35. Considers that cooperation on environmental protection and in tackling natural disasters should be one of the basic priorities; considers that, within this framework, procedures should be accelerated to establish an early warning system in the Mediterranean basin to prevent such disasters;

18. Agrees and confirms that REACH has to reconcile environmental and health concerns with the need to promote the competitiveness of European industry, while paying particular attention to SMEs and their ability to innovate; underlines in particular that the registration procedure must be simplified and should be based on pre-registration in order to establish a prioritisation system; considers that this should also be based on both risk and volume and the principle of one substance one registration; takes the view that alternatives to animal testing should be used as soon as validated; recalls that SMEs and downstream users should ...[+++]not be penalised and that economic burdens and responsibilities should be appropriately shared, in order to secure a fair open market; underlines furthermore that the regulation should also apply to imported substances and products in order to guarantee fair competition; believes, finally, that the Agency should operate as a central referral point with full responsibilities for all aspects of REACH and that therefore it should be provided with adequate resources and means;

In the shorter term, the Commission shares the view of the group on the need to present a proposal regarding a prior notification system for consignments of excisable goods.

The opposition sees this as a positive element as well (1630) Finally, the proposal regarding the possibility to amend the tax system in committee without previous notice before the introduction of a bill seems destined to give committees, with a parliamentary majority, all the flexibility required to impose tax measures.

The new Regulation, scheduled for adoption by the Council as an 'A' point at the next Council Meeting, will make a marked contribution to stronger and more efficient monitoring through the use of new technology. c) Further, the proposal lays down specific control obligations for the fishing vessels affected by these adjustments by introducing a system of compulsory prior authorization of access to fisheries involving issuing of fishing licences at national level. d) In line with the Council's conclusions and the 1992 report, the Commission does not propose to renew certain provisions of the Act of Accession expiring on December 1995: - t ...[+++]he prohibition on vessels flying the Spanish or Portuguese flag from fishing in the zone south of latitude 56°30' N, east of longitude 12° W and north of latitude 50°30' N (Irish box) - the restrictions on fishing for albacore and tropical tuna by vessels of the Ten in all or part of Portuguese waters (Azorian box) - the terms of access of Spanish vessels to Portuguese waters and vice versa set by the bilateral agreement between Spain and Portugal. 2. Timetable - Council Presentation by Commission to Council of Ministers on 20.10.93 Adoption by Council of Ministers scheduled for 20.12.93 - Parliament Discussion in subcommittee scheduled for mid-November Adoption of opinion scheduled for plenary session on 13 to 17.12.93. Conclusion Mr Paleokrassas stressed the importance of the proposal as marking the definitive inclusion of Spain and Portugal in the general arrangements governing an economic activity of importance to both countries.

[57] ACI does not specifically require mid-course updates. However, two other initiatives—the 96-hour notification rule and the introduction of Automatic Identification Systems—will cover the same ground.