A4-0233/96

Proposal for a Council Regulation introducing a Community aid scheme for producers of certain citrus fruits (COM(96)0177 - C4-0321/96 - 96/0120(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas account should be taken of the commitments of the Joint Council of 23 September 1993 to the effect that the principles of financial solidarity and Community preference as laid down in 1992 when the CAP guidelines were adopted must be respected in all agricultural sectors;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the processing industry should be encouraged to shift its production towards new products (pasteurized and freshly pressed juices) in respect of which the Community is most likely to be able to compete with third countries;

(Amendment 3)

Article 3(2), first subparagraph

>Original text>

2. The amount of the aid referred to in paragraph 1 shall that fixed in Table 1 of the Annex hereto.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The amounts of the aid laid down in the Annex shall be adjusted in parallel with the level of Community withdrawal compensation established by the Council in respect of fresh produce so that the amount of the aid is always at least as much as the initial proportion proposed by the Commission for Community withdrawal compensation.

(Amendment 4)

Article 5(1), third indent

>Original text>

- mandarins, clementines

and satsumas 265 000 tonnes

>Text following EP vote>

- mandarins, clementines

and satsumas 365 000 tonnes

(Amendment 5)

Article 5(2), third subparagraph a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Under no circumstances may application of the provisions contained in the above paragraphs result in an aid reduction exceeding 20%.

(Amendment 6)

Article 6

>Original text>

Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation, and in particular monitoring measures and penalties, the marketing years, the minimum characteristics of the raw materials delivered for processing and the financial consequences of exceeding the threshold shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 45 of Regulation (EC) No ... /96.

>Text following EP vote>

Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation, and in particular the marketing years, the minimum characteristics of the raw materials delivered for processing and the financial consequences of exceeding the threshold shall be adopted within the limits of the appropriations available in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 45 of Regulation (EC) No ... /96. The European Parliament shall be informed of the decisions taken on the detailed implementing arrangements.

(Amendment 7)

Article 6a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 6a

1. The Commission shall decide on monitoring measures and penalties. The Member States shall implement a monitoring scheme enabling checks to be made on compliance with the conditions laid down in the previous articles.

>Text following EP vote>

2. They shall notify the Commission, no later than one month after the date on which they come into force, of the measures which they have adopted to guarantee such monitoring.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The Commission shall cooperate on checks on the application of this scheme laid down by the competent bodies in the Member States. It shall also carry out, on its own initiative, checks in which Member State officials may be invited to participate.

(Amendment 8)

Article 6b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 6b

In the event that aid has been wrongfully paid or received, the Member States shall recover the sums improperly paid plus interest accruing from the date of payment to that of recovery. The interest rate applied shall be that in force for analogous recovery operations under national law.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation introducing a Community aid scheme for producers of certain citrus fruits (COM(96)0177 - C4-0321/96 - 96/0120(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0177 - 96/0120(CNS) ((OJ C 191, 2.7.1996, p. 7.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0321/96),

- 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 (A4-0233/96),

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.