Cotton: production aid

PURPOSE : to lay down the measures needed for the grant of the production aid provided for in Protocol 4 annexed to the Act of Accession of Greece. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Regulation 1051/2001/EC on production aid for cotton. CONTENT : after the examination by the Council of the operation of the aid scheme provided for in Protocol 4 annexed to the Act of Accession of Greece, it was revealed that there was a need to maintain the existing arrangements for cotton, but with certain adjustments. (Please refer to CNS990201). The guide price, the minimum price payable to producers and the guaranteed natinoal quantities should be fixed at levels that maintain the balance achieved between crops and enable operators to run medium-term production and processing programmes. Therefore, this Regulation adjusts the scheme in the following ways: - the amount of the production aid for unginned cotton shall be fixed by the Commission on the basis of the difference between a guide price fixed for unginned cotton and the world market price. The aid shall be granted for unginned cotton purchased at a price at least equal to the minimum price. Moreover, the price guide shall be set at EUR 106,30 per 100 kg of unginned cotton. The price shall relate to cotton of sound and fair merchantable quality; containing 10% moisture and 3% impurities; with characteristics needed to produce, after ginning, 32% grade 5 fibres (white middling) 28 mm in length (1-3/32"). The minimum price sahll be set at EUR 11,99 per 100 kg of unginned cotton for the quality selected for the ex holding guide price. Lastly, it should be noted that Regulations 2799/98/EC and 1258/1999/EC on the financing of the common agricultural policy shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the arrangements provided for in this Regulation. ENTRY INTO FORCE : this Regulation shall enter into force on 01/06/01.�