WRITTEN QUESTION E-2112/00 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission. Application of Article 87 of the EC Treaty to aid granted to the Spanish electricity industry.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, control of State aid, electrical industry, single market

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/65

(2001/C 103 E/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2111/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Rodr(cid:237)guez Ramos (PSE) and Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Medlar growing: situation compared with other varieties covered by the fruit and vegetable COM

Medlar prices are continuing to fall from one marketing year to the next, since medlars come on to the
market at the same time as other fruits covered by Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 on the common
organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1). The latter fruits benefit from the arrangements laid
down in the COM, whereas medlars are less adaptable to a market as competitive as the market in early
fruit, bearing in mind that as far as products such as apricots are concerned, the use of biotechnological
methods enables the season to start earlier.

Is the Commission aware of the difficulties caused to medlar producers by the fact that medlars are
omitted from Article 1 of the above-mentioned Regulation under the current COM? Will it remedy this
practical defect and include specific measures to promote the medlar in its projected reform of the fruit
and vegetable COM?

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

Most of the medlars marketed for table consumption are the fruit of the Japanese medlar tree (Eriobotrya
japonica Thub) and they fall within heading 0810 90 85 of the combined nomenclature ((cid:145)Other fruit(cid:146)).
They are therefore covered by Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on
the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1). As medlars thus qualify for the common
market arrangements in the fruit and vegetables sector, the Commission does not intend to adopt specific
measures for them.

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996.

(2001/C 103 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2112/00

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Application of Article 87 of the EC Treaty to aid granted to the Spanish electricity industry

In its report on the merger of Uni(cid:243)n Fenosa and HidrocantÆbrico, in which it gauges the impact of the
operation on CTCs (costs of transition to competition), the Spanish National Energy Commission refers to
the complete uncertainty regarding the safeguard clause laid down in the new Sixth Transitional Provision
of the Electricity Industry Act 54/97 (CTC system), since it allows CTCs to be securitised.

Does the Commission share the anxiety of the Spanish regulatory body?

Does it not consider that the Spanish provisions need to be amended in order to ensure that securitisation
does not prevent market variables from coming into play in the manner called for under the method
endorsed by the Commission in June 1999?

Does the Commission believe that it is permissible under Article 87 of the Treaty to grant PTA 1 billion as
State aid for continued operation when there is no legal arrangement to ensure that a genuine transition to
competition takes place after securitisation?

C 103 E/66

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that, to date, there have been no cases of
securitisation (the ability to transfer to third parties the right to receive compensation for transition-to-
competition costs). Without wishing to comment on the report of the Comisi(cid:243)n Nacional de la Energia,
which was produced in a different context, it recognises that, in the event of securitisation, steps will have
to be taken to set up real and effective monitoring of the transition to competition.

The Commission does not at present rule out the possibility that Spanish legislation may have to be
amended or supplemented.

It is unable to determine at this stage whether the measures in question constitute operating aid. The
mechanism to which the Honourable Member refers could be achieved by amending statutory provisions,
introducing secondary national legislation, unilateral undertakings given by the Member State, or imposed
by final decision of the Commission.

(2001/C 103 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2124/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: CAP funding statistics

Taking into account:

(cid:129) the period from 1994 to 1999 and the amounts earmarked in the budget for the common agricultural

policy under the EAGGF Guarantee and Guidance Sections;

(cid:129) the 1992 reform of the CAP, which prompted the Commission to state that CAP aid was highly

concentrated, to the extent that 20 % of farmers were receiving 80 % of the aid;

(cid:129) the most recent reports on cohesion,

in which the Commission has used the expression (cid:145)net

contributor(cid:146) for the purposes of the CAP, specifically with reference to Portugal;

Could the Commission indicate:

1.

2.

3.

the combined aggregate amounts of expenditure under the EAGGF Guarantee and Guidance Sections
actually implemented in the period from 1994 to 1999, also broken down by product and Member
State;

the degree of concentration of the aid currently provided at European level, specifying the percentages
of aid granted to the 5 % of farmers who receive most support in each individual Member State;

the final balance for each Member State for every year from 1994 to 1999, showing the contributions
paid and amounts received under the CAP?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

Expenditure booked to the European Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guarantee Section is
1.
set out in Tables 1-6 by Chapter and Member State and the commitment appropriations for the EAGGF
Guidance Section, broken down by year and Member State, are set out in Tables 7-14; all of which are
being sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the EAGGF financial reports for further information.