19. 12. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 341/13 
Opinion on the proposals for a: 
— Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the common 
organization of the market in products processed from fruit and vegetables and 
Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 on the Common Customs Tariff 
— Council Regulation fixing guarantee thresholds for certain products processed from 
fruit and vegetables 
— Council Regulation adjusting certain rules in the 1979 Act of Accession in respect of 
products processed from fruit and vegetables 
— Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the common 
organization of the market in products processed from fruit and vegetables 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 94 of 8 April 1983, pp. 3 to 10. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 7 April 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 43 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
210th plenary held in Brussels on 28 and 29 September 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­
pean Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the request from the Council of the 
European Communities on 7 April 1983 for an opi­
nion on the proposals for: a Council Regulation 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the 
common organization of the market in products 
processed from fruit and vegetables and Regulation 
(EEC) No 950/68 on the Common Customs Tariff; 
a Council Regulation fixing guarantee thresholds 
for certain products processed from fruit and veget­
ables; a Council Regulation adjusting certain rules 
in the 1979 Act of Accession in respect of products 
processed from fruit and vegetables; and a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 
on the common organization of the market in prod­
ucts processed from fruit and vegetables, 
Having regard to the decision of its Bureau on 26 
April 1983 instructing the Section for Agriculture to 
prepare an opinion on the matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Sec­
tion for Agriculture at its 245th meeting, held on 8 
September 1983, 
Having regard to the oral report of the rapporteur, 
Mr Wick, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 210th plenary 
session held on 28 September 1983, 
No C 341/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 12.83 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by 88 votes to 15, with three abstentions: 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee has taken note of the Com­
mission's report, and has carefully examined devel­
opments in this area since the 1977 Regulation came 
into force. 
1.2. The Committee would point out that the 
Regulation on processed fruit and vegetables was 
introduced because, for trade policy reasons, the 
Community decided to dispense with special extern­
al arrangements and introduced aids arrangements 
to compensate for competition disadvantages. 
1.3. The Regulation currently in force should be 
seen in connection with the common agricultural 
policy; it is an important source of income for pro­
ducers. In addition, the aid regime laid down for a 
number of products has had a positive effect on 
employment in agriculture and the processing 
industry. 
1.4. The Committee notes that since the Regula­
tion was introduced, a number of flaws have 
become evident which have led to additional diffi­
culties. The problems which this has caused have 
not been brought out in the Commission's report. 
The Committee feels that the present Regulation is 
incomplete and therefore inadequate. 
1.5. The present proposed changes will not remove 
these flaws completely. The Committee has the 
impression that the proposals were heavily influ­
enced by such considerations as financing. 
1.6. Furthermore, the Committee would stress the 
inadequacy of the Commission report's assessment 
of the present aid scheme for processed fruit and 
vegetables. 
Although the report acknowledges that the general 
aim of the scheme is to bolster the economy.of the 
Mediterranean regions, only a few of its economic 
effects are examined. 
Moreover, the report contains no assessment of 
whether or not Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 has achieved its aim of ensuring that the processed fruit 
and vegetables market is managed effectively. 
The proposals are limited in scope and do not tackle 
the most important aspects of revising and amplify­
ing the present measures in order to overcome the 
difficulties already encountered and encourage agri­
cultural, industrial and commercial development in 
the sectors concerned. 
1.7. The Committee thinks that although the 
changes proposed by the Commission (new method 
for calculating aid, minimum import price, storage 
of dried grapes, guarantee limits) will introduce a 
few limited operational improvements, their main 
aim is to reduce the financial burden on the Com­
munity budget. 
1.8. The Committee is not insensitive to the need 
for a reform of the common agricultural policy, hav­
ing regard to the scope for reducing costs, within the 
framework of action to restore balance between the 
various regions of the Community and increase the 
effectiveness of aid. 
1.9. The Committee has taken note of the Com­
mission's guidelines for processed fruit and vegeta­
bles as set out in its document of 28 July 1983 enti­
tled 'Common agricultural policy — Proposals of 
the Commission' (COM(83) 500 final). 
The Committee would, however, ask the Council 
that any decision on the present proposal for a 
Regulation be adopted at the same time as those 
decisions on the other sectors of production which 
are to be taken in connection with the proposals for 
reform of the CAP put forward by the Commission 
in the above-mentioned document. 
The Committee reserves the right to make proposals 
for a more radical reform of Community interven­
tion in the processed fruit and vegetable sector in 
the course of its discussion of document the Com­
mission final of 28 July 1983, and it also reserves the 
right to comment later on the substance of the pres­
ent opinion. 
2. Comments on the Commission's individual pro­
posals 
2.1. Proposal for a Council Regulation amending 
Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the common 
organization of the market in products 
19.12.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 341/15 
processed from fruit and vegetables and Regula­
tion (EEC) No 950/68 on the Common 
Customs Tariff 
The Committee approves the Commission's pro­
posal, subject to the comments made above and 
below: 
2.1.1. Article 1 (1) concerning Article 3, 
point 1 
The Committee feels that Annex la of Regulation 
(EEC) No 516/77 should be expanded to make all 
end products obtained from the same raw material 
eligible for aid, especially cherries. It is essential to 
include here cherry preparations, dessert sauces, 
cherry juice and candied cherries, among other 
things to combart the fierce competition from non-
member countries. The Committee would point out 
that all tomato products are already eligible for aid. 
2.1.2. Article 1 (1) concerning Article 3, 
point 3 
The Committee notes that, following a proposal 
from the Commission, the Council can take steps to 
limit production aid to a specified quantity of goods 
in the event of a major imbalance between supply 
and demand. The Community market in cherries 
and Williams pears preserved in syrup is in deficit. 
But despite this, there is a limit on production aid 
for these two products. The Committee thinks that 
this limit should be removed, at least as long as 
there is a shortage on the market. It welcomes an 
extension of the reference period to cover several 
marketing years, and suggests using the average for 
the last three marketing years as the basis for calcu­
lation. 
2.1.3. Article 1 (1) concerning Article.3b, 
point 1 (b) 
The Committee is against any linkage of the mini­
mum price for such products, which do not have 
their own basic price, to the basic prices of other 
products. It considers that these two sets of products 
have entirely different markets and should be 
treated separately; it therefore rejects any linkage. The Committee proposes that cherries and plums 
should also have basic and buying-in prices, to 
ensure that the system is consistent. 
In addition, it asks the Commission to propose suit­
able measures for eliminating the two-tier market in 
pears and cherries which shows signs of emerging. 
2.1.4. Article 1 (1) concerning Article 3c, 
point 1, first indent 
The Committee wonders whether the Commission's 
proposal that aid be adjusted on a flat-rate basis at 
the raw material stage is an improvement on the 
present system. 
2.1.5. Article 1 (1) concerning Article 3c, 
point 1,second indent 
The Committee proposes that the words 'if neces­
sary' be deleted and that the level of aid take 
account of processing costs. 
2.1.6. Article 1 (1) concerning Article 3c, 
point 2 
The Committee wonders whether the third-country 
price factor can be properly taken into account for 
those products, the imports of which cannot be 
regarded as representative and for which there is no 
minimum import price. 
2.1.7. Article 1 (1) concerning Article 3d, 
point 1 (b) 
The Committee feels that the idea of being 'pack­
aged for the final consumer' should be defined pre­
cisely. For example, it should be made clear that big 
packages intended for largescale consumers are still 
eligible for aid. 
2.1.8. Article 1 (1) concerning Article 3d, 
point 2 
The Committee considers that cherries should be 
included (in a new subparagraph (e)) among the 
products exempted from the restrictions laid down 
in paragraph 1 (b) on the grounds that semi-finished 
products to be included in a new version of 
Annex la, fruit preparations and fruit dessert sauces 
are intended for further processing, and not for 
direct distribution to the final consumer. 
No C 341/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 12. 83 
2.1.9. Article 1 (1) concerning Article 4, 
point 1 
The Committee would like minimum import prices 
introduced for all products listed in Annex la, and 
therefore proposes the deletion of the letter '(a)'. 
2.1.10. To remove existing currency disparities, the 
Committee proposes a system of adjustment coeffi­
cients, similar to those in the existing regulations for 
the oilseeds and dried grapes. 
2.2. Proposal for a Council Regulation fixing guar­
antee thresholds for certain products processed 
from fruit and vegetables 
The Committee approves the Commission's propos­
al, subject to the following comment: removed, especially for products of which there is a 
shortage in the Community. 
2.3. Proposal for a Council Regulation adjusting 
certain rules in the 1979 Act of Accession in re­
spect of products processed from fruit and 
vegetables 
The Committee approves the Commission's propos­
al. 
2.4. Proposal for a Council Regulation amending 
Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the common 
organization of the market in products pro­
cessed from fruit and vegetables 
2.2.1. Article 1(1) 
The Committee would recall here its comments in 
point 2.1.2 that quantitative restrictions should be The Committee approves the Commission's pro­
posal on the express condition that dried grapes and 
figs in the possession of producers in the last month 
of the marketing year are handed over to the storage 
agencies. 
Done at Brussels, 28 September 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
APPENDIX 
to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
A. Rejected amendments 
The following amendments to the Section opinion, submitted in accordance with the Rules of 
Procedure, were rejected by the Committee during the discussions held at the plenary session: 
Point 2.1 
Replace the second paragraph by the following: 
'As regards the above Commission proposal, the Committee, would make the following 
comments, in addition to those set out above:'. 
Reasons 
Since the right is reserved to comment later on this subject, the opinion should contain obser­
vations on the individual proposals of the Commission, but without anticipating express and 
complete approval. Such prudence is in keeping with the overall balance of the opinion. ' 
19. 12. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 341/17 
Voting 
For: 7, against: overwhelming majority, abstentions: 18. 
Point 2.2 
Replace the second paragraph by the following: 
'The Committee has no comments to make'. 
Reasons 
See reasons given under amendment to point 2.1. 
Voting 
For: 5, against: 67, abstentions: 29. 
Point 2.3 
Replace the first two lines of the second paragraph by the following: 
'As regards the above Commission proposal, the Committee makes the express condition 
that 
Reasons 
See reasons given under amendment to point 2.1. 
Voting 
For: 3, against: 72, abstentions: 17. 
Point 2.4 
Replace the second paragraph by the following: 
'The Committee has no comments to make'. 
Reasons 
See reasons given under amendment to point 2.1. 
Voting 
For: 2, against: 55, abstentions: 17. 
B. The following part of the text of the section opinion was replaced by an amendment approved 
during discussions 
Point 1.2 
'The Section would point out that the Regulation on processed fruit and vegetables was 
designed inter alia to (i) bolster the economy of the Mediterranean regions and (ii) prevent 
price fluctuations oh the world market from having a direct effect on prices within the Com­
munity by setting up a single trading system at the Community's frontiers. Quantitative re­
strictions and measures having equivalent effect were prohibited in trade with non-member 
countries'. , 
Voting 
For: 60, against: 5, abstentions: 17.