REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision amending Decision No 940/2014/EU as regards products eligible for exemption from or a reduction in dock dues
28.2.2019 - (COM(2018)0825 – C8‑0034/2019 – 2018/0417(CNS)) - *
Committee on Regional Development
Rapporteur: Iskra Mihaylova
(Simplified procedure – Rule 50(1) of the Rules of Procedure)
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a Council decision amending Decision No 940/2014/EU as regards products eligible for exemption from or a reduction in dock dues
(COM(2018)0825 – C8‑0034/2019 – 2018/0417(CNS))
(Special legislative procedure – consultation)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2018)0825),
- having regard to Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C8-0034/2019),
- having regard to Rule 78c of its Rules of Procedure,
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A8-0112/2019),
1. Approves the Commission proposal;
2. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;
3. Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the text approved by Parliament;
4. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
In 2014, the Council adopted a Decision on the basis of Article 349 TFEU to extend the special regime for exemption or reduction to the ‘dock dues’ tax applicable to a number of products produced in the French outermost regions, and to establish a new legal framework for dock dues from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020.
The aim of these tax arrangements is to offset the handicaps affecting those territories (remoteness, raw-material and energy dependence, small market size and low level of export activity), to support their social and economic development and to make local businesses competitive again by compensating part of the extra production costs entailed by local production in the French outermost regions.
On 13 December 2018, in line with Article 3 of the Council Decision (Council Decision No 940/2014/EU of 17 December 2014 concerning the dock dues in the French outermost regions), the Commission submitted to the Council a report analysing the economic and social impact of the dock dues arrangements as well as a proposal for modifying the provisions of the Decision. The purpose of this proposal is to adapt the list of products eligible for a tax differential to reflect the latest changes in the local economies since the adoption of the Decision.
These modifications are proposed by the Commission on the basis of the request submitted by the French authorities on 15 March 2018, justifying the need to adapt Decision No 940/2014/EU.
Considering that this measure is justifiable and intends at continuing to stimulate economic activity and competitiveness in the outermost regions, while not undermining the coherence of the internal market and of the EU legal order, the Chair proposes that this proposal be adopted without amendment, in accordance with Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
Title |
Products eligible for exemption from or a reduction in dock dues |
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References |
COM(2018)0825 – C8-0034/2019 – 2018/0417(CNS) |
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Date of consulting Parliament |
22.1.2019 |
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Committee responsible Date announced in plenary |
REGI 30.1.2019 |
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Rapporteurs Date appointed |
Iskra Mihaylova 22.1.2019 |
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Simplified procedure - date of decision |
20.2.2019 |
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Discussed in committee |
20.2.2019 |
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Date adopted |
20.2.2019 |
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Date tabled |
28.2.2019 |
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