WRITTEN QUESTION E-1269/00 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Proposed new Community regulation on the system for promoting agricultural produce.
Date: 2000-04-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural product, common agricultural policy, sales promotion

C 53 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

In the framework of the LomØ Convention the 8th European development fund (EDF), the National
indicative programmes (NIPs) put emphasis on poverty reduction as an important objective of develop-
ment co-operation.

In many African countries this is reflected in the choice of focal sectors, such as food security, rural
for example specific poverty reduction
island countries,
development, or social sectors.
programmes are often envisaged. Overall amounts allocated to basic social services (health and education)
have dramatically increased.

In small

The newly concluded partnership agreement between the Community and the African, Caribbean and
Pacific states provides an integrated approach to poverty reduction, with support to growth factors on the
one hand, and support to redistribution and social policies on the other. Support to social policies
includes, as a priority, access to all basic social services and to social protection, with greater protection to
the most vulnerable.

(2001/C 53 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1267/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(19 April 2000)

Subject: Structural Funds finance for the Autonomous Community of Valencia

With reference to the criteria established by the Berlin Summit, what amounts from which Structural
Funds are to be allocated to the Valencian Autonomous Community between 2000 and 2006?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 2000)

It is not possible at the moment to estimate precisely the amount of money from the Structural Funds
which the Autonomous Community of Valencia will receive in 2000-2006. Assistance under Objective 1
in Spain is currently being negotiated with the Spanish authorities and furthermore the Commission
cannot prejudge at this stage the amounts which will be allocated to this region under the Interreg, Urban,
Equal and Leader Community Initiatives.

In the case of Objective 1, the Commission sent each Member State a proposed distribution of the
appropriations available among the eligible regions of the country based on the method used by the
Commission to allocate the Objective 1 appropriations among the Member States themselves. The
Commission is sending a copy of the proposal on Spain direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament(cid:146)s
Secretariat.

However, it should be stressed that this is an outline proposal. The final allocation will be decided by
mutual agreement between the Member State and the Commission when the Community Support
Framework is adopted.

(2001/C 53 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1269/00

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

(19 April 2000)

Subject: Proposed new Community regulation on the system for promoting agricultural produce

The Community helps to fund various promotional programmes for some agricultural produce, including
olive oil, apples, citrus fruit or raisins.

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/117

It is planning shortly to put forward a proposal for a regulation to harmonise and simplify the system for
promoting agricultural produce in the Community.

Can the Commission say if there is already a specific date for presenting this proposed regulation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 2000)

No precise date has yet been fixed for the presentation of a proposition for a Council Regulation
concerning the new Community arrangements for the promotion of agricultural products on the internal
market.

The Commission is in the process of drawing up the draft proposal.

(2001/C 53 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1271/00

by Guido Sacconi (PSE) to the Commission

(19 April 2000)

Subject: Action plan for mountain areas

Mountain areas are one of Europe(cid:146)s most priceless assets, in that they contain vital resources such as water
and forests which provide a habitat for rare species and are the home to deep-rooted cultural traditions, as
well as providing a refuge from the stresses and strains of everyday life for many Europeans. Furthermore,
it is important to maintain adequate population levels in those areas so as to help ensure the preservation
of delicate hydrogeological balances that require permanent attention and care.

Therefore, given the wide range of problems facing those areas and the fact that many of the applicant
countries themselves have extensive mountain areas, an EU strategy specifically aimed at assisting the local
population in preserving this environment is of particular importance.

In this connection, on 23 October 1998 the European Parliament adopted a resolution (A4-0368/98) (1) on
a new strategy for mountain regions in which it called on the Commission to submit at the earliest
opportunity a (cid:145)Community action plan(cid:146) for mountain areas and to make greater provision for those areas
under Objective 2 of the Structural Funds.

Given that, two year since that resolution was published, such an action plan has yet to be submitted, can
the Commission state whether the current Objective 2 eligibility criteria really do cater properly for the
specific needs of mountain areas?

Does it consider that the submission of an action plan would help to make Community action in such
areas more effective?

If it does, what is the time frame for implementation? Furthermore, has the Commission taken due account
of the specific problems of mountain areas during the negotiations with the applicant countries?

(1) OJ C 341, 9.11.1998, p. 369.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(31 May 2000)

The Commission has indeed taken into account Parliament(cid:146)s resolution calling on it
Community action plan for mountain areas.

to present a

During the 2000-2006 programming period, a large number of mountain areas will be eligible under
Objective 1 or Objective 2 of the reform of the Structural Funds. As regards Objective 2, the eligibility