Proposal for a Council Regulation fixing, for the 1998 harvest, the premiums for leaf tobacco by group of tobacco varieties (COM(98)0051 - C4-0096/98 - 98/0044(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 41)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas, when the premiums for raw tobacco are fixed, account should be taken of the objectives of the common agricultural policy; whereas the common agricultural policy aims in particular to guarantee a fair standard of living for the farming community and to ensure that supplies are available and that they reach consumers at reasonable prices; whereas the premiums must take account in particular of past and foreseeable possibilities of disposal of the various tobaccos under normal conditions of competition; whereas, in compliance with these criteria, for the 1998 harvest, the premiums should be maintained at the level laid down in the Annex,

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, when the premiums for raw tobacco are fixed, account should be taken of the objectives of the common agricultural policy; whereas the common agricultural policy aims in particular to guarantee a fair standard of living for the farming community and to ensure that supplies are available and that they reach consumers at reasonable prices; whereas the premiums must take account in particular of past and foreseeable possibilities of disposal of the various tobaccos under normal conditions of competition; whereas, in compliance with these criteria, for the 1998 harvest, the premiums should be

amended by increasing the amounts for groups VI, VII and VIII; whereas these groups produce high-quality tobacco but also have low yields and require more labour,

(Amendment 42)

Recital 1a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas an adjustment coefficient must be created with a view to maintaining equitable levels of income as between farmers in all European Union Member States in order to compensate for the possible disappearance of the green rate on 1 January 1999 for the Member States participating in the single currency;

(Amendment 43)

Article 1a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

In order to ensure equitable levels of income as between farmers in all European Union Member States an adjustment coefficient shall be created with effect from 1 January 1999 to compensate for the possible disappearance of the green rate for Member States participating in the single currency.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation fixing, for the 1998 harvest, the premiums for leaf tobacco by group of tobacco varieties (COM(98)0051 - C4-0096/98 - 98/0044(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(98)0051 - 98/0044(CNS) ((OJ C 87, 23.3.1998, p. 18.)),

- having been consulted by the Council (C4-0096/98),

- 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 opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on External Economic Relations, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0216/98),

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.