Commission Regulation (EC) No 327/2001 of 16 February 2001 authorising the conclusion of private storage contracts for olive oil and opening an invitation to tender for a limited period for aid relating thereto

Commission Regulation (EC) No 327/2001
of 16 February 2001
authorising the conclusion of private storage contracts for olive oil and opening an invitation to tender for a limited period for aid relating thereto
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC of 22 September 1966 on the establishment of a common organisation of the market in oils and fats(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000(2), and in particular Article 12a thereof,
Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2768/98 of 21 December 1998 on the aid scheme for the private storage of olive oil(3), and in particular Article 1(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The first paragraph of Article 12a of Regulation No 136/66/EEC provides that, in order to regularise the market in the event of serious disturbance in certain regions of the Community, bodies offering sufficient guarantees and approved by the Member States may be authorised to conclude storage contracts for the olive oil they market.
(2) The third paragraph of Article 12a of that Regulation provides for aid to be granted for the performance of storage contracts. The aid may be granted by means of tenders.
(3) Regulation (EC) No 2768/98 establishes detailed rules and conditions for invitation to tender.
(4) The Commission has noted that average market prices for olive oil in Spain and Greece over the period from 17 to 31 January 2001, which constitutes a representative period, are less than 95 % of the intervention price for the 1997/98 marketing year for virgin and extra virgin olive oil. The quantities of olive oil available are causing market disturbances that could be reduced by measures for the private storage of virgin and extra virgin olive oil in bulk.
(5) In order to determine the aid to be granted for the performance of contracts for the private storage of olive oil in bulk, an invitation to tender should be opened for a limited period for a maximum quantity of virgin and extra virgin olive oil.
(6) In view of the period covered by this tendering procedure and subject to market developments, in order to ensure that the measure is effective contracts need not and should not extend beyond the end of 2001.
(7) Article 12a of Regulation No 136/66/EEC lays down that priority should be given to producer groups and associations thereof recognised in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 952/97 of 20 May 1997 on producer groups and associations thereof(4).
(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Oils and Fats,