51997AC1388

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 1997/1998 wine years, of permanent abandonment premiums in respect of wine-growing areas` (98/C 73/13)

On 30 September 1997 the Council, acting in pursuance of Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, consulted the Economic and Social Committee on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was instructed to prepare the Committee's work on the matter, adopted its opinion on 7 November 1997. The rapporteur was Mr Kienle.

At its 350th plenary session held on 10 and 11 December 1997 (meeting of 10 December) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the opinion set out below by 114 votes to one, with three abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1. Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88 on the granting of premiums for the permanent abandonment of wine-growing areas was amended under the 1996/97 farm price round in such a way as to introduce a maximum EU quota of 25 000 ha per year over a two-year period in respect of the wine-growing area eligible for a grubbing premium. The area allocated to Germany under this scheme (50 ha per year) proved to be too small to enable it to be distributed amongst the various wine-growing areas, with the result that no use whatsoever was made of this scheme in Germany.

1.2. The proposed amendment under consideration provides for an increase of 950 ha in the area allocated to Germany and a reduction by the same amount of the 13 000 ha originally allocated to Spain.

2. Observations

2.1. The Committee welcomes the proposed amendment to Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88. This measure will make it possible for meaningful use to be made, in Germany too, of the programme for regulating wine-growing areas.

2.2. The Committee points out that the simultaneous reduction of the area allocated to Spain by the same figure of 950 ha will have no effect in that country as it has so far used only a small part of its allocation. It is assumed that the 12 050 ha allocated to Spain will be sufficient fully to meet all applications for the grubbing of vines.

2.3. The Committee welcomes the fact that the proposed amendment to Regulation (EEC) No 1442 will not require additional funds from the EU budget.

Brussels, 10 December 1997.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS