A support system of producers of certain arable crops: durum wheat (amend. Regul. 1765/92/EEC)

By unanimously adopting the report by Mr Francesco BALDARELLI (PSE, I), the European Parliament amended the proposal for the amendment of Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 on the support system for producers of durum wheat. Noting that the rate of compulsory set-aside has fallen substantially (from 15 to 5%), Parliament believes there should be a linear 5% increase in maximum guaranteed areas. Each Member State should establish a reserve of 5% to be used to encourage young farmers to become durum wheat producers. Parliament thus proposes a maximum guaranteed area of 626 850 ha for Greece (instead of the 597 000 ha proposed by the Commission), 199 500 ha for France (instead of 190 000), 1 690 500 ha for Italy (instead of 1 610 000) and 598 500 ha for Spain (instead of 570 000). In Portugal's case it calls for a greater increase (90 000 ha instead of the 35 000 ha proposed) since aid for durum wheat was not introduced in this country until 1991. Parliament also calls for small farmers to be left the option of using non-certified seed in order to maintain biodiversity and for incentives to be provided for the direct production of certified seed by producers' associations, by means of funding for such a measure. �