That brings me to the last report, on horizontal rules for direct support schemes.

Simplification of the direct support scheme has become essential, and so it is important to make progress in this field, even if only experimentally.

Producers who decide to turn their backs on farming can transfer their grant entitlements under Article 46 of the Regulation on direct support schemes.

Let me now move to the draft regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes.

CAP: common rules for direct support schemes and certain support schemes for farmers and support for rural development (debate)

For these reasons, the PASOK Parliamentary Group has voted in plenary against the report on the direct support scheme for cotton.

In this context, the Commission has set out its proposals on direct support schemes within the common agricultural policy relating to all common organisations of the market that grant direct payments.

I was lucky, however, in my appointment as rapporteur because, Mr Fischler, I can congratulate you: the committee has approved in full the Commission's proposal on direct support schemes and their modulation.

Having lost the vote on the common organisation of the market, I logically supported the other two reports – on direct support schemes and the temporary restructuring of the sugar industry – in order to secure the best possible deal for Irish, EU and ACP growers.