57 observAtions 14. as already mentioned in relation to paragraph 3, reference should be made to the commission's replies to the court of auditors' special report no 6/2001 on milk quotas. the commission stressed that 'it is clear from the council's decisions that adapting milk production to the level of internal consumption was neither a political nor an economic objective' (see the commission's replies to paragraphs 68–69 of special report no 6/2001). textbox 2 second box : so far it has been too early to conduct a comprehensive study of the impact of decoupling on the abandonment of milk production, particularly since decoupling only entered into force in calendar year 2006 (budget 2007). the agriculture and rural development dg evaluation plan for 2009–11 provides for an evaluation of the market effects of partial decoupling that was launched this year, with the objective of examining the market effects of the aid schemes that remained coupled or partially coupled. the contract is expected to be signed in autumn 2009, and the evaluation will be carried out in 2010. furthermore, two evaluations are planned in 2010–11 for the income effects of direct support and for the dairy sector respectively. replies of tHe commission 16. when the milk quota scheme was introduced, a guaranteed total quantity was set for most member states corresponding to milk delivered during 1981, plus 1 % (article 5c(3) of council regulation (eec) no 804/68 as amended by article 1 of council regulation (eec) no 856/84). in recognition of the particular circumstances of milk production in ireland and italy, the guaranteed total quantities for these member states were based on 1983 deliveries (with regard to italy, see recital no 9 of council regulation (eec) no 856/84). italy was therefore treated more favourably than other member states. the increasing quota under-use in the uk, sweden and france has different reasons: for instance, the french under-use is due to the strict quota management system of the french administration. 17. as already explained in the reply to paragraph 16, in 1984 the council fixed the level of quotas for member states with reference to a common base. subsequently, the commission received a mandate to manage the quantities produced within the quotas. the main aim of the quotas was to limit production and consequently put a stop to the accumulation of stocks of butter and milk powder, which had reached excessive levels. for example, at the end of 1986, total butter stocks were 1.3 million tonnes, which represents 59 % of the 2.2 million tonnes produced that year, compared with stocks of slightly over 80 000 tonnes or 4 % of eu butter production in 2007. special report no 14/2009 – Have the management instruments applied to the market in milk and milk products achieved their main objectives? 
17. liksom redan förklarats i svaret på punkt 16 fastställde rådet 1984 kvotnivån för medlemsstaterna med hänvisning till en gemensam bas. följaktligen fick kommissionen mandat att förvalta de kvantiteter som producerades inom ramen för kvoterna. kvoternas huvudsakliga syfte var att begränsa produktionen och därmed stoppa uppbyggnaden av lagren av smör och mjölkpulver, som hade blivit alltför stora. i slutet av 1986 uppgick till exempel de totala smörlagren till 1,3 miljoner ton, vilket utgör 59 procent av de 2,2 miljoner ton som producerades det året, jämfört med lagren på drygt 80 000 ton eller 4 procent av eu:s smörproduktion under 2007. särskild rapport nr 14/2009 – Har de viktigaste målen för förvaltningsinstrumenten för marknaden för mjölk och mjölkprodukter uppnåtts?