Activites

• 1997/08/02 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Regulation 1997/1554
  • OJ L 208 02.08.1997, p. 0001
• #2025
• 1997/07/22 Council Meeting
• 1997/07/22 End of procedure in Parliament
• 1997/07/22 Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
• 1997/07/18 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
  • T4-0416/1997 summary

    The European Parliament adopted the report by Mr Xaver MAYER (PPE, D) on the proposal to amend the Regulation on the common organization of the market in hops. Whereas the Commission had proposed excluding from aid areas which have been cleared of hops, Parliament called for such aid to continue to be paid for a limited transitional period (provisional set-aside). At the end of the period, the producer would have to decide either to replant the hops or to withdraw the land from hop cultivation. This system would not entail any additional costs to the EAGGF. It should be noted that the aid may also be granted in respect of areas which are temporarily not planted with hops, provided that the following conditions are met: reusable hop-growing facilities are maintained in good condition, the areas are given permanent grass cover to improve soil fertility, and the areas under hops are not extended to include other farmland. On the other hand, Parliament proposed that, in order to attain common aims, producer groups should be able to use up to 40% of the aid (rather than 20% as proposed by the Commission), and that the remaining 60% should be redistributed to individual farmers. The proportion of the aid to producers withheld by producer groups could be cumulated over a period not exceeding five years. As regards ensuring the presence of Community hops on export markets, Parliament considered it necessary to do more than the Commission had proposed, particularly by means of the following measures: cultivation of markets by conducting publicity and sales promotion campaigns; stabilization of the market by means of selective buying-in operations; determination, safeguarding and improvement of quality; targeted research in the fields of production and marketing; authorization of plant protection products. Lastly, Parliament called for an increase in aid (from ECU 450 to ECU 500 per hectare per annum). It should be calculated on the basis of the average for the last three years rather than the last ten as proposed by the Commission. �

• 1997/07/01 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0228/1997
• 1997/05/14 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1997/03/07 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1997)0098 summary

    OBJECTIVE: To amend Regulation (EEC) 1696/71 on the common organization of the market in hops, with a view to facilitating the sector's adjustment to market requirements by strengthening the role of the producer groups. SUBSTANCE: In relation to the present situation, the proposed modifications can be summed up in four major points: (1) the granting of flat-rate annual aid per hectare based on historical averages, with no distinction between the various groups or varieties and payment being made as soon as possible after the harvest; the aid comprises two amounts existing under the previous scheme, i.e. aid to producers and aid for varietal conversion and amounts to ECU 450/ha; (2) the possibility for members of recognized producer groups to market all or part of their produce themselves, without any reduction in the aid resulting by way of a penalty, where they are so authorized by the group; the latter has the right to monitor prices negotiated between producers and traders and can grant or refuse approval for the conclusion of contracts; in the event of disagreement on prices proposed, the producer group is under an obligation to take over the hops at a higher price and find another purchaser; (3) the possibility of varietal conversion on a permanent basis, i.e. with no limit in area or time, payment being covered by the flat rate aid per hectare; (4) the possibility of withholding up to 20% (100% under the present system) of the aid to producers to implement special measures such as rationalization and mechanization of cultivating and harvesting, the adoption of common rules on production, varietal conversion, promotion, measures to determine and improve quality and research; should producer groups not market their members' whole production, this possibility becomes an obligation, the percentage in that case continuing to stand at 20%; during the fifth year following the entry into force of the Regulation, there is provision for an assessment to be made of the measures applied and of their impact on the sector. �

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1997)0098
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0228/1997
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0416/1997
• : Regulation 1997/1554
• : OJ L 208 02.08.1997, p. 0001

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)