----

(2004/C 33 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2092/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(24 June 2003)

Subject:   Clearance of the accounts of EAGGF Guarantee Section paying agencies in Portugal

According to information published in Official Journal L 114 of 8 May 2003, the Commission has decided, in the context of the clearance of accounts for the EAGGF Guarantee Section, to make significant reductions to the amounts allocated in various Member States.

Taking account of the volume of funding involved, these reductions were particularly large in Luxembourg, Greece and Portugal, and may become even more severe in the case of Portugal owing to the postponement of the decision on clearance of the accounts for IFADAP.

Can the Commission provide a detailed explanation of the reasons for these cuts in the appropriations earmarked for Portuguese agriculture?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2003)

In its Decision 2003/313/EC of 7 May 2003 (1), the Commission cleared the accounts of Member States' expenditure financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), Guarantee Section, for the 2002 financial year, under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (2).

The Decision relates to the completeness, accuracy and veracity of the accounts submitted and does not prejudge any decision taken subsequently on the compliance of the expenditure with Community rules.

The bookkeeping procedures behind this Decision are explained in detail in its fifth recital. The result of the clearance operation is reflected in the Decision as a possible discrepancy between the total expenditure booked to the accounts for the financial year in question under Article 151(1) and Article 152 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (3) and the total expenditure accepted by the Commission in its Decision.

In determining total expenditure in the case of Portugal, the Commission took account in particular of the penalties provided for in Article 39 of Regulation (EC) No 1750/1999 (4) in the area of rural development, corrections for failure to meet the payment deadlines laid down for the various common market organisations and the annual expenditure declared by the Portuguese authorities.

The Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that the net financial impact on Portugal of the accounts clearance Decision for the 2002 financial year is in fact an amount of EUR 483 840,10 payable to that Member State.

----

(1)  2003/313/EC: Commission Decision of 7 May 2003 on the clearance of the accounts of Member States' expenditure financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), Guarantee Section, for the 2002 financial year, OJ L 114, 8.5.2003.

(2)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy, OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(3)  Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(4)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1750/1999 of 23 July 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), OJ L 214, 13.8.1999.

----