Brussels, 16/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - During the meeting of the Special Agriculture Council (SAC) on Tuesday, the Spanish delegation presented a request for authorising the temporary national aid in favour of its nut and locust bean producers. National aid would amount to EUR 67.6 million and would cover 280,000 hectares of eligible land. Aid would be paid in 2003 only for the transition period between the end of the current regime and the entry into force, on 1 January 2004, of the new system arising from the decisions made in June on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It should be noted that the request comes before the regional elections scheduled to be held on 16 November in Catalonia, a traditional production area.
The SAC noted Spain's request and the European Commission representative pointed out that his institution had not yet officially received the request. The Danish delegation notes its reticence about authorising national aid in this sector. The SAC is to examine, on 25 September, a draft decision authorising the payment of the national aid concerned and the dossier will then be forwarded to the Agriculture/Fisheries Council on 29 and 30 September. We recall that Council unanimity is required for clearing the aid (and abstention is not an obstacle to adopting the act).