DoH Letter, 10 July 2012
I am pleased to advise you that on the 14 June, the European Parliament adopted its first reading position on the above proposal. A copy of the text adopted by European Parliament is available on its website: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-255
This follows the earlier vote on 7 June, which the Council of the European Union agreed its ‘general approach’, to give a mandate to the EU Presidency to negotiate with the European Parliament. The public document is now available: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st10/st10086.en12.pdf
The Council will now consider the Parliament’s amendments with a view to adopting its first reading position. The European Parliament has however, indicated that it will not be entering into negotiations for a first reading deal. The dossier will therefore, move forward for agreement at second reading under the Cypriot Presidency. The Presidency has indicated that this will be a priority for them to progress and an initial Council meeting is planned for 20 July. It is likely that work will continue through the autumn with the second reading in the winter, or spring 2013.
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