19/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission is expected to propose extending for one year (until June 2002) measures to improve the quality and marketing of nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios and carobs). This concerns Spain in particular, but also France, Portugal, Greece and Italy. The Commission is expected to propose that the nut producer organisations whose programmes run out in 2001 be able to request that the funding be continued for no more than 12 months; that funding be continued until 31 June 2001 at the latest in order to be covered by the 2002 budget; and that public aid be restricted to no more than EUR 241.50/hectare (some EUR 181 of which from the EU).