Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-05-10-Speech-2-370"
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"en.20050510.29.2-370"2
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".
Mr President, I shall start by thanking Mr Wojciechowski and the Members of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development for all the work they have carried out on this report. I would like to place this proposal in its context. On 26 June 2003, the Council adopted a fundamental reform of the common agricultural policy which significantly changes the way that the European Union supports the agricultural sector. As far as potato starch is concerned, 40% of the aid paid to the producer has been decoupled and included in the single farm payment scheme. After enlargement, six of the ten new Member States have been involved in the potato starch quota system for the first time in 2004-2005 marketing year.
Since the potato starch production quotas were introduced in 1995, we have been trying to define a strategy to secure, enhance and promote the development of this very important sector.
I return to the proposal discussed today. It is of vital importance to preserve the stability of this fragile sector, while at the same time taking into account the fundamental changes due to the reform of the CAP and enlargement. Firstly, to roll over the quotas for two years instead of the three years foreseen in Regulation (EC) No 1868/94. This time-frame should allow us to analyse the initial effects of the CAP reform and enlargement on the potato starch sector and enable us to act quickly should the need arise.
Secondly, to roll over the existing quotas which have provided a stable market in the eight old Member States taking part in this regime. I am well aware of the fears in certain new Member States that their quotas negotiated in their accession treaties and based on a historical reference period might be too small. As usual, the development of the potato starch sector in all Member States will be closely monitored in the years to come.
The Commission appreciates the contribution of the Agriculture Committee to the development of this area. Several of the proposed amendments, however, go beyond the scope of the Commission’s proposal, especially as far as the time-frame for the proposal is concerned. Because a prolongation of four years would not allow us to react quickly to possible imbalances in the European starch market, the Commission cannot accept this amendment in the context of the proposal at hand.
The amendment concerning the transfer of quotas to new Member States certainly raises issues of great importance to the countries concerned. However, experience has shown that the starch potato yield fluctuates a lot, depending on climatic conditions. Allowing for the possibility of transnational balancing-out, with priority given to the new Member States, might incite starch producers in these Member States to increase the areas under contract, hoping for a transfer of unused quotas from other Member States, which could lead to a significant overshoot of their quotas in years when the climatic conditions in the European Union are favourable for potato growing, thus aggravating their situation.
In conclusion, the Commission cannot accept the amendments proposed in the report."@en1
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