WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3018/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Forestry
Date: 1997-10-01
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: afforestation, environmental protection, forest conservation, forestry economics, forestry policy, silviculture, wood industry

C 134/60

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

and given that the forestry sector is a source of employment and economic wealth in the European Union, the
basic objective of the EU(cid:146)s forestry strategy should be to promote the commercial exploitation of forests. This
would help to safeguard jobs particularly in structurally weak regions and also create new jobs, despite the fact
that technological progress will inevitably mean that jobs will be lost as well. Forest management and use must
also be economically, socially and ecologically sustainable.

(1)  OJ C 206, 7.7.1997, p. 128.

(98/C 134/74)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3018/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Forestry

With reference to (cid:145)The situation and problems of forestry in the European Union and potential for developing
forestry  policies(cid:146)  (CES  476/97) (1),  reforestation  has  a  fundamental  rolein  agriculture,  as  it  can  cushion  the
impact of the set-aside measures introduced with the CAP reforms, help solve the problem of scarce timber in the
EU and protect the health of the environment.

Will  the  Commission  direct  the  EU(cid:146)s  forestry  strategy  chiefly  to  guaranteeing  and  improving  the  conditions
needed for an ecologically sound, profitable forestry economy and industry and to developing rural structures
and enhancing the economic status of the forestry sector?

Will  the  EU  also  use  its  own  funds  to  protect  forests,  support  rural  areas  and  provide  research,  training  and
information, as well as consultancy services? Closer coordination of the forestry sector is needed.

(1)  OJ C 206, 7.7.1997, p. 128.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3017/97 and E-3018/97
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 1997)

The Honourable Member refers to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) on the situation and
problems of forestry in the European Union and potential for developing forestry policies.

The Commission warmly welcomed this report and agrees with it in many respects, particularly on sustainable
forest management, which covers not only the financial but also the environmental and social aspects, and on the
role of forestry and related industries in providing jobs and income in rural areas.

Before  the  end  of  the  year  the  Commission  will  be  submitting  a  report  on  the  implementation  of  forestry
measures in agriculture, showing the economic, environmental and social impact of these measures. In addition,
the Community(cid:146)s forestry measures are described in the Commission(cid:146)s Report to Parliament on agriculture and
rural development (A4-0414/96).

At the beginning of 1999, in response to Parliament(cid:146)s resolution of 30 January 1997 on the Community(cid:146)s forestry
strategy (Thomas report), the Commission will be presenting a proposal for a European forestry strategy, which
will take account inter alia of the objectives of Agenda 2000 (1).

(1)  Doc. COM (97) final 2000.