Activities of James NICHOLSON related to 2013/0398(COD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries PDF (288 KB) DOC (423 KB)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The aim of these measures is to enhance the competitiveness of European agriculture in both the internal market and third countries by increasing consumers' awareness of the merits of the Union's agricultural products and food products based on agricultural products and developing and opening up new markets. They usefully complement and reinforce the measures implemented by the Member States. They should not impede or undermine national quality schemes within Member States.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In order to comply with the competition rules, measures targeting the internal market should be limited to providing information on the specific characteristics of agricultural production methods in the Union or on themes which are relevant to the Union, such as the European quality systems established by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council16 and national quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs. __________________ 16 Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1).
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The Union exports mainly final agricultural products, including agricultural products not included in Annex I to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘the Treaty’). The information and promotion scheme should therefore apply to Annex I and be opened up to certainnew processed food products based on agricultural products,which fall outside of the scope of Annex I of the Treaty. These food products should be in line with other schemes coming under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), such as the European quality schemes, or National quality schemes, which already provide for mechanisms which are open to such products.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Over the period 2001-11, barely 30 % of the budget earmarked for information provision and promotion measures under Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 was spent on measures targeting third-country markets, even though these markets offer major growth potential. With the aim of reaching 75 % of estimated expenditure, specific arrangements are therefore requiredTherefore, in order to encourage a larger number of information provision and promotion measures for Union agricultural products in third countries, in particular through increased financial supportat least 75% of the budget earmarked for information and promotion measures will be allocated to measures taking place in third countries.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Over the period 2001-11, barely 30 % of the budget earmarked for information provision and promotion measures under Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 was spent on measures targeting third-country markets, even though these markets offer major growth potential. With the aim of reaching 785 % of estimated expenditure, specific arrangements are therefore required to encourage a larger number of information provision and promotion measures for Union agricultural products in third countries, in particular through increased financial support
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The information provision and promotion measures co-financed by the Union should endow them with a specific European dimension. To that end, and in order to avoid a dispersion of resources and increase Europe'sthe visibility of European agricultural produce through these information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products, it is necessary to establish a work programme which defines the strategic priorities for these measures in terms of populations, products, themes or markets to be targeted and the nature of the information and promotion messages to be imparted. The Commission will take particular account of the predominant position of micro enterprises and small and medium-enterprises in the agri-food sector, a sector which benefits from the exceptional measures provided for in Articles 154, 155 and 156 of Regulation (EU) XXX/20... [of the European Parliament and of the Council of ... establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (COM(2011)626)] and from free-trade agreements coming under the commercial policy of the European Union for measures targeting third countries.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) In order to ensure the coherence, effectiveness and sound management of the measures provided for in this Regulation as well as the efficient use of Union funding, the Commission should be delegated the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty as regards the specific conditions of brand visibility and the indication of product origin, the criteria for determining the eligibility of proposing organisations, the conditions governing competitive tendering between implementing organisations and the conditions according to which the proposing organisation may be authorised to implement certain parts of the programme itself, the work programmes laying down strategic priorities, and, finally, the specific conditions determining the eligibility of the costs of information provision and promotion measures for simple programmes. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including using external experts. When preparing and drawing-up delegated acts, the Commission will ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) In order to ensure the coherence, effectiveness and sound management of the measures provided for in this Regulation as well as the efficient use of Union funding, the Commission should be delegated the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty as regards the specific conditions of brand visibility and the indication of product origin, the criteria for determining the eligibility of proposing organisations, the conditions governing competitive tendering between implementing organisations and the conditions according to which the proposing organisation may be authorised to implement certain parts of the programme itself and, finally, the specific conditions determining the eligibility of the costs of information provision and promotion measures for simple programmes. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including using external experts and Member State experts. When preparing and drawing-up delegated acts, the Commission will ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) In order to ensure that uniform implementing conditions apply under this Regulation, the Commission should be granted implementing powers for the purposes of adopting implementing acts concerning work programmes laying down strategic priorities, the selection of simple programmes. the implementing, monitoring and control arrangements of simple programmes, the rules concerning the conclusion of contracts for the implementation of simple programmes selected in accordance with this Regulation, and the common impact assessment framework for programmes. These powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council17 . __________________ 17 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 - point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 - point a
(a) information measures aimed at stressing the specific features of agricultural productions methods in the Union, particularly in terms of food safety, traceability, sustainability, authenticity, nutritional and health aspects, animal welfare or respect for the environment;
Amendment 200 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
(ca) national quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs.
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
When devising the work programme, the Commission shall take into account the views of Member States and shall request the opinion of the Member States and of the Advisory Group referred to in Article 25
Amendment 224 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, adopte empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 23 and on the basis of the objectives listed in Article 1, concerning the adoption of a work programme setting out the objectives pursued, the priorities, the expected results, the implementing arrangements and the total amount of the financing plan. It shall also contain the main evaluation criteria, a description of the measures to be financed, an indication of the amounts allocated to each type of measure and an indicative implementation timetable and, in the case of grants, the maximum rate of co- financing.
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The implementing act referred to in the first subparagraph shall be adopted in accordance with the advisoryexamination procedure referred to in Article 24(3).
Amendment 261 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The contributions from proposing organisations may come from parafiscal charges or mandatory contributions.
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Amendment 271 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The percentage referred to in paragraph 1 shall be increased to 60 % for: a simple programme targeting one or more third country(ies);
Amendment 275 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point a
Amendment 277 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b
Amendment 290 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The percentage contributed by the Union shall rise to 75% for micro enterprises and medium-sized enterprises in programmes of special interest to the Union other than those covered by point 2a.
Amendment 294 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The percentage referred to in paragraph 1 shall be increased to 75% for a simple programme targeting one or more third county (ies);
Amendment 296 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. The percentage referred to in paragraph 1 shall be increased to 60% for information and promotion measures on fruit and vegetables specifically targeting children in Union education establishments;
Amendment 318 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 a (new)
Article 18 a (new)
Article 18 a The rate of co-financing by the Union shall rise to 80% for micro enterprises and small and medium sized enterprises in programmes of special interest to the Union other than those covered by paragraphs 1a and 1b.
Amendment 329 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3
Article 24 – paragraph 3