WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1178/97 by Gastone PARIGI to the Commission. Farm prices 1997/1998
Date: 1997-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, PARIGI
Subjects: Italy, agricultural expenditure, agricultural guidance, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, farm prices, marketing year

22. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21/31

(98/C 21/102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1178/97

by Gastone Parigi (NI) to the Commission

(3 April 1997)

Subject: Farm prices 1997/1998

The Commission(cid:146)s proposals regarding intervention for the 1997/98 marketing year provide for a reduction of
Lire 4000 billion, a large percentage of which (Lire 2700 billion) concerns arable land. The planned reductions
are for cereals (› 7.3%), oilseeds (› 4.2%) and land for set-aside (› 27%).

The government(cid:146)s tax policies, price trends and their impact on production costs, and the 7% increase in the
structural,  social  and  regional  funds  ›  which  in  itself  will  take  up  the  overall  increase  of  3%  in  agricultural
spending › mean that the situation of Italian farmers will deteriorate sharply.

Since it was agreed that the reform of the CAP would take effect only after 1999, will the Commission maintain
agricultural intervention at current levels for the 1997/98 marketing year?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 1997)

On 5 March 1997 the Commission adopted a proposal on farm prices for the marketing year 1997/98 (1), the
general thrust of which is that there should be no innovation pending reform of several sectors of the CAP. The
Member  of  the  Commission  with  special  responsibility  for  agriculture  presented  this  proposal  to  a  special
meeting of Comagri in Strasbourg on 12 March.

In making this proposal, the Commission drew attention to the budgetary situation in 1998, and in particular to
the fact that the aim of limiting the budget increase to 3% could be achieved only by maintaining agricultural
expenditure at more or less its present level. To manage that, in view of the likely trend of expenditure in certain
sectors such as beef and veal, the Commission recalled its proposal in the previous year, when it advocated a
reduction in aid for arable crops as a solution to financing the crisis in the livestock sector (2).

This solution was not adopted by the Council, if only because Parliament had not given its opinion, but in its
October 1996 conclusions the Council indicated that it would consider it when establishing the 1998 budget.

Knowledge of the 1998 budget currently available suggests that the status quo proposed for the farm prices for
1997/98 respects the budgetary equilibrium, assuming that the reduction in aid for arable crops is adopted. This
proposal has accordingly been maintained.

(1)  COM(97) 89.
(2)  COM(96) 422.

(98/C 21/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1182/97

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(3 April 1997)

Subject: Importation of animals without health documents from Belgium into Sicily

Since 4 March 1997, magistrates in Caltanisetta have been investigating a case of trade in dangerous substances
and violation of health and hygiene rules in connection with the clandestine import of some 125 cattle and pigs
from Belgium (from a shipment of 500 animals), without the necessary health documents. Twelve persons are
involved in the investigation and twelve farms have been placed under distraint.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

What steps will it take and what measures will it require states to adopt in order to comply with Community rules
in this area and prevent any recurrence of such incidents?