WRITTEN QUESTION P-0282/00 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Crisis in the olive oil market: proposal to set up a Community olive oil databank.
Date: 2000-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU production, Italy, border control, database, food inspection, import (EU), marketing standard, olive oil, product quality, third country

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/115

However, at its fourth seminar on regional information at the service of regional policy in Europe, which
was held in Rennes in January 1998, Eurostat(cid:146)s advisory committee on social and economic matters
concluded that the validity of figures for GDP and for regional disparities depends on whether euros or
PPPs are used, especially in view of the fact that national PPP rates are employed despite the major
differences which exist between regions within the same Member State.

As regards the use of PPPs for the purposes of Community rules, does the Commission not consider the
opinion of Eurostat(cid:146)s advisory committee to be more important than the fact that the PPP indicator is used
by other international institutions for completely different purposes and with completely different results?

(1) OJ C 219 E, 1.8.2000, p. 124.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2000)

Following its fourth seminar on (cid:145)Regional information serving regional policy in Europe(cid:146), held at Rennes
in January 1998, the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social
Spheres (CEIES) drew the following conclusion: (cid:145)The significance of GDP and regional disparities depend to
some extent on whether measurements are in ecus or PPS, especially since national PPS rates are used
despite major differences between regions within a given Member State(cid:146).

Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on
the Structural Funds (1) stipulates that (cid:145)The regions covered by Objective 1 shall be regions corresponding
to level II of the Nomenclature of Territorial Statistical Units (NUTS level II) whose per capita GDP,
measured in purchasing power parities and calculated on the basis of Community figures for the last three
years available on 26 March 1999, is less than 75 % of the Community average(cid:146).

A presentation given during the seminar concluded that:
(cid:145)It seems that the criterion proposed for the
designation of Objective 1 regions in Agenda 2000 (cid:129) NUTS II GDP per head in PPS (cid:129) is mostly justified
by convenience. GDP is used because it is published and available. PPS are used because, historically, they
were more stable than exchange rates (cid:133) An important question is whether other single criteria are more
convincing. In practice, this seems unlikely(cid:146).

The Commission does not currently calculate regional purchasing power parities, but is studying the
feasibility of doing so.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2000/C 330 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0282/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(3 February 2000)

Subject: Crisis in the olive oil market: proposal to set up a Community olive oil databank

In response to the serious crisis in the olive oil market (a crisis which is due to continue during the
1999/2000 marketing year), Italy has carried out investigations at the frontiers across which large amounts
of oil from EU and non-EU countries are imported.

Most oil for human consumption which is imported into Italy comes from outside the Community (cid:129)
sometimes by means of triangular arrangements involving Spanish and Greek operators which are not
always transparent.

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In North African countries the cost of producing oil of various types is extremely low.

The checks carried out in Italy on imported oils have been inadequate. One of the things they have
revealed are analytical values which, strangely, are always a little lower than those laid down in Annex 1 to
Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 (1).

It is, therefore, reasonable to suggest that most of the oils imported into Italy are not pure but could be the
result of mixing oils from North Africa with oils produced in Spain and Greece, so as to ensure that the
analytical parameters laid down by law are met.

It is therefore impossible at present to establish with analytical certainty the precise geographical origin of
oils imported into and marketed in Italy.

Such problems have caused (and will continue to cause) serious disruption to the market.

Having regard to Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC (2) of 22 September 1966, as last amended by
Regulation (EEC) No 1638/98 (3) and in particular Article 35a thereof.

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2815/98 (4) of 22 December 1998 on olive oil
marketing rules.

It has been scientifically proved (in the same way as occurred some time ago in the case of the wine-
growing sector)
the chemical and analytical characteristics of olive oil vary according to the
geographical area in which it is produced.

that

The only accurate way of determining the precise geographical origin of an oil is to set up a Community
databank similar to the one which was set up in the wine-growing sector by means of Regulation (EEC)
No 2348/91 (5).

In view of the above facts, what decisions are to be taken as regards the setting up of a Community olive
oil databank as a sole analytical instrument capable of tackling the serious problem described above?

(1) OJ L 248, 5.9.1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ 172, 30.9.1966, p. 3025.
(3) OJ L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 32.
(4) OJ L 349, 24.12.1998, p. 56.
(5) OJ L 214, 2.8.1991, p. 39.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 February 2000)

There is in fact no crisis on the olive oil market, particularly in Italy, where the 1999/2000 crop is
particularly heavy and end-January 2000 prices are more than 130 % of the triggering threshold for private
storage.

For the Community as a whole, sales forecasts for the crop indicate a fall in stocks in 1999/2000 and thus
sustained demand. The sharp fall in prices in December 1999 appears to correspond to disposal of stocks
accumulated speculatively but was followed at the beginning of January by a sharp rise in the market from
which oil from the new crop has benefited.

The less than 50 000 tonnes of olive oil imported annually is too little to disturb a Community market
based on estimated 1999/2000 production of 1 600 000 tonnes.

Mixtures of olive oil and seed oil, Community or not, fraudulently sold as olive oil are detected by the
analytical methods given in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 of 11 July 1991 on the
characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis. Research to
improve these methods is in progress.

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Blends of olive oil of various origins are not prohibited and are even indispensable where the oils of
certain regions are concerned if consumers are to have the qualities of oil they want to buy. This is an
important difference from the wine sector.

Research continues at Community level on a databank for olive oil as mentioned by the Honourable
Member and the Commission is closely monitoring progress. But the geographical characteristics of olive
oils emerge as statistical averages and absolute proof of origin for a particular lot is rarely possible. The
situation is much more complex again in the case of the inevitable blends of olive oils from different
varieties, soil types or geographical origins.

The Commission therefore considers that at the moment a Community olive oil databank for fraud-
fighting purposes is not a priority.

(2000/C 330 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0287/00

by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 February 2000)

Subject: EU number plates in Switzerland

In point 3 of his reply to my question E-4110/98 (1) Commissioner Kinnock states that the Commission
has asked the Swiss authorities to recognise the distinguishing sign. (cid:145)Member States will be informed as
soon as the Commission gets a reply from the Swiss authorities(cid:146). In the meantime I have learned through
informal channels that about a year ago the Swiss authorities sent a letter to their police and customs
services explaining that cars with EU number plates no longer require a separate country sticker.

1.

2.

Is the Commission aware of this letter, and does this constitute the recognition referred to in point 3?

Have the Member States been informed of this recognition?

(1) OJ C 325, 12.11.1999, p. 56.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

In their letter of 11 February 1999 the Swiss authorities informed the Commission that they were
1.
prepared to recognise the distinctive nationality marks issued by the state of registration of motor vehicles
and their trailers in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 on the
recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor
vehicles and their trailers are registered (1).

The Member States were informed of that recognition by means of a letter to the offices of their

2.
permanent representatives dated 9 March 1999.

(1) OJ L 299, 10.11.1998.

(2000/C 330 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0290/00

by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Council

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Phare programme for Croatia

In view of the positive outcome of the elections in Croatia on 3 January 2000, will the Council reconsider
the suspension of the Phare programme for Croatia?