Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Protocol annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel,

Having regard to Council Decision 2003/76/EC of 1 February 2003 establishing the measures necessary for the implementation of the Protocol, annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel^f1, and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission^f2,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament^f3,

Whereas:

For the purposes of the Protocol annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community on the financial consequences of the expiry of the ECSC Treaty and on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, the Commission shall manage the assets of the ECSC in liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, the Assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel.

The management of these assets should be aimed at the highest possible yield that is compatible with security.

The entire capital of the Assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, yielded by the liquidation, should be preserved intact.

The management of the transferred assets should take account of the experience gained in conducting the financial operations of the European Coal and Steel Community, and the multiannual financial guidelines for managing the assets of the ECSC in liquidation and, on completion of the liquidation, the Assets of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel should therefore be based on this experience,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: