Common organisation of the market in rice

PURPOSE: the setting of institutional prices and amounts for rice in the 2000/2001 marketing year. CONTENT: As a result of the decisions on Agenda 2000 in May 1999 and the reforms of the common market organisations (CMOs) since 1992, the yearly fixing of institutional prices and amounts now affects only a few sectors. This proposed Regulation seeks to fix monthly increments for rice (amount, number and timing) for an undefined period. The monthly increments are currently fixed at EUR 2/tonne/month on the intervention price. It is proposed that the amount of the monthly increments be fixed permanently by amending the basic Regulation on the common organisation of the market in rice (Regulation 3072/95/EC). Since both the intervention price and interest rates are stable, the Commission is proposing that the amount of EUR 2/tonne/month be carried forward. This proposal does not prejudge the proposal in the entire market organisation for rice which the Commission has undertaken to present. The change in appropriation requirements compared to those on which the budget was based is -EUR 9 million. The requirements for the public storage of rice decrease by EUR R 16 million, essentially because of an increase in the quantities to be sold in the context of the programme to supply food to deprived persons. this is partly offset by higher requirements elsewhere in the chapter, notably for export refunds for rice (+EUR 5 million) due to a downward revision to the forecast world price. The proposal also deletes the article in Regulation 3072/95 extending the EAGGF Guarantee Section financing to the French overseas departments, as this provision is no longer required.�