(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament ,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2009)0037),

–   having regard to the Act of Accession of 1979, and in particular paragraph 6 of Protocol No 4 on cotton annexed to the Act,

–   having regard to Article 37(2), third subparagraph of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0063/2009),

–   having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0200/2009),

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   Amendment Amendment 1 Proposal for a regulation – amending act Recital 1 a (new) (1a)  The reform that entered into force on 1 January 2006 led to a drastic fall in cotton production in Spain that has seriously jeopardised the sector's survival, resulting in the immediate restructuring of the ginning industry.