51995AP0114

A4-0114/95

Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) concerning harmonized consumer price indices (COM(94)0674 - C4-0100/95 - 95/0009(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 5)

Recitals 5a, 5b and 5c (new)

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Whereas comparable indices may nevertheless come to play a part in national political debate and may even influence wage settlements at national level, or indexing of pensions and benefits;

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Whereas figures calculated on the basis of comparable price indices may differ significantly from those calculated on the basis of existing national indices, and this could undermine public trust and confidence in the run-up to the introduction of the Single Currency;

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Whereas no information has yet been provided as to how significant these differences are likely to be in the case of each Member State;

(Amendment 1)

Recital 9a (new)

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Whereas agreement was reached on 20 December 1994 on the modus vivendi to be followed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission when dealing with measures to implement acts adopted under the procedure set out in Article 189b of the EC Treaty;

(Amendment 8)

Article 4(2a) (new)

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2a. The Commission shall ensure complete transparency concerning the consequences for national consumer price indices of adding items to, or excluding items from, the harmonized system of consumer price indices. It shall provide the European Parliament with an analysis of the changes which would occur.

(Amendment 2)

Article 14(2)

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2. The Commission shall adopt measures that are immediately applicable. However, if they do not accord with the opinion delivered by the Committee, these measures shall be immediately communicated by the Commission to the Council, in which case the Commission shall postpone the application of the measures it has adopted by three months from the date of such communication.

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2. The Commission shall adopt measures that are immediately applicable. However, if they do not accord with the opinion delivered by the Committee, these measures shall be immediately communicated by the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, in which case the Commission shall postpone the application of the measures it has adopted by three months from the date of such communication.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) concerning harmonized consumer price indices (COM(94)0674 - C4-0100/95 - 95/0009(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(94)0674 - 95/0009(CNS) ((OJ C 84, 6.4.1995, p. 7.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 213 of the EC Treaty (C4-0100/95),

- whereas the proposed Regulation is relevant to the completion of the Internal Market, and therefore the most appropriate legal base would be Article 100a of the Treaty;

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinion of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0114/95),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

3. Is prepared to accept Article 213 as the legal base, but will resist any attempt to change the legal base to Article 235, and, in this case, will call for Article 100a to be used;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.