(Codecision procedure: third reading)

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee (C5-0267/1999 ),

-  having regard to its position at first reading(1) on the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(1998) 329 )(2) ,

-  having regard to the Commission's amended proposal (COM(1998) 719 - C4-0672/1998 )(3) ,

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

-  having regard to the Commission's opinion on Parliament's amendments to the common position (COM(1999) 293 - C5-0063/1999 ),

-  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 (A5-0097/1999 ),

1.  Approves the joint text;

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 in the Official Journal of the European Communities;

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

(1) OJ C 359, 23.11.1998, p. 60. (2) OJ C 314, 13.10.1998, p. 5. (3) OJ C 34, 9.2.1999, p. 7. (4) OJ C 153, 1.6.1999, p. 24.