the authority shall supply a replacement card within five working days of receiving a detailed request to that effect. C 138/28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT Where a new card is issued to replace an old one, the new card shall bear the same (cid:145)workshop(cid:146) information number, but the index shall be increased by one. The authority issuing the card shall maintain a register of lost, stolen or defective cards. The Member States shall take any measure necessary to prevent the cards distributed to approved fitters and workshops from being falsified. (cid:146) (Amendment 8) ARTICLE 1(4)(a) Article 12(2) (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) (cid:145)2. The approved fitter or workshop shall place a special mark on the seals which it affixes and, in addition, shall enter the electronic security data for carrying out the authentication checks for recording equipment in conformity with Annex IB. The competent authorities of each Member State shall maintain a register of the marks and electronic security data used. (cid:146) (cid:145)2. The approved fitter or workshop shall place a special mark on the seals which it affixes and, in addition, shall enter, for recording equipment in conformity with Annex IB, the electronic security data for carrying out, in particular, the authentication checks. The competent authorities of each Member State shall maintain a register of the marks and electronic security data used and of approved workshop and fitter cards issued. (cid:146) (Amendment 9) ARTICLE 1(4)(b) Article 12(3) (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) (b) In paragraph 3 the words (cid:145)and electronic security data(cid:146) (b) Paragraph 3 shall be replaced by the following: shall be added after the word (cid:145)marks(cid:146). (cid:145)3. The competent authorities of the Member States shall inform each other of the lists of approved fitters and workshops and the cards issued to them and shall forward to each other copies of the marks and of the necessary elements relating to the electronic security data used. (cid:146) (Amendment 10) ARTICLE 1(4)(ca) (new) Article 12(5) (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) (ca) In paragraph 5 the words (cid:145)or in Annex IB, section VI(c)(cid:146) shall be inserted after the words (cid:145)paragraph 4(cid:146). (Amendment 11) ARTICLE 1(6)(b) Article 14(3)(ca) (new) (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) (ca) The competent authorities of the issuing Member State shall ensure that the applicant does not already hold a valid driver card. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/29 Tuesday 31 March 1998 COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 12) ARTICLE 1(6)(b) Article 14(4)(a), paragraphs 1-4 (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) (a) The competent authority of the Member State shall personalize the driver card in accordance with the provi- sions of Annex IB. (a) The competent authority of the Member State shall personalize the driver card. For administrative purposes, the driver card may not be valid for more than five years. For administrative purposes, the driver card may not be valid for more than five years. The driver may hold one driver card only. The driver is authorized to use only his own personalized driver card. The driver shall not use a driver card which is defective or which has expired The driver may hold one valid driver card only. The driver is authorized to use only his own personalized driver card. The driver shall not use a driver card which is defective or which has expired. When a new driver card is issued replacing the old, the new card shall bear the same driver card issue number but the index shall be increased by one. The issuing authority shall keep records of lost or defective driver cards. When a new driver card is issued replacing the old, the new card shall bear the same driver card issue number but the index shall be increased by one. The issuing authority shall keep records of issued, stolen, lost or defective driver cards for a period at least equivalent to their period of administrative validity. (Amendment 14) ARTICLE 1(6)(b) Article 14(5) (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) 5. Member States shall ensure that data needed to monitor compliance with Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 and Council Directive 92/6/EEC of 10 February 1992 on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor vehicles in the Community which are recorded by recording equipment in conformity with Annex IB to this Regulation are stored for at least 365 days after the date of their recording and that they can be made available under conditions that guaran- tee the security and accuracy of the data. 5. Member States shall ensure that data needed to monitor compliance with Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 and Council Directive 92/6/EEC of 10 February 1992 on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor vehicles in the Community which are recorded and stored by recording equipment in conformity with Annex IB to this Regulation can be made available for at least 365 days after the date of their recording under conditions that guarantee the security and accuracy of the data. The Member States shall take any measures necessary to ensure that the resale or decommissioning of recording equipment cannot detract, in particular, from the satisfac- tory application of this paragraph. (Amendment 15) ARTICLE 1(7)(b) Article 15(4) (Regulation (EEC) 3821/95) (b) Paragraph 4 shall be replaced by the following: Deleted (cid:145)4. Each Member State may permit all the periods referred to in paragraph 3, second indent (b) and (c) to be recorded under the sign (cid:204) for vehicles registered in its territory. (cid:146) C 138/30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 COMMON POSITION OF THE COUNCIL AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 16) ARTICLE 1(7)(e) Article 15(7), first subparagraph, third indent (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) › print-outs from the recording equipment defined in Annex IB if he drove a vehicle fitted with such recording equipment during the period referred to in the first indent. › print-outs from the recording equipment defined in Annex IB relating to the periods of time indicated in para- graph 3, second indent (a), (b), (c) and (d) if he drove a vehicle fitted with such recording equipment during the period referred to in the first indent. (Amendment 17) ARTICLE 1(8)(a) Article 16(2), first subparagraph (Regulation (EEC) 3821/85) 2. While the recording equipment is unserviceable or malfunctioning, drivers shall mark on the record sheet or sheets, or on a temporary sheet to be attached to the record sheet or to the driver card, all information for the various periods of time which are no longer recorded or printed out correctly by the recording equipment. 2. While the recording equipment is unserviceable or malfunctioning, drivers shall mark on the record sheet or sheets, or on a temporary sheet to be attached to the record sheet or to the driver card, on which he shall enter data enabling him to be identified (driver(cid:146)s card number and/or name and/or driving licence number), including his signa- ture, all information for the various periods of time which are no longer recorded or printed out correctly by the recording equipment. 5. Airport charges **I A4-0088/98 Proposal for a Council Directive on airport charges (COM(97)0154 › C4-0362/97 › 97/0127(SYN)) The proposal was approved with the following amendments: TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION (*) AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 1) Recital 5 5. Whereas, in addition, the administrative management and the financial situation of the smallest airports do not justify the application of the Community framework; 5. Whereas, in addition, the administrative management and the financial situation of small airports do not justify the application of the Community framework; (*) OJ C 257, 22. 8. 1997, p. 2. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/31 Tuesday 31 March 1998 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 2) Recital 7 7. Whereas airports may be managed as commercial under- takings which must strive to be efficient in order to make their activities profitable and to better satisfy market requirements and passengers(cid:146) needs; 7. Whereas airports should be managed as commercial undertakings which must strive to be efficient in order to make their activities profitable and to better satisfy market require- ments and passengers(cid:146) needs; (Amendment 3) Recital 8 8. Whereas, however, within that market, airports are exposed to limited competition; 8. Whereas airports, within that market, are exposed to competition to a limited extent, and require appropriate performance assessment measures to ensure that airport charges reflect a cost-effective provision of infrastructure, facilities and services; (Amendment 4) Recital 8a (new) 8a. Whereas airports constitute an important part of infrastructure providing a service of general interest; (Amendment 5) Recital 8b (new) 8b. Whereas, without prejudice to transparency and free competition, a group of airports belonging to the same Member State may be managed under one single adminis- tration; (Amendment 6) Recital 9 9. Whereas, among their various activities, the main task of airports is to ensure the handling of aircraft from landing to take-off so as to enable users to carry out their air transport business; 9. Whereas, among their various activities, the main task of airports is to provide a quality service for passengers, freight and mail and to handle aircraft from landing to take-off so as to enable users to carry out their air transport business; (Separate vote) Recital 18 18. Whereas it is necessary to take appropriate steps to ensure that infringements of Community law carry penalties which are effective, proportionate and dissuasive; Deleted C 138/32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 8) Article 1, second paragraph It applies to any airport or airport system located in a territory subject to the provisions of the Treaty and open to commercial traffic. However, Articles 4 to 7 apply only to airports with annual traffic of at least 250 000 passenger movements or 25 000 tonnes of freight. It applies to any airport, airport system or national airport network located in a territory subject to the provisions of the Treaty and open to commercial traffic. However, Articles 4 to 7 apply only to airports with annual traffic of at least one million passenger movements or 25 000 tonnes of freight. (Amendments 9 and 21) Article 2 For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions shall apply: For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions shall apply: (cid:145)airport(cid:146) means any land specially developed for the 1. landing, take-off and manoeuvring of aircraft, including any related facilities it may contain for aircraft traffic and service requirements and the facilities needed to accommodate com- mercial air services; (cid:145)management body(cid:146) means the body which, whether or 2. not in conjunction with other activities, has the task under national laws or regulations of administering and managing the airport facilities and coordinating and controlling the activities of the various operators present at the airport or within the airport system concerned; (cid:145)airport(cid:146) means any area of land especially adapted for 1. the landing, take-off and manoeuvring of aircraft, including the ancillary installations which these operations may involve for the requirements of aircraft traffic and services including the installations needed to assist commercial air services; (cid:145)management body(cid:146) means a body which, in conjunction 2. with other activities, or not as the case may be, has as its objective under national laws or regulations the administra- tion and management of the airport infrastructure and the coordination and control of the activities of the different operators present in the airport, airport system or national airport network concerned; 3. (cid:145)intra-Community air service(cid:146) means any commercial, scheduled or non-scheduled flight between two Community airports; 3. (cid:145)intra-Community air service(cid:146) means any commercial, scheduled or non-scheduled flight between two Community airports; 4. (cid:145)airport charges(cid:146) means the sums collected at an airport for the benefit of the management body and paid by the airport(cid:146)s users ensuring the remuneration of facilities and services which, by their nature, can only be provided by the airport and which are related to handling passengers and freight, landing, lighting, parking of aircraft and, where appropriate, the security of passengers as well as the environ- mental effects of handling aircraft and passengers, excluding any amounts paid for air navigation or meteorological services; 4. (cid:145)airport charges(cid:146) means the sums collected at an airport for the benefit of the management body and paid by the airport(cid:146)s users ensuring the remuneration of facilities and services which, by their nature, can only be provided by the airport and which are related to handling passengers, freight and mail, landing, lighting, parking of aircraft and, where appropriate, to the use of cargo facilities and to the security of passengers as well as the environmental effects of handling aircraft, passengers, freight and mail, excluding any amounts paid for air navigation or meteorological services; this term may not be extended to cover charges relating to the groundhandling services referred to in Council Directive 96/67/EC; 5. (cid:145)airport system(cid:146) means two or more airports grouped together to serve the same city or conurbation, as defined in Article 2(m) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92; 5. (cid:145)airport system(cid:146) means two or more airports grouped together to serve the same city or conurbation, as defined in Article 2(m) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92; 5a. (cid:145)national airport network(cid:146) means a system of air- ports grouped together at national level and managed as a single entity to promote the economic and social cohesion of the country; 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/33 Tuesday 31 March 1998 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (cid:145)airport user(cid:146) means any natural or legal person carrying 6. passengers, mail and/or freight by air from or to the airport concerned. (cid:145)airport user(cid:146) means any natural or legal person operat- 6. ing commercial aircraft carrying passengers, mail and/or freight by air from or to the airport concerned. (Amendments 20 and 10) Article 4(1) and (2) 1. Member States shall ensure that the level of airport charges collected at airports or in the airport systems is set in a reasonable relation to the overall cost of the services and facilities which these charges are intended to cover. When determining the level of such costs, particular account shall be taken of: (a) the cost of financing the facilities, including depreciation in the value of the assets during the period concerned and the financing of any facilities for which the project and the date of commencement of the works have been duly agreed and any administrative permits, where appro- priate, have been issued, 1. Member States shall ensure that the level of airport charges collected at airports, in the airport systems or national airport networks covered by this Directive is set in a reasonable relation to the overall cost of the services and facilities which these charges are intended to cover. The man- agement body of an airport may take account of all or part of the airport(cid:146)s income that is not derived from airport charges when establishing the total level of its charges. When determining the level of such costs, particular account shall be taken of: (a) the cost of financing the facilities, including depreciation in the value of the assets over the life of the assets and the financing of any facilities for which the project and the date of commencement of the works have the express consent of the majority of users and/or their represen- tative bodies through the consultation arrangements under Article 7, (b) the financial charges, (b) other financial costs, (c) the expenditure on operation and maintenance, (c) the expenditure on operation, renovation and mainten- ance, (d) the general administrative charges and various taxes, (d) the general administrative charges and various taxes, (e) a reasonable return on the capital invested. (e) a reasonable return on the capital invested, (ea) specific identifiable external environmental costs due to air traffic, in line with recognized international and European standards. 2. Without prejudice to the application of the competition rules of the Treaty, the airport charges applicable in the major national airport of a Member State can be established at a level which permits the management body, in order to promote economic and social cohesion, to support financially the levels of airport charges in regional airports in the same Member State, on condition that: 2. Without prejudice to the application of the competition rules of the Treaty, in peripheral Member States the airport charges for domestic flights applicable in the major national airport can be established at a level which permits the management body, in order to promote economic and social cohesion, to support financially the levels of airport charges in regional airports in the same Member State, on condition that: (a) this financial support comes from revenue other than the (a) this financial support comes from revenue other than the airport charges in the major airport; and/or airport charges in the major airport; and/or (b) this support comes from airport charges, provided that they are established in conformity with paragraph 1; or (b) this support comes out of the reasonable return on assets achieved at the major airport from airport charges with the proviso that these are established in conformity with paragraph 1; or C 138/34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (c) otherwise, when the conditions referred to in points (a) and (b) are not fulfilled and when the subsidies granted by public authorities are not sufficient, the regional airports concerned have an annual traffic of less than 300 000 passenger movements or 30 000 tonnes of freight and on condition that the annual traffic of transfer or transit passengers at the major airport represent at least 5 % of the total traffic at that airport. (c) traffic on the route to the major airport makes up more than 50% of total passenger or freight traffic at the regional airport. 2a. Without prejudice to the application of the competi- tion rules of the Treaty, the airport charges applicable on an airport system can be designed, with the prior agreement of users, to encourage traffic to move from the major airport to a neighbouring smaller, less congested airport where the market is deemed to be contiguous. (Amendment 11) Article 5(1) and (2) 1. By derogation from Article 4, the management bodies may include the external environmental costs due to air traffic and modulate the charges to reflect the requirements in terms of management of the airport facilities or any changes in demand and use of the airport during a given period. By derogation from Article 4, the airport management 1. bodies covered by this Directive may modulate the charges to reflect specific identifiable external environmental impacts, as well as the costs as set out in Article 4, and the requirements in terms of management of the airport facilities or any changes in demand and use of the airport during a given period. Member States shall ensure that the modulations are not designed to generate additional revenue for the airport. Member States shall ensure that the modulations are not designed to generate additional revenue for the airport The management body may also, as part of its commer- 2. cial policy, (a) take account of all or part of its income that is not derived from airport charges when establishing the total level of its airport charges; (b) grant discounts in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty. 2. The management body may also, as part of its commer- cial policy, grant discounts in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty. (Amendment 12) Article 6 1. In order to improve the quality of the service provided to airport users, Member States shall ensure that the management bodies provide each airport user with information on the components serving as a basis for determining the level of the airport charges. This information shall include: (a) a clear list of the various services provided by the airport in return for the airport charge levied; 1. In order to improve the quality of the service provided to airport users, Member States shall ensure that the management bodies provide each airport user with information on the components serving as a basis for determining the level of the airport charges. This information shall be provided in a standard format and shall include the following elements: (a) a clear list of the various services and infrastructure facilities provided by the airport in return for the airport charge levied; (b) the method of calculation used by the management body. (b) the method of calculation used by the management body; 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/35 Tuesday 31 March 1998 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT The management body shall in particular provide airport 2. users or the associations representing them with information concerning: (a) the amount of each category of airport charges collected at (c) the amount of each category of airport charges collected at the airport; the airport; (b) the total number of staff deployed to services which give (d) the total number of staff deployed by the management rise to the collection of airport charges, body; and (c) forecasts of the situation at the airport as regards airport charges, traffic growth and any proposed investments. (e) forecasts of the situation at the airport as regards airport charges, traffic growth and any proposed investments. 3. Member States shall ensure that airport users submit information to the management body concerning in particular: 2. Member States shall ensure that airport users submit information to the management body in good time concerning in particular: (a) forecasts as regards traffic, (a) forecasts as regards traffic, (b) forecasts as to the composition of their fleet, (b) forecasts as to the composition of their fleet operating at the airport concerned, (c) their development projects at the airport, (c) projects for making changes at the airport, (d) their requirements at the airport concerned. (d) their requirements at the airport concerned. (Amendment 13) Article 7 Consultation Consultation, arbitration and legal remedy 1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to arrange, at each airport, a procedure for consultation between the management body and airport users. The aim is to seek the views of airport users before the decision to modify the system or the level of airport charges is taken. These views do not bind the authority responsible for taking a decision with regard to the airport changes. The management body at each airport covered by this 1. Article shall arrange for consultation with airport users or representatives of airport users. The aim is to explain to users the reasons for any proposal to modify the system or the level of airport charges, to seek users(cid:146) views and to take users(cid:146) views into account before any decision is taken by the management body. Such consultation shall be held at least once a year. Such consultation shall be held whenever it is proposed to vary the charges and, at all events, at least once a year. 2. Member States shall take the necessary steps to ensure that an airport informs airport users or the organizations representing them of any decision to change the system or level of airport charges at least two months before the change takes effect. 3. Member States shall also ensure that, in the event of disagreement over the decision, airport users are able to request to be consulted a second time. 2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that an airport begins consultation with airport users or representatives of airport users at least four months before it is proposed to change the system or the level of airport charges. Following such consultation, the management body shall inform airport users or representatives of airport users of its decision and the reasons for it at least one month before the change takes effect. In the event of disagreement over a decision on 3. airport charges, a party may either refer the matter to an independent arbitrator to be designated by each Member State or seek legal redress before a national court or another public authority independent of the management body of the airport concerned and, where appropriate, from the body(cid:146)s supervisory authority. The decision of the arbitrator, court or public authority shall be binding. C 138/36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT Article 8 Penalties (Separate votes) Article 8 Deleted Member States shall lay down a system of penalties applicable in the event of infringement of the national provisions trans- posing this Directive and shall take all necessary steps to ensure their implementation. The penalties shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall notify the Commission of those provisions before 1 January 2002 and of any subsequent amendment relating thereto as soon as possible. Legislative resolution embodying Parliament(cid:146)s opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on airport charges (COM(97)0154 › C4-0362/97 › 97/0127(SYN)) (Cooperation procedure: first reading) The European Parliament, › having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0154 › 97/0127(SYN) (1), › having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 84(2) of the EC Treaty (C4-0362/97), › having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure, › having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinion of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy (A4-0088/98), 1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament(cid:146)s amendments; Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC 2. Treaty; Calls on Council to incorporate Parliament(cid:146)s amendments in the common position that it adopts in 3. accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty; 4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission. (1) OJ C 257, 22. 8. 1997, p. 2. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/37 Tuesday 31 March 1998 6. Social security schemes * A4-0052/98 Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families working within the Community and Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (COM(97)0378 › C4-0450/97 › 97/0201(CNS)) The proposal was approved with the following amendments (1): TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION (*) AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 1) ARTICLE 1((cid:150)1) (new) Title (Regulation (EEC) 1408/71) (cid:150)1. The title is replaced by the following: (cid:145)Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to persons moving within the Community(cid:146) (Amendment 2) ARTICLE 1((cid:150)1a) (new) Article 2 (Regulation (EEC) 1408/71) (cid:150)1a. Article 2 is replaced by the following: (cid:145)1. This Regulation shall apply to employed or self-employed persons and students who are or have been subject to the legislation of one or more Member States and who are nationals of one of the Member States or who are stateless persons or refugees residing within the territory of one of the Member States, as well as to the members of their families and their survivors. In addition, this Regulation shall apply to the 2. survivors of employed or self-employed persons and students who have been subject to the legislation of one or more Member States, irrespective of the nationality of such employed or self-employed persons or students, where their survivors are nationals of one of the Member States or stateless persons or refugees residing within the territory of one of the Member States. 3. This Regulation shall also apply to persons who are not referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, provided that they are or have been subject to the legislation of one or more Member States and that they are nationals of one of the Member States or stateless persons or refugees residing within the terri- tory of one of the Member States. (cid:146) (1) The matter was then referred back to committee pursuant to Rule 129(1). (*) OJ C 290, 24. 9. 1997, p. 28. C 138/38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 3) ARTICLE 1((cid:150)1b) (new) Article 20 (Regulation (EEC) 1408/71) (cid:150)1b. Article 20 is replaced by the following: (cid:145)Frontier workers may also obtain benefits in the territory of the competent state. Such benefits shall be provided by the competent institution in accordance with the legislation of that State, as though the workers were resident there. Members of their families or their survivors may receive benefits in kind under the same conditions. If, in the Member State of residence, access to social security is conditional upon having worked, totally unemployed frontier workers shall, both during the period of unemployment and on and after reaching pensionable age, be entitled to receipt of sickness benefit on the basis of their occupational activity in the country where they worked. (cid:146) (Amendment 4) ARTICLE 1(2a) (new) Article 31a (new) (Regulation (EEC) 1408/71) 2a. The following Article 31a is inserted after Article 31: (cid:145)Article 31a Former frontier workers, who are entitled to draw a retirement pension under the legislation of the Member State on whose territory they worked as a frontier worker, and members of their families or their survi- vors shall also be entitled to receive benefits from, with the cost borne by, the institution of that Member State as if they were resident there. (cid:146) 7. Tourism A4-0071/98 Resolution on improving safety, consumers(cid:146) rights and trading standards in the tourism sector The European Parliament, › having regard to the treaties establishing the European Community, as modified by the EU Treaty, and, in particular, Articles 3(t) and 129a thereof, › having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure, 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/39 Tuesday 31 March 1998 › having regard to Council Directive 90/314/EEC on package travel, package holidays and package tours (1) and to the judgment of the European Court of Justice of 8 October 1996 on its non-incorporation and the liability and compensation obligations of those Member States not having incorporated it, › having regard to its opinion of 25 October 1996 (2) and to the Commission(cid:146)s modified proposal concerning a first multiannual programme to assist European tourism ((cid:145)Philoxenia(cid:146) › 1997-2000) (3), › having regard to the Commission communication on priorities for consumer policy 1996-1998 (COM(95)0519 › C4-0501/95) and Parliament(cid:146)s resolution of 20 February 1997 thereon (4), › having regard to Petitions Nos 752/97, 976/94, 493/95 and 726/95, › having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinion of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0071/98), A. whereas the protection of the tourist, as a consumer of services, is the responsibility of the European Union; whereas, however, since the Directive of 1990 on package travel and Regulation (EEC) No 295/91 establishing common rules for a denied-boarding compensation system in scheduled air transport (5), the Commission has not made use of its right of initiative in the field, B. whereas neither the priorities for consumer protection policy for 1996-1998 nor the Commission(cid:146)s working programme for 1998 › the political priorities of 15 October 1997 (COM(97)0517 › C4-0542/97) mention the protection of the tourist, C. whereas, although tourism is one of the economic and cultural activities with the best present results and future prospects in Europe, the Commission has no action plan for European tourism, as the draft (cid:145)Philoxenia(cid:146) programme was not adopted at the last Council of Tourism Ministers, D. whereas Community intervention in the field of tourist protection is compatible with the principle of subsidiarity, since it does not affect policy as regards either reception facilities or promotion, E. whereas protection of physical safety and commercial security in the tourism sector is not only dependent on regulating relations between consumers and entrepreneurs in the tourist industry but also on commercial relations between entrepreneurs in that industry, F. whereas in recent years numerous indirect measures have been adopted or initiated at Community level to protect the physical safety and commercial security of tourists, but an overall frame of reference and updating measures are nonetheless required for the sector, G. having regard to the various campaigns organized by the Commission(cid:146)s DG XXIV in favour of greater tourist protection and to the information on consumer rights in the tourist sector set out in the European consumer(cid:146)s guide to the single market (1994-1995), H. whereas there should be closer coordination between the various Commission DGs with responsibil- ities in the field, as well as an action programme for the Tourism Unit within DG XXIII which could serve as a basis for the required closer coordination of powers and resources, (1) OJ L 158, 23. 6. 1990, p. 59. (2) OJ C 347, 18. 11. 1996, p. 430. (3) OJ C 13 14,1. 1997, p. 11. (4) OJ C 85, 17. 3. 1997, p. 133. (5) OJ L 36, 8. 2. 1991, p. 5. C 138/40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 I. whereas the likely increase in tourist demand could lead over the next few years to an increasing number of errors and accidents, and whereas it is therefore necessary to take urgent action to reverse this trend via coordinated measures at Community level, J. whereas, for the same reasons, it is essential to revise the conditions for access to justice for tourists and for professionals in the industry, with a view to clarifying and simplifying application and implementation of the existing legislation, K. whereas the preservation of high standards of physical safety and commercial protection for tourists is not only a manifestation of respect for the public, but is also a key element in the improvement of the quality of supply in the tourist sector in the EU Member States, and, therefore, in the commercial competitiveness of the sector, L. whereas, as the tourist industry develops, it is essential to protect the environment and natural resources, and whereas the tourist is the first party to be interested in enjoying a decent environment, M. whereas, to ensure that tourism in the EU is based on quality of supply and that consumer protection rules are properly respected, it is essential, as a matter of priority, to promote appropriate training for staff employed in the tourism and travel sector, N. whereas it is desirable to encourage dialogue between the representative associations of the various sectors concerned directly or indirectly with tourism, including consumers(cid:146) associations, with a view to drawing up codes of conduct, planning information campaigns to prevent errors and accidents, and introducing arbitration arrangements to settle disputes between operators and users, O. whereas tourists(cid:146) interests are frequently damaged by flight delays (in many cases quite dispropor- tionate), which eat into their holiday time, P. whereas the protection of tourists should be not only a right of Community citizens but a feature of tourism in the EU Member States, from which all tourists, whether Community citizens or not, should be able to benefit, Q. whereas it is essential to defend the rights of EU citizens as tourists, both inside and outside the Community, R. whereas special consideration should be given to the protection of single women tourists, 1. Calls on the Commission to continue verifying, as a matter of the greatest urgency, compliance with Directive 90/314/EEC on package travel referred to above and to ask the Member State governments, in the light of problems encountered and legislative shortcomings related to the incorporation of that Directive, to ensure its proper application, with particular regard to the guarantee laid down in Article 7 concerning compensation in the event of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the travel organizer and/or retailer, resorting if necessary to the infringement procedure for Community law; calls on the Commission, in addition, to collect the views of the professional sectors concerned on the impact of the Directive; 2. Regrets the Commission(cid:146)s failure to operate an action programme for tourism and the fact that no reference is made to protection of the tourist as consumer or to the promotion of tourism as an economic, cultural and social activity in either its priorities for consumer policy for 1996-1998 or its working programme for 1998; 3. Calls on the Commission and Council to ensure that when drawing up Community policies affecting tourism they take account of the aspects related to tourist protection, as an element in the quality of supply in the EU tourist industry and an additional factor of attraction for the EU as a tourist destination; 4. Considers it essential to create a framework for Community measures to protect safety in tourist accommodation such as hotels, apartments, bungalows, campsites and caravans, with particular regard to individual travellers; 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/41 Tuesday 31 March 1998 5. Considers it essential for all Community measures to protect safety in air, sea and coach transport, to be complied with and monitored; calls on the Commission to publish a compendium of such measures and to submit a report every two years on the degree of compliance achieved; 6. Welcomes the Commission(cid:146)s submission of a proposal to amend Regulation (EEC) No 2299/89 on computerized reservation systems (1) (COM(97)0246) and proposing its extension to include high-speed trains; considers it desirable, nonetheless, that its scope should include all usual forms of transport; 7. Calls on the Commission, in the light of the process of liberalization of the air transport sector, to ensure that travellers receive transparent information, especially concerning fares, ticket details (validity, reimbursement and modifications) and permitted baggage weight; similar conditions of transparency should apply to the liberalization processes for other means of transport; 8. Calls on the Commission, insofar as it has competence, to oblige EU airlines to inform passengers whenever they use aircraft not belonging to them and to ensure that tourists are compensated for all delays and inconveniences arising from such situations; 9. Calls on the Commission, in view of the likely increase in the number of airline passengers over the next few years, to lay down rules for the improved provision of information in cases of overbooking (to be indicated on tickets, legibly and in comprehensible language), to raise the levels of compensation payable to individual travellers affected, and to ensure that travellers are offered a better-quality service; the percentage of overbookings currently authorized should be reduced; all these rules should also apply to charter flights; Calls on the Commission and the Council to draw up rules revising the system for allocating slots at 10. Community airports, so as to ensure that it is not always charter or tourist flights which are affected by the most unfavourable scheduling; Calls on the Commission to adopt measures similar to those requested in paragraph 9 as regards 11. overbooking in the hotel sector; considers that the Commission should submit to Parliament and the Council the results of the study on overbooking in hotels and other tourist accommodation and assess the results of the code of practice drawn up on the subject by the European Confederation of Hotels and the European Confederation of Organizers and Retailers; 12. Calls on the Commission to submit, on the basis of the activities of the European Committee for Standardization, a proposal concerning terminology, classification and quality criteria for tourist accommodation and travel agencies; Calls on the Commission to study the problems arising from the increase in sales of services via the 13. Internet and to make appropriate proposals; Calls on the Commission to undertake the necessary studies with a view to setting up a guarantee 14. fund for cases of airline bankruptcy, and a similar fund for travel agency bankruptcies; such a fund should have sufficient resources, which should be made immediately available to cover the cost of the services agreed by contract which have ceased to be provided; 15. Calls on the Member States to demand that travel agencies offer certain minimum standards and requisites (e. g. sufficient deposits and guarantees), so as to eliminate (cid:145)cowboy(cid:146) operators from the sector; Calls on the Commission to publish an information document, which should be easy to understand 16. and use, setting out all the Community measures relating to the direct or indirect protection of the physical safety of tourists in the EU, their rights as consumers and their duties as users, the transparency of commercial information in the tourist sector and the right to seek and obtain justice, with a view to its distribution in the Member States and third countries; any similar measures adopted by individual Member States should also be compiled and published; (1) OJ C 267, 3. 9. 1997, p. 67. C 138/42 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Considers, in particular, that consumers should be better informed on clauses relating to 17. cancellation of bookings and/or holidays and on the relevant insurance contracts; 18. Calls on the Commission to verify the proper implementation in the Member States of the European Parliament and Council Directive 94/47/EC on the protection of purchasers in respect of certain aspects of contracts relating to the purchase of the right to use immovable properties on a timeshare basis (1), and to assess its results; Calls on the Member States to legislate to apply the general law on tourism to timeshare 19. establishments, since that arrangement implies a tourism service; Calls on the Commission to submit a communication detailing the best practices and experiences 20. on the subject in the Member States; Calls on the Commission to submit proposals concerning the promotion of rural tourism, especially 21. in remote and very remote areas and in transfrontier Euregios; 22. Calls on the Commission to ensure that its policy for promoting equal opportunities pays attention to the specific problems which children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities may encounter when travelling on holiday; congratulates the Commission on its initiative of publishing a handbook for the tourist industry ((cid:145)For a Europe accessible to tourists with disabilities(cid:146)), and encourages it to undertake more activities along these lines; 23. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that a doctor is present at major tourist accommodation centres and that there is rapid access to medical services from smaller and remote centres in case of emergency; 24. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the entire tourist industry to continue their work of awareness-raising and action against sex tourism, since the improvement of safety and tourists(cid:146) rights requires the correct application of their obligations; 25. Calls on the Commission to examine the possibility of introducing Community formulas for out-of-court arbitration in certain conflicts relating to the tourist industry, along the lines of the Green Paper on (cid:145)Access of consumers to justice and the settlement of consumer disputes in the single market(cid:146) (COM(93)0576), while not ruling out the creation in the medium term of a Community arbitration body; 26. Calls on the Commission to coordinate the various measures in the field of tourist protection, since it is affected by a number of different policies (free movement of citizens, consumer protection, environment policy, transport policy, regional policy, etc); believes that the adoption of a legal framework is required to this end, as well as closer coordination between the relevant DGs; 27. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take action, including a Community financial programme, to guarantee assistance to the tourist at major tourist sites, so as to offer Union citizens and third-country tourists a visible and effective degree of protection; the creation of a network of information and assistance counters at European level, possibly managed on a basis of public/private-sector partnership, would bring about a significant improvement in the quality of supply in the tourist industry; in the interim, the Commission and the Member States should promote the emergence of a decentralized network of tourist assistance units, with staff who are able to deal with emergencies, handle complaints, cooperate with local offices or local and national police forces, and evaluate any problems which have occurred and the tourists(cid:146) degree of satisfaction; 28. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the competent authorities at regional and local level to enhance the profile of information offices located in tourist areas, manning them with staff who can offer more comprehensive assistance (including legal advice); Stresses that the creation of a single emergency telephone number (112) for the whole European 29. Union would bring about a considerable improvement in the protection of tourists(cid:146) safety; (1) OJ L 280, 29. 10. 1994, p. 83. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/43 Tuesday 31 March 1998 30. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote the inclusion of the physical and commercial protection of tourists in training programmes related to tourism intended for those wishing to work in the sector; Calls on the Commission to provide financial assistance and advice for the development of 31. telematic links between consumers(cid:146) associations in the different Member States; 32. Calls on the Commission to organize annually, in cooperation with Parliament and the associations of the sector, a conference on the quality of supply in the EU tourist industry, to include, in particular, discussion of the main aspects of tourist protection, a review of the previous year(cid:146)s activities and the exchange of practices and experiences in the sector; Calls upon the Member States to create a system for harmonizing the amount of compensation 33. payable to EU citizens who are the victims of crime where physical harm has been inflicted; 34. Calls upon the Member States to ensure that court proceedings are speeded up from what is at the moment a painfully slow process so that EU nationals who are either victims of a crime or accused of committing one may have immediate and constant access to interpretation and translation at no cost to themselves; 35. Calls on the Commission to indicate its views on the protection of tourists when euro coins and notes are introduced in connection with the establishment of EMU on 1 January 2002, given that tourists are particularly vulnerable to fraud; Calls on the Commission to submit a report on the measures taken by the Community to protect EU 36. citizens travelling as tourists in third countries, for example by coordinating and rationalizing services for EU citizens provided by EU embassies in third countries; Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the 37. governments and parliaments of the Member States. 8. Budget implementation and discharge (a) A4-0097/98 Resolution informing the Commission of the reasons for the postponement of the discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the 1996 financial year The European Parliament, › having regard to Article 206 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, › having regard to Rule 86 of its Rules of Procedure, › having regard to the revenue and expenditure account, the financial analysis and the balance sheet of the European Union for the 1996 financial year (C4-0196/97), › having regard to the Annual Report for 1996 (C4-0599/97) (1) and the special reports of the Court of Auditors and the replies of the Institutions, › having regard to the Council recommendation of 9 March 1998 (C4-0168/98), › having regard to the report by the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinions of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, the Committee on External Economic Relations, the Committee on Regional Policy, the Committee on Transport and Tourism, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs, the Committee on Fisheries, the Committee on Women(cid:146)s Rights, the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (A4-0097/98), (1) OJ C 348, 18. 11. 1997. C 138/44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 A. whereas pursuant to Article 205 of the EC Treaty the European Commission bears responsibility for implementing the budget in accordance with the principles of sound financial management, B. whereas the Commission must in so doing ensure the legality and regularity of revenue and expenditure, C. whereas the European Parliament must give a discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the budget and thereby assumes responsibility for ensuring that the Commission meets its Treaty obligations in full, D. whereas it is thus responsible to the citizens of the Union for ensuring that their money is spent as economically and efficiently as possible and that the Institutions of the Union do everything in their power jointly to secure maximum protection against fraud, corruption and organized crime, E. whereas it is deeply concerned about the many problems in nearly all categories of the budget, amounting to an unacceptable number of cases where the execution of the budget has been inappropriate, F. having regard to the report from its ad-hoc delegation to Bosnia-Herzegovina, G. having regard to Article 206(2) of the EC Treaty, which provides that the Commission should submit any necessary information on the execution of expenditure and on the operation of financial control systems to the European Parliament, H. having regard to Article 206(3) of the EC Treaty, which stipulates that the Commission should take all appropriate steps to act on the observations by the European Parliament relating to the execution of expenditure, I. whereas the European Court of Auditors declined to provide positive global assurance as to the legality and regularity of the transactions underlying the payments for the financial year (1), Council recommendation 1. Informs the Commission that it cannot give the discharge, as provided in Article 89(1) of the Financial Regulation, before 30 April 1998; sets out in the indents below the main reasons for the postponement of this decision and requests the Commission, in accordance with Article 89(4) of the Financial Regulation, to inform it by 15 September 1998 of all the steps it has taken to remove the obstacles to this discharge decision; (a) the non-execution of the recommendations of its Committee of Inquiry into the Transit System, especially regarding the computerised control system, (b) the lack of democratic accountability in the fight against fraud inside the European Institutions, (c) the lack of coherence and sound financial management which led to a low level of execution of all major foreign policy programmes ie. Bosnia-Herzegovina, PHARE, TACIS and MED, (d) regarding the agricultural sector, the delay in the implementation of the Integrated Control System and the number of recommendations still not implemented from the BSE committee, (e) the lack of any precise information as to the results of the proposed measures for job creation in SMEs through the Structural Funds; Implementation of the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry into the Transit System 2. (a) Finds that action taken by the Commission to implement the recommendations of its Committee of Inquiry into the Transit System, especially in the field of computerisation, which is the cornerstone of any meaningful reform of the system, is insufficient; asks the Commission to give full information on the technical and administrative progress of the computerisation; (b) Particularly regrets the deficiencies in the reporting of these implementation delays to Parliament; considers the response to the recommendations of a Committee of Inquiry unsatisfactory; the implementation of the NCTS, as one of the most crucial recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry into the Transit System, is the issue on which the final decision to grant or refuse discharge could hang; (1) Volume II of the Annual Report, p. 8. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/45 Tuesday 31 March 1998 The fight against mismanagement and fraud: the lack of democratic accountability Recalls its resolution of 17 February 1998 on the Commission(cid:146)s conduct in respect of alleged fraud 3. and irregularities in the tourism sector (1) and declares that it will not give the discharge until (a) the information called for in paragraph 4 of the abovementioned resolution (the regular submission of lists of all current internal investigations involving allegations of fraud and corruption on the part of officials of the European institutions and lists of all special audits carried out by the Directorate- General for Financial Control of the Commission) is supplied and is found to be adequate, (b) measures have been taken to ensure that the competent national judicial authorities will in future be swiftly and without exception informed of any case of alleged fraud, corruption or any other offence when there is a suspicion that EU officials might be involved; 4. Notes that the principle laid down in paragraph 3(b) applies likewise to the case of the MED programmes; recalls paragraph 3 of its resolution of 17 July 1997 on Court of Auditors Special Report No 1/96 on the MED programmes (submitted pursuant to Article 188c(4), second subparagraph, of the EC Treaty) together with the Commission(cid:146)s replies (2) in which it requested the Commission to forward to the judicial authorities of the Member States concerned all of the details of the case so that they may themselves decide on the question of their competence in this area and for consideration of any possible legal implications; 5. Notes that the Commission has taken no action in response to this request; notes that, given the Commission(cid:146)s failure to act, the possibly reprehensible nature of the confusion of interests which, in this particular case, has persisted for years, and the circumstances which led to this confusion of interests have not been clarified; 6. Notes the statement by the Commission to the effect that the facts uncovered are not such as to entail disciplinary procedures in so far as the internal administrative inquiry did not provide conclusive evidence of fraud or intentional individual failure to fulfil their obligations by officials or other staff of the Commission; reminds the Commission, however, that Article 86 of the Staff Regulations provides for disciplinary action for any failure by an official to comply with his obligations, not only where this is intentional but also where it occurs through negligence; Instructs its competent committee to submit a report to Parliament on further developments in this 7. matter by 31 July 1998; 8. Notes the fact that the Council, in its recommendation on the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the 1996 financial year, considers that all the European institutions should empower UCLAF to carry out inquiries in appropriate cases; notes that such a decision could represent a decisive contribution to ensuring that the institutions of the Union do everything in their power jointly to provide optimum protection against fraud, corruption and organised crime; will take account of the recommendations in the report on the independence, role and status of UCLAF to be submitted to it by its Committee on Budgetary Control pursuant to paragraph 13 of its resolution of 22 October 1997 (3) as soon as the Court of Auditors has published a special report on UCLAF; External policy areas 9. Is deeply concerned about the fact that wrong decisions made in 1996 still continue to produce a negative effect on the management of the reconstruction programmes in Bosnia-Herzegovina due to an inappropriate legal basis, a highly centralized decision structure, the lack of a decentralized approach on the ground and insufficient staffing in Sarajevo, which have resulted in an under-execution of funds thus damaging the reputation of the EU, delaying the return of refugees and, most important, prolonging the suffering of the people of the region which could have been avoided; (1) Minutes of that sitting Part II, Item 5(a). (2) OJ C 286, 22. 9. 1997, p. 263. (3) Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 14. C 138/46 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 10. Notes that the Commission has recently announced measures which, after the failures of the last two years, are intended to permit effective implementation of the reconstruction programme in the former Yugoslavia; affirms that a small delegation of the parliamentary committees concerned must carry out an on-the-spot inspection in summer of this year to establish whether these measures have actually been implemented and are having an effect; 11. Urges the Commission to concentrate as soon as possible all decision-making powers on the spot in Sarajevo in the hands of a Director-General who, in close cooperation with the High Representative on the spot, would be required to coordinate and direct all the operations of the Commission and its departments; 12. Notes that the Commission has not yet acted upon paragraph 10 of its resolution of 6 November 1997 on Court of Auditors Special Report No 3/97 on the decentralized system for the implementation of the PHARE Programme, together with the Commission(cid:146)s replies (1) and expects from the Commission (a) a proposal under which, as from the 1999 financial year, at least one PHARE country would assume full responsibility for the implementation of its national PHARE programme, in accordance with the terms of the Financial Regulation (Articles 107 and 109(4)), and subject to regular ex post checks by the Commission, (b) a decision to the effect that at least one Commission delegation in a PHARE country with which accession negotiations have not opened assumes complete responsibility for financial management of that country(cid:146)s national programme as from the 1999 financial year; 13. Deplores the fact that the TACIS programme has not been able to find a solution to the nuclear safety problems in Ukraine as pointed out in its resolution of 12 March 1998 (2) on Court of Auditors Special Report No 6/97 concerning TACIS subsidies allocated to the Ukraine, together with the Commission(cid:146)s replies (C4-0350/97), and urges the Court of Auditors to publish rapidly the special report on nuclear safety; 14. Regrets the deficiencies in the current execution of the TACIS Programme; insists that improvements take place in the management of the programmes, in particular by giving more powers of decision to the delegations in the TACIS countries, and asks the Commission to report back to it on these improvements; Recalls paragraph 14 of its aforementioned resolution of 17 July 1997 on the MED programmes in 15. which it had already approved the principle of relaunching decentralized cooperation programmes; 16. Notes the statement by the Commission to the effect that it is now ready to relaunch these programmes and requests it to do so without delay and in compliance with the conditions specified in paragraph 14 of its aforementioned resolution of 17 July 1997; Consents to the MED programmes being relaunched by calling initially on the services of two 17. separate external firms for technical management and for financial management; requests the Commission to submit suitable proposals to Parliament with a view to its taking over direct responsibility either for technical management or for financial management of the programmes after two years; 18. Calls on the Commission to exclude from involvement in the new programmes any operators who in the past signed a co-financing obligation and failed to honour it; requests the Commission to arrange for the full recovery of any amounts identified as recoverable during the current financial audit; Agricultural spending 19. Notes, in connection with the Integrated Control System, that (a) the deadline for the full introduction of this system, which is supposed to prevent irregularities in respect of the payment of land area and livestock premiums and under which payments totalling about ECU 20 billion are to be monitored annually, was extended from the original date of the end of 1995 to the end of 1996 at the latest (and for Finland, Austria and Sweden to the end of 1997) and in spite of that has been delayed still further in some Member States; (1) OJ C 358, 24. 11. 1997, p. 50. (2) Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 9(b). 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/47 Tuesday 31 March 1998 (b) the Commission(cid:146)s departments are still not in a position to determine whether the Integrated Control System is now operating satisfactorily in all Member States; (c) according to the Court of Auditors, field inspections have shown that, on average, every fifth application proves to be incorrect; (d) the Commission does not have sufficiently reliable figures for all Member States indicating the extent to which the erroneous applications have been corrected; (e) moreover, the Commission does not have sufficiently reliable data either as to how many cases of fraud or serious neglect have been detected and penalised by the Member States; 20. Expects the Commission, in this context, (a) to submit a report to Parliament, with a breakdown by Member State, on the state of progress with regard to the introduction of the Integrated System, the amount of checks carried out by the Member States in 1996 and the results achieved, the number and extent of the corrections made and the number of cases in which there is a suspicion of fraud or serious negligence; (b) to make financial adjustments in the context of the clearance of the accounts in all cases, without exception, in which the Integrated Control System was not operational by the prescribed deadlines; (c) pursuant to Article 13 of Council Decision 94/729/EC of 31 October 1994 on budgetary discipline (1), to suspend or reduce payments and initiate infringement proceedings immediately in all cases in which the Integrated Control System is still not, or is only incompletely, operational or where Member States have failed to supply adequate information; 21. Restates its decision, contained in its resolution of 21 February 1997 informing the Commission of the reasons for the postponement of the giving of discharge to the Commission in respect of the EAGGF clearance of the accounts for the 1992 financial year (2), not to give the discharge for the 1992 clearance of accounts until the staff increase Parliament requested for the Commission unit responsible for clearance of the EAGGF accounts has not only been announced but implemented; Measures in favour of SMEs Is alarmed at the Court of Auditors(cid:146) revelation that while funds have been made available in the 22. Community budget for a virtually unmanageable number of measures to promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the relevant appropriations are being taken up only very slowly or not at all and it is often totally unclear whether they will help to meet the aim of creating more jobs; 23. Notes that the European Council has recently adopted new measures in favour of SMEs linked to guarantees by the EIB; notes also that significant funds were allocated in the Structural Funds for helping SMEs in the 1994-1999 programming period, but the Commission until now was totally unable to explain how this money has been allocated; asks the Commission to present an inventory of all measures aimed at providing aid for SMEs, in the Structural Funds, before 30 June 1998; Audit and control of the EIF 24. Notes that the Court of Auditors, as it did not have access to the necessary information, is still not in a position to audit the European Investment Fund (EIF) and is therefore unable to submit an opinion to the discharge authority; recalls paragraph 56 of its resolution of 10 April 1997 on the discharge for 1995 (3) and calls on the Commission, in its capacity as representative of the European Community shareholding in the EIF, to ensure the introduction of transparent public audit and control arrangements providing the taxpayer-investor with the necessary assurances as to the accountability of the EIF for its use of public funds; (1) OJ L 293, 12. 11. 1994, p. 14. (2) OJ C 85, 17. 3. 1997, p. 184. (3) OJ L 162, 19. 6. 1997, p. 32. C 138/48 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Administrative and budgetary management 25. Calls on the Commission to redefine its staff policy, in particular by submitting realistic estimates of its needs to the budgetary authority, and to review its human resources management in the light of policy priorities, especially enlargement and the requirements in terms of deconcentration which it implies; 26. Recalls that, pursuant to Article 205 of the Treaty, the Commission has sole responsibility for implementation of the budget; notes that in recent years it has become accustomed to delegating public administration prerogatives to third parties without obtaining all the requisite guarantees and that, according to the Court of Auditors, this practice has assumed dangerous and reprehensible proportions; notes that during the 1996 financial year this practice led to numerous irregularities, and in particular confusions of interests, and a deterioration in the Commission(cid:146)s monitoring of the regularity and effectiveness of expenditure; requests the Commission to submit a report to Parliament on the measures it has taken to put an end to this practice; 27. Is concerned at the obvious absurdities in the results of the competition organized by the Commission in 1996 for the recruitment of accountants; expects the Commission to submit a report giving details of how the Commission ensures that staff for the EU institutions are recruited on the widest possible geographical basis; 28. Notes that the Commission has not yet or not fully complied with the requests for reports contained in its aforementioned resolution of 17 July 1997 on Court of Auditors Special report No 1/96 on the Mediterranean Programmes, its resolution of 17 February 1998 on Court of Auditors Special report No 3/96 on Tourism Policy and the Promotion of Tourism, together with the Commission(cid:146)s replies (1), its resolution of 16 January 1998 on Court of Auditors Special report No 2/97 on European Union Humanitarian Aid › 1992-1995 (2), and its aforementioned resolution of 6 November 1997; notes that it must verify, point by point, whether the Commission has taken all the appropriate measures to comply with the requests formulated by Parliament on the basis of these reports; requests the Court of Auditors to deliver an opinion to Parliament on the matter by July 1998; 29. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Court of Auditors. * * * (1) Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 5(b). (2) Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 2(b). (b) A4-0091/98 I. Decision giving discharge to the Commission in respect of the financial management of the sixth European Development Fund for the financial year 1996 The European Parliament, › having regard to the EC Treaty, › having regard to the third ACP-EEC Convention (1), › having regard to the balance sheets and revenue and expenditure accounts of the sixth and seventh European Development Funds for the 1996 financial year (SEC(97)0938 › C4-0274/97), › having regard to the report and the Statement of Assurance of the Court of Auditors concerning the financial year 1996 and the replies of the institutions (2), (1) OJ L 86, 31. 3. 1986. (2) OJ C 348, 18. 11. 1997 (Vol. I, Chapter 12 and Vol. II, Part II). 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/49 Tuesday 31 March 1998 › having regard to the recommendation of the Council of 9 March 1998 (C4-0167/98), › having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0091/98), Gives discharge to the Commission in respect of the financial management of the sixth European 1. Development Fund for the financial year 1996 on the basis of the following amounts: Balance sheet of 6th EDF at 31 December 1996 (Ecu thousands) Assets Grants Loans Stabex Sysmin Administrative costs Liquid assets Other current assets Items under verification Liabilities Contributions called up Other income Transfers to 7th EDF Amount due to the 6th EDF Other debtors (interest under verification) 4 130 078 924 402 1 451 123 95 855 2 340 6 603 798 402 493 879 573 33 816 7 919 680 7 560 000 539 838 (cid:150) 180 158 › › 7 919 680 Subtotal TOTAL TOTAL Use of resources › 6th EDF at 31 December 1996 Breakdown of funds Initial appropriation Resources or reductions at 31. 12. 1996 Resources or reductions during 1996 (Ecus) New situation Total ACP Total OCT 7 400 000 000,00 380 554 371,58 35 599 450,38 7 816 153 821,96 100 000 000,00 3 526 646,39 0,00 103 526 646,39 TOTAL 7 500 000 000,00 384 081 017,97 35 599 450,38 7 919 680 468,35 2. Records its observations in the resolution which forms part of this decision; 3. Instructs its President to forward this decision and the resolution containing its observations to the Commission, the Council, the Court of Auditors and European Investment Bank and to have them published in the Official Journal (L series). C 138/50 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 II. Decision giving discharge to the Commission in respect of the financial management of the seventh European Development Fund for the financial year 1996 The European Parliament, › having regard to the EC Treaty, › having regard to the fourth ACP-EEC Convention (1), › having regard to the balance sheets and revenue and expenditure accounts of the sixth and seventh European Development Funds for the 1996 financial year (SEC(97)0938 › C4-0274/97), › having regard to the report and the Statement of Assurance of the Court of Auditors concerning the financial year 1996 and the replies of the institutions (2), › having regard to the recommendation of the Council of 9 March 1998 (C4-0166/98), › having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0091/98), Grants discharge to the Commission in respect of the financial management of the seventh European 1. Development Fund for the financial year 1996 on the basis of the following amounts: Balance sheet of 7th EDF at 31 December 1996 ASSETS Grants Loans Stabex Sysmin Liquid assets Other current assets Items under verification Liabilities Contributions called up Other income Transfers to 7th EDF Amount due to 6th EDF (1) OJ L 229 du 17. 8. 1991. (2) OJ C 348 du 18. 11. 1997 (Vol. I, Chapter 12 and Vol. II, Part II). (Ecu thousands) 3 503 978 320 531 1 610 561 101 067 5 536 137 › › › Subtotal TOTAL 5 536 137 3 799 888 876 289 › 859 960 5 536 137 TOTAL 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/51 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Use of resources › 7th EDF at 31 December 1996 Breakdown of funds (Ecus) Initial appropriation Resources or reductions at 31. 12. 1996 Resources or reductions during 1996 New situation Total ACP Total OCT 10 800 000 000,00 828 011 277,33 (cid:150) 18 204 535,14 11 609 806 742,19 140 000 000,00 14 800 730,06 23 404,00 154 800 964,10 Sundry revenue 0,00 41 341 598,08 10 339 649,67 51 681 247,75 TOTAL 10 940 000 000,00 884 153 605,47 (cid:150) 7 864 651,43 11 816 288 954,04 2. Records its observations in the resolution which forms part of this decision; 3. Instructs its President to forward this decision and the resolution containing its observations to the Commission, the Council, the Court of Auditors and European Investment Bank and to have them published in the Official Journal (L series). III. Resolution containing the observations which form part of the decisions granting discharge to the Commission in respect of the financial management of the sixth and seventh European Development Funds for the 1996 financial year The European Parliament, › having regard to Articles 137 and 206 of the EC Treaty, › having regard to Articles 73 and 77 of the financial Regulations applicable respectively to the sixth and seventh EDFs, under which the Commission is required to take all appropriate steps to act on the observations appearing in discharge decisions, › having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0091/98), 1. Notes with great disappointment that the new Amsterdam Treaty makes no progress towards the budgetization of the EDFs, and that the Commission(cid:146)s democratic accountability before Parliament in managing the EDFs continues to be subverted by the legal framework under which the EDFs operate; 2. Observes therefore that the current discharge procedure is again seriously devalued by the absence of the corresponding budgetary powers; consequently participates in it out of a concern to maintain whatever democratic control is possible in the circumstances rather than out of any belief in the validity of the procedure; 3. Expresses its concern at the Court(cid:146)s finding that funds from the seventh EDF have been used to finance measures under the fourth Lome· Convention without any legal basis; insists that the accounts be regularised as soon as possible; C 138/52 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 4. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the Regulations covering EDF tendering procedures are consistently and transparently applied; in this contexts asks the Court of Auditors to return to the subject of tendering procedures after a reasonable interval to verify the improvements which the Commission claims have been made; Calls on the Commission to ensure that due attention is given to the quality of tender proposals and 5. the ability of tenderers to fulfil their contractual obligations; Asks the Commission to review contracting practices under the EDFs whereby fixed exchange rates 6. can give rise to windfall profits for contractors and to report to Parliament on its findings and the action it proposes to take in its follow-up report to this discharge; 7. Welcomes the positive Statement of Assurance provided by the Court of Auditors; asks the Court and the Commission however jointly to address the problems giving rise to a high level of (cid:145)non-opinions(cid:146) in the Statement of Assurance. (c) A4-0094/98 Resolution on the report from the Commission on the measures taken in response to the comments contained in Parliament(cid:146)s resolution which form part of the decision giving discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the general budget for the financial year 1995 (COM(97)0571 › C4-0126/98 › I) The European Parliament, › having regard to Article 206 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, › having regard to its resolution of 10 April 1997 containing the comments which form part of the decision giving discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 1995 (1), › having regard to the report from the Commission (COM(97)0571 › C4-0126/98 › I), › having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4-0094/98), 1. Welcomes the Commission(cid:146)s compliance with a request voiced by Parliament in that it has submitted its report far earlier than in the past; requests the Commission to submit its response on measures to be taken or already taken before the summer break to enable the budgetary authority to take it into account during the budgetary procedure; 2. Welcomes the fact that the Commission has for the first time published the Member States(cid:146) replies to the observations made by the European Court of Auditors in its report; regrets, however, that these replies were not published until a year after the publication of the annual report of the Court of Auditors; Requests the Commission and Member States to ensure that the Member States(cid:146) replies are available 3. early enough in the future to be given proper consideration during the discharge procedure; 4. Welcomes the fact that the Court of Auditors has complied with a request voiced by Parliament in that it has for the first time submitted the results of its activities in connection with the statement of assurance as part of its annual report and intends to integrate the statement of assurance even more closely into its annual report in the future; (1) OJ L 162, 19. 6. 1997, p. 32. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/53 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Calls on the Court of Auditors to ensure that in the future its annual report is forwarded to Parliament 5. in time for its first part-session in October; 6. Points out that this would enable the budgetary authority to take greater account of the statements and comments of the Court of Auditors during the budgetary procedure and that it would also give Parliament an opportunity for more thorough deliberation in preparation for its discharge decision; 7. Accepts that, although the Commission gives information, in an annex to the annual balance sheet, on each Member State(cid:146)s position on debts to the Community not recovered or written off, it is unable to provide an explanation in each case in view of the large number of cases involved; calls on the Commission to forward to Parliament regularly in the future the reports which its financial controller draws up on the basis of Article 29 of the Financial Regulation on debts not yet recovered; Notes that the Commission considers neither legislation nor an action programme necessary to make 8. the collection and recovery of sums due to the Community more effective, but places its faith entirely in the success achieved under the SEM 2000 programme; calls on the Commission to report to Parliament regularly on the progress made in this context; 9. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is at last complying with the request already voiced in Parliament(cid:146)s resolution of 21 April 1993 on the discharge for the 1991 financial year (1) and, in application of Article 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budget procedure, has initiated procedures that may lead to the suspension of payments relating to olive oil if the Member States concerned fail to react; 10. Notes that, according to the Commission, the Greek authorities have initiated legal proceedings in twelve cases of alleged fraud in the cotton sector; calls on the Commission to obtain regular information from the Greek authorities and to report to Parliament on the progress made in these proceedings; 11. Reiterates its request that livestock farmers engaged in intensive pig fattening and in other intensive animal production systems be required to cover a larger proportion of the cost of measures to combat classical swine fever and other contagious animal diseases than hitherto, whereby the contribution of the farmers must be proportionate to the risk they might pose, by their farming system, in terms of the eventual spread of the disease; 12. Calls on the Commission to submit to the Council and Parliament an evaluation of the existing systems in Member States for farmers(cid:146) contributions to the cost of combating contagious animal diseases which fall under Community Regulations; this evaluation must include the aspect of equal competition opportunities for livestock farmers in the Union; it must also examine how an improvement in legal bases can contribute towards improved prevention of contagious animal diseases; 13. Calls on the Commission to submit to the Council and Parliament an option paper containing proposals to this effect, accompanied by a cost-benefit analysis of the Community(cid:146)s current policy on measures to combat swine fever; Emphasizes once again the extreme importance it attaches to the nuclear safety programmes; notes 14. that the Commission has not complied with Parliament(cid:146)s request that a Task Force be set up with responsibility, on an inter-departmental basis, for pooling and employing more effectively Commission resources in this sphere; points out that it will return to this issue in the context of the special report of the Court of Auditors on nuclear safety that has been announced; (1) OJ C 150, 31. 5. 1993, p. 104. C 138/54 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 15. Calls on the Commission to submit to the Member States under the common foreign and security policy a proposal for the setting up of a preparatory group to develop, on the basis of experience of joint actions hitherto, procedures under which the organizational and financial technicalities can be made to operate as rapidly and smoothly as possible; 16. Notes that the Commission(cid:146)s reply to paragraph 79 of the discharge resolution does not provide any explanation of the factors that led it, following the evacuation of the Berlaymont building, to enter into a commitment to pay various property taxes in respect of the rental of buildings; calls on the Commission to undertake an administrative inquiry with a view to determining where the blame may lie; 17. Reiterates its request to the Court of Auditors, already voiced in its discharge resolutions for 1992, 1993 and 1995, to publish as part of its annual report a list of the instances in which the financial controllers of all the institutions have withheld their approval and of any decisions overruling such refusals; Requests the Court of Auditors to draw up a special report on the practice of withholding approval 18. by the financial controllers of the Union(cid:146)s institutions; Requests the Commission to report to it by 30 June 1998 on the measures they have taken 19. subsequent to this resolution; Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Court of 20. Auditors. (d) A4-0093/98 I. Decision giving discharge to the Commission in respect of the management of the European Coal and Steel Community for the financial year 1996 The European Parliament, › having regard to the following amounts contained in the financial statements of the European Coal and Steel Community as at 31 December 1996 and the report of the Court of Auditors of 24 June 1997 (1), confirming that the financial statements present a true picture of the financial situation of the European Coal and Steel Community at 31 December 1996, and the results of ECSC operations for the financial year ending on the same date, 1. Grants the Commission discharge in respect of the management of the ECSC for the 1996 financial year on the basis of the following figures relating to the implementation of the administrative budget for the 1996 financial year; 2. Instructs its President to forward this decision and the resolution containing its comments to the Commission, the Council, the Court of Auditors and the ECSC Consultative Committee and to have them published in the Official Journal (L Series). (1) OJ C 242, 8. 8. 1997, pp. 7 and 32. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/55 Tuesday 31 March 1998 ECSC balance sheet at 31 December 1996 Assets Balance with central banks Loans/advances to credit institutions Loans/advances to customers Bonds/other fixed income securities Tangible and intangible assets Other assets Prepayments (Ecus) 31 December 1996 31 December 1995 602 921 2 917 639 952 2 422 520 347 1 447 389 772 3 412 827 20 146 111 198 377 594 1 421 415 3 453 954 768 3 268 881 232 1 691 340 919 5 297 626 30 376 971 261 821 124 Off balance sheet commitments 1 684 494 717 3 307 530 417 TOTAL ASSETS 7 010 089 524 8 713 094 055 Liabilities Amounts owed to credit institutions Debts evidenced by certificates Other liabilities Accruals and deferred income Provisions for liabilities and charges Commitments for ECSC operating budget 31 December 1996 31 December 1995 2 542 395 630 2 134 840 697 78 273 662 159 831 193 75 213 372 1 059 928 511 2 599 459 636 3 366 056 778 349 844 179 207 600 082 41 190 278 1 255 300 224 Total liabilities vis-a‘-vis third parties 6 050 483 065 7 819 451 177 Provisions for financing operating budget Provisions for large exposures Reserves Value adjustment reserve Surplus brought forward Surplus for the financial year 207 586 988 36 000 000 712 716 452 1 060 011 132 487 2 110 521 144 793 939 55 000 000 692 023 776 0 46 008 1 779 155 Net total 959 606 459 893 642 878 TOTAL LIABILITIES 7 010 089 524 8 713 094 055 Off balance sheet commitments 6 323 533 611 5 186 159 225 C 138/56 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Profit and loss accounts for year ending 31 December 1996 Charges Interest payable and similar charges Commissions payable Net losses on financial operations Administrative expenditure Value adjustments (tangible assets) Other operating charges Value adjustments (loans/advances/provisions) Allocation to the value adjustment reserve Extraordinary charges Conversion difference Legal commitments for the financial year Allocation to provision for operating budget (Ecus) 31 December 1996 31 December 1995 580 314 585 1 264 272 7 939 476 5 000 000 777 962 382 568 61 899 378 768 492 969 1 895 731 13 749 673 5 000 000 894 235 426 702 164 008 951 Total operating charges 657 578 241 954 468 261 1 060 011 4 593 762 0 201 176 900 73 131 189 0 80 090 5 379 102 277 908 755 42 623 043 Total charges 956 540 103 1 280 459 251 Surplus for the financial year 2 110 521 1 779 155 TOTAL 958 650 624 1 282 238 406 Income Interest received and similar income Net profit on financial operations Value adjustment (loans/advances/provisions) Other operating income Exchange differences Withdrawal from the value adjustment reserve Income relating to operating budget Transfer from provision for operating budget Transfer from Guarantee Fund/Special reserve 31 December 1996 31 December 1995 699 872 042 29 031 637 22 092 016 1 544 770 918 747 800 79 995 971 38 551 789 3 468 409 Total operating income 752 540 465 1 040 763 969 1 060 011 0 190 427 105 14 623 043 0 0 4 911 688 184 649 004 42 913 745 9 000 000 TOTAL INCOME 958 650 624 1 282 238 406 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/57 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Implementation of the ECSC operating budget Outturn Expenditure › Administrative expenditure › Legal commitments Interest subsidies Revenue › Levy › Fines › › Miscellaneous › Cancellations of legal commitments › Surplus from previous budget › Extraordinary revenue for operating budget › Net balance for the year Result for financial year (Ecus) 31 December 1996 31 December 1995 5 000 000 201 176 900 5 000 000 277 908 755 Total 206 176 900 282 908 755 95 872 589 0 4 336 252 9 397 89 966 808 14 623 043 0 50 500 000 102 343 728 3 338 003 8 017 721 240 903 70 677 698 40 913 745 2 000 000 70 000 000 Total 255 308 089 297 531 798 BUDGET OUTTURN 49 131 189 14 623 043 31 December 1996 31 December 1995 Result from non-budgetary operations after deducting the net balance allocated to the operating budget Outturn of the budget Withdrawal from special reserve 45 110 521 49 131 189 0 20 779 155 14 623 043 9 000 000 Total 94 241 710 44 402 198 Allocation to provision for operating budget Allocation to the Guarantee Fund (cid:150) 73 131 189 (cid:150) 19 000 000 (cid:150) 42 623 043 0 RESULT BEFORE ALLOCATION 2 110 521 1 779 155 C 138/58 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 II. Resolution on the report of the Court of Auditors on the financial statements of the European Coal and Steel Community at 31 December 1996 and the report of the Court of Auditors on the management of the accounts and the financial management of the ECSC The European Parliament, › having regard to the financial statements of the European Coal and Steel Community at 31 December 1996, submitted by the Commission, and in particular the balance sheet and profit and loss accounts of the ECSC at 31 December 1996 (1), › having regard to the report of the Court of Auditors on the financial statements of the ECSC at 31 December 1996 (2) and the report on the management of the accounts and the financial management of the European Coal and Steel Community (C4-0127/98) (3), › having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4-0093/98), A. whereas the Court of Auditors has found that the financial statements of the ECSC at 31 December 1996 give a true and fair view of the results of its operations for the year then ended, B. whereas the Court of Auditors has provided a positive statement of assurance as to the reliability of the ECSC accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions, C. whereas the ECSC Treaty is due to expire in the year 2002, its activities are being steadily wound down and arrangements have already begun for the transfer of some of its activities to the EC, Notes the comments of the Court of Auditors and the replies of the Commission on the management 1. of the ECSC in 1996; Observes that the ECSC continues to be managed in a financially prudent manner and that, as its 2. activities wind down, its financial position can be considered secure; 3. Considers that, in view of both the forthcoming expiry of the ECSC treaty and the attention received by the issues raised by the Court under other ongoing procedures, further comment is unnecessary within the context of the current ECSC discharge procedure. (1) OJ C 242, 8. 8. 1997, p. 7. (2) OJ C 242, 8. 8. 1997, p. 32. (3) OJ C 380, 15. 12. 1997. (e) A4-0092/98 Decision giving discharge to the Administrative Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in respect of the implementation of its budget for the 1996 financial year I. The European Parliament, › having regard to the EC Treaty and in particular Article 206 thereof, › having regard to the statement of accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions and the report of the Court of Auditors on this subject (C4-0052/98) (1), (1) OJ C 393, 29. 12. 1997, p. 10. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/59 Tuesday 31 March 1998 › having regard to the Council Recommendation of 9 March 1998 (C4-0165/98), › having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A4-0092/98), A. whereas the Court of Auditors finds that the financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 1996 are reliable and the underlying transactions are, as a whole, legal and regular, Notes the following figures for the accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of 1. Living and Working Conditions: 1996 Financial year Revenue 1. Subsidy from the Commission 2. Bank interest 3. Other Expenditure 1. Final budget appropriations 2. Commitments 3. Unused appropriations 4. Payments 5. Carry-overs from 1996 6. Payments against appropriations carried over 7. Appropriations carried over and cancelled (5-6) 8. Carry-overs to 1997 (Ecus) 13 106 034,08 12 895 623,67 120 422,93 89 978,48 13 800 000,00 13 603 844,28 196 155,72 10 505 529,17 3 011 938,09 2 869 742,60 142 195,49 3 098 315,11 2. Expects that, by the time the 1997 discharge decision falls due, the remaining technical problems affecting the separation of duties between the authorising officer and the accounting officer will have been resolved; 3. Calls on the management boards of the Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, swiftly to adopt their Memorandum of Understanding in order to establish structured cooperation between them; as soon as this Memorandum is adopted, expects the directors of these two bodies to present it to its Committees on Employment and Social Affairs, on Budgetary Control and on Budgets; Draws the Court(cid:146)s attention to the fact that coordination with Directorate F is now primarily a matter 4. for the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, not the Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions; 5. Points out that the Foundation exists to advise all EU Institutions, including the European Parliament; expects all Institutions to be allowed the opportunity to provide a timely input into the Foundation(cid:146)s work programme, in order to ensure that the Foundation(cid:146)s work is relevant for their agendas; 6. Gives discharge to the Administrative Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in respect of the implementation of its budget for the 1996 financial year, on the basis of the report of the Court of Auditors; 7. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Administrative Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors and to have it published in the Official Journal (L series). C 138/60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 II. Decision giving discharge to the Management Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training in respect of the implementation of its budget for the 1996 financial year The European Parliament, › having regard to the EC Treaty and in particular Article 206 thereof, › having regard to the statement of accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training and the report of the Court of Auditors on this subject (C4-0051/98) (1), › having regard to the Council Recommendation of 9 March 1998 (C4-0164/98), › having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A4-0092/98), A. whereas the Court of Auditors finds that the financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 1996 are reliable and the underlying transactions are, as a whole, legal and regular, Notes the following figures for the accounts of the European Centre for the Development for 1. Vocational Training: 1996 Financial year Revenue 1. Subsidy from the Commission 2. Bank interest 3. Exchange rate gains 4. Other 5. Iceland subsidy 6. Norway subsidy Expenditure 1. Final budget appropriations 2. Commitments 3. Unused appropriations 4. Payments 5. Carry-overs from 1995 6. Payments against appropriations carried over 7. Appropriations carried over and cancelled (5-6) 8. Carry-overs to 1997 9. Cancellations (1-4-8) (Ecus) 13 535 466,17 13 104 862,25 286 485,76 0,00 47 983,16 5 546,25 90 588,75 14 821 135,00 13 535 466,17 1 285 668,83 11 384 417,74 4 824 787,76 4 209 062,76 615 725,00 2 151 048,43 1 285 668,83 2. Asks the Commission(cid:146)s Financial Controller to re-examine the contracting practices of the Centre in the light of the Court of Auditors(cid:146) comments in order to clarify when it is necessary for it to launch formal specific calls for tender; 3. Emphasizes that the Centre must obtain compensation from the owner of its temporary premises for improvements carried out at the Centre(cid:146)s expense; asks the director to report to the budgetary authority and to the Court of Auditors on this subject upon expiry of the current rental agreement; 4. Reiterates its belief that the mechanism employed for the purchase of the Centre(cid:146)s new premises lacks transparency and guarantees of value for money and is thus unsuitable for a public sector property purchase; asks the Court of Auditors to monitor the progress of this agreement and to report to Parliament in its next annual report on the Centre; (1) OJ C 393, 29. 12. 1997, p. 1. 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/61 Tuesday 31 March 1998 5. Takes note of the fact that the decommitment of ECU 1,1 million in the Centre(cid:146)s 1996 budget was due to the fact that during that year it employed only 70 people out of the 81 initially budgeted; notes that the move to Thessaloniki has finally been completed and that working conditions, at least in terms of staffing, are now back to normal; Expects the Centre now to be in a position to submit an accurate forecast of its financial needs, so 6. that the budgetary appropriations decided by the authority are fully utilized; Reiterates its belief that the Centre can make a valid contribution to the development of a European 7. vocational training policy; would like the Centre in this context to become more involved in the activities of the European Parliament by making its expertise available to its relevant committees; Gives discharge to the Management Board of the European Centre for the Development for 8. Vocational Training in respect of the implementation of its budget for the 1996 financial year; 9. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Management Board of the European Centre for the Development for Vocational Training, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors and to have it published in the Official Journal (L series). 9. Criminal proceedings in protection of Union(cid:146)s financial interests A4-0082/98 Resolution on criminal proceedings relating to the protection of the Union(cid:146)s financial interests The European Parliament, › having regard to its resolution of 22 October 1997 on the Commission(cid:146)s 1996 Annual Report and its Work Programme for 1997/98 on the protection of the Community(cid:146)s financial interests and the fight against fraud (1), › having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure, › having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs (A4-0082/98), A. emphasizing that the protection of the Union(cid:146)s financial interests requires not only an efficient investigative system, but also an effective and consistent criminal justice system operating throughout the Union(cid:146)s territory in concert with the competent Community authorities, B. considering that it is necessary, therefore, to identify the main features of such a system, with particular reference to its institutional components and the procedures to be applied, C. stressing that the following two points must be taken as read: › › the Union(cid:146)s capacity to conduct investigations relating to criminal offences, without which it would be impossible to secure protection by the authority responsible for bringing prosecutions (investigating authority); the independence of the Union body responsible for conducting investigations relating to criminal matters, failing which conflicts of interest might arise with other departments involved in the investigations, D. whereas the problems involved in securing protection under the criminal law must be addressed both in the short term, by measures taken under the existing treaties, and, in the longer term, by more radical measures, (1) Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 14. C 138/62 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 E. whereas fraud, corruption and money laundering affecting the Communities(cid:146) financial interests are multinational by nature, as these offences are committed on, or affect, the territories of several Member States, as demonstrated by the recent cases relating to the tourism sector and the Community transit system; whereas this leads to conflicts of jurisdiction and problems of cooperation between the national judicial authorities, partly due to the absence of adequate provisions in international and Community law, F. whereas the Convention on the Protection of the European Communities(cid:146) Financial Interests is not capable of solving such problems of jurisdiction and cooperation, as it does not go beyond prescribing non-binding procedures for national authorities, G. whereas it is necessary, therefore, for the Union to take subsidiary measures to fill the lacunae in the various national bodies of legislation, H. whereas Article 280 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam, provides for the adoption of measures in accordance with the codecision procedure while stipulating that they shall not concern the application of criminal law or the administration of justice; whereas, however, such measures must be regarded as admissible if they provide a subsidiary means of filling lacunae in the existing law and criminal procedure in all the Member States, I. whereas, consequently, the Union can intervene to take subsidiary action under the first pillar on the basis of Article 280 of the new EC Treaty, J. whereas, if the judicial system is to operate effectively, it must be possible for information concerning suspected offences to be communicated easily to the investigating authority, but whereas in the context of the Union considerable obstacles stand in the way of officials › or UCLAF itself › referring such matters to the national investigating authorities, K. noting that short-term action would not, however, entirely eliminate conflicts of jurisdiction and other serious problems involved in horizontal cooperation, and that, therefore, longer-term action is also necessary, along the lines set out in the (cid:145)Corpus Juris(cid:146) presented by the Commission, 1. Considers that, in the short term, the only way of ensuring that the Union(cid:146)s finances are protected under the criminal law is by an efficient system of cooperation between national investigating authorities responsible for bringing criminal proceedings; 2. Considers that, in the absence of adequate international and Community law provisions, the Union could ensure effective cooperation between the national investigating authorities by enabling a specialized body to take subsidiary action and act as a clearing house by: (a) centralizing information, while ensuring that information which might be used in evidence meets the requirements of the legal system from which the request originates; (b) coordinating the activities of the investigating authorities and providing them with technical and legal assistance; Considers that the body best suited to carrying out these tasks is UCLAF, in view of the sources of 3. information at its disposal and its existing de facto links with the investigating authorities; Calls, however, for Community regulations to govern the exercise of these tasks by laying down 4. provisions with regard to: (a) setting up a centralized data base managed by UCLAF incorporating information on data with a bearing on criminal proceedings provided by the national authorities and by UCLAF; (b) equipping UCLAF with a statute conferring on it powers to coordinate and assist the national authorities and to communicate to them information and evidence in the requisite form; 5. Calls on the Commission to confer on UCLAF the task of helping to improve the training of national justice officials in the various fields of Community law affecting the protection of the Union(cid:146)s financial interests; 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/63 Tuesday 31 March 1998 6. › Calls on the Commission: to propose abolishing Article 19 of the Staff Regulations applicable to Community Officials, which prevents officials and UCLAF from communicating information concerning suspected offences to the investigating authority without the permission of the appointing authority, › to provide a more correct interpretation of the provisions concerning officials(cid:146) legal immunity so that they cover only prosecution and not cooperation with the investigating authorities; 7. Considers that, in the long term, the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor to coordinate a network of delegated national investigating authorities (as proposed in the (cid:145)Corpus Juris(cid:146)) would offer a more radical solution to the problems of judicial cooperation, the rationalisation of information and the speed of judicial proceedings, by establishing an embryonic European legal area in the domain of the protection of the Union(cid:146)s financial interests; Stresses, in that connection, the need to ensure that economic, commercial and monetary integration 8. are followed by a more integrated system for the protection of European citizens(cid:146) rights; Calls on the Commission, therefore, to continue its efforts to remove the technical and legal barriers 9. to implementing this project in the medium to long term, and requests it to communicate to Parliament, by June 1998: (a) re the harmonization of criminal law, which must precede the harmonization of procedure: what measures it intends to propose for the harmonization of criminal law if unanimous ratification of the Convention on the Protection of Financial Interests has not occurred, as scheduled, by the end of the first half of 1998; (b) re the technical feasibility of the proposed establishment of a European Public Prosecutor: in what respects the system proposed in the (cid:145)Corpus Juris(cid:146) is incompatible with the various national systems, and what remedial action could be taken to remove such incompatibilities; Proposes, finally, to reflect further on two sets of problems in connection with the establishment of 10. a European Public Prosecutor: (a) the means of ensuring the independence of that body and the nature of its relations with Union institutions; (b) the most appropriate legal instrument for the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor (international treaty; Community regulation; legal act under the third pillar); 11. Reminds the Commission that these guidelines should be taken into consideration in the consultation document it is to submit by June 1998 aimed at suggesting, among other things, how to cooperate more effectively with the judicial authorities; 12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and to the Council. C 138/64 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 ATTENDANCE REGISTER 31 March 1998 The following signed: d(cid:146)Aboville, Adam, Aelvoet, Ahern, Ahlqvist, Alavanos, Amadeo, Anastassopoulos, d(cid:146)Ancona, Andersson, Andre·-Le·onard, Andrews, Angelilli, An(cid:152)overos Trias de Bes, Antony, Anttila, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Apolina·rio, Areitio Toledo, Argyros, Arias Can(cid:152)ete, Arroni, Augias, Avgerinos, Azzolini, Baggioni, Baldarelli, Baldi, Balfe, Banotti, Bardong, Baro·n Crespo, Barros Moura, Barthet-Mayer, Barton, Barzanti, Bazin, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bere‘s, Berger, Bernard-Reymond, Bertens, Berthu, Bertinotti, Bianco, Billingham, van Bladel, Blak, Bloch von Blottnitz, Blokland, Blot, Bo¤ge, Bo¤sch, Bontempi, Boogerd-Quaak, Bourlanges, Bowe, Breyer, Brinkhorst, Brok, Buffetaut, Burenstam Linder, Burtone, Cabezo·n Alonso, Caccavale, Caligaris, Camiso·n Asensio, Campos, Capucho, Cardona, Carlotti, Carlsson, Carnero Gonza·lez, Carniti, Carre‘re d(cid:146)Encausse, Cars, Casini Carlo, Cassidy, Castagne‘de, Castagnetti, Castellina, Castricum, Caudron, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chesa, Chichester, Christodoulou, Coates, Cohn-Bendit, Colino Salamanca, Collins Gerard, Collins Kenneth D. , Colom i Naval, Corbett, Cornelissen, Correia, Corrie, Cot, Cottigny, Cox, Crampton, Crawley, Crowley, Cunha, Cunningham, Cushnahan, van Dam, D(cid:146)Andrea, Danesin, Dankert, Darras, Dary, Daskalaki, De Clercq, De Coene, Decourrie‘re, De Giovanni, Dell(cid:146)Alba, De Luca, De Melo, Denys, Deprez, Desama, de Vries, van Dijk, Dillen, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnay, Donnelly Alan John, Donnelly Brendan Patrick, Donner, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dupuis, Dury, Ebner, Elchlepp, Elles, Elliott, Elmalan, Ephremidis, Eriksson, Escudero, Estevan Bolea, Ettl, Evans, Ewing, Fabra Valle·s, Fabre-Aubrespy, Falconer, Fantuzzi, Farassino, Fassa, Fayot, Ferber, Fe·ret, Ferna·ndez-Albor, Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n, Ferrer, Filippi, Fitzsimons, Flemming, Florenz, Fontaine, Ford, Formentini, Four(cid:231)ans, Fraga Este·vez, Friedrich, Frischenschlager, Frutos Gama, Funk, Gahrton, Gallagher, Garc(cid:14)·a Arias, Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil, Garosci, Garot, Garriga Polledo, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, de Gaulle, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Giansily, Gillis, Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado, Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Glante, Goepel, Goerens, Go¤rlach, Gollnisch, Gomolka, Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Graefe zu Baringdorf, Graenitz, Graziani, Green, Gro¤ner, Grosch, Grossete(cid:136)te, Gu¤nther, Guinebertie‘re, Gutie·rrez D(cid:14)·az, Haarder, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Ha¤nsch, Hager, Hallam, Hardstaff, Harrison, Hatzidakis, Haug, Hautala, Hawlicek, Heinisch, Hendrick, Herman, Hermange, Hernandez Mollar, Herzog, Hindley, Hoff, Holm, Hoppenstedt, Hory, Howitt, Hughes, Hyland, Ilaskivi, Imaz San Miguel, Imbeni, Izquierdo Collado, Izquierdo Rojo, Jackson, Janssen van Raay, Jarzembowski, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jensen Lis, Jo¤ns, Jove· Peres, Junker, Kaklamanis, Karamanou, Katiforis, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Kerr, Kestelijn-Sierens, Killilea, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kittelmann, Kjer Hansen, Kla(cid:223), Koch, Kofoed, Kokkola, Konrad, Krarup, Krehl, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Kristoffersen, Kuckelkorn, Kuhn, Kuhne, Lage, Laignel, Lalumie‘re, La Malfa, Lambraki, Lambrias, Lang, Langen, Langenhagen, Lannoye, Larive, Lataillade, Le Gallou, Lehne, Lenz, Leopardi, Le Pen, Leperre-Verrier, Le Rachinel, Lienemann, Liese, Ligabue, Lindeperg, Lindholm, Lindqvist, Linkohr, Linser, Lo¤o¤w, Lomas, Lucas Pires, Lu¤ttge, Lulling, Macartney, McCarthy, McCartin, McGowan, McIntosh, McKenna, McMahon, McMillan-Scott, McNally, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Malone, Manisco, Mann Erika, Mann Thomas, Manzella, Marin, Marinucci, Marset Campos, Martens, Martin David W. , Martin Philippe-Armand, Martinez, Mather, Matikainen-Kallstro¤m, Mayer, Medina Ortega, Megahy, Mendiluce Pereiro, Mendon(cid:231)a, Metten, Mezzaroma, Miller, Miranda, Miranda de Lage, Mohamed Ali, Mombaur, Monfils, Moniz, Moorhouse, Mora·n Lo·pez, Moreau, Morgan, Morris, Mosiek-Urbahn, Mu¤ller, Mulder, Murphy, Muscardini, Mutin, Myller, Napoletano, Nassauer, Nencini, Newens, Newman, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson, Nordmann, Novo, Novo Belenguer, Ojala, Olsson, Oomen-Ruijten, Oostlander, Orlando, Paasilinna, Paasio, Pack, Pailler, Palacio Vallelersundi, Papakyriazis, Papayannakis, Parigi, Parodi, Pasty, Pe·rez Royo, Perry, Peter, Pettinari, Pex, Piecyk, Piha, Pimenta, Pinel, Pirker, des Places, Plooij-van Gorsel, Plumb, Podesta‘, Poettering, Poggiolini, Poisson, Pollack, Pome·s Ruiz, Pons Grau, Porto, Posselt, Pradier, Pronk, Provan, Puerta, van Putten, Querbes, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Randzio-Plath, Rapkay, Raschhofer, Rauti, Read, Reding, Redondo Jime·nez, Rehder, Ribeiro, Riis-Jłrgensen, Rinsche, Ripa di Meana, Robles Piquer, Rocard, Rosado Fernandes, de Rose, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rothley, Roubatis, Rovsing, Ru¤big, Ruffolo, Ryyna¤nen, Sainjon, Saint-Pierre, Sakellariou, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Samland, Sandb(cid:230)k, Santini, Sanz Ferna·ndez, Sarlis, Sauquillo Pe·rez del Arco, Scapagnini, Scarbonchi, Schaffner, Schiedermeier, Schierhuber, Schlechter, Schleicher, Schlu¤ter, Schmid, Schmidbauer, Schnellhardt, Scho¤rling, Schro¤der, Schroedter, Schulz, Schwaiger, Seal, Secchi, Seillier, Seppa¤nen, Sierra Gonza·lez, Simpson, Sindal, Siso· Cruellas, Skinner, Smith, Soltwedel-Scha¤fer, Sonneveld, Sornosa Mart(cid:14)·nez, Souchet, Soulier, Spaak, Speciale, Spencer, Spiers, Stasi, Stenmarck, Stenzel, Stewart-Clark, Stirbois, Striby, Sturdy, Swoboda, Tannert, Tappin, Tatarella, Taubira-Delannon, Telka¤mper, Teverson, Theato, Theonas, Theorin, Thomas, Thors, Tillich, Tindemans, Titley, Todini, Tomlinson, Torres Couto, Torres Marques, Trakatellis, Truscott, Tsatsos, Ullmann, Va¤yrynen, Vallve·, Valverde Lo·pez, Vandemeulebroucke, Vanhecke, Van Lancker, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vaz da Silva, Vecchi, van Velzen W. G. , van Velzen Wim, Verde i Aldea, Verwaerde, Viceconte, Vinci, Viola, Virgin, Virrankoski, Voggenhuber, Waddington, Waidelich, Watson, Watts, Weber, Weiler, Wemheuer, White, Whitehead, Wibe, Wiebenga, Wieland, Wijsenbeek, Willockx, Wilson, von Wogau, Wolf, Wurtz, Wynn, Zimmermann 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/65 Tuesday 31 March 1998 (+) = For (›) = Against (O) = Abstention ANNEX Result of roll-call votes 1. Va¤yrynen report › A4-0088/98 Amendment 18 (+) ARE: Barthet-Mayer, Castagne‘de, Dary, Dell(cid:146)Alba, Dupuis, Ewing, Hory, Lalumie‘re, Leperre-Verrier, Macartney, Pradier, Saint-Pierre, Scarbonchi, Taubira-Delannon, Weber GUE/NGL: Alavanos, Carnero Gonza·lez, Coates, Ephremidis, Eriksson, Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Gutie·rrez D(cid:14)·az, Herzog, Jove· Peres, Manisco, Miranda, Mohamed Ali, Moreau, Novo, Pailler, Pettinari, Puerta, Querbes, Ribeiro, Sierra Gonza·lez, Theonas, Wurtz I-EDN: Berthu, Buffetaut, de Gaulle, Pinel, de Rose, Seillier PSE: Adam, d(cid:146)Ancona, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Apolina·rio, Augias, Avgerinos, Balfe, Baro·n Crespo, Barros Moura, Barzanti, Bere‘s, Berger, Blak, Bo¤sch, Bontempi, Bowe, Cabezo·n Alonso, Campos, Carlotti, Carniti, Castricum, Caudron, Colino Salamanca, Collins Kenneth D. , Colom i Naval, Corbett, Correia, Cottigny, Crampton, Crawley, Cunningham, Dankert, Darras, David, De Coene, De Giovanni, Denys, Desama, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dury, Elchlepp, Elliott, Ettl, Evans, Falconer, Fantuzzi, Fayot, Ford, Frutos Gama, Garc(cid:14)·a Arias, Garot, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Glante, Go¤rlach, Graenitz, Green, Gro¤ner, Ha¤nsch, Hallam, Happart, Hardstaff, Harrison, Haug, Hawlicek, Hendrick, Hindley, Hoff, Howitt, Hughes, Imbeni, Iversen, Izquierdo Collado, Izquierdo Rojo, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jo¤ns, Karamanou, Katiforis, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kokkola, Krehl, Kuckelkorn, Kuhn, Kuhne, Laignel, Lambraki, Lange, Lienemann, Lindeperg, Linkohr, Lu¤ttge, McCarthy, McMahon, McNally, Malone, Mann Erika, Manzella, Marinucci, Martin David W. , Medina Ortega, Megahy, Mendiluce Pereiro, Metten, Miller, Miranda de Lage, Morgan, Morris, Murphy, Mutin, Myller, Napoletano, Newens, Newman, Paasilinna, Paasio, Papakyriazis, Pe·rez Royo, Peter, Piecyk, van Putten, Randzio-Plath, Rapkay, Read, Rehder, Rocard, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rothley, Roubatis, Ruffolo, Samland, Sanz Ferna·ndez, Sauquillo Pe·rez del Arco, Scha¤fer, Schlechter, Schmid, Schmidbauer, Schulz, Seal, Simpson, Skinner, Smith, Speciale, Spiers, Swoboda, Tannert, Tappin, Terro·n i Cus(cid:14)·, Thomas, Titley, Tomlinson, Torres Couto, Torres Marques, Truscott, Tsatsos, Van Lancker, van Velzen Wim, Verde i Aldea, Waddington, Watts, Weiler, Wemheuer, White, Whitehead, Willockx, Wilson, Wynn, Zimmermann (›) ELDR: Andre·-Le·onard, Anttila, Bertens, Boogerd-Quaak, Brinkhorst, Cars, Cox, De Clercq, De Luca, de Vries, Fassa, Frischenschlager, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, Goerens, Haarder, Kestelijn-Sierens, Kjer Hansen, Kofoed, Larive, Lindqvist, Monfils, Mulder, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nordmann, Olsson, Plooij-van Gorsel, Riis-Jłrgensen, Ryyna¤nen, Spaak, Teverson, Thors, Va¤yrynen, Virrankoski, Watson, Wiebenga, Wijsenbeek GUE/NGL: Ojala, Seppa¤nen I-EDN: Blokland, van Dam, Fabre-Aubrespy, Jensen Lis, Nicholson, Sandb(cid:230)k, Souchet NI: Amadeo, Angelilli, Formentini, Hager, Linser, Raschhofer, Tatarella PPE: Anastassopoulos, An(cid:152)overos Trias de Bes, Areitio Toledo, Argyros, Arias Can(cid:152)ete, Banotti, Bardong, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bernard-Reymond, Bianco, Bo¤ge, Bourlanges, Brok, Burenstam Linder, Camiso·n Asensio, Capucho, Carlsson, Casini Carlo, Cassidy, Castagnetti, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chichester, Christodoulou, Cornelissen, Corrie, Cunha, Cushnahan, Decourrie‘re, De Melo, Deprez, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnelly Brendan Patrick, Ebner, Elles, Escudero, Estevan Bolea, Fabra Valle·s, Ferber, Ferna·ndez-Albor, Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n, Ferrer, Filippi, Flemming, Florenz, Fontaine, Four(cid:231)ans, Fraga Este·vez, Friedrich, Funk, Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil, Garriga Polledo, Gillis, Goepel, Gomolka, Graziani, Grosch, Grossete(cid:136)te, Gu¤nther, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Hatzidakis, Heinisch, Herman, Hernandez Mollar, Hoppenstedt, Ilaskivi, Imaz San Miguel, Jackson, Jarzembowski, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Kittelmann, Kla(cid:223), Koch, Konrad, Kristoffersen, Lambrias, Langen, Langenhagen, Lehne, Lenz, Liese, Lucas Pires, Lulling, McCartin, McIntosh, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Mann Thomas, Martens, Matikainen-Kallstro¤m, Mayer, Mendon(cid:231)a, Mombaur, Moorhouse, Mosiek-Urbahn, Nassauer, Oomen-Ruijten, Oostlander, Pack, Perry, Pex, Piha, Pimenta, Pirker, Plumb, Poettering, Poggiolini, Posselt, Pronk, Provan, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Reding, Redondo Jime·nez, Rinsche, Robles Piquer, C 138/66 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Rovsing, Ru¤big, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Sarlis, Schiedermeier, Schierhuber, Schleicher, Schnellhardt, Schro¤der, Schwaiger, Secchi, Siso· Cruellas, Sonneveld, Spencer, Stasi, Stenmarck, Stenzel, Stewart-Clark, Sturdy, Theato, Tillich, Tindemans, Trakatellis, Valdivielso de Cue·, Valverde Lo·pez, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, van Velzen W. G. , Verwaerde, Viola, Virgin, Wieland, von Wogau UPE: d(cid:146)Aboville, Andrews, Arroni, Azzolini, Baggioni, Baldi, van Bladel, Caccavale, Carre‘re d(cid:146)Encausse, Chesa, Collins Gerard, Crowley, Daskalaki, Donnay, Fitzsimons, Gallagher, Garosci, Giansily, Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Guinebertie‘re, Hermange, Hyland, Kaklamanis, Killilea, Lataillade, Leopardi, Ligabue, Malerba, Martin Philippe-Armand, Parodi, Pasty, Podesta‘, Poisson, Rosado Fernandes, Santini, Scapagnini, Schaffner, Todini, Viceconte V: Aelvoet, Ahern, Bloch von Blottnitz, Breyer, Cohn-Bendit, van Dijk, Hautala, Kerr, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Lannoye, McKenna, Mu¤ller, Ripa di Meana, Schroedter, Soltwedel-Scha¤fer, Telka¤mper, Ullmann, Voggenhuber, Wolf I-EDN: des Places (O) NI: Antony, Blot, Dillen, Fe·ret, Lang, Le Gallou, Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Martinez, Rauti, Stirbois, Vanhecke PSE: Ahlqvist, Andersson, Hulthe·n, Lo¤o¤w, Theorin, Waidelich, Wibe V: Gahrton, Holm, Lindholm, Scho¤rling 2. Va¤yrynen report › A4-0088/98 Amendment 20 (first part) (+) ARE: Barthet-Mayer, Castagne‘de, Dary, Dupuis, Hory, Lalumie‘re, Leperre-Verrier, Macartney, Pradier, Saint-Pierre, Scarbonchi, Taubira-Delannon, Weber ELDR: Andre·-Le·onard, Anttila, Bertens, Boogerd-Quaak, Brinkhorst, Cars, Cox, De Clercq, De Luca, de Vries, Fassa, Frischenschlager, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, Goerens, Haarder, Kestelijn-Sierens, Kjer Hansen, Larive, Lindqvist, Monfils, Mulder, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Olsson, Plooij-van Gorsel, Riis-Jłrgensen, Ryyna¤nen, Spaak, Teverson, Thors, Va¤yrynen, Vallve·, Virrankoski, Watson, Wiebenga, Wijsenbeek GUE/NGL: Coates, Eriksson, Ojala, Seppa¤nen I-EDN: Fabre-Aubrespy, de Gaulle, Jensen Lis, Sandb(cid:230)k, Seillier NI: Antony, Blot, Dillen, Fe·ret, Lang, Le Gallou, Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Martinez, Stirbois, Vanhecke PPE: Ilaskivi, Matikainen-Kallstro¤m, Piha PSE: Adam, d(cid:146)Ancona, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Apolina·rio, Augias, Avgerinos, Balfe, Baro·n Crespo, Barros Moura, Barton, Barzanti, Bere‘s, Berger, Billingham, Blak, Bo¤sch, Bontempi, Bowe, Cabezo·n Alonso, Campos, Carlotti, Carniti, Castricum, Caudron, Colino Salamanca, Collins Kenneth D. , Colom i Naval, Corbett, Correia, Cottigny, Crampton, Cunningham, Dankert, David, De Coene, De Giovanni, Denys, Desama, Donnelly Alan John, Donner, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dury, Elchlepp, Elliott, Ettl, Evans, Falconer, Fantuzzi, Fayot, Ford, Frutos Gama, Garc(cid:14)·a Arias, Garot, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Glante, Go¤rlach, Graenitz, Green, Gro¤ner, Ha¤nsch, Hallam, Happart, Hardstaff, Harrison, Haug, Hawlicek, Hendrick, Hindley, Hoff, Howitt, Hughes, Imbeni, Iversen, Izquierdo Collado, Izquierdo Rojo, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jo¤ns, Junker, Karamanou, Katiforis, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kokkola, Krehl, Kuckelkorn, Kuhn, Kuhne, Lage, Laignel, Lambraki, Lange, Lienemann, Lindeperg, Linkohr, Lu¤ttge, McCarthy, McMahon, McNally, Malone, Mann Erika, Manzella, Marinucci, Martin David W. , Medina Ortega, Megahy, Mendiluce Pereiro, Metten, Miller, Miranda de Lage, Morris, Murphy, Mutin, Myller, Napoletano, Newens, Newman, Oddy, Paasilinna, Paasio, Papakyriazis, Pe·rez Royo, Peter, Piecyk, van Putten, Randzio-Plath, Rapkay, Read, Rehder, Rocard, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rothley, Roubatis, Ruffolo, Samland, Sanz Ferna·ndez, Sauquillo Pe·rez del Arco, Scha¤fer, Schlechter, Schmid, Schmidbauer, Schulz, Seal, Simpson, Skinner, Smith, Speciale, Spiers, Swoboda, Tannert, Tappin, Terro·n i Cus(cid:14)·, Thomas, Titley, Tomlinson, Torres Couto, Torres Marques, Truscott, Tsatsos, Van Lancker, Vecchi, van Velzen Wim, Verde i Aldea, Waddington, Watts, Weiler, Wemheuer, White, Whitehead, Wibe, Willockx, Wilson, Wynn, Zimmermann 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/67 Tuesday 31 March 1998 V: Aelvoet, Ahern, Bloch von Blottnitz, Cohn-Bendit, van Dijk, Gahrton, Hautala, Kerr, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Lannoye, Lindholm, McKenna, Mu¤ller, Ripa di Meana, Scho¤rling, Schroedter, Soltwedel-Scha¤fer, Telka¤mper, Ullmann, Voggenhuber, Wolf (›) GUE/NGL: Carnero Gonza·lez, Ephremidis, Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Gutie·rrez D(cid:14)·az, Herzog, Jove· Peres, Manisco, Miranda, Mohamed Ali, Moreau, Novo, Pailler, Puerta, Querbes, Sierra Gonza·lez, Wurtz I-EDN: Berthu, Blokland, Buffetaut, van Dam, Nicholson, Pinel, des Places, de Rose, Souchet NI: Amadeo, Angelilli, Formentini, Hager, Linser, Raschhofer, Tatarella PPE: Anastassopoulos, An(cid:152)overos Trias de Bes, Areitio Toledo, Argyros, Arias Can(cid:152)ete, Banotti, Bardong, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bernard-Reymond, Bianco, Bo¤ge, Bourlanges, Brok, Burenstam Linder, Camiso·n Asensio, Capucho, Carlsson, Casini Carlo, Cassidy, Castagnetti, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chichester, Christodoulou, Cornelissen, Corrie, Cunha, Cushnahan, Decourrie‘re, De Melo, Deprez, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnelly Brendan Patrick, Ebner, Elles, Escudero, Estevan Bolea, Fabra Valle·s, Ferber, Ferna·ndez-Albor, Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n, Ferrer, Filippi, Flemming, Fontaine, Four(cid:231)ans, Fraga Este·vez, Friedrich, Funk, Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil, Gillis, Goepel, Gomolka, Graziani, Grosch, Grossete(cid:136)te, Gu¤nther, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Hatzidakis, Heinisch, Herman, Hernandez Mollar, Hoppenstedt, Imaz San Miguel, Jackson, Jarzembowski, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Kittelmann, Kla(cid:223), Koch, Kristoffersen, Lambrias, Langen, Langenhagen, Lehne, Lenz, Liese, Lucas Pires, Lulling, McCartin, McIntosh, McMillan-Scott, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Mann Thomas, Martens, Mayer, Mendon(cid:231)a, Mombaur, Moorhouse, Mosiek-Urbahn, Nassauer, Oomen-Ruijten, Perry, Pex, Pimenta, Pirker, Plumb, Poettering, Poggiolini, Posselt, Pronk, Provan, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Reding, Rinsche, Robles Piquer, Rovsing, Ru¤big, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Sarlis, Schiedermeier, Schierhuber, Schleicher, Schnellhardt, Schro¤der, Schwaiger, Secchi, Siso· Cruellas, Sonneveld, Spencer, Stasi, Stenmarck, Stenzel, Stewart-Clark, Sturdy, Theato, Tillich, Tindemans, Trakatellis, Valdivielso de Cue·, Valverde Lo·pez, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, van Velzen W. G. , Verwaerde, Viola, Virgin, Wieland, von Wogau UPE: d(cid:146)Aboville, Andrews, Arroni, Azzolini, Baggioni, Baldi, van Bladel, Carre‘re d(cid:146)Encausse, Chesa, Collins Gerard, Crowley, Daskalaki, Donnay, Fitzsimons, Garosci, Giansily, Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Guinebertie‘re, Hermange, Hyland, Kaklamanis, Killilea, Lataillade, Leopardi, Ligabue, Malerba, Martin Philippe-Armand, Parodi, Pasty, Podesta‘, Poisson, Rosado Fernandes, Santini, Scapagnini, Schaffner, Todini, Viceconte (O) GUE/NGL: Pettinari, Theonas NI: Rauti PSE: Ahlqvist, Andersson, Hulthe·n, Lo¤o¤w, Theorin, Waidelich UPE: Caccavale 3. Va¤yrynen report › A4-0088/98 Amendment 10 (+) ARE: Castagne‘de, Hory ELDR: Bertens, Kjer Hansen, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nordmann, Virrankoski GUE/NGL: Alavanos, Carnero Gonza·lez, Ephremidis, Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Gutie·rrez D(cid:14)·az, Jove· Peres, Manisco, Miranda, Mohamed Ali, Moreau, Novo, Pailler, Pettinari, Puerta, Querbes, Ribeiro, Sierra Gonza·lez, Theonas, Wurtz I-EDN: Buffetaut, Fabre-Aubrespy, de Gaulle, Jensen Lis, de Rose, Sandb(cid:230)k, Seillier NI: Amadeo, Angelilli, Antony, Blot, Dillen, Fe·ret, Lang, Le Gallou, Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Martinez, Stirbois, Tatarella, Vanhecke PPE: Anastassopoulos, An(cid:152)overos Trias de Bes, Areitio Toledo, Argyros, Arias Can(cid:152)ete, Banotti, Bardong, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bernard-Reymond, Bianco, Bo¤ge, Bourlanges, Brok, Burenstam Linder, Camiso·n Asensio, Capucho, Carlsson, Casini Carlo, Cassidy, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chichester, C 138/68 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Christodoulou, Cornelissen, Corrie, Cunha, Cushnahan, Decourrie‘re, Deprez, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnelly Brendan Patrick, Ebner, Elles, Escudero, Estevan Bolea, Fabra Valle·s, Ferber, Ferna·ndez-Albor, Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n, Ferrer, Filippi, Flemming, Florenz, Fontaine, Four(cid:231)ans, Fraga Este·vez, Friedrich, Funk, Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil, Garriga Polledo, Gillis, Goepel, Gomolka, Grosch, Grossete(cid:136)te, Gu¤nther, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Hatzidakis, Heinisch, Herman, Hernandez Mollar, Hoppenstedt, Ilaskivi, Imaz San Miguel, Jackson, Jarzembowski, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Kittelmann, Kla(cid:223), Koch, Konrad, Kristoffersen, Lambrias, Langen, Langenhagen, Lehne, Lenz, Liese, Lucas Pires, Lulling, McIntosh, McMillan-Scott, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Mann Thomas, Martens, Matikainen-Kallstro¤m, Mayer, Mendon(cid:231)a, Mombaur, Moorhouse, Mosiek-Urbahn, Nassauer, Oomen-Ruijten, Oostlander, Pack, Perry, Pex, Piha, Pimenta, Pirker, Plumb, Poettering, Poggiolini, Posselt, Pronk, Provan, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Reding, Redondo Jime·nez, Rinsche, Robles Piquer, Rovsing, Ru¤big, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Sarlis, Schiedermeier, Schierhuber, Schleicher, Schnellhardt, Schro¤der, Schwaiger, Secchi, Siso· Cruellas, Sonneveld, Spencer, Stasi, Stenmarck, Stenzel, Stewart-Clark, Sturdy, Theato, Tillich, Tindemans, Trakatellis, Valdivielso de Cue·, Valverde Lo·pez, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, van Velzen W. G. , Verwaerde, Viola, Virgin, Wieland, von Wogau PSE: Kinnock, Schmid UPE: d(cid:146)Aboville, Andrews, Arroni, Azzolini, Baggioni, Baldi, van Bladel, Carre‘re d(cid:146)Encausse, Chesa, Collins Gerard, Crowley, Daskalaki, Donnay, Fitzsimons, Garosci, Giansily, Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Guinebertie‘re, Hyland, Kaklamanis, Killilea, Lataillade, Leopardi, Ligabue, Malerba, Martin Philippe-Armand, Pasty, Poisson, Rosado Fernandes, Santini, Scapagnini, Todini, Viceconte V: Aelvoet, Ahern, Bloch von Blottnitz, Cohn-Bendit, van Dijk, Gahrton, Hautala, Holm, Kerr, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Lannoye, Lindholm, McKenna, Mu¤ller, Ripa di Meana, Scho¤rling, Soltwedel-Scha¤fer, Telka¤mper, Ullmann, Voggenhuber, Wolf (›) ARE: Barthet-Mayer, Dary, Dell(cid:146)Alba, Dupuis, Ewing, Lalumie‘re, Leperre-Verrier, Macartney, Pradier, Sainjon, Saint-Pierre, Scarbonchi, Taubira-Delannon, Weber ELDR: Andre·-Le·onard, Anttila, Boogerd-Quaak, Brinkhorst, Cars, Cox, De Clercq, De Luca, de Vries, Fassa, Frischenschlager, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, Goerens, Haarder, Kestelijn-Sierens, Kofoed, Larive, Lindqvist, Monfils, Mulder, Olsson, Plooij-van Gorsel, Riis-Jłrgensen, Ryyna¤nen, Spaak, Teverson, Thors, Va¤yrynen, Vallve·, Watson, Wiebenga, Wijsenbeek GUE/NGL: Coates, Ojala, Seppa¤nen I-EDN: Berthu, van Dam, Nicholson, Pinel, des Places, Souchet NI: Hager, Linser, Raschhofer, Rauti PPE: Castagnetti, De Melo PSE: Adam, Ahlqvist, d(cid:146)Ancona, Andersson, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Apolina·rio, Augias, Avgerinos, Balfe, Baro·n Crespo, Barros Moura, Barton, Barzanti, Bere‘s, Berger, Billingham, Blak, Bo¤sch, Bontempi, Bowe, Cabezo·n Alonso, Campos, Carlotti, Carniti, Castricum, Caudron, Colino Salamanca, Collins Kenneth D. , Colom i Naval, Corbett, Correia, Cottigny, Crampton, Crawley, Cunningham, Dankert, Darras, David, De Coene, De Giovanni, Denys, Desama, Donnelly Alan John, Donner, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dury, Elchlepp, Elliott, Ettl, Evans, Falconer, Fantuzzi, Fayot, Ford, Frutos Gama, Garc(cid:14)·a Arias, Garot, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Glante, Go¤rlach, Graenitz, Green, Gro¤ner, Ha¤nsch, Hallam, Happart, Hardstaff, Harrison, Haug, Hawlicek, Hendrick, Hindley, Hoff, Howitt, Hughes, Imbeni, Iversen, Izquierdo Collado, Izquierdo Rojo, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jo¤ns, Junker, Karamanou, Katiforis, Kindermann, Kokkola, Krehl, Kuckelkorn, Kuhn, Kuhne, Lage, Laignel, Lambraki, Lange, Lienemann, Lindeperg, Linkohr, Lo¤o¤w, Lu¤ttge, McCarthy, McMahon, McNally, Malone, Mann Erika, Manzella, Marinucci, Martin David W. , Medina Ortega, Megahy, Mendiluce Pereiro, Metten, Miller, Miranda de Lage, Morris, Murphy, Mutin, Myller, Napoletano, Newens, Newman, Oddy, Paasilinna, Paasio, Papakyriazis, Pe·rez Royo, Peter, Piecyk, van Putten, Randzio-Plath, Rapkay, Read, Rehder, Rocard, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rothley, Roubatis, Ruffolo, Samland, Sanz Ferna·ndez, Sauquillo Pe·rez del Arco, Scha¤fer, Schlechter, Schmidbauer, Schulz, Seal, Simpson, Skinner, Smith, Speciale, Spiers, Swoboda, Tannert, Tappin, Terro·n i Cus(cid:14)·, Theorin, Thomas, Titley, Tomlinson, Torres Couto, Torres Marques, Truscott, Tsatsos, Van Lancker, Vecchi, van Velzen Wim, Verde i Aldea, Waddington, Watts, Weiler, Wemheuer, White, Whitehead, Wibe, Willockx, Wilson, Wynn, Zimmermann UPE: Hermange, Schaffner 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/69 (O) Tuesday 31 March 1998 GUE/NGL: Herzog PSE: Hulthe·n, Waidelich UPE: Caccavale, Parodi 4. Va¤yrynen report › A4-0088/98 Amendment 20 (second part) (+) ARE: Barthet-Mayer, Dary, Dell(cid:146)Alba, Dupuis, Ewing, Hory, Lalumie‘re, Leperre-Verrier, Macartney, Pradier, Sainjon, Saint-Pierre, Scarbonchi, Taubira-Delannon, Weber ELDR: Andre·-Le·onard, Anttila, Bertens, Cars, Cox, De Clercq, De Luca, de Vries, Fassa, Frischenschlager, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, Haarder, Kestelijn-Sierens, Kjer Hansen, Kofoed, Lindqvist, Monfils, Mulder, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Olsson, Plooij-van Gorsel, Riis-Jłrgensen, Ryyna¤nen, Spaak, Teverson, Thors, Va¤yrynen, Vallve·, Virrankoski, Watson, Wiebenga, Wijsenbeek GUE/NGL: Alavanos, Carnero Gonza·lez, Coates, Eriksson, Herzog, Ojala, Seppa¤nen, Sierra Gonza·lez I-EDN: Buffetaut, Fabre-Aubrespy, de Gaulle, Jensen Lis, de Rose, Sandb(cid:230)k, Seillier NI: Formentini PPE: Ilaskivi, Matikainen-Kallstro¤m, Piha PSE: Adam, d(cid:146)Ancona, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Apolina·rio, Augias, Avgerinos, Balfe, Baro·n Crespo, Barros Moura, Barton, Barzanti, Bere‘s, Berger, Billingham, Blak, Bo¤sch, Bontempi, Bowe, Cabezo·n Alonso, Campos, Carlotti, Carniti, Castricum, Caudron, Colino Salamanca, Collins Kenneth D. , Colom i Naval, Corbett, Correia, Cottigny, Crampton, Crawley, Cunningham, Dankert, Darras, David, De Coene, De Giovanni, Denys, Desama, Donnelly Alan John, Donner, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dury, Elchlepp, Elliott, Ettl, Evans, Falconer, Fantuzzi, Fayot, Ford, Frutos Gama, Garc(cid:14)·a Arias, Garot, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Glante, Go¤rlach, Graenitz, Green, Gro¤ner, Ha¤nsch, Hallam, Happart, Hardstaff, Harrison, Haug, Hawlicek, Hendrick, Hindley, Hoff, Howitt, Hughes, Imbeni, Iversen, Izquierdo Collado, Izquierdo Rojo, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jo¤ns, Junker, Karamanou, Katiforis, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kokkola, Krehl, Kuckelkorn, Kuhn, Kuhne, Lage, Laignel, Lambraki, Lange, Lienemann, Lindeperg, Linkohr, Lo¤o¤w, Lu¤ttge, McCarthy, McNally, Malone, Mann Erika, Manzella, Marinucci, Martin David W. , Medina Ortega, Megahy, Mendiluce Pereiro, Metten, Miller, Miranda de Lage, Morgan, Morris, Murphy, Mutin, Myller, Napoletano, Newens, Newman, Oddy, Paasilinna, Paasio, Papakyriazis, Pe·rez Royo, Peter, Piecyk, van Putten, Randzio-Plath, Rapkay, Rehder, Rocard, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rothley, Roubatis, Ruffolo, Samland, Sanz Ferna·ndez, Sauquillo Pe·rez del Arco, Scha¤fer, Schlechter, Schmid, Schmidbauer, Schulz, Seal, Simpson, Skinner, Smith, Speciale, Spiers, Swoboda, Tannert, Tappin, Terro·n i Cus(cid:14)·, Titley, Tomlinson, Torres Couto, Torres Marques, Truscott, Tsatsos, Van Lancker, Vecchi, van Velzen Wim, Verde i Aldea, Waddington, Watts, Weiler, Wemheuer, White, Whitehead, Wibe, Willockx, Wilson, Wynn, Zimmermann UPE: Collins Gerard, Kaklamanis, Ligabue, Santini V: Aelvoet, Ahern, Breyer, Cohn-Bendit, van Dijk, Kerr, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Lannoye, Lindholm, McKenna, Mu¤ller, Ripa di Meana, Schroedter, Telka¤mper, Ullmann, Voggenhuber, Wolf (›) ELDR: Boogerd-Quaak, Brinkhorst, Goerens, Nordmann I-EDN: Berthu, Blokland, van Dam, Nicholson, Pinel, des Places, Souchet NI: Amadeo, Angelilli, Hager, Linser, Raschhofer, Tatarella PPE: Anastassopoulos, An(cid:152)overos Trias de Bes, Areitio Toledo, Argyros, Arias Can(cid:152)ete, Banotti, Bardong, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bernard-Reymond, Bianco, Bo¤ge, Bourlanges, Brok, Burenstam Linder, Camiso·n Asensio, Carlsson, Casini Carlo, Cassidy, Castagnetti, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chichester, Christodoulou, Cornelissen, Corrie, Cunha, Cushnahan, Decourrie‘re, De Melo, Deprez, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnelly Brendan Patrick, Ebner, Elles, Escudero, Estevan Bolea, Fabra Valle·s, Ferber, Ferna·ndez-Albor, C 138/70 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n, Ferrer, Filippi, Flemming, Florenz, Fontaine, Four(cid:231)ans, Fraga Este·vez, Friedrich, Funk, Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil, Garriga Polledo, Gillis, Goepel, Gomolka, Graziani, Grosch, Grossete(cid:136)te, Gu¤nther, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Hatzidakis, Heinisch, Herman, Hernandez Mollar, Hoppenstedt, Imaz San Miguel, Jackson, Jarzembowski, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Koch, Kristoffersen, Lambrias, Langen, Langenhagen, Lehne, Lenz, Liese, Lucas Pires, Lulling, McCartin, McIntosh, McMillan-Scott, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Mann Thomas, Martens, Mayer, Mendon(cid:231)a, Mombaur, Moorhouse, Mosiek-Urbahn, Nassauer, Oomen-Ruijten, Oostlander, Pack, Perry, Pex, Pimenta, Pirker, Plumb, Poettering, Poggiolini, Posselt, Pronk, Provan, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Reding, Redondo Jime·nez, Rinsche, Robles Piquer, Rovsing, Ru¤big, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Sarlis, Schiedermeier, Schierhuber, Schleicher, Schnellhardt, Schro¤der, Schwaiger, Secchi, Siso· Cruellas, Sonneveld, Spencer, Stasi, Stenmarck, Stenzel, Stewart-Clark, Sturdy, Theato, Tillich, Tindemans, Trakatellis, Valdivielso de Cue·, Valverde Lo·pez, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, van Velzen W. G. , Verwaerde, Viola, Virgin, Wieland, von Wogau UPE: d(cid:146)Aboville, Andrews, Arroni, Azzolini, Baggioni, Baldi, van Bladel, Carre‘re d(cid:146)Encausse, Chesa, Crowley, Daskalaki, Donnay, Fitzsimons, Gallagher, Garosci, Giansily, Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Guinebertie‘re, Hermange, Hyland, Killilea, Lataillade, Leopardi, Malerba, Martin Philippe-Armand, Parodi, Pasty, Poisson, Rosado Fernandes, Scapagnini, Schaffner, Todini, Viceconte (O) GUE/NGL: Ephremidis, Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Gutie·rrez D(cid:14)·az, Jove· Peres, Manisco, Miranda, Mohamed Ali, Moreau, Novo, Pailler, Pettinari, Puerta, Querbes, Ribeiro, Theonas, Wurtz NI: Antony, Blot, Dillen, Fe·ret, Lang, Le Gallou, Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Martinez, Rauti, Stirbois, Vanhecke PSE: Ahlqvist, Andersson, Hulthe·n, Theorin, Waidelich UPE: Caccavale, Podesta‘ V: Holm 5. Va¤yrynen report › A4-0088/98 Amendment 20 (third part) (+) ARE: Barthet-Mayer, Castagne‘de, Dary, Dell(cid:146)Alba, Dupuis, Ewing, Hory, Lalumie‘re, Leperre-Verrier, Macartney, Pradier, Sainjon, Saint-Pierre, Scarbonchi, Taubira-Delannon, Weber ELDR: Andre·-Le·onard, Anttila, Bertens, Boogerd-Quaak, Brinkhorst, Cars, Cox, De Clercq, De Luca, de Vries, Fassa, Frischenschlager, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, Goerens, Haarder, Kestelijn-Sierens, Kjer Hansen, Kofoed, Larive, Lindqvist, Monfils, Mulder, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nordmann, Olsson, Plooij-van Gorsel, Riis-Jłrgensen, Ryyna¤nen, Spaak, Teverson, Thors, Va¤yrynen, Vallve·, Virrankoski, Watson, Wiebenga, Wijsenbeek GUE/NGL: Coates, Eriksson, Herzog, Ojala, Pettinari, Seppa¤nen I-EDN: Buffetaut, Fabre-Aubrespy, de Gaulle, Pinel, de Rose, Sandb(cid:230)k, Seillier, Souchet PPE: Ilaskivi, Matikainen-Kallstro¤m, Piha, Stasi PSE: Adam, d(cid:146)Ancona, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Apolina·rio, Augias, Avgerinos, Balfe, Baro·n Crespo, Barros Moura, Barton, Barzanti, Bere‘s, Berger, Billingham, Blak, Bo¤sch, Bontempi, Bowe, Cabezo·n Alonso, Campos, Carlotti, Carniti, Castricum, Caudron, Colino Salamanca, Collins Kenneth D. , Colom i Naval, Corbett, Correia, Cottigny, Crampton, Crawley, Cunningham, Dankert, Darras, David, De Coene, De Giovanni, Denys, Desama, Donnelly Alan John, Donner, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dury, Elchlepp, Elliott, Ettl, Evans, Falconer, Fantuzzi, Fayot, Ford, Frutos Gama, Garc(cid:14)·a Arias, Garot, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Glante, Go¤rlach, Graenitz, Green, Gro¤ner, Ha¤nsch, Hallam, Happart, Hardstaff, Harrison, Haug, Hawlicek, Hendrick, Hindley, Hoff, Howitt, Hughes, Imbeni, Iversen, Izquierdo Rojo, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jo¤ns, Junker, Karamanou, Katiforis, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kokkola, Krehl, Kuckelkorn, Kuhn, Kuhne, Lage, Laignel, Lambraki, Lange, Lienemann, Lindeperg, Linkohr, Lu¤ttge, McCarthy, McMahon, McNally, Malone, Mann Erika, Manzella, Marinucci, Martin David W. , Medina Ortega, Megahy, Mendiluce Pereiro, Metten, Miller, Miranda de Lage, Morgan, Morris, Murphy, Mutin, Myller, 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/71 Tuesday 31 March 1998 Napoletano, Newens, Newman, Oddy, Paasilinna, Paasio, Papakyriazis, Pe·rez Royo, Peter, Piecyk, van Putten, Rapkay, Read, Rehder, Rocard, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rothley, Roubatis, Ruffolo, Sanz Ferna·ndez, Sauquillo Pe·rez del Arco, Scha¤fer, Schlechter, Schmid, Schmidbauer, Schulz, Seal, Simpson, Skinner, Smith, Speciale, Spiers, Swoboda, Tannert, Tappin, Terro·n i Cus(cid:14)·, Thomas, Titley, Tomlinson, Torres Couto, Torres Marques, Truscott, Tsatsos, Van Lancker, Vecchi, van Velzen Wim, Verde i Aldea, Waddington, Watts, Weiler, Wemheuer, White, Whitehead, Wibe, Willockx, Wilson, Wynn, Zimmermann UPE: d(cid:146)Aboville, Arroni, Baggioni, Caccavale, Carre‘re d(cid:146)Encausse, Chesa, Daskalaki, Giansily, Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Guinebertie‘re, Hermange, Kaklamanis, Lataillade, Martin Philippe-Armand, Pasty, Poisson, Santini, Schaffner V: Ripa di Meana I-EDN: Berthu, Blokland, van Dam, Jensen Lis, Nicholson, des Places NI: Amadeo, Angelilli, Hager, Linser, Parigi, Raschhofer, Tatarella (›) PPE: Anastassopoulos, An(cid:152)overos Trias de Bes, Areitio Toledo, Argyros, Arias Can(cid:152)ete, Banotti, Bardong, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bernard-Reymond, Bianco, Bo¤ge, Bourlanges, Brok, Burenstam Linder, Camiso·n Asensio, Capucho, Carlsson, Casini Carlo, Cassidy, Castagnetti, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chichester, Christodoulou, Cornelissen, Corrie, Cunha, Cushnahan, Decourrie‘re, De Melo, Deprez, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnelly Brendan Patrick, Ebner, Elles, Escudero, Estevan Bolea, Fabra Valle·s, Ferber, Ferna·ndez-Albor, Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n, Ferrer, Filippi, Flemming, Florenz, Fontaine, Four(cid:231)ans, Fraga Este·vez, Friedrich, Funk, Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil, Garriga Polledo, Gillis, Goepel, Gomolka, Graziani, Grosch, Grossete(cid:136)te, Gu¤nther, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Hatzidakis, Heinisch, Herman, Hernandez Mollar, Hoppenstedt, Imaz San Miguel, Jackson, Jarzembowski, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Kittelmann, Kla(cid:223), Koch, Konrad, Kristoffersen, Lambrias, Langen, Langenhagen, Lehne, Lenz, Liese, Lucas Pires, Lulling, McCartin, McIntosh, McMillan-Scott, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Mann Thomas, Martens, Mayer, Mendon(cid:231)a, Mombaur, Moorhouse, Mosiek-Urbahn, Nassauer, Oomen-Ruijten, Oostlander, Pack, Perry, Pex, Pimenta, Pirker, Plumb, Poettering, Poggiolini, Posselt, Pronk, Provan, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Reding, Redondo Jime·nez, Rinsche, Robles Piquer, Rovsing, Ru¤big, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Sarlis, Schiedermeier, Schierhuber, Schleicher, Schnellhardt, Schro¤der, Schwaiger, Secchi, Siso· Cruellas, Sonneveld, Spencer, Stenmarck, Stenzel, Stewart-Clark, Sturdy, Theato, Tillich, Tindemans, Trakatellis, Valdivielso de Cue·, Valverde Lo·pez, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vaz da Silva, van Velzen W. G. , Verwaerde, Viola, Virgin, Wieland, von Wogau UPE: Andrews, Azzolini, Collins Gerard, Crowley, Donnay, Fitzsimons, Gallagher, Garosci, Hyland, Killilea, Leopardi, Ligabue, Malerba, Parodi, Podesta‘, Rosado Fernandes, Scapagnini, Todini, Viceconte V: Aelvoet, Ahern, Bloch von Blottnitz, Breyer, Cohn-Bendit, van Dijk, Gahrton, Hautala, Holm, Kerr, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Lannoye, Lindholm, McKenna, Mu¤ller, Scho¤rling, Schroedter, Soltwedel-Scha¤fer, Telka¤mper, Ullmann, Voggenhuber, Wolf (O) GUE/NGL: Alavanos, Carnero Gonza·lez, Ephremidis, Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Gutie·rrez D(cid:14)·az, Jove· Peres, Manisco, Miranda, Mohamed Ali, Novo, Pailler, Puerta, Querbes, Ribeiro, Sierra Gonza·lez, Theonas, Wurtz NI: Antony, Blot, Dillen, Fe·ret, Formentini, Lang, Le Gallou, Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Martinez, Rauti, Stirbois, Vanhecke PSE: Ahlqvist, Andersson, Hulthe·n, Lo¤o¤w, Theorin, Waidelich UPE: Baldi 6. Va¤yrynen report › A4-0088/98 Commission proposal (+) ARE: Castagne‘de, Dary, Dell(cid:146)Alba, Dupuis, Hory, Lalumie‘re, Pradier, Sainjon, Saint-Pierre, Scarbonchi, Taubira-Delannon, Weber ELDR: Kofoed, Nordmann C 138/72 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 4. 5. 98 Tuesday 31 March 1998 NI: Amadeo, Angelilli, Antony, Blot, Dillen, Fe·ret, Formentini, Lang, Le Gallou, Le Pen, Le Rachinel, Martinez, Parigi, Rauti, Stirbois, Tatarella, Vanhecke PPE: Anastassopoulos, An(cid:152)overos Trias de Bes, Areitio Toledo, Argyros, Arias Can(cid:152)ete, Banotti, Bardong, Bennasar Tous, Berend, Bernard-Reymond, Bianco, Bo¤ge, Bourlanges, Brok, Burenstam Linder, Camiso·n Asensio, Capucho, Carlsson, Casini Carlo, Cassidy, Castagnetti, Cederschio¤ld, Chanterie, Chichester, Christodoulou, Cornelissen, Corrie, Cunha, Cushnahan, Decourrie‘re, De Melo, Deprez, Dimitrakopoulos, Donnelly Brendan Patrick, Ebner, Elles, Escudero, Estevan Bolea, Fabra Valle·s, Ferber, Ferna·ndez-Albor, Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n, Ferrer, Filippi, Flemming, Florenz, Fontaine, Four(cid:231)ans, Fraga Este·vez, Friedrich, Funk, Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil, Garriga Polledo, Gillis, Goepel, Gomolka, Graziani, Grosch, Grossete(cid:136)te, Gu¤nther, von Habsburg, Habsburg-Lothringen, Hatzidakis, Heinisch, Herman, Hernandez Mollar, Hoppenstedt, Ilaskivi, Imaz San Miguel, Jackson, Jarzembowski, Kellett-Bowman, Keppelhoff-Wiechert, Kittelmann, Kla(cid:223), Koch, Konrad, Kristoffersen, Lambrias, Langen, Langenhagen, Lehne, Lucas Pires, Lulling, McCartin, McIntosh, McMillan-Scott, Maij-Weggen, Malangre·, Mann Thomas, Martens, Mayer, Mendon(cid:231)a, Mombaur, Moorhouse, Mosiek-Urbahn, Nassauer, Oomen-Ruijten, Oostlander, Pack, Perry, Pex, Piha, Pimenta, Pirker, Plumb, Poettering, Poggiolini, Posselt, Pronk, Provan, Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Rack, Reding, Redondo Jime·nez, Rinsche, Robles Piquer, Rovsing, Ru¤big, Salafranca Sa·nchez-Neyra, Sarlis, Schiedermeier, Schierhuber, Schleicher, Schnellhardt, Schro¤der, Schwaiger, Secchi, Siso· Cruellas, Sonneveld, Spencer, Stasi, Stenmarck, Stenzel, Stewart-Clark, Sturdy, Theato, Tillich, Tindemans, Trakatellis, Valdivielso de Cue·, Valverde Lo·pez, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vaz da Silva, van Velzen W. G. , Verwaerde, Viola, Virgin, Wieland, von Wogau PSE: Adam, d(cid:146)Ancona, Aparicio Sa·nchez, Apolina·rio, Augias, Avgerinos, Balfe, Baro·n Crespo, Barros Moura, Barton, Barzanti, Bere‘s, Berger, Billingham, Bo¤sch, Bontempi, Bowe, Cabezo·n Alonso, Campos, Carlotti, Carniti, Castricum, Caudron, Colino Salamanca, Collins Kenneth D. , Colom i Naval, Corbett, Correia, Cottigny, Crampton, Crawley, Cunningham, Dankert, Darras, David, De Coene, De Giovanni, Denys, Desama, Donnelly Alan John, Donner, Du¤hrkop Du¤hrkop, Duhamel, Dury, Elchlepp, Elliott, Ettl, Evans, Falconer, Fantuzzi, Ford, Frutos Gama, Garc(cid:14)·a Arias, Garot, Gebhardt, Ghilardotti, Glante, Go¤rlach, Graenitz, Green, Gro¤ner, Ha¤nsch, Hallam, Happart, Hardstaff, Harrison, Haug, Hawlicek, Hendrick, Hindley, Hoff, Howitt, Hughes, Imbeni, Iversen, Izquierdo Collado, Izquierdo Rojo, Jensen Kirsten M. , Jo¤ns, Junker, Karamanou, Katiforis, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kokkola, Krehl, Kuckelkorn, Kuhn, Kuhne, Lage, Laignel, Lambraki, Lange, Lienemann, Lindeperg, Linkohr, Lu¤ttge, McCarthy, McMahon, McNally, Malone, Mann Erika, Manzella, Marinucci, Martin David W. , Medina Ortega, Megahy, Mendiluce Pereiro, Metten, Miller, Miranda de Lage, Morgan, Morris, Murphy, Mutin, Myller, Napoletano, Newens, Newman, Oddy, Paasilinna, Paasio, Papakyriazis, Pe·rez Royo, Peter, Piecyk, van Putten, Randzio-Plath, Rapkay, Read, Rehder, Rocard, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rothley, Roubatis, Ruffolo, Samland, Sanz Ferna·ndez, Sauquillo Pe·rez del Arco, Scha¤fer, Schlechter, Schmid, Schmidbauer, Schulz, Seal, Simpson, Skinner, Smith, Speciale, Spiers, Swoboda, Tannert, Tappin, Terro·n i Cus(cid:14)·, Thomas, Titley, Tomlinson, Torres Couto, Torres Marques, Truscott, Tsatsos, Van Lancker, Vecchi, van Velzen Wim, Verde i Aldea, Waddington, Watts, Weiler, Wemheuer, White, Whitehead, Willockx, Wilson, Wynn, Zimmermann UPE: d(cid:146)Aboville, Andrews, Azzolini, Baggioni, Baldi, van Bladel, Caccavale, Carre‘re d(cid:146)Encausse, Chesa, Collins Gerard, Crowley, Daskalaki, Donnay, Fitzsimons, Gallagher, Garosci, Giansily, Gira(cid:152)o Pereira, Guinebertie‘re, Hermange, Hyland, Kaklamanis, Killilea, Lataillade, Leopardi, Ligabue, Malerba, Martin Philippe-Armand, Parodi, Pasty, Podesta‘, Poisson, Rosado Fernandes, Santini, Scapagnini, Schaffner, Todini V: Aelvoet, Ahern, Bloch von Blottnitz, Breyer, Cohn-Bendit, van Dijk, Hautala, Kerr, Kreissl-Do¤rfler, Lannoye, McKenna, Mu¤ller, Ripa di Meana, Schroedter, Soltwedel-Scha¤fer, Telka¤mper, Ullmann, Voggenhuber, Wolf GUE/NGL: Moreau, Querbes, Theonas (›) I-EDN: Berthu, Blokland, van Dam, Jensen Lis, Nicholson, des Places, Sandb(cid:230)k NI: Linser ARE: Ewing, Macartney (O) ELDR: Andre·-Le·onard, Anttila, Bertens, Boogerd-Quaak, Brinkhorst, Cars, Cox, De Clercq, De Luca, de Vries, Fassa, Frischenschlager, Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm, Goerens, Haarder, Kestelijn-Sierens, Kjer Hansen, Larive, Lindqvist, Monfils, Mulder, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Olsson, Plooij-van Gorsel, Riis-Jłrgensen, Ryyna¤nen, Spaak, Teverson, Thors, Va¤yrynen, Vallve·, Virrankoski, Watson, Wiebenga, Wijsenbeek 4. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 138/73 Tuesday 31 March 1998 GUE/NGL: Alavanos, Carnero Gonza·lez, Coates, Ephremidis, Eriksson, Gonza·lez A· lvarez, Gutie·rrez D(cid:14)·az, Herzog, Jove· Peres, Manisco, Mohamed Ali, Novo, Ojala, Pailler, Pettinari, Puerta, Ribeiro, Seppa¤nen, Sierra Gonza·lez, Wurtz I-EDN: Buffetaut, Fabre-Aubrespy, de Gaulle, Pinel, de Rose, Seillier, Souchet PPE: Matikainen-Kallstro¤m PSE: Ahlqvist, Andersson, Fayot, Hulthe·n, Lo¤o¤w, Theorin, Waidelich, Wibe V: Gahrton, Holm, Lindholm