WRITTEN QUESTION E-0631/00 by María Ayuso González (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Consequences of abolishing export refunds for certain sectors of agriculture.
Date: 2000-03-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European undertaking, economic consequence, export refund, social impact

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/21

(2001/C 46 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0630/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Companies in receipt of export refunds

(3 March 2000)

Export refunds have played an important role in stimulating agricultural exports and have been applied
for, and paid to, EU exporting companies, most of which are involved in processing and marketing.

Would the Commission state which companies have received export refunds exceeding 100 000 euros/ecus
per year and provide the following information: (a) the total amount received for each of the years from
1986 to 1999; (b) the country to which the companies belong or to which the amount was assigned; (c)
the crops or products exported; (d) whether the companies involved are engaged solely in marketing
(processing and/or export) or also in production (agricultural or livestock)?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2000)

including export refunds,

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that much of the work is delegated to the
Member States(cid:146) paying agencies, under the statutory provisions governing the treatment of Community
agricultural aid,
in the Community budget, and in particular the Guarantee
Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (Council Regulation (EC) No
1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (1) and Commission
Regulation (EC) No 296/96 of 16 February 1996 (2) on data to be transmitted by the Member States and
the monthly booking of expenditure financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), and laying down certain detailed rules of application for Council
Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes
under the common agricultural policy (3)). Consequently, as applications for aid are managed by these
paying agencies (approved by the Member States in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No
1663/95 of 7 July 1995 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No
729/70 regarding the procedure for the clearance of the accounts of the EAGGF Guarantee Section (4)),
they have all the data concerning the recipients.

The Commission does not possess the information requested by the Honourable Member. For purposes of
control, the Member States notify the Commission of the accounting data specified in the Regulation; it
would be possible to process those data to reveal the identity of aid recipients, but Community provisions
on personal data protection, which are binding on Community institutions by virtue of Article 286 (ex-
article 213b) of the EC Treaty, would prevent the Commission from divulging this information.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 39, 17.2.1996.
(3) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
(4) OJ L 158, 8.7.1995.

(2001/C 46 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0631/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 March 2000)

Subject: Consequences of abolishing export refunds for certain sectors of agriculture

Does the Commission consider that abolishing export refunds (originally introduced to provide an outlet
for excess production by farmers and stockbreeders) will directly affect producers (farmers and stock-

C 46 E/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

breeders)? What will be the implications for some sectors of agriculture whose principal customers are in
the export and processing sector, in view of the problem of continuity which may arise, particularly in
undertakings which depend on certain products? Are there any studies or reports on this subject?

(2001/C 46 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0633/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 March 2000)

Subject: The social and economic effects which the progressive withdrawal of export refunds would have

on the processing and export sector

In view of the World Trade Organisation(cid:146)s move towards having export refunds reduced or withdrawn,
and in view of the many marketing and export companies which receive export refunds and which are
involved in pre-export production or processing operations, has the Commission given any consideration
to the social and economic effects which the gradual withdrawal of export refunds (which, in the case of
many products, have become essential or crucial to the feasibility of export sales and even to the survival
of companies) would have on the processing and export sector? Can it provide any studies or reports on
the subject?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0631/00 and E-0633/00
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2000)

The negotiation approach for agriculture outlined in the communication from the Commission to the
Council and to the Parliament on the EU approach to the Millennium Round (1) is still relevant. In this
communication it was stated that the decisions adopted regarding the reform of the common agricultural
policy (CAP) within the framework of Agenda 2000 would constitute essential elements in defining the
Commission(cid:146)s negotiating mandate for the future multilateral negotiations at the World Trade Organisa-
tion.

This communication does not refer to elimination of export subsidies. It should, however, be recalled that
the decisions taken regarding reform of the CAP would diminish the need for export subsidies, since
market price support is reduced and support to the farmers is granted to a larger degree as direct
payments. As a consequence of such reform measures, agricultural basic products will remain available for
the processing industry at lower prices than at present, and the need for export subsidies for processed
product will also be reduced. In addition, the Commission is considering modernisation of the inward
processing regime with a view to improving transparency and predictability in the administration of the
regime. The Commission is not aware of studies or reports as mentioned by the Honourable Member.

(1) COM(1999) 331 final.

(2001/C 46 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0638/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(28 February 2000)

Subject: Aid for farmers

Does the Commission intend to involve Parliament in the process of granting direct aids to producers and
agricultural export subsidies for the period 2000 to 2006? The agricultural sector is continually penalised