19. 12. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 341/13
Opinion on the proposals for a:
— Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the common
organization of the market in products processed from fruit and vegetables and
Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 on the Common Customs Tariff
— Council Regulation fixing guarantee thresholds for certain products processed from
fruit and vegetables
— Council Regulation adjusting certain rules in the 1979 Act of Accession in respect of
products processed from fruit and vegetables
— Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the common
organization of the market in products processed from fruit and vegetables
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the
European Communities No C 94 of 8 April 1983, pp. 3 to 10.
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION
On 7 April 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 43 of the Treaty establishing the
European Economic Community.
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its
210th plenary held in Brussels on 28 and 29 September 1983.
The full text of the opinion is as follows:
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro-
pean Economic Community, and in particular
Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the request from the Council of the
European Communities on 7 April 1983 for an opi-
nion on the proposals for: a Council Regulation
amending Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the
common organization of the market in products
processed from fruit and vegetables and Regulation
(EEC) No 950/68 on the Common Customs Tariff;
a Council Regulation fixing guarantee thresholds
for certain products processed from fruit and veget-
ables; a Council Regulation adjusting certain rules
in the 1979 Act of Accession in respect of products
processed from fruit and vegetables; and a Council
Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 516/77
on the common organization of the market in prod-
ucts processed from fruit and vegetables,
Having regard to the decision of its Bureau on 26
April 1983 instructing the Section for Agriculture to
prepare an opinion on the matter,
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the Sec-
tion for Agriculture at its 245th meeting, held on 8
September 1983,
Having regard to the oral report of the rapporteur,
Mr Wick,
Having regard to the discussions at its 210th plenary
session held on 28 September 1983,
No C 341/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 12.83
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION
by 88 votes to 15, with three abstentions:
1. General comments
1.1. The Committee has taken note of the Com-
mission's report, and has carefully examined devel-
opments in this area since the 1977 Regulation came
into force.
1.2. The Committee would point out that the
Regulation on processed fruit and vegetables was
introduced because, for trade policy reasons, the
Community decided to dispense with special extern-
al arrangements and introduced aids arrangements
to compensate for competition disadvantages.
1.3. The Regulation currently in force should be
seen in connection with the common agricultural
policy; it is an important source of income for pro-
ducers. In addition, the aid regime laid down for a
number of products has had a positive effect on
employment in agriculture and the processing
industry.
1.4. The Committee notes that since the Regula-
tion was introduced, a number of flaws have
become evident which have led to additional diffi-
culties. The problems which this has caused have
not been brought out in the Commission's report.
The Committee feels that the present Regulation is
incomplete and therefore inadequate.
1.5. The present proposed changes will not remove
these flaws completely. The Committee has the
impression that the proposals were heavily influ-
enced by such considerations as financing.
1.6. Furthermore, the Committee would stress the
inadequacy of the Commission report's assessment
of the present aid scheme for processed fruit and
vegetables.
Although the report acknowledges that the general
aim of the scheme is to bolster the economy.of the
Mediterranean regions, only a few of its economic
effects are examined.
Moreover, the report contains no assessment of
whether or not Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 has
achieved its aim of ensuring that the processed fruit
and vegetables market is managed effectively.
The proposals are limited in scope and do not tackle
the most important aspects of revising and amplify-
ing the present measures in order to overcome the
difficulties already encountered and encourage agri-
cultural, industrial and commercial development in
the sectors concerned.
1.7. The Committee thinks that although the
changes proposed by the Commission (new method
for calculating aid, minimum import price, storage
of dried grapes, guarantee limits) will introduce a
few limited operational improvements, their main
aim is to reduce the financial burden on the Com-
munity budget.
1.8. The Committee is not insensitive to the need
for a reform of the common agricultural policy, hav-
ing regard to the scope for reducing costs, within the
framework of action to restore balance between the
various regions of the Community and increase the
effectiveness of aid.
1.9. The Committee has taken note of the Com-
mission's guidelines for processed fruit and vegeta-
bles as set out in its document of 28 July 1983 enti-
tled 'Common agricultural policy — Proposals of
the Commission' (COM(83) 500 final).
The Committee would, however, ask the Council
that any decision on the present proposal for a
Regulation be adopted at the same time as those
decisions on the other sectors of production which
are to be taken in connection with the proposals for
reform of the CAP put forward by the Commission
in the above-mentioned document.
The Committee reserves the right to make proposals
for a more radical reform of Community interven-
tion in the processed fruit and vegetable sector in
the course of its discussion of document the Com-
mission final of 28 July 1983, and it also reserves the
right to comment later on the substance of the pres-
ent opinion.
2. Comments on the Commission's individual pro-
posals
2.1. Proposal for a Council Regulation amending
Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the common
organization of the market in products
19.12.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 341/15
processed from fruit and vegetables and Regula-
tion (EEC) No 950/68 on the Common
Customs Tariff
The Committee approves the Commission's pro-
posal, subject to the comments made above and
below:
2.1.1. Article 1 (1) concern ing Article 3,
po in t 1
The Committee feels that Annex la of Regulation
(EEC) No 516/77 should be expanded to make all
end products obtained from the same raw material
eligible for aid, especially cherries. It is essential to
include here cherry preparations, dessert sauces,
cherry juice and candied cherries, among other
things to combart the fierce competition from non-
member countries. The Committee would point out
that all tomato products are already eligible for aid.
2.1.2. Article 1 (1) concern ing Article 3,
po in t 3
The Committee notes that, following a proposal
from the Commission, the Council can take steps to
limit production aid to a specified quantity of goods
in the event of a major imbalance between supply
and demand. The Community market in cherries
and Williams pears preserved in syrup is in deficit.
But despite this, there is a limit on production aid
for these two products. The Committee thinks that
this limit should be removed, at least as long as
there is a shortage on the market. It welcomes an
extension of the reference period to cover several
marketing years, and suggests using the average for
the last three marketing years as the basis for calcu-
lation.
2.1.3. Art icle 1 (1) concern ing Ar t ic le .3b ,
po in t 1 (b)
The Committee is against any linkage of the mini-
mum price for such products, which do not have
their own basic price, to the basic prices of other
products. It considers that these two sets of products
have entirely different markets and should be
treated separately; it therefore rejects any linkage.
The Committee proposes that cherries and plums
should also have basic and buying-in prices, to
ensure that the system is consistent.
In addition, it asks the Commission to propose suit-
able measures for eliminating the two-tier market in
pears and cherries which shows signs of emerging.
2.1.4. Article 1 (1) concern ing Article 3c,
point 1, first indent
The Committee wonders whether the Commission's
proposal that aid be adjusted on a flat-rate basis at
the raw material stage is an improvement on the
present system.
2.1.5. Article 1 (1) concern ing Article 3c,
point 1 ,second inden t
The Committee proposes that the words 'if neces-
sary' be deleted and that the level of aid take
account of processing costs.
2.1.6. Article 1 (1) concern ing Article 3c,
poin t 2
The Committee wonders whether the third-country
price factor can be properly taken into account for
those products, the imports of which cannot be
regarded as representative and for which there is no
minimum import price.
2.1.7. Article 1 (1) concern ing Art icle 3d,
poin t 1 (b)
The Committee feels that the idea of being 'pack-
aged for the final consumer' should be defined pre-
cisely. For example, it should be made clear that big
packages intended for largescale consumers are still
eligible for aid.
2.1.8. Art icle 1 (1) concern ing Art icle 3d,
point 2
The Committee considers that cherries should be
included (in a new subparagraph (e)) among the
products exempted from the restrictions laid down
in paragraph 1 (b) on the grounds that semi-finished
products to be included in a new version of
Annex la, fruit preparations and fruit dessert sauces
are intended for further processing, and not for
direct distribution to the final consumer.
No C 341/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 12. 83
2.1.9. Art icle 1 (1) concern ing Article 4,
po in t 1
The Committee would like minimum import prices
introduced for all products listed in Annex la, and
therefore proposes the deletion of the letter '(a)'.
2.1.10. To remove existing currency disparities, the
Committee proposes a system of adjustment coeffi-
cients, similar to those in the existing regulations for
the oilseeds and dried grapes.
2.2. Proposal for a Council Regulation fixing guar-
antee thresholds for certain products processed
from fruit and vegetables
The Committee approves the Commission's propos-
al, subject to the following comment:
removed, especially for products of which there is a
shortage in the Community.
2.3. Proposal for a Council Regulation adjusting
certain rules in the 1979 Act of Accession in re-
spect of products processed from fruit and
vegetables
The Committee approves the Commission's propos-
al.
2.4. Proposal for a Council Regulation amending
Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 on the common
organization of the market in products pro-
cessed from fruit and vegetables
2.2.1. Art icle 1(1)
The Committee would recall here its comments in
point 2.1.2 that quantitative restrictions should be
The Committee approves the Commission's pro-
posal on the express condition that dried grapes and
figs in the possession of producers in the last month
of the marketing year are handed over to the storage
agencies.
Done at Brussels, 28 September 1983.
The Chairman
of the Economic and Social Committee
Francois CEYRAC
APPENDIX
to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee
A. Rejected amendments
The following amendments to the Section opinion, submitted in accordance with the Rules of
Procedure, were rejected by the Committee during the discussions held at the plenary session:
Point 2.1
Replace the second paragraph by the following:
'As regards the above Commission proposal, the Committee, would make the following
comments, in addition to those set out above:'.
Reasons
Since the right is reserved to comment later on this subject, the opinion should contain obser-
vations on the individual proposals of the Commission, but without anticipating express and
complete approval. Such prudence is in keeping with the overall balance of the opinion. '
19. 12. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 341/17
Voting
For: 7, against: overwhelming majority, abstentions: 18.
Point 2.2
Replace the second paragraph by the following:
'The Committee has no comments to make'.
Reasons
See reasons given under amendment to point 2.1.
Voting
For: 5, against: 67, abstentions: 29.
Point 2.3
Replace the first two lines of the second paragraph by the following:
'As regards the above Commission proposal, the Committee makes the express condition
that
Reasons
See reasons given under amendment to point 2.1.
Voting
For: 3, against: 72, abstentions: 17.
Point 2.4
Replace the second paragraph by the following:
'The Committee has no comments to make'.
Reasons
See reasons given under amendment to point 2.1.
Voting
For: 2, against: 55, abstentions: 17.
B. The following part of the text of the section opinion was replaced by an amendment approved
during discussions
Point 1.2
'The Section would point out that the Regulation on processed fruit and vegetables was
designed inter alia to (i) bolster the economy of the Mediterranean regions and (ii) prevent
price fluctuations oh the world market from having a direct effect on prices within the Com-
munity by setting up a single trading system at the Community's frontiers. Quantitative re-
strictions and measures having equivalent effect were prohibited in trade with non-member
countries'. ,
Voting
For: 60, against: 5, abstentions: 17.
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