WRITTEN QUESTION E-3316/01

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Aid for marketing of eco-friendly products from Andalusia

The Andalusian Association of Eco-Friendly Producers (Spain) intends to promote the production and marketing of its products, and has therefore asked for information on the existing Community aids.

This non-profit-making association, set up in February 2001, represents the economic, social and professional interests of eco-friendly agri-food producers in Andalusia. Its main objective is to increase production.

Can the Commission give an indication of the nature of the reply which this association is likely to receive, in the context of the special aid facilities existing under Community law and its objective of promoting and encouraging the production and marketing of eco-friendly agri-food products?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The aim of the new rural development policy adopted by the Council in June 1999 is to establish a coherent and sustainable framework for safeguarding the future of rural areas by promoting the maintenance and creation of employment while taking into account the essential requirements of agricultural product quality and environmental protection. A number of structural measures provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999(1) and adopted under rural development programmes could therefore help to address the concerns to which the Honourable Member refers.

Subject to certain conditions, agri-environmental measures enable premiums to be granted to farmers starting organic production in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs(2); these measures have been incorporated into the Spanish horizontal rural development programme. Aid for investment in agricultural holdings, including for improving the quality of agricultural products, has been provided for in the horizontal operational programme for the improvement of production structures in Objective 1 regions in Spain. The regional operational programme for Andalusia provides for processing and marketing aid, including for product improvement and quality control, for tailoring production to market trends and for opening up new markets. The regional operational programme also includes provision for aid to promote the adaptation and development of rural areas, and particularly for providing services to agricultural holdings and for marketing quality products.

It should be pointed out that the national and regional authorities within the Member State manage these programmes.

The Andalusian organic products association should therefore ask the Spanish authorities responsible to examine whether the proposed measures are eligible for support under the programmes.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991 as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 436/2001 of 2 March 2001, OJ L 63, 3.3.2001.