# CE2004078EN.01082501.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/825 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/825

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(2004/C 78 E/0878)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3551/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(1 December 2003)

Subject:   Goatmeat subsidies — Application of Regulation 2550/2001 of 21 December 2001 to the Azores

Subject:

Annex I(5) of Regulation 2550/2001 (1) of 21 December 2001, laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation 2529/2001 (2) of 19 December 2001 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat as regards premium schemes, includes the whole of Portugal, with the exception of the Azores, as an area eligible for receiving the goat premium.

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What criteria were used for excluding the Azores from goatmeat subsidies, when the rest of Portugal was included?

Given the Council's recent decision fixing the available milk quota for the Azores at the 1999/2000 marketing year levels, does the Commission not think that there is now a need to permit other alternatives for agriculture in the Azores?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2004)

(22 January 2004)

On the eligibility of particular zones for the goat premium, Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2529/2001 states:

| | A producer keeping she-goats on his holding may qualify on application for a premium for maintaining she-goats (goat premium).
  This premium shall be granted to producers in specific areas where the production meets the following two criteria:






  — | goat rearing is mainly directed towards the production of goatmeat; |
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A producer keeping she-goats on his holding may qualify on application for a premium for maintaining she-goats (goat premium).

This premium shall be granted to producers in specific areas where the production meets the following two criteria:

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goat rearing is mainly directed towards the production of goatmeat;

| — | goat and sheep rearing techniques are similar in nature. |
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goat and sheep rearing techniques are similar in nature.

A list of such areas shall be established following the procedure referred to in Article 25(2).

The Azores can of course be included in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2550/2001 provided that the above requirements are met. We are not aware that they are met and Portugal's representatives on the relevant management committee have never asked for the Azores to be included.

The Honourable Member will note that if goat rearing is directed mainly to milk production the first requirement is not met. Moreover inclusion of zones in Annex I may be followed by retrospective verification on the spot of compliance with the criteria.

On the need for opening up more agricultural alternatives in the Azores, the Honourable Member should bear in mind that:

| — | as in other Union territories, farmers in the Azores are beneficiaries under the measures adopted for common organisation of the markets; |
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as in other Union territories, farmers in the Azores are beneficiaries under the measures adopted for common organisation of the markets;

| — | the Azores benefit from both the Union's rural development programmes and the Poseima programmes. In both cases the national authorities and the Azorean regional authorities have an important role in determining what specific measures are to be given priority under the provisions in force and hence in the opening up of viable alternatives to Azorean farmers; |
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the Azores benefit from both the Union's rural development programmes and the Poseima programmes. In both cases the national authorities and the Azorean regional authorities have an important role in determining what specific measures are to be given priority under the provisions in force and hence in the opening up of viable alternatives to Azorean farmers;

| — | both the Azores' milk quota and the Portuguese national ceiling for the suckler cow premium have recently been increased; |
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both the Azores' milk quota and the Portuguese national ceiling for the suckler cow premium have recently been increased;

| — | national and regional aids can also be granted provided these are consonant with the single market rules and Community law. |
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national and regional aids can also be granted provided these are consonant with the single market rules and Community law.

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(1)  OJ L 341, 22.12.2001, p. 105.

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(2)  OJ L 341, 22.12.2001, p. 3.

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