13/10/2014 Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
The following points – among main CoR requests - have been taken on board in the final act:
• Reference to geographical origin of a product
Recital (7):
"Information provision and promotion measures should not be brand- or origin-oriented. Nevertheless, in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of demonstrations, tastings and information and promotion material, it should be possible to mention the commercial brands and product origin, provided that the principle of non-discrimination is respected and that the measures are not aimed at encouraging the consumption of any product on the sole ground of its origin.(…)"
Article 4(2)
"Nevertheless, it shall be possible for the origin of products to be visible on information and promotional material (…)
• Wine will have access to the information provision and promotion measures on the internal market and in the third countries
Recital (9)
"Only wine with designation of origin or protected geographical indication status and wine carrying an indication of the wine grape variety should be the subject of the information provision and promotion measures."
Article 5(3)a)
"the information provision and promotion measures may only cover wine with designation of origin or protected geographical indication status and wine carrying an indication of the wine grape variety;"
• Involvement of Member States in the evaluation and selection of programmes
Recital 19
"(…) The Commission should ensure, however, that Member States receive timely information on all programmes proposed and selected. That information should in particular include the number of proposals received, the Member States and sectors concerned, and the outcome of the evaluation of those proposals."
Article 12
Information on the selection of simple programmes
The Commission shall provide the Committee referred to in Article 23, and thereby the Member States with timely information on all the programmes that are proposed or selected.
• The increase of European co-financing, especially for information and promotion measures during agricultural crises, and where multi-programmes in third countries are concerned;
Article 15
Financial provisions relating to simple programmes
The Union’s financial contribution to simple programmes in the internal market shall be 70 % of the eligible expenditure. The Union’s financial contribution to simple programmes in third countries shall be 80 % of the eligible expenditure. The remaining expenditure shall be borne exclusively by the proposing organisations.
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- considers the increase in the promotion budget to be essential. The bilateral agreements currently being negotiated mean that promotion and information measures will be increasingly needed, both on the internal market and in third countries, if European products are to be competitive;
- supports the Commission's proposal for quality schemes to use official Community logos, but considers that the region's name should be closely linked to the overall message, which should highlight a product's intrinsic characteristics. The geographical origin of the product should therefore be clearly stated;
- asks that any product originating in the EU should be able to benefit from information and promotion measures on the internal market and in third countries, with the exception of tobacco;
- considers that wine with a protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication, as provided for by Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and wine produced by organic farming may benefit from information and promotion measures;
- considers that the evaluation and selection of programmes should not be carried out by the Commission alone. Member State should also be allowed to take part, thus enabling European regions to make their contribution;
- proposes that thought be given to increasing EU co-financing, especially for information and promotion measures during agricultural crises, and where multi-programmes in third countries are concerned;
- requests that Member States be allowed voluntarily to co-finance programmes with the Commission.