European Parliament decision of 27 May 2015 on the opening of, and mandate for, interinstitutional negotiations on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 as regards the aid scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas and milk in the educational establishments (COM(2014)0032 — C8-0025/2014 — 2014/0014(COD))
Date: 2015-05-27
Institutions: Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Committee on Budgetary Control, Committee on Budgets, Committee on Culture and Education, Committee on Development, Committee on Regional Development, Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, European Parliament
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, State aid, drinking milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetable, nursery school, nutrition, primary education, secondary education








C_2016353EN.01008201.xml










27.9.2016   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 353/82





P8_TA(2015)0216
Aid scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas and milk in the educational establishments (Decision on the opening of interinstitutional negotiations)
European Parliament decision of 27 May 2015 on the opening of, and mandate for, interinstitutional negotiations on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 as regards the aid scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas and milk in the educational establishments (COM(2014)0032 — C8-0025/2014 — 2014/0014(COD))
(2016/C 353/15)

The European Parliament,






—


having regard to the proposal of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development,










—


having regard to Rule 73(2) and Rule 74 of its Rules of Procedure,




decides to open interinstitutional negotiations on the basis of the following mandate:

MANDATE


Amendment 1


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(2)


The experience gained with the application of the current schemes, together with the conclusions of the external evaluations 
and
 subsequent analysis of different policy options, point to the conclusion that the 
rationale which led to the establishment
 of the two school schemes is 
still relevant
. In the current context of declining consumption of fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk products, 
exacerbated by amongst other things
, 
the modern trend towards the
 consumption 
of
 highly processed foods which, additionally, are often high in added sugars, salt 
and
 fat, the Union aid to finance the supply to children in educational establishments of selected agricultural products should 
therefore continue to exist
.












(2)


The experience gained with the application of the current schemes, together with the conclusions of the external evaluations, subsequent analysis of different policy options 
and the social difficulties faced by Member States
, point to the conclusion that the 
continuation and strengthening
 of the two school schemes is 
of the utmost importance
. In the current context of declining consumption of 
fresh
 fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk products, 
especially among children
, 
and of an increasing incidence of child obesity as a result of
 consumption 
habits geared to
 highly processed foods which, additionally, are often high in added sugars, salt, fat 
and/or additives
, the Union aid to finance the supply to children in educational establishments of selected agricultural products should 
do more to promote healthy eating habits and the consumption of local products
.









Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 6. This compromise emphasises the importance of the school schemes, as well as the reasons why it should continue and be reinforced. Furthermore, following the Commission's decision to revaluate the proposal, it is important that the Parliament adopts a strong position in favour of the continuation of the schemes.


Amendment 2


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 3








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(3)


The analysis of different policy options points out that a unified approach under a common legal and financial framework is more appropriate and effective in meeting the specific objectives that the Common Agricultural Policy is pursuing through school schemes. This would allow Member States to maximise the impact of distribution within a constant budget and increase 
the
 management efficiency. However, in order to take into account the differences between the fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk products and their supply chains, certain elements should remain separate, such as the respective budgetary envelopes. In light of the experience with the current schemes, 
the
 participation in the scheme should continue to be voluntary for Member States. Taking into the account the different consumption situations across Member States, the possibility should be given to participating Member States to choose whether they want to distribute all or just one of the products eligible for the supply to children in educational establishments.












(3)


The analysis of different policy options points out that a unified approach under a common legal and financial framework is more appropriate and effective in meeting the specific objectives that the Common Agricultural Policy is pursuing through school schemes. This would allow Member States to maximise the impact of distribution within a constant budget and increase management efficiency. However, in order to take into account the differences between the fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk products and their supply chains, certain elements should remain separate, such as the respective budgetary envelopes. In light of the experience with the current schemes, participation in the scheme should continue to be voluntary for Member States. Taking into the account the different consumption situations across Member States, the possibility should be given to participating Member States to choose
, in agreement with the interested regions,
 whether they want to distribute all or just one of the products eligible for the supply to children in educational establishments. 
Member States could also consider introducing targeted measures in order to address declining milk consumption among adolescents.











Amendment 3


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 4








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(4)


A trend of declining consumption in particular of fresh fruit and vegetables including bananas and drinking milk has been identified. It is therefore appropriate to focus the distribution under the school schemes on these products. This would in turn also help reduce the organisational burden for schools, increase the impact of the distribution within a limited budget and would be in line with the current practice, as these products are most frequently distributed.












(4)


A trend of declining consumption in particular of fresh fruit and vegetables including bananas and drinking milk has been identified. It is therefore appropriate to focus the distribution under the school schemes on these products 
as a priority
. This would in turn also help reduce the organisational burden for schools 
and
 increase the impact of the distribution within a limited budget and would be in line with the current practice, as these products are most frequently distributed. 
However, in order to follow nutritional recommendations on calcium absorption, and given the increase in problems associated with intolerance of lactose in milk, Member States should be allowed to distribute other milk products, such as yoghurt and cheese, which have uncontested beneficial effects on children's health. Furthermore, efforts should be made to ensure the distribution of local and regional products.











Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 1 — part 3.


Amendment 4


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 5








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(5)


Educational measures that support the distribution are necessary in order to make the scheme effective in reaching its short- and long-term objectives of increasing the consumption of selected agricultural products and shaping healthier diets. Considering their importance, these measures should support both 
the
 fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk 
distribution
. They should be eligible for the Union aid. As 
supporting
 measures they represent a critical tool to reconnect children with agriculture and 
its different
 products and to meet the objectives that the scheme is pursuing, Member States should be allowed to include a wider variety of agricultural products 
into their thematic measures
. However, so as to promote healthy eating habits, the national 
health
 authorities should be involved in this process and approve the list of these products, as well as the two groups of products eligible for the distribution, and decide on their nutritional aspects.












(5)




Accompanying
 educational measures that support the distribution are necessary in order to make the scheme effective in reaching its short- and long-term objectives of increasing the consumption of selected agricultural products and shaping healthier diets. Considering their importance, these measures should support 
the distribution of
 both fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk 
and milk products
. They should be eligible for the Union aid. As 
accompanying educational
 measures, they represent a critical tool to reconnect children with agriculture and 
the variety of Union agricultural
 products, 
particularly those produced in their region, with the help of, for example, nutrition experts and farmers,
 and to meet the objectives that the scheme is pursuing, Member States should be allowed to include 
in their thematic measures
 a wider variety of agricultural products
, such as processed fruit and vegetables without the addition of sugar, salt, fat or sweeteners, and other local, regional or national specialities, such as honey, table olives, olive oil and dried fruits
. However, so as to promote healthy eating habits, the national authorities 
responsible for nutrition and/or health
 should be involved in this process and 
should
 approve the list of these products, as well as the two groups of products eligible for the distribution, and 
should
 decide on their nutritional aspects.









Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 2 — part 5.


Amendment 5


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 6








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(6)


In order to ensure 
a
 sound budgetary management, a fixed ceiling of the Union aid towards the distribution of fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk, 
supporting
 educational measures and related costs should be provided for. This ceiling should reflect the current situation. In light of the experience gained and with a view to 
simplify
 the management, the financing models should be approximated and based on a single approach as regards the level of Union financial contribution. It is therefore appropriate to limit the level of Union aid towards the price of products through a maximum Union aid per 
portion
 both for fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk and abolish the principle of obligatory co-financing for fruit and vegetables including bananas. Considering the price volatility of products in question, the power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of measures setting the 
levels
 of the Union aid 
towards the price of a portion of products and laying down the definition of a portion
.












(6)


In order to ensure sound budgetary management, a fixed ceiling of the Union aid towards the distribution of fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk, 
accompanying
 educational measures and related costs should be provided for. This ceiling should reflect the current situation. In light of the experience gained and with a view to 
simplifying
 the management, the financing models should be approximated and based on a single approach as regards the level of Union financial contribution. It is therefore appropriate to limit the level of Union aid towards the price of products through a maximum 
amount of
 Union aid per 
child and per distribution operation
 both for fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk and abolish the principle of obligatory co-financing for fruit and vegetables including bananas. Considering the price volatility of 
the
 products in question, the power to adopt certain acts 
in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
 should be delegated to the Commission in respect of measures setting the 
ceiling
 of the Union aid.









Amendment 6


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 7








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(7)


In order to ensure the efficient and targeted use of Union funds, the power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of measures fixing the indicative allocations of the Union aid to each Member State and the methods for reallocating aid between Member States on the basis of aid requests received. The indicative allocations should be fixed separately for the fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk in line with the voluntary approach to distribution. The allocation key for fruit and vegetables including bananas should reflect the current allocations by Member States, based on the objective criteria of the number of children in the age group of six- to ten-year olds as a proportion of the population, taking into the account also the development status of regions concerned. In order to allow Member States to maintain the scale of their current programmes and with a view 
of
 encouraging others to take up the distribution of milk, it is appropriate to use the combination of 
two
 keys for the allocation of the funds for milk, namely the historical use of funds by Member States under the School Milk Scheme 
and
 the objective criteria of the number of children in the age group of six- to ten-year olds as a proportion of the population used for the fruit and vegetables including bananas. In order to find the right proportion for these 
two
 keys, the power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of adopting additional rules concerning the balance between the 
two
 criteria. Furthermore, considering the recurrent changes in the demographic or development situation of regions in Member States, the power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of assessing every three years whether the Member States' allocations, based on those criteria, are still up to date.












(7)


In order to ensure the efficient and targeted use of Union funds, the power to adopt certain acts 
in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
 should be delegated to the Commission in respect of measures fixing the indicative allocations of the Union aid to each Member State and the methods for reallocating aid between Member States on the basis of aid requests received. The indicative allocations should be fixed separately for the fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk in line with the voluntary approach to distribution. The allocation key for fruit and vegetables including bananas should reflect the current allocations by Member States, based on the objective criteria of the number of children in the age group of six- to ten-year olds as a proportion of the population, taking into the account also the development status of regions concerned. In order to allow Member States to maintain the scale of their current programmes and with a view 
to
 encouraging others to take up the distribution of milk, it is appropriate to use the combination of 
four
 keys for the allocation of the funds for milk, namely the historical use of funds by Member States under the School Milk Scheme
, except in the case of Croatia, for which a specific fixed amount is to be determined on the basis of this Regulation,
 the objective criteria of the number of children in the age group of six- to ten-year-olds as a proportion of the population used for the fruit and vegetables including bananas
, the degree of development of the regions within a Member State and the setting-up of a minimum level of spending of the Union aid per child and per year
. In order to find the right proportion for these 
four
 keys, the power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of adopting additional rules concerning the balance between the 
four
 criteria. Furthermore, considering the recurrent changes in the demographic or development situation of regions in Member States, the power to adopt certain acts 
in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
 should be delegated to the Commission in respect of assessing every three years whether the Member States' allocations, based on those criteria, are still up to date. 
An increase of 5 % should be applied to the Union aid in the implementation of this scheme in outermost regions, in view of their limited agricultural diversification and the frequent impossibility of finding certain products in the region concerned, which involves higher transport and storage costs.











Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 4 — part 3.


Amendment 7


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 8








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(8)


In order to allow the Member States with a limited demographic size to implement a cost effective scheme, the power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of setting the minimum amount of the Union aid that Member States are entitled to receive for fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk.












(8)


In order to allow the Member States with a limited demographic size to implement a cost-effective scheme, the power to adopt certain acts 
in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
 should be delegated to the Commission in respect of setting the minimum amount of the Union aid that Member States are entitled to receive for fruit and vegetables including bananas
, milk
 and milk 
products
.









Amendment 8


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 9








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(9)


In the 
interest
 of sound administration and budget management, Member States wishing to participate in the distribution of fruit and vegetables including bananas and/or milk should apply every year for the Union aid. With a view 
of
 simplifying the procedures and management, 
this application
 should be 
done
 on the basis of separate aid requests. Following the requests of the Member States, the Commission should decide on the definitive allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas 
and
 milk within the appropriations available in the budget and after taking into account limited transfers between their allocations, which encourage 
prioritising
 of distribution based on 
the
 nutritional needs, The power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the measures setting the conditions and the limits concerning 
these
 transfers.












(9)


In the 
interests
 of sound administration and budget management, Member States wishing to participate in the distribution of fruit and vegetables including bananas and/or milk 
and milk products
 should apply every year for the Union aid. With a view 
to
 simplifying the procedures and management, 
such applications
 should be 
made
 on the basis of separate aid requests. Following 
receipt of
 the requests of the Member States, the Commission should decide on the definitive allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas 
and/or
 milk 
and milk products
 within the appropriations available in the budget and after taking into account limited transfers between their allocations, which encourage 
the prioritisation
 of distribution based on nutritional needs. The power to adopt certain acts 
in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
 should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the measures setting the conditions and the limits concerning 
those
 transfers.









Amendment 9


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 9 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(9a)






In order to simplify the administrative and organisational procedures for the schools taking part in the two programmes, the power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission, in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in respect of the introduction of single procedures for schools’ applications to participate and for monitoring.











Justification


It is important to reduce red tape which deters schools from participating, especially so that schools seeking to participate in both programmes should not be obliged to fill out two separate sets of forms or be subject to a variety of monitoring procedures.


Amendments 10 and 57


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 10








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(10)


The national strategy should be considered as the condition for 
the
 Member State's participation in the scheme 
and
 as a strategic 
multiannual
 document, setting out targets to be achieved by 
Member States
 and 
their
 priorities. Member States should be allowed to update them regularly, in particular in light of the evaluations and reassessment of priorities or targets.












(10)


The national strategy should be considered as a condition for 
a
 Member State’s participation in the scheme
. Members States wishing to participate should be required to present
 a strategic document 
covering a period of six years
, 
quantifying the existing problem and
 setting out targets to be achieved by 
them, methodologies in line with the problem presented
 and 
respective
 priorities. Member States should be allowed to update them regularly, in particular in light of the evaluations and reassessment of priorities or targets 
and of the success of their programmes
. 
When Member States update their national strategy, they should be required to formally consult with stakeholders within their Member State.











Amendment 11


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 11 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(11a)






In order to raise the profile of the scheme among those who benefit from it throughout the Union, it should be given a single identity and a Union logo, for compulsory use on posters relating to schools’ participation and in information materials made available to pupils under the accompanying educational measures. The Commission should therefore be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in order to establish specific criteria in respect of presentation, content, size and the display of the shared identity and the Union logo.











Justification


Amendment in line with AGRI compromise 5.


Amendment 12


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 12








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(12)


In order to ensure that the price of products provided to children under the scheme fully reflects the amount of the aid provided and that subsidised products are not deflected from their intended use, the power to adopt certain acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of establishment of price monitoring under the scheme.












(12)


In order to ensure that the price of products provided to children under the scheme fully reflects the amount of the aid provided and that subsidised products are not deflected from their intended use, the power to adopt certain acts 
in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
 should be delegated to the Commission in respect of establishment of price monitoring under the scheme. 
Those acts should not discourage the Member States from sourcing local produce.











Justification


Amendment in line with AGRI compromise 5.


Amendment 13


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 12 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(12a)






In order to verify the effectiveness of the programmes in the Member States, financing should be provided for initiatives to monitor and evaluate the results achieved, with particular attention being paid to medium-term changes in consumption.











Amendment 14


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 13 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(13a)






This Regulation should not interfere with the division of regional or local competences within the Member States, including regional and local self-government.











Amendment 15


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — title







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Aid for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas 
and
 milk, 
supporting
 educational measures and related costs


Aid for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas, milk 
and certain milk products, accompanying
 educational measures and related costs





Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 1 — part 1.


Amendment 16


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 1 — point a







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(a)


for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas, and milk;












(a)


for the supply of fruit and vegetables 
including
 bananas, milk 
and milk products as referred to in paragraph 2
;









Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 1 — part 1. This compromise supports the Commission proposal that Member States should still be allowed to distribute fresh products. The formulation ‘fruits and vegetables’ covers fresh and chilled products, ready to eat portions (such as peeled/sliced carrots in small bags) and also allows schools to squeeze the products in order to make fresh juices. It is up to Member States to decide and put in their strategy which (and how) fresh products should be distributed.


Amendment 17


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 1 — point b







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(b)


for 
supporting
 educational measures; and












(b)


for 
accompanying
 educational measures; and









Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 2 — part 1. Replacing ‘supporting’ by ‘accompanying’ aims at clarifying that educational measures supported by the EU under the school schemes are not the responsibility of school teachers but of external speakers like nutritionists, farmers etc.


Amendment 18


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 1 — point c







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(c)


to cover 
certain
 related costs linked to logistics and distribution, equipment, publicity, monitoring 
and
 evaluation.












(c)


to cover related costs linked to logistics and distribution, equipment, 
communication and
 publicity, monitoring, evaluation 
and other activities directly linked to the implementation of the scheme
.









Amendment 19


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 2







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





2.   Member States wishing to participate in the aid scheme established in paragraph 1 (‘the school scheme’) may distribute 
either
 fruit and vegetables including bananas 
or
 milk falling within CN code 0401
, or both
.


2.   Member States wishing to participate in the aid scheme established in paragraph 1 (‘the school scheme’) may distribute:




 










(a)




fruit and vegetables including bananas 
and/or










 










(b)




milk
, and milk products of the following categories (‘milk products’):










 








 










(i)






milk and cream
 falling within CN code 0401;












 








 










(ii)






buttermilk, curdled milk, yoghurt, kefir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream falling within CN code 0403, excluding those containing added flavouring or non-lactic materials falling within CN codes 0403 10 51 to 99 and 0403 90 71 to 99;














 








 










(iii)






cheese and curd falling within CN code 0406;














 








 










(iv)






lactose-free milk consisting of natural milk the composition of which has been changed with respect to its lactose content and not containing other non-lactic matter falling within CN code 0404 90
.













Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 1 — part 2. The purpose of these schemes is to encourage the consumption of agricultural products and install healthy eating habits. Furthermore, we have concrete arguments to justify that the consumption of drinking milk is falling; cheese and natural yoghurts are second best alternative due to intolerances to lactose.


Amendment 20


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 3







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





3.   As a condition for their participation in the school scheme Member States shall draw up, prior to their participation in the school scheme, and subsequently every 
6
 years, at national or regional level, a strategy for the implementation of the scheme. The strategy may be amended by a Member State, in particular in the light of monitoring and evaluation. The strategy shall 
at least
 identify the needs to be met, the ranking of the needs in terms of priorities, the target population, the results expected and the quantified targets to be attained in relation to the initial situation, and lay down the most appropriate instruments and actions for attaining those objectives.


3.   As a condition for their participation in the school scheme Member States shall draw up, prior to their participation in the school scheme, and subsequently every 
six
 years, at national or regional level, a strategy for the implementation of the scheme. The strategy may be amended by a Member State 
or by a regional authority
, in particular in the light of monitoring and evaluation 
and of the results achieved, making good use of the Union funds
. The strategy shall
, as a minimum,
 identify the needs to be met, the ranking of the needs in terms of priorities, the target population, the results expected and the quantified targets to be attained in relation to the initial situation, and 
shall
 lay down the most appropriate instruments and actions for attaining those objectives





Justification


Allowing greater scope for sub-national authorities to control the scheme in line with the constitutional distribution of competences within Member States. This amendment also reflects the opinion of the Committee of the Regions.


Amendment 21


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 4







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





4.   Member States shall, in order to make the school scheme effective, also provide for the 
supporting
 educational measures, which may include measures and activities aimed at connecting children with agriculture and a wider variety of agricultural products, 
educating
 about related issues, such as healthy eating habits, combating food waste, local food chains 
or
 organic farming.


4.   Member States shall, in order to make the school scheme effective, also provide for the 
accompanying
 educational measures, which may include measures and activities aimed at connecting children with agriculture
, such as visits to farms,
 and 
the distribution of
 a wider variety of agricultural products, 
such as processed fruit and vegetables and other local, regional or national specialities, such as honey, olives and olive oil, and dried fruits. This will contribute to education
 about related issues, such as healthy eating habits, combating food waste, local food chains, organic farming 
and sustainable production
.





Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 2 — part 2. Taking into account that educational measures allow for the occasional distribution of other products, the compromise includes here amendments related to local, regional and national specialities such as honey, olives, olive oil and dried fruits.


Amendment 50


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 5







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





5.   When drawing up their strategies, Member States shall determine a list of agricultural products, in addition to fruit and vegetables, bananas and milk, that may occasionally be included under the 
supporting
 educational measures.


5.   When drawing up their strategies, Member States shall determine a list of agricultural products, in addition to fruit and vegetables, bananas, and milk 
and milk products
, that may occasionally be included 
for distribution
 under the 
accompanying
 educational measures. 
With regard to processed fruit and vegetables, products containing added sugar, added fat, added salt, added sweeteners and/or artificial flavour enhancers (artificial food additive codes E620-E650) shall not be allowed.







Justification


Food additives numbered E620-E650 have harmful effects to consumers health if consumed in more significant quantities. Since the programme is aimed at promoting healthy food, allowing additives with dubious health effects would go against its goals.


Amendment 23


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 6







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





6.   Member States shall choose the products to be featured in the distribution or to be included in 
supporting
 educational measures on the basis of objective criteria which 
may
 include 
the
 health 
and
 environmental considerations, seasonality, variety, or availability of local produce, giving priority 
to the extent practicable
 to products originating in the Union, particularly to local purchasing, organic products
, short supply chains
 or environmental benefits.


6.   Member States shall choose the products to be featured in the distribution or to be included in 
accompanying
 educational measures on the basis of objective criteria which 
shall
 include health, environmental 
and ethical
 considerations, seasonality, variety, or availability of local produce, giving priority to products originating in the Union, particularly to local 
or regional production and
 purchasing, 
short supply chains,
 organic products or environmental benefits 
and quality products as designated in Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012
. 
In the case of bananas, fair trade products from third countries may be given priority only when equivalent products originating in the Union are not available.







Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 3.


Amendment 24


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 — paragraph 7







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





7.   Member States shall, in order to promote healthy eating habits, ensure that their 
competent health authorities endorse
 the list of 
all
 the products supplied under the school scheme and decide on their nutritional aspects.


7.   Member States shall, in order to promote healthy eating habits, 
including among children who are lactose-intolerant,
 ensure that their 
authorities responsible for nutrition and/or health agree to
 the list of the products supplied under the school scheme and decide on their nutritional aspects.





Amendment 25


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 1 — subparagraph 1 — introductory part







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





1.   The aid under the school scheme allocated for the distribution of products, the 
supporting
 educational measures and the related costs referred to in Article 23(1), and without prejudice to the provisions in paragraph 4, shall not exceed:


1.   The aid under the school scheme allocated for the distribution of products, the 
accompanying
 educational measures and the related costs referred to in Article 23(1), and without prejudice to the provisions in paragraph 4 
of this Article
, shall not exceed:





Justification


Amendment in line with AGRI Compromise Amendment 2.


Amendment 26


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 1 — subparagraph 1 — point b







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(b)


for milk: EUR 
80
 million per school year.












(b)


for milk 
and milk products
: EUR 
100
 million per school year.









Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 4 — part 4. An increase of 20 million euros for the milk envelop is foreseen in order to allow the introduction of a minimum spending per child per year for all the Member States and in order to ensure that no Member State loses as a result of the introduction of the new criteria.


Amendment 27


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 1 — subparagraph 2







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment







The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 227 determining the level of Union aid that may be paid towards the price of the portion of fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk distributed and laying down the definition of a portion. The Commission shall also be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 227 fixing a minimum amount and a maximum amount for the financing of supporting educational measures from Member States’ annual definitive allocations.






deleted







Justification


Powers set out in Article 24(1a) instead for the sake of consistency.


Amendment 28


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 — point a







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(a)


for fruit and vegetables including bananas: 
the
 objective criteria based on:












(a)


for fruit and vegetables including bananas: objective criteria based on:














 








(i)


the number of six- to ten-year old children as a proportion of the population,
















 








(i)


the number of six- to ten-year old children as a proportion of the population 
of the Member State concerned
,


















 








(ii)


the degree of development of the regions within a Member State so to ensure higher aid to less developed regions within the meaning of Article 3(5) of this Regulation, the outermost regions listed in Article 349 
of the Treaty or and
 the smaller Aegean Islands within the meaning Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) No 229/2013, and
















 








(ii)


the degree of development of the regions within a Member State so to ensure 
the provision of
 higher aid to less developed regions within the meaning of Article 3(5) of this Regulation, 
to
 the outermost regions listed in Article 349 
TFEU and/or to
 the smaller Aegean Islands within the meaning Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) No 229/2013,












 








 










(iii)






an additional increase of 5 % of the Union aid, to apply to the outermost regions, with a further 5 % increase if those regions import products from other outermost regions that are close by;
 and













Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 4 — part 1. Objective criteria based on the number of 6-10 years as proportion of the population and the degree of development of the regions within a Member State should be kept as it appears to be a fair system corresponding to the needs of Member States.


Amendment 29


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 — point b







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(b)


for milk: 
the historical use of funds under previous schemes for the supply of milk and milk products to children and objective criteria based on their proportion of six- to ten-year old children.














(b)


for milk 
and milk products, a combination of the following criteria, to apply during a transitional period of six years starting from the operation of the new programme
:








 








 










(i)






the number of six- to ten-year-old children as a proportion of the population of the Member State concerned;














 








 










(ii)






the degree of development of the regions within a Member State, so as to ensure the provision of higher aid to less developed regions within the meaning of Article 3(5) of this Regulation, to the outermost regions listed in Article 349 TFEU and/or to the smaller Aegean Islands within the meaning of Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) No 229/2013;














 








 










(iii)






the historical use of funds under previous schemes for the supply of milk and milk products to children, except for Croatia, for which a flat-rate payment system shall be introduced; in order to ensure a fair distribution of funds between Member States, this criterion shall be counterbalanced by the introduction of a minimum annual amount of Union aid per child in the age group referred in point (i) and defined on the basis of the average use of funds per child per Member State;














 








 










(iv)






an additional increase of 5 % of the Union aid, to apply to the outermost regions, with a further 5 % increase if those regions import products from other outermost regions that are close by;















Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 4 — part 2. Taking into account the amendments tabled, in particular those deleting the historical criteria for milk, the objective of this compromise is to set a fairer allocation system without penalising Member States that used efficiently the school milk scheme up to now and received larger amounts of aid. This compromise is based upon calculations that DG AGRI produced at the request of the rapporteur.


Amendment 30


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




After the end of the transitional period referred to in point (b), milk and milk products shall be subject to the criteria laid down in points (i) and (ii) of point (a)
.





Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 4 — part 2.


Amendment 31


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 2







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





The Commission shall assess at least every three years whether the indicative allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas and for milk remain consistent with objective criteria referred to in this paragraph.


The Commission shall assess at least every three years whether the indicative allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas, and for milk 
and milk products
 remain consistent with 
the
 objective criteria referred to in this paragraph.





Justification


Amendment in line with AGRI Compromise Amendment 1.


Amendment 32


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 2 a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




2a.
   
Member States shall ensure that a minimum of 10 % and a maximum of 20 % of the funding allocated to them annually under the school scheme is earmarked for accompanying educational measures.







Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 2 — part 4. Taking into account the fundamental importance of educational measures under the new scheme, and the amendments tabled, the compromise establishes a minimum of 10 % and a maximum of 20 % for the financing of educational measures.


Amendment 33


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 4







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





4.   Without exceeding the global ceiling of EUR 
230
 million resulting from the amounts referred to under points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1, Member States may transfer up to 
15 %
 of their indicative allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas or for milk to the other sector under the conditions to be specified by the Commission by means of delegated acts adopted in accordance with Article 227.


4.   Without exceeding the global ceiling of EUR 
250
 million resulting from the amounts referred to under points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1, Member States may transfer up to 
10 %
 of their indicative allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas or for milk 
and milk products
 to the other sector
, and this transfer may be increased to 20 % in the case of outermost regions,
 under the conditions to be specified by the Commission by means of delegated acts adopted in accordance with Article 227.





Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 4 — part 5. An increase of 20 million euros for the milk envelope is foreseen in order to allow the introduction of a minimum spending per child per year for all the Member States and in order to ensure that no Member State loses as a result of the introduction of the new criteria. On budgetary transfers, the compromise is a middle way between amendments tabled on this issue.


Amendment 34


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 5 a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




5a.
   
Union aid provided in accordance with paragraph 1 shall not be used to replace funding for any existing national school fruit or milk schemes providing fruit and vegetables, processed fruit and vegetables, bananas, milk and milk products or other school distribution schemes that include such products. Union aid shall be provided to supplement national financing.







Justification


Reintroducing Article 23, paragraph 6 from the CMO: EU funds should be genuinely additional to national financing, to avoid a deadweight effect.


Amendment 35


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 6 a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




6a.
   
Member States may decide, consistently with their respective strategies, not to grant the aid requested where the amount of aid requested is less than a minimum amount fixed by the Member State concerned.







Amendment 36


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 7







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





7.   The Union may also finance, pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, information, monitoring and evaluation measures relating to the school scheme, including raising public awareness of 
it
, and related networking measures.


7.   The Union may also finance, pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, information, 
communication and publicity,
 monitoring and evaluation measures relating to the school scheme, including raising public awareness of 
its objectives, especially targeting parents and trainers,
 and related networking measures 
and other activities directly linked to the implementation of the school scheme
.





Amendment 37


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 23 a — paragraph 8







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





8.   Member States participating in the school scheme shall publicise, at the places where the food is distributed, their involvement in the scheme and the fact that it is subsidised by the Union. Member States shall ensure the added value and the visibility of the Union school scheme in relation to the provision of other meals in educational establishments.


8.   Member States participating in the school scheme shall publicise, at the places where the food is distributed, their involvement in the scheme and the fact that it is subsidised by the Union
, by way of posters at school entrances. Member States may, in addition, use any suitable communication medium such as dedicated websites, informative graphic material, and information and awareness-raising campaigns. A common identifier and Union logo shall be used on all accompanying information material
. Member States shall ensure the added value and the visibility of the Union school scheme in relation to the provision of other meals in educational establishments.





Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 5 — part 1. Member States distributing the EU aid should use posters at school entrances in order to ensure a better visibility of the EU action as foreseen in the existing implementing regulations for the schemes. Taking into account the EU added value of the scheme, it is important to strengthen its visibility and public awareness, especially at a time when the disillusionment on Europe is increasing.


Amendment 38


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 24 — paragraph 1 — point c







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(c)


the drawing-up of the national or regional strategies and on the 
supporting
 educational measures.












(c)


the drawing-up of the national or regional strategies and on the 
accompanying
 educational measures.









Justification


Amendment in line with AGRI Compromise Amendment 2.


Amendment 39


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 24 — paragraph 2 — introductory part







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





2.   In order to ensure the efficient and targeted use of 
European
 funds, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 227 concerning:


2.   In order to ensure the efficient and targeted use of 
Union
 funds, 
to ensure their fair distribution between the Member States and to limit the administrative workload for schools taking part in the scheme and for Member States,
 the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 227 concerning:





Amendment 40


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 24 — paragraph 2 — point –a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(-a)






the maximum amount of Union aid per child and per distribution operation, by way of contribution to the cost of the fruit and vegetables, including bananas, and of milk and milk products distributed;











Justification


Delegated powers moved from Article 23a(1) for the sake of textual consistency. To ensure the sound management of funding for the scheme, it would be better to establish a maximum amount of aid per distribution operation rather than per portion, which would be somewhat difficult to monitor — see amendment to recital 6.


Amendment 41


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 24 — paragraph 2 — point a







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











a)


the indicative allocation of aid between Member States for fruit and vegetables including bananas
, and
 milk, 
and where appropriate its revision following the assessment referred to in the second subparagraph
 of Article 23a(2), the minimum amounts of Union aid for each Member State, the method for reallocating the aid allocation between Member States based on aid applications received, and the additional rules concerning how the criteria referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 23a(2) 
shall
 be taken into account for the allocation of the funds,












a)


the indicative allocation of aid between Member States for fruit and vegetables including bananas, milk 
and milk products
, 
the minimum amount of annual Union aid spent per child as referred to in point (b)
 of Article 23a(2), the minimum amounts of Union aid for each Member State, the method for reallocating the aid allocation between Member States based on aid applications received, and the additional rules concerning how the criteria referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 23a(2) 
are to
 be taken into account for the allocation of the funds;









Amendment 42


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 24 — paragraph 2 — point b







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(b)


the conditions concerning the transfers between the allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas and milk;












(b)


the conditions concerning the transfers between the allocations for fruit and vegetables including bananas
, milk
 and milk 
products
;









Justification


Amendment in line with AGRI CAM 1.


Amendment 43


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 24 — paragraph 2 — point c







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(c)


the costs and/or measures that are eligible for Union aid and the possibility of fixing 
minimum amounts and
 maximum amounts for specific costs;












(c)


the costs and/or measures that are eligible for Union aid and the possibility of fixing maximum amounts for specific costs;









Amendment 44


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 24 — paragraph 2 — point c a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(ca)






the introduction of single application procedures for educational establishments seeking to participate and single control procedures;











Justification


In addition to the technical criteria set out in the implementing act under Article 25(c), it would be useful to establish for each delegated act single application procedures for educational establishments seeking to participate and single control procedures, so as to lighten the administrative burden currently deterring prospective participants, in particular schools wishing to participate in both schemes.


Amendment 45


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 24 — paragraph 3 — introductory part







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





3.   In order to promote awareness of the school scheme the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 227, requiring Member States with a school scheme to publicise 
the subsidising role of the Union aid
.


3.   In order to promote 
and increase
 awareness of the school scheme 
and to heighten the visibility of Union aid
, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 227, requiring Member States with a school scheme to 
clearly
 publicise 
the fact that they are receiving Union support for implementing the scheme, as regards:






 










(a)






the specific criteria related to the use of posters and other information support;










 










(b)






the establishment of specific criteria regarding the presentation, composition, size and design of the common identifier and Union logo
.









Justification


AGRI Compromise Amendment 5 — part 2. Delegated powers in line with amendment to Article 23a(8).


Amendment 46


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 25 — point a







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(a)


the definitive allocation of aid for fruit and vegetables including bananas and/or milk between participating Member States within the limits set out in Article 23a(1), taking account of the transfers referred to in Article 23a(4);












(a)


the definitive allocation of aid for fruit and vegetables including bananas and/or milk 
and milk products
 between participating Member States within the limits set out in Article 23a(1), taking account of the transfers referred to in Article 23a(4);









Justification


Amendment in line with AGRI Compromise Amendment 1.


Amendment 47


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 5

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 25 — point f a (new)







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(fa)






methods for dealing with deficiencies occurring in the implementation process, in order to avoid blockages caused by excessively burdensome bureaucracy;











Amendment 48


Proposal for a regulation


Article 1 — paragraph 1 — point 7

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
Article 217 — subparagraph 1







Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States may, in addition to Union aid provided for in Article 23, make national payments for supplying the products to children in educational establishments or for the related costs referred to in Article 23(1)
(c)
.


Member States may, in addition to 
receiving and applying
 the Union aid provided for in Article 23, make national 
or regional
 payments for 
the purpose of
 supplying the products to children
, together with accompanying educational measures,
 in educational establishments, or for 
meeting
 the related costs referred to in 
point (c)
 of Article 23(1).