Agenda 2000: oils and fats; common organisation of the markets COM, olive oil, aid for the production (amend. regul. 136/66/EEC, 2261/84/EEC)

Parliament rejected by 97 votes to 32 and 1 abstention the request by Mr Juan COLINO SALAMANCA (PSE, E) to refer the matter back to the Committee on Agriculture, and adopted by 135 votes in favour and 5 abstentions the proposal for a regulation establishing a common organization of the market in oils and fats. In its numerous amendments, Parliament opposed the removal of the intervention price. It argued that the target price of ECU 383.77/100 kg proposed by the Commission should be fixed for the 1998/99 marketing year without affecting the following year. It called for an intervention price of ECU 180.58/100 kg and a representative price of ECU 229.50/100 kg for the same marketing year. It called for private storage aid of ECU 5.4/100 kg per two-month period. It also called for the introduction of aid for the production of table olives. In addition, Parliament sought a maximum guaranteed annual amount of 1 800 000 tonnes (the Commission was proposing 1 562 400 tonnes per marketing year). Similarly, Parliament recommended that if in a marketing year the effective production of certain Member States was lower than their national guaranteed ceiling, the difference should be added to the maximum guaranteed quantities of the Member State for the following marketing year. Parliament also called on the Member States to carry out the necessary monitoring to ensure that the quantities of olive oil produced are in accordance with those agreed. While calling for the elimination of the double-aid system, the European Parliament nevertheless wishes to introduce a specific system of aid for small, low-output holdings situated in areas of low rainfall and affected by risks of erosion. In order to protect the natural composition of olive oil, Parliament also wishes to forbid mixing it with oils and fats from other sources. In this connection, given the disparity of national regulations regarding the possibility of marketing olive oil mixed with other oils and fats, Parliament calls for the introduction of uniform rules at European Union level. Unlike the Commission, Parliament is not opposed to new plantations. However, it calls for new plantation arrangements, accompanied by effective monitoring. Finally, Parliament urges that, if the market price of olive oil remains 105% below the intervention price for two weeks, the Commission should authorize the Member States to conclude storage contracts with recognized producer groups or unions.�