Council Regulation (EC) No 2320/2003 of 17 December 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 on the common organisation of the market in hops

Council Regulation (EC) No 2320/2003
of 17 December 2003
amending Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 on the common organisation of the market in hops
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the third subparagraph of Article 37(2),
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,
Whereas:
(1) Article 12(5)(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71(3) fixes the aid per hectare for hops produced in the Community for a period of eight years, from the 1996 to the 2003 harvests.
(2) The assessment report that the Commission is obliged to present to the Council by 31 December 2003 pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 18 of Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71, will cover all provisions relating to the common organisation of the market, in particular the production aid scheme. That assessment can be accompanied by proposals. It is advisable in this context to provide for a detailed debate of the entire sector. In order to ensure a thorough debate, the period for which the aid has been fixed should be extended by one year.
(3) A producer group can withhold up to 20 % of the aid to finance special measures for adjusting to the market and the amounts withheld can accumulate for a period of three years. As it is proposed to extend the aid scheme for a year, the maximum accumulation period should also be extended for a year.
(4) Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 should be amended as a result,