WRITTEN QUESTION E-0978/98

by Nel van Dijk (V) and Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (V) to the Commission

(30 March 1998)

Subject: Grubbing up premium for standard fruit trees

Is there a risk of the European grubbing-up premium for apple and pear trees being applied to fell not only low-stemmed trees, but also standard trees, in particular in the Netherlands province of Limburg? Is the Commission aware that the province of Limburg grants subsidies to encourage the planting and upkeep of standard fruit trees?

Can the Commission confirm that the planting and upkeep of standard fruit trees is also eligible for EU subsidies by virtue of Regulation 2078/92? Does the Commission agree that having two subsidy schemes - one at European, and one at provincial level - is very undesirable and that it leads to a waste of public funds? Does the Commission agree that encouraging the cultivation of standard fruit trees - preferable organically grown - instead of intensive low-stemmed fruit tree cultivation might help to counter the overproduction in this sector?

Does the Commission agree that grubbing up premiums for standard fruit trees should be dependent on an assessment of ecological, agricultural and tourist criteria? Is the Commission prepared to modify the criteria for the granting of grubbing up premiums, e.g. by increasing the minimum of 300 trees per hectare or by guaranteeing regional and local authorities a say in the granting of premiums?

What (other) action will the Commission take to prevent European subsidies from being used to fell standard fruit trees which are valuable from the ecological, agricultural or tourist point of view? Does the Commission envisage any possibility of supporting the upkeep of such trees in Limburg, too?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1998)

The premium for the grubbing-up of apple-trees, pear trees, peach trees and nectarine trees created by Council Regulation (EC) 2200/97(1) on the improvement of the Community production of these fruits aims to diminish the Community production capacity in order to obtain a better match of supply to demand and a decrease of the present withdrawals. This action is limited to orchards with a density of 300 trees per hectare or more (150 trees per hectare for parcels planted with apple trees of the Annurca variety). The Regulation provides that Member States shall designate the regions in which the grubbing-up premium is to be granted on the basis of economic and ecological criteria and shall lay down conditions ensuring in particular the economic and ecological balance of the regions concerned.

A programme under the agri-environment Regulation (EEC) 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside(2) could in principle include such measures to maintain standard fruit-trees (hoogstam fruitbomen). Regulation (EEC) 2078/92 is, amongst other things, aimed at change or maintaining extensive production methods and the usage of other farming practices compatible with the requirements of protection of the environment (e.g. organic farming) as well as maintaining the landscape. The Netherlands have adopted a programme on organic farming under which these orchards, when they are organic, could be supported. To apply for these programmes means also that farmers are for a period of 5 years obliged to maintain these trees. In this period grubbing-up is not allowed.

These provisions were adopted in order to prevent the risks mentioned by the Honourable Members.

(1) OJ L 303, 6.11.1997.

(2) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.