Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-12-11-Speech-1-196"
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"en.20061211.18.1-196"2
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"Mr President, I should like to make a few comments about the questions raised here tonight.
As I have already explained in my introductory speech, a report on the implementation of the POSEI programmes will be presented not later than 2009 and will permit the assessment of the situation in the banana-producing regions. If there are substantial changes in the economic conditions affecting livelihoods in the outermost regions the Commission may submit this report earlier.
A question was raised about the situation of the producer organisations. It is important for me to underline clearly that producer organisations have not been abolished. Simply, there is no longer a need for a common definition of producer organisations at Community level. The vast majority of Community producers are already members of producer organisations. It is therefore more appropriate to let Member States decide whether they wish to adopt rules on producer organisations, which will enable them to target regional needs much more specifically and provide support under the POSEI programme. This is possible. Regional authorities will be left to make their own choices. This flexibility built into the system would be the best way to secure sustainable and coherent policy decisions in the outermost regions.
There were some questions about advance payments. It is important that we do not forget that the new system offers a number of tangible benefits to the banana-producing farmers. Firstly, as soon as the POSEI programmes are approved they will have budget clarity for the full period of 2007-2013. This will improve their position if they need to go to the bank about loans. They could also obtain 100% clarity concerning the aid already paid on 1Â December. Under the present system, they have clarity concerning only between 20% and 40% of the payments. It is my clear impression that the Member States appreciate these changes.
In general, I can say with some confidence that our proposal on the budget will be very good for the banana-producing countries. If we had chosen other reference periods the result would have been worse than choosing the period 2000-2002. Therefore, I am happy that the European Parliament has decided not to reopen this discussion.
There were a few comments on the fruit and vegetable sector. I am very happy to be able to say today that on 24 January I will be coming to the Committee on Agriculture to give an explanation on the new fruit and vegetable reforms. This will clarify some of the questions that have been raised here tonight.
On the various proposals, the Commission supports the incorporation of Amendment 4, regarding the contribution of bananas to the social and economic cohesion, and Amendment 9, which mentions the importance of various quality standards and the link to tourism, although we might need to revise the wording slightly.
Concerning the amendments asking to link the POSEI report to the banana sector and allow for a partial decoupling in non-outermost regions, the Commission’s view is that this would clearly go against the whole idea behind the reform and also the linkage to the 2003 CAP reform.
I wish to thank you once again for all your efforts to speed up the discussion of the banana reform. I am delighted that Parliament seems to agree with the basis of this whole reform and I am looking forward to the vote in plenary tomorrow."@en1
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