A4-0385/97

Proposal for a Council Regulation introducing a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French department of Guiana as a result of those regions' remoteness (COM(97)0389 - C4-0451/97 - 97/0200(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Title

>Original text>

Proposal for a Council Regulation introducing a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French department of Guiana as a result of those regions' remoteness

>Text following EP vote>

Proposal for a Council Regulation introducing a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French departments of Guiana and Réunion as a result of those regions' remoteness

>Text following EP vote>

(This amendment to apply throughout the text)

(Amendment 2)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas the regions concerned are facing specific development problems and in particular additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain products as a result of their remoteness; whereas, with a view to maintaining the competitiveness of certain fishery products against similar products from other Community regions, the Community introduced measures in 1992 and 1993 to compensate for such additional costs in the fisheries sector; whereas those measures were followed up in 1994 and 1995-97 by the adoption of Council Regulations (EC) No 1503/94 and No 2337/95; whereas the arrangements to compensate for the additional costs incurred in processing and marketing certain fishery products (tuna and demersal species in the Azores; tuna, black scabbardfish and mackerel in Madeira; tuna, sardines, mackerel, aquaculture products, sole and sea-bream in the Canary Islands; shrimps in Guiana) should be continued from 1998 and provision must accordingly be made for the measures to be extended;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the regions concerned are facing specific development problems and in particular additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain products as a result of their remoteness; whereas, with a view to maintaining the competitiveness of certain fishery products against similar products from other Community regions, the Community introduced measures in 1992 and 1993 to compensate for such additional costs in the fisheries sector; whereas those measures were followed up in 1994 and 1995-97 by the adoption of Council Regulations (EC) No 1503/94 and No 2337/95; whereas the arrangements to compensate for the additional costs incurred in processing and marketing certain fishery products (tuna and demersal species in the Azores; tuna, black scabbardfish and mackerel in Madeira; tuna, sardines, mackerel, aquaculture products, sole and sea-bream in the Canary Islands; shrimps in Guiana; tuna and swordfish in Réunion) should be continued from 1998 and provision must accordingly be made for the measures to be extended;

(Amendment 13)

Recital 5a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in view of the exceptional nature of the measure decided upon - the inclusion of the island of Réunion -, the budgetary authority must be kept informed of the implementation of this Regulation;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 7a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is essential to respect the minimum threshold of 30 metres' depth for fishing on the continental shelf;

(Amendment 4)

Article 1

>Original text>

A scheme is hereby introduced to compensate for the additional costs of marketing certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French department of Guiana as a result of the remoteness of those regions.

>Text following EP vote>

A scheme is hereby introduced to compensate for the additional costs of marketing certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French departments of Guiana and Réunion as a result of the remoteness of those regions.

(Amendment 5)

Article 2(3)(a)

>Original text>

(a) ECU 152 per tonne of tuna for marketing fresh for up to 10 400 tonnes a year;

>Text following EP vote>

(a) ECU 152 per tonne of tuna for marketing fresh for up to 11 321 tonnes a year;

(Amendment 6)

Article 2(3)(b)

>Original text>

(b) ECU 56 per tonne of frozen tuna for up to 3 500 tonnes a year;

>Text following EP vote>

(b) ECU 56 per tonne of frozen tuna for up to 1 000 tonnes a year;

(Amendment 7)

Article 2(3)(c)

>Original text>

(c) ECU 56 per tonne of sardines and mackerel for freezing for up to 7 500 tonnes a year;

>Text following EP vote>

(c) ECU 56 per tonne of sardines and mackerel for freezing for up to 4 000 tonnes a year;

(Amendment 8)

Article 2(3)(d)

>Original text>

(d) ECU 105 per tonne of sardines and mackerel for processing for up to 10 500 tonnes a year;

>Text following EP vote>

(d) ECU 105 per tonne of sardines and mackerel for processing for up to 12 100 tonnes a year;

(Amendment 11)

Article 2(4), 2nd subparagraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

In order to provide the best possible protection for resources, this aid may vary depending on the size of the shrimps caught, without affecting the total budgetary package allocated.

(Amendment 14)

Article 2(4a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

4a. In the case of Réunion, the scheme provided for in Article 1 shall entail payment of ECU 1000 per tonne of tuna and swordfish for up to 1000 tonnes a year, provided that the relevant amounts are not deducted from the budget earmarked for the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French department of Guiana.

(Amendment 15)

Article 4a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 4a

By 1 May each year the Commission shall forward to the budgetary authority a report on the implementation of this Regulation, accompanied by an updated financial statement.

(Amendment 16)

Article 6

>Original text>

Every three years, and for the first time on 1 January 2001, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the measures provided for herein, together, where appropriate, with proposals for any adjustments that prove necessary to achieve the objectives set out in Article 1.

>Text following EP vote>

Every three years, and for the first time on 1 January 2001, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the measures provided for herein, together, where appropriate, with proposals for any adjustments that prove necessary to achieve the objectives set out in Article 1. This report must allow an assessment to be made of the application of the principles of sound financial management, economy and the results of a cost/benefit analysis.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French department of Guiana as a result of those regions' remoteness (COM(97)0389 - C4-0451/97 - 97/0200(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0389 - 97/0200(CNS) ((OJ C 292, 26.9.1997, p. 5. )),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0451/97),

- having regard to the Commission's report on the application of the system of compensation for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French department of Guiana, as a result of their very remote location (COM(97)0388),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0385/97),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

3. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.