ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on:

- the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures`,

- the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on improving the processing and marketing conditions for agricultural products`, and

- the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on producer groups and associations thereof`

(96/C 204/12)

On 1 April 1996, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposals.

The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 11 April 1996. The Rapporteur was Mr Bento Gonçalves.

At its 335th Plenary Session (meeting of 24 April 1996), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following Opinion by 102 votes to three, with 15 abstentions.

1. Gist of the proposals

1.1. The three proposals are designed to make the rules governing farm structures across the EU clearer and easier to consult. This is an essential step towards achieving the desired objective of improving the rural economy.

1.2. The proposals focus on farms in Objective 5a regions of the EU. The basic regulations are 1360/78, 866/90 and 2328/91, adopted in 1978, 1990 and 1991 respectively.

1.3. The proposals simply consolidate and update the relevant legislative texts, making them clearer and more transparent so that interested parties can consult them more easily.

2. Specific comments

2.1. In view of the considerations and principles set out in the Commission proposal COM(95) 434 final for a Council Regulation and the related Committee Opinion CES 1452/95, the Committee thinks that the Commission should take advantage of the present consolidation exercise to improve the legal framework governing producer organizations, especially in the fruit and vegetable sector.

2.1.1. These improvements should be included in the proposal for a Council Regulation on producer groups and associations thereof (COM(96) 58 final - 96/0046 CNS) and should make it easier for Member States to recognize farm cooperatives as producer organizations, in order to make the best use of their considerable long-standing experience in this sphere, without prejudice to equal treatment of the other relevant legal entities.

2.1.2. The Regulation should also explicitly provide for the possibility that producer organizations may consist solely of agricultural producers as typified in the EU by cooperatives and cooperative groups.

3. The Committee approves the Commission proposals, subject to the improvements referred to in point 2 above.

Done at Brussels, 24 April 1996.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Decision on inter-administration telematic networks for statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States - EDICOM` (96/C 295/10)

On 15 May 1996 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 129d of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Mobbs as Rapporteur-General for its Opinion.

At its 337th Plenary Session (meeting of 10 July 1996), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following Opinion by 70 votes to one, with four abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1. On 30 June 1993 the Committee adopted unanimously an Opinion () on the proposal for a Council Decision on inter-administrative telematic networks for statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States - COMEDI, under Article 100a of the Treaty, and approving the Commission's proposal.

1.2. The Council, having changed the legal basis to Article 235 of the Treaty, adopted its Decision on 11 July 1994 (94/445/EC) ().

1.3. The European Parliament challenged the legal basis and appealed to the Court of Justice, which decided that Article 129d, paragraph 3, should be the legal basis, annulling at the same time the Council Decision.

1.4. The acronym 'COMEDI` has in the meantime been changed to 'EDICOM` (Electronic Data Interchange for Commerce) and the Commission resubmits its original proposal with the only change of the legal basis to comply with the Court of Justice ruling.

2. General comment

2.1. In the light of the above, the Committee confirms its original Opinion of 30 June 1993.

Done at Brussels, 10 July 1996.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee Carlos FERRER

() OJ No C 249, 13. 9. 1993.

() OJ No L 183, 19. 7. 1994.
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Draft Council Decision amending Council Decision 91/116/EEC setting up the European Advisory Committee on statistical information in the economic and social spheres` () (97/C 89/01)

On 29 January 1997 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned draft Council Decision.

The Section for Economic, Financial and Monetary Questions, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 14 January 1996. The rapporteur was Mr Cal.

At its 342nd Plenary Session held on 29 and 30 January 1997 (meeting of 29 January), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 72 votes to two with two abstentions.

1. The Committee approves the proposed amendment of Council Decision 91/116/EEC setting up the European Advisory Committee on statistical information in the economic and social spheres, further to the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.

2. The Committee regrets that the Council did not at the time approve the Commission's proposal that a reference be made in Article 4 of the decision to the Economic and Social Committee in connection with the procedure for nominating members of the advisory committee.

3. More generally speaking, the ESC still believes that the Community needs an autonomous statistics service, with an adequate operating budget, which can be used not just by the Commission and national statistics offices, but also by socio-economic organizations and scientists. It has to be remembered that the EU statistics service was set up to provide technical support for the Community's economic and financial policies, and most importantly employment policies in the Community.

Brussels, 29 January 1997.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

() OJ No C 324, 30. 10. 1996, p. 11.
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on:

- the 'Proposal for a Council Directive on the extension of Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994, on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees, to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland`, and - the 'Proposal for a Council Directive extending Council Directive 96/34/EC of 3 June 1996, on the framework agreement on parental leave concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC, to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland` (98/C 19/12)

On 7 October 1997, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposals.

The Section for Social Family, Educational and Cultural Affairs, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 17 October 1997. The rapporteur working without a study group was Miss Maddocks.

At its 349th plenary session (meeting of 29 October 1997), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 107 votes to four, with eight abstentions.

The Economic and Social Committee played an active role in the launching and promotion of the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers. It has consistently argued that the Charter and Social Protocol Agreement should be incorporated in the Treaty and apply to all Member States. It therefore welcomes wholeheartedly the United Kingdom's decision to accede to these social provisions, and it supports the European Council agreement in Amsterdam to incorporate the concept of fundamental social rights in the new Treaty. The Committee consequently endorses the two Commission proposals to extend the existing Directive in question to the UK.

Brussels, 29 October 1997.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 92/12/EEC on the general arrangements for products subject to excise duty and on the holding, movement and monitoring of such products` () (98/C 19/18)

On 14 July 1997 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 99 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Economic, Financial and Monetary Questions, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 14 October 1997. The rapporteur, working without a study group, was Mr Bento Gonçalves.

At its 349th plenary session (meeting of 29 October 1997), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 123 votes in favour and three abstentions.

1. General comments

1.1. This proposal for a Council Directive amending Article 24 of Directive 92/12/EEC seeks to assign to the Commission wider-ranging regulatory powers with regard to excise duties, and to render their application more rapid.

1.2. It also seeks to adapt the terms of reference of the Committee on Excise Duties.

1.3. These changes are also intended to make the regulatory procedure more efficient, especially by:

a) making monitoring systems more modern and functional;

b) improving ways of combating abusive practices, tax fraud and smuggling;

c) allowing free movement of goods subject to excise duty, in all the states of the European Union, on a more transparent basis, with adequate procedures and legal rules, while avoiding distortion of competition and preventing abuses.

1.4. It should be pointed out that the proposed changes leave the fiscal autonomy of the Member States unchanged, as they do not include the fixing of tax levels in EU terms of reference.

2. Conclusion

2.1. In view of the objectives set - above all those of helping to complete the internal market and improving the effectiveness of legal rules, with positive effects on market transparency - the ESC endorses the draft directive under consideration.

Brussels, 29 October 1997.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

() OJ C 267, 3. 9. 1997, p. 58.
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC and 70/458/EEC on the marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed, seed potatoes, seed of oil and fibre plants and vegetable seed and the common catalogue of varieties of vegetable species` (98/C 73/10)

On 11 September 1997 the Council decided, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Economic and Social Committee on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the work on this matter, adopted its opinion on 7 November 1997. The rapporteur was Mr Nilsson.

At its 350th plenary session on 10 and 11 December 1997 (meeting of 10 December) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 106 votes in favour, with two dissenting votes and five abstentions.

1. Gist of the Commission proposal

1.1. The Commission proposes that the trial schemes authorized since 1989 (Decision 89/540/EEC, last amended by Decision 96/336/EEC) in order to streamline procedures and find better alternatives for official seed certification be placed on a permanent footing. The Commission is therefore proposing that the relevant directives be amended.

1.2. The Commission also proposes to facilitate the addition of new species in the catalogue of varieties, and to simplify changes, since developments in the crossing of species are producing new names and hybrids.

2. Comments on the Commission proposal

2.1. The Committee supports the Commission proposal.

2.2. The proposal is consistent with the provisions applied on a trial basis for several years, from which positive lessons have been learned.

2.3. Inspection in the field is one of the key monitoring procedures in the certification system. Such inspection on both an official and unofficial basis must therefore operate under objective, independent conditions that ensure consistently reliable results.

2.3.1. The findings of inspections carried out by unofficial inspectors must be confirmed by the authorities responsible for certifying that seed requirements have been respected.

2.4. The Commission proposal can be considered to satisfy this criterion by prescribing detailed rules so that procedures can now be simplified on a permanent basis.

Brussels, 10 December 1997.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Draft Council decision regarding a Community procedure for information and consultation on crude-oil supply costs and the consumer prices of petroleum products` (98/C 407/28)

On 13 July 1998 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned draft council decision.

The Section for Energy, Nuclear Questions and Research, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 22 July 1998. The rapporteur was Mr Lerios.

At its 357th plenary session (meeting of 9 September 1998), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 120 votes to one.

1. The Commission proposes to replace Directive 76/491/EEC and to give a legal basis to the Oil Bulletin which has been published since 1979.

2. The Commission feels that this is necessary in order to:

- meet the objectives of Community energy policy;

- make the oil market more transparent, by regularly publishing consumer prices of oil products (both with and without taxes and duties);

- adjust legislation in the energy sector to current conditions on the oil market (Article 213 of the EC Treaty);

- act upon the decision taken at the meeting of oil price experts on 16 April 1997, to give the Oil Bulletin a legal basis;

- ensure the reliability of the information collected by the Member States from oil companies.

3. The Committee endorses the proposal and agrees that it is appropriate:

- to give the Oil Bulletin a legal basis, as it has proved its worth over almost 20 years, helping to improve the transparency of oil prices and encouraging price convergence and the completion of a single market in the sector;

- to adjust the procedures for obtaining and publishing bulletin data.

Brussels, 9 September 1998.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS
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 1998/1999 wine years, of permanent abandonment premiums in respect of winegrowing areas"

(1999/C 138/13)

On 24 March 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Sabin as rapporteur-general for its opinion.

At its 362nd plenary session (meeting of 24 March 1999) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion with 57 votes in favour and one abstention.

1. The purpose of the Commission proposal is to extend the deadline for the submission of applications for the Community grubbing-up premium provided for in Article 4(1) of EC Regulation No 1442/88 from 31 December 1998 to 31 March 1999.

2. There are a number of reasons why winegrowers are counting on this proposal:

- grubbing-up normally takes place between November (when harvesting ends) and April (when plant growth starts again).

- French national aid was granted for the permanent abandonment of vineyards in the Charentes region by decree of 14 December 1998. For technical reasons, it takes time for winegrowers to decide to grub up vines and do the grubbing-up. The extension of the deadline for the submission of applications is all the more necessary because eligibility for French aid is conditional on the granting of the Community premium.

3. Since the budgetary cost of this proposal is low and the cognac sector is in a crisis, the Economic and Social Committee endorses the Commission proposal.

Brussels, 24 March 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 70/524/EEC concerning additives in feedingstuffs"

(2000/C 51/07)

On 10 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 15 November 1999. The rapporteur was Mr Donnelly.

At its 368th plenary session (meeting of 8 December 1999), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 111 votes to one with one abstention.

1. Preliminary comments

1.1. Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feeding-stuffs, as amended by Directive 96/51/EC establishes for certain additives (antibiotics, coccidiostats and other medicinal substances, and growth promoters) a system which provides for the Commission to replace existing authorisations under certain conditions.

1.2. However, there is no legal base for the replacement of the authorisations given before 1 January 1988, (except the footnote in Annex B Chapter I of the annex of Directive 70/524/EEC as amended by Directive 96/51/EC).

1.3. If this proposal were not enacted, all additives authorised before 1 January 1988 and evaluated according to lower standard than since January 1988 would remain authorised, and also as in the past, the copy products. In contrast, for the more recent additives (authorised after January 1988) conditioned by the higher test of "link to the person responsible for putting into circulation", the copy products will be forbidden.

1.4. This has created an incoherent system certainly contrary to the intentions of the legislator. The purpose of this proposed amendment is to establish a coherent legal situation ensuring that these replacements can take place at the same time for all additives concerned, irrespective of the date when their authorisation was granted.

2. Specific comments

2.1. The ESC agrees with the Commission proposal which corrects the legal anomaly and ensures that the same high standards of evaluation particularly with regard to product safety applies to high technology additives. It also facilitates equal treatment for all products concerned.

Brussels, 8 December 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products"

(2000/C 168/05)

On 24 January 2000 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic 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 19 April 2000. The rapporteur was Mr Kienle.

At its 372nd plenary session (meeting of 27 April 2000) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 78 votes to two, with three abstentions:

1. Introduction

1.1. For 16 years now the Community has been providing support to promote the consumption of milk by children and young people. Schoolchildren who take advantage of this arrangement receive a quarter of a litre of subsidised milk per day. To date this subsidy has cost the Community EUR 96 million per annum.

1.2. In the present proposal the European Commission revises its original intention of discontinuing EU support for the school milk programme. It does, however, want to reduce Community support by continuing the arrangements with 50 % Community/50 % Member State financing. The Community contribution would fall to EUR 48 million.

2. Comments

2.1. The Committee considers that the health, nutritional and social policy objectives of the school milk programme are of outstanding importance, even more so than the aim of boosting sales, especially as the quantity involved is only 0,3 % of total milk deliveries to dairies.

2.2. Discontinuation of the programme would undoubtedly lead to a fall in the availability and consumption of milk in schools. Children and young people would be the losers. The Committee would point out that an alarmingly large number of children go to school without any breakfast. For many, school milk is their only source of milk consumption.

2.3. The Committee welcomes the fact that the Agriculture Council has in principle expressly called for the programme's retention, hence the European Commission's reconsideration of its original intention to stop EU support.

2.4. The Committee stresses the great importance of a balanced diet for young and school-age children. Milk is one of the most valuable foodstuffs and should be made attractive to them by all modern distribution and marketing means. Furthermore, the Committee regards it as essential that children and young people throughout the Community continue to be provided with subsidised school milk.

2.5. The Committee fears, however, that in practice the Commission proposal will lead to the end of school milk in many Member States. It therefore calls for a solution which will ensure the continuation of the school milk programme. Under no circumstances must children become a political football in a fight over the principle of co-financing.

Brussels, 27 April 2000.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli