(Codecision procedure: third reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee and the relevant Commission statement (PE-CONS 3671/3/2005 – C6-0416/2005),

–   having regard to its position at first reading(1) on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2001)0573)(2),

–   having regard to the amended proposal of the Commission (COM(2003)0490)(3),

–   having regard to its position at second reading(4) on the Council common position(5),

–   having regard to the Commission's opinion on Parliament's amendments to the common position (COM(2005)0301)(6),

–   having regard to Article 251(5) of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Rule 65 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of its delegation to the Conciliation Committee (A6-0006/2006),

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 to sign the act, once it has been verified that all the procedures have been duly completed, and, in agreement with the Secretary-General of the Council, to have it published, together with the Commission statement thereon, in the Official Journal of the European Union;

4.  Instructs its President to forward this legislative resolution to the Council and Commission.

(1) OJ C 38 E, 12.2.2004, p. 152. (2) OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002, p. 234. (3) Not yet published in OJ. (4) Texts Adopted, 13.4.2005, P6_TA(2005)0122. (5) OJ C 63 E, 15.3.2005, p. 11. (6) Not yet published in OJ.