Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1107/70 on the granting of aids for transport by rail, road and inland waterway (COM(95)0199 - C4-0447/95 - 95/0123(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 17)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas this aid must be granted for a sufficiently long period for the said investment in equipment to have the time to win over the market and bring new traffic to inland waterways; whereas those aid arrangements should remain in force until 31 December 1999; whereas the Council should decide, under the conditions set out in the Treaty, on subsequent arrangements or, where appropriate, on the conditions under which those arrangements will be terminated;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas this aid must be sufficient for the said investment in equipment to have the time to win over the market and bring new traffic to inland waterways; whereas those aid arrangements should remain in force until 31 December 1999; whereas the Council should decide, under the conditions set out in the Treaty, on subsequent arrangements or, where appropriate, on the conditions under which those arrangements will be terminated;

(Amendment 18)

ARTICLE 1

Article 3(1)(f) (Regulation (EEC) No 1107/70)

>Original text>

(f) up to 31 December 1999, where aid is granted on a temporary basis and is designed to facilitate the development of inland waterway transport, such aid having to be either:

>Text following EP vote>

(f) up to 31 December 1999, where aid is granted on a temporary basis and is designed to facilitate the development of inland waterway transport, such aid having to be either:

>Original text>

- investments in the infrastructure of inland waterway terminals, or

>Text following EP vote>

- investments in the infrastructure of inland waterway terminals, or

>Original text>

- investments in the fixed and mobile equipment needed for loading and unloading.

>Text following EP vote>

- investments in the fixed and mobile equipment needed for loading and unloading, and telematics and other communications equipment.

>Original text>

The aid granted may not exceed 50% of the total amount of investment.

>Text following EP vote>

The aid granted may not exceed 50% of the total amount of investment.

>Original text>

The beneficiaries of this aid shall undertake to provide new or additional transport tonnage on the inland waterway, to be determined with the competent authorities of the Member States, for a period of five years. In the event of failure to honour this undertaking the aid shall be recovered by the competent authority.

>Text following EP vote>

The beneficiaries of this aid shall undertake to provide new or additional transport tonnage on the inland waterway, to be determined with the competent authorities of the Member States, for a period of five years. In the event of failure to honour this undertaking, all or part of the aid may be recovered by the competent authority.

>Original text>

Every two years the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a progress report on the implementation of the measures, stating in particular the purpose of the aid, the amount and its impact on inland waterway transport. The Member States shall provide the Commission with the information needed to establish this report.

>Text following EP vote>

Every two years the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a progress report on the implementation of the measures, stating in particular the purpose of the aid, the amount and its impact on inland waterway transport. The Member States shall provide the Commission with the information needed to establish this report.

>Original text>

No later than 31 July 1999 the Council shall decide, on a proposal from the Commission and under the conditions set out in the Treaty, on subsequent arrangements or, where appropriate, on the conditions for terminating those arrangements.

>Text following EP vote>

No later than 31 December 1999 the Council shall decide, on a proposal from the Commission and under the conditions set out in the Treaty, on subsequent arrangements or, where appropriate, on the conditions for terminating those arrangements.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1107/70 on the granting of aids for transport by rail, road and inland waterway (COM(95)0199 - C4-0447/95 - 95/0123(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0199 - 95/0123(SYN) (( OJ C 318, 29.11.1995, p. 12. )),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 75 of the EC Treaty (C4-0447/95),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0012/96),

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

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

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

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