# CE2004084EN.01025101.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/251 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/251

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(2004/C 84 E/0298)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3829/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 December 2003)

Subject:   The milk quota situation after enlargement: Galicia's production allowance

Subject:

The dairy sector in Galicia is seriously concerned about what situation it will find itself in after the enlargement of the EU. If, as a consequence of what was agreed at the time of Spain's entry into the Union, the current production quota for Spain, which has 40 million inhabitants, is 6 million tonnes, making a much smaller quantity per inhabitant than in the rest of the Union, its relative position may become much worse, since the accession countries will have a global quota of 18 million tonnes for a population of 75 million. In Spain Galicia — the most important dairy-farming region — will become the most disadvantaged region, since its overall quota will be no more than one third of that quantity.

Are these the actual figures for the accession countries? What is the production allowance for each of the accession countries and what is the ratio between that and population? What criteria were used to determine the quotas for each country? What possibility is there that in view of all this the production quota for Spain and Galicia will be improved, considering, moreover, that production is now not even enough to cover the needs of the Spanish domestic market?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2004)

(9 February 2004)

All Member States' national reference quantities have been determined on the basis of their actual production over a specific period. This approach, taken when the milk quota scheme began in 1984 and on the occasion of subsequent enlargements, including the present one, avoids discrimination between producers by not using population and internal consumption as criteria for setting milk quotas.

The national reference quantities allocated to the new Member States were determined country by country on the basis of production in 2000 or 2001 or the average for a three-year period from 1997. These production figures were then increased by 1 % giving a total of 18 327 895 tonnes for the ten countries.

Each country's figure is:

| (in tonnes) |
| --- |
| Czech Republic | 2 682 143 |
| Estonia | 624 483 |
| Cyprus | 142 200 |
| Latvia | 695 395 |
| Lithuania | 1 646 939 |
| Hungary | 1 947 280 |
| Malta | 48 698 |
| Poland | 8 964 017 |
| Slovenia | 560 424 |
| Slovakia | 1 013 316 |

(in tonnes)

Czech Republic

2 682 143

Estonia

624 483

Cyprus

142 200

Latvia

695 395

Lithuania

1 646 939

Hungary

1 947 280

Malta

48 698

Poland

8 964 017

Slovenia

560 424

Slovakia

1 013 316

Because of the very high rates of on-farm consumption, which is not included in milk quotas, in the acceding countries, the Act of Accession includes a special reserve of 671 418 tonnes for them (Malta and Cyprus excluded), to be released from 1 April 2006 onwards in line with whatever falls may occur in their on-farm consumption. A decision on release of the reserve will be taken by the Commission on the basis of reports from these countries to be made by 31 December 2005.

Beginning from 1 April 2000 Spain received a 550 000 tonne increase in two instalments decided on by the Council as part of Agenda 2000. No further increase for her is planned at present.

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