A4-0163/98

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch (COM(97)0576 - C4-0045/98 - 97/0300(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1a (new)

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Whereas in assessing politically the support system for the potato starch sector, account must be taken of the fact that starch potatoes are one of the crops of fundamental importance for the social and economic situation of certain regions as regards the income of the growers concerned and also as regards related employment; whereas, therefore, a specific Regulation, in addition to the cereals Regulation, is still justified for this sector;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 1b (new)

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Whereas in the support system for the potato starch sector account must be taken of the need to ensure a balance between the starches derived from the different raw materials, as has always been the basic principle of Community starch regulations;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 4a (new)

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Whereas the importance of the growing of other potato varieties for consumption, in terms of the area used and the number of producers, must be taken into account; whereas, however, the potato as a vegetable is still not regulated by a COM; whereas, given the social implications of potato growing and the cyclical variations in production and marketing, certain support measures should be introduced for producers growing potatoes for consumption;

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 1a (new)

Article 5 (Regulation (EC) No 1868/94)

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Article 1a

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Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 shall be replaced by the following:

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'Article 5

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For the 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 marketing years, a premium per tonne of starch produced shall be allocated to undertakings producing potato starch, in respect of the quantity of potato starch covered by the quota referred to in Article 2(1), provided they have paid the potato producers the minimum price referred to in Article 8(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 in respect of the total quantity of potatoes needed to produce starch up to the ceiling laid down in the quota.'

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch (COM(97)0576 - C4-0045/98 - 97/0300(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0576 - 97/0300(CNS) ((OJ C 369, 6.12.1997, p. 19.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 42 and 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0045/98),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0163/98),

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.