(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2002) 213)(1),

–   having regard to Article 283 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C5&nbhy;0262/2002),

–   having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Budgetary Control and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A5&nbhy;0069/2003),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended during its sitting of 27 March 2003(2);

2.  Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3.  Calls on the Commission, in line with the undertakings given, to present a revised proposal given that the Council wishes to alter the present proposal substantially;

4.  Calls on the Council to consult Parliament again given that it wishes to amend the Commission proposal substantially, in particular in regard to the pension scheme;

5.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

(1) OJ C 291 E, 26.11.2002, p. 33. (2) P5_TA(2003)0125.