(Codecision procedure: third reading)

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee (and the relevant Commission statement) (C5-0348/2000 ),

-  having regard to its position at first reading(1) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM (1998) 452(2) ),

-  having regard to the amended Commission proposal (COM(1999) 149 (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(2000) 236 - C5-0212/2000 ),

-  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 (A5-0213/2000 ),

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 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 150, 28.5.1999, p. 432 and OJ C 54, 25.2.2000, p. 79. (2) OJ C 271, 31.8.1998, p. 79. (3) OJ C 148, 28.5.1999, p. 7. (4) Texts adopted of 14.3.2000, Item 2.