European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union (COM(2004)0687 - C6-0201/2004 - 2004/0247(CNS))
Date: 2005-07-07
Institutions: Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, European Parliament
Subjects: EAGGF Guarantee Section, EU regional policy, aid system, aid to agriculture, peripheral region, regional aid

6.7.2006

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Official Journal of the European Union

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P6_TA(2005)0306

Agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation laying down
specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union (COM(2004)0687 —
C6-0201/2004 — 2004/0247(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2004)0687) (1),

— having regard to Articles 36, 37 and 299(2) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted

Parliament (C6-0201/2004),

— having regard to Rule 51 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 International Trade and the Committee on Regional
Development (A6-0195/2005),

Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

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

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

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substan-

1.

2.

3.

4.
tially;

5.

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

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 1
Recital 1

(1) The particular geographical situation of
the outermost
regions imposes additional transport costs in supplying pro-
ducts which are essential for human consumption, for process-
ing or as agricultural inputs. In addition, objective factors aris-
ing as a result of
insularity and remoteness impose further
constraints on economic operators and producers in the outer-
most regions that severely handicap their activities. These handi-
caps can be alleviated by lowering the price of these essential
products. It is therefore appropriate to introduce specific supply
arrangements to guarantee supply to the outermost regions and
compensate for the additional costs arising from their remote-
ness, insularity and distant location.

(1) The particular geographical situation of
the outermost
regions imposes additional transport costs in supplying pro-
ducts which are essential for human consumption, for process-
ing or as agricultural inputs. In addition, objective factors aris-
ing as a result of
insularity and remoteness impose further
constraints on economic operators and producers in the outer-
most regions that severely handicap their activities. In some
cases, economic operators and producers face a double insular-
ity arising from the distance between islands in the same
region. These handicaps can be alleviated by lowering the price
of these essential products. It is therefore appropriate to intro-
duce specific supply arrangements to guarantee supply to the
outermost regions and compensate for the additional costs aris-
ing from their remoteness, insularity and distant location.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 2
Recital 2a (new)

(2a) The Commission should apply an effective policy to pro-
mote SMEs in the agri-foodstuffs sector in the outermost
regions to enable them to maintain their traditional exports
and increase trade with neighbouring third countries.

Amendment 3
Recital 4

(4)
Since the quantities covered by the specific supply arrange-
ments are limited to the supply requirements of the outermost
regions, those arrangements do not impair the proper function-
ing of the internal market. Nor should the economic advantages
of the specific supply arrangements provoke diversions of trade
in the products concerned. Dispatching or exportation of those
products from the outermost regions should therefore be prohi-
bited. However, dispatch or exportation of
those products
should be authorised where the advantage resulting from the
specific supply arrangements is reimbursed or,
in the case of
processed products, to permit regional trade or trade between
the two Portuguese outermost regions. Account should also be
taken of traditional trade flows with third countries in all the
outermost regions, and exports of processed products cor-
responding to traditional exports for all those regions should
accordingly be authorised. Nor should the restriction apply to
the traditional dispatching of processed products. For the sake
of clarity, the reference period for defining those traditionally
exported or dispatched quantities should be specified.

(4)
Since the quantities covered by the specific supply arrange-
ments are limited to the supply requirements of the outermost
regions, those arrangements do not impair the proper function-
ing of the internal market. Nor should the economic advantages
of the specific supply arrangements provoke diversions of trade
in the products concerned. Dispatching or exportation of those
products from the outermost regions should therefore be prohi-
bited. However, dispatch or exportation of
those products
should be authorised where the advantage resulting from the
specific supply arrangements is reimbursed or,
in the case of
processed products, to permit regional trade or trade between
the two Portuguese outermost regions. Account should also be
taken of traditional trade flows with third countries in all the
outermost regions, and exports of processed products cor-
responding to traditional exports for all those regions should
accordingly be authorised. Nor should the restriction apply to
the traditional dispatching of processed products. For the sake
of clarity, the reference period for defining those traditionally
exported or dispatched quantities should be specified, and
should take account of possible constraints on the traditional
functioning of the market.

Amendment 4
Recital 12a (new)

(12a) The Commission should propose
the necessary
derogations to the Council to enable rural development pro-
grammes to be implemented, taking account of the specific
features of the outermost regions.

Amendment 5
Recital 18

livestock farming activities should be sup-
(18) Traditional
ported. In order to meet the local consumption needs of the
French overseas departments and Madeira, duty-free imports
from third countries of male bovine animals intended for fatten-
ing should be authorised subject to certain conditions and up to
a maximum annual limit. The possibility opened under Regu-
lation (EC) No 1782/2003 to enable Portugal to transfer rights
to the suckler cow premium from the mainland to the Azores
should be renewed and that instrument should be adjusted in
line with the new support arrangements for the outermost
regions.

livestock farming activities should be sup-
(18) Traditional
ported. In order to meet the local consumption needs of the
French overseas departments and Madeira, duty-free imports
from third countries of male bovine animals intended for fatten-
ing should be authorised subject to certain conditions and up to
a maximum annual limit. The possibility opened under Regu-
lation (EC) No 1782/2003 to enable Portugal to transfer rights
to the suckler cow premium from the mainland to the Azores
should be renewed and that instrument should be adjusted in
line with the new support
arrangements for the outermost
regions. In order to meet local consumption needs in the

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BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

French overseas departments, duty-free imports from third
countries of equine, bovine, bubaline, ovine and caprine ani-
mals intended for fattening should be authorised subject to
certain conditions and up to a maximum annual limit. With
a view to improved quality in beef production in the Azores,
aid should be granted for the supply of male breeding stock of
beef cattle breeds to the region, under certain conditions and
up to a maximum limit to be determined.

Amendments 6 and 7

Recital 20

(20)
Implementation of this Regulation must not jeopardise
the level of special support from which the outermost regions
have benefited up to now. For that reason, so that they can
carry out the appropriate measures, the Member States should
have at their disposal sums equivalent to the support already
granted by the Community under Council Regulation (EC)
No 1452/2001 of 28 June 2001 introducing specific measures
for certain agricultural products for the French overseas depart-
ments, amending Directive 72/462/EEC and repealing Regu-
lations (EEC) No 525/77 and (EEC) No 3763/91 (Poseidom),
Council Regulation (EC) No 1453/2001 and Council Regulation
(EC) No 1454/2001 of 28 June 2001 introducing specific
measures for certain agricultural products for the Canary Islands
and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92 (Poseican) and
sums granted to farmers established in those regions under
Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on
the common organisation of the market in beef and veal, Coun-
cil Regulation (EC) No 2529/2001 of 19 December 2001 on the
common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goat-
meat, Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September
2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals and
sums granted for the supply of rice to the French overseas
department of Réunion under Article 5 of Council Regulation
(EC) No 1785/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common
organisation of the market in rice. The new system of support
for agricultural production in the outermost regions established
by this Regulation must be coordinated with the support for the
same lines of production in force in the rest of the Community.

(20)
Implementation of this Regulation must not jeopardise
the level of special support from which the outermost regions
have benefited up to now. The annual financial limits set for
support under the specific supply arrangements should take
account of aid for supply and the amounts corresponding to
exemptions from duties granted under this scheme over a set
period. For that reason, so that they can carry out the appropri-
ate measures, the Member States should have at their disposal
sums equivalent to the support already granted by the Com-
munity under Council Regulation (EC) No 1452/2001 of
28 June 2001 introducing specific measures for certain agricul-
tural products for the French overseas departments, amending
Directive 72/462/EEC and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 525/
77 and (EEC) No 3763/91 (Poseidom), Council Regulation (EC)
No 1453/2001 and Council Regulation (EC) No 1454/2001 of
28 June 2001 introducing specific measures for certain agricul-
tural products for the Canary Islands and repealing Regulation
(EEC) No 1601/92 (Poseican) and sums granted to farmers
established in those regions under Council Regulation (EC)
No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation
of
in beef and veal, Council Regulation (EC)
No 2529/2001 of 19 December 2001 on the common organi-
sation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat, Council Regu-
lation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the com-
mon organisation of the market in cereals and sums granted for
the supply of rice to the French overseas department of Réunion
under Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 of
29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market
in rice. The new system of support for agricultural production
in the outermost regions established by this Regulation must be
coordinated with the support for the same lines of production
in force in the rest of the Community.

the market

Amendment 8

Recital 21a (new)

for granting support under

(21a)
Furthermore, the above repeal of the Regulations cur-
rently in force should not cause any interruption in the pro-
cedures
supply
arrangements or aid for local products in the outermost
regions, and it is necessary to ensure that they can continue
to apply until the respective supply and support programmes
have been approved.

specific

the

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BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 9
Article 1

This Regulation lays down specific measures on agriculture to
remedy the difficulties caused by the remoteness, insularity and
distant location of the regions of the Union referred to in Arti-
cle 299(2) of the Treaty, hereinafter the ‘outermost regions’.

This Regulation lays down specific measures on agriculture to
remedy the difficulties caused by the remoteness, insularity, dis-
tant location, small size, difficult topography and climate and
economic dependence on a few products of the regions of the
Union referred to in Article 299(2) of the Treaty, hereinafter the
‘outermost regions’.

Amendment 10
Article 2, paragraph 1

1.
Specific supply arrangements are hereby introduced for
the agricultural products listed in Annex I, which are essential
in the outermost regions for human consumption,
for the
manufacture of other products or as agricultural inputs.

Specific supply arrangements are hereby introduced for
1.
agricultural products which are essential
in the outermost
regions for human consumption, for the manufacture of other
products or as agricultural
inputs,
listed in the supply pro-
grammes referred to in Article 5.

Amendment 11
Article 2, paragraph 2

2.
A forecast supply balance shall be drawn up stating the
quantity of the agricultural products listed in Annex I needed
to meet supply requirements each year. A separate forecast
balance may be drawn up for the requirements of undertak-
ings packaging and processing products intended for the local
market, for traditional consignment to the rest of the Com-
munity or for export as part of regional trade or traditional
trade flows.

Deleted

Amendments 12 and 13
Article 4, paragraph 2

2.
The restriction provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply
to products processed in the outermost regions from products
having benefited from the specific supply arrangements which
are:

2.
The restriction provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply
to products processed or products which have undergone suf-
ficient working or processing in the outermost regions from
products having benefited from the specific supply arrange-
ments.

(a) exported to third countries or dispatched to the rest of the
Community within the limits of traditional exports and
traditional dispatches. Those quantities and the third
countries of destination shall be specified by the Commis-
sion in accordance with the procedure laid down in Arti-
cle 26(2), on the basis of the average of exports or dis-
patches during the years 1989, 1990 and 1991;

(b) exported to third countries as part of regional trade flows
in accordance with conditions specified under the pro-
cedure referred to in Article 26(2);

(c) dispatched from the Azores to Madeira or vice versa.

No export
exported.

refund shall be granted for

the products thus

No export
exported.

refund shall be granted for

the products thus

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

(a)

the draft forecast supply balance;

Amendment 15
Article 5, paragraph 1, point (−a) (new)

(−a)

the products covered by the specific supply arrange-

ments;

Amendment 14
Article 5, paragraph 1, point (a)

(a)

the draft forecast supply balance quantifying annual needs
in relation to these products. A separate provisional
assessment may be drawn up for the requirements of
undertakings storing and processing products intended
for the local market, for consignment to the rest of the
Community, or for export as part of regional trade or
traditional trade flows;

Amendment 16
Article 5, paragraph 2

2.
The supply programmes shall be approved in accordance
with the procedure referred to in Article 26(2). The list of pro-
ducts contained in Annex I may be revised in accordance with
the same procedure, in the light of demand developments in the
outermost regions.

2.
The supply programmes shall be approved in accordance
with the procedure referred to in Article 26(2), in the light of
demand developments in the outermost regions.

Amendment 17
Article 9, paragraph 2a (new)

support

Community

2a.
promote
improvements to the environment, the context in which rural
communities live, farming methods and the development of
the landscape by encouraging sustainable land management.

programmes

shall

Amendment 18
Article 12, point (a)

(a)

a quantified description of the current agricultural produc-
tion situation taking into account the results of available
for
evaluations, showing disparities, gaps and potential
development,
resources deployed and the
main results of operations undertaken under Council Regu-
lations (EEC) Nos 3763/91, 1600/92, 1601/92 and (EC)
Nos 1452/2001, 1453/2001 and 1454/2001;

the financial

(a)

a quantified description of the current agricultural produc-
tion situation taking into account the results of available
for
evaluations, showing disparities, gaps and potential
development,
resources deployed and the
main results of operations undertaken under Council Regu-
lations (EC) Nos 1452/2001, 1453/2001 and 1454/2001;

the financial

Amendment 19
Article 12, point (d)

(d) a schedule for the implementation of the measures and a
general indicative financing table showing the resources to
be deployed;

(d) a schedule for the implementation of the measures and a
general indicative financing table showing the resources to
be deployed, without prejudice to reprogramming among
the measures contained in each programme;

3.

The programmes shall apply from 1 January 2006.

The programmes shall apply from 1 January 2006 or

3.
from a later date.

Amendment 20
Article 13, paragraph 3

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 21
Article 16, paragraph 5a (new)

The Commission

5a.
necessary
shall
derogations to the Council to enable rural development pro-
grammes to be implemented, taking account of the specific
features of the outermost regions.

propose

the

Amendment 22
Article 18, paragraph 1

1.
France and Portugal shall submit programmes to the Com-
mission for the control of organisms harmful to plants or
plant products in the French overseas departments and the
Azores and Madeira respectively. The programmes shall specify
in particular the objectives to be achieved, the measures to be
carried out, their duration and their cost. The programmes sub-
mitted pursuant to this Article shall not concern the protection
of bananas.

1.
France and Portugal shall submit health protection pro-
grammes to the Commission for crops and plant products in
the French overseas departments and the Azores and Madeira
respectively. The programmes shall specify in particular the
objectives to be achieved, the measures to be carried out, their
duration and their cost. The programmes submitted pursuant to
this Article shall not concern the protection of bananas.

Amendment 23
Article 19, paragraph 2, subparagraph 1

of

Notwithstanding

2.
(EC)
Article 19(1)
No 1493/1999, grapes from prohibited direct-producer hybrid
vine varieties (Noah, Othello, Isabelle, Jacquez, Clinton and
Herbemont) harvested in the Azores and Madeira may be used
for the production of wine which must remain within those
regions.

Regulation

Notwithstanding

2.
(EC)
Article 19(1)
No 1493/1999, grapes from prohibited direct-producer hybrid
vine varieties harvested in the Azores and Madeira may be
used for the production of wine which must remain within
those regions.

Regulation

of

Amendment 24
Article 19, paragraph 2, subparagraph 2

By 31 December 2006 Portugal shall have gradually eliminated
vineyards planted with prohibited direct-producer hybrid vine
varieties, with, where appropriate, the support provided for in
Chapter III of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999.

By 31 December 2013 Portugal shall have gradually eliminated
vineyards planted with prohibited direct-producer hybrid vine
varieties, with, where appropriate, the support provided for in
Chapter III of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999.

Amendment 25
Article 20, paragraph 4, subparagraph 2

Detailed rules for the application of this paragraph shall be
adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Arti-
cle 26(2). The detailed rules shall determine, in particular, the
quantity of locally produced fresh milk to be incorporated into
the reconstituted UHT milk referred to in the first subparagraph.

Detailed rules for the application of this paragraph shall be
adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Arti-
cle 26(2). The detailed rules shall determine, in particular, the
quantity of locally produced fresh milk to be incorporated into
the reconstituted UHT milk referred to in the first subparagraph,
if no outlets can be found for locally produced milk.

Amendment 26
Article 21, paragraph 3a (new)

(3a) With a view to improved quality in beef production in
the Azores, aid shall be granted for the supply of male breed-
ing stock of beef cattle breeds to this region, under the con-
ditions and up to the maximum amount to be decided in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 26(2).

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BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 27
Article 21a (new)

Article 21a

Sugar

During the period referred to in Article 10(1) of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 of 19 June 2001 on the com-
mon organisation of the markets in the sugar sector (1),
C sugar as referred to in Article 13 of that Regulation,
exported in accordance with the relevant provisions of Com-
mission Regulation (EEC) No 2670/81 of 14 September 1981
laying down detailed implementing rules in respect of sugar
production in excess of the quota (2), and introduced for the
purposes of consumption in Madeira and the Canary Islands
in the form of white sugar falling within CN Code 1701 or
into the Azores in the form of raw sugar falling within CN
Code 1701 12 10, shall benefit, under the terms of this Regu-
lation, from the scheme of exemption from import duties
within the limits of the forecast supply balances referred to
in Article 3.

(1) OJ L 178, 30.6.2001, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 262, 16.9.1981, p. 14.

Amendment 28
Article 24, paragraph 1

1.
The measures provided for in this Regulation, except for
Article 16, shall constitute intervention intended to stabilise the
agricultural markets within the meaning of Article 2(2) of Coun-
cil Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999.

1.
The measures provided for in this Regulation, except for
Articles 16 and 18, shall constitute intervention intended to
stabilise the agricultural markets within the meaning of Arti-
cle 2(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999.

Amendment 29
Article 24, paragraph 2

2.
The Community shall finance the measures provided for
in Titles II and III of this Regulation up to an annual maximum
as follows:
— French overseas departments: EUR 84,7 million,
— Azores and Madeira: EUR 77,3 million,
— Canary Islands: EUR 127,3 million

2.
The Community shall finance the measures provided for
in Titles II and III of this Regulation up to an annual maximum
calculated on the basis of the amounts of expenditure to
finance the specific supply arrangements, based on the average
for the best three-year period in each region within the period
between 2001 and 2004, taking account of the amount of
exemption from duties granted in the same period and on the
basis of the maximum amounts of spending applicable to sup-
port for local agricultural production.

Amendment 30
Article 24, paragraph 3

The amounts allocated annually to the programmes pro-

3.
vided for in Title II may not exceed:
— French overseas departments: EUR 20,7 million,
— Azores and Madeira: EUR 17,7 million,
— Canary Islands: EUR 72,7 million.

Deleted

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 31
Article 24, paragraph 3a (new)

Notwithstanding Article 28(2)

3a.
of Regulation (EC)
No 1782/2003, the time-limits set for payments under the
arrangements referred to in Annex I of that Regulation may
be altered, in which case the new time-limit shall be defined in
the programmes to be submitted in the context of the finan-
cial resources provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article.

Amendment 32
Article 26, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1a (new)

In respect of the plant health programmes referred to in Arti-
cle 18, the Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Com-
mittee on Plant Health established by Council Decision 76/
894/EEC of 23 November 1976 (1).

(1) OJ L 340, 9.12.1976, p. 25.

Amendment 33
Article 28, paragraph 3

3.
Not later than 31 December 2009, and thereafter every
five years, the Commission shall submit a general report to Par-
liament and the Council showing the impact of the action taken
under this Regulation, accompanied if applicable by appropriate
proposals.

3.
Not later than 31 December 2008, and thereafter every
five years, the Commission shall submit a general report to Par-
liament and the Council showing the impact of the action taken
under this Regulation, accompanied if applicable by appropriate
proposals.

Amendment 34
Article 29, paragraph 2a (new)

However, measures relating to the specific supply arrange-
ments and measures to assist local products provided for in
Regulations (EC) Nos 1452/2001, 1453/2001 and 1454/
2001 shall remain in force until the date on which the Com-
mission approves the supply programmes provided for in Arti-
cle 5 of this Regulation and the starting-date for the appli-
the support programmes for local agricultural
cation of
products provided for in Article 9 of this Regulation respec-
tively.

Amendment 35
Article 32, paragraph 2

It shall apply from 1 January 2006. However, Articles 13, 25
and 26 shall apply from the date of its entry into force.

It shall apply from 1 January 2006. However, Articles 8, 13, 21
(3), 24, 25 and 26 shall apply from the date of its entry into
force.

P6_TA(2005)0307

Export refunds for live cattle to third countries

Declaration of the European Parliament on export refunds for live cattle to third countries

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. noting that around 200 000 live cattle are exported each year from the EU to Lebanon and Egypt,