Activities of Carmen FRAGA ESTÉVEZ related to 2007/0242(CNS)
Plenary speeches (1)
Support schemes for farmers (support for cotton) (debate)
Amendments (10)
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) All the relevant factors and circumstances pertaining to the specific situation of the cotton sector, including all the elements necessary to assess the profitability of that crop, should be taken into consideration. Cotton is grown in regions which still quality as convergence-objective regions for the 2007-2013 period and which have an essentially agricultural economy with few alternative crops. Furthermore, cotton- growing and the associated agri-industry are a major source of employment and wealth in those areas. To this end, an evaluation and consultation process was launched: two studies were carried out on the socio-economic and on the environmental impact on the cotton sector in the Community of the future cotton support scheme and specific seminars and an internet consultation were organised with stakeholders.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 10a (new)
Recital 10a (new)
(10a) Since there are few alternatives to cotton-growing, aid schemes must be introduced which will ensure that cotton- growing is profitable and that it continues in the European Union's producer regions. For this reason the Member States should be able to increase non- decoupled aid in cases where the area under cultivation is smaller than the base production areas (although such action must be financially neutral and a ceiling must be established for the amount of aid paid to farmers).
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 11a (new)
Recital 11a (new)
(11a) In view of the downward trend in the Member States' cotton production, the ginning industry has entered a restructuring process which should be accompanied by appropriate support measures designed to ensure that units which are forced to redirect their production activity experience a smooth transition. For this reason a restructuring fund, financed out of the budget for the COM in cotton should be set up.
Amendment 41 #
Recital 12a (new)
(12a) National support programmes should be financed mainly from funds transferred pursuant to Article 69 and from non-absorbed funds originally earmarked as non-decoupled aid.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 13a (new)
Recital 13a (new)
(13a) In the period since the reform of the cotton sector which was approved in 2004 and nullified by the European Court of Justice (Decision C-310/04) has been in force, production has decreased considerably and all of the parties involved have consequently suffered economic loss – a loss which should be duly assessed in order to enable compensation for the losses incurred to be granted.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1
Article 1
Regulation (EC) 1782/2003
Article 110c – paragraph 1 – indent 2
Article 110c – paragraph 1 – indent 2
– Greece: 3270 000 ha,
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1
Article 1
Regulation (EC) 1782/2003
Article 110c – paragraph 2 – indent 2
Article 110c – paragraph 2 – indent 2
– Greece: EUR 594 for 300 000 hectares and EUR 342.85 for the remaining 70 000 hectares750,
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1
Article 1
Regulation (EC) 1782/2003
Article 110c – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 110c – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Where the admissible cotton area in a given Member State is smaller than the base area established in subparagraph 1, the aid referred to in subparagraph 2 for that Member State shall be increased in proportion to the base area which has not been covered, up to a ceiling established by means of the procedure laid down in Article 144. Any saving brought about by a fall in production shall be allocated to the national support programmes.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article one
Article one
Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003
Article 110(ea) (new) – Paragraph 1 (new)
Article 110(ea) (new) – Paragraph 1 (new)
Article 110(ea) National support programmes 1. National support programmes shall be established for the purpose of improving competitiveness. The Community shall determine and shall finance the eligible actions. The Member Staes shall select whatever package of measures they consider effective and which are best suited to their regional particularities. That package must include a restructuring fund for the ginning industry.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article one
Article one
Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003
Article 110(ea)(new) – Paragraph 2 (new)
Article 110(ea)(new) – Paragraph 2 (new)
2. The national support programmes shall be financed by means of a percentage of up to 10% of the non-decoupled aid pursuant to Article 69. That amount shall be supplemented by the appropriations which have not been absorbed by means of non-decoupled aid. The Member States shall finance a fund to be earmarked for the ginning industry in accordance with the latter's restructuring requirements.