|
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
| |
Procedures
|
Limited
to three: consultation, assent and co-decision.
|
Limited
to three: consultation, assent and co-decision (but co-operation procedure
maintained for the four cases under EMU).
|
Wider
application of co-decision
|
The
Commission considers that all acts of a legislative nature should be adopted by
means of the co-decision procedure. Articles concerned:
- Art. 6, paragraph 2 (prohibition of any discrimination on grounds of
nationality)
- Art. 8a(2) (freedom of movement and residence)
- Art. 8b(1) (right to vote and stand for election)
- Art. 43 (common agricultural policy and fisheries policy: acts of general
political scope)
- Art. 51 (social security for Community migrant workers)
- Art. 55 (exception to the right of establishment)
- Art. 57(2) (provisions governing professions)
- Art. 59 (freedom to provide services)
- Art. 73c (movement of capital to or from third countries)
- Art. 75 and Art. 84 (implementation of a common transport policy)
- Art. 99 (harmonisation of legislation on indirect taxation)
- Art. 100 (approximation of laws)
- Art. 113 (basic provisions governing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures;
provisions on trade protection measures; rules on general import and export
schemes)
- Art. 118a (minimum requirements on harmonisation in the area of welfare)
- Art. 125 (implementing decisions relating to the European Social Fund)
- Art. 127(4) (vocational training)
- Art. 130b (special cohesion measures)
- Art. 130d, first and second paragraphs (Structural Funds)
- Art. 130e, first paragraph (Cohesion Fund)
- Art. 130s(1), (2) and second paragraph of (3) (environment: measures to be
taken in pursuit of the general objectives)
- Art. 130w(1) (development co-operation: measures required to further the
general objectives)
- Art. 145 (co-decision procedure arrangements)
- Art. 209 (Financial Regulation)
- Art. 212 (Staff Regulations)
.
|
Co-decision
extended to the following articles (subjects):
- Prohibition of any discrimination on grounds of nationality (Art. 6)
- Freedom of movement and residence (Art. 8a(2))
- Social security for Community migrant workers (Art. 51)
- Right of establishment for foreign nationals ( Art. 56(2))
- Provisions governing professions (Art. 57(2))
- Transport policy: implementing measures (Art. 75 and Art. 84)
- Articles resulting from incorporation into the Treaty of the Agreement on
Social Policy, with the exception of the areas of the Agreement that currently
require unanimity
- Implementing decisions relating to the European Social Fund (Art. 125)
- Vocational training (Art. 127(4))
- Public health (Art. 129)
- Other measures (Trans-European Networks) (Art. 129(d), third paragraph)
- Implementing decisions relating to the European Regional Development Fund
(Art. 130e)
- Research (Art. 130o, second paragraph)
- Environment (Art. 130s(1))
- Development co-operation (Art. 130w)
New provisions:
- Equal opportunities and equal treatment (Art. 119)
- Openness (Art. 191a)
- Combating fraud (Art. 209a)
- Statistics (Art. 213a)
- Establishment of an independent advisory authority on data protection (Art.
213b)
- Employment incentive measures (new Title)
- Customs co-operation (new article)
- Social policy: incentive measures to counter social exclusion (Art. 118(2))
|
Simplification
of co-decision procedure
|
To
drop the third reading
|
Second
reading simplified.
Third reading dropped.
|
Membership
of EP
|
Limited
to 700.
|
Limited
to 700: appropriate representation of all the peoples of the Member States must
be ensured
|
Common
electoral procedure
|
Establishment
of a common electoral procedure to ensure that members are as representative as
possible (as already laid down in the Treaty).
|
New
Article 138(3) "The European Parliament shall draw up a proposal for elections
by direct universal suffrage in accordance with a uniform procedures in all
Member States or in accordance with principles common to all Member States..
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
| |
Role
of the Commission
|
The
Commission's right of initiative, its executive powers, and its role as
guardian of the Treaties must be preserved.
|
Not
called into question.
|
Appointment
of Commission
|
President
should be approved by Parliament.
Greater role in choice of the Commission Members, who should be appointed by
common accord between the President and the respective governments of the
Member States
|
Approval
by EP of designated President.
Commission members to be appointed by "common accord" with the governments.
Article 163: "The Commission shall work under the political guidance of its
President"
|
Membership
of the Commission
|
The
number of Commission Members should be reduced to one per Member State. To be
re-examined above a certain number of Member States; the IGC should agree an
appropriate procedure for doing this.
|
Protocol
deferring the matter until the time of enlargement:
- at the date of the first enlargement one Member of the Commission per Member
State, provided that the weighting of votes in the Council has been
modified;
- one year before membership of the Union exceeds twenty a new IGC to be
convened "to carry out a comprehensive review of the provisions of the Treaties
on the composition and functioning of the institutions".
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
| |
Greater
use of qualified-majority voting
|
Majority
voting should be the general rule.
"Super-qualified" majority voting could be used in particularly sensitive
fields.
The procedures for amending the Treaty, except as regards constitutional-type
provisions, should be less unwieldy than at present.
|
Qualified
majority voting extended to cover:
- Employment guidelines and incentive measures (Art. 4 and 5 of the new
Title)
- Social exclusion (Art. 118(2))
- Equal opportunities and treatment of men and women (Art. 119(3))
- Public health (Art. 129(4))
- Openness (Art. 191a)
- Countering fraud (Art. 209a)
- Statistics (Art. 213a)
- Establishment of an independent advisory authority on data protection (Art.
213b)
- Outermost regions (Art. 227(2))
- Customs co-operation (new article)
- Compensatory aid for imports of raw materials (Art. 45(3))
- Co-ordination of provisions on the right of establishment
(Art. 56(2))
- Adoption of the research framework programme and provisions adapting or
supplementing it (Art. 130i(1) and (2))
- Setting up of joint undertakings in RTD (Art. 130o)
Qualified majority voting was not extended to the following:
- Free movement and residence (Art. 8a)
- Social security (Art. 51)
- Amendment of legal principles governing professions (Art. 57(2))
- Indirect taxation (Art. 99)
- Culture (Art. 128)
- Industry (Art. 130)
- Environment (Art. 130s)
- Financial Regulation (Art. 209)
- Provisions of the Social Protocol (existing)
- Employment incentive measures (new Title)
|
Weighting
of votes
|
To
preserve the existing balance it will be necessary, come enlargement, to either
adapt the weighting of votes or introduce a new system which makes reference
both to a majority of the Member States and a majority of the Union's
population.
The normal threshold for a qualified majority, set at around 71% since the
early days of the Community, should therefore not be raised in any circumstances.
|
The
Protocol on the institutions states that:
- the system will be changed at the time of the first enlargement to take
account of the larger States losing their second Commission Member, either by
straightforward re-weighting or by a system of dual majority;
- one year before membership of the Union exceeds twenty a new IGC is to be
convened "to carry out a comprehensive review of the provisions of the Treaties
on the composition and functioning of the institutions".
|
The
General Affairs Council should again perform an effective role of co-ordination
and arbitration in the various areas covered by the Treaty.
|
COREPER
may adopt procedural decisions in cases provided for in the Council's Rules of
Procedure.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
The
Commission agrees with the Court that judges' terms of office could be extended
and made non-renewable, reinforcing still further the judges' independence.
|
Nothing.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
Nothing
(but note Commission decision at its 1282nd meeting and subsequent concrete
proposals):
- administrative autonomy
- consultation on a wider range of topics
- members to be elected
|
- Administratively separate from Economic and Social Committee autonomy.
- Consultation on a wider range of topics (e.g. employment, social policy,
public health, environment, the Social Fund, vocational training and
transport).
- May be consulted by the European Parliament.
- Its members may not at the same time be Members of the European Parliament.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
Nothing.
|
-
Administratively separate from Committee of the Regions.
- Consultation on a wider range of topics (e.g. employment, social policy,
public health).
- May be consulted by the European Parliament.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
Nothing.
|
Powers
extended under Art. 188c to cover auditing expenditure by external bodies,
including the European Investment Bank.
"The Court shall have jurisdiction under the same conditions in actions brought
by the European Parliament, by the Court of Auditors and by the ECB for the
purpose of protecting their prerogatives" (Art. 173, third paragraph)
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
National
parliaments should be more involved in Union affairs and be given all necessary
information in good time.
|
Protocol
on national parliaments concerning:
- the transmission of documents to national parliaments in good time: six weeks
between the forwarding of a proposal to the Council and the European Parliament
and the date on which it is placed on a Council agenda for decision;
- the Conference of European Affairs Committees entitled to make contributions
for the attention of the EU institutions on certain matters, such as
fundamental rights, justice and home affairs and subsidiarity.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
The
Commission suggests that there should be just three types of committee and
procedure - the advisory committee, the management committee and the regulatory
committee - and that all variants be dropped.
|
Declaration
on reviewing the 1987 decision.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
The
European Union must not be for ever bound to advance at the speed of its
slowest members.
The European Union must make it possible to have forms of co-operation or
integration between those of its members wishing to progress faster in the
attainment of the Treaty's objectives, where the possibility of other forms of
action involving all the Member States have been exhausted.
This flexibility will have to be guided by the following principles so as to
guarantee the unity of the Union:
- compatibility with the objectives of the Union;
- consistency with the institutional framework of the Union;
- only to be used as a last resort;
- opportunity for other States which are willing and able to join at any
time;
- safeguarding of the single market and the policies accompanying it.
The Commission, subject to review by the Court, will have to ensure that the
principles set out above are respected.
|
1.
System introduced to allow for closer co-operation under the first and third
pillars. |
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
| |
Prime
objectives:
- enhance consistency and continuity;
- improve the common foreign and security policy at all stages of its
operation;
- establish a proper European identity for security and defence.
|
||
CONSISTENCY
|
Greater co-ordination and co-operation between institutions involved.
An effective partnership between the Presidency and the Commission. Internal
reorganisation of the Commission, greater support for the Presidency from the
Council Secretariat.
|
Framework
more clearly defined by a greater role for the European Council (particularly
its adoption of "common strategies").
Art. C strengthened.
Support for Presidency from new Secretary-General, plus analysis unit.
A Vice-President of the Commission responsible for foreign affairs as announced
by the Commission, but amendment of the Treaty unnecessary. The new Troika
(Presidency/Sec.Gen./Commission) will provide co-ordination at least for the
representation stage.
|
A "joint analysis unit", composed of experts from the Member States and
the Commission, should be set up. It would be a joint department and might
receive some funding from the Western European Union. Its location is a matter
of less significance.
Incorporation of a Brussels-based standing Political Committee into the
Council's existing machinery for preparing decisions.
|
Appointment of a Secretary-General with responsibility for common foreign and
security policy.
Unit to be set up under the responsibility of the Secretariat of the Secretary
General of the Council and staffed by personnel from the Council, the Member
States, the Commission and the WEU.
The Member States and the Commission must forward all relevant information.
The unit may present options.
More flexible arrangements allowing the political committee to meet more often
in Brussels (and at different levels).
|
Adoption
of decisions
|
Clarification
regarding the use of instruments.
|
Introduction
of "common strategies" (adopted by the European Council).
More detailed definition of joint actions and common positions, with
co-ordination within the common strategies.
|
Qualified-majority
voting should be the norm for the common foreign and security policy. Specific
rules should apply for decisions involving military matters.
|
Presented
in the form of a derogation, qualified-majority voting is used for joint
actions and common positions within the scope of a common strategy.
| |
Unanimity
is the norm for basic decisions (common strategies) and for all decisions on
military matters.
| ||
Constructive
abstention is specifically provided for, as is the possibility, for important
reasons of national policy, of referring a proposal to the European Council for
a decision.
| ||
Possibility
for some, but not all, Member States to act (on behalf of the Union).
|
Partly
covered by constructive abstention.
| Implementation
|
Primary
responsibility for implementation should lie with the Presidency and the
Commission.
|
The
Presidency will be assisted by the new Secretary-General (see above) and the
Commission will be closely involved.
|
|
These
three also constitute the "new Troika" dealing with representation; the
presence of the next Presidency is optional if required.
| |
Financing
|
This
approach should not prevent certain tasks being allocated to specific
personalities designated on an ad hoc basis.
The Commission proposes that common foreign and security policy expenditure be
included in the Community budget, unless an express decision to the contrary is
taken.
|
The
Council may appoint special envoys for specific tasks or topics.
Operating expenditure financed as a rule from the Community budget.
Interinstitutional agreement, maintaining this expenditure as non-compulsory
but allowing for the Council to adopt a decision quickly in the case of
specific spending.
|
DEFENCE
|
||
A
European identity for security and defence
Specific measures
Armaments
|
The
CFSP suffers from its inability to project credible military support.
A genuine foreign and security policy must have common defence.
Inclusion of the "Petersberg tasks".
Appropriate role for Defence Ministers in the Council.
Review of the role of the WEU with a view to incorporating it into the Union in
accordance with a fixed timetable.
Better integration of the armaments industry into the general Treaty rules,
greater solidarity and co-operation, including the establishment of an
armaments agency, and a consistent approach to foreign trade are required.
|
Inclusion
of the "Petersberg tasks" in the Treaty (see below), with mechanisms for
co-ordination between WEU members and non-members as regards implementation.
The CFSP will include the gradual definition of a common defence policy., which
may lead to common defence if so decided by the European Council
Included (peacekeeping and peacemaking)
Gradual integration referred to as a possibility. Interinstitutional
co-operation will be extended.
The common defence policy will be reinforced by appropriate co-operation
between the Member States in this area.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
To
take account of the radical changes in the structure of the world economy,
services, intellectual property and direct foreign investment must be
explicitly covered by Article 113.
|
1.
Existing arrangements under Article 113 maintained.
2. But new provision added: Art. 113(5) "The Council, acting unanimously on a
proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, may
extend the application of paragraphs 1 to 4 to international negotiations and
agreements on services and intellectual property insofar as they are not
covered by these paragraphs."
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
Union
to exist as a single legal person (merger between those of the Community, ECSC
and Euratom).
|
Union
still has no legal personality; the Community, ECSC and Euratom therefore
continue to exist.
But the Union now has the power to conclude agreements for the implementation
of the common foreign and security policy and the third pillar, giving it some
legal personality. These agreements are negotiated by the Presidency, with the
possible assistance of the Commission, and concluded by the Council by unanimity.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
The
Conference should look at the following issues:
- the possibility of the European Union signing the European Convention for the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
- listing fundamental rights;
- making explicit reference to fundamental rights in the Treaty.
|
1.
Article F amended to make clearer reference to the Union's fundamental
principles;
2. The EU will not sign the Convention (idea dropped following opinion 2/94 of
the Court of Justice about whether signing the Convention is compatible with
the Treaties);
3. New reference in the preamble to the Treaty and in the Treaty itself (social
provisions) confirming respect for fundamental social rights, as defined in the
European Social Charter;
4. Judicial control: confirming that the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice
extends to guaranteeing respect for fundamental rights by the Community
institutions (except as regards the common foreign and security policy) (Art.
L);
5. Amendment of Article 0 stating that applicant countries must comply with the
principles set out in Article F(1);
6. System of penalties for States that fail to comply with fundamental
rights;
- After this state of affairs has been determined by the Heads of State or
Government, the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide to suspend
certain rights, including voting rights in the Council, for the Member State
concerned (Art. Fa and Art. 236)
7. Two declarations, stating that:
- the death penalty is no longer applied in the Union
- the status of religious and non-confessional communities will be
respected.
8. New article guaranteeing protection of personal data held on individuals by
the institutions.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
To
be incorporated into the Treaty:
- a ban on discrimination of any kind, particularly on the basis of sex,
extending the provisions on equal pay.
|
Introduction
of a general anti-discrimination clause that goes beyond nationality, with
explicit reference to sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief,
disability, age or sexual orientation (Art. 6a).
Adding a new paragraph to Article 3 of the Treaty enshrining sexual equality as
a general principle (Article 119).
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
| |
New
title in the EC Treaty
- Structure
- Decision-making
|
Justice
and home affairs objectives would be better served by effective
decision-making, more powerful legal instruments and democratic and judicial
safeguards.
Justice and home affairs should be brought under the Community umbrella, with
the exception of co-operation on criminal justice and police co-operation. This
is particularly important in areas most directly linked to the movement of
persons, such as rules governing the crossing of the Union's external borders,
combating drugs, immigration policy, policy towards nationals of non-member
countries and asylum.
Qualified majority voting should become the rule, replacing unanimity.
The Commission should have the right to initiate legislation in all the areas
concerned.
Greater involvement of the European Parliament.
|
1.
Border controls, asylum, visas, immigration and co-operation on civil justice
brought into the Community framework.
2. Five-year programme to guarantee the free movement of persons in accordance
with Article 7a
1. For a transitional period of five years, the Council will, after consulting
the European Parliament, act unanimously on proposals from the Commission or
any Member State.
2. After the five years:
- the Commission will have the exclusive right to initiate legislation
- the Council will act unanimously on a total or partial move over to
qualified majority or co-decision. Exception for visas which are or will
be automatically subject to qualified majority.
3. Role of the Court : Referral for a preliminary ruling (obligatory for
national last-instance courts) and action in the interests of the law.
Exception for controls at internal borders.
4. Protocols: one on the special situation of the UK and Ireland, and
one on the special situation of Denmark
|
Upgrading
Title VI (the "3rd pillar")
- Decision-making
|
Title
VI is limited to co-operation on criminal justice and police co-operation, for
which the arrangements need to be improved.
- generalised right of initiative for the Commission
- more effective legal instruments
- review by the Court to ensure uniform interpretation
- Council working methods to be simplified
|
Title
VI restricted to provisions on police co-operation and co-operation on criminal
justice.
Objectives:
- to combat racism and xenophobia, terrorism, trafficking in human beings and
crimes against children, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, corruption and
fraud.
Means:
- Co-operation between police forces, customs authorities and other executive
authorities in the Member States, either directly or via Europol.
- Co-operation between national authorities and the courts.
- Approximation of criminal law provisions.
- Decisions taken by unanimity.
- Joint Member State/Commission right of initiative (extended for the
Commission to cover all matters under Title VI).
- New legal instrument : the framework decision (similar to a directive, since
it has to be transposed and is not subject to ratification, but without direct
effect).
- European Parliament consulted.
- Role of the Court subject to acceptance of its jurisdiction by each Member
State (declaration to this effect at signing of Treaty or subsequently)
Jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings with no referral obligation for
national last-instance courts.
Jurisdiction over interpretation in the event of:
* disputes between Member States concerning the interpretation and
implementation of any act under the third pillar, where the Council has not
managed to settle the dispute within six months of its being referred to the
Council;
* disputes between Member States and Commission concerning the interpretation
of conventions
Review of legality in actions brought by Member States or the
Commission. No jurisdiction to review the legality or proportionality of
operations to safeguard law and order.
|
Schengen
|
Incorporation
of the content of the Schengen Agreement into the Treaty.
|
Incorporation
of the Schengen acquis into the Union legal order, from when the Treaty
comes into force, broken down between the first and third pillars. Special
opt-in arrangement for Ireland and the UK and a reservation for Denmark
concerning the breakdown in the first pillar.
|
Asylum
|
Nothing.
|
Protocol
on asylum
- restriction on cases where asylum or refugee applications from other Member
States' nationals are admissible;
- presumption that asylum applications from other Member States' nationals are
inadmissible
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
To
strengthen the legal basis.
|
To
make Article 209a on protecting financial interests more effective with the
introduction of a legal basis for adopting Community measures using, the
co-decision procedure (Art. 189b).
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
General
objectives:
- high level of employment
- growth, employment and competitiveness are closely linked and mutually
reinforcing in a co-ordinated strategy.
Working on the principle that employment should be seen as a matter of common
interest, to include special provisions on employment in the Treaty to:
- set the stage for a joint employment strategy; |
General
objectives:
- high level of employment
- competitiveness
- drawing up a co-ordinated employment strategy
Addition of a new Title on employment:
Specific objectives:
- to promote employment as a matter of common interest between the Member
States and to co-ordinate national employment policies in the Council to
produce a co-ordinated strategy, based on adaptability of the work-force and
labour markets.
Instruments:
- Drawing up annual Community-level guidelines on employment on a proposal from
the Commission in line with the broad economic policy guidelines adopted
pursuant to Art. 103(2).
- Union-level monitoring of Member States' implementation of the employment
guidelines;
- Adoption by qualified majority of incentive measures, in particular pilot
projects.
- Taking account of employment in other Community policies.
- Creating an advisory committee on employment.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
To
incorporate the Social Protocol into the Treaty and improve it with reference
to:
- equal treatment of men and women
- measures to combat social exclusion and poverty
- more involvement of people active in the civil society
- wider use of qualified majority and co-decision
|
Incorporation
of the Social Protocol. Three improvements:
- equal treatment of men and women
- action against social exclusion by adopting incentive measures
- co-operation procedure replaced by co-decision procedure
No extended use of qualified majority for the existing provisions (either in
the Social Protocol or the Treaty), but qualified majority and co-decision for
the new legal bases: equal treatment of men and women and incentive measures to
combat social exclusion
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
Two
additions to the Treaty :
- the right to a healthy environment and the duty to ensure it;
- environmental considerations should be explicitly incorporated into other
Union policies.
Extension of qualified majority to cases covered by Article 130s(2)
(environmental taxes, energy and land planning)
|
Sustainable
development added as one of the objectives of the Union. Incorporating
environment into other policies in (Article 3d) |
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
Proposal
to amend Article 129 to allow for Community harmonisation, by co-decision and
qualified majority, in the area of public health protection and particularly in
the veterinary and plant health fields .
|
Article
129 amended along the lines proposed by the Commission. The objectives have
been reordered and the scope of Community action clarified and broadened,
although still as a supplement to national policies and measures.
New legal basis for:
- the adoption of minimum standards in certain areas (quality and safety of
organs and substances of human origin, blood and blood products);
- the adoption of measures in the veterinary and plant health fields for the
direct purpose of public health protection, by way of derogation from
Article 43.
In both cases the procedure is qualified majority and co-decision.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
Nothing.
|
Clarification
of consumer protection objects and explicit reference to consumer education and
representation
Consumer interests incorporated into other Community policies.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
Information
on what the Union is doing should be more accessible and more reader-friendly
so that the public can find out what they want to know.
|
Right
of access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents for Union
nationals and people residing or having their business based in the Union.
This right to be governed by principles and limits to be determined within two
years (qualified majority and co-decision).
Each institution subsequently to lay down specific provisions in it own rules
of procedure regarding access to its documents.
Publication of the results of Council votes on legislation with explanations of
votes and of declarations recorded in its minutes.
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Text
of the Dutch Presidency (16 May 1997)
|
Nothing.
|
Protocol incorporating the main points of the Edinburgh conclusions
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
| |
Outermost
regions
|
Nothing.
|
New
legal base (qualified majority) for adopting special measures "taking into
account the special characteristics and constraints of the outermost regions
without undermining the integrity and the coherence of the Community legal
order, including the internal market and common policies"
|
Islands
|
Nothing.
|
Reference
in the second indent of Article 130 to boost Community initiatives specifically
targeted at islands, with a declaration on their special characteristics
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
To
promote public access to universal or general interest services.
|
Provision
on public services in a new Article 7d
Interpretational protocol on public service broadcasting (without prejudice to
Articles 90 or 92 ff.)
Declaration on public credit institutions in Germany (without prejudice to
Article 90).
|
Commission
Opinion (February 1996)
|
Amsterdam
Treaty (20 June 1997)
|
The
Treaties should be simplified and consolidated as far as possible.
|
Declaration
stating that this work should be finalised as promptly as possible so that all
the Treaties, including the Treaty on European Union, can be consolidated.
"...the final results of this technical work, which shall be made public for
illustrative purposes under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the
Council, shall have no legal value".
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TF CIG 96 25.06.97