WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1965/98 by Klaus LUKAS to the Commission. Notification requirement
Date: 1998-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, LUKAS
Subjects: EU Member State, aid system, aid to industry, aid to undertakings, application of EU law, control of State aid, infringement procedure (EU), redemption, single market

C 13/126

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

(1999/C 13/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1964/98

by S(cid:246)ren Wibe (PSE) to the Commission

(15 June 1998)

Subject: Commission proposal for new agricultural policy

At Question Time at the May part-session the Commission gave a written answer to a question by me about aid
for maize silage as animal feed. The Commission says that as there are regions in Europe where maize cannot be
cultivated (e.g. Sweden and Finland) they are allocated extra milk quotas.

Are Swedish (and Finnish) farmers fully compensated by increased milk quotas? Exactly how much by way of
increased milk quotas are Swedish (and Finnish) farmers allocated, and has the Commission made any
calculations which show whether they fully compensate for the maize silage aid not paid to either country?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1998)

Both Swedish and Finnish farmers are amongst those who benefit most from the milk quota increase the
Commission is proposing in the Agenda 2000 (1) draft regulation for the milk sector. Including the 1 % increase
for young farmers, which is proposed for all Member States, the Swedish quota is suggested to grow by
77 300 tons or 2,3 % and the Finnish quota by 200 000 tons or 8,4 %. The relatively high expansion of quota in
both Member States is a result of their high share of mountain areas, which for Finland and Sweden is also a
recognition of more difficult agronomic conditions.

Most of the proposed cut in the institutional milk price is compensated by the milk cow premium. A precise
calculation as suggested by the Honourable Member would be difficult. However the Commission is of the
opinion that the possibility to produce more milk will help maintain rural employment and income, and be of
benefit to the Swedish and Finnish economies.

(1) COM(97) 2000 final.

(1999/C 13/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1965/98

by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Notification requirement

Commissioner Van Miert informed the European Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
and Industrial Policy on 26 May 1998 that the Member States were failing to comply with the notification
requirement with growing frequency. It is understood that some Member States have called in this context for the
procedural rules to be so changed that aid would be deemed to have been approved if the Commission did not
detect a failure to comply with the notification requirement within two months.

The Commission is therefore asked:

1.

In which Member States has it detected a frequent failure to comply with the notification requirement?

2. Which Member States have taken the view that, if the Commission does not detect a failure to comply with

the notification requirement within a given period, the matter should be regarded as closed?

3. What measures does the Commission intend to take in this context?