WRITTEN QUESTION E-0962/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Hazelnut production in Catalonia.
Date: 2000-03-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catalonia, Spain, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, nut

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Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

(2001/C 46 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0962/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 March 2000)

Subject: Hazelnut production in Catalonia

Catalonia is, in Spanish and EU terms, a major producer of hazelnuts and other nuts. Over 90 % of Spain(cid:146)s
total hazelnut production is concentrated in the region, and in some municipalities this production
accounts for as much 85 % of the cultivated area. Catalan hazelnuts now have to compete with those
from Turkey, the US and the countries of northern Africa (cid:129) all of whose cheap hazelnuts have made large
inroads into the EU import market. Producers have had great difficulty in competing with these imports. In
recent years, the COM in fruits and vegetables has provided for a system of direct aids for hazelnuts
harvested in 1997-1998, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000, with a view to guaranteeing minimum income
is the last one to receive Community aid, and this
levels for producers. The 1999-2000 harvest
income for a large number of rural producers in
circumstance will
Catalonia.

lead to a reduction in potential

Is the Commission aware of the importance of the hazelnut crop for Catalonia?

What measures does the Commission intend to take to guarantee that Catalan hazelnut producers(cid:146) income
levels will be maintained?

Does the Commission intend to ensure that the COM in fruits and vegetables includes provision for
renewing the direct aid to hazelnut production specified in Article 55 of Regulation (EC) 2200/1996 (1) for
1997-1998, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000?

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0955/00 and E-0962/00
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 May 2000)

The majority of the nut area in Catalonia has benefited from financial support for 10 years under the
provisions of Title IIa of Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 of the Council of 18 May 1972 on the common
organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1) in order to improve nut productivity and competi-
tiveness. Community-wide expenditure on nuts in this scheme from 1990 to 1999 was € 725 million.
Further expenditure of over € 250 million for improvement plans still in operation is foreseen until 2006.

Nearly all the hazelnut area in Catalonia has benefited from the specific flat-rate aid for hazelnuts which
was granted for the period 1997-2000 under the provisions of Article 55 of Council Regulation (EC) No
2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (2).

These measures were always intended to be temporary and degressive, in order to allow a shift of financial
responsibility on to the growers.

Since 1997, aid is available for nuts and locust beans, as for all other products in the fruit and vegetable
sector, through the operational fund scheme of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 which provides
financial support for all fruit and vegetables marketed through producer organisations.

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Member States may also include nuts in their rural development plans under conditions of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (3).

(1) OJ L 118, 20.5.1972.
(2) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996.
(3) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 46 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0960/00

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Support for venture capital firms in the EU

(29 March 2000)

Venture capital is the primary means of financing start-up companies and undertakings making new high-
risk but potentially highly profitable investments.

However, EU venture capital firms are lagging well behind those in the US, whose investment levels are
running at almost twice those of their EU counterparts.

What action does the Commission consider it could take to encourage investment by EU venture capital
firms, to allow them substantially to increase their investments in SMUs in the Union to the point where
venture capital investment levels have caught up with those of the US?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2000)

The Commission fully shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concern regarding the under-development of
venture capital in Europe, although the situation is beginning to improve. In order to improve the current
situation and ensure that fast growing companies can find appropriate risk capital, the Commission is
committed to accelerate the implementation of the risk capital action plan (1). To achieve this goal strong
co-operation from the Member States and the private sector is needed. The European Investment bank
(EIB) and the European Investment fund (EIF) also have significant roles to play. The Lisbon European
Council stressed the need to remove all the barriers outlined in the risk capital action plan by 2003 (cid:129) a
clear signal of the political importance now attached to this matter.

The Commission(cid:146)s communication on risk capital (2) was adopted in April 1998. The risk capital action
plan attached to the communication was broadly endorsed by the Cardiff European Summit (June 1998)
and the Parliament. The action plan lists six sets of barriers to be removed in the Community namely
market fragmentation, regulatory barriers, tax barriers, a paucity of good projects, human resources
shortages, and cultural barriers.

A first analysis of the implementation of the risk capital action plan was made by the Commission
in October 1999. To speed up the implementation of the risk capital action plan, the Commission
highlighted in this communication some key regulatory measures to be taken in 2000, as well as some
examples of good practices to encourage reforms in all Member States. The Commission will also regularly
monitor and benchmark the implementation of the risk capital action plan. It should also be noted that the
Commission(cid:146)s E-Europe action plan (November 1999) proposed, as one of
tripling the
availability of early stage finance by 2003. The final E-Europe action plan will be presented for
endorsement to the European Council in Feira in June 2000.

its targets,

(1) COM(1999) 493 final.
(2) OJ C 175, 21.6.1999.