A4-0100/95

Proposals for Council Regulations on the prices for agricultural products and on related measures (1995/1996) (COM(95)0034 - C4- 0053/95 to C4-0081/95 - 95/0035(CNS) to 95/0055(CNS) and 95/0801(CNS) to 95/0808(CNS))

1. Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 on the common organization of the market in cereals (COM(95)0034 - C4-0053/95 -95/0035(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, as a result of the abolition of the target price, it would be appropriate, in order to protect cereal producers against a possible collapse in prices worldwide, to draw up as soon as possible the provisions for the application of the safeguard clause referred to in the GATT agreements;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2

>Original text>

Whereas the smooth operation of the cereals market can benefit from a reduction in the period during which cereals may be offered for intervention;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 3)

Recital 2a (new)

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Whereas the derogation under which, in certain circumstances, cereals with a humidity content of 15% may be subject to intervention is due to expire at the end of the 1994/1995 financial year; whereas these arrangements should be maintained in the 1995/1996 financial year, and Regulation (EEC) No 689/921 should therefore be extended.

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1 OJ L 74, 20.3.1992, p. 18.

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 4(2), first subparagraph (Regulation 1766/92)

>Original text>

2. Buying-in as indicated in paragraph 1 shall be restricted to the following periods:

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2. Buying-in as indicated in paragraph 1 shall be restricted to the following periods:

>Original text>

- in Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal, 1 October to 30 April,

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- in Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal, 1 August to 30 April,

>Original text>

- in Sweden, 1 February to 30 June,

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- in Sweden, 1 December to 30 June,

>Original text>

- in the other Member States, 1 January to 31 May.

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- in the other Member States, 1 November to 31 May.

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

The Commission shall submit a proposal for extending Regulation (EEC) No. 689/92 to cover the 1995/96 financial year, so that the current rules applicable to the maximum humidity content of cereals at the intervention stage continue to apply in the 1995/96 financial year.

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 1b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1b

The compensatory payments per hectare for cereals shall be made to the producer for each marketing year no later than 31 October following each harvest.

(Amendment 7)

ARTICLE 1c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1c

>Text following EP vote>

A new Article 6b is inserted in Council Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops1 as follows:

>Text following EP vote>

'Article 6b

The persisting drought in certain regions of the European Union has prevented the normal development of their traditional crops in irrigated areas and this situation has forced producers to grow alternative crops which require less water, in order to obtain a minimum income level.

>Text following EP vote>

Paradoxically, this situation, whereby certain crops cannot be grown in the regions affected, has resulted in savings for the Community budget, whilst there has been a continuing fall in the agricultural income of farmers in these regions. The Commission, in collaboration with the Member States concerned, shall draw up appropriate exceptional measures to ensure that any breach of the regional basic area, as a result of growing of alternative crops in the areas affected, is not penalized in Member States affected by drought, provided that the total yield of the Member State does not exceed the average for the reference years.¨

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1 OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 12.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 on the common organization of the market in cereals (COM(95)0034 - C4-0053/95 - 95/0035(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0034 - 95/0035(CNS) ((OJ C 99, 21.4.1995, p. 1.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 42 and 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0053/95),

- 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 opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on External Economic Relations, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0100/95),

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.