# CE2004078EN.01095501.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/955 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/955

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(2004/C 78 E/1011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0543/04

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 February 2004)

Subject:   CAP: the declining contribution of EU funds to the survival of small farmers in a context of low consumer prices and low world market prices

Subject:

| 1. | In the Commission's opinion, has the existence of the Common Agricultural Policy in recent decades and the financial assistance from Community funds which it provides helped to enable small and medium-sized farmers, in both the arable and livestock sectors, despite relatively low consumer prices for their products and falling prices on the world market, to remain able to earn an acceptable income and thus to ensure the continuity of production? |
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1.

In the Commission's opinion, has the existence of the Common Agricultural Policy in recent decades and the financial assistance from Community funds which it provides helped to enable small and medium-sized farmers, in both the arable and livestock sectors, despite relatively low consumer prices for their products and falling prices on the world market, to remain able to earn an acceptable income and thus to ensure the continuity of production?

| 2. | In the light of the recent study by the development organisation Oxfam, can the Commission confirm that the funding currently provided under the CAP is increasingly failing to guarantee the survival of small farmers and that the bulk of it goes to large farmers and large land-owners? |
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2.

In the light of the recent study by the development organisation Oxfam, can the Commission confirm that the funding currently provided under the CAP is increasingly failing to guarantee the survival of small farmers and that the bulk of it goes to large farmers and large land-owners?

| 3. | When did the change referred to at 2 occur? Did it happen after the accession of new Member States with bigger disparities in land areas owned than existed in the six founder Member States of the European Communities? |
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3.

When did the change referred to at 2 occur? Did it happen after the accession of new Member States with bigger disparities in land areas owned than existed in the six founder Member States of the European Communities?

| 4. | To what extent was the existing financing method responsible for the fact that, after previous increases in scale, the number of farms in the present 15 Member States declined by a further 15,7 % between 1995 and 2002? Why was this method of financing unable to prevent the development concerned? |
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4.

To what extent was the existing financing method responsible for the fact that, after previous increases in scale, the number of farms in the present 15 Member States declined by a further 15,7 % between 1995 and 2002? Why was this method of financing unable to prevent the development concerned?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2004)

(22 March 2004)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.

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