51997PC0089(03)

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No . . .

of . . .

fixing certain sugar prices and the standard quality of beet for the 1997/98 marketing year (97/C 101/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 of 30 June 1981 on the common organization of the markets in the sugar sector (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1599/96 (2), and in particular Articles 2 (3), 3 (4) and 4 (3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Whereas, when sugar prices are fixed, account should be taken of the objectives of the common agricultural policy; whereas the objectives of the common agricultural policy are, in particular, to guarantee a fair standard of living for the farming community and to ensure that supplies are available and that they reach consumers at reasonable prices;

Whereas, in order to attain these objectives, the target price for sugar must be fixed at a level which, taking into account, in particular, the resultant level of the intervention price, ensures a fair remuneration for beet and sugar cane producers while at the same time respecting consumers interest, and which is likely to maintain the balance between the prices of the principal agricultural products;

Whereas, as a result of the characteristics of the sugar market, the risks involved in this trade are relatively slight; whereas, consequently, when the intervention price for sugar is fixed, the difference between the target price and the intervention price may be fixed at a relatively low level;

Whereas the basis price for beet must take account of the intervention price, revenue to undertakings as a result of the sale of molasses, which can be valued at ECU 7,61/100 kg, that amount being derived from the molasses price referred to in Article 14 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81, the latter being valued at ECU 8,21/100 kg, and of the costs of processing and delivering the beet to factories and be based on an estimated Community yield of 130 kg of white sugar per tonne of beet with a 16 % sugar content,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. The target price for white sugar shall be ECU 66,50/100 kg.

2. The intervention price for white sugar shall be ECU 63,19/100 kg for the non-deficit areas of the Community.

Article 2

The basic price for beet applicable in the Community shall be ECU 47,67/t delivered at the collection centre.

Article 3

Standard quality beet shall:

(a) be of sound and fair merchantable quality;

(b) have a sugar content of 16 % at the reception point.

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply for the 1997/98 marketing year.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at . . .

For the Council

. . .

(1) OJ No L 177, 1. 7. 1981, p. 4.

(2) OJ No L 206, 16. 8. 1996, p. 43.