WRITTEN QUESTION No. 329/98 by Luisa TODINI to the Commission. Structural Fund reform
Date: 1998-02-10
Institutions: European Parliament, TODINI
Subjects: Structural Funds, economic and social cohesion, economic planning, less-favoured region, operational programme, regional aid, regional policy, structural policy

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/167

Compliance with stringent quality criteria is an essential element in the effective control of fraud, for example the
mixing of olive oil with seed oils. For this reason, in the past the Commission has always rejected requests for an
exception,  like  the  one  presented  relating  to  the  arrangements  for  storage  contracts,  for  a  betasitosterol  level
below that required under the rules.

The request for an exception to which the Honourable Member refers, even though justified by special natural
conditions, would, if it were accepted, present a major risk of fraud across the whole of the Community and a
gradual deterioration in the quality of the oils available on the market. Indeed, one of the arguments put forward
by the Honourable Member in support of such an exception, namely, the storage of olives for prolonged periods,
is one of the main reasons preventing the production of high-quality oils.

In  order  to  limit  the  negative  effectst  of  failure  to  comply  with  certain  physical  and  chemical  parameters
according to individual circumstances, the Commission, in the context of the updating of the methods provided
for  under  the  above  Regulation,  is  examining  the  technical  feasibility  of  replacing  certain  methods  currently
being applied by other parameters which are less subject to specific geographical and climatic variations.

(98/C 223/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0329/98

by Luisa Todini (UPE) to the Commission

(10 February 1998)

Subject: Structural Fund reform

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in the drafting of the new Objective 2 Regulation?

How exactly does it establish the admissibility criteria for Objective 2 areas?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 1998)

The Commission is currently developing proposals for the new regulatory framework for the structural funds for
the period 2000-2006, based on its document Agenda 2000 (1) which was published in July 1997. The regulations
will set out the criteria and delivery system in relation to the new objective 2. The Commission has established a
programme  of  work  leading  to  the  adoption  of  its  proposals  on  18  March  1998  and  their  presentation  to
Parliament  and  Council  immediately  thereafter.  Parliament  is  regularly  informed  on  the  development  of  the
Commission(cid:146)s thinking with regard to structural policies in general and the new objective 2 in particular.

It is therefore too early to make a definitive statement on the new objective 2 criteria, although the basis remains
that established in the Agenda 2000 document. The Commission proposes that the new objective 2 list should be
determined according to simple, objective and transparent criteria. These would be used to identify the areas
worst affected by changes in the industrial or service sectors, declining rural areas, urban districts in crisis and
fisheries dependent areas. The final list of areas would be determined in partnership with the national authorities
taking into account national priorities. For regions where the situation has improved and which no longer meet
the criteria, the Commission proposes phasing-out arrangements.

(1)  COM(97) 2000 final.