WRITTEN QUESTION No. 70/97 by José BARROS MOURA to the Commission. CAP and R&D policy beneficiary countries
Date: 1997-01-24
Institutions: BARROS MOURA, European Parliament
Subjects: EU policy, common agricultural policy, economic and social cohesion, less-favoured region, reform of the CAP, regional aid, report, research and development, research policy, rural region













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91997E0070

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 70/97 by José BARROS MOURA to the Commission. CAP and R&D policy beneficiary countries  


Official Journal C 367 , 04/12/1997 P. 0004 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0070/97 by José Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission (24 January 1997)Subject: CAP and R& D policy beneficiary countriesThe First Cohesion report (COM(96)0542) surprisingly and in spite of all the evidence to the contrary states that cohesion countries have been the 'major beneficiaries' of the CAP and the Research and Development Policy (see page 87). How can the Commission substantiate such a remark, which tends to devalue the objectives of economic and social cohesion and, in particular, the structural funds?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (7 March 1997)The starting point for the Commission's analysis in the cohesion report of the Community's research and technological development (RTD) policy and common agricultural policy (CAP) is the recognition that each has its own specific objectives. Both are concerned primarily with improving efficiency, while the CAP has specificobjectives laid down in Article 39 EC Treaty. At the same time, in pursuing these objectives both policies have a differential impact on regions and social groups. The cohesion report, while recognising that cohesion is not the main objective of these policies, has sought to examine this impact.The report sets out in an objective way the results of external research on the regional effects of the CAP. This research confirms that the CAP has generally resulted in positive transfers towards rural areas, which are among the poorest in the Community. It is also of particular benefit to the poorest Member States, with the exception of Portugal, although the position in Portugal has improved since the 1992 reform of the CAP. With regard to RTD policy, the report shows that Community resources tend to be concentrated in absolute terms on contracts with the main centres of excellence located in the more prosperous Member States. At the same time, Community RTD policy has contributed to cohesion in that expenditure is highest in the poorest Member States and regions compared to the size of their RTD sector, thus helping to develop their research capacities.In the conclusions of the cohesion report, the Commission recommends improvements in both RTD policies and the CAP. The Commission confirms its intention to continue the process begun in the 1992 CAP reforms, especially by developing more integrated approaches to helping the rural areas, emphasising environmental and social aspects.With regard to RTD, the Commission advocates a greater emphasis on efforts to disseminate research results throughout the Community and to develop a research agenda which is more attuned to the strengths of the weakest regions. The Commission intends to publish a communication in the course of this year setting out its views on how policy in this field can make a greater contribution to cohesion.