Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (COM(96)0044 - C4-0174/96 - 96/0068(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 36)

Recital 3

>Original text>

Whereas, in accordance with Article 4b(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68, the special premium may be granted a second time after an animal has reached the age of 22 months; whereas this encourages certain producers to continue fattening uncastrated male bovine animals for the sole purpose of obtaining a second premium; whereas outlets for the heavy carcases arising from this practice are somewhat limited and lead to an undesirable increase in the quantity of beef produced; whereas the special premium for uncastrated male bovine animals should be granted no more than once therefore in the life of those animals before they reach the age of 22 months; whereas, in addition to this measure, the amount of the single premium should be raised so as to prevent the producers in question suffering economic penalties;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is appropriate to grant the special premium only once in respect of castrated or uncastrated male bovine animals, increasing the amount, so as to simplify procedures and prevent an increase in the quantity of meat placed on the market; whereas this price increase will enable producers to sell fattened animals with a lower slaughter weight; whereas this will improve the quality of the meat and reduce the amount of beef available; whereas the expenditure for the increased premium can be compensated in part by savings on export refund expenditure and intervention measures;

(Amendment 37)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas support for agriculture in less-favoured and hill areas calls for measures which reflect the particular needs of these regions; whereas in order to safeguard land use it would therefore seem sensible in these regions for the fattening of young female and male bovine animals to be placed on an equal footing as regards the granting of premiums; whereas this new provision will not lead to an increase in production because of the regional ceilings which have been set;

(Amendment 76)

Recital 3b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas developments in the beef market affect in particular specialized breeders of beef cattle; whereas their income has fallen considerably; whereas maintaining this activity is an essential factor in the European Union's regional planning policy; whereas the Council, in its conclusions of 3 April 1996, agreed on the need to envisage additional support measures for suckler cows if the situation on the market so requires; whereas the support granted to this kind of production mainly consists of the premium for maintaining herds of suckler cows; whereas, therefore, it is appropriate to increase the amount of this premium;

(Amendment 100)

Recital 3c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the measures needed to combat BSE have led to a sharp fall in demand for beef and veal in all Member States of the EU; whereas in the short-term lump-sum compensation must be given for the high loss of earnings of the beef producers; whereas the Commission must submit to Parliament and the Council as quickly as possible proposals for a single premium for bulls, oxen, female animals for fattening, dairy cows and suckler cows; whereas the level of the premium must be set such that it covers the actual loss of earnings; whereas it must be ensured that these payments are made during the 1996 financial year;

(Amendment 103)

Recital 4a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the trend in the market for beef and veal has been sharply downwards following the BSE crisis; whereas producers' incomes in this sector have fallen markedly; whereas in its conclusions of 3 April 1996 the Council recognized the need to make provision for additional support measures; whereas the Commission must establish adequate management measures to support the sector as soon as possible;

(Amendment 62)

Recital 4b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the special premium must not be used to support the breeding of bovine animals for bull-rings or fiestas anywhere in the European Union;

(Amendment 38)

Recital 6a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the beef market is a sensitive sector; whereas BSE has made consumers extremely distrustful, and 46 countries have taken restrictive measures against British beef; whereas the European beef market is going through an unprecedented crisis which must be combated;

(Amendment 39)

ARTICLE 1(1a) (new)

Article 4b(1) (Regulation No 805/68)

>Text following EP vote>

1a. The following is added to Article 4b(1):

'In the less-favoured and hill areas within the meaning of Directive 75/268/EEC1 this special premium may also be granted for young female bovine animals intended for fattening.¨

1 OJ L 128, 19.5.1975, p. 1.

(Amendment 40)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 4b(2), first subparagraph (Regulation No 805/68)

>Original text>

2. The premium shall be granted no more than:

(a) once in the life of each uncastrated male bovine animal aged from 10 to 21 months, or

(b) twice in the life of each castrated male bovine animal:

- the first time at the age of 10 months

- the second time after the age of 22 months.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The premium shall be granted once in the life of each castrated or uncastrated male bovine animal at the age of 10 and once at the same age in the life of a young female bovine animal intended for fattening provided that the fattening takes place in less-favoured and hill areas within the meaning of Directive 75/268/EEC.

(Amendment 41)

ARTICLE 1(3)

Article 4b(6), first sentence (Regulation No 805/68)

>Original text>

The amount of the premium per eligible animal shall be:

- ECU 108.7 per castrated male bovine animal;

- ECU 123.9 per uncastrated male bovine animal.

>Text following EP vote>

The amount of the premium per eligible animal shall be ECU 139.1 per castrated or uncastrated male bovine animal and per young female bovine animal, pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2.

(Amendment 42)

ARTICLE 1(6a) (new)

Article 4d(7) (Regulation No 805/68)

>Text following EP vote>

6a. In Article 4d(7) the fourth indent is replaced by the following:

>Text following EP vote>

'- ECU 174.9 for the calendar year 1996;

- at least ECU 174.9 from the calendar year 1997.¨

(Amendment 43)

ARTICLE 1(7)

Article 4k(1) (Regulation No 805/68)

>Original text>

1. From 1 January 1997 all the provisions concerning the premium arrangements applicable in the rest of the Community shall apply to that territory subject to the provisions of this Article.

>Text following EP vote>

1. From 1 January 1999 all the provisions concerning the premium arrangements applicable in the rest of the Community shall apply to that territory subject to the provisions of this Article.

>Text following EP vote>

(The years given in paragraph 2 shall be altered accordingly by two years)

(Amendment 44)

ARTICLE 1(7)

Article 4k(3a) (new) (Regulation No 805/68)

>Text following EP vote>

3a. Following the introduction of individual ceilings for the suckler cow premium, the number of bull premiums granted previously per holding shall, over a three-year transitional period, be reduced gradually to 90 bulls reared per holding.

(Amendment 45)

ARTICLE 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

A budget allocation of ECU 30 m per year over three years shall be devoted to promoting duly identified beef of specified origin among consumers and countries which traditionally import European beef.

(Amendment 80)

ARTICLE 2a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 2a

In view of the current extremely difficult situation in the beef and veal market, the Commission shall propose to the Council significant compensatory short-term measures to support the income of producers of beef and veal.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (COM(96)0044 - C4-0174/96 - 96/0068(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0044 - 96/0068(CNS) ((OJ C 125, 27.4.1996, p. 29.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0174/96),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on External Economic Relations and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0117/96),

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.