Brussels, 17/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Agriculture Council opened, Monday afternoon, with the presentation by the French Presidency of a compromise, with the European Commission, on the reform of the linen and hemp sectors. It proposes a system that is slightly more favourable for long linen fibres that benefits from an aid of EUR 100 from the next harvest year, EUR 160 between 2002 and 2006 and EUR 200 for the 2006/2007 harvest year. The maximum rate of impurity (for short fibres) will be set at 7.5%, but the Member States who want to may go up to 25% for hemp and 15% for linen. The compromise also proposed the modification of the maximum quantities guaranteed for long fibres (75,250 tonnes instead of 75,500) and for short fibres (132,000 instead of 119,250) with an new distribution between Member States included. The same compromise also proposed to the Council to approve the package of institutional prices for the 200/2001 harvest year by postponing to the next year the reduction of the monthly surcharge for the storage of cereals.
The meeting continued into the night with the planned agenda (also see EUROPE of 15 July, p.13).