The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
adopted a report drafted by Constantin DUMITRIU (EPP-ED, RO) and made
some amendments to the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation
(EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for
agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries.
The main amendments are as follows:
- in
view of their expertise and the important part they play in ensuring
quality control, the role of trade associations and organisations
operating in the sector concerned must also be taken into consideration
where the task of drawing-up programmes falls to the Member State;
- emphasis
should also be placed on promotion and publicity measures for the wine
sector, both in the EU internal market and in third countries. As is the
case with the olive oil and table olive sector, international bodies
exist in the wine sector, which could ensure the implementation in third
countries of programmes proposed by Member States, thereby disseminating
information on the characteristics and advantages of quality wines
produced in particular regions of the EU and of reserved designation of
origin wines;
- Member
States' reasoned opinion accompanying the programme must include an
assessment of the programme's cost effectiveness (rather than the
programme's value for money as the Commission had proposed);
- Members wish to amend the Regulation, in order to
state that the Community's financial participation in the programmes
selected shall not exceed 60 % (rather than 50%) of the actual cost
of these programmes. This percentage will be 70 % (rather than 60%)
for measures for the promotion of fruit and vegetables intended
specifically for children in schools of the Community. The committee
noted the general tightening of the conditions in which national
organisations and authorities seek to obtain the amounts they must
contribute to co-financing. It also noted the fact that a new programme
aimed at promoting fruit in schools has recently been adopted. This
amendment will help to smooth the implementation of that programme.