Support system for producers of certain arable crops (amend. Regul. 1765/92/EEC)

The committee adopted the report on two Commission proposals to modify support arrangements for durum wheat and oilseeds. On durum wheat, members agreed with the Commission that some production should be maintained outside the traditional production regions, by granting a specific aid set at ECU 115/ha. This will affect a maximum of 50 000 ha in France, as well as providing for an increase in the production zones of Spain (+20 000 ha), Portugal (+5 000 ha) and Italy (+5 000 ha). The rapporteur reminded members that a decision on this matter was urgent as the sowing season was about to start and farmers needed to know, as soon as possible, about measures which had immediate implications for the running of their farms. On oilseeds, the committee accepted the Commission proposals to provide for different penalties in the different Länder of Germany as a result of an overrun in the national production quota. The Commission did not want to penalise all producers in the same way, since although some Länder were expected to exceed their quotas by 50%, most had complied with their quotas. The committee adopted several amendments to the Commission proposals to take better account of the specific problems of the new German Länder. �