The European Parliament adopted by 600 votes to 38, with 50 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands.
Parliament adopted its position at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise reached between the European Parliament and the Council. They amend the Commission’s proposal as follows:
Objectives: the amended text stipulates that the specific measures aim to preserve and develop agricultural activities in the smaller islands, including the production, processing, marketing and transport of local raw and processed products.
The resolution insists that emphasis should be placed on preserving the traditional agricultural heritage and the traditional characteristics of production methods and of local and organic products.
Impact of advantage: benefiting from the specific supply arrangements resulting from the awarding of aid shall be subject to the condition that the impact of the economic advantage is passed on up to the end user. An amendment stipulates that the advantage shall be equal to the amount of the aid. The competent authority may require a security to be lodged equal to the amount of the advantage.
Export to third countries and dispatch to the rest of the Union: processing operations which may give rise to traditional trade exports or traditional dispatches shall fulfil, mutatis mutandis, the processing conditions applicable under customs control provided for in the relevant Union legislation, with the exception of all usual forms of handling.
Control and penalties: except in cases of force majeure or exceptional climatic conditions, if an operator fails to comply with the commitments made as regards the provisions concerning certificates, the competent authority, without prejudice to any penalties applicable under national law, shall: (a) recover the advantage granted to the operator; (b) temporarily suspend or revoke the operator's registration, depending on the seriousness of the non-compliance.
Delegated and implementing acts: a number of technical amendments which concern the wording of the provisions enable the Commission to adopt delegated acts under Article 290 TFEU or implementing acts under Article 291 TFEU. The power to adopt delegated acts shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from the entry into force of the Regulation.
Report: by 31 December 2016, and thereafter every five years, the Commission shall submit a general report showing the impact of the action taken under this Regulation, accompanied, if applicable, by appropriate proposals.