(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2003) 175)(1),

–   having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C5&nbhy;0243/2003),

–   having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market on the proposed legal basis,

–   having regard to Rules 67 and 63 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A5&nbhy;0409/2003),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

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

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

4.  Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

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

Text proposed by the Commission   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 Citation 1 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 299(2) thereof, Amendment 2 Recital 2 a (new)   (2a) Article 299(2) of the Treaty recognises the particular handicaps affecting the economic and social situation of the outermost regions, made worse by their remoteness and insularity. The same also applies to the fishing industry. Amendment 3 Article 1, paragraph 2 2.  Implementing rules for this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 5. 2.  Implementing rules for this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 5 and must be the same for all outermost regions with no possibility of discrimination. Amendment 4 Article 2, point 1a (new)   1a. by way of derogation from Article 9(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999, public aid to renovate the fleet in terms of tonnage and/or power may be granted until 31 December 2006; Amendment 5 Article 2, point 3 3. the derogations laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall cease to apply as soon as the reference levels are reached, and in any case not later than 31 December 2006. 3. the derogations laid down in points 1 and 2 shall cease to apply as soon as the reference levels are reached. Amendment 6 Article 5 a (new)   Article 5a   Reporting   The Commission shall report on the implementation of these measures by 31 December 2006. With particular regard to the measures referred to in Article 2, it shall suggest any adjustments that may be required in the light of changes in the social and economic needs of the regions concerned and the state of the fish stocks fished by their fleets.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.