I. whereas the most recent reforms of the common agricultural policy (CAP), the ongoing opening of the market, the gradual weakening of the regulation of agricultural product markets, and the globalisation of agriculture, increase the instability of European markets, which urgently require new crisis management instruments,

Intervention should therefore continue to be used to regulate the markets, in order to ensure that the sector survives and that EU rice is competitive.

(9) Likewise, market regulation mechanisms and abandonment premiums do not apply in these two regions.

(6) Whereas, in the context of an economic policy compatible with the Treaty, responsibility for capacity regulation lies primarily with operators in the sector; whereas the cost of the measures introduced should therefore be borne by the undertakings in the inland waterway sector; whereas this capacity regulation consists of laying down the conditions to apply for bringing into service certain new capacity without going so far as totally blocking access to the market; whereas it is possible to limit the duration and impact of these conditions and to adjust them flexibly to market trends but the ratios must gradually be reduced to zer ...[+++]o within four years starting on 29 April 1999; whereas this regulatory mechanism designated the "old-for-new" rule should be maintained as a standby mechanism once the ratio reaches zero; whereas the special contributions paid under the "old-for-new" rule should be placed in the reserve fund and may be used for granting scrapping premiums, if intervention in the market proves necessary;

Upon the expiry of this period (29 April 2003), the capacity-regulation mechanism was to become a standby mechanism and the old for new rule could no longer be reactivated, accompanied or not by structural improvement measures, unless there was a serious market disturbance.

Whereas the present situation on the tobacco market, on which supply does not correspond to demand, calls for a substantial overhaul of the Community arrangements which have governed the market hitherto, while ensuring the continuation of tobacco growing by the traditional producers; whereas such an overhaul requires simplification of the market management mechanisms, limitation of production in line with the requirements of the market and the demands of the budget, and stronger means of control to ensure that the management mechanis ...[+++]ms fully achieve the objectives of the common market organization;