Tariff quotas for certain meat and cereal products: alignment of Regulation with the TFEU (Commission delegated and implementing powers)

2011/0445(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 654 votes to 7, with 13 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulations (EC) No 774/94 opening and providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas for high-quality beef, and for pigmeat, poultrymeat, wheat and meslin, and brans, sharps and other residues.

The matter was sent back to the committee responsible and the vote was postponed until a later session.

Powers conferred on the Commission: the main amendments are as follows:

  • the need for the European Parliament to be duly involved in the preparation and implementation of delegated acts;
  • the delegation of power shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years that can be tacitly renewed for an identical duration (rather than for an indeterminate period, as the Commission had proposed);
  • the Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period ;
  • the European Parliament and Council will have four months (rather than two) to object to a delegated act.

Written procedure in committee (implementing powers): the Commission shall be assisted by a Committee established by the future aligned Single CMO Regulation within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. The amended text stipulates that where the opinion of the committee is to be obtained by written procedure, that procedure shall be terminated without result when, within the time-limit for delivery of the opinion, the chair of the committee so decides or a majority of committee members so request.