A4-0189/97

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (COM(96)0361 - C4-0496/96 - 96/0221(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 3

>Original text>

Whereas a means should be found to ensure that the adjustment produces a durum wheat production level which is sufficient to supply user industries while keeping budgetary expenditure in check; whereas that objective can be achieved by introducing, for each Member State concerned, a maximum area of durum wheat eligible for the special aid covering all the zones eligible for the supplement to the compensatory payment, as referred to in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92; whereas that maximum area should be fixed on the basis of the largest area which received the supplement to the compensatory payment since its introduction in order to correspond best to production in the Member States concerned; whereas, in the case of Spain, the maximum guaranteed surface area was fixed at 570 000 hectares by Council Regulation (EC) No 3116/94, i.e. at a level that corresponds best to production in that Member State; whereas, in the case of Portugal, the maximum guaranteed surface area was fixed at 35 000 hectares by Council Regulation (EC) No 3116/94 in order to reflect best the production potential in that Member State in view of the existence of a special degressive aid granted to producers of common wheat by Regulation (EEC) No 3653/90; whereas in the case of Italy,

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas a means should be found to ensure that the adjustment produces a durum wheat production level which is sufficient to supply user industries inside and outside the traditional production zones while keeping budgetary expenditure in check; whereas that objective can be achieved by introducing, for each Member State concerned, a maximum area of durum wheat eligible for the special aid covering all the zones eligible for the supplement to the compensatory payment, as referred to in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92; whereas for non- traditional production zones the maximum areas should be set in line with historic production and the requirements of the user industries; whereas the maximum area in the traditional production zones should be fixed on the basis of the largest area which received the supplement to the compensatory payment since its introduction in order to correspond best to production in the Member States concerned; whereas, in the case of Spain, the maximum guaranteed surface area was fixed at 570 000 hectares by Council Regulation (EC) No 3116/94, i.e. at a level that corresponds best to production in that Member State; whereas, in the case of Portugal, the maximum guaranteed surface area was fixed at 35 000 hectares by Council Regulation (EC) No 3116/94 in order to

>Original text>

in view of the size of the area concerned, account should be taken of the land traditionally down to durum wheat that was taken out of cultivation during the reference period under five-year set-aside arrangements in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2328/91; whereas any overshoot of these areas must lead to an adjustment in the applications submitted with a view to the grant of the special production aid for durum wheat;

>Text following EP vote>

reflect best the production potential in that Member State in view of the existence of a special degressive aid granted to producers of common wheat by Regulation (EEC) No 3653/90; whereas in the case of Italy, in view of the size of the area concerned, account should be taken of the land traditionally down to durum wheat that was taken out of cultivation during the reference period under five-year set-aside arrangements in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2328/91; whereas any overshoot of these areas must lead to an adjustment in the applications submitted with a view to the grant of the special production aid for durum wheat;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in addition to the maximum guaranteed areas, each country should be allowed a further 5% to be used to provide incentives for young farmers;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 3b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the rate of compulsory set- aside decided under the 1992 reforms has been substantially reduced over the past three years, which has led to a corresponding area being brought back into production, and whereas there should therefore be an increase in the maximum guaranteed areas for each country;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 3c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, by reason of the specific phased transition regime, aid for durum wheat was only introduced for Portugal in 1991; whereas following the introduction of the individual rights regime in 1992 the production quota allocated to Portugal does not offer equality of access for Portuguese producers, although they operate under agricultural and climate conditions comparable to those in the other two Mediterranean areas; whereas durum wheat is a long- established traditional crop in southern Portugal, where it covers 90 000 hectares;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 4

>Original text>

Whereas Annexes II and III to Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 should be combined in a single Annex for the sake of clarity;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas Annexes II and III to Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 should be combined in a single Annex for the sake of clarity; whereas it should be possible to establish areas in relation to one or several production regions;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas it is necessary to ensure that the areas in receipt of special aid for durum wheat produce wheat which satisfies the demands of user industries; whereas this may be achieved by requiring that certified seed be used;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is necessary to ensure that the areas in receipt of special aid for durum wheat produce wheat which satisfies the demands of user industries; whereas this may be achieved by requiring that certified seed be used, such use being phased in over a five-year period; whereas it is also necessary to leave small farmers the option of using non- certified seed in order to maintain biodiversity, and to provide incentives for the direct production of certified seed by producers' associations, by means of funding for such a measure; whereas the areas should be used as effectively as possible so as to satisfy the needs of the industries;

(Amendment 7)

ARTICLE 1(1)

Article 4(3), (4) and (5) (Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92)

>Original text>

3. A supplement to the compensatory payment of ECU 358.6 per hectare shall be paid for the area down to durum wheat in the traditional production zones listed in Annex II, subject to the limits fixed in Annex III.

>Text following EP vote>

3. A supplement to the compensatory payment of ECU 358.6 per hectare shall be paid for the area down to durum wheat in the traditional production zones listed in Annex II, subject to the limits fixed in Annex III.

>Original text>

In the event that the total of the areas for which a supplement to the compensatory payment is claimed is greater than the limit referred to in this paragraph during the course of a marketing year, the area per producer for which the supplement may be paid shall be reduced proportionately.

>Text following EP vote>

In the event that the total of the areas for which a supplement to the compensatory payment is claimed is greater than the limit referred to in this paragraph during the course of a marketing year, the area per producer for which the supplement may be paid shall be reduced proportionately.

>Text following EP vote>

Each country shall have the right to a further 5% over and above the maximum guaranteed area provided it proves that this additional area has been used to provide incentives for young farmers establishing themselves as durum wheat producers.

>Original text>

However, the Member States may distribute the areas indicated above among the production zones as defined in Annex II, or, if necessary, the production regions referred to in Article 3, according to the extent of the production of durum wheat during the period 1993 to 1995. Where this is done, in the event that the total of the areas within a region for which a supplement to the compensatory payment is requested is greater than the corresponding regional limit during the course of a marketing year, the area per producer for which the supplement may be paid shall be reduced proportionately.

>Text following EP vote>

However, the Member States may distribute the areas indicated above among the production zones as defined in Annex II, or, if necessary, the production regions referred to in Article 3, according to the extent of the production of durum wheat. Where this is done, in the event that the total of the areas within a region for which a supplement to the compensatory payment is requested is greater than the corresponding regional limit during the course of a marketing year, the area per producer for which the supplement may be paid shall be reduced proportionately.

>Text following EP vote>

This reduction shall operate once there has been a redistribution of areas from regions which have not used up to the regional limit to regions which have overshot the limit.

>Original text>

4. In France, in those departments where the production of durum wheat is well established, other than those referred to in Annex II, aid amounting to ECU 138.9 per hectare shall be introduced up to a limit of 50 000 hectares.

>Text following EP vote>

4. In France, in those departments where the production of durum wheat is well established, other than those referred to in Annex II, aid amounting to ECU 138.9 per hectare shall be introduced up to a limit of 50 000 hectares.

>Original text>

In Austria, the aid referred to in the first subparagraph shall be granted up to a limit of 5000 hectares in the regions where the production of durum wheat is well established.

>Text following EP vote>

In Austria, the aid referred to in the first subparagraph shall be granted up to a limit of 9600 hectares in the regions where the production of durum wheat is well established.

>Text following EP vote>

In the Federal Republic of Germany, the aid referred to in the first subparagraph shall be granted in line with historic production prior to the 1992 agricultural reforms and in line with the requirements of the user industries up to a limit of 25 000 hectares.

(Amendment 8)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 12, fifth indent (Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92)

>Original text>

- those determining, for durum wheat, the eligibility requirements for the supplement to the compensatory payment referred to in Article 4(3) and the eligibility requirements for the aid referred to in Article 4(4), and in particular determination of the regions to be taken into consideration and the measures to be taken in the event that the limit fixed for the payment of the aid is exceeded; those rules shall stipulate that the grant of the supplement provided for in Articles 4(3) and (4) be subject to the obligation to use certified seed.

>Text following EP vote>

- those determining, for durum wheat, the eligibility requirements for the supplement to the compensatory payment referred to in Article 4(3) and the eligibility requirements for the aid referred to in Article 4(4), and in particular determination of the regions to be taken into consideration and the measures to be taken in the event that the limit fixed for the payment of the aid is exceeded; those rules shall stipulate that the grant of the supplement provided for in Articles 4(3) and (4) be subject to the obligation to use certified seed, such use being phased in over a five-year period, leaving small farmers the option of using non-certified seed in order to maintain biodiversity, and providing incentives for the direct production of certified seed by producers' associations, by means of funding for such a measure.

(Amendment 9)

ANNEX

Annex III (table) (Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92)

>Original text>

(hectares)

>Text following EP vote>

(hectares)

>Original text>

Greece 597 000

France 190 000

Italy 1 610 000

Spain 570 000

Portugal 35 000

>Text following EP vote>

Greece 626 850

France 199 500

Italy 1 690 500

Spain 598 500

Portugal 90 000

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(96)0361 - C4-0496/96 - 96/0221(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0361 - 96/0221(CNS) ((OJ C 301, 11.10.1996, p. 9.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0496/96),

- 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 (A4-0189/97),

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.