52000PC0763

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EEC) No 738/93 amending the transitional measures governing the common organisation of the market in cereals and rice in Portugal as provided for by Regulation (EEC) No 3653/90

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

This proposal for a Regulation is a response to the Council's request as part of the 2000/01 prices package to continue in 2001/02 the level of special aid applicable in 2000/01 to Portuguese cereal producers.

The adjustment to the special aid amounts concerns common wheat, maize, barley, rye, triticale and sorghum grown in Portugal and placed on the market by Portuguese producers during the period 1 June 2001 to 31 May 2002.

The EAGGF finances 65% of the aid.

The special aid situation for 2002/03 will be examined at a later date.

2000/0295 (CNS)

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation (EEC) No 738/93 amending the transitional measures governing the common organisation of the market in cereals and rice in Portugal as provided for by Regulation (EEC) No 3653/90

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Article 234(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 738/93 [1] stipulates that the special aid to Portuguese cereal producers under Council Regulation (EEC) No 3653/90 of 11 December 1990 introducing transitional measures governing the common organisation of the market in cereals and rice in Portugal [2], are to be granted until the end of the 2002/03 marketing year. The Annex to the former Regulation fixes the level of the aid.

[1] OJ L 77, 31.3.1993, p. 1. Regulation amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1664/95 (OJ L 158, 8.7.1995, p. 13).

[2] OJ L 362, 27.12.1990, p. 28. Regulation amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1664/95 (OJ L 158, 8.7.1995, p. 13).

(2) In recent years the income of Portuguese cereal producers has suffered under the overall impact of the reform of the common agricultural policy in that sector and of the successive reductions in the special aids provided for in the above arrangements. To lessen that impact, the reduction in the special aid should be temporarily stabilised by keeping the level of aid for 2001/02 at the 2000/01 level.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 738/93, the amounts for the 2001/02 marketing year are replaced by the following:

Common wheat: // 41,13,

Maize: // 18,72,

Barley, triticale, rye: // 23,69,

Sorghum: // 16,25.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply from 1 June 2001.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

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