(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the initiative of the Hellenic Republic (9870/2003)(1),

–   having regard to Articles 63(3)(b) and 66 of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Article 67 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C5&nbhy;0260/2003),

–   having regard to Rule 67 and Rule 61 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Citizens" Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs and the opinion of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (A5&nbhy;0344/2003),

1.  Approves the initiative of the Hellenic Republic as amended;

2.  Calls on the Council to alter the text accordingly;

3.  Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4.  Calls on the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the initiative of the Hellenic Republic substantially;

5.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the government of the Hellenic Republic.

Text proposed by the Hellenic Republic   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 Article 2, paragraph 2, point (ja) (new)   (ja) information transmitted via an "immigration officers' intranet system" and the police central (head) office in the host country; Amendment 2 Article 2, paragraph 2, point (jb) (new)   (jb) information intended to assist immediate humanitarian aid in the event of human tragedies linked to illegal immigration. Amendment 3 Article 3, paragraph 1 1.  Member States shall inform one another, the Council and the Commission of their secondments of immigration liaison officers to third countries, including a description of their duties. The Commission shall present an annual summary to the Council concerning Member States" postings of immigration liaison officers. 1.  Member States shall inform one another, the Council and the Commission of their secondments of immigration liaison officers to third countries, including a description of their duties. The Commission shall present to the Council and to the Member States an annual summary concerning postings of immigration liaison officers. Amendment 4 Article 4, paragraph 1, point (b) (b) exchange information and practical experience; (b) exchange information and practical experience in accordance with the arrangements set out in the common manual; Amendment 5 Article 4, paragraph 1, point (ea) (new)   (ea) implement a common information policy aimed at making the local population aware of the existence of legal ways of immigrating and warning them of the dangers of illegal immigration and of slave-trafficking networks; Amendment 6 Article 4, paragraph 1, point (fa) (new)   (fa) attend workshops and seminars organised on a rota system by the Member States represented in the third countries concerned, in which members of similar networks set up in neighbouring third countries shall be invited to take part. Amendment 7 Article 4, paragraph 2 2.  Local representatives of the Commission of the European Communities shall be entitled to participate in the meetings organised within the framework of immigration liaison officers network. Other bodies and authorities may also be invited, as appropriate. 2.  Local representatives of the Commission of the European Communities shall participate in the meetings organised within the framework of immigration liaison officers network. Other bodies and authorities may also be invited, as appropriate. Those Commission representatives shall provide information to liaison officers on entry, exit and residence conditions in the various Member States of the European Union. Amendment 8 Article 4, paragraph 3 3.  The Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union shall take the initiative to hold the meetings referred to in paragraph 1(a). However, if the Member State holding the Presidency is not represented in the country or region, the Member State serving as acting Presidency shall take the initiative to hold the meeting. 3.  The Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union shall take the initiative to hold the meetings referred to in paragraph 1(a). However, if the Member State holding the Presidency is not represented in the country or region, it may delegate the initiative to hold the meeting to another Member State. Amendment 9 Article 6a (new)   Article 6a   In carrying out its activities, the immigration liaison officers' network shall respect democratic principles, human rights, the principle of transparency, the national sovereignty of the countries and their laws. Amendment 10 Article 7, paragraph 1 1.  The Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union or, if this Member State is not represented in the country or region, the Member State serving as acting Presidency shall draw up, by the end of each semester, a report to the Council and the Commission on the activities of immigration liaison officers networks in which it has a representative and on the situation in host countries, in matters relating to illegal immigration. 1.  The Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union or, if this Member State is not represented in the country or region, the Member State serving as acting Presidency shall draw up, by the end of each semester, a report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the activities of immigration liaison officers networks in which it has a representative and on the situation in host countries, in matters relating to illegal immigration. Amendment 11 Article 7, paragraph 3 3.  The reports constitute an essential form of information for the preparation at the end of each Presidency of an evaluation report drafted by the Presidency in cooperation with the Commission and submitted to the Council, on the existing situation in each third country, in which Member States' immigration liaison officers are posted. 3.  The reports constitute an essential form of information for the preparation at the end of each Presidency of an evaluation report drafted by the Presidency in cooperation with the Commission and submitted to the European Parliament and the Council, on the existing situation in each third country, in which Member States' immigration liaison officers are posted. Amendment 12 Article 7, paragraph 4 4.  The Commission shall, on the basis of the abovementioned reports draw up a summary factual report which shall be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council before the end of each year. When presenting its summary factual report to the Council the Commission may make such proposals or recommendations as it deems appropriate concerning improving the information-liaison officer network and the existing situation in each third country. 4.  The Commission shall, on the basis of the abovementioned reports draw up a summary factual report which shall be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council before the end of each year. When presenting its summary factual report to the European Parliament and the Council the Commission may make such proposals or recommendations as it deems appropriate concerning improving the immigration liaison officer network and the existing situation in each third country. Amendment 13 Article 7, paragraph 4a (new)   4a. The Commission shall request its delegations in the countries in which immigration originates to provide access to information on immigration for citizens of those countries, in cooperation with the embassies of the Member States, the authorities of the countries concerned and the immigration liaison officers.

(1) OJ C 140, 14.6.2003, p. 12.