WRITTEN QUESTION E-1639/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Community aid for restructuring the agricultural and cattle farming sectors.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, operational programme

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/19

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2000)

Two estimates are currently available for Greece: the first states that deliveries in 1999/2000 will be 16 %
below the quota, the second that they will be 5 % above. While both estimates come from the Ministry of
Agriculture, the information available suggests that the first does not take into account small dairies.
Although the second is therefore more likely, it must also be treated with caution given the answer to the
third part of the question (see below).

Since the Commission does not have information on the regional breakdown of deliveries, it does not
know the details for Northern Ireland.

According to the Member States, actual production can be estimated quite soon after 31 March (the end of
the milk year). However, that estimate does not establish accurately to what extent the quota may have
been exceeded or the amount of the resulting levy. Deliveries have, firstly, to be corrected according to
actual fat content and, secondly, adjusted following the temporary transfer of quotas, reallocation of
unused quotas, etc. Since reallocation is often done in several stages, the final position is not known until
long after 31 March. That is why the dates set for purchasers to submit their statements to the relevant
authorities and for Member States to notify the final figures are 15 May and 31 August respectively. Since
almost all the Member States supply their figures after 20 August, there would be no practical benefit in
passing on those figures as they are received.

(2001/C 103 E/019)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1639/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Community aid for restructuring the agricultural and cattle farming sectors

The need to improve agricultural infrastructures in various parts of Galicia (an Objective 1 region) and in
particular in those mainly engaged in cattle farming has led to the development of ambitious plans for
restructuring a number of cooperatives in various neighbouring municipalities.
In this connection,
problems arise which are specific to sectors which are of particularly importance to these regions, such
as the dairy sector.

Can the Commission indicate which aid programmes would be the most suitable for such an initiative
attempting to restructure human resources engaged in a given activity, thus allowing the resulting holdings
to be made viable and at the same time provide an alternative to those surplus to requirements in the said
sector of activity?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 2000)

The new Community support framework for Spain(cid:146)s Objective 1 regions is at present under discussion
between the various administrations. Given the advanced state of the negotiations the overall plan of
action and at regional level the programme outlines are already apparent.

It has already been decided that the regional programmes will be integrated, i.e. each will involve all Funds.
The Commission has a first version of the regional programmes sent on 28 April 2000. These are
accordingly still at the early vetting stage.

However, as regards the EAGGF Guidance Section a picture can already be sketched of the priorities for
action foci. These will be restricted to four of the CSF priorities: Priority 1: improving competitiveness and
production structures; Priority 3: environment and water resources; Priority 7: agriculture and rural
development; Priority 9: technical assistance.

C 103 E/20

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

The strategy of the first version presented to the Commission for Galicia embraces a whole set of
subpriorities. The following may be mentioned: more thoroughgoing structural
improvements of the
central core formed by dairy and beef cattle farming and its downstream added value chain (milk and beef
industries); support
for diversification in agriculture; development action for the various products
associated with Galicia (veal, wines and fine spirits, potatoes, etc.); more vigorous development of
complementary rural activities (unusual forms of tourism, high identity local products etc.); furtherance
of an authentic forestry sector; reduction of residue levels, improvement of agricultural treatment systems
and forest fire prevention.

These strategic rural development activities part-financed by EAGGF Guidance will be implemented along
with others in the forthcoming regional programme for Galicia.

(2001/C 103 E/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1672/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Payment of contractors and suppliers

Further to Ms Schreyer(cid:146)s answer to my Written Question No E-0505/00 (1), will the Commission indicate
the total amount of money paid out in 1999 to which the proportion paid within the 60-day period
refers?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 10.

Supplementary answer
given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2000)

The Honourable Member is informed that an analysis of the time taken for payments included in the
statistics puts the amount of payments made within 60 days or under during the 1999 financial year at
€ 39 238 million.

(2001/C 103 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1703/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Supervisory bodies for organic food

It was a severe setback to Gr(cid:246)na Konsum in Sweden when the EU introduced its regulation making all
production of organic food imported into the EU from third countries subject to an EU-approved
supervisory body. For non-Member States the situation is difficult as their own supervisory authorities
are not approved and organic products from those countries cannot therefore be marketed in the EU as
organic food. Of Gr(cid:246)na Konsum(cid:146)s 150 organic products in the summer of 1999, only eight were produced
in countries with approved supervisory bodies. The EU(cid:146)s procedures for approving supervisory bodies in
non-EU countries are considered to be either too expensive or very bureaucratic. There is now a risk that
organic food will become expensive or disappear from shop shelves. Does the Commission not consider
that there is justifiable cause for concern in this situation? Has the EU granted the international umbrella
organisation IFOAM the right to approve supervisory bodies for organic food?