Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/98 of 25 May 1998 introducing special temporary measures for hops

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1098/98 of 25 May 1998 introducing special temporary measures for hops
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 of 26 July 1971 on the common organisation of the market in hops (1) and in particular Article 16a thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas Article 16a of Regulation (EEC) No 1696/71 provides that if surpluses arise the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate action on production potential; whereas the market in hops is at present in surplus, for both short-term and structural reasons;
Whereas the aim of producer groups is to adjust production to market requirements; whereas they may use up to 20 % of the aid on appropriate measures to that end; whereas their scope for action in this area should be extended by allowing them to have recourse to temporary resting and/or permanent grubbing-up of areas under hops; whereas these measures will be additional to the special measures listed in Article 7(1)(b) of the abovementioned Regulation;
Whereas the production and marketing conditions for hops and thus also the economic viability of the sector differ from one Member State to another; whereas, for this reason, the decision to apply or not to apply the special measures should be taken at the level of the Member State concerned;
Whereas temporary resting and/or permanent grubbing-up can be permitted only if certain requirements are met, in particular non-cumulation of aid for areas temporarily rested and an obligation to reduce areas by 2002; whereas this will entail costs; whereas these costs, and loss of income, should be met in part by payment of an amount equal to the aid per hectare for a limited period; whereas provision should be made that temporary granting of an amount equal to the aid on such unharvested areas may therefore be permitted; whereas for effectiveness of supervision the minimum size of the areas which can benefit from these measures should be specified;
Whereas for the sake of effective control of the application of these measures the responsibilities of producer groups and of the Member States' competent authorities should be defined, and the power of adopting detailed rules of application should be given to the Commission,