(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Council proposal (10667/1/2003)(1),

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2003) 151)(2),

–   having regard to Article 63(3)(b) and the second sentence of the first paragraph of Article 300(2) of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Article 67 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C5-0490/2003),

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

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (A5-0096/2004),

1.  Approves the Council proposal;

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

3.  Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

4.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission and the governments of the Member States and of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

(1) Not yet published in OJ. (2) Not yet published in OJ.