(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the Council common position (9601/1/1999 - C5-0183/1999 (1) ),

-  having regard to its position at first reading(2) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(1998) 644 (3) ),

-  having regard to the Commission's amended proposal (COM(1999) 253 (4) ),

-  having regard to Article 251(2) of the EC Treaty,

-  having regard to Rule 80 of its Rules of Procedure,

-  having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market (A5-0085/1999 ),

1.  Amends the common position as follows;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

Common position of the Council   Amendments by Parliament (Amendment 1) ARTICLE 1(1)(b) Article 1(2a) (Decision No 210/97/EC)    2a. The customs policy strategy shall be drawn up in partnership between the Commission and the Member States in the Customs Policy Committee , composed of Heads of Customs Administrations from the Commission and the Member States or their representatives. The Commission shall keep the Committee regularly informed of measures relating to the implementation of the programme.    2a. A common approach regarding the customs policy shall be drawn up in partnership between the Commission and the Member States in a Customs Policy Group , composed of Heads of Customs Administrations from the Commission and the Member States or their representatives. The Commission shall keep the Customs Policy Group regularly informed of measures relating to the implementation of the programme. (Amendment 2) ARTICLE 1(8) Article 14a(1), second subparagraph (Decision No 210/97/EC) Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that their officials participate effectively in the work of the host authorities . To this end, they shall authorise the officials taking part in exchanges to carry out the formalities relating to the acts assigned to them. Where circumstances so require, and in particular in order to take account of the specific requirements of the legal system of each Member State, the competent authorities of the Member States may restrict the scope of the said authorisation. Member States shall take the necessary steps to enable exchange officials to be operational in the host service . To this end, exchange officials shall be authorised to carry out the formalities relating to the duties entrusted to them. If circumstances so require, and, in particular, in order to take account of the specific requirements of the legal system of each Member State, the competent authorities in the Member States may limit the said authorisation.

(1) OJ C 317, 4.11.1999, p. 12. (2) OJ C 219, 30.7.1999, p. 409. (3) OJ C 396, 19.12.1998, p. 13. (4) OJ C 247, 31.8.1999, p. 28.