A4-0246/95

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (COM(95)0401 - C4-0321/95 - 95/0212(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 2)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is essential to simplify the set-aside regime, in order to make it fairer and more transparent and to ensure that it fulfils the purpose for which it was designed; whereas in this context the question of the eligibility of land which has been fixed at a specific level on a date in the past should be revised both to take account of changing circumstances and to allow a certain amount of flexibility into the system without increasing budgetary costs or production; whereas the role of voluntary set-aside needs to be examined;

(Amendment 3)

ARTICLE 1(-1) (new)

Recital 2 (Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92)

>Text following EP vote>

-1. The second recital is replaced by the following:

'Whereas, in order to ensure better market balances, a new support system has to be established; whereas the best way to achieve this objective is to approximate the Community prices of certain arable crops to the prices of the world market and to compensate the loss of income caused by the reduction of the institutional prices by a compensatory payment for producers who sow such products; whereas therefore the area eligible should be restricted to the area down to arable crops or publicly funded set-aside in the past; whereas application of this principle at the level of the individual producer would be fairer and would remove the fear that these excessive penalties have caused producers in some Member States; whereas therefore the Member States should have the opportunity to choose between individual past references and regional ones in the light of their specific circumstances;¨

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 1(-1a) (new)

Article 2(2), third subparagraph (Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92)

>Text following EP vote>

-1a. The third subparagraph of Article 2(2) is replaced by the following:

'Where an area is not the subject of an application for aid under this Regulation but is used to justify an application for aid under Regulation (EEC) No. 805/68 the said area shall not be taken into account in calculating the regional base area for the period in question.¨

(Amendment 11)

ARTICLE 1(1)

Article 2(6), second indent, penultimate sentence

(Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92)

>Original text>

The percentage rate for extraordinary set-aside shall be equal to the percentage by which the regional base area is exceeded, established by deducting 75% of the area set aside under voluntary set-aside in accordance with Article 7(6).

>Text following EP vote>

The percentage rate for extraordinary set-aside shall be equal to the percentage by which the regional or specific base area or total base areas are exceeded, established by deducting 100% of the area set aside under voluntary set-aside in accordance with Article 7(6).

>Text following EP vote>

This percentage may be revised where it is demonstrated that the base areas have been exceeded owing to exceptional weather conditions which have reduced average yields to a much lower than normal level.

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 1(1a) (new)

Article 3(2), third subparagraph, new text after second indent

(Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92)

>Text following EP vote>

1a. In Article 3(2), third subparagraph, the following is added after the second indent:

'If the base area 'maize' is exceeded, but the base area 'other arable crops' is not exceeded, then Article 2(6) will apply only to the net excess of the combined base areas.¨

(Amendment 9)

ARTICLE 1(2a) (new)

Article 9, second paragraph (Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92)

>Text following EP vote>

2a. The second paragraph of Article 9 is replaced by the following:

'Member States may, on terms to be determined, depart from these provisions under certain specific circumstances, in particular for areas subject to restructuring programmes or for areas subject to standard rotations of multi-annual arable crops with those crops listed in Annex I or in cases where eligible land is lost to production due to specific factors such as leasing arrangements. In such cases, they shall take action to prevent any significant increase in the total eligible agricultural area. This may in particular involve deeming previously eligible areas ineligible as an offsetting measure.¨

(Amendment 10)

ARTICLE 2, second paragraph

>Original text>

It shall apply for the calculation of extraordinary set-aside to be carried out as a result of the application for compensation submitted from the 1996/97 marketing year.

>Text following EP vote>

It shall apply for the calculation of extraordinary set-aside to be carried out as a result of the application for compensation submitted from the 1995/96 marketing year.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (COM(95)0401 - C4-0321/95 - 95/0212 (CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0401 - 95/0212(CNS) ((OJ C 260, 5.10.1995, p. 19.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0321/95),

- 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 (A4-0246/95),

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.