WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1332/98 by Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS to the Commission. Possible non-payment of 1997 premiums to sheep and goat farmers in the Prefecture of Rethimnon
Date: 1998-04-24
Institutions: European Parliament, HATZIDAKIS
Subjects: EAGGF, Greece, agricultural guidance, goat, livestock farming, ministry, sheep

C 386/114

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.98

It has been contended by the Public Contractors Association in the UK that in this case there has been a breach of
the Services and Works Directive. Does the Commission have any comment to make on this case?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1998)

The Commission is not aware of the recent case in the United Kingdom involving a building maintenance
contract in Oldham, to which the Honourable Member refers. He is therefore kindly requested to forward any
specific information on the matter at his disposal to the Commission so that it may take appropriate action.

(98/C 386/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1332/98

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(24 April 1998)

Subject: Possible non-payment of 1997 premiums to sheep and goat farmers in the Prefecture of Rethimnon

During on the spot investigations it carried out in the Prefecture of Rethimnon in May 1997 a team from the
Commission(cid:146)s Directorate-General for Agriculture noted a number of failures to comply with the regulations and
procedures governing sheep and goats; this led to an exchange of letters on this matter between the relevant
Commission services and the Greek Ministry of Agriculture from which it transpired that Greece might be fined.
However, a heavy share of responsibility for these omissions lies indisputably with the Ministry of Agriculture
services which failed to carry out the required controls and draw up the necessary reports. Faced with the threat
that Greece might be fined, the Greek Ministry of Agriculture has now made it clear that it is considering not
paying premiums to sheep and goat farmers in the Prefecture of Rethimnon for 1997, arguing that it is the
Commission that is responsible for this harsh measure. Although it is generally recognised that substantive
measures must be taken to make the system more transparent, will the Commission confirm that it is ultimately at
the discretion of the Ministry of Agriculture whether or not to pay premiums to sheep and goat farmers in the
Prefecture of Rethimnon for 1997 and that, if it does not finally do so, this will be a purely political decision by
the Ministry of Agriculture and not a penalty it has imposed?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 May 1998)

Findings arising from the audit of May 1997, conducted in the context of the clearance of the European
agriculture guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF) accounts, are still under consideration and subject to bilateral
exchanges between the Commission and the Greek authorities.

Under the clearance of accounts procedure, the Commission does not impose fines but refuses Community
financing of expenditure not incurred in accordance with Community rules. Payment of premiums in the
Prefecture of Rethimnon for 1997 should be decided by the Greek authorities on the basis of their control
findings.