Brussels, 12/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - At their next meeting on 26 September in Brussels, agriculture ministers from the EU member states are expected to adopt, without debate, the necessary adaptations to the rules on the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for milk and milk products. The Portuguese presidency of the Council of Ministers of the EU pointed out, during the Special Agriculture Committee (SAC) meeting on Monday 10 September, that the proposed text had the qualified majority support of member states. This proposal only includes a small number of European Parliament amendments voted during the plenary on 5 September (EUROPE 9496).
At this stage, only France indicated that it intended to abstain in the vote at the Council of Ministers of the EU. This delegation is opposed to the European Commission's initial proposal, included in the presidency's draft compromise, which aims to get rid of aid for private storage of cream and skimmed milk powder as from next year. As a principle, France does not agree to political decisions being taken, such as the end to a market management measure, before the end of discussions in 2008 on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) bill of health.
The text currently being adopted by the Council also confirms the future setting up of a single aid rate for milk distributed in schools: €16.11 per 100 kg. The EP wanted a higher rate of aid (€18.15/100 kg) but this was dismissed. The draft compromise also makes it compulsory for operators to review their package labelling strategy for milk consumption. In compliance with the new provisions planned, it will no longer be possible to describe “full fat”, “semi-skimmed” or “skimmed” milk. They will now be obliged to indicate the percentage level of fat in the labelling on the package.
During the SAC meeting, the Commission representative justified his rejection of the parliamentarians' amendments to set up a restructuring fund on the basis of an identical fund in the sugar sector. According to the Commission, the milk and milk product sector was reformed in 2003 and is very competitive, whereas the sugar sector (overproduction) is currently in the middle of the reform process. The Commission is now prepared to accept the EP amendment recommending examination of the possibilities for expanding the range of milk products eligible for Community aid distributed in schools. (lc)