Brussels, 06/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 3 March, the Greek Presidency of the Council presented the SCA (Special Committee on Agriculture) with a (fairly ambitious) timetable to speed up negotiations on the agricultural products promotion dossier. The aim is to conclude an agreement at first reading before the end of the current term of the European Parliament. The SCA is to discuss the subject on 10 and 17 March. The matter will be put before the Council on 24 March, with a debate to focus on the most sensitive issues. The SCA will hold an extraordinary meeting following the Council to give the Presidency a mandate ahead of the first trialogue meeting (two trialogue sessions are scheduled, for 26 and 31 March, followed by a vote at the Parliament plenary session in mid April).
At Monday's meeting of the SCA, two table rounds were held on the theme of the promotion of agricultural products. The Presidency presented options on which it asked the delegations to take position. This exercise did not lead to any specific conclusions to debates which proved complex.
Promotion on the single market. - Option 1 (extension of the current system). The status quo (information and promotion measures on the single market without reference to brand names or origins) is supported by two countries, one of which is Poland; - Option 2 (significant extension of the scope of application of the information measures, for which brand names and origin can be referred to under certain conditions). Most of the countries which took position in favour of this option (Ireland, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Denmark) argued that promotion in third countries was preferable; - Option 3: information and promotion on the single market with the option to mention brand names and origin (only in countries other than the country of origin of the product). A number of delegations (including Croatia, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, France) supported this option. France, Spain and Italy agreed to work on this option as long as the member state of origin can also be a market for promotion.
National programmes. Could the national quality systems be eligible for Community promotion? Many countries are in favour of this and the subject will be discussed at next Monday's SCA meeting. (LC)