51998PC0051(02)

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

of . . .

amending Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (98/C 87/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas for the purpose of applying the penalties provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2309/97 (2), the Member States may apply one or more national base areas; whereas, in this case, the Member States may opt to subdivide each national base area into individual sub-base areas and to concentrate all or part of the measures to be taken on those sub-base areas for which an overshoot has been noted;

Whereas the Member states are required to notify producers and the Commission before 15 May if they plan to avail themselves of this option, stating how they intend to apply the measures;

Whereas experience gained in 1977 has shown that 15 May is not an appropriate notification date;

Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The fifth subparagraph of Article 2(7) of Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 is replaced by the following:

'Any Member State which has decided to apply the possibilities provided for in this paragraph shall notify producers and the Commission by 15 September of its choices and the detailed rules for their application.`

Article 2

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

It shall apply from the 1998/99 marketing year.

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

Done at . . .

For the Council

. . .

(1) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 12.

(2) OJ L 321, 22.11.1997, p. 37.