51999PC0443

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) extending Regulation (EC) No 443/97 on operations to aid uprooted people in Asian and Latin American developing countries

(2000/C 021 E/12)

COM(1999) 443 final - 1999/0194(COD)

(Submitted by the Commission on 15 September 1999)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 179(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty,

Whereas:

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 443/97 on operations to aid uprooted people in Asian and Latin American developing countries will expire on 31 December 1999.

(2) It would appear appropriate to extend this Regulation until 31 December 2000 and at the same time to amend the financial reference amount and the relevant period referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 443/97,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. The second subparagraph of Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 443/97 is replaced by the following: "It shall apply until 31 December 2000."

2. Article 6(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 443/97 is replaced by the following:

"1. Community financing of the operations referred to in Article 1 shall cover a period of five years (1996 to 2000).

The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 1996 to 2000 shall be EUR 280 million.

Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective."

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.