Bruselj, 17.03.2005

KOM(2005) 95 končno

Predlog

SKLEP SVETA

o stališču, ki naj bo sprejeto v imenu Skupnosti, v Mednarodnem svetu za žita in v Odboru za pomoč v hrani

(predložena s strani Komisije)

OBRAZLOŽITVENI MEMORANDUM

Mednarodni sporazum o žitih iz leta 1995 je sestavljen iz dveh delov: Konvencije o pomoči v hrani iz leta 1999 in Konvencije o trgovanju z žiti iz leta 1995.

Konvencija o pomoči v hrani iz leta 1999 je bila sklenjena s strani Skupnosti s Sklepom Sveta št. 2000/421/ES. Ta sporazum po podaljšanju s sklepom Odbora za pomoč v hrani z dne 23. junija 2003 ostaja v veljavi do 30. junija 2005.

Konvencija o trgovanju z žiti iz leta 1995 je bila podaljšana s sklepom Sveta za trgovanje z žiti z dne 24. junija 2003 do 30. junija 2005.

V skladu z interesom Skupnosti in držav članic so potrebne nekatere spremembe sedanje Konvencije za pomoč v hrani. V skladu s splošnim dogovorom morajo članice te spremembe obravnavati znotraj Konvencije o pomoči v hrani med zadnjim dodeljenim dveletnim podaljšanjem. Toda povezanost teh vprašanj s trenutnimi pogajanji znotraj Razvojne agende iz Dohe (STO), vključno z razpravami o pravilih in redu, ki se nanašajo na vse pomoči v hrani v tem okviru, pomeni, da je v tem trenutku še prezgodaj za dogovor o zgornjih spremembah.

Zato se zdi ustrezno znova podaljšati obe konvenciji do uspešnega izida pogajanj STO in za obdobje do dveh let. V ta namen bo moral sklep, ki pooblašča Komisijo, da se v imenu Evropske skupnosti pogaja o spremembah Konvencije o pomoči v hrani iz leta 1999, in ki ga je sprejel Svet dne 27. novembra 2003, implicitno ostati veljaven do konca predlaganega podaljšanja Konvencije o pomoči v hrani.

Finančne posledice

Prispevek Skupnosti v administrativni proračun Mednarodnega sporazuma o žitih, ki obsega obe konvenciji, bo vnešen pod postavko 05 06 01 (ex B7-8210) proračuna Evropske unije (Mednarodni kmetijski sporazumi). Zaveza ES, da zagotovi pomoč v hrani v skladu s Konvencijo o pomoči v hrani, pomeni izdatke po postavkah 21 02 01 (Proizvodi, sproščeni po Konvenciji o pomoči v hrani) in 21 02 02 (Druga pomoč v obliki proizvodov, podporne dejavnosti in prevoza, distribucije, spremljevalnih ukrepov ter ukrepov za spremljanje izvajanja).

Sklepi

- Komisija predlaga, naj Svet pooblasti Komisijo za glasovanje v imenu Evropske skupnosti, v skladu s členom XXV(b) Konvencije o pomoči v hrani iz leta 1999, za nadaljnje podaljšanje te konvencije za obdobje do dveh let;

- Komisija predlaga, naj Svet pooblasti Komisijo za glasovanje v imenu Evropske skupnosti, v skladu s členom 33(2) Konvencije o trgovanju z žiti iz leta 1995, za nadaljnje podaljšanje te konvencije za obdobje do dveh let.

Podaljšanje obeh sporazumov je v interesu Skupnosti. Z upoštevanjem zgoraj omenjenega odloga je bilo dogovorjeno, da mandat, ki ga Svet podeli Komisiji za pogajanje o spremembah Konvencije o pomoči v hrani, velja prav toliko časa.

Predlog

SKLEP SVETA

o stališču, ki naj bo sprejeto v imenu Skupnosti, v Mednarodnem svetu za žita in v Odboru za pomoč v hrani

SVET EVROPSKE UNIJE JE –

ob upoštevanju Pogodbe o ustanovitvi Evropske skupnosti, zlasti člena 181 v zvezi s členom 300(2) Pogodbe,

ob upoštevanju predloga Komisije,

ob upoštevanju naslednjega:

Konvencija o pomoči v hrani iz leta 1999 je bila sklenjena s strani Skupnosti s Sklepom Sveta 2000/421/ES[1] in podaljšana s sklepom Odbora za pomoč v hrani junija 003. Ta sporazum ostaja v veljavi do 30. junija 2005. Ponovno podaljšanje tega sporazuma do dveh let je v interesu tako Skupnosti kot njenih držav članic. Komisija, ki zastopa Skupnost v Odboru za pomoč v hrani, bi zato morala biti pooblaščena za glasovanje v prid takega podaljšanja s Sklepom Sveta,

Konvencija o trgovanju z žiti iz leta 1995 je bila sklenjena s strani Skupnosti s Sklepom Sveta 96/88/ES[2], dopolnjena in podaljšana junija 1999 s Sklepom Sveta 1999/C262/01 za obdobje dveh let[3]. Sporazum je bil nazadnje spet podaljšan s sklepom Sveta za trgovanje z žiti junija 2003 in ostaja v veljavi do 30. junija 2005. Ponovno podaljšanje tega sporazuma do dveh let je v interesu tako Skupnosti kot njenih držav članic. Komisija, ki zastopa Skupnost v Konvenciji o trgovanju z žiti, bi zato morala biti pooblaščena za glasovanje v prid takega podaljšanja s Sklepom Sveta –

SKLENIL:

Edini člen

Evropska skupnost se strinja s podaljšanjem Konvencije o trgovanju z žiti iz leta 1995 za nadaljnje obdobje, največ dve leti.

Evropska skupnost se strinja s podaljšanjem Konvencije za pomoč v hrani iz leta 1999 za nadaljnje obdobje, največ dve leti.

Ta sklep pooblašča Komisijo, da izrazi to stališče v Mednarodnem svetu za žita in v Odboru za pomoč v hrani.

V Bruslju,

Za Svet

Predsednik

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area: External aspects of certain Community policies Activities: International Agricultural Agreements |

TITLE OF ACTION: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL GRAINS COUNCIL |

BUDGET LINE + HEADING: ARTICLE 05 06 01 (EX B 7-8210): INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL AGREEMENTS

OVERALL FIGURES

Total allocation for action (Part B): EUR 930 000 for the two years extension.

Period of application: 1.7.2005 to 30.6.2007

Compatibility with the financial programming and the financial perspective

X Proposal compatible with the existing financial programming

Financial impact on revenue

X No financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure)

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

Type of expenditure | New | EFTA participation | Participation applicant countries | Heading Financial Perspective |

Comp | Diff | NO | NO | NO | 4 External action |

LEGAL BASIS

Article 181 of the Treaty in conjunction with Article 300(2).

Council Decisions 96/88/EC of 27.1.1996 (OJ L 21 of 27.1.1996), 2001/C 195/01 (OJ C 195 of 11.7.2001) and 2000/421/EC (OJ L 163 of 4.7.2000).

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

Need for Community intervention

Because of its economic importance, especially in the agricultural sector, the EC must be represented in international agricultural agreements, which represent an important means for following global developments and defending Community interests for the products concerned.

The payment of EC membership contributions enables the objectives of the International Grains Council (IGC) to be attained. The IGC, which is responsible for administering the Agreements relating to the Grains Trade Convention, 1995 and the Food Aid Convention, 1999, promotes the objectives of the Agreements, including international cooperation, exchange of statistical information and forecasting market trends, etc., and for the Food Aid Convention the guarantee that developing countries are ensured a minimum amount of food aid by the European Union. It is therefore in the interests of the EC to be a part of the Agreements.

The membership contributions are determined on an annual basis and are due for as long as the EC is a member of the Agreements.

It is clear that if the EC had to carry out on its own the same actions as are carried out by the IGC, the total cost of these would be much greater than the cost of the membership contributions.

Actions envisaged and arrangements for budget intervention

The EC pays membership dues on an annual basis for the International Grains Council.

The dues are paid for as long as the EC remains a signatory to the Agreements.

The European Community and the Member States participate fully in the activities of the IGC and take full advantage of the benefits of membership.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Total financial impact on Part B

Commitments (to the 3rd decimal place): EUR 0.930 million for the period of two years. €0.465 million cost is estimated for each year.

Calculation

The expenditure involved in the application of the two Conventions is covered by annual contributions from all members of the Grains Convention. The contribution of each member for each financial year is fixed in proportion to the number of votes attributed to that member in relation to the total number of votes held by members. The number of votes attributed to each member is adjusted on the basis of the composition of the IGC when the budget for the financial year in question is adopted. There is a total of 2 000 votes in the Convention, of which the European Union holds 410 for 2004/05 (after enlargement). The same figure is projected for 2005/06 and for 2006/07. The estimated cost per vote for the period of extension is €1 134 (410 votes x €1 134/vote = €465 000).

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

Impact on human resources

Type of post | Staff to be assigned to management of the action using existing and/or additional resources | Total | Description of tasks deriving from the action |

Number of permanent posts | Number of temporary posts |

Officials or temporary staff | A B C | 0.2 0.1 - | - - - | 0.2 0.1 - | Preparation for attendance at and follow up from meetings of the IGC |

Other human resources | - | - | - |

Total | 0.3 | - | 0.3 |

Overall financial impact of human resources

Type of human resources | Amount in EUR | Method of calculation * |

Officials Temporary staff | 32 400 | 0.3 x 108 000 |

Other human resources |

Total | 32 400 |

* Human resources and administrative requirements will be covered from the allocation given to the managing DG under the annual allocations procedure. The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

Follow-up arrangements

The Commission services will participate fully in the Administrative Committees and Council of the IGC; these are the bodies responsible for determining budgetary contributions.

A report of these meetings and of the decisions taken in the course of these meetings is published and is freely available to members.

Details and frequency of planned evaluations

In view of the specific nature of the proposed intervention (extension of Community contribution to the administrative budget of the International Grains Agreement) and of the relatively small sum involved, an external evaluation does not seem justified. The relevance and usefulness of continuing with a contribution to the administrative budget of this Agreement will be evaluated internally, at regular intervals, by means of active Commission involvement in the management committees and in the International Grains Council.

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

The execution and the control of EC contributions are checked in conformity with the rules foreseen by the IOOC Agreement.

Specific modalities of audit and control are laid down within the legal basis of this international organisation.

The accounts of this organisation are certified by an independent external auditor. This certification is submitted to the competent body of the IOOC in view of its approval and subsequent publication.

[1] UL L 163, 4.7.2000, str. 37.

[2] UL L 21, 27. 1. 1996, str. 47.

[3] UL C 262, 16.9.1999, str. 1.