EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2004 2009 Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development XII_PV(2005)0119 MINUTES of the meeting of 19 January 2005, 3 p.m. - 6.30 p.m., and 20 January 2005, 9 a.m. - 12.30 a.m. BRUSSELS The meeting opened at 3.08 p.m. on Wednesday, 19 January 2005, with Joseph Daul, chairman, in the chair. 1. Adoption of draft agenda PE AGRI(2005)0119_1 1.1 The exchange of views on exceptional market support measures, rapporteur Niels Busk, will take place this afternoon as item 5. 1.2 The draft opinion on the financing of Natura 2000 will be discussed tomorrow as item 10. 1.3 The draft agenda, as amended, was adopted. 2. Approval of minutes of meeting of: - 22-23 November 2004 - 30 November 2004 The minutes of the meetings concerned were approved. In the presence of the European Commission 3. Exchange of views with Mr. Fernand Boden, Minister for Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development of Luxembourg and President-in-Office of the Council. In his introduction Mr. Boden spoke about the priorities for the Luxembourg Presidency, including reviewing the status of Mediterranean products, sugar, rice, wine and tobacco, as well as issues relating to organic farming, young farmers, the Lisbon strategy, forestry and vegetables and the impact of CAP reforms on the WTO Doha round. Speakers: Lutz Goepel, Katerina Batzeli, Friederich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, PV\556407EN.doc PE 353.728 Or. en EN EN Niels Busk, Diamanto Manolakou, Filip Adwent, Sergio Berlato, Agnes Schierhuber, Janusz Czesław Wojciechowski, Kartika Tamara Liotard, Astrid Lulling, Maria Esther Herranz Garcia, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, Albert Deß, Christa Klaß, Witold Tomczak, Jean-Claude Martinez. 4. Exchange of views with Mrs. Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development. In her introduction, Mrs. Fischer Boel spoke about achieving the goals of the Lisbon agenda and her intention to produce a European strategy for rural development to that effect. Speakers: Agnes Schierhuber, Heinz Kindermann, Niels Busk, Friederich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, Diamanto Manolakou, Sergio Berlato, Jean-Claude Martinez, Augustin Diaz De Mera García Consuegra, Terence Wynn, Albert Jan Maat, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, Janusz Czesław Wojciechowski, Bogdan Golik, Thijs Berman, Mairead McGuinness, Marc Tarabella, Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos, Jean-Claude Fruteau, Czesław Adam Sierkierski, Albert Deß, Maria Esther Herranz Garcia, Witold Tomczak, Duarte Freitas, Christa Klaß. 5. Amendment as regards exceptional market support measures AGRI/6/22657 Rapporteur: Niels Busk (ALDE) With limited time remaining Niels Busk posed several questions regarding cofunding measures in response to agricultural disasters. The Commission's position was presented by Mr. Naegele. The meeting was suspended at 18.36 p.m. on 19 January 2005, and resumed on the following day at 9.50 a.m. under the Chairmanship of Joseph Daul 6. Protection of groundwater against pollution AGRI/6/21047 PA-PE347.222 v02-00 AM-PE350.179 v01-00 Draftsman: Jan Mulder (ALDE) The following amendments were adopted: Amendments 1, 6, 35, 7, 8.2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 42.2, 44, 45, 15 (with an oral amendment), 16 to 31, 52, 53, 2, 32, 33, 4, 34 and 5. Decision: The draft opinion as modified was adopted 7. Assessment of the Doha Round following the WTO agreement on 2nd August 2004 AGRI/6/23651 PA - PE 350.099 v01-00 DT - PE 353.339 v01-00 Consideration of draft opinion Responsible: INTA F Javier Moreno Sánchez PE 353.728 2/9 PV\556407EN.doc Or. en EN Opinion: AGRI F Joseph Daul (EPP - ED) Decisions: Deadline for amendments: 01.02.2005 Adoption: 16.03.2005 8. Financing Natura 2000 Agri/6/24570 PA - PE 353.327 Consideration of draft opinion Responsible ENVI F - Magrete Auken (Verts/ALE) Opinion Kyösti Tapio Virrankoski (ALDE) Jean-Claude Fruteau, 1st Vice-Chairman in the chair Exchange of views The following spoke: Kyösti Tapio Virranoski, Agnes Schierhuber, Peter Baco and Mrs. Kaemena representing the Commission. Decisions: Deadline for amendments: 25.01.2005 Adoption: 21.02.2005 9. Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the reformed CAP - sugar sector reform AGRI/6/23829 RE - PE 353.291 Consideration of draft motion for a resolution (Rule 108(5)) Responsible Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) Exchange of views The following spoke: Jean-Claude Fruteau, Jeffrey William Titford, Heinz Kindermann, Thijs Berman, Stéphane Le Foll, Albert Deß, Katerina Batzeli, Kyösti Tapio Virranoski, Duarte Freitas, Robert William Sturdy, Jan Mulder, Neil Parish, Herbert Bösch, Béla Glattfelder, Zdisław Zbigniew Podkański, Hynek Fajmon, Bernadette Vergnaud, Jean-Claude Fruteau and Mr. Gazagnes for the Commission. Decision: Deadline for tabling amendments: 25.01.2005 10. Decisions taken by the Co-ordinators 10.1 Appointment of rapporteurs Reports 10.1.1 Proposal for a Council regulation laying down specific measures for agriculture PV\556407EN.doc 3/9 PE 353.728 Or. en EN in the outermost regions of the Union Com(04)0772-2004/0247 AGRI/6/24793 Opinion: BUDG, REGI, INTA A Decision: Appointment of rapporteur: Duarte Freitas (EPP-ED) 1 point 10.1.2 Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch Com(04)0772-2004/0269 AGRI/6/25369 Decision: Appointment of rapporteur: Janusz Wojciechowski (EPP-ED) 1 point 10.1.3 Proposal for a Council decision approving the accession of the European Community to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, as revised at Geneva on 19 March 1991 COM(04)0798-2004/0275 AGRI/6/25651 Opinion: ENVI, JURI Decision: Application of the simplified procedure (Rule 43.1) Chairman 0 point Opinions 10.1.4 Budget 2006: Annual strategic report from the Commission 2004/2270 (BUD) AGRI/6/25483 Responsible: BUDG Opinion: AGRI, TOUT Decision: Appointment of draftsman Katerina Batzeli (PSE) 1 point 10.1.5 Budget 2006: Guidelines - other sections 2004/2271(BUD) AGRI/6/25503 Responsible: BUDG Opinion: AGRI, TOUT Decision: No opinion 10.1.6 Discharge 2003 200../....(COCOBU) AGRI/6/..... Responsible: COCOBU Opinion: AGRI PE 353.728 4/9 PV\556407EN.doc Or. en EN and 10.1.7 Report from the Commission: Protection of the European Communities' financial interests and the fight against fraud - Annual Report 2003 2004/2198(INI) AGRI/6/24378 Responsible: CONT Opinion: ECON, IMCO S, REGI, AGRI, PECH, JURI S, LIBE Decision: appointment of draftsman items 1.6 and 1.7 assigned together to Katerina Batzeli (PSE) for 1 point. 10.1.8 Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies COM(04)0775-2004/0270(COD) - C6-0223/2004 AGRI/6/25371 Responsible: ENVI Opinion: AGRI Decision: Appointment of draftsman Elisabeth Jeggle (EPP-ED) 1 point 10.1.9 Communication from the Commission: A stronger partnership for the outermost regions 2004/2253(INI) AGRI/6/25232 Responsible: REGI Opinion: ECON, AGRI, PECH Decision: Appointment of draftsman Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (PSE) 1 point 10.1.10 Treaty of accession of Bulgaria and Rumania 2004/.... AGRI/6/.... Responsible: AFET Decision: Appointment of draftsman Albert Jan Maat (EPP-ED) 1 point 10.2 Hearings 10.2.1 Future hearing on sugar Exchange of opinions regarding invitation of experts: The followiing spoke: Joseph Daul, Lutz Goepel, Katerina Batzeli, Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, Niels Busk, Diamanto Manolakou. PV\556407EN.doc 5/9 PE 353.728 Or. en EN Following the Chairman's proposal, the co-ordinators decided to ask the European associations representing the growers, the processing industries and the users to appoint one representative each, in order to limit the number of experts to be invited to the future hearing 10.2.2 Hearing on fruit and vegetable - 2 February 2005, 3 p.m. until 6.30 p.m The following experts will be invited: Mr. Zoltan Fodor, Mrs. Tzeni Kolyva-Panagiotopoulou, Mr. Eduardo Bahamonde Noche, Mr.Theo Tijssen, Mr. Luciano Trentini. 10.2.3 Hearing on rural development - 15 March 2005, 3 p.m. until 6.30 p.m The following experts will be invited: Mr. Michael Dower, Mr. Sándor Elek, Mr. Andrea Fugaro, Mr. Rubert Huber, Mr. Jaime Izquierdo Vallina, Mr Philippe Lacombe, Mr. Janusz Turski. Other decisions 10.3.1 Visit to La Rioja, Spain, and hearing on wine The co-ordinators will reconsider this invitation together with others in the framework of the delegations program for 2006. At the same time, it was decided to organise a hearing on the crisis in the wine sector of the EU in the autumn.. 10.3.2 Codifications Marketing of fodder plants seed COM(1995)0622 - C6-0074/1996 - COM(1998)0465 - COM(2001)0193 - C5- 0352/2001 - 199570305 (CNS) AGRI/6/21015 No opinion Marketing of cereal seed COM(2001)0196 - C5-0358/2001 - 2001/0148 (CNS) AGRI/6/21024 No opinion The common organisation of the market in raw tobacco COM(2003)0243 - C5-0247/2003 - 2003/0096 (CNS) - AGRI/6/21032 PE 353.728 6/9 PV\556407EN.doc Or. en EN No opinion General rules for the application of measures to improve the production and marketing of honey COM(03)0737 - 2003/0288 (CNS) - C5-0007/2004 AGRI/6/21119 No opinion 10.3.3 Nomination of a member to the gender equality committee The Chairman suggested that a Vice-Chairman would be most suitable. Decision: Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf was nominated to represent the Committee of Agriculture on the gender equality committee. 10.4 Possible conference on Rural Development Friederich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf requested a conference on rural development in the light of the Lisbon agenda to be organised by both the European Parliament and the Commission.