WRITTEN QUESTION E-0963/00

by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 March 2000)

Subject: Drought in Aragon

The Spanish region of Aragon suffers from a serious structural drought problem.

Since 1915 the national government has produced successive laws and programmes proposing irrigation schemes aimed at remedying the problem. However, many of these schemes have never got off the ground for budget reasons.

Present nature conservation policies originating at EU level are having the effect of paralysing irrigation projects in large areas of Aragon, leading to the decided rejection of those policies by the great majority of the inhabitants of the areas affected, who feel that environmental protection is being given priority over allowing the farmers of Aragon the means of survival.

Has the Commission considered formulas which could make it possible to reconcile the need to protect the environment with the avoidance of depopulation in the countryside?

Does the Commission not believe that, as a matter of fairness, farmers who are prevented from irrigating their land for environmental reasons should receive financial compensation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 May 2000)

The new rural development policy adopted by the Council in June 1999 seeks to establish a coherent and permanent framework to guarantee the future of rural areas by encouraging the maintenance and creation of employment and by taking account of environmental requirements. The priorities of this development policy are strengthening the agricultural and forestry sector, making rural areas more competitive and preserving the environment and rural assets.

The structural measures provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)(1) include aid for investments on agricultural holdings to preserve the natural environment, compensatory allowances in less-favoured areas or those subject to environmental constraints, agri-environmental aid and support for agricultural and rural activities to protect the environment. With particular regard to the compensatory allowances, Article 16 of the Regulation provides that payments to compensate for costs incurred and income foregone may be made to farmers who are subject to restrictions on agricultural use in areas with environmental restrictions as a result of the implementation of limitations on agricultural use based on Community environmental protection rules, if and in so far as such payments are necessary to solve the specific problems arising from those rules. Such measures should help meet the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member.

It is up to the Member State to submit rural development programmes, in full compliance with the principle of subsidiarity. In areas, like Aragon, not covered by Objective 1, the Member States may submit rural development programmes which include these various measures for financing under the EAGGF Guarantee Section. Such programmes should in particular describe the situation of the area in question, its specific problems, the strategy proposed and its priorities and the measures which are intended to implement the plans.

The Commission is currently considering the proposed rural development programmes submitted by the Spanish authorities on 30 December 1999 with a view to approving them as soon as possible.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.