Brussels, 20/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - Other than the political agreement on the reform of the common market organisation (cmo) for bananas (see pages 13/14), the last "Agriculture" Council under the French Presidency managed to reach mitigated results on the many other topics on the agenda:
Marketing of eggs: the Council adopted amendments to the 1990 regulation on certain marketing standards applicable to eggs. This regulation aims to render the mode of breeding compulsory and to merge the current categories B and C.
Solidarity fund for pig farmers: The Council adopted a declaration that has a result to enshrine the Commission proposal on the creation of a national fund self-financed by the pig farmers to compensate their losses is case of crisis". In this statement prepared by the Presidency and unanimously adopted by the Council (1) "thanked the Commission for its proposal"; (2) notes that a qualified majority in favour does not exist; (3) hopes to continue deepening other alternative paths in order to better anticipate the disturbances to the Market, while respecting the market mechanisms and by improving the competitiveness of this subsidiary at the European level, while respecting environmental regulations; (4) calls on the Commission to take any provision in order to strengthen the viability of market forecasts; (5) calls on the Commission to fully use the aid provision for promotion in third country markets.
Sugar CMO: Against the opinion of several Member States and the European Commission, the French Minister Jean Glavany made on behalf of the Presidency (the Dutch Minister Jan Brinkhorst being formally opposed that it be on behalf of the Council) the following declaration: "the Presidency noted that a qualified majority of delegation - moving in favour of an extension of the present regime for sugar for five harvest years (2001/2002 to 2005/20060, with a certain number of modification resulting from its deliberations, during today, taken on the basis of documents presented by the Presidency; - agree that the opportunity that these works may be finalised at a future date in conditions that take into account the main direction cited above, and the reception of the European Parliament's opinion; - being of the opinion that the proposal (from the Commission) in favour of less developed countries (LDC) should be re-examined opportunely, with regards to the sugar sector, in order to bring it in line with the said guideline".
During the press conference, Commissioner Franz Fischler recalled the Commission's unchanged position in favour of reform of the common market organisation (CMO) for sugar and a reduction in the annual quota.
Wine-growing sector. At a request from Italy, the Council postponed review of the draft directive on vegetative propagation material for the vine. The Council, moreover, approved national aid to the distillation of certain vine products in France, Italy and Germany.
Simplification of direct support. Franz Fischler presented the proposal aimed at establishing an annual standard payment for small farmers (see EUROPE of 18 December, p.7).
Beef. Irish Minister Joe Walsh called on the Commission to examine the market situation with a view to setting in place measures that allow the deterioration of marketing conditions to be remedied, mainly through specific provisions for intervention and export refunds. Mr Fischler announced a report on the next Council session.
Flax and hemp. British Minister Nick Brown drew the Council's attention to the difficulties experienced by flax and hemp producers in the United Kingdom following the recent flooding. He called on the Commission to seek a solution other than national aid authorised further to natural disasters. Mr Fischler replied that the Commission will study the possibility of putting this situation right through Community aid that would be paid to offset the losses of income linked to the "interrupted growth of flax and hemp through excess water".
Olive oil: Italian Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio returned to the consequences of the Court of Justice ruling that confirmed that the place of manufacture of olive oil sufficed to determine the product's origin, independently of where the olives came from (except for oils benefiting from a controlled name of origin, as in that case, the olives must be produced in situ). He called on the Commission to examine the possibility of a dual labeling system; place of manufacture and place of origin of the olives. Commissioner Fischler agreed to this possibility being discussed in the context of the examination of the report that the Commission is to adopt, on Thursday, on the strategy for the quality for olive oil.
Measures for combating BSE; Belgian Minister Jaak Gabriels placed great emphasis on Community funding for the measures decided on 4 December better to combat BSE (ban on animal meal, generalisation of tests, co-funding of the buy-back system). A large number of delegations (Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany, notably) backed the proposal that Commissioner Fischler regarded as inadmissible, saying that it was up to Member states to assume the responsibility of financing and executing decisions taken by the Council.
The council also adopted, without debate: (1) the decision concerning the funding of one-off veterinary measures by the EAGGF "guarantee" section; (2) the simplification of the definition of a farmer in an underdeveloped area in the context of the regulation relating to premiums for sheep and goat meat; (3) the common position concerning amendments to the 1979 directive on the movement of composite food for animals; (4) the regulation relating to actions to promote farm produce on the internal market.