WRITTEN QUESTION E-0865/01

by Anders Wijkman (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Subject: Opportunity afforded by enlargement for alternative energy production and job creation

Enlargement eastwards is expected to produce a sharp rise in productivity in agriculture in the applicant countries. Large areas of land will probably not be needed for food production. A large number of farmers run the risk of unemployment. A constructive method of utilising abandoned farmland would be to grow energy crops, which would create new jobs, reduce the applicant countries' dependence on oil imports and cut carbon dioxide emissions.

What measures does the Commission plan to take to exploit the great potential for alternative energy production, and thereby job opportunities, in many of the applicant countries in conjunction with the modernisation of their agriculture to EU standards? Are there any obstacles to prevent such a development in this context and, if so, how does the Commission intend to eliminate those obstacles?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2001)

Productivity in the candidate countries over the coming years is expected to grow at a slow but constant rate. Application of the Common Agricultural Policy is likely to strengthen this process, particularly where the Community's prices are above those of the candidate countries. Under these conditions, in the Commission's view, land abandonment is unlikely. It should be emphasised that the conditions under which the common agricultural policy (CAP) will be applied to the candidate countries are uncertain until the negotiation of the agricultural chapter with the candidate countries will have been concluded. Nevertheless, increased use of renewable energy sources, as in the current Community, would clearly be a desirable objective for the candidate countries provided it is consistent with the Acquis.

Special accession programme for agriculture and rural development (Sapard) under existing legislation may provide aid for investment in support of renewable energy in the pre-accession phase. On accession rural development programmes could be used to enhance production techniques and develop marketing and processing capacity in conjunction with the modernisation of the candidate countries' agriculture and rural economy.

One obstacle to the further development of alternative energy sources is the low cost of conventional energy sources. This is due in part to higher technological costs for renewable sources. It is also due to the fact that conventional energy sources do not include their environmental costs in their price. These are borne by society as a whole and not just users. The Commission is currently promoting the development of more competitive renewable energy sources through programmes such as the 6th Research and technological development (RTD) framework Programme and Altener. A Commission's proposal(1) on a Directive concerning the production of electricity from renewable energy sources in the internal market is currently under discussion in the Parliament and the Council. It is also currently preparing a draft directive covering taxation measures and targets for biofuels. Both should help to address obstacles to further development. These and any future initiatives will apply fully to the candidate countries after accession and could form the basis for technical cooperation in the pre-accession period.

(1) OJ C 311 E, 31.10.2000.