The Council held a preliminary debate on the Commission's proposals and guidelines to deal with the situation in the beef sector arising out of the BSE crisis. It shared the Commission's analysis of the situation. A number of delegations considered, however, that the measures proposed were inadequate for the purposes of resolving the problems. The measures proposed were insufficient both in terms of restoring the balance of the market in beef and veal in the medium term and as far as support for the producers was concerned.
Moreover, the Council took cognisance of a report on the survey on state aids that the Commission had sent out to the Member States and noted that the Commission intended to assess the aids in accordance with existing rules.
The Presidency will follow up the views expressed and will return to the Council on the question.
In conclusion, the Council instructed the Special Committee on Agriculture to analyse, in the light of the discussions which had taken place, the proposals submitted to it and to report back to the Council at the next meeting in March.
In addition the Council decided to consult the European Parliament on the Commission proposals (under the urgent procedure in the case of the proposal on beef and veal) and also to consult the Economic and Social Committee.
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