2013/0039 (COD)

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT pursuant to Article 294(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union concerning the

position of the Council on the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending certain regulations relating to the common commercial policy as regards the procedures for the adoption of certain measures (2011/0039 (COD))

1.           BACKGROUND

Date of transmission of the proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council (document COM(2011) 82 final – (2011/0039 (COD): || 07 March 2011

Date of the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee: || n.a.

Date of the position of the European Parliament, first reading: || 14 March 2012

Date of adoption of the position of the Council: || 15 November 2013

2.           OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSAL FROM THE COMMISSION

The Proposal reflects the changes in the legal framework of the Union and the institutional balance brought about by the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. It aligns the regulations contained therein with Articles 290 and 291 of the TFEU and with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers, which was prompted by Article 291(3) of the TFEU.

Aligning the control of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers on the Regulation No 182/2011 will permit a more effective and efficient exercise of the Commission's implementing powers and contribute to a more effective and efficient common commercial policy. In aligning the procedures on the standard procedures, the proposal will also permit a more ready understanding of the procedures applicable in trade policy and the transparency provisions of the horizontal regulation will increase the overall transparency of the conduct of trade policy.

3.           COMMENTS ON THE POSITION OF THE COUNCIL

The Council first reading position is in line with the outcome of the last trilogue between the EP and the Council held on 5 June 2013 and confirmed subsequently by the two institutions at COREPER and INTA level in July 2013.

4.           CONCLUSION

The Commission can accept the amendments introduced by the Council to its proposal.