COMMISSION PROPOSAL on the prices for agricultural products VOLUME III Legal instruments - Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EC) No 2467/98 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission [1],

[1] OJ C

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament [2],

[2] OJ C

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee [3],

[3] OJ C

Whereas:

(1) Article 3(1) of Council Regulation (EC) n° 2467/98 [4] provides that the basic price for sheepmeat carcases should be fixed in accordance with the criteria laid down in Article 3(2). It also provides that the basic price should be seasonally adjusted to take account of the normal seasonal variations on the Community market in sheepmeat. The applicable parameters result in the prices being fixed at the level laid down in this Regulation.

[4] OJ L 312, 20.11.1998, p. 1.

(2) In accordance with the approach followed in the reform of common market organisations within the framework of Agenda 2000 and in order to enable producers to organise their production over several years, it is appropriate to fix the basic price without a time limit. However this shall not prejudge any revisions which may be justified in the future.

(3) Furthermore, in compliance with the provisions adopted by the Council on the subject of comitology, the corresponding provisions of Regulation (EC) n° 2467/98 should be amended. Since the measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation are management measures within the meaning of Article 2 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission [5], they should be adopted by use of the management procedure provided for in Article 4 of that Decision,

[5] OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 2467/98 is amended as follows:

1. Article 3 is replaced by the following:

"Article 3

The basic price for the 2001 and following marketing years is hereby fixed at EUR 504,07/100 kg carcase weight.

The seasonally adjusted basic price, which takes account of the normal seasonal variations on the Community market in sheepmeat, is hereby fixed on a weekly basis as indicated in Annex III to this Regulation.

Save where a decision to the contrary is taken by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, the marketing year shall begin on the first Monday in January and shall end on the day preceding that day in the following year."

2. Article 24 is hereby deleted.

3. Article 25 is replaced by the following:

"Article 25

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee, the Management Committee for Sheep and Goats, composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, the management procedure laid down in Article 4 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, in compliance with Article 7(3) thereof.

3. The period provided for in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be one month."

4. The Annex to this Regulation shall be inserted as Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 2467/98.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Community.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX "ANNEX III - Seasonally adjusted basic prices

(EUR/100 kg carcase weight)

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