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ASSESSING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE COMMISSION'S OBJECTIVES FOR THE IGC (Comparative table)


EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT


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

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".

COUNCIL

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.

COURT OF JUSTICE

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.

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

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.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE

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.

COURT OF AUDITORS

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)

NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

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.

COMMITTEE PROCEDURE

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.

FLEXIBILITY

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.
For common foreign and security policy, "constructive abstention" deemed to meet requirements. 2. The arrangements largely reflect the Commission opinion and the NON-PAPER of 23 January 1997 (CONF/3805/97): - no positive or negative list of areas authorised or ruled out - strict, but workable criteria: closer co-operation may not concern areas which fall within the exclusive competence of the Community or affect Community policies, actions or programmes; - Commission to submit a proposal only where it deems the closer co-operation to meet the criteria; in the case of the third pillar it is to issue only an opinion; - Parliament consulted in the case of the first pillar and informed in the case of the third pillar; - flexibility initiated by qualified majority, unless a Member State uses it veto on grounds of "essential interests" in which case the matter is referred to the European Council for decision by unanimity. 3. The arrangements for the first pillar give the Commission full responsibility for deciding on any request to join from non-participating States, after notifying the Council of its opinion. For the third pillar it is the Council which decides after receiving the Commission's opinion.

COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICE AND DEFENCE

COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY Preparation of decisions

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.

COMMERCIAL POLICY

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."

LEGAL PERSONALITY OF THE UNION

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.

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

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.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

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).

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

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

FRAUD AGAINST THE COMMUNITY'S FINANCIAL INTERESTS

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).

EMPLOYMENT

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;
- stimulate co-operation between the various parties involved;
- consolidate provisions on multilateral monitoring of Member States' multi-annual programmes;
- take account of employment in all Community policies.

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.

SOCIAL POLICY

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

ENVIRONMENT

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)
Amendment of Art. 100(3) (high level of protection) to extend its application to the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment of Article 100a(4) as follows: - extension of national derogations from measures adopted by the Commission; - deadline within which the Commission must confirm or reject derogation requests (six months); - the article applies to new measures subsequent to harmonisation under strict conditions (new scientific facts making it possible to resolve a specific problem in a Member States. Unanimity maintained for Art. 130s(2) (environmental taxes etc.)

PUBLIC HEALTH

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.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

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.

OPENNESS

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.

SUBSIDIARITY

Commission Opinion (February 1996)

Text of the Dutch Presidency (16 May 1997)

Nothing.

Protocol incorporating the main points of the Edinburgh conclusions

OUTERMOST AND ISLAND REGIONS

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

PUBLIC SERVICES

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).

SIMPLIFICATION OF THE TREATIES

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".

TF CIG 96 25.06.97


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