Brussels, 17/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - In the absence of debate on the farm price package for 2000-2001 and while awaiting certain opinions from the European Parliament, the Agriculture Council on Monday 20 March will be dominated by debate without formal decisions, with Luis Capoulos Santos chairing the proceedings. The agenda follows.
a) Goods sector outside annex 1: while awaiting the EP's opinion, the Council will try to adopt conclusions on the two draft regulations and a Commission communication aiming to carry out cuts in the refunds for exports of modified products made from agricultural commodities - cereals, milk, sugar and eggs - to respect the ceiling imposed by the WTO, i.e. EUR 450 million for 2000 (which will not pose any problems as there remain unused amounts) and EUR 415 million for 2001 (which, on the other hand, represent a real restriction, as the estimate needs reach EUR 560 million).
The list of products eligible for refunds, for which the Commission proposes selective reductions, poses further problems for the member States. Within the special Agriculture committee, the Presidency presented a compromise text, in line with the Commission's approach, centred on the linear reduction of 4.5% of refunds, resorting to an active perfecting as a last resort. This is done so as not to penalise Community farmers and the taking into account of the interests of small and medium sized enterprises. A large majority of the delegations rallied to this compromise, but the British delegation has significant accepting the exclusion of whiskey. Nevertheless the Presidency hopes that the conclusions can be adopted.
b) Distribution of milk in schools: while awaiting the Parliament's opinion, the Council will have a debate centred on the Commission proposal aiming to the remodel this programme by replacing the Community financing to the value of 95% of the indicative price, with a 50/50 co-financing by the Community and the Member States. Within the special Agriculture committee certain delegations criticised the co-financing, and the Scandinavian countries hope that skimmed milk be inserted into the programme.
c) Bananas: The Council will take note of the report by the special Agriculture Committee on the position of the Member States towards the Commission's proposals aiming to modify the joint organisation of the market in two phases. Franz Fischler will discuss the Commission's contacts with third countries.
d) Food safety: The Council will have a debate on the Commission White paper presented last January 1st. The debate will centre of the aspects relating to monitoring.
e) State aid: On request from the Italian delegation, the Council will examine the compatibility with the Internal Market rules over State aid granted to the Italian sugar sector.
Furthermore, the Council will be informed by the Presidency of the results of the meeting in New York by the International Forests Forum and, on request from one of the delegations, the Council will raise, informally; - The situation citrus fruits market; - the resorting to the principal of precaution; - the implementation of the Directive on pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources.
During the dinner Franz Fischler will answer questions on the package price (a discussion, which has already taken place within the SAC). The room for negotiating being rather small (in practice the prices are already determined by Agenda 2000), the Council will be given the dossier once it is ready for the negotiations.