School fruit, vegetables and milk scheme
The Presidency highlighted the progress achieved during the first half of 2014 on the proposal for aregulation as regards the aid scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas and milk in school. The proposal aims to streamline the existing schemes with a view to increasing their efficiency and effectiveness and reducing the administrative burden. School milk and milk products, fruit and vegetables schemes were established in the EU in 1977 and 2007 respectively to promote the consumption of fruit and vegetable and milk products in schools. In the light of discussion in the Council the main issues identified are the legal basis of the proposal, the objective and the scope of the regime and the financing provisions.
Future of dairy products
The Commission presented to the Council a report on the development of the market situation in the milk sector, as provided for in the "Milk Package" regulation which was designed with a view to the longer-term future of the dairy sector following the end of the quota system next year in March. The conclusions on the milk sector prepared by the Presidency could not be adopted by the Council: the next Presidency will have to decide on future work on this file. The President of the Council summarised the diverging views expressed by member states on this issue: "The conditions of the market are good. That led of an overshoot of quotas in many member states and those member states believe there is a need for a smooth transition to avoid disruption on the market. Other member states are against taking any measure whatsoever before the quota system expires: this would penalise those who stuck to the rules for milk productions… "
Council conclusions
The Council adopted conclusions on the Commission report on the fruit and vegetable sector since the 2007 reform.
Other items
The Council adopted a decision authorising the opening of negotiations on agreements between the EU and third countries on trade in organic products. This should better balance these negotiations which are currently established on a system of unilateral equivalency.
The Council adopted also a regulation setting up a public-private partnership called Shift2Rail joint undertaking to boost rail innovation in Europe. It also adopted a regulation extending the mandate of the SESAR joint undertaking until the end of 2024.
See attached the entire press release.
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