The European
Parliament adopted by 516 votes to 26 with 28 abstentions, under the
consultation procedure, a legislative resolution amending 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;
- the
implementing body for the programme eventually selected by the Member State(s) concerned may be an international organisation, in particular when the
programme concerns the promotion for the olive oil and table olive
sector, or for wines with protected designation of origin and protected
geographical indication, in third countries.
- 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);
- 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.