Mr President, Commissioner, we welcome this proposal for a directive for several reasons, one of which is the extension of its scope. It now encompasses not only wood production but also other forest objectives such as cork and the protection of genetic resources. We should also congratulate ourselves because it now identifies different categories and encourages the protection given by reforestation and not just wood production. It allows maximum variability from the genetic viewpoint, thereby guaranteeing adaptation. In the main the proposal responds to the differing needs of the Member States and includes the principle of subsidiarity. The accession of the Nordic and Mediterranean countries to the European Union is the main reason for updating the current directive which regulates the marketing of forest plants and seeds and which has not been substantially amended since 1975. The text of the directive coincides on the basic aspects of objective, number of categories, definitions of basic materials and so on with the world’s other main system of marketing forest reproductive material, namely the OECD. Work has been carried out in recent years to update this system and an improved text is now pending approval by the Council. Coherence between these texts can only assist the marketing of these materials. I must also congratulate Mr Pesälä on his report. I agree that the date set for the entry into force of the directive cannot be 1 January 2000 but must be postponed by at least three years to give the Member States time to comply with the directive. Other amendments by other Members, such as those tabled by Mrs Schierhuber, must also be welcomed. They include an amendment on the strengthening of the control of trade flows by an official certificate of origin. However, there is one very important point which we must consider. The explanatory statement specified that the external quality of materials was guaranteed, yet point (d) of Annex VII deals with this in a very general manner. This is not a trivial issue. Plant quality is essential in the Mediterranean environment where reforestation is carried out under very difficult conditions. Experience has taught us that plants of certain sizes cannot survive in a particular environment. This is true in many areas of southern Europe where the drought conditions are extreme. In order to assist their establishment, this means using container-grown plants with good root systems, whereas in other countries plants without any roots can successfully grow. The external quality of plants has a big impact, not only on the percentage which survive, which can range from 20% to 85%, but also on their future development in the extremely harsh conditions of their transfer to this climate. External quality is one of the factors which determines the quality of the woodland of the future. A lack of regulation of the external quality of plants may therefore cause very serious problems as this will allow all sizes of plant to be placed on the market. You should bear in mind that some Member States already have laws on this subject. It is in the interests of the whole European environment to ensure that plantations are correctly established so that a large proportion do not fail. The plants must be suitable and adaptable because, unfortunately, in many corners of the European Union, you cannot plant what you want, only what is practical. To ensure that adequate consideration is given to this unresolved problem in the text of the proposal, the Council is trying to reach agreement on the incorporation of a new point 7. This will contain the external characteristics which must be satisfied, for their marketing in the Mediterranean areas of the Community, by the forest species best adapted to the difficult soil and climate conditions of these areas. I applaud and encourage this solution to which I hope the European Commission will agree.

Political group: PPE-DE