31991Y1128(01)

COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 13 November 1991 on the reorganization of the operating structures of the Celex system (automated documentation on Community law) (91/C 308/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Recalling its resolution of 26 November 1974 on the automation of legal documentation (1),

Having taken note of the report of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, based on the report of the Working Party on Legal Data Processing of 30 September 1991,

Aware of the importance, in particular as regards the internal market, of the availability of easily and rapidly accessible automated documentation in all the official languages of the Community,

Sharing the concern expressed in the report of the Working Party with regard to the development of the inter-institutional system of computerized documentation on Community law (Celex),

Welcoming the acceptance of the conclusions of the report of the Working Party by the Commission as voiced within the Committee of Permanent Representatives,

Convinced that in order to enhance the effectiveness of Celex it is essential to examine ways of reorganizing the existing structures of the system,

HAS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

I

The availability through the Celex system of easily and rapidly accessible automated documentation in all the official languages of the Community in order to ensure a better knowledge of Community law and relevant national laws throughout the Community is of crucial importance for the access to the legislation published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and to the case law of the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance of the European Communities.

II

To this end, the Council requests the Commission to speed up the work in order to ensure within the shortest time possible the completion of the Celex data base, in particular full textual cover, in all language versions and, in close cooperation with the other institutions and the Economic and Social Committee, to formulate, within six months, solutions for the purpose of:

- creating an appropriate inter-institutional structure for Celex, thereby ensuring effective coordination between the operation of this data base and the operation of other data bases of the Community institutions disseminating information on Community law,

- examining in that context the conditions of the integration, at an appropriate level of responsibility, of the Celex system into the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, which would offer the required guarantees of editorial and financial autonomy,

- establishing appropriate budgetary arrangements and controls for the proper functioning of the system,

- exploring the possibilities of a more efficient commercial operation of the data base,

- assigning to the Working Party on Legal Data Processing a more decisive role in defining the objectives set for the system and in checking that those objectives set for the system and in checking that those objectives are fulfilled.

The Council requests the Commission to associate the Working Party in the preparation of such solutions.

III

The Working Party will in due time report to the Committee of Permanent Representatives on the implementation of this resolution.

(1) OJ No C 20, 28. 1. 1975, p. 2.