WRITTEN QUESTION E-1888/00 by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission. Agriculture in the most remote regions.
Date: 2000-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common agricultural policy, peripheral region

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/31

The provisional version of the Council press release mentions political, economic and social factors.

Does the Commission not take the view that (cid:129) in addition to the factors quite rightly listed by the Council
(cid:129) an accurate assessment of the terrible conflicts which are tearing Africa apart should also take cultural
factors into account?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2000)

The Commission does not consider that the General Affairs Council (GAC) conclusions on conflicts in
Africa (22/23 May 2000) restrict the factors to be taken into account by the international community in
establishing a (cid:145)realistic, integrated and coherent approach(cid:146) to these conflicts. The Commission considers
that all the factors, including cultural, that are at the root of conflicts need to be considered in shaping a
response to these conflicts. It is only on the basis of a thorough understanding of the societies in which
conflicts take place and of the motivations of all those involved, that viable policies can be established. The
Commission entertains no illusions about the magnitude of this task.

The Commission recalls that amongst the measures considered to merit particular attention in the
conclusions adopted by the Development Council on 28 November 1998, on the role of development
co-operation in strengtening peace building, conflict prevention and resolution, were (cid:145)measures in support
of balancing political, social, economic and cultural opportunities among different identity groups within
developing countries(cid:146).

Unequal opportunities and distrust amongst identity groups are generally recognised as root causes of
conflicts. Exclusion of identity groups and manipulation of distrust, which in some cases takes the form of
the promotion of ethnic hatred, are radical strategies which elicit radical and often violent responses.

(2001/C 103 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1888/00

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Agriculture in the most remote regions

(9 June 2000)

The most remote regions are facing an increasingly competitive international situation. In the COM area
alone, their agricultural products such as rice, bananas and sugar face strong competition from neighbour-
ing ACP countries. The ACP countries have much lower social costs than do the most remote regions and
they also nave preferential access to the Community market.

In its report on Article 299(2) of the Amsterdam Treaty, the Commission demonstrates an awareness of
the problem, stating that the circumstances call for vigilance and increased monitoring, and also that the
frontier situation may be an advantage if it is exploited.

What specific measures does the Commission intend to take to protect the agriculture sector of the most
remote regions in this international context, and how does it intend to exploit their potential as active
frontiers of the Union?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2000)

The outermost regions and their products are given special treatment within the framework of the
common market organisations in rice, sugar and bananas, with additional support under the specific
programmes to deal with their remoteness and island status (Poseican, Poseima, Poseidom); the latter are
designed to modify and supplement the operation of the common agricultural policy in these regions.

C 103 E/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

In line with the Commission(cid:146)s own report, adopted on 14 March 2000 (1), on the implementation of the
new Article in the EC Treaty concerning the outermost regions (formerly Article 227, now Article 299(2)),
the Commission has proposed that the evolution of the international context should be carefully studied
and more closely monitored. In this context, the agricultural strands of the three (cid:145)specific programmes(cid:146) are
to be reviewed in autumn 2000.

Before introducing any new Community legislation, the Commission will determine whether there are any
aspects concerning the most remote regions which need to be born in mind. Indeed, all Community
policies should be devised with an eye to their possible impact, direct and indirect, positive and negative,
on these regions. The Commission will be giving this matter all due attention.

Possible future activities of the Community in this field will therefore pursue two main approaches. In
terms of regional cooperation, the aim should be to continue encouraging cooperation between the
outermost regions on the one hand and the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP
countries), the overseas countries and territories (OCT) and further partners, on the other. The Commission
is currently preparing to launch a study on the impact on the most remote regions of the new ACP/
Community partnership agreement. The results of this study should be available around mid-2001. The
Commission will of course give these results careful consideration.

(1) COM(2000) 147 final.

(2001/C 103 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1897/00

by Ingo Friedrich (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Distribution of printed matter by the Commission(cid:146)s Directorate-General for Regional Policy

The Commission(cid:146)s Directorate-General for Regional Policy distributes posters documenting the develop-
ment of projects jointly financed by the European Regional Development Fund from 1989 to 1999.

1.

How many of these posters are printed for Germany and for the other Member States?

2. What is the total cost of producing the posters for Germany and the EU as a whole?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

1.
The posters mentioned by the Honourable Member have been produced using images from the
Commission(cid:146)s stock of photographs on regional development projects. Germany is the third country to be
covered after Spain and Portugal. For Germany, 6000 posters were produced of which some 4360 were
sent to local authorities, Commission offices and administrations responsible for managing structural
funds. For Portugal 4000 posters were printed and for Spain 5000. Most have now been distributed in the
Member States concerned.

The Commission considers this a cost-effective means of informing citizens of the range of activities co-
financed by the Community. Many administrations have requested further copies for use for example in
schools.

2.
The cost of design, artwork and printing for the posters distributed in Germany was € 8 043
i.e. € 1,3 per unit. The cost per unit of producing the Spanish and Portuguese posters was very similar. It
is intended to produce posters coinciding with the Presidencies of France and Sweden at a comparable
cost.