3-4 June Agriculture Council

Date: 06/06/1996

THE Commission pledged to pass legislation to lift the export ban on gelatine, tallow and semen from UK cattle, following an inconclusive vote by ministers. Despite seven hours of bilateral discussions, only Spain changed the position it took at the Standing Veterinary Committee meeting two weeks ago. This left the result at nine in favour of the proposal to partially lift the ban and six against. The main concession offered by the Commission in the course of bilaterals was an attempt to win the Benelux countries' support by tightening rules to guarantee the health of bulls used to produce semen.

AT the start of the meeting, UK Farm Minister Douglas Hogg presented a 121-page “eradication document” in an attempt to win support for British anti-BSE policies. This consolidated all the scientific evidence and action taken so far. The only genuinely new element was the decision to make it a criminal offence in the UK to possess stocks of mammalian meat and bone-meal.

REFERENCE was also made to the UK's much-heralded 'framework' for lifting the beef ban. The document forms the basis of a “charm offensive” around EU capitals to win support for the policies London has undertaken. The document contains five points where the UK feels there is room for the ban to be eased.

IN discussions on the Commission's proposals to make 650 million ecu available in extra compensation to beef farmers, several member states argued that the proposed payments were insufficient. Austria, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium and Ireland spoke up especially strongly for greater financial assistance, claiming an extra 500 million ecu was available in the EU farm budget. There were different views on how the money should be divided up, and several ministers mentioned the possibility of national aid as a top-up. Parliament was asked to give its opinion by urgent procedure to allow the money to be allocated as soon as possible.

ITALY and the Commission held a series of bilateral meetings with member states to try to work towards a compromise on the reform of the fruit and vegetable sector. Talks centred on the level of EU payments for market withdrawals, member state co-financing of operational funds, recognition of interprofessional organisations and quotas for processed tomatoes. A deal appears to be on the cards for the next Council beginning on 24 June.