A4-0319/95

Proposal for a Council Regulation on the common organization of the market in rice (COM(95)0331 - C4-0405/95 - 95/0203(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas the new orientation of the common agricultural policy should lead to better balance on the markets and improve the competitiveness of Community agriculture;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the new orientation of the common agricultural policy should lead to better balance on the markets, improve the competitiveness of Community agriculture and support Community preference;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the trade system created by the GATT agreement calls for strategic efforts to improve quality standards so as to make Community products competitive; whereas this policy should not be confined to price increases or reductions and compensatory payments; whereas, in order to achieve a switch to different varieties, a policy is needed to support research and experimentation with high-quality varieties involving a series of incentives to compensate producers for the efforts they have made to adjust;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas a change to the intervention system to enable greater disposal possibilities to be sought without the product being taken into the warehouses of the intervention agencies should improve the fluidity of the market and cause it to react more healthily to the challenges created by levy tarification and the wider cyclical fluctuations in prices which it will entail; whereas such a change will also make it possible to maintain the original purpose of intervention and prevent it from becoming an outlet in itself;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 4)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas, as a result, intervention buying-in should be made subject to the prior application of a precautionary intervention system during which producers will store the product and receive an advance on the intervention price whilst retaining control over the sale of the product as long as it is not put up for sale by the intervention agency;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendments 20 and 5)

Article 3(1)

>Original text>

1. The intervention price for paddy rice shall be:

ECU 351.00/t for the 1996/97 marketing year;

ECU 333.45/t for the 1997/98 marketing year;

ECU 315.90/t for the 1998/99 marketing year;

ECU 298.35/t for the 1999/2000 and subsequent marketing years;

>Text following EP vote>

1. The intervention price for paddy rice shall be:

ECU 337.84/t for the 1996/97 marketing year;

ECU 324.68/t for the 1997/98 marketing year;

ECU 311.52/t for the 1998/99 marketing year;

ECU 298.35/t for the 1999/2000 and subsequent marketing years;

>Original text>

The intervention price shall be fixed for a standard quality defined by the Council acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

The intervention price shall be fixed for a standard quality defined by the Council acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, and after consulting the European Parliament.

>Text following EP vote>

For the marketing years 1996/97 to 1999/2000 the standard quality shall be that laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 1423/761.

_____________

1 OJ L 166, 25,6.1976, p. 20.

(Amendment 6)

Article 4

>Original text>

1. In the period 1 January to 30 April, paddy rice may be subject to a precautionary intervention system for a period of four months.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

>Original text>

During that period:

(a) the producer:

. shall store the product;

. shall be eligible, under conditions to be laid down, for an advance of 60% on the intervention price applicable to the standard quality;

>Original text>

(b) paddy rice placed under the precautionary intervention system may, in accordance with detailed rules to be laid down, be sold:

. either by the producer;

. or by the intervention agency for export or for supplying the internal market.

>Original text>

Sale by the producer shall be subject to agreement by the intervention agency and prior reimbursement of any advance obtained.

>Original text>

The producer shall be notified without delay when the rice is offered for sale by the intervention agency. Sale by that agency shall entail payment of the balance of the intervention price applicable at the time the produce leaves the producer's warehouse, adjusted on the basis of the quality established at that time in accordance with the provisions laid down pursuant to Article 9.

(Amendment 7)

Article 5(1)

>Original text>

1. During the period from 1 May to 31 August the intervention agencies shall buy in the quantities of paddy rice which are offered to them provided the product was covered by the arrangements provided for in Article 4 and the offers comply with conditions, in particular in respect of quantity and quality, to be determined.

>Text following EP vote>

1. During the period from 1 January to 31 August the intervention agencies shall buy in the quantities of paddy rice which are offered to them provided the offers comply with conditions, in particular in respect of quantity and quality, to be determined.

(Amendment 8)

Article 5(2)

>Original text>

2. If the quality of the paddy rice offered is different from the standard quality for which the intervention price has been fixed, the intervention price shall be adjusted by applying price increases or reductions. In order to ensure that production is orientated towards certain varieties, price increases and reductions to be applied to the intervention price may be fixed.

>Text following EP vote>

2. In determining the parameters for defining the standard quality, account shall be taken of the humidity conditions, yield, etc., for rice produced in the European Union. If the quality of the paddy rice offered is different from the standard quality for which the intervention price has been fixed, the intervention price shall be adjusted by applying price increases. Orientation of production towards certain varieties will be achieved not only through increases in the intervention price, but by means of a genuine policy to support research and experimentation in high-quality varieties, together with the introduction of incentives to compensate producers for the efforts they have made to adapt.

(Amendment 9)

Article 6

>Original text>

Special measures may be taken to:

. prevent large-scale application of Articles 4 and 5 in certain regions of the Community;

. make up for paddy rice shortages as a result of natural disasters.

>Text following EP vote>

Special measures may be taken to make up for paddy rice shortages as a result of natural disasters in certain Community production areas.

(Amendment 10)

Article 7(1)

>Original text>

1. Community rice producers may claim compensatory payment under the conditions laid down in this Article and in accordance with detailed rules to be determined.

>Text following EP vote>

1. With effect from the 1996/97 marketing year, Community rice producers may claim compensatory payment under the conditions laid down in this Article.

(Amendment 11)

Article 7(3)

>Original text>

3. The amounts of the compensatory payment shall be determined on the basis of the average agronomic yields recorded in the Member States for the 1992, 1993 and 1994 harvests. However, in the cases of Spain and Portugal, these amounts shall be determined on the basis of the periods 1990-92 and 1989-91 respectively. The amounts in question shall be as follows:

>Text following EP vote>

3. The amounts of the compensatory payment shall be determined on the basis of the average agronomic yields recorded in the Member States for the 1993, 1994 and 1995 harvests. The amounts in question shall be laid down in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 23.

>Original text>

Ecus/ha 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 Spain 111.44 222.89 334.33 France 92.84 185.68 278.52 F. Gui. 130.05 260.1 390.14 Greece 131.27 262.55 393.82 Italy 102.14 204.28 306.42 Port. 83.19 166.37 249.56

>Original text>

In order to pursue a better orientation of production, the amounts of the compensatory payment may be varied by applying price increases or reductions depending on the variety.

>Text following EP vote>

In order to pursue a better orientation of production, having regard to market requirements, the amounts of the compensatory payment may be raised so as to compensate producers for real income losses suffered as a result of the application of new quality parameters.

The necessary criteria shall be laid down by the Commission in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 23.

(Amendments 12 and 23)

Article 7(4), first subparagraph

>Original text>

4. A Community maximum guaranteed area (CMGA) is hereby established, divided up between Member States (national maximum guaranteed area, NMGA). The maximum areas shall be established on the basis of the average number of hectares given over to rice cultivation in 1992, 1993 and 1994. However, in the cases of Spain and Portugal, the areas to be taken into consideration shall be established on the basis of the periods 1990-92 and 1989-91 respectively. The areas in question shall be as follows:

European Community: 396 607 ha Spain: 89 711 ha France: 23 500 ha French Guiana: 3 747 ha Greece: 18 731 ha Italy: 228 034 ha Portugal: 32 884 ha.

>Text following EP vote>

4. A Community maximum guaranteed area (CMGA) is hereby established, divided up between Member States (national maximum guaranteed area, NMGA). The maximum areas shall be established on the basis of the average number of hectares given over to rice cultivation in 1993, 1994 and 1995. However, in the cases of Spain and Portugal, the areas to be taken into consideration shall be established on the basis of the periods 1990-92 and 1989-91 respectively, raised by the average percentage increase in areas recorded in the other producing countries in the period 1993-95 compared with the above periods. In the case of French Guiana, the areas shall be established on these bases and taking into account the importance of this crop for the development of this remote region of the Union. The areas in question shall be determined in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 23.

(Amendment 13)

Article 7(4), second subparagraph

>Original text>

Where the areas given over to rice in a given year exceed the maximum guaranteed Community area, the following shall be applied for that year:

- to all producers, a reduction of the amount of the compensatory payment equal to six times the overrun for the first five percentage points;

>Text following EP vote>

Where the areas given over to rice in a given year exceed the maximum guaranteed Community area, the compensatory payment to producers in the Member States which have exceeded their NMGA shall be reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage of the overrun of the NMGA. However, this rate may be corrected to take account of the possibility that in one or more Member States the NMGA is not fully used up. In such cases, the reduction provided for in this Article may be adjusted to take account proportionally of the NMGA of the Member States subject to the reduction. However, this correction must ensure that the average, weighted reduction across the Community as a whole is equal to the percentage overrun of the NMGA.

>Original text>

- in the event of an overrun of more than 5%, an additional reduction will be applied to producers in those Member States which have exceeded their NMGA by more than five percentage points. This reduction will be equal to six times the overrun in excess of the first five percentage points. However, this rate may be corrected to take account of the possibility that in one or more Member States the NMGA plus 5% is not fully used up. In such cases, the additional reduction provided for in this Article may be adjusted to take account proportionally of the NMGA of the Member States subject to the supplementary reduction. However, this correction must ensure that the average, weighted reduction across the Community as a whole is equal to the percentage overrun of the NMGA.

(Amendment 14)

Article 7(4), final subparagraph

>Original text>

For each production region Member States shall provide the Commission with detailed information, broken down by variety, on areas, yields and production, and stocks at producers and processors. Such information must be based on a system providing for compulsory declarations by producers and processors set up, administered and monitored by the Member State.

>Text following EP vote>

For each production region Member States shall provide the Commission with detailed information, broken down by variety group, on areas, yields and production, and stocks at producers and processors. Such information must be based on a system providing for compulsory declarations by producers and processors set up, administered and monitored by the Member State.

>Text following EP vote>

Without prejudice to the criteria laid down in Article 7, Member States may establish maximum guaranteed areas for regions or parts thereof displaying homogeneous characteristics.

>Text following EP vote>

Member States shall take account of the need to ensure that cultivation takes place as a matter of priority in areas used for rotation systems intended to reclaim salt lands.

(Amendment 15)

Article 9(b), third indent

>Original text>

. the procedures and conditions for taking over by the intervention agencies and any other rules relating to intervention,

>Text following EP vote>

. the procedures and conditions for taking over by the intervention agencies,

(Amendment 16)

Article 9(b), final indent

>Original text>

. where applicable, the lodging of a security to cover payment of the advances provided for in Article 4(1)(a).

>Text following EP vote>

deleted

(Amendment 17)

Article 9(c) and (d)

>Original text>

(c) the type and application of the measures provided for in Article 6;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

>Original text>

(d) detailed rules for the application of Article 7 and the price increases and reductions applicable to the compensatory payment;

>Text following EP vote>

(d) detailed rules for the application of Article 7 and the price increases applicable to the compensatory payment;

(Amendment 18)

Article 12(4), final indent

>Original text>

* fix the amount for the protection of the industry and include the necessary provisions for determining and calculating import prices and checking their authenticity.

>Text following EP vote>

* fix the amount for the protection of the industry and include the necessary provisions for determining and calculating import prices and likewise specify the prices to be taken into consideration.

(Amendment 19)

Article 26(5), second subparagraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

The provisions laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the aid scheme referred to in the previous subparagraph.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on the common organization of the market in rice (COM(95)0331 - C4-0405/95 - 95/0203(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0331 - 95/0203(CNS),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 42 and 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0405/95),

- 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 Development and Cooperation, and the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4-0319/95),

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.