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19 April 1994
Doc. 7074
1403-18/4/94-3-E
REPORT
on the modification of the name of the Committee on Agriculture
(Rapporteur: Mr SCHEER, Germany, Socialist Group)
I. Draft order
1. The Assembly takes note of the report of its Committee on Agriculture on the modification of the name of the Committee on Agriculture (Doc. 7074) and decides to change the name of this Committee into "Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development".
2. It therefore decides to amend Article 43 of the Rules of Procedure.
II. Explanatory memorandum
by Mr SCHEER
1. The Committee on Agriculture is concerned at the fact that many rural areas in Europe have been abandoned and others see their population decreasing. Several aspects of rural life, such as schooling, health services, postal services, etc. have been the subject of centralisation. Employment opportunities in the agricultural and related sectors, as well as in local administration, have decreased. Most rural areas find themselves at a disadvantage to attract new employment compared to urban centres.
2. For these reasons, the committee has, since 1991, organised a series of events in which rural development has been the central issue. The most important of these were:
—a Colloquy on Agriculture and Rural Regions in a "new Europe" (Sofia, 1-2 April 1992),—
—a Colloquy on Rural Development in Ireland — a Model for Central and Eastern Europe? (Dublin, 17 September 1992),—
—the Second European Agricultural Forum: "the countryside — environment and agriculture" (Regensdorf, 26-27 October 1992),—
—a Colloquy on Investment Policies for Agricultural and Rural Development in the New Democracies of Central and Eastern Europe (Warsaw, 8 June 1993),—
—a case study on European interregional co-operation in the field of agriculture and rural development involving the Burgas region of Bulgaria and the Alsace region of France.Th
The findings of these activities have been used as inputs in the drawing up of Assembly reports with recommendations to governments and, where appropriate, to the Council of Europe on agriculture and rural development (including forestry and fisheries).
3. The committee is particularly concerned that the collapse of traditional markets and the restructuring of the agricultural sector in the new democracies of central and eastern Europe have resulted in considerable difficulties for these countries, such as problems of malnutrition for the most vulnerable groups in society and problems related to migration movements.
4. The committee is of the opinion that a new policy framework should be drawn up which will allow a balanced and harmonious development between rural and urban regions in Europe, the preservation of a living countryside and the adoption of a sustainable resources management policy. The committee should encourage the creation of new rural employment opportunities and give new production tasks to the agricultural sector (nature maintenance, production of raw materials for industry and the energy sector, investment in rural tourism and leisure activities, maintenance of the European rural cultural heritage, etc.). This endeavour must be undertaken as a pan-European initiative given the increasing European integration and the growing interdependence among European states and regions.
5. The committee has increasingly devoted its work to different policy aspects of rural development, the protection of the (rural) environment, the role of rural regions, the agricultural and other sectors for the creation of new employment and for social stability. However, this is not reflected in its title.
6. A change in the committee's name to Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development would better reflect this reality without adding anything to the competence of the committee.
7. Such a change of the committee's name would, in particular, take account of Assembly Order No. 490 (1993), on necessary agricultural and rural policy reforms in Europe, in which the Assembly instructs "its Committee on Agriculture, in co-operation with other Assembly Committees and representatives of interested parties, notably the European Union, the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, the Assembly of European Regions and the European Centre of Rural Interest, to draw up proposals for a European Rural Charter, laying down such common guidelines".
8. The committee has since long closely co-operated with the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities and many issues have been dealt with by the two committees in parallel. With regard to rural development, this fact was highlighted by the nomination of the latter committee's vice-chairman, Mr Ruffy, as General Rapporteur for the Second European Agricultural Forum. The proposed change of name would facilitate an even closer co-operation between these two committees.
9. For all these reasons, your Rapporteur proposes that the Assembly be asked to change the committee's name to Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and to amend Article 43 of the Rules of Procedures of the Assembly accordingly.
Reporting committee: Committee on Agriculture.
Budgetary implications for the Assembly: none.
Reference to committee: Doc 6942, Reference No. 1930 of 28 February 1994.
Draft order adopted unanimously by the committee on 12 April 1994.
Members of the committee: MM. Scheer (Chairman), Sipos, van der Linden (Vice-Chairmen), Mrs Anttila, MM. Bernardini, Bühler, Mrs Burbiené, MM. de Carolis, Cerny, Couveinhes, Deasy, Figel, Goerens, Granstedt, Gunnarsson, Hansen, Holte, Sir Ralph Howell, MM. Iuliano, Jeambrun, Kiratlioglu, Lanner, Lord Mackie of Benshie, MM. Mändmets, Mannino, Metelko, Michels, Ottenbourgh, Pirinski, Pizzo, Rodrigues, Roger, Roman, Seiler (Alternate: Berger), Smolarek, Thompson, MM. Vella, Vrettos.
N.B. The names of those members present at the meeting are printed in italics.
Secretary to the committee: Mr Lervik.