Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 1577/96 introducing a specific measure in respect of certain grain legumes"

(2000/C 51/08)

On 27 September 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 16 November 1999. The rapporteur was Mr Barato Triguero.

At its 368th plenary session (meeting of 8 December 1999), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 107 votes in favour with one abstention.

1. The Committee generally endorses the principles of the present proposal.

2. It does however consider the maximum guaranteed area (MGA) for this crop to be clearly inadequate. This is shown in the figures set out in the Report from the Commission to the Council on the application of the system applicable to certain grain legumes(1). On this basis, and given that this is a rotation crop with evident benefits in terms of soil conservation, it would seem appropriate to increase the MGA up to 500000 ha, to be subdivided into 300000 ha for animal feed and 200000 ha for human consumption.

3. The Committee also recommends that the following be added to the species eligible for aid, as set out in Regulation No. 1577/96(2):

- Vicia monanthos

- Lathyrus sativa

- Latyrus cicera

which would come under the sub-area for vetches.

3.1. Regulation No. 1577/96 introduced a specific measure in respect of certain grain legumes, which are the main legume species for human and animal consumption not included among the protein crops of the general system for arable crops. The Regulation left out a number of species of the same family which were already being grown at a relatively low level. The result is that in some cases in the present, these crops have disappeared, since they must compete with very similar crops receiving EU aid.

3.2. There are in fact more species of legumes than those mentioned in Regulation No. 1577/96 which are entitled to aid: as they are grown on a far smaller scale, they are of great value in maintaining biodiversity and safeguarding the genetic heritage. Including these species in the amended Regulation would have practically no effect on the current situation, since they are produced in such small quantities and, in any case, would stand in for the vetches covered by the Regulation.

Brussels, 8 December 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI

(1) COM(1999) 426 final.

(2) OJ L 206, 16.8.1996.