Brussels, 22/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 22 April, the European Parliament approved a plan to extend from four to eight years the restructuring programmes for the cotton industry.
Adopting a report by María Isabel Salinas García (PES, Spain) without changing the document from the form in which it was voted through at the EP's agriculture committee (see EUROPE 9874), the EP endorsed a single amendment stating that the restructuring in question came into force on 1 January 2006: “The reform that entered into force on 1 January 2006 led to a drastic fall in cotton production in Spain that has seriously jeopardised the sector's survival, resulting in the immediate restructuring of the ginning industry.” The reform includes partial decoupling of production aid.
The European Commission is suggesting that the member states where cotton is grown (Spain and Greece) should be given the option of subscribing to a cotton industry restructuring programme that lasts eight years, in other words from 2010-2017. The level of EU aid granted each year would not be changed. Measures have also been foreseen to ensure that all ginning units used during the reference period are eligible for EU aid. (L.C./transl.fl)