The decision highlights the Commission's determination to fight cartels, the most damaging of all anti- competitive practices. The European Commission has adopted a proposal to reform the Common Market Organisation for rice. Aimed at restoring balance in the European rice market, the reform strives to increase the competitiveness of European rice. The reform is based on two components. An increase of the direct aid for the rice producers and the abolition of the intervention mechanism.
Private storage is foreseen to protect farmers from market disturbances.
The proposal further helps to ensure the continuation of rice growing in areas where it is beneficial for the environment and foresees a report from Member States by the end of 2003 on the environmental situation of rice production with special reference to the development in traditional zones. The European Commission has decided to propose an extension of the existing EU autonomous trade preferences for Western Balkan countries. It is proposed to abolish remaining tariff ceilings for certain industrial products from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and to improve market access for agricultural products, to extend these preferences to Kosovo, to grant tariff quotas for Montenegrin aluminium products and to streamline all trade preferences in a single new regulation. Exchanging views, keeping the information flowing is key to successful enlargement. Our common goal is to make the euro 520 million per year available as soon as possible.