Activites

• 2004/12/31 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Regulation 2004/2240
  • OJ L 390 31.12.2004, p. 0003-0005
• 2004/12/15 Final act signed
• 2004/12/15 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2626
• 2004/12/02 Council Meeting
• 2004/12/02 Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
• #2592
• 2004/06/21 Council Meeting
• 2004/04/22 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0360/2004 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution from Fernando FERNANDEZ MARTIN (EPP-ED, E) on operations for developing and sustaining democracy and the rule of law and respect for human rights. Such operations are financed from the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, under a budget line created by Parliament in 1994. This is the only programme which the agreement of the national authorities in the country where the activity takes place is not required, which makes it highly politically sensitive. The present proposal extends the existing regulation (adopted in 1999) for a further two years and makes a number of changes required by the new Financial Regulation adopted in 2002. New aspects include better information for Parliament on the work of the committee which implements the regulation. Parliament adopted amendments to clarify the list of eligible partners for funding. As well as governmental and non-governmental organisations, individuals will be able to obtain community funding for observing elections or taking part in a trial. Parliament also wants to be informed regularly and in detail of the programmes set up by the Commission and their implementation. More specifically, the Parliament has included the following amendments: - in the case of EU election observation missions and 'amicus curiae' proceedings natural persons are eligible for financing under this Regulation; - the following point is inserted into Article 2 of Regulation 975/1999/EC "supporting efforts to foster the establishment of groupings of democratic countries within United Nations bodies, specialised agencies and regional organisations"; - the Commission shall produce an annual report setting out programming for the coming year by region and by sector, and shall report back on the implementation to the European Parliament; - the Commission shall be responsible for managing and adapting, in conformity with this Regulation and according to the requirements of flexibility, the annual work programmes that were defined in the overall framework of the multiannual setting. The decisions made shall reflect the priorities and main concerns of the European Union for the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, and be determined by the unique nature of the programmes. The Commission shall keep the European Parliament fully informed of the proceedings.�

• 2004/04/21 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2004/04/19 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0279/2004
• 2003/11/05 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2003/10/28 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2003)0639 summary

    PURPOSE : to amend Regulation 975/1999/EC and Regulation 976/1999/EC on he implementation of development co-operation operations which contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms PROPOSED ACT : Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. CONTENT : Operations within the framework of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) focus on four thematic priorities: - support to strengthen democratisation, good governance and the rule of law; - activities in support of the abolition of the death penalty; - support for the fight against torture and impunity and for international tribunals and the International Criminal Court, and - combating racism and xenophobia, and discrimination against minorities and indigenous peoples. The EIDHR support concentrates on a limited number of identified "focus countries", while also supporting global and regional projects, election observation and assistance in selected third countries. These two Council Regulations have proved to be adequate legal instruments for the implementation of the Community's technical and financial support for human rights and democratisation activities in developing and other third countries in pursuit of the overall objectives in this field. The period of validity of those Regulations, however, expires on 31 December 2004. It is, therefore, necessary to extend that period. In addition, an extended financial framework should be included in the Regulations for the extended duration of the programme. The provisions of Regulation 975/1999/EC and Regulation 976/1999/EC on procedures for the implementation of aid will be aligned with the legal requirements of Council Regulation 1605/2002/EC on the Financial Regulation in the implementation of EU Election Observation Missions. Implementing powers need to be conferred on the Commission. The financial reference amount for the implementation of Regulation 975/1999/EC during the period 2005 to 2006 is EUR 134 million. The financial reference amount for the implementation of Regulation 976/1999/EC during the period 2005 to 2006 is EUR 78 million. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS : - Budget Headings: -19.04.03 (ex B7-7010) "Development and consolidation of Democracy and the rule of law - Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms"; -19.04.04 (ex B7-702) "Support for the activities of international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court"; -19.01.04.11 (ex B7-7010A) "Development and consolidation of Democracy and the rule of law - respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms - Expenditure on administrative management" - Calculation of total cost: The total cost of the operation for the period of extension of the two Regulations is the sum of the budget headings involved for 2005 and 2006. On the basis of the amounts available each year, the relevant Commission servicescarry out the annual commitments for operations in developing and other third countries taking into account the multiannual programming of interventions and the annual programming updates. - Total commitment appropriations: EUR 198 million. - Total operational expenditure for studies, experts: EUR 14 million. - Number of permanent posts: 8.5 in DG Relex and 31 in Europeaid - Number of temporary posts: 3.5 in DG Relex and 91 in Europeaid - Overall financial impact of human resources: EUR 1,095,192 in DG Relex and EUR 11,049,936 in Europeaid. - Other administrative expenditure (missions, meetings etc.): EUR 295,000 in DG Relex and EUR 570,000 in Europeaid.�

  • DG ['External Relations'],

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2003)0639
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A5-0279/2004
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0360/2004
• : Regulation 2004/2240
• : OJ L 390 31.12.2004, p. 0003-0005

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)