51999PC0083

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88 on the granting, for the 1988/89 to 1998/99 wine years, of permanent abandonment premiums in respect of wine-growing areas

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The purpose of this proposal for a Regulation is to facilitate application of the Community scheme for the permanent abandonment of wine-growing land in the specific case of the Charentes region, which is undergoing an over-production crisis. The derogation was also applied throughout the Member States in the 1996/97 and 1997/98 wine years.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88 on the granting, for the 1988/89 to 1998/99 wine years, of permanent abandonment premiums in respect of wine-growing areas

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 (1),

(1) OJ C ..., ......, p. ...

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

(2) Opinion delivered on ..(not yet published in the Official Journal).

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

(3) Opinion delivered on ......(not yet published in the Official Journal).

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88 of 24 May 1988 on the granting, for the 1988/89 to 1998/99 wine years, of permanent abandonment premiums in respect of wine-growing areas (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1630/98 (5),

(4) OJ L 132, 28.5.1988, p. 3.

(5) OJ L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 12.

Whereas, as a result of the over-production crisis throughout the Cognac production area in the French region of Charentes and pending adoption of the reformed common organisation of the market in wine, a new deadline should be set for the submission of applications for the permanent abandonment premium so as to facilitate maximum use of that scheme in the above region,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article1

In Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88 , the following paragraph 7 is added:

"7. For the 1998/99 wine year, the last date referred to in paragraph 1 for the submission of applications for the payment of the premium shall be 31 March 1999 for the Charentes region."

Article 2

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

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

>TABLE>