WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1509/96 by Sebastiano MUSUMECI to the Commission. Measures for Italian stock-breeding
Date: 1996-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSUMECI
Subjects: EU aid, Italy, State aid, agricultural guidance, cattle, distribution of aid, livestock farming, regulation of agricultural production













EUR-Lex - 91996E1509 - EN






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91996E1509

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1509/96 by Sebastiano MUSUMECI to the Commission. Measures for Italian stock-breeding  


Official Journal C 305 , 15/10/1996 P. 0104 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1509/96 by Sebastiano Musumeci (NI) to the Commission (17 June 1996)Subject: Measures for Italian stock-breedingOnce again the European Union, when intervening in the crisis in the stock-breeding sector, has penalized Italian production, since the criteria for the allocation of the special premium do not make allowance for the differing methods of raising animals for meat production in one and the same country.The Community provisions threaten to aggravate further the situation in the sector, which is already in a serious state of crisis and shows a foreign trade deficit of around Lit. 5 000 billion. In view of this, can the Commission say whether it considers it should take steps to ensure that the implementing rules and the granting of the special additional premium for the support of the European beef and veal industry are established by each Member State, in recognition of the great variations in European production systems?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (23 July 1996)The method of allocating the special premium was unanimously approved by the Council of 24-26 June; it presents substantial changes with regard to the initial proposal, some of which are along the lines advocated by the Honourable Member.The overall package set aside for supporting European breeders hit by the beef and veal crisis was increased by the Florence European Council by ECU 200 million, to a total of ECU 850 million, which must be disbursed to the producers concerned by 16 October.The agreement adopted by the Council provides for two allocation methods.- The first follows the approach initially proposed by the Commission, consisting of supplementing the premiums granted in 1995 for male cattle and suckler cows by lump sum payments of ECU 23 and ECU 27 respectively; this gives a total of ECU 581 million. The balance of ECU 269 million is distributed among the Member States in line with an allocation system based on non-dairy livestock other than the animals for which premiums have already been paid; these payments are designed to help producers in grave difficulties that cannot be resolved by increased premiums.- The second method can be used when justified by production structures or payment timescales. It allows maximum leeway to the Member States, which may distribute the entire amount allocated to their producers in the manner they consider most appropriate, with the proviso that they do so objectively, do not over-compensate producers, and avoid distorting competition.The agreement also allows Member States to grant national aid in addition to the payments detailed above, on condition that such aid does not exceed estimated loss of income, and that the total national aid granted does not exceed that obtained from the Community.In Italy, this new allocation method has entailed a substantial increase in the amount initially provided for, while allowing the authorities maximum flexibility to allocate funds in accordance with the country's needs.