(Codecision procedure: third reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee and the relevant Commission statement (PE-CONS 3676/2003 – C5&nbhy;0518/2003),

–   having regard to its position at first reading(1) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2001) 784)(2),

–   having regard to the amended proposal (COM(2002) 717)(3),

–   having regard to its position at second reading(4) on the Council common position(5),

–   having regard to the Commission's opinion on Parliament's amendments to the common position (COM(2003) 496 &nbhy; C5&nbhy;0396/2003)(6),

–   having regard to Article 251(5) of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Rule 83 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of its delegation to the Conciliation Committee (A5&nbhy;0464/2003),

1.  Approves the joint text and draws attention to the Commission statement thereon ;

2.  Instructs its President to sign the act with the President of the Council pursuant to Article 254(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, together with the statement by the Commission thereon, in the Official Journal of the European Union;

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

(1) Texts Adopted, 24.10.2002, P5_TA(2002)0514. (2) OJ C 103 E, 30.4.2002, p. 225. (3) OJ C 71 E, 25.3.2003, p. 188. (4) Texts Adopted, 3.7.2003, P5_TA(2003)0329. (5) OJ C 125 E, 27.5.2003, p. 63. (6) Not yet published in OJ.