Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch'
27. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 129/73 Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch’ (98/C 129/17) On 26 January 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 Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Lerios as rapporteur-general for its opinion. At its 352nd plenary session held on 25 and 26 February 1998 (meeting of 26 February) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 47 votes for, with no votes against and one abstention. 1. Gist of the Commission proposal 2. General comments 1. 1. The aim of this proposal for a regulation is to allocate the three-yearly quota for the 1998/1999, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 marketing years between potato starch producing Member States on the basis of the report from the Commission to the Council on the quota system for the production of potato starch, thus amending Regulation (EC) No 1868/94. 1. 2. It is proposed that the present quotas be maintai- ned for the next three years, on the understanding that the reserve quota of 104 554 tonnes for Germany be definitively included in its new quota. 1. 3. If appropriate, account will be taken for each potato starch producer in each Member State of the amount by which the quota was exceeded in the marketing year 1997/1998, as provided for in Article 6 (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1868/94. Brussels, 26 February 1998. 2. 1. As indicated in point 1 above, only Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 has been changed; the quotas of the other Member States and the margin provided for in Article 6 (2) are not affected. The Commission report shows that the pro- 2. 2. visions of Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 are being fully complied with, in terms both of Germany’s use of its reserve and the maintaining of current quotas over three years. 3. Conclusion The ESC endorses the present Commission proposal for a Council regulation. The President of the Economic and Social Committee Tom JENKINS