A4-0128/99

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on action to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended to power agricultural or forestry tractors and amending Council Directive 74/150/EEC (COM(98)0472 - C4-0512/98 - 98/0247(COD))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 8a (new)

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>Text following EP vote>

(8a) Whereas an agreement on a modus vivendi between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission concerning the implementing measures for acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the EC Treaty was reached on 20 December 1994(1);

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

(Amendment 2)

ARTICLE 6

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On the basis of a proposal which the Commission shall, if need be, put forward by the end of 2004, the European Parliament and the Council shall decide on a further reduction in emission limit values by the end of 2006. In its proposal, drawn up on the basis of research and cost/efficiency assessments of the application of more stringent limit values, the Commission will propose measures that are proportional and reasonable with regard to the targets set, taking account of the overall availability of techniques for controlling air-polluting emissions from engines and the incorporation of new engine systems and accessories into tractors, and of the air-quality situation.

>Text following EP vote>

On the basis of a proposal which the Commission shall put forward by the end of

2002, the European Parliament and the Council shall decide on a further reduction in emission limit values by the end of 2005. This proposal will be drawn up on the basis of the cost-effective attainment of Community air quality standards as laid down in Directive 96/62/EC(1) on ambient air quality assessment and management and in Directive 99/.../EC(2) on Limit Values for Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen, Particulate Matter and Lead in Ambient Air, and in subsequent daughter directives, and will be consistent with measures identified by the review of emission standards and fuel quality in Articles 3 and 4 of Directive 98/69/EC(3) relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles, and Articles 3 to 9 of Directive 98/70/EC(4) relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels.

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(1) OJ L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55.

(2) OJ L .....

(3) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 58.

(Amendment 3)

ARTICLE 7(3)

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3. The Commission shall be informed of any plans to introduce or change any of the tax incentives referred to in the first paragraph sufficiently early for it to comment thereon.

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3.

The Commission shall be informed of any plans to introduce or change any of the tax incentives referred to in paragraph 1 as soon as possible to enable it to comment thereon.

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 8, 2nd paragraph (new)

Article 13(2) and (3) (Directive 74/150/EEC)

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>Text following EP vote>

In Article 13, paragraphs 2 and 3 are replaced by the following:

'2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be adopted. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit set by the Chairman having regard to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.

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3. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes.

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3a. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.'

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on action to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended to power agricultural or forestry tractors and amending Council Directive 74/150/EEC (COM(98)0472 - C4-0512/98 - 98/0247(COD))(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council, COM(98)0472 - 98/0247(COD) ((OJ C 303, 2.10.1998, p. 9.)),

- having regard to Articles 189b (now 251)(2) and 100a (now 95) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C4-0512/98),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0128/99),

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

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to approve all Parliament's amendments and definitively adopt the act thus amended;

4. Points out that the Commission is required to submit to Parliament any modification it may intend to make to its proposal as amended by Parliament;

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