Brussels, 12/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament will be reviewing on Thursday the report by Efstratios Korakas (GUE/NGL) on reform of the aid scheme for cotton. The report challenges in large measure the European Commission's proposals recommending greater discipline in this sector and insisting on the cost of the scheme and the environmental impact of cotton production in the Spanish and Greek regions concerned. The rapporteur prefers to insist on the economic and social importance of this crop, even though he acknowledges the need to take measures to protect the environment.
The Korakas report invites the EP plenary to adopt several amendments to the Commission's proposal. It calls for an increase in prices (EUR 111 for the minimal price and EUR 117 for the guide price) to compensate for inflation between 1995 and 2000, whereas the Commission wishes to maintain prices at current levels (100.99 and 106.30). The report recommends an increase in national guaranteed quantities: 1,200,000 tonnes for Greece (as against 782,000 in the Commission's proposal) and 350,000 tonnes for Spain (instead of 249,000). It is opposed to the 20% increase in the "coresponsibility levy" that reduces by the same amount the price paid to farmers in the event of overrun of the national guaranteed quantity. The report also notes that aid must be paid directly to cotton producers through their cooperatives and without the intervention of private ginners.