A4-0301/97

Proposal for a Council Regulation on the improvement of the Community production of apples, pears, peaches and nectarines (COM(97)0035 - C4-0135/97 - 97/0031(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital -1 (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the need regularly to destroy large quantities of valuable food shows the European public that over-production still exists in important areas of the Common Agricultural Policy, leading to surpluses which have to be exported or destroyed at considerable expense to the Community;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2

>Original text>

Whereas the areas benefiting from this operation should be limited and the least productive orchards should be excluded from it; whereas these areas should be apportioned between the Member States on the basis of the orchard area, production and withdrawals of each Member State; whereas it should be possible to amend this apportionment to optimize the area grubbed up; whereas it is also necessary to allow the Member States to decide on the regions and conditions under which this operation shall apply so that its introduction does not disturb the economic and ecological balance of certain regions;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the areas benefiting from this operation should be limited and the least productive orchards should be excluded from it; whereas these areas should be apportioned between the Member States on the basis of the orchard area, production and withdrawals of each Member State; whereas it should be possible to amend this apportionment to optimize the area grubbed up; whereas it is also necessary to allow the Member States to decide on the regions and conditions under which this operation shall apply so that its introduction does not impede or disturb measures to preserve or restore the ecological balance and stabilize farm incomes in certain regions;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 2a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, however, the measures taken by the Member States must be such as to prevent ¨handout effects' (i.e. benefits being taken simply as handouts with little effect on production) and replanting;

(Amendment 4)

Article 2(1), introduction

>Original text>

1. The premium shall be granted subject to a written undertaking by the recipient:

>Text following EP vote>

1. In order to ensure that the measure is genuinely effective, to make optimum use of Community funds, to avoid ¨handout effects' and to prevent the misuse of tax revenue, the premium shall be granted subject to a written undertaking by the recipient:

(Amendment 5)

Article 2(1) (a)

>Original text>

(a) to grub up or have grubbed up, at one time, before a date laid down in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 6, all or part of his apple, pear, peach or nectarine orchard, the grubbed-up area being at least 0,5 hectares per product group;

>Text following EP vote>

(a) to grub up or have grubbed up, at one time, before a date laid down in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 6, all or part of his apple, pear, peach or nectarine orchard, the grubbed-up area being at least 0,5 hectares per product group and in order to permit the necessary controls aimed at ensuring compliance with obligations;

(Amendment 6)

Article 2(2a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

2a. For each Member State a minimum and a maximum age shall be set for the trees to be grubbed up in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 6, in order to prevent the grubbing up of trees which are too young or too old for the purpose of obtaining the grubbing-up premium.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the improvement of the Community production of apples, pears, peaches and nectarines (COM(97)0035 - C4-0135/97 - 97/0031(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0035 - 97/0031(CNS) ((OJ C 124, 21.4.1997, p. 26.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0135/97),

- 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 (A4-0301/97),

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.