CAP REFORM: MEDITERRANEAN PACKAGE DIVIDES PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL

摘要

The European Commission's proposed reform of market intervention rules for cotton, olive oil, tobacco and hops (COM(2003)698) ran into fierce debate at the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee on February 19. The so-called "Mediterranean package" was also discussed at the Special Committee for Agriculture (SCA) on February 16 where Member States are still locked in a fight over financing the reforms. The SCA is due revisit the issue on March 15 after the Parliament gives its Opinion on March 9. The Irish Presidency will try and hammer out an agreement at the March 22-23 Farm Council, although one official said a compromise on tobacco might not be found until April.