WRITTEN QUESTION E-3561/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Calculation of the amount of olive oil for which each producer will receive advance payments of aid in Greece

By Joint Ministerial Decision No 408461 of 9 November 2001 Greece specified the basis for calculating the amount of olive oil eligible for aid for 2000/2001 and the appeals procedure. This Decision ignores the yield of olive oil zones established by Regulation (EC) 2067/2001(1) and calculates new yields which, in some cases, are over 50 % less than those recognised by the EU.

It has also provided for uniform percentage reductions per region in the amounts in respect of which olive oil producers have requested aid. This means that some amounts actually declared will be excluded from aid, while other amounts will receive aid without controls; despite the flat rate reduction being made, these amounts will still be much higher than those calculated on the basis of the recognised yields of the olive production zones. The same Decision provides that, if a producer lodges an appeal, the entire amount declared by each producer will be excluded from advance payments of aid: this forces olive oil producers to accept reductions imposed on them if they wish to receive part of the aid immediately to enable them to meet their financial obligations.

Since the implementation of Joint Ministerial Decision No 408461 of 9 November 2001 of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture has caused outrage among olive oil producers who see their incomes being eroded by arbitrary and coercive decisions by the Ministry of Agriculture, will the Commission say:

1. Does it consider that the establishment of amounts of olive oil eligible for aid and the appeals procedure implemented by Greece are compatible with Community regulations?

2. Has Greece furnished all the information provided for under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) 2366/98(2) as amended by Article 2 of Regulation (EC) 1273/1999(3).

(1) OJ L 278, 23.10.2001, p. 11.

(2) OJ L 293, 31.10.1998, p. 50.

(3) OJ L 151, 18.6.1999, p. 12.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2002)

The Greek authorities have adopted a set of measures to apply the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2366/98 of 30 October 1998 laying down detailed rules for application of the system of production aid for olive oil for the 1998/99 to 2000/01 marketing years(1). These include Joint Ministerial Decision No 408461 of 9 November 2001 and two modifications thereof: No 417759 of 5 December 2001 on the checking procedure when appeals are lodged and No 417759 of 6 December 2001 on rules for determining quantities eligible for the production aid for 2000/01. Decision No 408461 is consonant with the Community rule that Member States are to defer payment of 25 % of the advance on the aid in the case of producers who lodge an aid application for production that is more than twice the quantity resulting from the application to the number of trees declared of the average yield of the homogeneous zone in which the holding is mostly located (Article 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2366/98).

On determination of the yields of the homogeneous zones, Greece provided the data required under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 2366/98. However, while the yields set in the Community rules are set on the basis of the olive trees cropped, the Greek authorities adjust the yields to take into account all trees in production as indicated in the crop declarations.

In addition to these checks scheduled before payment of the advance on the aid Member States must make those specified in Articles 27 to 31 of Regulation (EC) No 2366/98. These checks should ensure that there are no quantities appearing in aid applications on which the production aid will be improperly paid.

(1) OJ L 293, 31.10.1998.