AnswergivenbyMrFischleronbehalfoftheCommission
(7July2003)
BelgiummayobtainafinancialcontributionfromtheCommunityupto50%oftheexpenditure for
emergencymeasuresasdetailedinArticle3(1)ofCouncilDecision90/424/EECof26June1990(1),on
expenditureintheveterinaryfieldthatareprovisionstoeradicateandcontroltheepidemics.
TheCommunityguidelines forStateaidintheagriculture sector(2)applytoallStateaidsgrantedin
connectionwithactivitiesrelatedtotheproduction,processingandmarketingofAnnexIproducts.Stateaidmeasuresrelatingtooutbreaksofanimaldiseasesaretobeassessedundertheprovisionsofsection11oftheseguidelines.
While section 11 allows aids to compensate for damage to agricultural production or the means of
agricultural production,itdoesnotallowsupporttocompensateprocessors.Where processorsarein
financialdifficulties,however, rescueandrestructuring aidmaybepossibleprovidedthattherelevantprovisionsoftheCommunityguidelinesonStateaidforrescuingandrestructuringfirmsindifficulty(
3)
arecompliedwith.
Moreover,theCommissionhasalreadyemphasisedinsurancepoliciesasameantodealwithindirect
lossescausedbylargeoutbreaksofanimaldiseases.
(1) OJL224,18.8.1990.
(2) OJC232,12.8.2000.
(3) OJC288,9.10.1999.
(2004/C33E/201) WRITTENQUESTIONE-2010/03
byLissyGröner(PSE)totheCommission
(17June2003)
Subject:EUfundsdisbursedbyCatholicorganisationsintheperiod1997-2002
Solidarity is one of the fundamental values of the EU. The European Union finances a significant
proportionofthehumanitarian assistanceanddevelopmentaidprovidedthroughouttheworld.Non-governmentalorganisations,includingCatholicorganisations,operateonthefrontlineinareasoftheworldwhichrequireaid,andtheymakeapraiseworthycontributiontotheoveralleffort.
1. Whatamountsdidthefollowingorganisations,whicharerunbytheCatholicChurch,receivefrom
theEUintheperiod1997-2002:
(a) theCaritasEuropanetwork(b) themorethan50memberorganisationsoftheCaritasEuropanetwork(c) theCIDSEnetwork(InternationalCooperationforDevelopmentandSolidarity)
(d) the14memberorganisationsofCIDSE
(e) theInternationalCatholicChildBureau(BICE)(f) theInternationalCatholicMigrationCommission(ICMC)(g) theEuropeanAssociationforCatholicAdultEducation(FEECA)?
2. WhatprojectswerefinancedbymeansofEUfundsinsideandoutsidetheEU’sborders?3. Fromwhichprogrammeswerefundsgrantedfortheindividualprojects?C33E/198 EN6.2.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
AnswergivenbyMrNielsononbehalfoftheCommission
(30July2003)
Alistofprojectscofinancedwithnon-governmentalorganisationsbelongingtothesenetworksduringthe
period1997-2000underbudgetheadingB7-6000willbesentdirecttotheHonourableMemberandParliament’ssecretariat.
AdetailedlistofhumanitarianprojectsfinancedbyECHOandcarriedoutbyNGOsforvictimsofnatural
ormanmadedisastersinthirdcountrieswillalsobesenttotheHonourableMemberandParliament’ssecretariat.ProjectshavebeenfinancedprimarilyunderheadingsB7-210(humanitarianaid)andB7-219(disasterpreparedness).Fundingwasalsoprovideduntil1999underheadingsB7-214,B7-215,B7-217andB7-219andthe8thEuropeanDevelopmentFund.
(2004/C33E/202) WRITTENQUESTIONE-2013/03
byRobertGoebbels(PSE)totheCommission
(17June2003)
Subject:Regulationontheprotectionofgeographicalindicationsanddesignationsoforiginforagricultural
productsandfoodstuffs
TheEuropeanCourtofJusticerecentlyhandeddownwhatis,inmyview,aquestionablerulingthat
‘maintainingthequalityandreputationof’GranaPadano‘cheeseand’Parmaham‘justifiestherulethattheproductmustbegratedorslicedandpackagedintheregionofproduction’.
Theextensionoftheprotectionofgeographicalindicationsanddesignationsoforigintothepackagingof
productsofthistypeisallthemoredebatableinthatthecheesesandhamstobeprotectedarefrequentlymadefrommilkorporknotproducedintheregionbutimportedfromabroad.
Does not the Commission take the view that Council Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 535/97(
1)o f
17March1997amendingRegulation(EEC)No2081/92(2))ontheprotectionofgeographicalindications
anddesignationsoforiginforagriculturalproductsandfoodstuffsneedstobeadjustedsoastoeliminatetheabusiveadvantagesintroducedbythenewcase-lawoftheCourtwhich,inthefinalanalysis,constitutesanobstacletothesinglemarket?
(1) OJL83,25.3.1997,p.3.
(2) OJL208,24.7.1992,p.1.
AnswergivenbyMrFischleronbehalfoftheCommission
(7August2003)
TheCommissionconsidersthattheCourtofJustice’sjudgmentsof20May2003incasesC-108/01and
C-469/00 relating to the protected designations of origin Parma ham and Grana Padano respectivelyconfirmthescopeoftheprotectionithaditselfextendedtothesedesignations.
TheCommissionsharestheCourt’sviewthatspecificationrequirementsthatcertainoperationssuchas
grating,slicingandpackagingbecarriedoutinthegeographicalproductionzoneareinfactnecessaryforprotectionofthePDOinquestion.
Itistruethatsuchrequirementsaremeasuresofequivalenteffecttoaquantitativerestriction,prohibited
undertheprincipleoffreecirculationofgoodslaiddownintheECTreaty.ButthePDOsasindustrialandcommercialpropertyrightsconstituteoneoftheexceptionsprovidedforintheTreatyandneedtobeprotectedagainstmisusebythirdpartieswishingtoprofitfromthereputationtheyandtheassociatedtrademarkshaveacquired.6.2.2004EN C33E/199 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion