(Codecision procedure: third reading)

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee (C5-0258/2000 ),

-  having regard to its position at first reading(1) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(1997) 358 ),(2)

-  having regard to the Commission's amended proposal (COM(1999) 176 ),(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) 166 - C5-0159/2000 ),

-  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 (A5-0212/2000 ),

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 150, 28.5.1999, p. 420. (2) OJ C 337, 7.11.1997, p. 3. (3) OJ C 156, 3.6.1999, p. 5. (4) Texts Adopted of 3.2.2000, Item 6.