51998AP0076

A4-0076/98

Proposal for a Council Decision concerning a Community contribution to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund (COM(97)0448 - C4-0499/97 - 97/0235(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Citation 3a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Having regard to the joint declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995 on the incorporation of financial provisions into legislative acts(1),

(1) OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 4.

(Amendment 2)

Recital 5a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the Commission will ensure, through its financial involvement in the Fund, that, during the period leading up to the planned closure of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in 2000, Ukraine already provides regular proof that technical and organizational preparations are also being made to switch off the reactor on time;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 7

>Original text>

Whereas the Community pursues a clear policy of supporting Ukraine in its efforts to eliminate the consequences of the nuclear accident which occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and is thus willing to contribute to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the Community pursues a clear policy of supporting Ukraine in its efforts to eliminate the consequences of the nuclear accident which occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

and of supporting the complete closure of the facility by 2000 and is thus willing to contribute to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund; whereas the Community assumes through its contribution no liability whatever for any resulting damage;

(Amendment 12)

Recital 7a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in the work to construct a new sarcophagus, Community funding should be used to achieve the following technical goals:

- the removal of all water contained within the damaged reactor;

- the confinement only of the destroyed Unit 4 in order not to hamper future dismantling work on Unit 3;

- the removal of the upper unstable parts of the old sarcophagus which endanger the safety of the neighbouring reactor;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 8

>Original text>

Whereas, without prejudice to the powers of the budgetary authority, the contribution should amount to a maximum of ECU 100 million over the two years 1998 and 1999;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, without prejudice to the powers of the budgetary authority,

a multiannual indicative amount of ECU 100 million for the period 1998-2005 is proposed as the financial reference which illustrates the will of the legislative authority;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 9

>Original text>

Whereas the contribution will be taken from existing Tacis credits and will thus not imply any supplementary budgetary expenditures from the 1998 and 1999 budgets;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas

part of this contribution could be taken from existing Tacis credits estimated within its ongoing programming period (1999) and will thus not imply any supplementary budgetary expenditures from the 1998 and 1999 budgets;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 10

>Original text>

Whereas this contribution shall be administered by the European Commission;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas this contribution shall be administered by the European Commission

in accordance with the principles of sound and efficient management;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 11a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the Commission, before entering any resources into the fund, shall evaluate the situation of the contributions by donors other than the European Union and shall only pay when other countries have fulfilled their contributions;

(Amendment 8)

Article 1(2)

>Original text>

2. The contribution to the Fund shall be administered by the Commission in accordance with this Decision.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

The contribution to the Fund shall be administered by the Commission in accordance with the Financial Regulation in force, with particular regard for the principles of sound and efficient management, and taking into account the reliability of the technical and engineering aspects of the project to be financed, as well as the situation concerning commitments entered into by other contributors to the Fund.

(Amendment 9)

Article 2

>Original text>

The Community will make a contribution to the Fund of a maximum amount of ECU 100 million, to be paid over the two years 1998 and 1999.

>Text following EP vote>

The financial reference illustrating the will of the legislative authority for the contribution to this Fund is ECU 100 million to be paid over the period 1998-2005. This reference shall not affect the powers of the budgetary authority as defined in the Treaty.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

The budgetary authority shall set the annual funding in relation to the appropriations available for each financial year, taking into account the principles of good management referred to in Article 2 of the Financial Regulation.

(Amendment 10)

Article 3(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission will forward all relevant information to the Court of Auditors and will request from the EBRD supplementary information that the Court of Auditors may wish to receive, as regards the financial operation of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund to the extent that it is related to the Community's contribution.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

The Commission and the EBRD will forward all relevant information to the budgetary authority and to the Court of Auditors; they will made available the supplementary information that the budget authority or the Court of Auditors may wish to receive, as regards the financial operation of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund.

(Amendment 17)

Article 3(2)

>Original text>

2. The Commission shall present, on a yearly basis, a progress report on the implementation of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund to the Council through the Committee for assistance to the New Independent States and Mongolia.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

The Commission shall present to theCouncil and the European Parliament, with the preliminary draft general budget of the European Union, a progress report on the implementation of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning a Community contribution to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund (COM(97)0448 - C4-0499/97 - 97/0235(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0448 - 97/0235(CNS) ((OJ C 364, 2.12.1997, p. 16.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 235 of the EC Treaty and Article 203 of the Euratom Treaty (C4-0499/97),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets and the opinion of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (A4-0076/98),

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

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty and Article 119, second paragraph, of the Euratom Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

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

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