A4-0101/95

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the eighth time Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (COM(94)0636 - C4-0036/95 - 95/0017(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas only fields which can be proved to have been recently used for crop production can qualify;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 4a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas this measure may be applied first and foremost to those areas which come under Objectives 1 and 5b and those which have suffered serious environmental damage caused by heavy industrial pollution or fires, in severely eroded areas and in flood plains; whereas the measure must, as far as is possible, bring about the consolidation on an inter-farm basis of preferably continuous stretches of land, in harmony with the agricultural landscape and with the objective of enhancing its quality;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 4b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas regional bodies must be involved in implementing the measures, which must on no account bring about an increase in that area under cereals which is subject to existing restrictions;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 4c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the decision of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture of December 1993 to allow the transfer of set-aside requirements from one producer to another has been implemented only in one Member State, since the implementing regulation contains so many restrictions that there is no incentive for Member States to introduce this option;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 4d (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is very difficult for the Council and the European Parliament to take a sensible decision on the proposed amendment unless the Commission provides information on the impact of this amendment on the production of the arable crops covered by Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 and on the budget of the Union;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 4e (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas it is important for the functioning of this Regulation and for the producers participating in the scheme that the annual premiums for land set aside over a long period pursuant to Regulations (EEC) Nos. 2078/92 and 2080/92 are granted for the period in question, thus enabling producers to meet market requirements;

(Amendment 7)

ARTICLE 1(1)

Article 7(2), new subparagraph (Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92)

>Original text>

Without prejudice to Article 9, areas set aside pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 and areas afforested pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 may be counted for the purposes of the set-aside requirement indicated in paragraph 1. However:

- the compensation specified in paragraph 5 shall not be granted on these areas,

- the compensation for income losses for land set aside in the framework of Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 or the compensation for income losses indicated at (c) in Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 shall be limited for the areas in question to an amount equal at most to the compensation specified for that land in paragraph 5 of this Article.

>Text following EP vote>

Areas set aside pursuant to Regulations (EEC) Nos 2078/92 and 2080/92 may be counted on a regional basis, including the transfer of the set-aside requirement from one producer to another, on condition that this does not increase those areas under cereals subject to the restrictions laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 and that special priority is given to land in areas which come under Objectives 1 and 5b, in areas which have suffered serious environmental damage caused by heavy industrial pollution or fires, in severely eroded areas and in flood plains.

Areas set aside pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 and those counted pursuant to Regulations (EEC) Nos 2078/92 and 2080/92 shall be consolidated as far as possible into continuous stretches of land so as to prevent the fragmentation of features of the landscape and forests. Controls on implementation of the measures provided for under this Regulation shall be conducted at national and regional levels.

>Text following EP vote>

With effect from the next stage of the programme envisaged in Regulations (EEC) Nos 2078/92 and 2080/92, land in respect of which the farmer has given the undertakings referred to in Article 2(a), (b), (d) and (g) of Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 may also be counted for the purposes of the set-aside requirement on condition that, in regional plans and crop rotation schemes, this does not entail an increase in that area under cereals subject to the restrictions laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall submit a report no later than 30 September 1995 on the introduction of the option of transferring the set-aside requirement from one producer to another, as laid down by the Council of Ministers of Agriculture in December 1993, and on the reasons why Member States which have expressed an interest in this option have not introduced it.

(Amendment 8)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 7(4), new subparagraph (Regulation No 1765/92)

>Original text>

Member States are authorized to grant national aid to producers to cover costs incurred in planting multiannual crops for biomass production. The aid may not, however, be more than the equivalent of the interest to be paid on a loan taken out for an amount not exceeding five years of compensatory payment for the land in question.

>Text following EP vote>

Member States are authorized to grant national aid to producers to cover costs incurred in planting multiannual crops for biomass production and/or medicinal plants and multiannual mixed hay field crops and in establishing recreational activities relating to agriculture and rural tourism. The aid may not, however, be more than the equivalent of the interest to be paid on a loan taken out for an amount not exceeding five years of compensatory payment for the land in question.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the eighth time Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (COM(94)0636 - C4-0036/95 - 95/0017(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(94)0636 - 95/0017(CNS) ((OJ C 48, 25.2.1995, p. 6.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 42 and 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0036/95),

- 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 opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0101/95),

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.