§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the Government's position with regard to the European Community's proposal on bananas. [24679]
§ Mr. JackThe Commission has proposed a number of changes to the EU bananas regime. These take account of the accession of the three new member states, make proper provision for response to natural disasters in the
Payments to Spain for agriculture from the EC Budget CAP (EAGGF guarantee section) (of which fisheries market support) EAGCF guidance section (agriculture) mecu £ million mecu £ million mecu £ million 1992 3,579 2,533 (12) (8) 557 394 1993 4,326 3,401 (10) (8) 387 304 1994 4,255 3,287 (10) (8) n/a n/a Conversion rates: 1992 £1 = 1.4131 ecu; 1993 £1 = 1.2718 ecu; 1994 £1 = 1.2945 ecu
Sources:
CAP - 1992 and 1993: EAGGF guarantee section annual financial reports; 1994: Commission working document; EAGGF guidance section - annual reports of the European Court of Auditors
With regard to future expenditure, the CAP budget is drawn up only a year in advance, and is set in relation to forecast expenditure throughout the Community, and not on the basis of allocations to individual member states. With regard to agricultural structures, Spain has been allocated 3,640 mecu or £3,023 million from the EAGGF guidance section, under objective 1 and objective 5a for 284W production areas, provide for quota transferability amongst African, Caribbean and Pacific suppliers, simplify the arrangements for allocating import licences and remove fig bananas from the scope of the regime.
The Government welcome the proposed improvements in the provisions relating to ACP suppliers. On licence allocation, it will press for simplification of the rules but without undermining existing incentives for wide participation in the development of trade in ACP fruit.