Strasbourg, 03/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Parliament is to vote on an amendment to the regulation introducing a support system for producers of certain arable crops, amendment proposed in the framework of a European Commission seven-point plan to respond to the BSE crisis. This is an additional "escape route" for farmers affected by the crisis, the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Friedrich Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, commented in plenary, noting that the Commissioner for the Budget, Michaele Schreyer would be pleased to observe that this would not lead to any extra costs for the Community budget.
By agreeing to the Council request without dispute on Tuesday, Parliament signaled its willingness to approve the use, proposed by the European Commission, of set-aside land to grow leguminous crops for animal fodder. This is an old demand by Parliament, Graefe zu Baringdorf pointed out, calling for the amended system being able to take effect from the next harvest, from 15 August of this year.
This is also what the report of the French Green Danielle Auroi, adopted Monday evening by the Agriculture Committee, calls for, calling, moreover, for the Commission's proposal to be amended so as not to be limited to organic farms.