EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/162

(2004/C 78 E/0167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2765/03

by Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE) and Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 September 2003)

Subject: Amending Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 for the use of concentrated musts and rectified concentrated musts

The rationale for the European Union's common agricultural policy (CAP) lies in developing the rural economy, sustaining agricultural production, increasing crop diversification and improving the standard and high quality of food and security of supply.

As is clear from the Agenda 2000 programme which the Berlin European Council adopted in December 1999, any reform of the CAP must pursue the aims of environmental sustainability, strengthening the economy of rural areas and consolidating the cultural heritage and social justice.

The CAP is evolving towards a differentiation in legislative discipline in the light of the clear differences in social and economic development between the Union's regions and the impending enlargement towards the countries of central and eastern Europe.

At its meeting of 8 July 2003 the Wine Management Committee looked into the possibility of amending Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 (1) concerning the amount of aid to be granted for the use of concentrated musts (CMs) and rectified concentrated musts (RCMs).

Would the Commission therefore say

— what measures have been taken to ensure that levels of aid for the use of CMs and RCMs vary according to the geographical, economic and social features of each European region?

— what provisions will be adopted, including those under Article 158 of the EC Treaty, specifically to support Sicilian wine production, which is facing additional costs because of the insular nature of its region?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 2003)

The first of the Honourable Members' questions relates to the common organisation of the wine market under which aid is granted on concentrated grape must used to increase the alcoholic strength of wine. In fact since the aid was introduced in 1982 it has been differentiated by the origin of the must. In general the aid rates for musts of wine-growing zone CIII, which includes Sicily, are higher than those for must originating in the other zones. There is a very restricted waiver for certain musts from zones other than C III produced under particular conditions.

Nonetheless, given the general reorientation of the common agricultural policy to which the Honourable Members allude that has occurred since the measure was introduced, the Commission is planning a thorough assessment of all features of this aid.

The Honourable Members' second question relates to the economic and social cohesion policy, under which the wine sector can be aided from the Community Structural Funds, in this case the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guarantee Section. For the period 2000-2006 the sector can be aided through the Sicilia Regional Operational Programme. The relevant measures covered those covering farm-level investments (4.06) processing and marketing of agricultural products (4.09) and marketing of high quality agricultural products (4.13).

Decisions on future measures will be taken in partnership with the Commission, with the monitoring committee for the regional operational programme closely involved.

(1) OJ L 194, 31.7.2000, p. 45.