WRITTEN QUESTION No. 648/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Abolition of co-responsibility levy for olive oil
Date: 1998-02-25
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, Spain, agricultural quota, budgetary stabiliser, olive oil, producer co-responsibility, production aid

C 304/142

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

1. What is the total amount of funding raised from the subsidy over the first three years?

2. What research programmes or other activities have been carried out in previous years with monies from this
research fund?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 1998)

During the first three years (1995, 1996 and 1997), the Commission made payments totalling ECU 3.26 million
from the Community tobacco research and information fund. These payments were for the implementation of the
first phases of what are in most cases multiannual projects (extending, in the case of research, over five years).
The Commission has approved total funding of ECU 25.88 million for research and information projects, the last
of which will be completed in 2003.

The programmes selected for funding from the Community tobacco research and information fund from those
submitted  in  response  to  the  two  invitations  to  tender  are  given  in  the  table  sent  directly  to  the  Honourable
Members and to the Secretariat of Parliament.

(98/C 304/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0648/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 February 1998)

Subject: Abolition of co-responsibility levy for olive oil

The olive oil market in Greece is in a state of crisis. Excess production in the European Union has led to a 27%
reduction of Community aid for production, and there has been a spectacular fall in market prices owing to the
surpluses.

Given the importance of olive oil production for Greece, will the Commission abolish the co-responsibility levy
for Greece for this year, so that Greek olive oil producers are not penalized because of the approximate tripling of
Spanish production?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 1998)

The Commission is following closely developments on the Community market for olive oil, and has already
taken measures to relieve the market in the form of private storage aid for olive oil.

The Commission cannot depart from the rules laid down in Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a
common  organisation  of  the  market  in  oils  and  fats (1).  This  Regulation  is  a  Council  Regulation.  The
Commission cannot therefore abolish the effects of the stabiliser mechanism on production aid for Greece for
this year.

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention is however drawn to the fact that, in the event of an overrun of the maximum
guaranteed quantity, it is production aid to producers exceeding 500 kilograms of olive oil per marketing year
((cid:145)large-scale(cid:146) producers) that is cut. According to the information in the Commission(cid:146)s possession, only about
25% of olive growers in Greece will be affected by this reduction.

Finally, it should be noted that during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 marketing years, Spanish olive growers were
subject to the stabiliser when Spain was affected by a serious drought and production fell to record lows.

(1)  OJ 172, 30.9.1966.