Brussels, 13/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 10 March, experts from the EU countries continued their talks on the proposal to reinforce the strategy of promoting agricultural products.
The Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) will discuss this dossier again at its meeting on 17 March and the proposal will then be debated at the forthcoming Agriculture Council (24 March).
Promotion/information on the single market. Following the discussions of the previous week (see EUROPE 11033), the Greek Presidency proposed examining the extent to which it will be possible to authorise promotion on the single market, including a reference to brand names or origin. The legal service of the Council took the view that promotion on the single market could be possible in respect of the Treaty. The legal service of the Commission were somewhat less enthusiastic on the issue, on the grounds that in this context, promotion could run counter to the provisions of the CAP by generating discrimination. Many countries (among them Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Belgium) stated that they support the opinion of the legal service of the Council.
An end to national co-funding. The majority of the experts within the SCA (including Italy, Ireland, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Finland) took position in favour of keeping in place the option of national co-funding, which would allow SMEs to access the system. The Presidency is expected to propose following up this option (whilst the Commission has proposed getting rid of national co-funding). However, a handful of countries such as Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands support the Commission's proposal (getting rid of national co-funding), whilst other countries, among them Spain, spoke in favour of greater EU funding.
Countries' involvement in the selection procedure. Many countries called for the member states to be involved in the procedure of selecting programmes (promotion activities), for which the Commission would prefer to be solely responsible. The Presidency is reported to be leaning towards the procedure proposed by the Commission, whilst ensuring the countries are kept well informed.
Eligible products and programmes. Many countries (including Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark, Austria, Finland and France) argue that the national quality programmes should be eligible for Community promotion activities in third countries and on the single market (with the exception of the country of origin). The Presidency will take account of this when drafting the final compromise.
The co-funding rate for information measures on fruit and vegetables for children is still under discussion: some countries (including Spain, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia and Poland) want 60% or more, others are calling for 50% (these include the United Kingdom and the Netherlands) so that it coincides with the rate laid down in the framework of the rural development programmes.
The Greek Presidency of the Council has presented a (fairly ambitious) timetable aiming to speed up the negotiations on the agricultural product promotion dossier. The aim is to conclude an agreement at first reading before the end of the current term of the European Parliament. (LC)