(Codecision procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the Council common position (5563/1/1999 - C5-0208/1999 ),

-  having regard to its position at first reading(1) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(1998) 174 (2) ),

-  having regard to the Commission's amended proposal (COM(1998) 803 (3) ),

-  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 Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (A5-0105/1999 ),

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 6(1), 1st subparagraph    1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 December 1999 at the latest . They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.    1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive within three months of its entry into force . They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

(1) OJ C 341, 9.11.1998, p. 29. (2) OJ C 148, 14.5.1998, p. 21. (3) OJ C 52, 23.2.1999, p. 16.