5 Timetable for reform
30. The Commission's options were presented to the
Agriculture Council at the end of September 2003. Since then there
has been only one other substantive Council discussion, on 17
November 2003. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra) told us that, at that stage, "most Member
States felt it was too early to take positions on the reform options,
though there was a general recognition that a straight renewal
of the existing arrangements would have to be excluded".[31]
The Commission's Communication was subsequently referred to the
Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA), who examined it at meetings
on 8 March 2004 and 7 June 2004.
31. The timetable for reform has been affected by
the European Parliamentary elections in May 2004 and the prospect
of a change of Commission in November 2004. However, the outgoing
Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler, has said that he intends
to present a "concrete reform proposal" before he steps
down.[32] It now seems
likely that this will take the form of a communication setting
out, in general terms, the Commission's plans for reform.[33]
It is anticipated that the College of Commissioners will agree
the draft document at a meeting on 14 July 2004, before it is
tabled for discussion at Council. Publication of a formal legislative
proposal is not expected until early next year.[34]
However, if reaching a decision proves difficult, then the reform
process may well drag on until the second half of 2005, when the
UK is holding the Presidency of the European Union and will chair
the meetings of the Council of Ministers.
31 Ev 80 Back
32
Franz Fischler, The future of the Community sugar regime,
Speech to NGG Sugar Conference, Oberjosbach, 19 May 2004 Back
33
"Detailed EU sugar reform proposals in early 2005",
Agra Europe, 4 June 2004, EP/5 Back
34
"July 14 discussion date", Agra Europe, 18 June
2004, EP/4 Back
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