A4-0191/97

Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey (COM(96)0596 - C4-0031/97 - 96/0282(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Citation 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Having regard to the declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and Commission of 6 March 1995 on the incorporation of financial provisions into legislative acts(1),

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(1) OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 4.

(Amendment 2)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the European Parliament, in the light of the difficult economic situation of European beekeepers, called unanimously in its resolution of 20 January 1995 on the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament 'Discussion paper on European apiculture'(1) for the introduction of direct support measures (a pollination premium and compensatory payments for loss of income attributable to the absence of Community preference), and whereas, since the situation of European apiculture remains serious, such support measures should now be implemented without delay;

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(1) OJ C 43, 20.2.1995, p. 130.

(Amendment 3)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas measures to promote the marketing of high-quality honey in the European Union and to prevent distortions of competition caused by honey imported from third countries are particularly important, and whereas the Directive on honey (COM(95)0722 - 96/0114(CNS)) proposed as part of the simplification of the vertical Directives on foodstuffs should therefore be adjusted accordingly;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 4

>Original text>

Whereas, in view of the spread of varroasis in several Member States in recent years and the resulting problems for honey production, action by the Community is necessary;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in view of the spread of varroasis in several Member States in recent years and the resulting problems for honey production, action by the Community is necessary, and whereas measures to combat varroasis and other bee diseases should therefore be incorporated into the EU's veterinary policy and financed in that context;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas, given these circumstances and in order to improve the production and marketing of honey in the Community, national programmes should be established without delay for each year comprising technical assistance, measures to control varroasis and related diseases, a rationalization of transhumance, the management of regional beekeeping centres and cooperation on research programmes to improve the quality of honey;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, given these circumstances, national programmes should be established without delay for each year comprising measures to improve the production and marketing of honey in the Community, and whereas these programmes shall be forwarded to the Commission, which shall approve them;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas, in order to supplement the statistical data available, Member States should carry out studies on the structure of the sector, covering production, marketing and price formation;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in order to obtain reliable Community-wide statistical data to make it possible to monitor structural changes in the beekeeping sector and market developments regarding honey on a consistent basis, Member States shall carry out, in collaboration with the Commission, studies on the structure of the sector, covering production, marketing and price formation;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 8a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in order to improve market transparency, the provisions of this Regulation should be supplemented by the introduction of common marketing standards for Community and imported honey;

(Amendment 8)

Recital 8b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the agreement between Parliament and the Commission on commitology, referred to in the European Parliament's resolution of 24 October 1996 on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 1997 - Section III - Commission(1) requires in particular the Commission to keep Parliament fully informed of the work of committees of the type provided for in Article 5 and to require all the members of such committees to sign a declaration that their membership of the committee is not incompatible with their personal interests;

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(1) OJ C 347, 18.11.1996, p. 125.

(Amendment 9)

Article -1 (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article -1

1. In order to safeguard the ecological function of beekeeping in Europe, beekeepers shall be paid a pollination premium.

2. The pollination premium shall be ECU 2.5 annually per bee colony in Portugal, Spain and Greece and ECU 5 annually per bee colony in the other Member States.

(Amendment 10)

Article -1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article -1a

1. An annual compensatory premium shall be paid to honey producers to offset loss of income attributable to the absence of Community preference.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The compensatory premium shall be calculated separately for each Member State on the basis of average values. It shall correspond to the difference between the average price paid to beekeepers per kg of honey and average production costs.

(Amendment 11)

Article 1(1)

>Original text>

1. This Regulation lays down measures for improving general conditions for the production and marketing of natural honey. These measures shall be included in national programmes for each year.

>Text following EP vote>

1. This Regulation lays down general rules for the application of measures for improving general conditions for the production and marketing of natural honey. The Member States shall draw up and submit to the Commission national programmes for each year comprising measures which are tailored to the situation and specific needs of their apiculture and which are designed to improve the situation of beekeepers and apiculture.

(Amendment 12)

Article 1(2)

>Original text>

2. The measures shall be:

>Text following EP vote>

2. The following measures may be included in the national programmes:

>Text following EP vote>

I. The control of varroasis and related diseases; improvement of the conditions for the treatment of hives

>Text following EP vote>

II. Measures to improve production and marketing conditions

>Original text>

(a) technical assistance to members of beekeepers' associations and honey houses with a view to improving the conditions for the production and extraction of honey;

>Text following EP vote>

(a) technical assistance to beekeepers and their associations with a view to improving the production and marketing conditions for products of apiculture;

>Original text>

(b) the control of varroasis and related diseases; improvement of the conditions for the treatment of hives and the harvesting, storage and packaging of honey;

>Text following EP vote>

(b) measures to improve the harvesting, storage and packaging of honey;

>Original text>

(c) rationalization of transhumance;

>Text following EP vote>

(c) rationalization of transhumance;

>Original text>

(d) measures to support laboratories carrying out analyses on the physico-chemical properties of honey;

>Text following EP vote>

(d) measures to support laboratories carrying out analyses on the physico-chemical properties of honey;

>Original text>

(e) cooperation with specialized bodies for the implementation of applied research programmes to improve the quality of honey.

>Text following EP vote>

(e) cooperation with specialized bodies for the implementation of applied research programmes to improve the quality of honey;

>Text following EP vote>

(ea) any other appropriate measures to improve the production and marketing conditions for honey and other hive products.

(Amendment 13)

Article 2

>Original text>

In order to be eligible for the part- financing provided for in Article 3, Member States shall carry out a study of the production and marketing structures in the beekeeping sector in their territory by 1 July 1997.

>Text following EP vote>

Member States shall carry out, in collaboration with the Commission, at regular intervals and for the first time no later than a year after this Regulation enters into force, a study of the structures in the beekeeping sector in their territory, which shall cover recording the number of beekeepers, as well as production, marketing and price formation.

(Amendment 14)

Article 3, second and third paragraphs

>Original text>

The Community shall provide part- financing for the national programmes equivalent to 50% of the expenditure borne by Member States.

The financial reference amount for implementing this Regulation shall be ECU 15 million per year.

>Text following EP vote>

The national programmes approved by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4 shall be financed by the Community up to a target ceiling for each Member State, which shall be determined by the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, in the light of the outcome of the studies provided for in Article 2.

(Amendment 15)

Article 3, fifth paragraph

>Original text>

In order to be eligible for part- financing, expenditure by the Member States on the programmes referred to in Article 1(1) must be made by 15 October each year.

>Text following EP vote>

In order to be considered for Community financing, the programmes pursuant to Article 1(1) must be forwarded to the Commission by the Member States by 15 August each year; the Commission shall approve them by 15 October in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4.

(Amendment 16)

Article 4, first paragraph

>Original text>

The programmes referred to in Article 1(1) shall be drawn up in close collaboration with the representative professional beekeepers' organizations. Programmes shall be forwarded to the Commission, which shall approve them in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organization of the market in eggs.

>Text following EP vote>

The programmes referred to in Article 1(1) shall be drawn up in close collaboration with the representative professional beekeepers' organizations and cooperatives. Programmes shall be forwarded to the Commission, which shall approve them in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organization of the market in eggs.

(Amendment 17)

Article 4, second paragraph

>Original text>

Measures contained in operational programmes for Objective 1, 5b and 6 regions shall be excluded from these programmes.

>Text following EP vote>

Measures carried out by the Member States as part of operational programmes for Objective 1, 5b and 6 regions shall be excluded from these programmes.

(Amendment 18)

Article 5

>Original text>

Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation, in particular those relating to monitoring, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75.

>Text following EP vote>

Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation, in particular those relating to Articles 1, 2 and 3 and also to monitoring, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75.

(Amendments 22 and 19)

Article 6

>Original text>

The Commission shall present to the Council every three years a report on the application of this Regulation, initially by (1 July 2000) at the latest.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall present to the Council and the European Parliament every three years a report on the application of this Regulation, initially by 1 July 2000 at the latest. On the basis of reliable statistical data obtained from the studies provided for in Article 2, the Commission shall, if necessary, propose additional measures in order to meet the needs of the sector.

(Amendment 20)

Article 6a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 6a

Article 19(1)(a), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EEC) No 2328/91 is replaced by the following:

>Text following EP vote>

'(a) in the case of farms keeping cattle, sheep, goats, equines or bees the allowance shall be calculated in relation to livestock numbers. The allowance may not exceed ECU 102 per LU. The total amount of the allowance granted may not exceed ECU 102 per hectare of total forage area of the holding. This hectare restriction shall not apply to beekeeping. A conversion table for expressing cattle, equines, sheep, goats and beehives as LUs is given in Annex I.'

(Amendment 21)

Article 6b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 6b

Annex I of Regulation (EEC) No 2328/91 is replaced by the following:

>Text following EP vote>

'ANNEX I

Table for converting cattle, equines, sheep,

goats and beehives into livestock units (LU)

(referred to in Articles 6(5) and 19(1)(a))

>Text following EP vote>

Bulls, cows and other bovine

animals over two years, equines

over six months 1.0 LU

Bovine animals from six months

to two years 0.6 LU

Sheep (ewes) 0.15 LU

Goats (nannies) 0.15 LU

Beehives 0.15 LU

>Text following EP vote>

The coefficients relating to sheep, goats and beehives apply to the maximum and minimum amounts per livestock unit as defined in Articles 6(5) and 19(1)(a).'

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation laying down general rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey (COM(96)0596 - C4-0031/97 - 96/0282(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0596 - 96/0282(CNS) ((OJ C 378, 13.12.1996, p. 20.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 42 and 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0031/97),

- 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 (A4-0191/97),

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.