Brussels, 21/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - When adopting the report by Salvador Jové Peres (GUE/NGL, Spain) on Thursday in Strasbourg on the European Commission's proposal to extend the olive oil aid scheme for two years, the European Parliament confirmed the numerous amendments tabled by the EP's Agriculture Committee (see EUROPE of 11 May, p. 12, for details). The only change made at the plenary session vote concerns one of the new terms. The EP wants the term "common olive oil" (rather than "standard olive oil" as recommended by the Commission) to replace the term currently in use, namely "olive oil". The Agriculture Committee wanted the term "standard or common olive oil" to be used. While the EP supports the idea of extending olive oil production aid, it opposes any attempt by the Commission to replace the current system with a system of aid for olive trees.
The EP also adopted the report by the Portuguese Socialist Paulo Casaca on the Special Report (11/2000) of the Court of Auditors into the Olive Oil Scheme, outlining its preference here too for a system of production premiums (see EUROPE of 11 May, p. 12).