Special system of assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas: continuation

Adopting the report by Bernard CASTAGN?DE, the committee approved the proposal for a Council regulation continuing a special system of assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas until 31 December 1996. This extension was needed because ACP income support is calculated each year for the preceding year on the basis of figures which are not published by Eurostat until the second quarter of each year. The rapporteur also called on the Union to maintain its obligations to ACP countries with regard to advantages on and access to the European Union market. He called on the Commission to take steps to provide all ACP suppliers of bananas with financial and technical assistance to permit them to adapt to changing market conditions and to grant compensation to producers seriously affected by the collapse in market prices.�