WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1783/97 by Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS to the Commission. Lower Community premiums for goats and sheep in Greece
Date: 1997-05-14
Institutions: European Parliament, HATZIDAKIS
Subjects: EU aid, Greece, agricultural guidance, goatmeat, market prices, price increase, production aid, sheepmeat

C 45/102

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 2. 98

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 1997)

The Commission has had difficulties in determining the specific instances of alleged non-compliance with the
Uruguay Round agreement to which the Honourable Member refers. If, however, the question concerns Council
Regulation (EC) Nr. 824/97 of 29 April 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) Nr. 3030/93 on common rules for
imports  of  certain  textile  products  from  third  countries (1),  and  the  reasons  that  have  led  the  Commission  to
propose that regulation, the Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to the reply it has given to
written question nr. 218/97 by Mr. Novo (2).

(1)  OJ L 119/97 of 8.5.1997.
(2)  OJ C 217 of 17.7.1997.

(98/C 45/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1783/97

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(14 May 1997)

Subject: Lower Community premiums for goats and sheep in Greece

There has been a substantial cutback this year in the level of Community premiums to producers of goat and
sheepmeat in Greece for each eligible ewe (a reduction of over Drs 2000 for low-weight animals).

If, in accordance with the information given to producers, this reduction is due to an increase in the slaughter
price for goat and sheepmeat at European level, can the Commission say on what data it based its conclusion that
there  had  been  a  corresponding  rise  in  the  price  of  goat  and  sheepmeat  in  Greece  of  a  nature  to  justify  a
substantial reduction in premiums? How was that data collected and from what sources?

Finally, in view of the great difficulties such a sudden decision creates for producers, will the Commission say
whether there is a possibility of an exemption for areas where there has obviously been no rise in the slaughter
price for goat and sheepmeat or, at all events, for areas which have problems in general, e.g. the islands, where
distribution and general production costs are considerably higher?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 1997)

It is true that the amount of the Community premium received by producers of sheepmeat and goatmeat fell in the
marketing year 1996 by 32% compared with the previous marketing year. However, contrary to the Honourable
Member(cid:146)s information, this fall was not the result of any increase in the slaughter costs of sheep and goats at
European  level.  It  was  in  fact  due  to  a  sharp  rise  in  the  Community  market  price  in  1996  over  the  previous
marketing year, which automatically reduced the premium, in accordance with current Community legislation.

In  this  context,  it  appears  therefore  that  the  questions  raised  about  slaughter  costs  in  certain  parts  of  the
Community,  and  in  particular  Greece,  have  no  link  with  the  reduction  in  the  premium.  In  any  case,  the
Commission has no official information on the slaughter costs of sheep and goats in the Community.