51999AC0358

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88 on the granting, for the 1988/1989 to 1998/1999 wine years, of permanent abandonment premiums in respect of winegrowing areas"

(1999/C 138/13)

On 24 March 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Sabin as rapporteur-general for its opinion.

At its 362nd plenary session (meeting of 24 March 1999) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion with 57 votes in favour and one abstention.

1. The purpose of the Commission proposal is to extend the deadline for the submission of applications for the Community grubbing-up premium provided for in Article 4(1) of EC Regulation No 1442/88 from 31 December 1998 to 31 March 1999.

2. There are a number of reasons why winegrowers are counting on this proposal:

- grubbing-up normally takes place between November (when harvesting ends) and April (when plant growth starts again).

- French national aid was granted for the permanent abandonment of vineyards in the Charentes region by decree of 14 December 1998. For technical reasons, it takes time for winegrowers to decide to grub up vines and do the grubbing-up. The extension of the deadline for the submission of applications is all the more necessary because eligibility for French aid is conditional on the granting of the Community premium.

3. Since the budgetary cost of this proposal is low and the cognac sector is in a crisis, the Economic and Social Committee endorses the Commission proposal.

Brussels, 24 March 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI