2003 and forwarded them according to Article 6(2) of the Procedural Regulation(2) to the British
authoritiesforareplywithinonemonth.TheCommissionisawaitingthereplyoftheBritishauthoritiesandwillthentakeafinaldecision.
(1) OJC69,22.3.2003,p.9.
(2) CouncilRegulation(EC)No659/1999of22.3.1999layingdowndetailedrulesfortheapplicationofArticle93of
theECTreaty,OJL83,27.3.1999.
(2004/C58E/098) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1615/03
byJoanVallvé(ELDR)totheCommission
(13May2003)
Subject:Aidforricegrowing
TheCommissionCommunicationtotheCouncilandtheEuropeanParliamentof10July2002(1)stated,
inthesectiononrice(p.15oftheEnglishversionofthetext):
Theglobalpricereductionwillbecompensatedatarateof88%…Thisleadstocompensationof
177EUR/t,…Ofthis,102EUR/tmultipliedbythe1995reformyieldwouldbecomeanincomepaymentpaidperfarm.Theremaining75EUR/tmultipliedbythe1995reformyieldwouldbepaid
asacropspecificaidreflectingtheroleofriceproductionintraditionalproductionareas.
Thisadditionalaidrecognisingthespecificcharacteristicsoftraditionalrice-growingareaswasparticularly
welcomeinareassuchastheEbroyPalsdeltainBaixEmpordà,Girona,wherericeproductionhasbeenwell established for some time. Although they did not agree with the basic philosophy behind theCommissionproposalsnorthefutureprospectsindicatedforthiscrop,thericegrowersandtheCatalanGovernmentalikeconsideredthatthisadditionalaidcouldalleviate,ifonlypartly,thelossofincomewhichapplicationofthereformwouldentail.
However,inthetextofthelegislativeproposalssubmittedinJanuary2003,thisspecificaidhasbeen
extendedtoallareasofriceproduction,withnoterritorialdifferentiation,andbasedonestablishingabasicareaofcultivationforeachcountryandimposingpenaltiesifthisisexceeded.InthecaseofSpain,thearealaiddownis104973hectares.
ThisnewapproachwillgreatlyexacerbatethedamagethattheCAPreformwillinflictonCatalanrice
growers,sincetheycultivateareaswheretherearenoalternativecropsand,inaddition,theircropshave
greatecologicalvalueasmostoftheseareasareprotectedbytheRamsarTreaty.Ifriceproductionisno
longerviable,thiswillnotonlyhaveaconsiderableimpactonincomes,butwillalsodamageecosystemsandeventuallythreatenthesurvivalofanexceptionalenvironmentwhichisuniqueinEurope.
DoestheCommissionnotthinkthat,fortheseareasofgreatecologicalvalue,thespecificaidthatwaslaid
downshouldbemaintainedinitsentiretyandthat,ifthebasicareaisexceeded,thepenaltiesshouldnotaffectthegrowerswhoareestablishedintheseareas?
(1) COM(2002)394final.
AnswergivenbyMrFischleronbehalfoftheCommission
(17June2003)
Underitsproposedreformofthecommonagriculturalpolicy(CAP),whichitpresentedtotheCounciland
ParliamentinJanuary2003,theCommissionissuggestingthatspecificaidforrice,underthesupportregimes,shouldbegrantedtoallriceproducers,irrespectiveoftheirareaofproduction.6.3.2004EN C58E/81 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
TheplannedreformwillallowtheMemberStatestosubdividetheirbaseareausingobjectivecriteria.In
thatcase,itwillbeuptothemtodecidewhethertosubdividetheirbaseareasothattheimpactofanyreductionscandifferentiatedbyregionofproduction.
Inanycase,agri-environmentalaidmaybegrantedoverandabovespecificaidforruraldevelopmentin
accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999on support for rural development from theEuropean Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certainRegulations(
1).
(1) OJL160,26.6.1999.
(2004/C58E/099) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1633/03
byMarioBorghezio(NI)totheCommission
(15May2003)
Subject:CommemorationofSaintMarkofAviano,symbolofEuropeanidentity
PopeJohnPaulIIhascanonisedtheCapuchinpriestMarkofAviano,emphasisinghispropheticmissionas
amanofpeace,andholdinghimupasasymbolofacommonEuropeanculturalidentity.
CantheCommissionstatewhatinitiativestheEUintendstoundertake,atatimewhenaConstitution
affirmingEurope’sChristianculturalandspiritualrootsisbeingprepared,tocelebrate(togetherwithSaintBenedict, Patron Saint of Europe) Mark of Aviano, a great European, defender of Vienna and anextraordinarymanofpeace?
AnswergivenbyMrProdionbehalfoftheCommission
(16June2003)
The notablemeritsofMarco d’Avianounfortunatelydonotalter the factthatthe Commissionmust
confineitsworktoitsareasofcompetence,sonospecificactiontocommemoratethelifeandtestimonyofthisSaintwillbelaunchedontheCommission’sowninitiative.Asamatterofrecord,Honourable
MembershavedrawntheattentionoftheCommissiontothemeritsofindividualSaintsbefore,andthe
Commission’s response has been the same. The Commission could draw the Honourable Member’sattentionforexampletothereplygiventoquestionE-0559/93byMrFernandez-Albor(
1).
(1) OJC320,26.11.1993.
(2004/C58E/100) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1638/03
byBernardPoignant(PSE)totheCommission
(16May2003)
Subject:Combatingmarinepollutioncausedbythesinkingofthe‘Prestige’
SouthernBrittanyisnowhavingtodealwiththeproblemofpelletsoffueloilfromthe‘Prestige’,which
sankofftheGaliciancoastoversixmonthsago,beingwashedupalongitsshores.Thehulkisstillleakingoil,andwenowhaveproofthatthedecisiontotowthe‘Prestige’awayfromtheSpanishcoasthelpedensuremoreextensiveandwidespreadpollutionoftheEuropeancoastline.C58E/82 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion