Common agricultural policy (CAP): national restructuring programmes for the cotton sector 2010-2017

PURPOSE: to extend the programming period of restructuring programmes in the cotton sector and amending Regulation (EC) No 637/2008.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 472/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 637/2008 as regards the national restructuring programmes for the cotton sector.

CONTENT: the Council adopted by a qualified majority, with the United Kingdom delegation voting against, this Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 637/2008 with a view to extending the programming period of national restructuring programmes in the cotton sector from 4 to 8 years. Council Regulation (EC) No 637/2008 envisaged 4-year restructuring programmes. However, in view of the substantial difficulties the sector is facing, Member States are given the possibility of submitting an 8-year programme instead, without increasing the annual budgetary allocation available to the Member States for restructuring programmes.

The level of annual aid for the restructuring programme has already been set by Council Regulation (EC) No 637/2008 and remains unchanged. If Member States choose to submit an eight-year programme their annual budgetary envelope will in 2018 automatically be transferred to their national ceiling for direct payments, in accordance with Annex VIII of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

In addition, with the aim of ensuring that all ginning factories active in the reference period should be eligible for the aid, ginning factories not operated by their owners in the reference marketing year are included as beneficiaries of the measures under Regulation (EC) No 637/2008.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16/06/2009.