Cotton: System of aid introduced by Protocol 4 annexed to the Act of Accession of Greece, fifth adjustment

The ESC regretted that it had not been invited to deliver an Opinion on the overall modification of the COM in cotton, and that it had had to restrict its Opinion to the proposal concerning the distribution of the maximum guaranteed quantity of cotton between the two producer countries (Greece and Spain). It welcomed the Commission’s proposal to maintain the current system for aid for cotton production, which was a significant part of the agricultural sector in these regions. It felt, however, that the considerable shortfall of cotton in the EU, the probable expansion of cotton production in other EU countries, its socio-economic importance in certain EU regions, its non-food nature and the increased demand for cotton on world markets demanded a higher MGQ of cotton in the EU. Cotton production in the southern EU countries needed to be encouraged and this could be achieved with a system that strengthened current production or at least kept it close to present levels. In the ESC’s view, the total MGQ for each marketing year should be increased to 1 338 500 tonnes of unginned cotton. It considered that the MGQ should be equitably divided between the Member States in the form of national guaranteed quantities based on normal production levels: 987 000 tonnes for Greece; 347 000 tonnes for Spain; 3 000 tonnes for Italy; and 1 500 tonnes for Portugal.