WRITTEN QUESTION No. 524/98 by Susan WADDINGTON to the Commission. The promotion of certain foodstuffs
Date: 1998-03-02
Institutions: European Parliament, WADDINGTON
Subjects: common agricultural policy, fruit, meat, milk product, olive oil, public health, sales promotion, vegetable

C 304/126

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

(98/C 304/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0524/98

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(2 March 1998)

Subject: The promotion of certain foodstuffs

Current dietary advice urges us to reduce our meat, milk, fat and sugar consumption and increase our fruit and
vegetable consumption. In view of this, recent press reports in the UK have raised concern that a portion of the
CAP  budget  is  used  to  promote  the  consumption  of  meat  and  dairy  products,  and  yet  not  to  promote  the
consumption  of  fresh  fruit  and  vegetables.  These  reports  argue  therefore  that  the  CAP  fails  to  promote  the
consumption of a balanced diet. Are these press reports accurate, and if so, what measures will the Commission
be taking to encourage the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in the future?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 1998)

The Commission would like to point out to the Honourable Member that the Community budget for promoting
agricultural products is used in particular to encourage consumption of certain fruit and vegetables. Promotion
schemes have been adopted by the Council for apples, citrus fruit, dried grapes and nuts, covered respectively by
Regulations  (EEC)  No  1195/90 (1),  (EEC)  No  1201/90 (2),  (EC)  No  399/94 (3)  and  (EC)  No  2200/96  (Article
54) (4).  In  addition,  since  the  reform  of  the  fruit  and  vegetable  sector  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  2200/96,  the
Commission has been granting financial aid for operational programmes run by producer organisations, which
may include promotion schemes.

A considerable share of the Community budget devoted to promoting agricultural products is thus spent on fruit
and  vegetables.  These  promotion  campaigns  normally  consist  of  stressing  the  health  benefits  related  to
consumption.  The  same  applies  to  promotion  of  the  consumption  of  olive  oil,  which  revolves  around  the
nutritional advantages of a Mediterranean-style diet, in which both olive oil and fruit and vegetables play an
important part.

(1)  OJ L 119, 11.5.1990.
(2)  OJ L 119, 11.5.1990.
(3)  OJ L 54, 25.2.1994.
(4)  OJ L 297, 21.11.1996.

(98/C 304/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0531/98

by Concepcio· Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(2 March 1998)

Subject: Raphael Programme

The Commission has selected 92 of the 841 projects submitted under the Raphael Programme for the protection
of the cultural heritage and a total budget of ECU 9.2 million has been allocated. These 92 projects have been
divided into five separate actions. Will the Commission say which projects have been approved by each Member
State under each of these actions, which organizations have been granted the aid, what sums are involved and
what is the purpose of the projects concerned?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 1998)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the implementation of the Raphael programme for
1997 concerned the selection of 92 projects for all its five actions. The number of projects and the budgetary
allocation per action is as follows:

›  Action 1 › Events and dissemination initiatives of a European dimension in favour of the preservation and
increased  awareness  of  European  cultural  heritage:  43  projects  selected  out  of  511  submissions  with  a
budgetary allocation of 1.80 MECU;

›  Action 2 › Co-operation in developing thematic networks between European museums: 13 projects selected

out of 103 submissions with a budgetary allocation of 2.55 MECU;