A4-0153/96

Decision on the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a European Parliament and Council Decision laying down a series of guidelines for trans- European energy networks (C4-0206/96 - 94/0009(COD))

(Codecision procedure: third reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee and the declarations by the Council and European Parliament and by the Commission (C4-0206/96 - 94/0009(COD)),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 151, 19.6.1995, p. 228.)) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(93)0685 ((OJ C 72, 10.3.1994, p. 10.)),

- having regard to its decision on the common position ((OJ C 308, 20.11.1995, p. 113.)),

- having regard to the Commission's opinion on Parliament's amendments to the common position (C4-0539/95),

- having regard to Article 189b(5) of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 77(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of its delegation to the Conciliation Committee (A4-0153/96),

1. Approves the joint text and the declarations annexed to this decision;

2. Instructs its President to sign the act with the President of the Council, pursuant to Article 191(1) of the EC Treaty;

3. Instructs its Secretary-General duly to sign the act and, in agreement with the Secretary-General of the Council, to have it published in the Official Journal;

4. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

ANNEXDeclaration by the Council and the European ParliamentThe European Parliament and the Council acknowledge that the development and integration of natural gas networks in all Member States is in the interest of the Union. Within the TEN Programme special attention is to be given to all areas in the Community where this infrastructure is less developed. One such area is northern Europe, where further development of the gas networks would create possibilities for substantial growth of gas markets in the Nordic countries and enhanced energy security and environmental quality in the Union as a whole.

The European Parliament and the Council therefore take note with satisfaction of the intention of the Member States concerned to submit project proposals as soon as those have reached maturity, in order to identify projects of common interest.

Declaration by the CommissionThe Commission declares that, pursuant to Article 6, it will submit a draft decision to the committee defining the project specifications on the basis of the Annex to the common position.