WRITTEN QUESTION P-2504/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 September 2002)

Subject: Severe problems in the agricultural sector as a result of a natural disaster in Crete

Last week a natural disaster hit Crete, causing the widespread destruction of agricultural crops, particularly raisin crops in the regions of Iraklion, Rethimnon and Hania.

Knowing that:

- there is a possibility of covering the damages from national resources (ELGA), provided that the Commission gives the relevant authorisation;

- part of the funding could be covered by resources from the operational programme for rural development under the CSF (through reallocation of resources or use of reserves).

1. What proposals has Greece submitted regarding compensation for producers hit by this natural disaster?

2. What possibilities are available for compensation of the producers affected via the Community Support Framework in this particular case?

3. What developments have there been regarding the use of CSF resources to compensate farmers for the blizzard at the beginning of the year in Greece? Has the Greek Government provided any notification of the damages (Question E-0057/02(1))?

(1) OJ C 160 E, 4.7.2002, p. 174.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2002)

1. The Greek Government has informed the Council for Agriculture and Fisheries on the 23rd of September 2002 on the impact on agricultural production of the adverse weather conditions that affected regions in Greece including, in particular, the cultivation of grapes and the raisins production in the departments of Heraclion, Rethymnon and Chanion in Crete during the month of August 2002. Moreover, the Greek Government has stated its intention to submit a request for relevant compensation to the European Commission, by using the appropriate channels and possibilities for compensation foreseen under the current regulatory framework.

2. Depending on the importance of these damages, Community solidarity and funding may be used to overcome as soon as possible the problems rural areas are confronted to and to rebuild production potential. This applies as well for the production of raisins that may have been more vulnerable to these adverse weather conditions during the summer period.

It is not up to the Commission to take measures for the compensation of the affected rural areas and population but up to Greece to submitted relevant requests within the context of the current programmes and mechanisms of the 3rd Community Support Framework (2000-2008) for Greece.

European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) contribution should be designated within the total financial allocation attributed for structural funds intervention to Greece within the programming period 2000-2006 by redefining of the programme's priorities approved by the Commission. The current National Operational Programme Rural Development (2000-2006) for Greece with a total financial allocation of EUR 1 233,42 million also covers the issue of natural disasters and emergencies with a credit of EUR 14 million. Should this amount not be sufficient, the Greek authorities are entitled to submit a request for a redefinition of the programming priorities and of the corresponding financial allocations.

It should be emphasised that EAGGF intervention will be limited to the reconstitution of production potential and not to the income losses which are not eligible.

If aid will be necessary to compensate income losses, national aid scheme should be notified in that case by the European Liaison Group for Agriculture (ELGA) (Hellenic Insurance Body) to the Commission for approval.

3. Concerning the possible compensation of the affected rural areas and population from the adverse weather conditions that affected Greece at the beginning of the year 2002, please note that an aid scheme has been recently approved by the Commission on the basis of a series of commitments from the Greek authorities which have still to be reflected in the national inter-ministerial decision that will constitute the legal basis for the granting of aids.

No official request has so far been submitted by Greece concerning either the possible Community contribution through EAGGF or the funding from the programming reserve of the 3rd Community Support Programme for Greece in order to compensate rural areas and population affected.