Brussels, 11/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU succeeded, on Thursday 10 December, in reaching agreement with the representatives of the European Parliament on the proposal on the scheme for the distribution of fruit and vegetables and milk products in schools (see EUROPE 11449).
This provision agreement will still have to be approved by the member states. The issue will be discussed at the Agriculture Council on Monday 14 December, with the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) expected to back the trialogue agreement when it meets on Wednesday 16 December.
Parliament managed to win concessions on the legal basis of the text. Article 43(2) of the treaty (ordinary legislative procedure) will apply in a number of key areas (budget, criteria and transferring funding between programmes).
List of eligible products. The agreement provides for a list of eligible products not restricted to fresh products (so, despite Parliament's initial call for fresh only, some processed products will be included). As sought by Parliament, national health authorities will be involved in decisions on whether certain substances and flavourings should be permitted in products.
Transfer of funding from one programme to another. The agreement was for a level of 20% (though up to 25% under certain conditions) transfer of funding from one programme to another (there is the fruit and vegetable programme and the milk programme).
Budget. The total annual budget will be €250 million (€150 million for fruit and vegetables and €100 million for milk).
Criteria. The historic use of programme funding to encourage milk consumption will be taken into consideration. There will be no compulsory logo, as Parliament had wished. The regulation (merging the two programmes and simplifying the rules) will come into effect from August 2017. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)