A4-0132/97

Proposal for a Council Regulation on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures (COM(96)0058 - C4-0234/96 - 96/0044(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2328/91 of 15 July 1991 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures, has been substantially amended on several occasions; whereas in the interests of clarity and rationality it is appropriate to consolidate the said Regulation; whereas moreover in the interests of simplification and coherence it is appropriate to incorporate in the same text Council Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975 on mountain- and hill-farming in certain less-favoured areas,

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2328/91 of 15 July 1991 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures, has been substantially amended on several occasions; whereas in the light of the new amendments to the Regulation and in the interests of clarity and rationality it is appropriate to recast the provisions in question; whereas moreover in the interests of simplification and coherence it is appropriate to incorporate in the same text Council Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975 on mountain- and hill-farming in certain less-favoured areas,

(Amendment 2)

Recital 17

>Original text>

Whereas the adjustment of farm structures by an improvement in productivity resulting in an increase in production is confronted by insurmountable limits because of the state of the market for many agricultural products; whereas investment aid is intended not necessarily to increase production capacity but also to improve the quality of production conditions; whereas it appears necessary to concentrate such aid on those investments which allow for a reduction in production costs and for the improvement in living and working conditions or which aim at conversion of production; whereas such aid may also be granted for investments aimed at finding new sources of income, such as tourism or craft activities or the farm-based manufacture and sale of farm products, and to investments aimed at improving conditions for the hygiene and welfare of animals and at safeguarding and improving the environment;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the adjustment of farm structures by an improvement in productivity resulting in an increase in production is confronted by insurmountable limits because of the state of the market for many agricultural products; whereas investment aid is intended not necessarily to increase production capacity but also to improve the quality of production conditions; whereas it appears necessary to concentrate such aid on those investments which allow for a reduction in production costs and for the improvement in living and working conditions or which aim at conversion of production; whereas such aid may also be granted for investments aimed at finding new sources of income, such as tourism or craft activities or the farm-based manufacture and direct sale of farm products, and to investments aimed at improving conditions for the hygiene and welfare of animals and at safeguarding and improving the environment;

(Amendment 3)

Article 6(1), indents 2, 3 and 4

>Original text>

- the diversification of activities on the holding, in particular by the introduction of tourism and craft activities or the manufacture and sale of farm produce on the holding,

- the adaptation of the holding for the purposes of reducing production costs and saving energy,

- the improvement of living and working conditions,

>Text following EP vote>

- the diversification of activities on the holding, in particular by the introduction of tourism and craft activities or the manufacture and direct sale of the produce of the holding,

- the adaptation of the holding for the purposes of reducing production costs and saving energy or water,

- the improvement of living and working conditions directly related to the activities carried out on the holding,

(Amendments 4 and 15)

Article 6(4), 1st subparagraph

>Original text>

4. Aid may not be granted for investments which have the effect of increasing pig places.

>Text following EP vote>

4. Aid may not be granted for investments which have the effect of increasing pig places, provided the surplus production comes from intensive farms, since this justifies the restrictions imposed, and except for investment aid for farms in regions where the total number of pig places is proven to have fallen and provided that the aid does not lead to the original number of pig places in that region being exceeded.

(Amendment 5)

Article 6(5), 1st subparagraph

>Original text>

5. Aid granted for investments relating to the beef sector, other than aid for safeguarding the environment, improvement of hygiene conditions on livestock enterprises and animal welfare, where there is no increase in capacity, shall be restricted to livestock enterprises where the beef-cattle stocking rate does not, in the final year of the plan, exceed 3, 2, 5 and 2 livestock units (LU) per hectare of forage area used for feeding the cattle for plans ending respectively in 1994, 1995 and 1996 or later. The limits of 2, 5 and 2 LU per hectare shall apply only to applications submitted as from 1 January 1994.

>Text following EP vote>

5. Aid granted for investments relating to the beef sector, other than aid for safeguarding the environment, improvement of hygiene conditions on livestock enterprises and animal welfare, where there is no increase in capacity, shall be restricted to livestock enterprises where the beef-cattle stocking rate does not, in the final year of the plan, exceed 3, 2, 5 and 2 livestock units (LU) per hectare of forage area used for feeding the cattle. The limits of 2, 5 and 2 LU per hectare shall apply only to applications submitted as from 1 January 1994.

(Amendment 6)

Article 6(6)

>Original text>

6. The granting of investment in the egg and poultry sector is not permitted, with the exception of aid for safeguarding the environment, improvement of hygiene conditions on livestock enterprises and animal welfare, provided there is no increase in capacity.

>Text following EP vote>

6. The granting of investment in the egg and poultry sector governed by Regulation (EEC) No. 2777/75(1) is not permitted, with the exception of aid for safeguarding the environment, improvement of hygiene conditions on livestock enterprises and animal welfare, provided there is no increase in capacity.

______________

(1) OJ L 282, 1.11.1975, p. 77.

(Amendment 7)

Article 12(2), indents 5, 6 and 7

>Original text>

- the protection and improvement of the environment, provided that such investments do not entail an increase in production capacity,

- the improvement of hygiene conditions in livestock enterprises or of compliance with Community animal welfare standards or national standards where these are stricter than Community standards, provided that these investments do not give rise to an increase in production capacity,

- agricultural holdings, for activities not relating to field crops or stock farming.

>Text following EP vote>

- the protection and improvement of the environment, provided that such investments do not entail an increase in production capacity for products in surplus,

- the improvement of hygiene conditions in livestock enterprises or of compliance with Community animal welfare standards or national standards where these are stricter than Community standards, provided that these investments do not give rise to an increase in production capacity for products in surplus,

- agricultural holdings, for activities designed to diversify the activities of the holding.

(Amendment 8)

Article 12(3), 2nd subparagraph, indent 4a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- the replacement of structural elements destroyed or damaged by natural disasters.

(Amendment 9)

Article 12(4)(a), indents

>Original text>

- energy saving,

>Text following EP vote>

- energy or water saving,

>Original text>

- land improvement,

>Text following EP vote>

- land improvement,

>Original text>

- the protection and improvement of the environment, provided that such investments do not entail an increase in production capacity,

>Text following EP vote>

- the protection and improvement of the environment, provided that such investments do not entail an increase in production capacity for products in surplus,

>Original text>

- the improvement of hygiene conditions in livestock enterprises or of compliance with Community animal welfare standards or national standards where these are stricter than Community standards, provided that these investments do not give rise to an increase in production capacity.

>Text following EP vote>

- the improvement of hygiene conditions in livestock enterprises or of compliance with Community animal welfare standards or national standards where these are stricter than Community standards, provided that these investments do not give rise to an increase in production capacity for products in surplus.

(Separate vote)

Article 18(1)

>Original text>

1. Member States may grant compensatory allowances to farmers who work at least three hectares of usable agricultural area (UUA) and farmers who undertake to pursue a farming activity in accordance with the aims of Article 17 for at least five years from the first payment of a compensatory allowance shall be eligible for such an allowance; where a farmer gives up farming and the area concerned continues to be worked, he may be released from such undertakings; he shall be released from such undertaking in cases of force majeure, for example where his property is compulsorily purchased or purchased in the public interest; in addition, farmers in receipt of a retirement or early-retirement pension shall be released from such undertakings.

>Text following EP vote>

1. Member States may grant compensatory allowances to farmers who undertake to pursue a farming activity in accordance with the aims of Article 17 for at least five years from the first payment of a compensatory allowance shall be eligible for such an allowance; where a farmer gives up farming and the area concerned continues to be worked, he may be released from such undertakings; he shall be released from such undertaking in cases of force majeure, for example where his property is compulsorily purchased or purchased in the public interest; in addition, farmers in receipt of a retirement or early-retirement pension shall be released from such undertakings.

>Original text>

However, in the Italian Mezzogiorno region, including the islands, in the regions in the French overseas departments and in the Greek, Portuguese and Spanish regions, the minimum UAA per holding shall be two hectares.

(Amendment 10)

Article 31(1), 3rd subparagraph, indent 4

>Original text>

- Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1035/72(1)

_______________

(1) OJ L 118, 20.5.1972, p. 1.

>Text following EP vote>

- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2200/96(1)

________________

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures (COM(96)0058 - C4-0234/96 - 96/0044(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0058 - 96/0044(CNS) ((OJ C 115, 19.4.1996, p. 34.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0234/96),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A4-0132/97),

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.