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 655 votes to 21, with 8 abstentions, a legislative resolution on 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 had been sent back for reconsideration to the committee responsible at the plenary session of 12 September 2013.

Parliament adopted its position in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of an agreement between Parliament and Council. They amend the proposal as follows:

Powers delegated to the Commission: in order to comply with international commitments and where the volumes and other conditions of the quota arrangements referred to in the Regulation are adjusted by the European Parliament and the Council or by the Council, in particular by a Council decision concluding an agreement with one or more third countries, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts concerning the resulting amendments to the Regulation.

The power to adopt delegated acts shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from the date of entry into force of the Regulation and may be tacitly extended.

The period for expressing objections to proposed delegated acts shall be two months.

Application of written procedure (implementing powers): the Commission shall be assisted by the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets established by Article 229 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council. That Committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 

The amended text states 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 at least a quarter of committee members so request.