PURPOSE: to allow Bulgaria and Romania to accede to the Convention of 26 May 1997 on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2007/751/EC concerning the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Convention, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union, on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union.

CONTENT: the 2005 Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania introduced a simplified system for the accession of these two countries to the conventions (and protocols) concluded by Member States on the basis of Article 34 TEU (previously Article K.3 TEU) or Article 293 EC.

Article 3(3) of the Act of Accession provides that Bulgaria and Romania accede to these conventions and protocols by virtue of the Act of Accession. Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 3 provide that, to that effect, the Council shall adopt a decision in order to determine the date on which these conventions shall enter into force for Bulgaria and Romania, and to make all the necessary adjustments to these conventions required by reason of the accession of the two new Member States (which would include, in any event, the adoption of the conventions in the Bulgarian and Romanian languages, so that these versions can be "equally authentic").

Consequently, in virtue of this Council Decision, Bulgaria and Romania accede to the Convention of 26 May 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union, on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision takes effect from 23/11/1007. For Bulgaria and Romania, the Convention against corruption involving officials enters into force on 1 December 2007.

The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Jörg LEICHTFRIED (PES, AT) approving unamended the recommendation for a Council decision concerning the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Convention of 26 May 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union, on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union. The resolution was adopted by 648 votes in favour to 7 against with 17 abstentions.

The committee adopted the report by Jörg LEICHTFRIED (PES, AT) approving unamended, under the consultation procedure, the recommendation for a Council decision concerning the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Convention of 26 May 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union, on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union.

PURPOSE: to enable Bulgaria and Romania to accede to the Convention of 26 May 1997 on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Recommendation for a Council Decision.

CONTENT: the 2005 Act of accession of Bulgaria and Romania has introduced a simplified system for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the conventions (and protocols) concluded by the Member States on the basis of Art. 34 TEU (previously Art. K.3 TEU) or Art. 293 EC.

It is no longer necessary to negotiate and conclude specific accession protocols to these conventions (which would have implied ratification by 27 States): Article 3(3) of the Act provides simply that Bulgaria and Romania accede to these conventions and protocols by virtue of the Act of Accession.

Article 3(3) and 3(4) of the Act of Accession provide that, to that effect, the Council shall adopt a decision in order to determine the date on which these conventions shall enter into force for Bulgaria and Romania and to make all the necessary adjustments to these conventions required by reason of the accession of the two new Member States (which would include, in any event, the adoption of the conventions in the Bulgarian and Romanian languages, so that these versions can be "equally authentic"). The Council shall act on a recommendation of the Commission, after consulting the European Parliament.

Annex I to the Act of Accession gives the list of the seven conventions and protocols concerned in the Justice and Home Affairs area. The list includes the Convention of 26 May 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union, on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union.

The present draft Recommendation is intended to make the adjustments required by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the aforementioned Convention, in accordance with Article 3(4) of the Act of Accession.

PURPOSE: to enable Bulgaria and Romania to accede to the Convention of 26 May 1997 on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union.

PROPOSED ACT: Recommendation for a Council Decision.

CONTENT: the 2005 Act of accession of Bulgaria and Romania has introduced a simplified system for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the conventions (and protocols) concluded by the Member States on the basis of Art. 34 TEU (previously Art. K.3 TEU) or Art. 293 EC.

It is no longer necessary to negotiate and conclude specific accession protocols to these conventions (which would have implied ratification by 27 States): Article 3(3) of the Act provides simply that Bulgaria and Romania accede to these conventions and protocols by virtue of the Act of Accession.

Article 3(3) and 3(4) of the Act of Accession provide that, to that effect, the Council shall adopt a decision in order to determine the date on which these conventions shall enter into force for Bulgaria and Romania and to make all the necessary adjustments to these conventions required by reason of the accession of the two new Member States (which would include, in any event, the adoption of the conventions in the Bulgarian and Romanian languages, so that these versions can be "equally authentic"). The Council shall act on a recommendation of the Commission, after consulting the European Parliament.

Annex I to the Act of Accession gives the list of the seven conventions and protocols concerned in the Justice and Home Affairs area. The list includes the Convention of 26 May 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union, on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States of the European Union.

The present draft Recommendation is intended to make the adjustments required by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the aforementioned Convention, in accordance with Article 3(4) of the Act of Accession.