(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2007)0058),

–   having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0084/2007),

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

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0283/2007),

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 the Commission.

Text proposed by the Commission   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 RECITAL 4 (4)  In accordance with Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 aid for private storage of cream shall be granted as a market support measure. Equally, pursuant to Article 7(3) of that Regulation aid for private storage of skimmed milk powder may be granted. Given that the two support measures in practice have been inactive for a long time, even in situations with serious unbalance of the markets for milk fat and proteins, the two measures may be considered obsolete and should be abolished. (4)  In accordance with Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 aid for private storage of cream shall be granted as a market support measure. Equally, pursuant to Article 7(3) of that Regulation aid for private storage of skimmed milk powder may be granted. Amendment 2 RECITAL 8 A (new) (8a)  Budgetary savings resulting from standardisation should be retained for the milk sector. A milk fund restructuring programme should be set up to accompany and support the reforms in the milk sector. The objectives of the milk fund restructuring programme should include, inter alia, support for the restructuring process for milk producers and processors who are affected by increasing market liberalisation, the stepping up of marketing support and nutrition awareness measures (promotional activities) for the milk sector, support for the maintenance and modernisation of milk production under difficult conditions in mountain regions, and reinforcement of the scheme to distribute milk to schools. Amendment 3 ARTICLE 1, POINT 2, POINT (C), POINT (I) Article 6, paragraph 3, subparagraph 1, indent -1 (new) (Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999) - cream, Amendment 4 ARTICLE 1, POINT 3, POINT (B) Article 7, paragraph 3 (Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999) (b) paragraph 3 is deleted. deleted Amendment 5 ARTICLE 1, POINT 6 Article 14, paragraph 3, indent 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999) –  EUR 16,11/100 kg of all milk from 1 August 2007 onwards. –  EUR 18,15/100 kg of all milk from 1 August 2007 onwards. Amendment 6 ARTICLE 1, POINT 6 A (new) Article 14, paragraph 4 a (new) (Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999) (6a)  The following paragraph shall be added to Article 14: "4a. The Commission shall present an impact assessment on the implementation of the school milk scheme and, in this context, explore other options for widening the range of products that fall within the school milk scheme. In so doing, it shall take particular account of new, innovative and healthy products." Amendment 7 ARTICLE 1, POINT 6 B (new) Title I, Chapter III A (new), Article 15 a (new) (Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999) (6b)  The following Chapter shall be added to TITLE I: "CHAPTER IIIA Milk fund restructuring programme Article 15a A milk fund restructuring programme shall be set up by 1 January 2008 at the latest to accompany and support the reform measures in the milk sector. The objectives of the milk fund restructuring programme shall include, inter alia: - supporting the restructuring process for milk producers and processors who are affected by increasing market liberalisation; - strengthening marketing support and nutrition awareness measures (promotional activities) for the milk sector; - maintaining and modernising milk production under difficult conditions in mountain regions; - reinforcing the scheme to distribute milk to schools."