52000PC0734

COMMISSION OPINION pursuant to Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the implementation of measures to promote economic and social development in Turkey AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty

1998/0300 (COD)

1. BACKGROUND

Date of transmission of the proposal to the EP and the Council (document COM(1998)600 final - 1998/0300 (SYN): 22/10/1998

Date of opinion of the European Parliament at first reading: 02/12/1999

Date of transmission of the amended proposal COM (2000)

169 final - 1998/0300 (COD): 05/04/2000

Date of adoption of the common position: 13/06/2000

Date of opinion of the European Parliament at second reading: 06/09/2000

2. SUBJECT OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Financial support for the implementation of the European Union strategy for Turkey, i.e. increased financing for the pre-accession strategy for Turkey.

3. COMMISSION'S OPINION ON THE EP'S AMENDMENTS

The European Parliament adopted three amendments to the common position at second reading.

The Commission accepts the three amendments:

Amendment 1 excludes the development of nuclear power from the scope of the Regulation. The Commission has no intention of funding measures for the development of nuclear power in Turkey and has, in fact, made a declaration to that effect.

Amendment 2 adds support for measures seeking to abolish capital punishment to the list of indicative areas for action. The Commission welcomes the financing of such initiatives.

Amendment 3 adds the following phrase to the indicative areas for action: 'any form of cooperation seeking to resolve the Kurdish problem'. The Commission firmly supports respect for and the protection of the rights of all citizens, regardless of differences, allegiances or peculiarities. The Commission accepts the amendment, noting that many of the ongoing initiatives in the framework of EU-Turkey financial cooperation are designed to promote economic and social development and reduce tension in eastern and south-eastern Turkey.

The Commission draws the Council's attention to the need to change the reference period for financial assistance in the draft regulation as the earliest date for its adoption is in the last quarter of the year 2000. The Commission will not therefore be able to commit the funds in 2000. For that reason, the financial reference reflecting the legislative authority's wishes should be EUR 135 million for the period 2001-2003. The text of the draft regulation therefore needs to be changed in recital 13 and Article 2.

4. CONCLUSIONS

Under the terms of Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal in accordance with the above.