Olive-sector reform is explained

Addressing the 'International Forum on Agriculture and Food' in Cernobbio on 25th October 2003, Commission Fischler outlined the basis for the Commission's olive-sector reform proposals. Demand for olives and olive oil is expanding (in part due to EU-supported promotion campaigns), and about one-third of all EU farmers involved in the sector. Commissioner Fischler maintained that the reforms had been designed against this background with 40% of the current production-linked payments being retained but no longer linked to production per se but rather to the maintenance of olive groves, given their importance to the environment. These reforms would make the sector more market-oriented, reinforce the competitive position of EU producers and continue to ensure that the sector plays its environmental role. Commission proposals for reform of the olive sector were also set out in some detail at the Commission-convened seminar on olive-sector reform which took place in Brussels on November 11th 2003. Comment: The Commissioner's explanation makes clear the extent to which a reformed CAP is intended to maintain current levels of EU production through means which are more WTO compatible. Reining back EU production which expanded dramatically on the basis of past patterns of support is simply not on the EU's agenda.Addressing the 'International Forum on Agriculture and Food' in..