COMMISSION PROPOSAL on the prices for agricultural products VOLUME III Legal instruments - Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EEC) No 845/72 laying down special measures to encourage silkworm rearing

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission [1],

[1] OJ C

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament [2],

[2] OJ C

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee [3],

[3] OJ C

Whereas:

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 845/72 [4], as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2059/92 [5], provides for the Community aid for silkworms reared within the Community to be fixed annually. In accordance with the approach followed for the reform of the common organisation of the markets in connection with Agenda 2000 and in order to enable producers to work out longer-term production plans, the aid should be fixed without any limit in time, without prejudice to any revisions that may be called for in the future.

[4] OJ L 100, 27.4.1972, p. 1.

[5] OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p.19.

(2) The aid should be set at a level that ensures a fair standard of living for silkworm rearers.

(3) Furthermore, in compliance with the provisions adopted by the Council on the subject of comitology, the corresponding provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 845/72 should be amended. Since the measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation are management measures within the meaning of Article 2 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission [6], they should be adopted by use of the management procedure provided for in Article 4 of that Decision,

[6] OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EEC) No 845/72 is amended as follows:

1. Article 1 is replaced by the following:

"Article 1

1. Aid shall be granted for silkworms falling within subheading 0106 00 90 of the combined nomenclature and for silkworm eggs falling within subheading 0511 99 80 reared within the Community.

2. The aid shall be granted to silkworm rearers for each box of silkworm eggs used, on condition that the boxes contain a minimum quantity of eggs, to be determined, and that the worms have been successfully reared.

3. The aid per box of silkworm eggs used shall be EUR 133,26."

2. Article 2 is replaced by the following:

"Article 2

Detailed rules shall be adopted for the application of this Regulation in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4(2).

The detailed rules shall cover in particular the minimum quantity referred to in Article 1(2), the information to be forwarded to the Commission by the Member States and any inspection measures to protect the Community's financial interests from fraud or other irregularities."

3. Article 4 is replaced by the following:

"Article 4

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Management Committee for Flax and Hemp established by Article 11 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1308/70 on the common organisation of the market in flax and hemp.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, the management procedure laid down in Article 4 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, in compliance with Article 7(3) thereof.

3. The period provided for in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be one month."

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply from 1 April 2000.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President