WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1326/97 by Jan MULDER to the Commission. Implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, altering the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables
Date: 1997-04-21
Institutions: European Parliament, MULDER
Subjects: EU financing, common organisation of markets, fruit, fund (EU), infringement of EU law, marketing, producer organisation, production, restriction on competition, vegetable













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91997E1326

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1326/97 by Jan MULDER to the Commission. Implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, altering the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables  


Official Journal C 373 , 09/12/1997 P. 0106 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1326/97 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission (21 April 1997)Subject: Implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, altering the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetablesRegulation 2200/96 ((OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1. )) introduced changes to the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables. According to this Regulation, through the operational funds producer organizations can obtain from the Community up to 50% of certain costs they have incurred, for example for marketing products grown by them.Producer organizations can also undertake other activities, including marketing fruit and vegetables from other producer organizations or products imported from third countries.In view of the above, under certain circumstances the new market organization may result in a disruption of fair competition between the producer organizations on the one hand and existing trading organizations on the other. The 'other activities' which are not eligible for subsidy can benefit indirectly from the Community aid for activities which are eligible for subsidies.1. How does the Commission intend to prevent this disruption of fair competition between producers and traders?2. How can it guarantee that the Community aid actually relates only to the products grown by the producer organizations, without concealed 'cross-fertilization' to other, for example imported, products?3. What practical steps does it intend to take if, in specific cases, such disruption of competition does actually exist?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (30 May 1997)1. Under Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, producer organizations are entitled to Community financing for operational funds covering only those fruit and vegetable products for which the producer organization has been recognized. Producer organizations may not benefit, directly or indirectly, from the Community financing for products for which the producer organization has not been recognized and, in any case, not for fruit and vegetables imported from third countries.2. General provisions for the implementation of operational programmes and withdrawal operations eligible for Community financing under an operational fund are laid out in Chapter IV of Regulation (EC) No 411/97 ((OJ L 62, 4.3.1997. )) and include provisions for verification of compliance with the conditions for grant of assistance.3. Sanctions in the case of non-compliance with Community legislation covering Community financing under an operational fund are set out in Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 411/97.