Comitology, follow-up to Amsterdam: procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission

OBJECTIVE: to amend Decision 87/373/EEC on the Commission's implementing powers. SUBSTANCE: The final act of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Amsterdam Treaty specifically invites the Commission to submit a proposal for amending Decision 87/373/EEC on procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission. Consequently, the Commission has submitted an amending text which aims firstly to clarify the criteria on the basis of which one or other procedure should be adopted. Thus, it is proposed that: - the management committee procedure should be used for measures to implement or manage common policies (such as the CAP), implementation of programmes having major budgetary implications or involving substantial financial resources (this procedure would guarantee a decision within an appropriate time); - the regulatory procedure is to be used for general measures which aim to apply, adapt or update basic legislative acts (this would involve the legislator, either the Council or the Parliament and the Council, in the procedure for instruments adopted by codecision). The advisory procedure would be used when the management or regulatory procedure was considered not or no longer appropriate. The other changes aim to simplify the 1987 decision by reducing the number of possible commitology procedures to four: advisory procedure, management procedure, regulatory procedure and a fourth specific procedure concerning safeguard measures for the Member States. Changes in the procedures are also envisaged to take account of the respective powers of each Institution. The proposal includes provisions under which Parliament will be kept informed of the work of the committees. The changes in the existing procedures entail repeal of the 1987 decision. �