Brussels, 12/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - As anticipated, the European Commission proposed on Tuesday to reduce the compulsory set-aside rate for the cereals harvest 2004-2005 from 10% to 5%, to help farmers affected by last summer's drought (EUROPE of 6 November, p.13). In a press release, the Commission indicated that this measure was justified by the very low level of cereal production this year following the drought (production of soft wheat fell from 94 million tonnes during the 2002-2003 season to 84 million tonnes for 2003-2004, and maize production fell 25% to 31 million tonnes). Commissioner Fischler stated that reducing set-aside will help to increase cereal production "at a time when the supply is worryingly low".