Ψηφίσματα του ΕΚ

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the role of macro-regions in the future cohesion policy.

Members welcome the approval of the European Commission and the support of the Council for the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, which Parliament has been calling for since 2006. They welcome the fact that the Strategy is the result of broad consultation with interested parties in the Member States, including not only national, regional and local authorities but also the academic and business communities as well as NGOs.

Whilst welcoming the establishment of a civil society forum in the region, the resolution recommends, in this context, increasing the local communities' involvement by setting up wider and more focused communication and consultation tools. The Commission is called upon to create a special web portal devoted to the Baltic Sea Strategy, which would act as a forum for the exchange of experiences regarding [...]

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on a Baltic Sea Region Strategy for the Northern Dimension, based on the own-initiative report drafted by Alexander STUBB (EPP-ED, FI). The resolution was adopted by 519 votes in favour to 9 against with 14 abstentions.

On the matter of funding, Parliament called for an own EU budget line for the Baltic Sea Strategy, possibly under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument, supplementing the current funding of the Northern Dimension by the EU, Member States, third countries, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the Nordic Investment Bank and others.

Parliament stressed that the Strategy must receive adequate funding from all relevant budget lines in order to be able to fulfil its objectives.

Parliament also recalled the role of the Baltic Sea as a uniting factor in the region. It suggested a new programme, to be entitled "Borderless... [...]

The European Parliament adopted by 630 votes to 14, with 6 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on participation by the Community in a Joint Baltic Sea Research and Development Programme (BONUS-169) undertaken by several Member States.

It adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure). The amendments adopted in plenary are a result of a compromise reached between the European Parliament and the Council.

They amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Implementation of BONUS: according to the amended text, the strategic phase of the Programme shall last up to 18 months. Parliament stressed the need to encourage an adequate participation of SME. They also state that the grant and payment of financing to participants in BONUS shall comply with common rules in line with the Seventh Framework Programme. [...]