International Fund for Ireland: Community financial contributions 2007-2010

 The committee adopted the report by Jim HIGGINS (EPP-ED, IE) approving the proposed Council regulation concerning Community financial contributions to the International Fund for Ireland (2007-2010). It adopted just one amendment, under the consultation procedure, making Article 159 of the TEC the legal base of the regulation rather than Article 308 as proposed. The committee argued that, as one of the primary aims of the IFI was "to promote economic and social advance", the regulation fell within the remit of economic and social cohesion policy. Article 159 was therefore the most appropriate legal basis. It should be noted that this article provides for codecision procedure, which would give the European Parliament a stronger role.