title: Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on 'The agricultural aspects of the Commission's Communication "Agenda 2000"'

eurovoc_concepts:
Central and Eastern European Countries
World Trade Organisation
common agricultural policy
common organisation of markets
liberalisation of the market

text: 9. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 73/71 Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on ‘The agricultural aspects of the Commission’s Communication “Agenda 2000”’ (98/C 73/21) On 2 October 1997 the Economic and Social Committee decided, in accordance with Rule 23(3) of its Rules of Procedure, to draw up an opinion on ‘The agricultural aspects of the Commission’s Communication “Agenda 2000”’. The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Committee’s work on the matter, adopted its opinion on 6 November 1997. The rapporteur was Mr Bastian, the co-rapporteur, Mr Wilms. The Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion at its 350th plenary session of 10 and 11 December 1997 (meeting of 10 December 1997) by 93 votes to 23 with 9 abstentions. 1. Introduction 1. 1. The proposed reforms of the common market organizations (COM) in the arable crop, beef/veal and milk sectors come at a time when agriculture is subject to the following influences: — a predicted rise in the world’s population of about 1 billion people over the next ten years, as well as growth in the effective demand for foodstuffs (particularly in Asia); — the resumption in 2000 of negotiations on the liberalization of international agricultural markets under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in accordance with the Uruguay Round agreements; — the probable accession to the EU of countries of central and eastern Europe (CEEC), as well as Cyprus; — the continuation of European partnership with the countries of the southern Mediterranean (inter alia through the establishment of a free-trade area with these countries by the year 2010), a policy of vital importance for the development and stability of this area, as well as for the future of EU Mediterranean products. 1. 2. In Agenda 2000 the Commission comes out strongly in favour of the increased competitiveness of Community agriculture in order ‘to ensure that Union producers take full advantage of positive world market developments’ (1). It therefore proposes to deepen and extend the 1992 reform ‘through further shifts from price support to direct payments, developing a coherent rural policy to accompany this process’ (1). 2. General assessment 2. 1. The Committee welcomes Agenda 2000 as a basis for a comprehensive debate. The European Union, EU farmers, EU industrialists and their counterparts in the applicant countries, all need a clear vision of what the future is likely to hold for the common agricultural policy (CAP). The Committee considers that the agricultural 2. 1. 1. aspects of Agenda 2000 provide a sufficiently detailed basis for further discussions of the changing face of CAP and for the adoption of appropriate decisions. Any decisions taken will help to lay down the direction of future agricultural policy and will inevitably have to take account of the future developments outlined in paragraph 1. 1 and the effects these might have on European agriculture. 2. 2. Whilst generally endorsing the objectives as- signed by Agenda 2000 to the future CAP, the Committee is convinced that unanswered questions remain and that the ways in which these objectives are to be realized lend themselves to criticism. 2. 2. 1. The Commission sets out a number of ‘pol- icy’ (2) objectives for the future CAP, viz. : boosting the competitiveness of Community agriculture, externally and internally, particularly in the light of the forthcoming WTO negotiations; giving consumers guarantees about food safety and food quality; ensuring a decent standard of living for the farming community and contributing to the stability of farm incomes; incorporating environ- mental objectives into the CAP; promoting sustainable agriculture and renewable energy sources; creating alternative sources of income for farmers and their families; simplifying EU legislation (particularly for the purposes of CEEC membership). 2. 2. 2. Whilst emphasizing that the fundamental CAP objectives laid down in the Treaty of Rome will continue to remain valid in the future, the Committee broadly approves Agenda 2000’s objectives although it considers that they should not be artificially ranked since they are all important. The Committee regrets however that the (1) Agenda 2000, Rapid Text File IP/97/660 p. 6. (2) Agenda 2000, Vol. I, p. 27. C 73/72 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 3. 98 Commission has not dwelt on two aspects of agricultural policy which it considers to be of paramount importance: — encouraging greater use of the land, bearing in mind specific regional features and taking into account the impact of the CAP on the sectors upstream and downstream of agriculture, which are important for the development of rural areas, and considering in particular the strengthening of the economic organization of producers and the maintenance and development of a real policy for the processing and marketing tools existing in these areas; in practice this means encouraging a more balanced distribution over the countryside of productive farming activities and the chain of ancillary activities, through a fairer spatial and social distribution of opportunities for development and growth, with special reference to rural areas, and taking account of the impact of agricultural policy on each link in the chain and related effects on income distribution; — keeping a close watch on employment in the agricul- tural sectors further upstream and downstream as well as in rural areas as a whole, so as not to aggravate the situation, bearing in mind that job-creation is a priority in the EU. 2. 2. 3. The Committee considers that the EU and Member States must — not least in the interests of safeguarding jobs — do everything to further improve the productivity and competitiveness of agriculture, encourage young farmers to set up in agriculture and promote the creation of skilled jobs in upstream and downstream agricultural sectors and in craft-based industries. 2. 2. 3. 1. The Committee considers that in order to achieve these objectives (improving productivity and competitiveness of agriculture, encouraging young far- mers to set up in agriculture and creating jobs), the necessary steps must be taken to encourage the creation of cooperatives and support lines for those already in existence, given the decisive contribution of farm cooperatives to the economy of rural areas, and the value added they give to farm produce through direct placement on the market: this constitutes the best possible guarantee for farm incomes and, consequently, of employment and spatial planning objectives. 2. 2. 3. 3. The Committee also recognizes that the CEEC are in a different situation in that they are faced with serious under-employment in agriculture. The Committee is most concerned about the way ‘social issues’ are being handled in these countries in the context of agricultural modernization. The Union needs to be particularly vigilant about these matters both before and after their accession. 2. 2. 4. The Committee also queries whether the Com- mission’s proposed budgetary framework is capable of consolidating existing common policies within an enlarged EU. 2. 2. 4. 1. The extra appropriations proposed by the Commission for Structural Funds and economic and social cohesion may seem inadequate, especially in the light of the enormous financial needs of the applicant countries if they are to restructure and modernize their economies, particularly in the agricultural and agri-food sectors. 2. 2. 4. 2. As far as agricultural policy is concerned, the Committee fears that the Union’s aim of ‘stabilizing’ farm incomes cannot be achieved with the measures proposed by the Commission in Agenda 2000. The Committee regrets that the Commission has not studied the possible effects of its proposals on trends in farm incomes, as well as on the future structural development of agriculture and on consumers, as it has done in the case of market trends. Finally, the Committee wonders whether the 2. 2. 5. Commission has adequately gauged the impact on the European economy of the transition to the third stage of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the single currency when it stipulates an average annual growth rate in the EU of 2,5 % between 2000 and 2006 as the basis for its assumptions. The Committee would like to know to what extent the EU’s financial perspectives, especially for the EAGGF Guarantee Section, would be jeopardized if growth falls below 2,5 % (cf. 5. 1). The Committee also attaches considerable importance to the development of the agri-monetary regime during the third stage of EMU and will closely scrutinize the Commission’s proposals on this subject. 2. 2. 3. 2. Moreover, agriculture must continue to act as a locomotive in the development of the rural economy (for instance by strengthening upstream and downstream links and by forging closer ties between jobs in agri- culture, craft-based sectors and industry. ). In the view of the Committee, this is how agriculture will contribute to the stabilization of the rural population in EU-15 during the next decade. 2. 2. 6. The Committee urges that all these points be properly taken into account when the future of the CAP is being discussed. The Committee considers that it is vital for the EU to secure the broadest possible consensus on the future direction of the CAP based on a discussion of Agenda 2000. A consensus is needed both for CAP reform and to defend the EU’s common agricultural policy objectives and instruments during the forth- coming international trade negotiations. 9. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 73/73 2. 3. In the Committee’s opinion, what is at stake is the EU’s agricultural identity, which is built on the production of wholesome, high-quality foodstuffs (par- ticular attention should be paid to local specialities, given their importance in spatial planning and employment), protection of the environment and a living countryside. The Committee considers that the EU must 2. 3. 1. maintain its multi-functional vision of agriculture when it reforms the CAP. In Europe, agriculture’s role is not simply to produce wholesome, high-quality food and non-food produce. It also plays a vital role in land-use and spatial planning, and is a sine qua non for the economic and social development of rural areas, and for the conservation of natural resources and the landscape. In this context the CAP is above all a policy 2. 3. 2. for managing agricultural and food markets. However, it has considerable implications in social, environmental and land-use terms. And it is its attempt to embrace all these fields that singles out EU agricultural policy. As confirmation of its international role, the Committee would like the EU to preserve this approach to the CAP and to highlight all the work done in Europe to satisfy the expectations of consumers and the public at large with regard to agriculture. 2. 3. 3. Given the complexity and fragility of the balances underpinning the CAP, the Committee would also like the reform to be global. It must take account of all sectors, and not simply those for which the Commission has submitted proposals in Agenda 2000 (cf. 3. 5). All the remarks and suggestions put forward 2. 3. 4. in this opinion spring from the resolve to promote this model of a multi-functional agriculture sector in the Union. 3. Comments on individual sectors of production The proposals set out in Agenda 2000 must be analyzed in the light of the Commission’s forecasts of agricultural market trends for the years 2000 to 2006, as presented to the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 21 and 22 April 1997 in the report entitled CAP 2000 (see Appendix 2) (1). 3. 1. Cereals 3. 1. 1. From the year 2000 the Commission is propos- ing a one-step 20 % reduction in the cereals intervention price to a level of ECU 95,35/t in order to consolidate the single market and pave the way for participation in the expected expansion of the world market. (1) SEC(97) 819 final. 3. 1. 1. 1. The lower price would be (partly) offset by the establishment of a non-crop specific area payment set at ECU 66/t (2). The Commission proposes to lower this payment ‘if the market prices are sustained at a higher level than currently foreseen’ (3). The Committee would nevertheless like to know what the Commission’s forecasts are in this area. It would also like to know what the Commission’s analysis would be if the trend were reversed, i. e. if market prices were to fall below the level covered by the proposed compensation (ECU 95/t). 3. 1. 2. common organization of the cereals market should: The Committee considers that by 2006 the — enable the EU to export worldwide while making only limited use of the export refund mechanism, — steer clear of the use of set-aside as far as possible, — protect EU farmers against the volatility of world prices. 3. 1. 3. The Committee considers that to satisfy these three conditions it will not be necessary to lower the intervention price for cereals by as much as 20 %. But if this happened, the new intervention price would be too far below the average cereals price on international markets (approx. ECU 125/t (4) for red soft winter for 1991-1996) and existing common market regime instruments would only come into play in the event of a sharp fall in prices (in which case intervention would operate as a ‘safety net’). This being so, farmers and all other operators in the sector would have to learn to protect themselves against the volatility of world prices without the benefit of the day-to-day protection afforded by the common market regime. 3. 1. 4. Although the Commission believes that world cereal prices should normally be above the proposed intervention prices, the Committee considers that it would be dangerous for the EU to agree to the total abolition of cereal export subsidies at the next WTO negotiations. The effectiveness, in terms of international competitiveness, of a reduction in the European inter- vention price might in fact be weakened by a downward drift in the currency of the EU’s principal competitor, the United States. It is therefore very important for the EU to maintain room for manoeuvre in terms of exportable cereal tonnages (with refunds) and to secure the globalization of authorized tonnages for all types of cereals (5). (2) The theoretical ‘shortfall’ of ECU 12/t for farmers would be easily made up for by gains in productivity and the current trend towards bigger farms. (3) Agenda 2000, Vol. I, p. 29. (4) Figure taken from information published by the Inter- national Cereals Council. (5) The Union currently requires a higher level of export refunds for secondary cereals such as barley than for wheat. C 73/74 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 3. 98 3. 1. 5. The Commission is also proposing the abolition of aid for silage cereals, and particularly silage maize. The Committee considers that there is a need to properly evaluate the impact of this abolition on the competitiveness of beef and dairy production and on the maize sector as a whole. The Committee therefore calls upon the Commission to undertake a comprehen- sive study of the implications of its proposal regarding silage maize. 3. 1. 6. Finally, the Committee welcomes the Com- mission’s set-aside proposal. It hopes that the promising outlook on the international markets will allow the EU to steer clear of this instrument in future whilst emphasizing that set-aside should in principle be retained as an instrument for managing production. In this context, and given the links between the development of certain agri-industrial products and set-aside, the Committee would ask the Commission to make pro- vision for a specific programme for non-food renewables and for making greater use of biomass for energy production and as a raw material for industrial purposes, in order to contribute to the safeguarding of jobs in rural areas and the reduction of CO2 emissions. 3. 2. Oilseeds and protein crops 3. 2. 1. By proposing a non-crop specific area payment of ECU 66/t, the Commission would in reality be reducing significantly current aid for oilseeds and protein crops (although the latter would receive supplementary aid of ECU 6,5/t). The Commission claims that its proposal 3. 2. 1. 1. seeks to a) simplify rules and regulations, b) ensure that aid is neutral in terms of crop rotation selection, and c) give a ‘green’ tinge to aid in respect of the ‘boxes’ of the Uruguay Round agricultural agreement. 3. 2. 1. 2. The Committee believes that the proposal would nevertheless deprive the EU of an instrument for steering production: given identical costs but lower yields, it would become less advantageous (with the same premium) (1) to grow oilseeds and protein crops in the EU than to grow cereals. 3. 2. 2. If the Commission proposals were applied in their present form, they would most likely precipitate a sharp decline in the European area under oilseed and protein crops, even though the EU is only 50 % self-sufficient in vegetable oils and 20 % self-sufficient in oilseed cake. The Commission’s proposals would thus jeopardize the fundamental strategy adopted 25 years ago by the EU at the time of the American soya embargo, namely to encourage the production of oilseeds and protein crops of European origin. The Committee would point out that some major international producers of oilseeds and protein crops (e. g. Brazil and Argentina) impose export duties on their producers, thereby ham- pering efforts to supply the Community market. 3. 2. 3. Since the prices of oilseeds and protein crops are already at world levels, there is no urgent or valid reason for the Commission to propose a radical reform in this sector concurrently with the one proposed for cereals (unless the possible budget savings on oilseeds/protein crops are an end in themselves). The expected benefits (simplification and ‘de facto’ termi- nation of the Blair House Agreement) would seem to totally out of proportion to the other foreseeable effects. The Committee notes the paradox in wanting to shake off the shackles of the Blair House Agreement (which limits any extension of oilseed acreage in the EU) and yet possibly winding up with a shrinking of oilseed acreage. 3. 2. 4. The Committee considers that oilseed and protein crop production must continue to be the subject of substantial ‘positive discrimination’ vis-à-vis cereals between 2000 and 2006 so as not to jeopardize the future of an entire sector. 3. 2. 4. 1. To this end the Committee proposes that complementary aid be given to prevent a massive switch from oilseed and protein crops to cereal production and to guarantee equilibrium between these various crops (and hence a satisfactory level of self-sufficiency in oilseed and protein crops). This complementary aid, which might take the form either of crop rotation grants or of a different type of aid for crops where there is a production shortfall (including oilseed and protein crops), should be conceived in such a way that it would enable the Union to remain free of Blair House constraints and so be able to prepare for CEEC accession, CEEC being agronomically well-suited to oilseed pro- duction. Since oilseed production in the CEEC is complementary to that of the Union, there is no cause for concern about competition between CEEC and EU products. 3. 3. Beef/veal The Commission is proposing a tapering off of 3. 3. 1. ‘effective market support’ (2) of 30 %, bringing it down from the present ECU 2 780/t to ECU 1 950/t over the period 2000 to 2002. As compensation, annual headage aid would be gradually increased (rising to ECU 215 for suckler cows, ECU 368 for bulls, ECU 232 for steers, and introducing a payment of ECU 70 for dairy cows). (1) The introduction of specific aid of ECU 66/t will in fact result in an income shortfall of ECU 28/t for producers of oilseeds compared with the present situation (i. e. 2,3 times the cereal sector’s loss of income as a result of partial compensation). (2) Agenda 2000, Vol. I, p. 30. 9. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 73/75 3. 3. 2. As the Commission itself explains in its report on CAP 2000 (1), this proposal would bring the price of European beef (ECU 1 950/t) below the estimated price of American beef in 2000 (ECU 2 125/t). It would however remain above the expected price of beef in Australia (ECU 1 738/t) and, a fortiori, in Argentina. 3. 3. 3. The Committee considers that, even if the intervention price fell sharply, the EU would be unable to depend a priori on exports to offset the considerable imbalance expected in its beef market until 2006. All it could do would be to maintain its export market share and carve out a number of new high-value markets. 3. 3. 4. The Committee considers that the proposed strategy of bringing down official European prices to match world market prices does not take sufficient account of the specific role of beef farming in terms of quality, tracability, jobs, land-use, and the economic vitality of certain rural areas in Europe. In the view of the Committee the EU should give priority to stabilizing its internal market in terms of prices and supply (hence ensuring a stable income for its producers), whilst preserving the necessary flexibility to produce enough beef to supply its traditional export markets (North Africa, Near East and Russia for example). 3. 3. 8. T h e C o m m i s s i o n p r o p o s a l s m u s t t a k e a c c o u n t o f s p e c i f i c r e g i o n a l f e a t u r e s 3. 3. 8. 1. The Committee urges that any future reform of the common beef/veal régime should take account of specific regional features and different systems of production in the EU. 3. 3. 8. 2. Some European regions in fact engage in more extensive beef/veal production, particularly in regions specializing in veal-producing suckler herds. But, in the event of price reductions, according to current Commission proposals, the rise in compensatory payments would essentially involve a special payment for male bovines (SPMB), available principally to producers engaged in more intensive stockfarming. Europe’s suck- ler herds and calves reared for breeding and slaughter will then inevitably bear the brunt of the fall in prices and will not receive any specific compensation, thereby leading the veal-producing suckler herd sector down a blind alley. 3. 3. 8. 3. The Committee would point out that some Member States have called for greater consideration to be given to ‘area’ or other criteria as the basis on which to pay compensation for a further reduction in the official beef price. Hence the question of whether the effect of introducing per hectare folder premiums has been studied by the European Commission in any detail and why the subject of these premiums has not been addressed in Agenda 2000. 3. 3. 5. The Committee considers that the EU will therefore have to tread carefully between measures designed to curb the quantities of beef produced and the reduction of official prices. 3. 4. Milk The Committee believes 3. 3. 6. that a certain reduction of the official price is no doubt necessary to boost beef consumption and to close the price competitiveness gap between red and white meats (pigmeat, poultrymeat) which will have widened with the fall in cereal prices. Such a reduction might vary according to the categories of meat concerned. The Committee feels that there is a need for the Commission to undertake an analysis of the impact of lower cereal prices on beef and veal (as well as on sheepmeat). The Committee is moreover opposed to the 3. 3. 7. abolition of intervention and its replacement by private storage aid. This proposal is extremely sensitive given the likelihood of imbalances by 2000/2006 on markets (cf. Appendix 2) whose vulnerability has been shown up by the recent BSE crisis. 3. 4. 1. The Commission proposes that the quota system be extended until 2006. However, so as not to give dairy producers ‘the impression that the present system with its intrinsic rigidities can last for ever’, it recommends the introduction of greater ‘flexibility’ (2) in the common milk market. The Commission suggests a reduction of 10 % in the official price of milk over the period in question and the introduction of a new yearly payment of ECU 145 per dairy cow to offset the fall in price (on top of the new aid of ECU 70 per dairy cow in the beef sector). The Commission feels that this flexibility will permit the EU to export over the period 2000-2006 while still honouring its commitments under GATT. 3. 4. 2. The Committee considers that the Commission proposal does not offer a clear road ahead for this sector. This is because it does not: — provide a clear view of the future of milk quotas (given the difficulties posed by their allocation between Member States), — release the pressure of the super-levy, (1) SEC(97) 819 final. (2) Agenda 2000, Vol. I, p. 31. C 73/76 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 3. 98 — ensure a real and lasting access to the world market, — take into account the situation of less favoured regions. 3. 4. 2. 1. It therefore leaves EU producers in a state of uncertainty, does not hold out a real solution to the difficulties facing operators, and does not give the CEEC a clear picture of the common régime to which they will eventually be subject. The Committee urges the Commission to 3. 4. 3. submit a more ambitious proposal. The new proposal must aim to provide a broader and more lasting basis for strengthening the sector’s competitiveness and gaining greater access to international markets, while also stabilizing producers’ incomes and securing con- tinued milk production throughout the EU (and especially in disadvantaged and upland areas where milk production is so important). of the land. Long distances and scattered parcels limit the scope for structural adjustment. These factors push up costs in relation to output. With the reductions proposed by the Commission, market prices would not cover variable costs and would deter production. 3. 6. 2. The Committee points out the importance of agriculture as the backbone of the rural economy in the northern countries of the EU. The proposed price reductions would jeopardize the long-standing viability of farming in these regions. 3. 6. 3. The Committee calls for suitable measures to maintain adequate production incentives in northern regions (as well as in southern regions where there are extreme climatic conditions) — for instance by implementing the Committee’s proposals whilst taking into account regional identities in different production sectors. 3. 5. Mediterranean products 4. Comments on the strategy for preparing WTO negotiations and CEEC enlargement It is unfortunate that the future of these 3. 5. 1. products (tobacco, olive oil, rice, horticultural products, fruit and vegetables, wine) is not really analyzed in Agenda 2000. The Commission merely refers to past reports and to proposals on future reforms. By doing so, it excludes about 40 % of the Union’s final production from its study of the future shape of CAP. The Committee calls upon the Commission to complete Agenda 2000 by making proposals for these sectors. Such action is particularly necessary to achieve the Agenda 2000 objectives of environmental improvement and rural development, given the importance of European agri- culture in preserving the environmental and rural com- munities and in generating jobs. 3. 5. 2. The Committee would underline the import- ance of Mediterranean products for the EU in terms of employment, landscape conservation and cultivation and would refer to its different opinions on the subject, inter alia the opinion on the future of Community policy in the fruit and vegetables sector (1), the opinion on the reform of the wine sector (2) and the opinion on the different options for possible reform in the olives and olive-oil sector (3). 3. 6. Production sectors in areas of extreme climates 3. 6. 1. The Committee is thinking in particular here of production in northern regions, which is characterized by permanent climatic disadvantages such as short growing and grazing periods, hard winters and freezing (1) CES 94/95. (2) OJ C 110, 2. 5. 1995. (3) OJ C 287, 22. 9. 1997. 4. 1. Preparations for WTO negotiations 4. 1. 1. One aim of the Commission proposals is to ease the GATT burden on the EU (cf. Appendix III) and prepare for the forthcoming WTO negotiations. 4. 1. 2. The Committee notes that it would be in the interests of the European Union to avoid entering the next round of WTO negotiations with a purely defensive posture. In connection with the evaluation of the agricultural proposals set out in Agenda 2000, it is also of crucial importance that the Union can give its farmers a guarantee that the direct payments envisaged between 2000 and 2006 will not be called into question after these negotiations. 4. 1. 3. The Committee also calls on the EU, which already constitutes one of the most open markets in the world, not to jettison external protection where it is necessary and to make sure that its health and quality standards are properly respected during the forthcoming WTO negotiations. The Committee is well aware how high the stakes will be in future international negotiations on such subjects as the labelling of food- stuffs, genetically modified organisms and hormones. The Committee considers that the EU must encourage recognition of its food and health standards at inter- national level. The Committee also shares the view of the Commission on the need to introduce world-wide environmental and social standards as well as take more account of consumers’ interests. 4. 2. Preparations for CEEC accession The present opinion is limited to the agricul- 4. 2. 1. tural aspects of CEEC accession The overall EU strategy 9. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 73/77 towards applicant members is the subject of the general Committee opinion on Agenda 2000 (1). 4. 2. 2. The enlargement of the EU to include CEEC will have a limited impact on the CAP between 2000 and 2006. 4. 2. 3. The Commission’s analysis in Agenda 2000 bears out comments in the Committee’s opinion on the implications for the CAP of CEEC accession (2). Since the agricultural revival in these countries has been more sluggish than initially forecast by the Commission in 1995, possible CEEC surplus production will have only a marginal impact on surpluses in the EU-15 during the period covered by Agenda 2000 (see Appendix 4). The Committee considers that transition periods will be necessary before the CAP can be taken wholly on board by the CEEC. This is more to protect CEEC from competition from EU-15 agricultural enterprises and to allow CEEC to restructure their own agricultural industries, than the other way round. The Committee therefore considers that the budgetary implications of the first round of accessions will be minimal (between ECU 1. 1 bn. and 1. 4 bn. per annum out of the EAGGF Guarantee Section according to the Commission, with the CEEC not receiving any compensatory payments as their farm prices are set to rise after enlargement). 4. 2. 4. Commission is on the right lines. The pre-accession strategy proposed by the 4. 2. 5. The Committee considers that if the CEEC are to restructure their production systems and modernize their processing industries and marketing networks, they need help from Structural Funds rather than price support or direct income support for producers. The overhaul of the Phare programme (focused on training), the preparation of a package of pre-accession agricul- tural aid worth ECU 500 million per year, and the allocation from the Structural Fund budget of a general ‘pre-accession’ aid package of ECU 1 billion per year (3) from the year 2000, are appropriate proposals for preparing the CEEC for EU membership. 4. 2. 6. However, the Committee queries the level of Structural Funds the Commission would like to see allocated to those CEEC which will join the EU between 2000 and 2006 (cf. point 7. 6. 2). The loans proposed by the Commission seem to be inadequate in comparison with the financial needs of these countries. 4. 2. 7. delicate question. Acceptance of the ‘acquis communautaire’ is a 4. 2. 8. The Committee has deduced from an examin- ation of Agenda 2000 that the Commission still favours the ‘big bang’ approach (the immediate extension of the single market to the CEEC). This presupposes that price differences between the CEEC and the EU-15 will have been bridged — a goal towards which the Commission proposals are working. However, by the year 2006, price differences will probably still exist, particularly in the sugar and milk sectors (and possibly the beef/veal sector). This potential situation raises a number of questions. Will the new EU members be entitled in this case to use intervention mechanisms? Will the EU be obliged, during a transition period, to introduce derogations from the rules of the single market? The Committee has already given its views on this subject in the aforementioned opinion. The Committee calls upon the Commission to clarify arrangements for the tran- sition periods between accession and the total assimi- lation of the ‘acquis communautaire’ by the newly acceding states. The Committee considers in particular that the debate on milk should take place as soon as the Commission presents concrete proposals in this sector. 4. 2. 9. The Committee stresses the importance of giving aid to the CEEC, both under the Phare programme and via pre-accession funds, to prepare them for con- ditions in the EU, particularly in the fields of animal and plant health and to help them take on board food harmonization directives. The Committee calls upon the Commission to exercise special care when using Community loans to help CEEC in these areas so as not to skew conditions of competition in the European agro-food sector. 4. 2. 10. for the EU in the fisheries sector. Enlargement will not create any difficulties 4. 2. 11. The Committee notes the Commission’s view that EU enlargement to include CEEC should not pose any ‘serious problems’ for the common fisheries policy (CFP). It approves the Commission’s desire for the EU to pay particular attention to modernizing the fishing fleets of coastal applicant countries, as well as to establishing administrative structures necessary for accommodating the CFP. The CEEC will have to be given technical aid in these various fields, first during the pre-accession period and then as part of structural aid. 4. 2. 12. The Committee considers that the cost of integrating the agricultures of eastern Europe countries should be clearly identified in the Community budget. (1) OJ C 19, 21. 1. 1998. (2) OJ C 75, 10. 3. 1997, p. 4. (3) The Commission proposes that Structural Fund aid total- ling ECU 45 billion be earmarked for the CEEC during the period in question. 5. Comments on the Commission’s budgetary esti- mates for the CAP The Commission proposes that the present 5. 1. method of calculating the agricultural guideline be C 73/78 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 3. 98 maintained. In so doing it assumes that Community GNP will grow by 2,5 % per annum and inflation by 2 % per annum. they cut red tape and promote the efficiency of the EU’s structural policy. The development of rural areas must remain a central objective of Structural Fund inter- vention. 5. 2. The Committee believes that it is essential for the EAGGF Guarantee Section to have the capacity to finance the proposed reform in an enlarged EU. 5. 3. Reforming the common market regimes for EU-15 would, the Commission believes, cost around ECU 4,3 billion in 2006. The maximum cost of the first CEEC accessions would be ECU 4,5 billion. The Commission also puts the additional cost to the EAGGF Guarantee Section of introducing ‘new accompanying rural development measures’ and horizontal measures in the fisheries sector at around ECU 2 billion per year. Thus, an additional ECU 10,8 billion would have to be financed under the agricultural guideline in 2006. 5. 4. The Commission considers, on the basis of its projections, that the present agricultural guideline trend will allow this additional cost to be covered easily. It even forecasts a margin of safety between agricultural expenditure and the agricultural guideline over the whole period (ECU 4 billion in 2006) so that it can ‘cover market uncertainties and enable the reform of the common agricultural policy to continue before the end of the period covered by the financial perspective’. Provided the Commission figures (1) are watertight, they encourage ‘budgetary optimism’. The Committee would nevertheless like to know whether pessimistic hypotheses would jeopardize the EU’s capacity to keep within the agricultural guideline. The Committee would ask the Commission to undertake a full financial study of this question. 6. Comments concerning the ceilings, differentiation and conditions applicable to aid 6. 1. On the ceilings, differentiation and conditions applicable to aid, the Committee feels that practical proposals from the Commission are needed for an appraisal to be possible. The Committee will therefore await such pro- 6. 2. posals before taking a stand. 7. Comments on structural policy, rural development and environmental services 7. 1. Structural policy 7. 1. 1. The Committee endorses the Commission pro- posals set out in the Agenda 2000 programme insofar as 7. 1. 2. The Committee regrets that in its proposals the Commission has limited itself to describing the broad objectives of structural policy without specifying the measures which it is thinking of proposing. It seems clear that the Commission’s basic objective is to improve the competitiveness of Community agriculture; for this, the Committee considers it absolutely necessary to have instruments for improving production structures, improving product quality and marketing, and reconcil- ing efficient production with respect for the environment and animal welfare. Agricultural cooperatives, whose members are farmers, are often one of the few enterprises to maintain their presence in many farming regions. The Committee feels that this fact makes cooperatives the ideal instrument through which to channel its structural policies aimed at ensuring the viability of farms and the development of economic potential, with the objective of seizing any opportunities which are created and facing the challenges of the next few years with some guarantee of success. 7. 1. 3. The Committee finds that the proposals are a necessary but inadequate step towards reducing regional differences, supporting regions in the throes of economic reform, and further developing human resources throughout the Union, as Commission President Santer made clear in his speech presenting Agenda 2000 to the European Parliament on 16 July 1997. 7. 1. 4. The Committee is particularly pleased that the proposed reduction of objectives from seven to three will in future help to make European structural aid more effective. The Committee also assumes that previous aid for rural areas (under Objectives 1, 5a, 5b and Leader) will in future be continued under the new aid schemes for Objectives 1, 2 and Leader. 7. 1. 5. In this connection the Committee would point to the fact that agricultural workers are not adequately covered by pre-retirement schemes. Pre-retirement arrangements should be worked out in greater detail within the framework of the planned ‘concentration’ designed to cushion the impact of the general problems caused by on-going structural changes in agriculture. 7. 2. Funding of structural aid (1) For the 2000-2006 period the Commission presents figures for all budget lines at constant 1997 prices, with the exception of the agricultural guideline which is expressed in current prices. 7. 2. 1. The planned funding of structural aid for the Fifteen during the period 2000-2006 (ECU 230 billion) will be modulated by geographical area in order to bolster structural support for disadvantaged regions, including the northern peripheral regions. 9. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 73/79 7. 3. Objective 1 and 2 regions 7. 5. The Cohesion Fund 7. 3. 1. The Committee particularly welcomes the Commission’s plans not only to apply existing criteria, but also to develop a criterion that covers regions with very high unemployment. The Committee calls upon the Commission to propose as soon as possible a more precise definition of regions which will in future be eligible for aid under Objectives 1 and 2. The Committee likewise calls for statements on the future of the ‘special arrangements’ intended for the most northerly, sparsely populated regions. 7. 3. 1. 1. The Committee welcomes the Commission’s plans to make transitional arrangements for areas which will not qualify for structural aid in the future. Such arrangements will take into account the specific charac- teristics of such regions and will underpin the benefits reaped from previous structural aid. At the present time however the Committee 7. 3. 1. 2. fails to see in practice how these transitional arrange- ments could be consolidated and urges the Commission to take practical steps to identify the regions in question and to draft appropriate proposals so that interested parties can be consulted on the actual provisions. This is true for peripheral EU areas as well as for very low population-density regions, as is made clear in Agenda 2000. The Committee is pleased that the Cohesion 7. 5. 1. Fund, with due regard for Articles 130d and 104c of the Treaty, will be available in the future to help those Member States which are particularly weak in terms of structures and economic development. 7. 6. Structural help for enlargement 7. 6. 1. The Committee supports the Commission view that those states which have opened accession nego- tiations should receive structural aid. The Funds should be sufficiently well-resourced to enable these important obligations of solidarity to be met. 7. 6. 2. The Committee is fully aware of the basic level of appropriations earmarked for the various instruments and therefore asks whether the planned funding (ECU 38 billion from the Structural and Cohesion Funds for 2000-2006 and ECU 7 billion for pre-accession aid) will be sufficient to cope with the structural problems of future Member States. 7. 6. 3. The Committee would ask the Commission how these sums have been calculated and what concrete problems are to be given priority. 7. 3. 2. The Committee welcomes the Commission’s suggestion that the Community ‘Leader’ initiative should continue, but would emphasize that it must be provided with sufficient resources and be applicable in all rural areas. 7. 6. 4. The Committee is particularly interested in ascertaining how much is to be spent on the necessary adjustments to agricultural structures and agricultural social policies in 2000-2006 and what projects would be involved. 7. 4. Objective 3 regions 7. 7. Simplification and enhanced effectiveness 7. 4. 1. The Committee welcomes the Commission’s plans to encourage the development of human resources in regions outside Objectives 1 and 2 areas, so that the Member States in question can be helped to adapt and modernize their systems of education, training and employment. The Committee would offer the Commission 7. 4. 2. its active support and cooperation in framing adequate criteria and measures to help modernize labour markets in accordance with the planned employment pro- grammes and the new employment chapter of the Amsterdam Treaty. The Committee would in particular draw attention to its expertise, past record and represen- tativeness in rural areas, in the belief that it can help draw up effective, forward-looking guidelines for areas: Europe’s accompanying economic and social changes; lifelong education and training systems; active labour-market policies to fight unemployment; combating social exclusion. As pointed out above, the ESC expects the Commission to adopt prompt, concrete measures so that these goals can eventually be achieved. employment strategy four in 7. 7. 1. The Committee welcomes all Commission efforts to simplify structural aid measures and make them more effective. 7. 7. 2. The Committee asks the Commission, how- ever, how a one programme per region approach can actually promote simplification and achieve greater efficiencies. This question arises in particular because a number of different measures — partly co-financed through programmes under the EAGGF Guarantee Section — will no doubt continue to be implemented simultaneously in certain regions. 7. 7. 3. The Committee welcomes the Commission’s intention to give back-up committees greater scope for action and sees this as an important step in making structural aid more effective. 7. 7. 4. The Committee doubts whether the necessary funds are available to carry through the Commission proposal seeking to involve the EAGGF Guarantee Section in co-financing programmes to promote the C 73/80 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 3. 98 development of rural areas as part of structural policy (Objective 1 and Objective 2 regions). and already cooperate closely with European authorities in implementing European programmes (Leader, Adapt). 7. 7. 5. On the other hand, the Committee supports the Commission’s intention to focus the budget lines (particularly the ERDF, ESF, FIFG and EAGGF), on providing structural aid and promoting new targeted measures. 7. 8. Development of rural areas 7. 8. 1. The Committee agrees with the Commission that further changes in ‘market evolution, market policy and trade rules’ will present new challenges, particularly for rural economies. These new relations will merely aggravate the acute economic development problems already existing today and require the most careful attention from European institutions and organizations. The Committee does not however feel that 7. 8. 2. concentrating the Commission’s rural development pol- icy on specific environmental measures, as described in Agenda 2000, is enough to provide lasting solutions to the wide-ranging problems of rural areas. This view is not at odds with the Commission’s statements but seeks to encourage it to devise a new and effective policy to secure the sustainable development of rural areas based on economic projects with a real structural impact. 7. 8. 3. The Committee feels that the possibility should be considered of making rural development a separate priority in the structural policy charter, within which all the Structural Funds could be applied. 7. 8. 4. The Committee would point out the need for rural development to specifically include support for the agro-industrial and agri-food processing sector, and not only measures to improve technology but also, and especially, the promotion of research and development (R&D), quality, specialist training, marketing, etc. 7. 8. 5. The Committee would emphasize that agricul- tural and rural organizations within the European Union have a wide-ranging experience in rural development Brussels, 10 December 1997. It would therefore be logical to make better 7. 8. 6. use of these programmes and look at whether they are targeted effectively and properly. 7. 9. The low level of funding earmarked for ‘rural development’ raises a number of question-marks specific action taken under 7. 9. 1. The Commission estimates that the cost of ‘new rural development accompanying measures’ and horizontal measures in the fisheries sector (FIFG) will come to ECU 2 billion in 2006. However, the 1998 preliminary draft budget earmarks more than ECU 3 billion for these accompanying and horizontal measures (Objectives 5a and 5b, FIFG, rural development actions taken under Objective 1). The Committee therefore concludes that the Commission is projecting a lower level of EU support for rural development directly linked to the activities of farmers (and fishing) in the year 2006. Does this not go against the general thrust of the proposed reform? The Committee calls upon the Commission to explain this point in greater detail? 7. 10. Environmental action The Committee endorses the Commission 7. 10. 1. conclusions that ‘a prominent role will be given to agri-environmental instruments to support a sustainable development of rural areas and respond to society’s increasing demand for environmental services’ (1). The Committee welcomes the proposal that 7. 10. 2. ‘targeted agri-environmental measures should be reinforced and encouraged through increased budgetary resources and, where necessary, higher co-financing rates’ (1). 7. 10. 3. The Committee welcomes the Commission’s decision to emphasize in particular ‘services which call for an extra effort by farmers, such as organic farming, maintenance of semi-natural habitats and cattle raising in upland areas’ (2). 7. 10. 4. more effectively into common market organizations. Environmental measures should be integrated (1) Agenda 2000, Vol. I, p. 33. (2) Agenda 2000, Vol. I, p. 33 and 34. The President of the Economic and Social Committee Tom JENKINS 9. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 73/81 APPENDIX I to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee The following amendments were defeated during the debate: Insert, after point 3. 4. 3, a new point 3. 4 bis as follows: ‘3. 4bis Sugar The sugar regime has not been reformed since 1968. The Commission now states that by 2005 the increasing EU-15 surplus will be 3,5 million tonnes plus a further 750 000 tonnes from the CEFTA countries. Having stated that, it does not propose any action though the price paid for sugar is already well out of line with that for competing crops. The discrepancy will increase as a result of the proposals for these other crops. In this sector too therefore reform is needed, as noted in 2. 3. 3. The Committee calls upon the Commission to complete Agenda 2000 by making proposals for this sector, particularly since the cost is very largely paid for by higher consumer prices. ’ Reason The sugar regime is becoming increasingly expensive as prices for beet become increasingly out of line with those for the reformed crops. The Commission has repeatedly put off reform, probably because the sugar regime is only a small charge on the Community budget (mainly as a subsidy to the ACP countries and the French Overseas Departments). The bulk is paid by a charge on consumer prices. The Committee often prides itself in looking after consumer interests. We could be failing in our duty if we did not press for this reform. Result of the vote For: 35, against: 71, abstentions: 6. Points 6. 1 and 6. 2 Replace by the following: ‘The Committee calls on the Commission to put forward proposals, as soon as possible, on specific ceilings for direct payments and other provisions affecting farmers’ incomes, along with criteria for differentiation aiming to apportion farm aid fairly among the different producers and regions. ’ Reason Reduced resources make it necessary to concentrate farm aid first and foremost on those in greatest need as opposed to unfairly increasing the wealth of a select few. Result of the vote For: 30, against: 65, abstentions: 17. C 73/82 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 3. 98 APPENDIX II Agricultural market prospects until 2005 for the EU-15 and the ten CEEC, according to the European Commission (CAP 2000 report) — Cereals (million tonnes) 1994/ 1995 1995/ 1996 1996/ 1997 1997/ 1998 1998/ 1999 1999/ 2000 2000/ 2001 2001/ 2002 2005/ 2006 Production 172,2 174,5 200,7 201,2 192,4 195,4 198,4 201,4 213,2 Consumption 158,9 164,9 169,6 171,1 171,8 172,4 173,0 174,0 177,9 Imports Exports Initial stocks Final stocks of which interven- tion stocks 5,5 27,4 34,3 26,0 7,0 19,6 26,0 23,0 3,9 31,2 23,0 26,8 4,5 31,7 26,8 29,7 5,0 29,9 29,7 25,3 5,0 28,1 25,3 25,1 5,0 26,4 25,1 29,7 5,0 26,4 29,2 35,2 5,0 26,4 65,4 79,3 9,7 2,7 5,2 10,7 6,9 4,4 8,4 14,3 58,0 Source: European Commission. — Adult beef cattle + calves (million tonnes) Production Consumption per capita consump- tion/per annum (kg) Imports Exports Stock 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2005 8,0 7,5 8,0 6,9 7,9 7,1 7,6 7,2 7,2 7,2 7,3 7,3 7,6 7,3 7,7 7,2 20,1 18,6 18,9 19,1 19,3 19,3 19,4 18,9 0,37 1,00 0,02 0,36 0,96 0,43 0,38 0,91 0,73 0,40 0,83 0,59 0,40 0,77 0,29 0,40 0,70 0,04 0,40 0,67 0,04 0,40 0,67 1,50 Production corresponds to slaughtered animals (gross indigenous production + balance of live animals). As a consequence, imports and exports only concern trade in meat. Source: European Commission. — Milk sector (thousands of tonnes) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2005 Whole milk (1) 9 448 9 348 8 791 8 843 8 881 8 903 9 024 9 430 115 85 14 121 107 125 121 68 113 121 39 115 121 18 134 121 7 170 121 0 213 121 0 197 Cheeses (2) Butter (2) Skimmed milk powder(2) Source: European Commission. (1) Disposable surplus. (2) Final stocks. 9. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 73/83 — 10 CEEC (thousands of tonnes) Cereals Oilseeds Milk Beef/veal Source: European Commission. 1994 - 107 288 1 255 - 82 2002 - 3 184 1 225 1 058 70 2005 - 1 078 869 2 006 435 APPENDIX III Timetable by product of the export commitments of the European Union-15 (1) (Commitments in volume terms) Annual ceiling of subsidized exports (2) (in ’000 tonnes) Products Reference level 1986-1990 (3) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Wheat and wheat flour 18 276,0 20 408,1 19 212,7 18 020,7 16 825,4 15 630,0 14 438,0 Feed-grain Rice Colza Olive oil Sugar Butter and butteroil Skimmed-milk powder Cheese Other dairy products Beef/veal Pigmeat Poultrymeat Eggs Wine (’000 hl) Fresh fruit and vegetables Processed fruit and vegetables Raw tobacco Alcohol (’000 hl) Other products 13 725,6 13 690,2 13 120,6 12 551,5 11 981,9 11 412,3 10 843,2 168,9 131,4 145,6 163,0 126,8 140,5 157,1 122,2 135,4 151,3 117,6 130,3 145,3 113,0 125,2 139,3 108,4 120,1 133,4 105,8 115,0 1 612,0 1 555,6 1 499,2 1 442,7 1 386,3 1 329,9 1 273,5 505,5 344,9 406,7 1 212,8 1 040,1 561,4 362,0 125,0 487,8 355,0 426,5 470,1 322,5 405,4 452,4 310,0 384,4 434,7 297,5 363,3 417,0 285,0 342,3 1 185,4 1 140,0 1 094,5 1 049,0 1 003,6 1 137,0 1 073,9 1 010,9 541,8 434,5 126,1 522,1 404,7 120,6 502,5 375,1 115,2 947,8 482,8 345,4 109,7 884,6 463,2 315,6 104,2 399,3 272,5 321,3 958,1 821,7 443,5 286,0 98,5 2 917,4 2 851,4 2 742,1 2 632,8 2 523,4 2 414,1 2 304,7 653,7 181,4 140,5 92,3 175,1 190,0 886,9 168,7 174,1 853,6 162,4 158,3 820,7 156,0 142,5 786,8 149,7 126,6 753,4 143,3 110,8 1 452,4 1 401,6 1 350,7 1 299,9 1 249,1 1 198,2 1 147,4 — — — — — — — Source: based on ‘lists’ submitted to the WTO by the EU on 28 February 1996. (1) Excluding food aid. (2) Commitments in volume terms are applicable by periods of twelve months commencing on 1 July and ending on 30 June. The exceptions are rice and wine (1 September to 30 August) olive oil (1 November to 30 October) and sugar (1 October to 30 September). (3) Figures for 2000 are in all cases equal to (3) — 21 %. C 73/84 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 3. 98 APPENDIX IV Financial prospects for 2000-2006 — Agricultural expenditure (current prices) ECU billion 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Guideline (current prices) (1) 45,0 46,7 48,5 50,6 52,5 54,7 56,9 59,2 Agricultural expenditure (current prices) EU-15 Reformed CAP New rural development accompany- ing measures and horizontal fisheries measures New Member States CAP (market measures) Specific companying measures rural development ac- Preaccession aid (2) Margin Source: European Commission, Agenda 2000. (1) Assumed 2 % deflator per year from 1999 to 2006. (2) Equal to ECU 500 million at current 1997 prices. 44,0 45,9 49,7 52,1 53,2 53,9 54,5 41,7 41,6 43,4 45,4 47,3 47,9 47,9 47,9 1,9 2,0 2,0 2,0 2,0 2,1 2,1 0,0 0,0 0,5 2,7 0,0 0,0 0,5 2,6 1,1 0,6 0,6 0,9 1,2 1,0 0,6 0,5 1,2 1,5 0,6 1,5 1,3 2,0 0,6 3,0 1,4 2,5 0,6 4,7 — Expenditure on structural operations (1997 prices) ECU billion (1997 prices) 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 EU-15 Structural Funds Cohesion Fund New Member States (1) Pre-accession aid Total 31,4 2,9 31,3 32,1 31,3 30,3 29,2 28,2 2,9 0,0 1,0 2,9 0,0 1,0 2,9 3,6 1,0 2,9 5,6 1,0 2,9 7,6 1,0 2,9 9,6 1,0 34,3 35,2 36,0 38,8 39,8 40,7 41,7 27,3 2,9 11,6 1,0 42,8 Source: European Commission. (1) Including participation in the Cohesion Fund


title: Dictamen del Comité Económico y Social sobre el «Informe anual del Fondo de Cohesión 1996»

eurovoc_concepts:
Cohesion Fund
activity report
environmental protection
implementation of the budget
transport infrastructure

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text: C 73/32 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas 9. 3. 98 realice también un examen de las polı´ticas de competen- cia en algunos de los principales paı´ses competidores, particularmente allı´ donde sus acciones puedan afectar a las empresas de la UE. Bruselas, el 10 de diciembre de 1997. El Presidente del Comité Econo´mico y Social Tom JENKINS Dictamen del Comité Econo´ mico y Social sobre el «Informe anual del Fondo de Cohesio´n 1996» (98/C 73/07) El 25 de junio de 1997, de conformidad con el artı´culo 198 del Tratado constitutivo de la Comunidad Europea, la Comisio´n decidio´ consultar al Comité Econo´ mico y Social sobre el «Informe anual del Fondo de Cohesio´n 1996». La Seccio´ n de Desarrollo Regional, Ordenacio´ n del Territorio y Urbanismo, encargada de preparar los trabajos en este asunto, aprobo´ su dictamen el 18 de noviembre de 1997 (Ponente: Sr. Bento Gonçalves). En su 350o Pleno (sesio´n del 10 de diciembre de 1997), el Comité Econo´ mico y Social ha aprobado por 106 votos a favor y 3 abstenciones el presente Dictamen. 1. Introduccio´n 1. 1. A´ mbito 2. Observaciones generales 2. 1. Mejoras del Informe El Informe describe las actividades en curso iniciadas en an˜ os anteriores, tanto las concluidas como las planeadas, analizando de forma ma´s completa y comprensiva las principales intervenciones del Fondo y sus principales beneficios para la cohesio´n econo´ mica y social. 1. 2. Estructura del Informe En la lı´nea seguida por los anteriores dicta´menes del CES sobre los informes del Instrumento Financiero de Cohesio´n y después sobre los del Fondo de Cohesio´n, el CES se congratula de las mejoras introducidas en el presente Informe, principalmente en lo que respecta a la sistematizacio´n, la transparencia y el alcance de su contenido, que permite una visio´ n ma´s clara de co´ mo ha evolucionado cada ejecucio´n. A la hora de estructurar el presente Informe, se tuvieron en cuenta los comentarios formulados por el Parlamento Europeo y por el CES en an˜os anteriores, sobre todo en lo que se refiere a la descripcio´n analı´tica del modo de aplicacio´n de la condicionalidad y a las intervenciones llevadas a cabo con el fin de mejorar la acciones de informacio´n y publicidad. Se ha incluido una seccio´ n especı´fica dedicada 1. 2. 1. a las actividades realizadas en las regiones ultraperiféri- cas de la Unio´n y otra sobre la evaluacio´n del impacto de las actividades del Fondo en sus diversas vertientes. 2. 2. Interaccio´n de los diferentes Fondos Se registran mejoras sensibles en los procedimientos comparativos en materia de interaccio´ n y complementa- riedad de las intervenciones del Fondo de Cohesio´n con los Fondos estructurales (FEDER, FSE, FEOGA, IFOP), que permiten tener una perspectiva de conjunto de la globalidad de los apoyos y de su impacto en las vertientes social, econo´ mica y ambiental. Existe una preocupacio´ n de la Comisio´n por el 2. 2. 1. ana´lisis ex-ante de los proyectos de inversio´n, para 9. 3. 98 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas C 73/33 asegurar la compatibilidad de su impacto y su financia- cio´n, sin que se solapen con los recursos de otros fondos. 2. 4. 1. O t r a s a c c i o n e s d e r e l i e v e Se observa igualmente una tendencia a acoger proyectos encaminados a mejorar o complementar iniciativas apoyadas por otros fondos o por el BEI; en este sentido, el contenido técnico y financiero de los dicta´menes respectivos ha constituido una plusvalı´a importante para la Comisio´n. 2. 3. Ana´lisis de los efectos producidos El ana´lisis ex-post de los efectos producidos por los proyectos concluidos demuestra la importancia de los mismos en una serie de a´reas: transportes, reduccio´ n de la contaminacio´n, mejora de la calidad del agua destinada al consumo humano y aumento del nu´mero de hogares que pasaron a disponer de este servicio esencial. Las mejoras en el tratamiento de aguas residua- les y de alcantarilla, ası´ como de residuos so´ lidos, son a´reas de intervencio´ n del Fondo con resultados visibles, que, sin duda, la poblacio´n aprecia con nitidez. 1996 fue el primer an˜ o en que la Comisio´n 2. 3. 1. examino´ el cumplimiento por los Estados miembros de los respectivos Programas de convergencia, en el a´mbito de los déficit pu´blicos, habiéndose verificado igualmente el cumplimiento del principio de condicionalidad en los paı´ses de la cohesio´ n. 2. 3. 2. E q u i l i b r i o e n l a d i s t r i b u c i o´ n d e l o s r e c u r s o s En 1996 se registro´ en términos consolidados un equili- brio casi ejemplar entre las dos a´reas de intervencio´ n del Fondo —medio ambiente y transportes—: 49,84 % para medio ambiente y 50,11 % para las infraestructuras de transportes; en 1996 la ejecucio´ n presupuestaria ascendio´, en su conjunto, pra´cticamente al 100 %, dando cumplimiento a los objetivos recomendados por el Consejo. 2. 4. A´ reas prioritarias El Fondo de Cohesio´n dedico´ especial atencio´ n a las a´reas prioritarias de actuacio´n, y dio preferencia a los proyectos referentes a: — redes transeuropeas de transportes por carretera y ferrocarril; — abastecimiento de agua potable; — tratamiento de aguas residuales y saneamiento, y — tratamiento de residuos so´lidos urbanos. También se refieren otras acciones en el a´mbito del medio ambiente, a saber: proteccio´ n de las zonas costeras, repoblacio´ n forestal ambiental —con inciden- cia en la lucha contra la desertificacio´ n—, proteccio´n de ha´bitats y preservacio´n de la naturaleza. 2. 4. 2. I n f o r m a c i o´ n e m p l e o s o b r e n i v e l e s d e El Informe contiene informacio´ n acerca de las estimacio- nes sobre los efectos sobre el empleo que se derivan de los proyectos financiados, de acuerdo con las recomenda- ciones formuladas por el Parlamento Europeo y el CES. 2. 5. Otras informaciones El Informe incluye, adema´s, otras informaciones, entre las que merecen ser destacadas las siguientes: — Que no se detecto´ ningu´n caso de fraude en las diversas inspecciones realizadas bien por los Estados miembros bien por la Unio´n, a través de sus misiones. — Se respondio´ a las observaciones del Parlamento Europeo en cuanto a informacio´n y publicidad de los proyectos cofinanciados, habiéndose utilizado diversos medios de comunicacio´ n a tal efecto. 3. Observaciones especı´ficas 3. 1. La ejecucio´n presupuestaria La dotacio´ n global del Fondo de Cohesio´n para 1996 fue ajustada teniendo en cuenta los indicadores de inflacio´n y la necesidad de transferir 300 000 ecus a la lı´nea presupuestaria gestionada por la UCLAF (Unidad de coordinacio´ n de la lucha contra el fraude). Tras esta indizacio´n, los valores de los recursos disponi- bles del Fondo de Cohesio´n para 1996 ascendieron a 2 443,7 millones de ecus para créditos de compromiso y 1 919 millones de ecus para créditos de pago. 3. 1. 1. La ejecucio´n presupuestaria cuantificada a través de los compromisos contraı´dos a 31 de diciembre de 1996 ascendio´ a 2 443,64 millones de ecus, lo que representa el 99,99 % de los créditos disponibles. La ejecucio´ n presupuestaria del ejercicio en créditos de pago alcanzo´ los 1 871,982 millones de ecus, lo que equivale a un 97,75 %. Estos indicadores revelan una ejecucio´ n presupuestaria muy positiva del Fondo de Cohesio´n por parte de los Estados miembros. El Comité Econo´mico y Social celebra la forma en que la Comisio´n y los Estados miembros consiguieron estos altos porcentajes de ejecu- C 73/34 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas 9. 3. 98 cio´n, asegurando al mismo tiempo la aplicacio´ n del principio de condicionalidad referente a los criterios para la introduccio´ n de la moneda u´nica. El reparto entre estas dos a´reas de actuacio´ n, en 1996, fue el siguiente en cada Estado miembro beneficiario: 3. 2. Distribucio´n por sectores El Comité Econo´ mico y Social constata que en el ejercicio de 1996 del Fondo de Cohesio´n se cumplio´ lo previsto en el apartado 2 del artı´culo 10 del Reglamento que instituyo´ éste, en el sentido de asegurar el equilibrio entre los proyectos que pertenecen al a´mbito del medio ambiente y los que consisten en infraestructuras de transporte. La preocupacio´n por lograr el equilibrio entre las dos a´reas de actuacio´ n ya figuraba en el anterior dictamen del CES (1) y en los presentados por el Parlamento Europeo y el Comité de las Regiones con relacio´ n a los Informes anuales sobre el Fondo de Cohesio´n correspondientes a 1994 y 1995. Globalmente, las ayudas financieras comprometidas y pagadas por el Fondo alcanzaron en 1996 los siguientes valores expresados porcentualmente: Medio ambiente: 49,89 % Transportes: 50,11 % (1) Dictamen sobre el «Informe anual del Fondo de Cohesio´n 1995», DO C 158 de 26. 5. 1997. Estados miembros Medio Ambiente % Transportes % Espan˜a Portugal Grecia Irlanda 49,44 49,59 53,81 45,07 50,66 50,41 46,19 54,93 Se verifico´, por tanto, una acentuada tendencia al equilibrio de los gastos destinados a intervenciones en las a´reas de medio ambiente e infraestructura de transportes en todos los paı´ses; se registro´ , al menos en uno de los Estados miembros, un acusado esfuerzo por reforzar los proyectos de medio ambiente, lo que resulta satisfactorio, ma´xime teniendo en cuenta que se ajusta a una recomendacio´ n hecha por el Comité Econo´ mico y Social en dicta´menes anteriores. 3. 3. Distribucio´n por Estado miembro El Comité Econo´ mico y Social destaca asimismo el hecho de que los créditos presupuestarios de pago continu´ an dentro de la media del margen de reparticio´n indicativa para cada uno de los Estados miembros. Créditos de compromiso — 1996: 2 443,7 millones de ecus Estados miembros Medio Ambiente (Unidad: ecus) % Transportes (Unidad: ecus) % Total (Unidad: ecus) Reparticio´n E EL IRL P Total Asis. Téc. Total 663 549 515 235 865 092 99 920 131 217 966 578 1 217 301 316 — 49,44 53,81 45,07 49,59 49,86 — 678 383 056 202 441 610 121 770 026 221 526 518 1 224 121 210 — 50,66 46,19 54,93 50,41 50,14 — 1 341 932 571 438 306 702 221 690 157 439 493 096 2 441 422 526 2 212 643 54,91 17,94 9,07 17,99 99,91 0,09 1 217 301 316 49,89 1 224 121 210 50,11 2 443 635 169 100,00 Por lo que respecta a la reparticio´n de los créditos de pago, se observa que se han ajustado a los para´metros establecidos de reparticio´ n indicativa por Estado miem- bro, con lo que se corrige la situacio´n indicada en el Informe anual del Fondo de Cohesio´n de 1995. 9. 3. 98 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas C 73/35 Créditos de pago — 1996: 1 919,0 millones de ecus Estados miembros Medio Ambiente (Unidad: ecus) % Transportes (Unidad: ecus) E EL IRL P Total Asis. Téc. Total 295 940 565 127 062 978 80 315 065 124 133 591 26,61 51,91 42,46 38,2 816 116 839 117 689 309 108 805 171 200 762 086 627 452 199 33,54 1 243 373 405 — — — % 73,38 48,08 57,53 61,79 66,46 — Total (Unidad: ecus) Reparticio´n 1996 % Reparticio´n 1995 % 1 112 057 404 244 752 287 189 120 236 324 895 677 1 870 825 604 1 156 625 59,4 13,07 10,10 17,36 99,94 0,06 65 5 8 22 100 627 452 199 33,54 1 243 373 405 66,46 1 871 982 129 100,00 3. 3. 1. D i s t r i b u c i o´ n e n e l a´ r e a d e t r a n s - p o r t e s Conforme a lo que se manifesto´ en dicta´menes anteriores, el Comité Econo´ mico y Social hace hincapié en la necesidad de lograr un mejor equilibrio entre los diversos modos de transporte, privilegiando los ma´s respetuosos con la proteccio´n del medio ambiente. Créditos de compromiso para proyectos de transporte, por Estado miembro y por sector Reparto de los créditos de compromiso por tipo de transporte Carreteras Ferrocarriles Puertos Aeropuertos STB (1) Estado miembro % Espan˜a Portugal Grecia Irlanda 83,6 16,4 — — — 75,5 18,0 6,5 — — 61,3 31,0 — 7,7 — 82,9 6,9 7,0 — 3,3 (1) STB: servicios de tra´fico de buques (sistema de vigilancia del tra´fico marı´timo). 3. 3. 1. 1. Aunque el Informe de la Comisio´ n afirma que continuaron los esfuerzos por afectar, dentro del sector de los transportes, una mayor proporcio´n de la financiacio´n a los transportes ferroviarios —de acuerdo con las observaciones hechas por el Parlamento Europeo, el Comité Econo´ mico y Social y el Comité de las Regiones y en los dicta´menes sobre los informes anuales del Fondo de Cohesio´n de 1994 y 1995—, se constata que en este reparto no se produjeron grandes alteraciones. En 1996, el Fondo de Cohesio´n asigno´ un total de 1 224,121 millones de ecus a los proyectos presentados en el a´rea de transportes; en este montante se incluyen los compromisos para nuevos proyectos o fases de proyectos en ejecucio´ n. Las ayudas comprometidas desde 1993 por el Fondo de Cohesio´n y por el Instrumento Financiero que le precedio´ ascienden a 4 219 millones de ecus, lo que representa una contribucio´ n muy significativa para el desarrollo de las redes transeuropeas de transporte en los cuatro paı´ses de la cohesio´ n y supone una continuacio´ n del planteamiento intermodal de la problema´tica de los transportes, que el Comité Econo´ mico y Social desea destacar. 3. 3. 1. 2. Los proyectos relativos a las carreteras conti- nu´an absorbiendo el mayor porcentaje de apoyo en 1996, o sea, el 78,4 % del total. Los proyectos ferroviarios representaron tan so´lo el 18,1 % de las ayudas compro- metidas. Los proyectos relativos a infraestructuras por- tuarias corresponden al 1,9 % de los compromisos para 1996. Créditos de compromiso a favor de proyectos relativos a la RTE, por sectores de transporte Sector Carreteras Ferrocarril Puertos Aeropuertos STB (1) Total Compromisos 1996 Millones de ecus % del Total 959,5 222,0 23,0 15,6 4,0 78,4 18,1 1,9 1,3 0,3 1 224,1 100,0 (1) STB: servicios de tra´fico de buques. El Comité Econo´mico y Social observa el reducido peso de las infraestructuras portuarias que han recibido el apoyo del Fondo de Cohesio´n y llama la atencio´ n de la Comisio´n sobre este aspecto, que contrasta con la gran superficie litoral de los paı´ses de la cohesio´n y con el hecho de que este tipo de transporte sea tal vez ma´s competitivo. C 73/36 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas 9. 3. 98 3. 3. 1. 3. Diversificacio´ n de los medios de transporte Los Estados miembros deben asegurar la diversificacio´ n de los diversos medios de transporte en cooperacio´n con la UE. Esta orientacio´n incidirı´a positivamente en las diversas vertientes del sector: menor concentracio´ n de la contami- nacio´n, creacio´ n de alternativas en caso de convulsiones sociales y mantenimiento de las perspectivas de empleo en el subsector de los transportes marı´timos. El Comité Econo´ mico y Social recomienda que la Comisio´n insista ante los paı´ses beneficiarios del Fondo de Cohesio´n para impulsar ma´s las infraestructuras ferroviarias y marı´timas. 3. 3. 2. D i s t r i b u c i o´ n e n e l a´ r e a d e l m e d i o a m b i e n t e Reparticio´n % Espan˜a Portugal Grecia Irlanda Suministro y control de la calidad del agua Residuos Saneamiento y depu- racio´n Entorno urbano Repoblacio´n forestal Zonas costeras Otros 23 14 45 10 5 4 — 28,1 34,5 30 — 51,7 — 33,4 69,5 45,0 — — — 4,0 — — — 0,5 — — — 3,3 El Comité Econo´ mico y Social constata la mejora en el contenido de la informacio´ n presentada, en general, sobre los aspectos relacionados con la naturaleza y el reparto de las inversiones en el a´mbito del medio ambiente. La mejora en la sistematizacio´n de la informa- 3. 3. 2. 1. cio´n permitirı´a comparar ma´s fa´cilmente las intervencio- nes en cada Estado miembro, por lo que se recomienda a la Comisio´ n que, en futuros informes, armonice y amplı´e el contenido de esa informacio´n. 3. 3. 2. 2. Los proyectos realizados en materia de sumi- nistro y control de la calidad del agua, saneamiento y depuracio´n de aguas residuales urbanas y —en algunos paı´ses— tratamiento y gestio´n adecuados de los residuos, siguen constituyendo intervenciones prioritarias en el a´rea del medio ambiente. Aun reconociendo los efectos positivos de este tipo de proyectos en la calidad de vida de las poblaciones, el Comité Econo´ mico y Social insiste, no obstante, en mantener la recomendacio´n a la Comisio´ n y a los Estados miembros de que se preste una mayor atencio´ n a las inversiones en el a´mbito de la proteccio´ n y conservacio´n de los recursos naturales y de los paisajes de elevado valor ecolo´ gico, ası´ como en el de la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos —que se mueve en unos niveles muy pequen˜os— ante los riesgos derivados de la degradacio´n ambiental que acechan en algunos de los paı´ses de la cohesio´ n. En este orden de cosas, el Comité Econo´mico y Social lamenta que algunos Estados miembros recurran poco a la repoblacio´ n forestal ambiental, sobre todo en regiones que cuentan con extensas a´reas que presentan un potencial forestal y que esta´n abandonadas o padecen problemas de conservacio´n del suelo. 4. Conclusiones 4. 1. El Informe que se analiza resulta bastante com- pleto y esta´ bien documentado en lo que se refiere a la ejecucio´n material de los proyectos de inversio´n; presenta algunos indicadores fı´sicos de realizacio´n y sı´ntesis descriptivas de la respectiva localizacio´ n y tipologı´a de los proyectos. Con todo, el Comité recomienda que la Comisio´n trate de sensibilizar a los Estados miembros para que procedan a una mejor distribucio´ n regional de las inversiones e incidan especialmente en las zonas rurales y urbanas del interior ma´s necesitadas. 4. 2. Regiones ultraperiféricas El Comité, en la lı´nea de su dictamen de 1995, insiste en la necesidad de impulsar ma´s las infraestructuras medioambientales y de transporte en las regiones ultra- periféricas. 4. 3. Diversificacio´ n de los medios de transporte Se recomienda una mayor diversificacio´n de los medios de transporte, principalmente en el a´mbito de las infraestructuras del transporte marı´timo, por sus venta- jas en términos medioambientales y por el nu´mero de puestos de trabajo que proporcionan. 4. 4. Estudios de impacto ambiental El Comité respalda la orientacio´n que la Comisio´n ha venido adoptando al subordinar la aprobacio´n de los proyectos de transportes a la evaluacio´n previa del impacto ambiental en cada caso, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en la Directiva 85/337/CEE. 4. 5. El principio «quien contamina paga» en los pro- yectos transfronterizos El principio «quien contamina paga» en materia de proyectos medioambientales merece el apoyo del Comité, que hace hincapié en que este principio debe ser igualmente aplicado cuando se trate de proyectos transfronterizos o que atan˜an a cursos de agua que atraviesan regiones de dos o ma´s Estados miembros. Debera´n crearse mecanismos jurı´dicos de intervencio´ n aplicables a los Estados miembros en cuestio´n, que permitan una eficaz aplicacio´ n del referido principio. 9. 3. 98 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas C 73/37 4. 6. Ana´lisis del impacto del Fondo 4. 9. Entidades de gestio´n El Comité manifiesta a la Comisio´ n que esta´ de acuerdo con los esfuerzos realizados en los a´mbitos de las «intervenciones relativas a estudios y medidas técnicas de apoyo» y de la «evaluacio´ n ex-ante y ex-post» de los proyectos, lo que permite fundamentar las decisiones de aprobacio´n de las inversiones y cuantificar el impacto de éstas. 4. 6. 1. El Comité Econo´ mico y Social reconoce los esfuerzos de la Comisio´ n con vistas a analizar las cuestiones relacionadas con la evaluacio´n del impacto socioecono´ mico global del Fondo en los Estados miem- bros, su contribucio´ n al refuerzo de la cohesio´ n en la Unio´n y a la resolucio´n de los problemas de empleo. El Comité esta´ a la espera de que la London 4. 6. 2. School of Economics presente el informe de su estudio y reconoce el interés de las informaciones ya suministradas con cara´cter previo sobre la incidencia de algunos proyectos en el empleo. 4. 6. 2. 1. El Comité recomienda que en futuros infor- mes la comisio´n no se limite a hacer referencia a estudios realizados o en curso, sino que presente al menos una sı´ntesis de sus resultados y principales conclusiones. 4. 7. Intervenciones del BEI El Comité reitera su satisfaccio´n por la intervencio´ n del BEI en la financiacio´ n, evaluacio´n y seguimiento de los proyectos del Fondo de Cohesio´n participados por esa institucio´n comunitaria. 4. 8. Misiones de control Atendiendo a los costes implicados, a la elevada comple- jidad de las tecnologı´as y los equipamientos y a la importancia de los proyectos medioambientales de suministro de agua potable y tratamiento de aguas residuales y de los residuos so´lidos urbanos para mejorar la calidad de vida de las poblaciones, el Comité considera que la constitucio´ n de entidades privadas o intermunici- pales de gestio´ n auto´ nomas, con capacidad técnica especializada en la gestio´ n y conservacio´n de aquellos equipamientos, podra´ constituir un modelo eficaz para optimizar sus efectos. 4. 10. Continuidad del Fondo de Cohesio´n El Comité Econo´ mico y Social estima —reafirmando tesis que ya defendio´ en dicta´menes anteriores— (1) que el Fondo de cohesio´n debe continuar después de 1999. Teniendo como orientacio´ n estratégica fundamental el refuerzo de la cohesio´ n econo´ mica y social en los Estados miembros ma´s pobres de la UE —y, dentro de éstos, en las regiones ma´s desfavorecidas—, el Fondo de Cohesio´n debe ser contemplado desde una perspectiva comuni- taria (2). La Comisio´ n apunta en este sentido en el documento «Agenda 2000», al proponer la continuidad del Fondo de Cohesio´n para los Estados miembros beneficiarios. Adema´s, parece necesario aumentar la complementarie- dad y coherencia entre las polı´ticas estructurales asocia- das a los diversos fondos, aumentando con ello su convergencia y adicionalidad, a fin de garantizar un desarrollo econo´ mico y social ma´s armonioso. El Comité aplaude el trabajo llevado a cabo por la Comisio´n con vistas a intensificar las misiones de control y seguimiento de los proyectos del Fondo de Cohesio´n, expuestas con detalle en el Informe. Recomienda, no obstante, que los agentes sociales participen en los comités de seguimiento, y que se recurra en mayor medida a comités transfronterizos siempre que se trate de intervenciones que afecten a ma´s de un Estado miembro. (1) Dictamen sobre el «Informe anual del Fondo de Cohesio´n 1995», DO C 158 de 26. 5. 1997; Dictamen relativo al «Primer Informe sobre la Cohesio´n», DO C 206 de 17. 7. 1997; Dictamen sobre el tema «El futuro de la cohesio´ n y sus implicaciones a largo plazo por lo que respecta a los Fondos estructurales», DO C 153 de 28. 5. 1996. (2) Con el fin de mejorar la cohesio´ n dentro de los Estados miembros y de éstos entre sı´, las intervenciones del Fondo de Cohesio´n deben asumir una valencia transnacional que beneficie la competitividad de toda la economı´a de la UE. Bruselas, el 10 de diciembre de 1997. El Presidente del Comité Econo´mico y Social Tom JENKINS


title: Kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 2457/97 av den 10 december 1997 om provtagning för fysisk kontroll av benfria styckningsdelar av nötkött för vilka exportbidrag utgår

eurovoc_concepts:
beef
boned meat
customs inspection
export
export refund
preparation for market

formats: html pdfa1b print


title: KOMMISSIONENS FÖRORDNING (EG) nr 2462/97 av den 10 december 1997 om ändring av de representativa priserna och tilläggsbeloppen för import av vissa sockerprodukter

eurovoc_concepts:
CCT duties
import
raw sugar
representative price
sugar product
white sugar


title: Regolamento (CE) n. 2456/97 della Commissione del 10 dicembre 1997 che modifica il regolamento (CEE) n. 2257/92 relativo alle modalità di applicazione del regime specifico di approvvigionamento di taluni oli vegetali per Madera

eurovoc_concepts:
CCT duties
Madeira
supply
supply balance sheet
suspension of customs duties
vegetable oil


title: Dictamen del Comité Económico y Social sobre la «Propuesta de Decisión del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo por la que se modifica la Decisión de 19 de diciembre de 1996 por la que se adopta un programa de acción para la aduana en la Comunidad ("Aduana 2000")»

eurovoc_concepts:
EU financing
action programme
customs
exchange of information
information technology applications

text: C 73/16 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas 9. 3. 98 6. Limitacio´n de la altura 7. Evaluacio´ n de las repercusiones de la propuesta Apéndice 2, punto 1. 6 de la Adenda y punto 1. 1. 2 del Anexo VII Existe ya una normativa comunitaria en materia de masas y dimensiones de los vehı´culos en circulacio´ n dentro de la Comunidad. No es apropiado ni necesario repetir una parte de esta normativa en esta Directiva particular, que se basa en el artı´culo 100 A y no regula el empleo de los vehı´culos. Bruselas, el 10 de diciembre de 1997. Es muy poco satisfactoria e inapropiada. Adema´s, las pequen˜as y medianas empresas se vera´n muy afectadas. Es probable que las complicaciones adicionales que plantea esta propuesta afecten a la productividad; se deberı´a haber consultado a los interlocutores sociales. El Presidente del Comité Econo´mico y Social Tom JENKINS Dictamen del Comité Econo´ mico y Social sobre la «Propuesta de Decisio´n del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo por la que se modifica la Decisio´n de 19 de diciembre de 1996 por la que se adopta un programa de accio´n para la aduana en la Comunidad (“Aduana 2000”)» (98/C 73/04) El 26 de septiembre de 1997, de conformidad con el artı´culo 100 A del Tratado constitutivo de la Comunidad Europea, el Consejo decidio´ consultar al Comité Econo´mico y Social sobre la propuesta mencionada. La Seccio´n de Industria, Comercio, Artesanı´a y Servicios, encargada de preparar los trabajos en este asunto, aprobo´ su dictamen el 3 de diciembre de 1997 (Ponente: Sr. Giesecke). En su 350o Pleno de los dı´as 10 y 11 de diciembre de 1997 (sesio´ n del 10 de diciembre), el Comité Econo´ mico y Social ha aprobado por 101 votos a favor, 2 en contra y 6 abstenciones el presente Dictamen. 1. Introduccio´n 2. Propuesta de la Comisio´n 1. 1. La propuesta de la Comisio´n (COM(97) 433 final) incrementa para el perı´odo comprendido entre los an˜ os 1998 y 2000 la dotacio´n financiera asignada al «Programa de accio´n para la aduana en la Comunidad (“Aduana 2000”)». En septiembre de 1995, el Comité ya emitio´ sobre este programa un dictamen favorable (1). Este programa de accio´n esta´ financiado princi- 1. 2. palmente por el programa IDA. Como éste, no obstante, expira el 31 de diciembre de 1997 y la vigencia del programa de accio´n «Aduana 2000» se extiende hasta el an˜ o 2000, se requiere una financiacio´n suplementaria adecuada para el perı´odo comprendido entre los an˜ os 1998 y 2000. 2. 1. La Comisio´ n, por tanto, propone que se modifi- que el marco financiero de la Decisio´n no 210/97/CE (2) para que incluya el perı´odo comprendido entre los an˜os 1998 y 2000. Para la «Informatizacio´ n Aduana 2000» se prevén 2. 2. 58 millones de ecus, en lugar de los 23 millones de ecus inicialmente asignados. 3. Observaciones del Comité El Comité suscribe la propuesta de modificacio´ n 3. 1. de la Comisio´n. (1) DO C 301 de 13. 11. 1995. (2) DO L 33 de 4. 2. 1997, p. 24. 9. 3. 98 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas C 73/17 3. 2. El Comité acoge con particular satisfaccio´n la fijacio´n de prioridades, en virtud de la cual casi la mitad de los fondos se destina al nuevo sistema de tra´nsito comu´n (NCTS) y a la armonizacio´n de los sistemas de intercambio de datos entre los Estados miembros y la Comisio´n (CCN/CSI). El Comité subrayo´ ya la importancia de estos 3. 3. dos objetivos en sus dicta´menes sobre el programa de accio´n «Aduana 2000» y sobre un plan de accio´n para el tra´nsito en Europa (1). 3. 4. En la parte final del documento de la Comisio´ n figura un «Desglose indicativo de las acciones de (1) DO C 355 de 21. 11. 1997. informatizacio´ n» distinguido por sistemas. Como no se trata ma´s que de estimaciones, el Comité recomienda una aplicacio´ n flexible de los fondos estimados en funcio´ n de las necesidades de los distintos sistemas. El Comité pide que se le informe cada an˜ o sobre 3. 5. la orientacio´ n y eficacia de la utilizacio´n de los créditos. En dichos informes deberı´a especificarse la trans- 3. 6. ferencia de créditos entre los sistemas. 3. 7. El Comité considera de particular importancia que las aplicaciones comunitarias en el sector aduanero se ajusten a la norma internacionalmente reconocida UN/EDIFACT. Ası´ se garantizara´ también la necesaria comunicacio´n con los operadores econo´ micos. Bruselas, el 10 de diciembre de 1997. El Presidente del Comité Econo´mico y Social Tom JENKINS Dictamen del Comité Econo´ mico y Social sobre la «Propuesta de Reglamento (CE) del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo por el que se modifica el Reglamento (CEE) no 2913/92 por el que se aprueba el Co´digo aduanero comunitario (tra´nsito)» (98/C 73/05) El 4 de diciembre de 1997, de conformidad con el artı´culo 100 A del Tratado constitutivo de la Comunidad Europea, el Consejo decidio´ consultar al Comité Econo´ mico y Social sobre la propuesta mencionada. La Seccio´n de Industria, Comercio, Artesanı´a y Servicios, encargada de preparar los trabajos en este asunto, aprobo´ su dictamen el 3 de diciembre de 1997 (Ponente: Sr. Giesecke). En su 350o Pleno celebrado los dı´as 10 y 11 de diciembre de 1997 (sesio´ n del 10 de diciembre), el Comité Econo´ mico y Social ha aprobado por 106 votos a favor, 2 votos en contra y 2 abstenciones el presente Dictamen. 1. Introduccio´n 2. Propuesta de la Comisio´n El Co´digo aduanero vigente de la Comunidad 1. 1. Europea, aplicable desde el 1 de enero de 1994, contiene las disposiciones generales de la normativa aduanera comunitaria. El perfil de las condiciones ha cambiado desde su entrada en vigor: se ha hecho necesario, por tanto, introducir modificaciones. 1. 2. Tanto desde la perspectiva de los operadores econo´ micos como de las administraciones aduaneras, resulta oportuno formular las disposiciones de modo ma´s claro y sencillo. La presente propuesta de la Comisio´n para 2. 1. modificar el Reglamento (CEE) no 2913/92 por el que se aprueba el Co´digo aduanero comunitario contiene adaptaciones relativas al régimen de tra´nsito. En lo esencial son la consecuencia del plan de accio´n para el tra´nsito en Europa (1). (1) COM(97) 188 final


title: Verklaring van Denemarken voor de Raadsnotulen

eurovoc_concepts:
Denmark
aid programme
arms limitation
conventional weapon
joint action
non-alignment


title: 98/64/CE: Decisione della Commissione del 9 dicembre 1997 concernente la partecipazione finanziaria della Comunità al miglioramento del programma di controllo dell'afta epizootica in Turchia

eurovoc_concepts:
EU aid
EU financing
Türkiye
disease prevention
foot-and-mouth disease
health legislation

text: 21. 1. 98 IT Gazzetta ufficiale delle Comunità europee L 16/45 DECISIONE DELLA COMMISSIONE del 9 dicembre 1997 concernente la partecipazione finanziaria della Comunità al miglioramento del programma di controllo dell’afta epizootica in Turchia (98/64/CE) LA COMMISSIONE DELLE COMUNITÀ EUROPEE, visto il trattato che istituisce la Comunità europea, vista la decisione 90/424/CEE del Consiglio, del 26 giu- gno 1990, relativa a talune spese nel settore veterina- rio (1), modificata da ultimo dalla decisione 94/370/CE (2), in particolare gli articoli 12 e 13, considerando che negli anni 1995 e 1996 sono stati segnalati focolai di afta epizootica nella regione turca della Tracia; considerando che nell’Anatolia l’afta epizootica sussiste allo stato endemico; considerando che la presenza dell’afta epizootica in Tur- chia costituisce un gravo pericolo per il patrimonio zootecnico della Comunità; considerando che nel settembre 1996 è stata effettuata in Turchia una missione congiunta della Commissione euro- pea per la lotta contro l’afta epizootica e dell’Unione europea; considerando che, secondo la relazione redatta in esito a detta missione, occorre dare la priorità al controllo dei movimenti degli animali nonché al miglioramento della pulizia e della disinfezione dei veicoli adibiti al loro trasporto; considerando che nella relazione si ritengono inoltre prioritarie la vaccinazione obbligatoria in massa contro l’afta epizootica nella regione turca della Tracia e l’attua- zione di un sistema di identificazione del bestiame tramite marchi auricolari; considerando che la Turchia ha intrapreso la vaccinazione degli animali ricettivi nella regiona turca della Tracia; che il programma di vaccinazione messo in atto sarà accom- pagnato da un programma di controllo sierologico; considerando che è stato concordato un piano di lavoro per mettere in atto tali misure; considerando che, ai fini della sorveglianza, sono applica- bili gli articoli 8 e 9 del regolamento (CEE) n. 729/70 del Consiglio, del 21 aprile 1970, relativo al finanziamento della politica agricola comune (3), modificato da ultimo dal regolamento (CE) n. 1287/95 (4); considerando che le misure previste dalla presente deci- sione sono conformi al parere del comitato veterinario permanente, HA ADOTTATO LA PRESENTE DECISIONE: Articolo 1 1. Al fine di migliorare il programma di controllo dell’afta epizootica in Turchia, sono messe in atto le azioni elencate nell’allegato. 2. Per l’attuazione delle azioni previste al paragrafo 1, la Comunità stanzia un contributo finanziario massimo di 230 000 ECU. Il contributo finanziario di cui al paragrafo 2 è 3. fornito alle autorità veterinarie ufficiali della Turchia. Articolo 2 Il contributo finanziario della Comunità è erogato nel seguente modo: — 30 % a titolo di anticipo su richiesta delle autorità turche; — l’importo restante previa presentazione e accettazione dei documenti giustificativi tecnici e finanziari, che devono essere trasmessi alla Commissione europea entro quattordici mesi dalla data di adozione della presente decisione. Articolo 3 1. Oltre alle azioni di cui all’articolo 1, paragrafo 1, è stato raggiunto un accordo sull’esecuzione di controlli di efficacia sui vaccini antiaftosi prodotti in Turchia. La Commissione europea stabilisce le modalità relative a tali controlli in collaborazione con le autorità turche. (1) GU L 224 del 18. 8. 1990, pag. 19. (2) GU L 168 del 2. 7. 1994, pag. 31. (3) GU L 94 del 28. 4. 1970, pag. 13. (4) GU L 125 dell’8. 6. 1995, pag. 1. L 16/46 IT Gazzetta ufficiale delle Comunità europee 21. 1. 98 La Turchia nomina un coordinatore incaricato di 2. seguire l’attuazione del programma. La Turchia trasmette ogni tre mesi alla Commis- 3. sione una relazione tecnica sui progressi realizzati. Articolo 5 Gli Stati membri sono destinatari della presente deci- sione. Articolo 4 Si applicano per quanto di ragione gli articoli 8 e 9 del regolamento (CEE) n. 729/70. Per la Commissione Franz FISCHLER Membro della Commissione Fatto a Bruxelles, il 9 dicembre 1997. 21. 1. 98 IT Gazzetta ufficiale delle Comunità europee L 16/47 ALLEGATO CONTRIBUTO CONCESSO DALLA COMUNITÀ EUROPEA ALLA TURCHIA PER IL MIGLIORAMENTO DEL PROGRAMMA DI CONTROLLO DELL’AFTA EPIZOOTICA Azioni 1. Miglioramento dei posti di ispezione stradali 1. 1. Costi per miglioramenti strutturali nei due posti di ispezione stradali di: — Sivas, — Malatya, (in ecu) Costi previsti Tetto di 106 680 comprese le attrezzature per il personale e quelle di lavoro e di quarantena 1. 2. Costi per l’acquisto di due unità mobili di disinfezione 2. Miglioramento dei posti di ispezione frontalieri Tetto di 44 680 2. 1. Costi per miglioramenti strutturali nei due posti di ispezione frontalieri di: — Özalp, — Habur, compresa la collocazione di un impianto di disinfezione per le ruote degli autocarri 2. 2. Costi per l’acquisto di due unità mobili di disinfezione 3. Miglioramento dei mercati Tetto di 50 100 3. 1. Costi per miglioramenti strutturali dei mercati di bestiame a: — Erzurum, — Gaziantep, — Erdine, compresi i costi per l’acquisto di: — attrezzature per la disinfezione degli autocarri, — pompa d’acqua a pressione, — miscelatore per disinfettanti 4. Istituzione di un sistema per l’identificazione del bestiame Tetto di 26 600 4. 1. Costi per l’organizzazione di un seminario, la formazione del personale e l’elaborazione di un sistema di identificazione del bestiame (comprese le spese di viaggio e di soggiorno per i partecipanti e il consulente)


title: Dichiarazione della Danimarca a verbale del Consiglio


title: Id-Deċiżjoni tal-Kumitat Konġunt ŻEE Nru 89/97 tad-9 ta' Diċembru 1997 li temenda l-Anness II (Regolamenti tekniċi, standards, ittestjar u ċertifikazzjoni) li jinsab mal-Ftehim ŻEE

eurovoc_concepts:
European Economic Area
agreement (EU)
agricultural product
foodstuff
labelling
organic farming

text: 56 MT Il-Gurnal Ufficjali ta' l-Unjoni Ewropea 11/Vol. 3 21998D0709(06) L 193/44 IL-GURNAL UFFICJALI TAL-KOMUNITAJIET EWROPEJ 9. 7. 1998 ID-DECIŻJONI TAL-KUMITAT KONGUNT ŻEE Nru 89/97 tad-9 ta' Dicembru 1997 li temenda l-Anness II (Regolamenti teknici, standards, ittestjar u certifikazzjoni) li jinsab mal- Ftehim ŻEE IL-KUMITAT KONGUNT ŻEE Wara li kkunsidra l-Ftehim dwar iż-Żona Ekonomika Ewropea, kif aggustat bil-Protokoll li Jaggusta l-Fte- him dwar iż-Żona Ekonomika Ewropea, hawnhekk iżjed 'l quddiem imsejjah il-Ftehim, u b'mod partikolari l-Artikolu 98 tieghu, Billi l-Anness II li jinsab mal-Ftehim kien emendat bid-Deciżjoni tal-Kumitat Kongunt ŻEE Nru 64/97 ta 'l-4 ta' Ottubru 1997 (1); Billi r-Regolament tal-Kummissjoni (KE) Nru 345/97 tas-26 ta' Frar 1997 li jemenda l-l-Artikolu 3 tar- Regolament (KEE) Nru 207/93 li jiddefinixxi l-kontenut ta' l-Anness VI li jinsab mar-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KEE) Nru 2092/91 dwar il-produzzjoni organika ta' prodotti agrikoli u l-indikazzjonijiet li jirreferu ghali- hom dwar prodotti agrikoli u oggetti ta' l-ikel u li jippreskrivi regoli dettaljati ghall-implimentazzjoni tad- dispożizzjonijiet ta' l-Artikolu 5(4) tieghu (2) ghandu jigi inkorporat f'dan il-Ftehim, IDDECIEDA KIF GEJ: Artikolu 1 L-inciż li gej ghandu jiżdied mal-punt 54e (Regolament tal-Kunsill (KEE) Nru 207/93) tal-Kapitolu XII ta' l- Anness II li jinsab mal-Ftehim: “, kif emendat b': – 397 R 0345: Regolament tal-Kummissjoni (KE) Nru 345/97 tas-26 ta' Frar 1997 (GU L 58, tas- 27. 2. 1997, p. 38). ”. It-testi tar-Regolament tal-Kummissjoni (KE) Nru 345/97 fil-lingwi ta' l-Islanda u tan-Norvegja, li huma annessi mal-verżjonijiet rispettivi tal-lingwa ta' din id-Deciżjoni, huma awtentici. Artikolu 2 Artikolu 3 Din id-Deciżjoni ghanda tidhol fis-sehh fl-10 ta' Dicembru 1997, kemm-il darba n-notifikazzjonijiet kollha taht l-Artikolu 103(1) tal-Ftehim ikunu intghamlu lill-Kumitat Kongunt ŻEE. Din id-Deciżjoni ghandha tigi ppublikata fit-Taqsima ŻEE ta', u fis-Suppliment ŻEE ta', l-Gurnal Ufficjali tal- Komunitajiet Ewropej. Artikolu 4 Maghmula fi Brussel, fid-9 ta' Dicembru 1997. Ghall-Kumitat Kongunt ŻEE Il-President E. BULL (1) GU L 30, tat-5. 2. 1998, p. 35. (2) GU L 58, tas-27. 2. 1997, p. 38


title: Decisione del comitato misto SEE n. 91/97 del 9 dicembre 1997 che modifica l'allegato II (Regolamentazioni tecniche, norme, prove e certificazioni) dell'accordo SEE

eurovoc_concepts:
European Economic Area
agreement (EU)
animal product
food inspection
veterinary drug
waste

text: L 193/46 ‹ IT ‹ Gazzetta ufficiale delle Comunit(cid:133) europee 9. 7. 98 DECISIONE DEL COMITATO MISTO SEE N. 91/97 del 9 dicembre 1997 che modifica l’allegato II (Regolamentazioni tecniche, norme, prove e certifica- zioni) dell’accordo SEE IL COMITATO MISTO SEE, visto l’accordo sullo Spazio economico europeo, adeguato dal protocollo che adegua l’accordo sullo Spazio economico europeo, in seguito denominato «l’accordo», in parti- colare l’articolo 98, considerando che l’allegato II dell’accordo (cid:138) stato modificato dalla decisione n. 78/97 del Comitato misto SEE (1); considerando che occorre integrare nell’accordo quattro regolamenti (CE) n. 2017/96 (2), (CE) n. 2034/96 (3), (CE) n. 17/97 (4), (CE) n. 270/97 (5) della Commissione che modificano gli allegati del regolamento (CEE) n. 2377/90 del Consiglio che definisce la procedura comunitaria per la determinazione dei limiti massimi di residui di medicinali veterinari negli alimenti di origine animale, DECIDE: Articolo 1 I trattini seguenti sono aggiunti al punto 14 [Regolamento (CEE) n. 2377/90 del Consiglio] del capitolo XIII dell’allegato II dell’accordo: «— 396 R 2017: Regolamento (CE) n. 2017/96 della Commissione, del 22 ottobre 1996 (GU L 270 del 23. 10. 1996, pag. 2), — 396 R 2034: Regolamento (CE) n. 2034/96 della Commissione, del 24 ottobre 1996 (GU L 272 del 25. 10. 1996, pag. 2), — 397 R 0017: Regolamento (CE) n. 17/97 della Commissione, dell’8 gennaio 1997 (GU L 5 del 9. 1. 1997, pag. 12), — 397 R 0270: Regolamento (CE) n. 270/97 della Commissione, del 14 febbraio 1997 (GU L 45 del 15. 2. 1997, pag. 8). » Articolo 2 I testi dei regolamenti (CE) n. 2017/96, (CE) n. 2034/96, (CE) n. 17/97 e (CE) n. 270/97, nelle lingue islandese e norvegese, allegati alle rispettive versioni linguistiche della presente decisione, fanno fede. Articolo 3 La presente decisione entra in vigore il 10 dicembre 1997, a condizione che al Comitato misto SEE siano pervenute tutte le notifiche previste dall’articolo 103, paragrafo 1, dell’ac- cordo. (1) GU L 134 del 7. 5. 1998, pag. 6. (2) GU L 270 del 23. 10. 1996, pag. 2. (3) GU L 272 del 25. 10. 1996, pag. 2. (4) GU L 5 del 9. 1. 1997, pag. 12. (5) GU L 45 del 15. 2. 1997, pag. 8. 9. 7. 98 ‹ IT ‹ Gazzetta ufficiale delle Comunit(cid:133) europee L 193/47 La presente decisione (cid:138) pubblicata nella sezione SEE e nel supplemento SEE della Gazzetta ufficiale delle Comunit(cid:133) europee. Articolo 4 Fatto a Bruxelles, add(cid:141) 9 dicembre 1997. Per il Comitato misto SEE Il Presidente E. BULL