WRITTEN QUESTION E-1356/00 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Modification of specific aids to the dried fruit and nuts sector.
Date: 2000-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid system, financial aid, nut, producer organisation

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/29

The additional training appropriations will be funded within the current envelope of Title A-7 (decen-
tralised expenditure on support staff and administration). The appropriations requested for Title A-7 in the
2001 preliminary draft budget are set at the same nominal level authorised in the 2000 budget.

At the proposed € 7,5 million level, provision for staff training will still only amount to about 0,05 % of
total employment costs. This contrasts with provision in Member State administrations which is typically
much higher.

As Reform proceeds and detailed proposals for necessary improvements in personnel policy are produced
for consultation later this year it will be relevant to give consideration to increasing provision for training
as an investment in improved efficiency and management. All analysis relating to such possible develop-
ments will naturally be available for parliamentary consideration.

(2001/C 81 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1350/00

by Jean-Louis BerniØ (EDD) to the Council

(3 May 2000)

Subject: The Commission(cid:146)s challenging of the principle of (cid:145)assumption of employment(cid:146) for performing

artists laid down in Article L 762-1 of the French Labour Code

France is threatened with legal proceedings before the European Court of Justice for its refusal to waive the
(cid:145)assumption of employment(cid:146) for foreign artists referred to in Article L 762-1 of the French Labour Code.

Is this measure not excessive, given that to apply this article exclusively to French artists in effect

1.
puts them at a disadvantage in their own country?

In fact, it means that those who employ foreign artists would no longer have to pay social costs but

2.
would have to do so when employing French artists.

3.
This downwards harmonisation will prejudice French performing artists. Is this not tantamount to a
sentence of death for this specifically French provision which offers performing artists one of the highest
standards of social protection in Europe?

Reply

(29 September 2000)

Article 211 of the EC Treaty requires the Commission to ensure that the provisions of the Treaty and the
measures taken by the institutions pursuant thereto are applied. The Council
is therefore unable to
comment on the way in which Community law provisions are implemented by Member States, especially
when such implementation is or shortly will be the subject of proceedings before the Court of Justice of
the European Communities.

(2001/C 81 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1356/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Modification of specific aids to the dried fruit and nuts sector

The Union of Small Farmers and Stockbreeders of MÆlaga province (Spain) has expressed its concern that
the dried fruit and nuts sector could cease to exist in the near future, as a result of the decision to change
the existing system of aids and replace it by a new system proposed by the Commission which could lead
to the disappearance of the sector, which provides a livelihood for 200 000 households. In MÆlaga
province alone, elimination of the aids would affect over 15 000 producers.

C 81 E/30

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

The Union of Small Farmers believes that if the sector is to survive it can only be through the introduction
of specific income support arrangements for dried fruit and nuts producers under the budgets provided for
in the COM in fruit and vegetables. This proposal has already been put forward by the Fruit and Vegetable
Producers(cid:146) Platform.

Can the Commission state what action it intends to take to alleviate these farmers(cid:146) anxieties arising from its
proposals to alter the aid arrangements which have hitherto applied in this sector?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2000)

The specific aid scheme for nuts of Title Ila 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) was set up in 1989 in order to
improve nut productivity and competitiveness. The main element of this scheme was the improvement
plan, through which a producer organisation could benefit from financial support for a maximum of 10
years.

The support scheme has not been modified. The support was always intended to be temporary and
degressive, in order to shift financial responsibility onto the growers.

Additional support for the nut sector 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 of
28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (2) which provides
financial support for all fruit and vegetables marketed through producer organisations.

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

(2001/C 81 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1357/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: European Union arbitration in the controversy over designations of origin for Sherry and Montilla

wines

The marketing strategies for Sherry and Montilla wines in the United Kingdom have led to a confrontation
between the two Spanish designations of origin which will probably have to be settled before the courts.

In the light of this and similar situations, the Community agricultural sector has been wondering whether
such disputes might be settled through arbitration which could be set in motion by means of specific
mechanisms implemented within the framework of the common agricultural policy.

Can the Commission say whether the common agricultural policy (CAP) provides or could provide
arbitration mechanisms which would help to settle disputes between Community farmers, either from the
same country or from different countries, without them having to go before the courts?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

The Commission has no recent information on the confrontation to which the Honourable Member refers
between the Montilla-Moriles and Jerez-Xeres-Sherry designations of origin brought about by their
commercial strategies in the United Kingdom.