WRITTEN QUESTION E-1951/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Submission of citrus fruit restructuring programme under the third CSF for Greece.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural production policy, citrus fruit, operational programme, production improvement

C 81 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

(2001/C 81 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1950/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Accreditation and operation of the EAGGF aid paying agency in Greece

The Court of Auditors(cid:146) 1998 annual report states that the Greek paying agency (Gedidagep) which is
responsible for managing Agricultural Fund aid had failed to meet the accreditation criteria and that
budgetary discipline procedures and adjustments of the annual advances had therefore been initiated. In
1998 the Greek Government set up a new paying and audit agency for EAGGF funds (Opekepe) and an
accounts certification organisation.

1. What progress have the procedures for the accreditation of the new paying agency (Opekepe) and
the accounts certification organisation made so far? When are they due to become operational?

Does the present paying agency (Gedidagep) meet the accreditation criteria? Have fresh budgetary

2.
disciplinary procedures been initiated for 1999?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2000)

1.
The Commission is aware that a new paying agency and certifying body will be introduced in the
future. However, it has no information on exactly when the new organisations will be put in place. Under
Community legislation it is for the Greek authorities to nominate paying agencies and certifying bodies.

The Commission is not fully satisfied with the application of the integrated administrative and

2.
control system, or the application of the accreditation criteria in Greece.

The provisions of budgetary discipline were applied in 1999. This lead to reductions of advances of
DRA 22 900 million (€ 69,5 million) for non-application of the Integrated administrative and control
system and DRA 12 100 million (€ 35,7 million) for non respect of the accreditation criteria.

It should be noted, however, that these reductions in advances might be revised upwards or downwards,
and even cancelled, during the clearance of accounts process.

(2001/C 81 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1951/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Submission of citrus fruit restructuring programme under the third CSF for Greece

According to its answer to a previous written question of mine E-1837/99 (1), in July 1999 the Commision
rejected the programme for improving citrus fruit production submitted by Greece in July 1998. Since this
programme is considered important for the citrus fruit sector in Greece, will the Commission say: does the
third CSF (Operational Programme for Agriculture and regional operational programmes) submitted by
Greece for approval include actions in favour of citrus fruits? If so, how much are they worth and which
regions do they cover?

(1) OJ C 219 E, 1.8.2000, p. 31.

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/117

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

The Commission has been informed by the Greek authorities that schemes to adjust the citrus fruit sector
would be proposed as part of operational programmes for the regions. Negotiations on these programmes
have just started and one of the key issues in this connection is to ask the Greek authorities to clarify their
proposals for appropriate schemes and measures. As a result, the Commission does not at the present time
have precise data on the exact nature of such schemes, or their volumes and geographical locations.

(2001/C 81 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1952/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Cotton areas and quantities of cotton eligible and non-eligible for aid

According to the timetable published on the European Parliament(cid:146)s official Internet website, the debate on
the new cotton regulation seems likely to be held on 4 September 2000, which means that it will not be
possible to implement the new regulation during the 2000-2001 period.

Since the existing cotton regulation does not make any provision for restrictions on cotton-growing areas
or for individual cultivation rights and all areas, and quantities are eligible for aid, provided they are
declared and monitored:

1. What legal provisions form the basis of the decision by the Greek Ministry of Agriculture to determine
the maximum area which each cotton grower is entitled to cultivate and declare and for whose
produce alone he receives aid?

2. Will there be eligible and non-eligible cotton areas or volumes of production during the 2000-2001
period on the basis of the measures taken by Greece, even though no provision is made for such a
measure in the present regulation?

3. What procedures will be used to hand over, and receive aid for, the produce of areas which the Greek
Ministry of Agriculture considers non-eligible, invoking provisions of the new regulation which has
not yet been debated and adopted by the EU institutions, even though this produce is entitled to aid
under the existing regulation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2000)

There is no provision in current Community legislation imposing restrictions on the area that may be put
under cotton.

(2001/C 81 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1953/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Measures to address the problem of the overproduction of peaches in Greece

The peach market in Greece is facing a major crisis this year, since it is expected that over 300 000 tonnes
of the total production of 1,1 million tonnes of peaches and nectarines will remain unsold, which will
have unforeseeable consequences for producers(cid:146) incomes.