Brussels, 17/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is not able to respect its initial timetable to present legislative proposals for reform in the wine sector and in the fruit and vegetable sector. The proposal on wine should be adopted between April and June next year, that is, about four months later than initially scheduled. The proposals for changes in the fruit and vegetables sector, which were to be adopted during the Commission meeting of 29 November, are not expected until the end of the month of December 2006 or January 2007.
Wine: The Commission originally planned to present its legislative proposal on the “fundamental” reform of the common market organisation (CMO) for wine in January or February 2007. One month ago, it considered it had enough time to analyse the results of the Council debate on its communication of 22 June on the possibilities of changes to this sector (EUROPE 9267). According to the latest news, the Commission foresees adopting its reform proposal in spring 2007, mainly because the work of the European Parliament's parliamentary committee is taking longer than expected. The EP's (consultative) vote is scheduled for January or February 2007, instead of the end of the year.
Fruit and vegetable: Initially planned for 29 November, the Commission's adoption of the reform proposal for the CMO for fresh and processed fruit and vegetables has been deferred until December, if not until January 2007. The Commission must carry out a detailed study on the economic and social consequences of its proposals. According to the first indications, the Commission is contemplating: - suppression of current subsidies in favour of processed products in favour of a decoupled single payment (i.e. not linked to the level of production); - new measures for increasing the creation of producer organisations (PO); - the establishment of new crisis management tools for example a Community contribution to the payment of insurance premiums against the consequences of adverse climate conditions, or the creation of a fund cofinanced by the EU budget, that would cover the management of crisis prevention operations (currently, only the product withdrawal system plays this crisis management role). (lc)