Brussels, 30/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a report adopted on Tuesday on evolution in the hops sector, the European Commission is proposing that as of 2005, aid to producers in this sector will be included in the single payment regime (decoupling), in line with common agricultural policy (CAP) objectives brought in at its reform in June. However, Member States would be able to keep coupled aid, to a maximum of 25% of aid to the producer to take account, if necessary, of certain production conditions or regional specificities. In order to encourage growers to organise, Member States could decide to make all or part of the coupled aid conditional on membership of a producer group. The Commission has also suggested keeping the rules on certification and relations with third countries.
To allow the regime to be reformed in 2005, the Commission adopted two proposals on 25 September. The first of these will prolong the current aid regime for one year (to the end of 2004). Current aid stands at 480 EUR and covers a surface area of 26,000 hectares, which represents a Community budget of 12.5 million EUR, 10 million EUR of which for Germany alone. The second will also allow special temporary measures (temporary resting and uprooting), which have reduced areas planted with hops by 19% compared to the reference year 1997, to be extended until the end of 2004