EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 66/124

Common organisation of agricultural markets and specific provisions for certain agricultural products as regards the national quotas for milk *

P6_TA(2008)0092

European Parliament legislative resolution of 12 March 2008 on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (single CMO Regulation) as regards the national quotas for milk (COM(2007)0802 — C6-0015/2008 — 2007/0281(CNS))

(2009/C 66 E/33)

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2007)0802),

— having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0015/2008),

— having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0046/2008),

1. Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

5. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.

(3) The Council requested that the Commission undertake a market outlook report when the 2003 reforms of the common market organisation in milk and milk products had been fully implemented with a view to assessing the appropriateness of allocating additional quotas .

(3) The Council requested that the Commission undertake a market outlook report when the 2003 reforms of the common market organisation in milk and milk products had been fully implemented on the basis of which a decision will be taken .

(4) This report has been conducted and concluded the current situation of the Community and world markets and their projected situation in the period to 2014 , warrant an additional increase in quota by 2 % to facilitate the production of more milk within the Community to help satisfy emerging market requirements for dairy products.

(4) This report has been conducted and concluded the current situation of the Community and world markets and their projected situation in the period to 2014 may warrant an additional increase in quota to facilitate the production of more milk within the Community to help satisfy emerging market requirements for dairy products.

(4a) The milk quota is under-used at EU level.

(4b) The European Parliament, in its resolution of 25 October 2007 on rising feed and food prices (1) , called on the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to propose a temporary increase in milk quotas with a view to stabilising prices on the internal market.

(4c) The European Parliament asked the Commission to set up a milk fund restructuring programme.

(4d) The current situation of the market in milk products in the EU offers prospects for growth to producers so wishing, given the shortfall of production in the face of an ever-growing demand.

(5) Therefore it is appropriate to increase all Member State quotas as shown in Annex IX of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 by 2 % from 1 April 2008.

(5) Therefore it is appropriate to allow Member States to increase their quotas as shown in Annex IX of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 by 2 % above their current allocation on a voluntary basis from 1 April 2008 , while acknowledging that not all Member States currently use their entire quota allocations and that some Member States will not use the quota increase .

(5a) The increase in milk quotas from 1 April 2008 has no bearing on the outcome of the review of the market in milk and milk products carried out as part of the ‘Health Check’ of the Common Agricultural Policy.

(5b) The increase in milk quotas for the quota year 2008/2009 does not currently endanger the stability of the EU milk market and does not undermine the role of quotas as a means of stabilising the milk market and ensuring the profitability of production.

(5c) Producers' behaviour should also be examined, as quotas in some EU Member States are significantly under-used .

(5d) There is a need to increase the amount of research on consumer behaviour with regard to the milk market as this market is very sensitive to changes. The Commission should take immediate action in order to increase the amount of research in this area.

(6a) Developments on the international market and on many EU markets in the last few weeks have pointed to a marked fall in prices on commodity exchanges, without there having been any increase in production. It is therefore advisable to calculate the medium-term effects of a 2 % increase in quotas.

(6b) Milk production plays a vital role in generating income in disadvantaged regions of the European Union, as comparable alternatives in agricultural production often do not exist. The specific effects of these market measures with regard to adding value to, and maintaining regionally sustainable and agriculturally necessary, milk production should, therefore, be given special consideration.

Article -1

In Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the following subparagraph is added to Article 78(1):

For the quota year 2008/2009, a surplus levy shall be payable on milk and other milk products marketed in excess of the national quota, as established in accordance with Subsection II if, after EU-wide balancing out, a surplus still exists .

Point 1 of Annex IX to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation .

Member State quotas are increased on a voluntary basis by 2 % from 1 April 2008. Point 1 of Annex IX to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be adjusted accordingly .

Article 1a

By 1 January 2009 at the latest, the Commission shall submit a study on the economic, social and environmental impact of the increase in milk quotas, paying particular attention to mountainous regions and other regions with comparably difficult production conditions .

Article 1b

By 1 January 2009 at the latest, the Commission shall submit a report on consumer behaviour with regard to the milk market and to the specific circumstances of milk production in disadvantaged regions .

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2007)0480.