Activities of Bernadette BOURZAI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5a (new)

5a. Reiterates Parliament's call for a detailed analysis of the advantages accruing to the various economic agents in the countryside, agricultural and non- agricultural, as well as of the results obtained, especially as regards job creation and preservation; repeats its call on the Commission to undertake a detailed region-by-region study making it possible to ascertain the support requirements of those agents, with a view to defining a new and coherently grounded policy for the countryside;

2008/07/03
Committee: AGRI

2008/2100(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6a (new)

6a. Believes it is necessary to boost governance and partnership by means of closer coordination between the public authorities and all of the economic and social partners at European, national and local levels with a view to the definition, implementation and monitoring of local rural policies;

2008/07/03
Committee: AGRI

2008/2074(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the importance of the issue of water management in mountain areas and calls on the Commission to encourage local and regional authorities to develop a sense of solidarity between downstream and upstream users;

2008/05/29
Committee: AGRI

2008/2074(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Considers it necessary, where a watercourse passes through more than one Member State, to introduce inter- regional and trans-national cooperation for the integrated management of watercourses, particularly in relation to farming;

2008/05/29
Committee: AGRI

2008/2066(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

- having regard to the Committee of the Regions own-initiative opinion entitled 'For a Green Paper – Towards a European Union policy for upland regions: a European vision for upland regions',

2008/06/12
Committee: AGRI

2008/2066(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas they have specific features (gradient, height differences, inaccessibility, growth, weather conditions) which make them different from other landscapes in the European Union and they ~~are in many respects 'disadvantaged'~~have permanent natural handicaps,

2008/06/12
Committee: AGRI

2008/2066(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. at the same time, urges the Commission to d~~evelo~~raw up, within its remit, a Green Paper on mountain areas setting out a specific, integrated strategy for the sustainable development and use of resources in mountain areas within six months; also calls for national action programmes containing specific implementation measures to be drawn up on this basis;

2008/06/12
Committee: AGRI

2008/2066(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that sustainable, dynamic agriculture is necessary for maintaining other activities and for preserving populations; and calls on the Commission and Council to take account specifically, in the common agricultural policy and in regional policy, of the needs of mountain regions: arrival of new farmers, compensation for extra costs linked to the problem of accessibility, for example with regard to milk collection, maintenance of services in rural areas, development of transport infrastructure, etc;

2008/06/06
Committee: REGI

2008/2066(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses the importance of ensuring a high level of services of general economic interest, of improving accessibility and interconnection of mountain areas and of providing the necessary infrastructure., particularly in education, the knowledge economy and communication;

2008/06/06
Committee: REGI

2008/2066(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. underlines the cross-sectoral importance of typical (high quality) products; asks that the 'strategy' include measures to protect and promote these products or their manufacturing procedures;

2008/06/12
Committee: AGRI

2008/2066(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. points to their unique water resources, which can be used sustainably for natural irrigation and as a source of drinking water and energy; stresses the need for upstream and downstream solidarity in the management of these resources;

2008/06/12
Committee: AGRI

2008/2026(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that the primary goal of the CAP is to guarantee market stabilisation, supply security and reasonable prices for consumers and therefore calls on the Council and the Commission to foresee for budget 2009 the necessary means to face the new needs arising from the current food crisis, especially an improvement of access to food for the most deprived people who are suffering the most from this crisis, and in order to support as a matter of urgency industries that are in difficulty such as sheep farming, cattle breeding and suckler farming, which are concentrated in the most disadvantaged areas;

2008/09/16
Committee: AGRI

2008/2026(BUD)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls its resolution of 19 June 2008 on the future of the sheep/lamb and goat sector in Europe1, in which it calls on the Council and the Commission to direct additional financial support as a matter of urgency to EU sheep and goat meat and milk producers in order to develop a vibrant, self-sufficient, market-led and consumer-orientated sheep and goat sector in the EU; _______ 1 Texts adopted of that date: P6_TA(2008)0310.

2008/09/16
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28

(28) Further to the integration of formerly coupled market support into the single payment scheme, the value of payment entitlements was, in those Member States opting for a historic implementation, based on the individual level of past support. With a growing number of years elapsing since the introduction of the single payment scheme and following the successive integration of further sectors into the single payment scheme, it becomes increasingly harder to justify the legitimacy of significant individual differences in the support level which are only based on past support. For this reason Member States that chose the historic implementation model should be ~~allow~~requested under certain conditions to review the allocated payment entitlements, in consultation with the regional authorities and on the basis of an impact assessment, with a view to approximating their unit value while respecting the general principles of cCommunity law and the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy. In this context Member States may take into account the specificities of geographical areas when fixing closer values. The levelling of payment entitlements should take place during an adequate transition period and within a limited range of reductions in order to allow farmers to reasonably adapt to the changing levels of support.

2008/09/01
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29

(29) Under the 2003 reform Member States had the option to apply the single payment scheme by way of historic or regional implementation. Since then Member States have had the opportunity to evaluate the effects of their choices as regards both their economic and administrative appropriateness. Member States should therefore be ~~given the opportunity~~requested to review their initial choice in the light of their experience, in consultation with the regional authorities and on the basis of an impact assessment. For this reason, in addition to the possibility of levelling the value of payment entitlements, Member States that applied the historic model should be ~~authoris~~requested to change over to the regional model. Furthermore, Member States that chose to apply the regional model should be given the option to review their decisions under certain conditions with the aim to approximate the value of payment entitlements according to pre- established steps, while respecting the general principles of community law and the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy. Such changes should take place during an adequate transition period and within a limited range of reductions in order to allow farmers to reasonably adapt to changing levels of support.

2008/09/01
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30

(30) Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, while introducing a decoupled single payment scheme allowed Member States to exclude certain payments from that scheme. At the same time Article 64(3) of that Regulation provided for the revision of the options provided for in Sections 2 and 3 of Chapter 5 of its Title III, in the light of market and structural developments. An analysis of the relevant experience shows that decoupling introduces flexibility in the choice of producers, enabling them to take their production decisions on the basis of profitability and market response. This is particularly the case for the arable crops, hops and seeds sectors~~, and to a certain extent, also the beef sector~~. Therefore, the partially coupled payments in these sectors should be integrated into the single payment scheme. In order for farmers in the beef sector to gradually adjust to the new support arrangements provision should be made for a phasing-in of the integration of the special premium for male animals and the slaughter premium. Since the partially coupled payments in the fruit and vegetable sectors were only recently introduced, and only as a transitional measure, no review of such schemes is necessary.

2008/09/01
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31

(31) However, as regards ~~the suckler cow and~~livestock production, and consequently the special premium for male bovine animals, the slaughter premium for calves, the slaughter premium for bovine animals other than calves, the suckler cow premium and aid for the sheep and goat sector, it appears that maintaining a minimum level of agricultural production may still be necessary for the agricultural economies in certain regions and, in particular, where farmers cannot have recourse to other economic alternatives. Against this background, Member States should have the option to maintain coupled support at the current level or, for suckler cows, sheep and goats, at a lower level. In that case, special provision should be made for the respect of the identification and registration requirements provided for by Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004, in particular with a view to secure the traceability of animals.

2008/09/01
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36

(36) The de-coupling of direct support and the introduction of the single payment scheme were essential elements in the process of reforming the common agricultural policy. However several reasons called in 2003 for maintaining specific support for a number of crops. Experience gained through the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 together with the evolution of the market situation indicates that schemes that were kept outside the single payment scheme in 2003 can now be integrated into that scheme to promote a more market-oriented and sustainable agriculture. This is the case in particular for the olive oil sector, where only marginal coupling was applied. It is also the case for the durum wheat, ~~protein crops, rice,~~rice and potato starch~~, and nuts~~ payments, where the decreasing effectiveness of remaining coupled payments, supports the decoupling option. ~~In the case of flax it is also appropriate to abolish the support for processing and to integrate the relevant amounts into the single payment scheme.~~ As regards rice, ~~dried fodder,~~ potato starch and flax a transitional period should be provided for in order to ensure their shift to decoupled support to be as smooth as possible. As regards nuts, Member States should be allowed to continue to pay the national part of the aid in a coupled way in order to cushion the effects of decoupling.

2008/09/01
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37

(37) As a consequence of the integration of new schemes into the single payment scheme, provision should be made for the calculation of the new level of individual income support under that scheme. In the case of ~~nuts,~~ potato starch~~, flax and dried fodder~~ and flax, such increase should be granted on the basis of the support farmers received in most recent years. However, in the case of the integration of payments that were so far partially excluded from the single payment scheme, Member states should be given the option to use the original reference periods.

2008/09/01
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point a a (new)

aa) ‘larger beneficiary’ means a natural or legal person receiving more than EUR 300 000 in the form of the payments provided for in Annex I;

2008/09/02
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. Any amount of direct payments to be granted in a given calendar year to a farmer ~~that~~equalling or exceedsing EUR 5 000 shall be reduced for each year until 2012 by the following percentages:

2008/09/02
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – letter -a (new)

(-a) amounts of EUR 10 000 or more, but less than 100 000 EUR, by 1 percentage point,

2008/09/02
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a

a) amounts ~~between~~of EUR 100 000 or more, but less thand 199 999, by 3 percentage points,

2008/09/02
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – letter b

(b) amounts ~~between~~of EUR 200 000 ~~and 299 999~~or more, but less than EUR 300 000, by 65 percentage points,

2008/09/02
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – letter c

2008/09/02
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. The maximum amount of the payments provided for in Annex I shall be fixed at EUR 300 000 per holding.

2008/09/02
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 42 – paragraph 3

3. Member States ~~that do not apply Article 68(1)(c) may use~~may use, with effect from the entry into force of this regulation in 2009, the national reserve for the purpose of establishing, according to objective criteria and in such a way as to ensure equal treatment between farmers and to avoid market and competition distortions, payment entitlements and support measures for farmers in areas subject to restructuring and/or development programs relating to one or the other form of public intervention, for sectors in difficulty concentrated in the most disadvantaged areas, such as the sheep and goat sectors, in order to avoid abandoning of land and production and/or in order to compensate specific disadvantages for farmers in those areas.

2008/09/03
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – subparagraph 1

In duly justified cases, Member States ~~may~~shall decide, by 1 August 2009 at the latest, in consultation with the regional authorities and on the basis of an impact assessment, and acting in compliance with the general principles of Community law, to move as from 2010 towards approximating the value of payment entitlements established under Chapter I to IV of Title III of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. To this end payment entitlements may be made subject to progressive modifications according to at least three pre-established annual steps and objective and non- discriminatory criteria.

2008/09/03
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – subparagraph 3

Member States ~~may~~shall decide to apply the preceding subparagraphs at the appropriate geographical level which shall be determined according to objective and non- discriminatory criteria such as their institutional or administrative structure and/or the regional agricultural potential.

2008/09/03
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 47 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Member States shall consult the regional authorities and conduct an impact assessment on the effect of choosing the regional level for the single payment scheme.

2008/09/03
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Vincent PEILLON, Roselyne LEFRANÇOIS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 68 – paragraph 1 – letter a a (new)

(aa) for developing organic farming,

2008/09/03
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Title IV – Chapter 1 – Section 1 a (new)

SECTION 1 A AID FOR NUTS Article 74a Scope 1. A Community aid shall be granted to farmers producing nuts under the conditions laid down in this Section. Nuts shall include: — almonds falling within CN codes 0802 11 and 0802 12, — hazelnuts or filberts falling within CN codes 0802 21 and 0802 22, — walnuts falling within CN codes 0802 31 and 0802 32, — pistachios falling within CN code 0802 50, — locust beans falling within CN code 1212 10 10. 2. Member States may differentiate the aid as a function of the products or by increasing or decreasing the national guaranteed areas (hereinafter referred to as ‘NGA’) established in Article 74b(3). However, in each Member State, the total amount of aid granted in a given year shall not be higher than the ceiling referred to in Article 74b(1). Article 74b Areas 1. A Member State shall grant the Community aid within the limit of a ceiling calculated by multiplying the number of hectares of its NGA as fixed in paragraph 3 by the average amount of EUR 120,75. 2. A maximum guaranteed area of 829 229 ha is hereby established. 3. The maximum guaranteed area referred to in paragraph 2 shall be divided into the following NGA: National guaranteed areas (NGA) Belgium 100 ha Bulgaria 11 984 ha Germany 1 500 ha Greece 41 100 ha Spain 568 200 ha France 17 300 ha Italy 130 100 ha Cyprus 5 100 ha Luxembourg 100 ha Hungary 2 900 ha Netherlands 100 ha Austria 100 ha Poland 4 200 ha Portugal 41 300 ha Romania 1 645 ha Slovenia 300 ha Slovakia 3 100 ha United Kingdom 100 ha 4. A Member State may subdivide its NGA into sub-areas in accordance with objective criteria, in particular at regional level or in relation to the production. Article 74c Overrun of the sub-base areas When a Member State subdivides its NGA into sub-base areas and there is overrun of one or more sub-base areas, the area per farmer for which Community aid is claimed shall be reduced proportionately in that year for the farmers in the sub-base areas where the limit has been exceeded. That reduction shall be made when, in the Member State concerned, those areas within the sub-base areas that have not reached their limits have been redistributed to the sub-base areas in which those limits have been exceeded. Article 74d Conditions for eligibility 1. Payment of the Community aid shall be conditional on, in particular, minimum plot size and tree density. 2. Areas in improvement plans become eligible for aid under this scheme on 1 January of the year following the year in which the improvement plan expired. 3. Member States may make the granting of Community aid conditional on farmers being members of a producer organisation recognised under Article 125b of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007. 4. If the provision of paragraph 3 is applied, Member States may decide that the payment of the aid referred to in paragraph 1 is made to a producer organisation on behalf of its members. The amount of aid received by the producer organisation shall be paid to its members. However, Member States may authorise a producer organisation, as compensation for the services provided to its members, to operate a deduction on the amount of Community aid up to a maximum of 2 %.

2008/09/03
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – line 5 – column 2

Title IV, Chapter ~~4 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003~~1, Section 1a of this Regulation

2008/09/04
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex X – Part I – indent 4

~~- from 2010, the area payment for nuts provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;~~deleted

2008/09/04
Committee: AGRI

2008/0103(CNS)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Csaba Sándor TABAJDI

Proposal for a regulation
Annex XI – table 5

~~‘Nuts’ table (whole table)~~deleted

2008/09/04
Committee: AGRI

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 47 a (new)

(47a) Agriculture and forestry in the EU have substantially contributed to mitigating the effects of climate change, as evidenced by the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 10% between 1990 and 2004 in the EU-15, and by 14% in the EU-25, and it is expected that, by 2010, EU agriculture emissions will be 16% below their 1990 level. Nevertheless, all efforts are welcome to promote new, energy efficient ways of production and further reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by financing investment and research to achieve this objective.

2008/06/05
Committee: AGRI

2008/0016(COD)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Csaba Sándor TABAJDI

Proposal for a directive
Recital 47 b (new)

(47b) The Commission in its communication of 26 November 1997 entitled 'Energy for the future: renewable sources of energy - White Paper for a Community strategy and action plan' (COM(1997)0599), stated that, to achieve the goal of increasing the use of renewable energy resources within the energy mix, the amount of energy produced from biomass would need to more than double.

2008/06/05
Committee: AGRI

2008/0016(COD)

Bernadette BOURZAI, Csaba Sándor TABAJDI

Proposal for a directive
Recital 47 c (new)

(47c) The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the 12 March 2008 on sustainable agriculture and biogas: a need for review of EU legislation (2007/2107(INI)1), in which it stated that there is a significant potential in biogas in particular among the renewable energies. There is a high potential for a considerable increase in biogas production, particularly given the contributions from livestock production (livestock manure), sludge, waste, and plants unsuitable for food and feed production as preferred biogas materials. In order to realize this potential, there is a need for a coherent biogas policy in the European Union by coordinating between the relevant European policies such as the renewable energy policy, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Rural and Regional Development policies. Measures are needed for the construction and promotion of biogas installations based on a national or regional impact assessment, promoting those installations that, nationally and/or regionally, are most beneficial to the environment and which are economically sustainable. If regional and rural development regulations do not allow funding of such measures, they must be amended. Member States should engage in national and regional planning in order to limit legal and administrative impediments. Natural gas or other fossil fuels should not be preferred in areas in which it is feasible to sell heat generated from biogas to local heating providers. Annual statistics and reports on agricultural biogas production are needed in order to be able to follow up on the targets ________ 1 Texts adopted, P6_TA-PROV(2008)0095..

2008/06/05
Committee: AGRI

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 − paragraph 1

1. Each Member State shall ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in final consumption of energy in 2020 is at least their overall target for the share of energy from renewable sources in that year, as set out in the third column of the table in Part A of Annex I, it being understood that each Member State is also required to make efforts in the field of energy efficiency.

2008/06/05
Committee: AGRI

2008/0016(COD)

Bogdan GOLIK, Bernadette BOURZAI

Proposal for a directive
Article 15 − paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. The aim of this directive is full harmonisation of sustainability criteria for agrifuels and other bioliquids, as well as for heating and cooling energy produced from renewable energy sources.

2008/06/05
Committee: AGRI

2007/2260(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Points out that veterinary surveillance ~~should be performed under objective conditions, which means that there should be no rela~~as well as any veterinary missions must be performed under the professional oath or the conditions~~hip~~ of ~~employment or service~~the veterinary provifession ~~between veterinary surgeons with a surveillance remit and livestock farms or processing plants~~code of conduct which guarantee independence and impartiality;

2008/03/06
Committee: AGRI

2007/2260(INI)

Bogdan GOLIK, Bernadette BOURZAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Stresses the ~~need for~~importance of veterinary surgeons to be provided with effective training, including in prompt detection of animal- related threats and for support for ~~such~~these trainings at EU level, together with measures to ensure itheir contents consistency; in this perspective an accreditation system of veterinary schools could help reaching the objective of a high level veterinary education;

2008/03/06
Committee: AGRI

2007/2260(INI)

Bogdan GOLIK, Bernadette BOURZAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Strongly supports actions to increase the use of vaccination, which should foster more effective disease prevention and diminish the number of animals culled as part of disease -eradication operations; draws attention to the fact that the introduction of an effective vaccination system requires the promotion of vaccines safety for public health and the provision of appropriate financial support, in order to encourage its use; considers it essential, furthermore, for EU vaccine banks to be expanded;

2008/03/06
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

~~A. whereas progress with the CAP reform has opened up new opportunities for young people with regard to many aspects of the process of setting up in farming and developing holdings,~~deleted

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas although the various policies in support of young farmers have ~~breathed new life into Europe's farming sector by facilitating generation change~~over the last 10 years improved the situation as regards generation change, it is still a matter for concern and should remain a priority for the EU,

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Maintains that action to foster generate change in farming is essential in order to address the food, energy and territorial challenges facing European farming today and in the future; considers that all such challenges cannot, if society's expectations are to be met, be addressed without a strong farming sector and a large number of farmers in the Union;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Emphasises the contribution made by land prices to the problems experienced by young people setting up in farming, and calls on the Commission to look into the considerable increase in land prices brought about by, among other things, urban pressures and speculation;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Recommends the introduction of instruments enabling priority in respect of agricultural land transfers to be given to young farmers setting up in business rather than to existing farmers wishing to increase the size of their holdings, including an early-retirement mechanism, deferred-purchase aid, phased setting-up arrangements and rental of part of the land;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that it is particularly important to prevent the desertification of disadvantaged farming areas in keeping with the Union's territorial cohesion objective, to make it easier for young farmer to set up in business in areas with a permanent natural handicap, such as islands and mountain areas, where development, construction and access costs are higher and where it is often necessary to diversify in order to achieve a sufficient degree of viability;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Notes that in order to take better account of the increased cost of taking over farms and the difficulties involved in setting up in problem farming areas, the Community aid ceiling should be raised from EUR 55 000 and the time limit for achieving compliance with the rules should be increased from three years to five years after set-up;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Notes that farming is very often the last activity to survive in rural areas and that incentives for young people to set up in farming should therefore be introduced; points out, however, that, over and above the need for holdings to be viable, efforts are also required to make the rural environment a place in which people wish to live, by fostering equal access to public services (post offices, schools, public transport, health services, etc.) and maintaining normal service provision (shops and trades, childcare facilities, care facilities for the elderly, social housing, rental accommodation, etc.) and social amenities enabling people not to feel isolated (cafés, community centres, sports centres, etc.);

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Stresses that arrangements enabling young farmers to leave their holdings for training, holidays, births, etc. need to be put in place;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Notes that the high level of indebtedness of young farmers severely diminishes the likelihood of farming providing them with an income comparable to that which may be earned in other economic sectors;~~Draws attention to the difficulties experienced by young people wishing to set up in farming in gaining access to funding, and to the useful role played by subsidised loan arrangements in enabling young farmers to set up and continue in farming without incurring an excessive amount of debt;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Notes that some~~Calls for such measures in support of young farmers ~~are still not~~to be made compulsory as part of the action provided for under axis 1 in Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 with a view to improving the competitiveness of the farming sector;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Takes the view that national early- retirement arrangements should apply only where the retiring farmer's holding is taken over by a young farmer, or, alternatively, that the retiring farmer should be entitled to an improved pension where this happens;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Points out that social and cultural specificity and diversity are key factors in product promotion policy, a~~nd bolster the competitiveness of the European agricultural model~~s are the identification of a specific geographical area and excellence in production methods, as illustrated by the reputation and success of agricultural products with protected designations of origin or that are labelled;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Believes that measures should be taken to promote the farming profession and its services to society in addition to its production activities, with a view to attracting more young people to the profession, especially young people from non-farming backgrounds;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Believes that the promotion of the farming profession should also entail improved communication with the general public and hence consumers on the content of the CAP, as regards health, environmental and animal welfare requirements, the conditionality of aid, multifunctionality, European product quality, the contribution to combating climate change, food self-sufficiency and the food challenges for a world population which should reach nine billion by 2050;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the importance of shifting the focus of agricultural research in line with the CAP reform, promoting technology transfers and improving farmers' access to research findings and the latest innovations relating to production methods and tools;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls on the Commission to bring special incentives to bear with a view to ensuring that, in connection with the granting of initial setting-up support, preference is given to company-based structures, with a view to limiting the breaking up ofack up the granting of initial setting-up support with special incentives and subsidised loans, and to give equal treatment to farms with different types of legal status, as well as small, medium-sized and large farms;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Recommends that more flexibility be introduced in farm setting-up and transfer procedures through the following: gradual setting-up, consideration for the validation of previous professional experience where the person wishing to set up does not have the required qualifications, waiver of the age requirement where the applicant submits a viable setting-up project, particularly in disadvantaged agricultural areas, etc.;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2194(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)

21b. Stresses that young farmers should be given support in the years following their setting-up and that a special reserve fund should be established to help them deal with unforeseeable circumstances at the time of setting up, such as damage to crops due to extreme weather or a sharp increase in costs;

2008/04/17
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the current bluetongue epizootic in Europe is very serious because of its duration and propagation, the spread of different serotypes in areas hitherto free from the disease and the serious social and economic consequences of the restrictions on the movement of animals and on trade,

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point 1

Introduction of a new Environmental Sheep Maintenance Scheme per ewe to be either a) financed directly by ~~National Government~~EU funding or b) co-financed by EU and National Governments to arrest the decline in production, linked to the positive environmental attributes associated with the maintenance of sheep production as well as achieving improvements in technical and quality areas of production,

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point 2

Analysis of the availability and utilisation of unused funds under Pillar 21 of the Common Agricultural Policy with a view to redirecting this support to the sheep and goat sectors,

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point 3

Amendedment of Article 69 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulations (EEC) No 2019/93, (EC) No 1452/2001, (EC) No 1453/2001, (EC) No 1454/2001, (EC) 1868/94, (EC) No 1251/1999, (EC) No 1254/1999, (EC) No 1673/2000, (EEC) No 2358/71 and (EC) No 2529/2001 ~~as proposed by the Commission CAP Health Check Communication, to provide flexibility for Member State~~in the framework of the CAP Health Check so the Member States can allocate up to 12 % of their national payments to measures to support sectors in difficulty and to maintain agriculture in less favoured areas,

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to introduce an additional payment for traditional mountainous breeds in order to preserve sheep in sensitive areas, to be either a) financed directly by ~~National Governments~~EU funding or b) co- financed by EU and National Governments;

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (nouveau)

7a. Calls on the Commission to improve its ability to respond to animal disease as serious as the current outbreak of bluetongue by means of a new EU animal health strategy, research funding, compensation for losses, advances on payments, etc.

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the negotiating team for the European Union at the World Trade Organization talks to reduce the scale of the proposed tariff cuts on sheepmeat and to ensure that the EU has the option of sensitive product status for certain sheepmeat lines ~~be available to the EU~~and specific aid for this sector in difficulty, which is exposed to strong competition;

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give a higher profile to the essential role played by sheep farming in terms of contributing to the economy and the sustainability of areas that face the most difficulties and in terms of managing the countryside, and as a priority to make it easier for young farmers to start up in this sector;

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Stresses the need to improve the availability of medicinal and veterinary products for the sheep and goat sectors at a European level through support for pharmaceutical research and the simplification of marketing authorisations;

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the Commission and the Presidency of the Council to set up an implementation task force to oversee the practical reform of the sheep and goat sectors in the EU and to ensure that this implementation task force reports to the European Parliament Agriculture Committee and the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers every six months for the next two years on the policy changes that it is enacting; notes that this implementation task force should be comprised of key officials from the European Commission ~~and~~, from the countries representing the four forthcoming Presidencies of the EU and from professional representatives of the sheepmeat and goatmeat sectors;

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2192(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Notes that the report mentioned above must also assess how incorporation of the common organisation of the sheepmeat and goatmeat market in the common organisation of the single market affects the sectors and the way in which their specific characteristics are taken into account;

2008/05/14
Committee: AGRI

2007/2191(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that, even though rural areas are characterised by a great diversity of situations, ranging from remote rural areas affected by desertification to peri-urban areas under increasing pressure from urban centres, they frequently suffer from a combination of natural handicaps (topography, climate, etc.), human handicaps (small population, older and with less training), and structural handicaps (insufficient jobs, difficulty in accessing basic services) which mean that residents face unequal opportunities;

2008/04/07
Committee: AGRI

2007/2191(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for income-generating ~~production~~ activityies to continue in rural areas, for which purpose particular attention should be devoted to family farming and to small and medium- sized farmers ~~and~~, with the CAP ~~should be~~being revised in order to make it fairer, a~~nd to arrest the steady disappearance of basic social services (post offices, schools, public transport, etc.) and of social forums (shops, cafés, etc.) which is a factor~~ s well as to non- agricultural entrepreneurial activities which supply goods and services that are essential to maintaining the ~~desertification of rural area~~population and welcoming new arrivals;

2008/04/07
Committee: AGRI

2007/2191(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Points out that farming is often the last remaining activity in rural areas and it is therefore necessary to implement measures to encourage young farmers to set up farms, but that in addition to the viability of their farms there should be a particular focus on ensuring quality of life in the rural environment by favouring equal access to public services (post offices, schools, public transport, health services, etc.) and the preservation of services for the public (day-care facilities for young children, facilities for the elderly, social housing etc.) and of social forums that make it possible to break isolation (shops, cafés, cultural centres, etc.);

2008/04/07
Committee: AGRI

2007/2191(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Points out that attention must be paid to linkage and complementarity between funds mobilised for the development of rural areas, whether stemming from regional policy or the common agricultural policy;

2008/04/07
Committee: AGRI

2007/2191(INI)