REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision amending the period of application of Council Decision 2004/162/EC concerning the dock dues in the French overseas departments

2.4.2014 - (COM(2014)0181 – C7‑0129/2014 – 2014/0101(CNS)) - *

Committee on Regional Development
Rapporteur: Danuta Maria Hübner
(Simplified procedure - Rule 46(1) of the Rules of Procedure)

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a Council decision amending the period of application of Council Decision 2004/162/EC concerning the dock dues in the French overseas departments

(COM(2014)0181 – C7‑0129/2014 – 2014/0101(CNS))

(Special legislative procedure – consultation)

The European Parliament,

–       having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2014)0181),

–       having regard to Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C7‑0129/2014),

–       having regard to Rules 55 and 46(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–       having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A7-0264/2014),

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

According to the Commission proposal explanatory memorandum, Council Decision 2004/162/EC of 10 February 2004 (as amended by Council Decisions 2008/439/EC of 9 June 2008 and 448/2011/EU of 19 July 2011), adopted on the basis of Article 299(2) of the EC Treaty (now Article 349 TFEU), authorises France, until 1 July 2014, to apply exemptions or reductions to the ‘dock dues’ tax for a number of products produced in the French outermost regions (excluding Saint Martin), in order to enhance competiveness and to compensate for the additional costs of production due to isolation, raw material and energy dependence, the obligation to build up stocks, the small size of the local market and the low level of export activity.

France has requested that a system of differentiated taxation similar to the current system be maintained until 31 December 2020. However, the Commission considers that the analysis of the lists of products to which France wishes to apply a differentiated taxation system is a lengthy process, which cannot be completed before the expiry of Decision 2004/162/EC, i.e., 1 July 2014.

Considering that failure to adopt a proposal before that date could create a legal vacuum as it would rule out the application of any differentiated taxation in the French outermost regions, the Commission proposes that Decision 2004/162/EC is extended for an additional period of six months in order to allow the Commission to complete its analysis and present a balanced proposal taking account of the various interests at stake.

Considering that this measure is justifiable and intends at continuing to stimulate economic activity and competitiveness in an outermost region, the Chair proposes that this proposal be adopted without amendment, in accordance with Rule 46 of the Rules of Procedure.

PROCEDURE

Title	Amendment of the period of application of Council Decision 2004/162/EC concerning the dock dues in the French overseas departments
References	COM(2014)0181 – C7-0129/2014 – 2014/0101(CNS)
Date of consulting Parliament	28.3.2014
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	REGI
Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)        Date announced in plenary	ECON
Not delivering opinions        Date of decision	ECON 1.4.2014
Rapporteur(s)        Date appointed	Danuta Maria Hübner 1.4.2014
Simplified procedure - date of decision	1.4.2014
Date adopted	1.4.2014
Date tabled	2.4.2014