(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2006)0755)(1),

–   having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0044/2007),

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

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0141/2007),

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 by Parliament Amendment 1 RECITAL 6 (6)  It is therefore necessary to adopt appropriate measures to guarantee the proper functioning of the Community market in cereals. To this end, the discontinuation of the intervention arrangements for maize, as provided for under Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003, would appear to be the most appropriate measure taking into account the facts set out above and the outlets available to producers on the market. (6)  It is therefore necessary to adopt appropriate measures to guarantee the proper functioning of the Community market in cereals. To this end, the annual volume of purchases of maize under the intervention arrangements as provided for under Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 should be limited, taking into account the facts set out above. Amendment 2 ARTICLE 1, POINT 2 Article 5, paragraph 1 (Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003) 2.  In Article 5, paragraph (1) is replaced by the following: "1. The intervention agencies designated by the Member States shall buy in any common wheat, durum wheat, barley or sorghum offered to them and harvested in the Community, provided that the offers comply with the conditions laid down, in particular in respect of quality and quantity." deleted Amendments 3 and 4 ARTICLE 1, POINT 2 A (new) Article 5, paragraph 1, subparagraphs 1 a and 1 b (new) (Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003) 2a.  In Article 5(1), the following subparagraphs are added: "By way of derogation from the arrangements laid down in the first subparagraph, intervention buying-in of maize shall be subject to the following annual ceilings: – 2 million tonnes in the 2007/08 marketing year, – 1 million tonnes in the 2008/09 marketing year, – 0 tonnes as from the 2009/10 marketing year. By 31 December 2008, the Commission shall present a report assessing the trends on the maize market, the economic situation of the sector and the question of whether intervention should be abolished or extended, accompanied, if necessary, by new legislative proposals."

(1) Not yet published in OJ.