Brussels, 04/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 July, a majority of EU countries felt that the Commission's proposal on the regulation on the single common market organisation (CMO) was satisfactory overall. Ahead of the exploratory debate on this subject to be held by the European agriculture ministers on 16 July, the Cypriot Presidency organised a table round at the Special Agriculture Committee (SAC), on the conditions that would trigger exceptional market measures.
Some countries, such as France and Spain, took the view that the proposed regulation could apply to a greater number of sectors. Conversely, other countries, such as Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, argued in favour of a restricted scope, taking the view that these measures should be no more than a safety net in the event of serious crisis on the markets. The Commission was disinclined to agree to extending the scope of the measures, given the budgetary constraints: it would rather focus on measures for strategic markets. Most delegations supported the measures on animal diseases and loss of consumer confidence. States with borders with third countries (Bulgaria, Poland and Romania) recommended a higher co-funding rate for initiatives funded by the EU in this context. Opinions differed on delegating powers to the Commission with regard to the conditions for implementing market measures to combat market disturbances. (LC/transl.fl)