30. 6. 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 148/41 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1551/95 of 29 June 1995 fixing the amounts of aid for seeds for the 1996/97 and 1997/98 marketing years THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 of 26 October 1971 on the common organization of the market in seeds ('), and in particular Article 3 (3) thereof, . Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (2), Having regard to the opinion of the FEuropean Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas the present situation and the outlook on the Community market for seeds listed in the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 2358/81 that will be sold during the 1996/97 and 1997/98 marketing years do not offer the assurance of a fair return to producers; whereas part of their costs should therefore be met by the granting of aid; Whereas Article 3 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 provides that the aid shall be fixed, taking into account, on the one hand, the need to ensure a balance between the volume of production required in the Community and the possible outlets for that production and, on the other hand, the prices of the products on external markets; Whereas the application of these provisions results in the fixing of the amounts of aid applicable for the 1996/97 and 1997/98 marketing years at the levels set out in the Annex hereto, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 For the 1996/97 and 1997/98 marketing years the amounts of the aid granted for seeds referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 shall be as set out in the Annex hereto. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 July 1996. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 29 June 1995. - () O No L 246, 5. 11.1971, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 (O] No L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 105). (2) O] No C 99, 21. 4. 1995, p. 47. (®) OJ No C 151, 19. 6. 1995. () OJ No C 155, 21. 6. 1995, p. 21. For the Council The President J. BARROT