Brussels, 10/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - At its latest meeting, on 28 November, the Agriculture/Fisheries Council authorised Greece to pay national aid of a maximum of 90 million euro to its cotton producers for the 2001/2002 harvest (see EUROPE of 25 and 26 November, p.13). Denmark, Sweden and Germany abstained from the vote, whereas, opposed to this decision, the European Commission reserved the right, in a declaration, to examine the issue and take appropriate steps. Greece justifies granting this aid by the need to compensate the fall in the minimum price paid to cotton producers in the context of quantities considered eligible by the Commission, or 61,811 tonnes of teased cotton.