WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1292/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Grant assistance to Coillte, the Irish semi- state forestry company
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: EAGGF, EU aid, EU financing, Ireland, afforestation, collectivism, forestry holding, forestry policy

C 96/4

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

The Honourable Member will be pleased to know that the Commission(cid:146)s report on 15 metres buses is expected to
be adopted in the near future and will then be sent to the Council and the Parliament for their consideration.

(1) OJ L 235, 17.9.1996, p. 59.

(1999/C 96/005)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1292/98

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Grant assistance to Coillte, the Irish semi-state forestry company

Last year the European Commission forwarded a report to the Council of Ministers and European Parliament on
the EU financial aid scheme for forestry measures in Ireland. The report focussed on the application of Regulation
No 2080/92, which relates to grants made under the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund
(EAGGF).

This regulation states that it is preferable that grants made under it should go to people who practise farming as
their main occupation.

Ireland(cid:146)s national parliament, DÆil Eireann, was recently informed that the semi-state forestry company Coillte
received substantial grants under this scheme. With these grants it could undertake planting on 6 125 hectares of
land in 1993, 5 355 in 1994, 5 155 in 1995, 3 658 in 1996 and 2 773 last year.

There is no provision made in the regulation for financial assistance to semi-state companies.

Given that this matter was not covered in last year(cid:146)s Commission report, will the Commission ensure that it is
now investigated? Does it believe that Ireland(cid:146)s use of these funds to aid Coillte could be in breach of Regulation
No 2080/92?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 1998)

The Honourable Member states that Regulation (EEC) 2080/92 makes no provision for financial assistance to
semi-state companies.

However Article 2 of the Regulation defines eligibility for (cid:145)any natural or legal person undertaking afforestation
of agricultural land(cid:146). Therefore, private enterprises as well as public services are potential beneficiaries of this
regulation.

Preference for afforestation by farmers is expressed by the higher income foregone premium levels for this group
in relation to non farmers.

The Commission does not intend to investigate afforestation by semi-state companies under Regulation (EEC)
2080/92 as afforestation undertaken by these companies is not in breach of its provisions.

(1999/C 96/006)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1302/98

by Francesco Baldarelli (PSE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Discontinuation of Alitalia(cid:146)s direct flights to Santiago, Chile

The Italian community in Chile has informed us that the Italian national airline will discontinue the weekly direct
flight to Santiago, Chile, as of 31 March this year. Alitalia flights will therefore only go as far as Buenos Aires and
the onward flight to Santiago will be operated by L.A.N. Chile, in accordance with an agreement between the two
airlines.