51998AC0287

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Directive on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community` (98/C 129/08)

On 24 February 1998 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 5 February 1998. The rapporteur was Mr Joseph Ballé.

At its 352nd plenary session (meeting of 25 February 1998), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion nem. con. with two abstentions.

1. The proposal was submitted on 5 December 1997 by the Commission. The basic Directive has been amended - often quite substantially - on several occasions. Consequently, in the interests of clarity and simplification, it is appropriate to proceed with consolidation.

2. Since this is a proposal for formal consolidation, i.e. not involving any changes of substance, and carried out for reasons of clarity, the Committee approves use of the accelerated procedure adopted by the interinstitutional agreement dated 20 December 1994. The section endorses the Commission proposal.

Brussels, 25 February 1998.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS