(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2012)0617),

–  having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 175(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C7-0358/2012 ),

–  having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to the reasoned opinions submitted, within the framework of Protocol (No 2) on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, by the Riksdag of the Kingdom of Sweden, by the House of Lords and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom and by the German Bundestag, asserting that the draft legislative act does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity,

–  having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 14 February 2013(1),

–  after consulting the Committee of the Regions,

–  having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and in particular Articles 1, 24, 34 thereof;

–  having regard to the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 11 December 2013 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on Regional Development, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Committee of Women's Rights and Gender Equality (A7-0183/2013),

1.  Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out(2);

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

(1) OJ C 133, 9.5.2013, p. 62. (2) This position replaces the amendments adopted on 12 June 2013 (Texts adopted P7_TA(2013)0257).

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Regulation (EU) No 223/2014.)