WRITTEN QUESTION E-2595/98

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Disastrous effects on agriculture caused by heat wave in Crete

At the beginning of July, Crete was hit by an unprecedented heat wave (with temperatures over 40 degrees) which wrought havoc among vineyards (especially in the Heraklion region) and stockfarming. In particular, table grape vines over a huge area and hundreds of hectares of sultana production were destroyed. As regards livestock, the heat wave mainly affected poultry, piglets and domestic animals as well as bee-keeping. In view of this situation, does the Commission consider it possible to grant assistance to the Cretan farmers affected by this disaster?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-2416/98 and E-2595/98 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1998)

The second subparagraph of Article 2(5) of Commission Regulation (EC) 411/97 of 3 March 1997 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) 2200/96 as regards operational programmes, operational funds and Community financial assistance(1) allows fruit and vegetable producer organisations, in the event of a natural disaster, to use a theoretical value of marketed production based on the average yield during the three preceding years for calculating Community financial assistance to the operational fund. The Commission proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EC) 20/98 of 7 January 1998 laying down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) 2200/96 as regards aid to producer organisations granted preliminary recognition(2) contains a similar provision.

The Community legislation currently in force provides for two ways in which, at the Member State's instigation, a programme can be launched to help wine-growers replant drought- and heatwave-damaged vineyards. The first possibility is investment aid in accordance with Commission Regulation (EEC) 2741/89 of 11 September 1989 laying down criteria to apply under Article 14 of Council Regulation (EEC) 822/87 on national aid for the planting of wine-growing areas(3) (such aid must be notified in advance to the Commission in compliance with Article 93(3) of the EC Treaty); the second possibility is aid to restore production potential through investment in replanting heatwave-damaged vines, funded jointly by the Community under the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (such aid must fall within Greece's financial allocation for the current programming period (1994-99) and comply with the relevant procedure laid down in the Objective 1 Community support framework (CSF)). However, the aid must be granted in accordance with the specific requirements stipulated by the respective measures referred to in the CSF, for example Council Regulation (EC) 950/97 of 20 May 1997 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures(4) (as regards investment in agricultural holdings) or the specific measure to combat phylloxera in Crete, both of which form part of the agriculture operational programme (OP) in the national section of the CSF.

Similarly, where livestock for breeding (poultry, pigs, bees, etc.) has been affected, national aid may be granted in accordance with the Community rules on State aid, subject to notification in compliance with Article 93(3) of the EC Treaty. Structural aid funded jointly by the Community under the Guidance Section of the EAGGF is also possible, subject to the conditions explained above, for example under the same operational programme's measure on restoring production potential lost through natural disasters - provided, of course, that the aid is likewise notified in compliance with Article 93(3) of the Treaty and that it falls within the measure's current financial allocation in the agriculture OP.

In the case of both vineyards and livestock, comprehensive and well-founded documentation proving the extent of the damage will have to be submitted to the Commission.

(1) OJ L 62, 4.3.1997.

(2) OJ L 4, 8.1.1998.

(3) OJ L 264, 12.9.1989.

(4) OJ L 142, 2.6.1997.