PURPOSE: to broaden the scope of the actions to be covered by Member State programmes on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 153/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a regulation on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries. This Regulation extends the procedure to be followed in the absence of information programmes on the internal market to cases where there are no programmes to be carried out in third countries.

Furthermore, it offers Member States the possibility of broadening the scope of the measures to be covered by their programmes, including seeking the help of international organisations, in particular for promotion programmes for the olive oil and table olive sector in third countries.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 03/03/2009.

The European Parliament adopted by 516 votes to 26 with 28 abstentions, under the consultation procedure, a legislative resolution amending the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries.

The main amendments are as follows:

in view of their expertise and the important part they play in ensuring quality control, the role of trade associations and organisations operating in the sector concerned must also be taken into consideration where the task of drawing-up programmes falls to the Member State; the implementing body for the programme eventually selected by the Member State(s) concerned may be an international organisation, in particular when the programme concerns the promotion for the olive oil and table olive sector, or for wines with protected designation of origin and protected geographical indication, in third countries. Member States' reasoned opinion accompanying the programme must include an assessment of the programme's cost effectiveness (rather than the programme's value for money as the Commission had proposed); the Community's financial participation in the programmes selected shall not exceed 60 % (rather than 50%) of the actual cost of these programmes. This percentage will be 70 % (rather than 60%) for measures for the promotion of fruit and vegetables intended specifically for children in schools of the Community.

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted a report drafted by Constantin DUMITRIU (EPP-ED, RO) and made some amendments to the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries.

The main amendments are as follows:

in view of their expertise and the important part they play in ensuring quality control, the role of trade associations and organisations operating in the sector concerned must also be taken into consideration where the task of drawing-up programmes falls to the Member State; emphasis should also be placed on promotion and publicity measures for the wine sector, both in the EU internal market and in third countries. As is the case with the olive oil and table olive sector, international bodies exist in the wine sector, which could ensure the implementation in third countries of programmes proposed by Member States, thereby disseminating information on the characteristics and advantages of quality wines produced in particular regions of the EU and of reserved designation of origin wines; Member States' reasoned opinion accompanying the programme must include an assessment of the programme's cost effectiveness (rather than the programme's value for money as the Commission had proposed); Members wish to amend the Regulation, in order to state that the Community's financial participation in the programmes selected shall not exceed 60 % (rather than 50%) of the actual cost of these programmes. This percentage will be 70 % (rather than 60%) for measures for the promotion of fruit and vegetables intended specifically for children in schools of the Community. The committee noted the general tightening of the conditions in which national organisations and authorities seek to obtain the amounts they must contribute to co-financing. It also noted the fact that a new programme aimed at promoting fruit in schools has recently been adopted. This amendment will help to smooth the implementation of that programme.

PURPOSE: amending Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries recasts Regulations (EC) No 2702/1999 and (EC) No 2826/2000 into a single regulation. This change has appreciably reduced and simplified the administrative procedures involved in implementing this policy by providing for a single legal framework which has facilitated access to and participation in the scheme.

However, there is still room for legislative improvement so as to allow the interested Member States to draw up a relevant programme in the case where proposing organisations do not wish to submit programmes to be carried out in third countries. Programmes drawn up by the Member States may cover one or more of the information measures referred to in Regulation (EC) No 3/2008.

By way of this amendment, the Member States will have the possibility to broaden the scope of the actions to be covered by these programmes and also to allow them to seek the help of international organisations when implementing them, notably in the case of promotion programmes for the olive oil and table olive sector in third countries.

PURPOSE: amending Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries recasts Regulations (EC) No 2702/1999 and (EC) No 2826/2000 into a single regulation. This change has appreciably reduced and simplified the administrative procedures involved in implementing this policy by providing for a single legal framework which has facilitated access to and participation in the scheme.

However, there is still room for legislative improvement so as to allow the interested Member States to draw up a relevant programme in the case where proposing organisations do not wish to submit programmes to be carried out in third countries. Programmes drawn up by the Member States may cover one or more of the information measures referred to in Regulation (EC) No 3/2008.

By way of this amendment, the Member States will have the possibility to broaden the scope of the actions to be covered by these programmes and also to allow them to seek the help of international organisations when implementing them, notably in the case of promotion programmes for the olive oil and table olive sector in third countries.