Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 on the common organisation of the markets in processed fruit and vegetable products'
Date: 1999-10-20
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: Portugal, agricultural quota, agro-industry, common organisation of markets, fruit product, vegetable product

C 368/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

20.12.1999

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC)
amending Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 on the common organisation of the markets in processed
fruit and vegetable products’

(1999/C 368/11)

On 13 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 Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Fakas as rapporteur-general for its opinion.

At its 367th plenary session of 20 and 21 October 1999 (meeting of 20 October), the Economic and
Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 69 votes for, 2 against and 8 abstentions.

1.

Introduction

The present draft regulation is a procedural formality, since
the Luxembourg Agriculture Council of 14-15 June 1999
accepted Portugal’s request and effectively decided to offset the
loss of the Portuguese quota for the production of tomato
concentrates compared to the planned apportionment of
quotas for 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. This loss reflected the
sharp fall in Portuguese production of industrial tomatoes in
1997/1998, caused by the unusually unfavourable weather
conditions.

The conclusions of the Council of Ministers concerning the
amendment of Regulation (EC) No. 2201/96 explained that a
new third paragraph was proposed for Article 6, providing
that an additional quantity of
fresh tomatoes would be
allocated to Portugal for the production of tomato concentrates
in 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. The additional quantity for
1999/2000 would be 83 468 tonnes. For 2000/2001, it would
be equivalent to the difference between the quota for Portugal
calculated in accordance with the arrangements for the pre-
vious paragraphs and the quota calculated by replacing
the quantity used in 1997/1998 with 884592 tonnes. The

additional quantity granted to Portugal would be added to the
overall quota of fresh tomatoes, referred to in paragraph 1,
and the quota for tomato concentrate referred to in the first
indent of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2, for the two
periods.

2. Comments

2.1.
Farming is a difficult activity which is frequently
affected by weather conditions. The ESC considers that
unusually unfavourable weather conditions, such as those
prevailing in Portugal in 1997/1998, should be prevented, as
far as possible, from having a cumulative negative effect on
farmers’ incomes.

2.2.
The ESC believes that the proposed regulation reflects
the spirit and the letter of the conclusions of the Council of
Agriculture Ministers of 14-15 June 1999. Notwithstanding
the financial implications (EUR 3,2 million for 2000 and a
provisional EUR 0,4 million for 2001), the ESC favours grant-
ing Portugal an additional quota of industrial tomatoes for
1999/2000 and 2000/2001 at the level proposed.

Brussels, 20 October 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI