Brussels, 18/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament agriculture committee has adopted a draft resolution keeping in place the requirements to draft and publish a Community report for ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, provide quarterly national information on production, distribution and stocks, and present a licence for imports into the EU. The EU agricultural organisations and cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca) have described the vote as a positive step. The draft resolution will be put to the plenary session on Thursday 21 May.
As part of the simplification of the common agricultural policy (CAP), the European Commission is looking to adopt a delegated regulation ending these provisions. Despite opposition from a number of member states, professional organisations and bioethanol producers, the Council decided on 20 April not to oppose this regulation.
In the draft resolution, MEPs state that the following-up of data relating to ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin ensures both transparency and knowledge as regards the evolution of the market, which is still unstable and which faces strong competition, in particular on account of importation from third countries. The MEPs believe that such information is extremely useful when it comes to international agreement negotiations and anti-dumping investigations. In addition, Eurostat does not provide such precise information. The draft resolution, therefore, “objects” to the Commission delegated regulation. (Lionel Changeur)