WRITTEN QUESTION E-2605/00 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Measures to support the dried fruit sector.
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, financial aid, nut, production aid, rural development

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/131

Is the Council prepared to consider the wish of Parliament and at least 2,2 million citizens for a
4.
proper implementation of protection requirements of the Birds Directive? Would the Council accept a
guideline ensuring Europe-wide and proper implementation of the Birds Directive?

Reply

(20 November 2000)

The Council understands the concern voiced by the Honourable Member and the other signatories of the
petition.

It considers, however, that the approach adopted in Article 7(4) of Directive 79/409 (1), which does not lay
is an appropriate
down single closing and opening dates for the hunting season in the Community,
solution, which takes account of the biological and ecological diversity of the vast area of territory to
which the Directive applies.

The Council would stress that the dates applied in the Member States must, under the terms of the above
Article, comply with the principles of wise use and ecologically balanced control of the species of wild
birds concerned.

Moreover, Article 2 of the Directive stipulates that (cid:145)Member States shall take the requisite measures to
maintain the population of the species referred to in Article 1 at a level which corresponds in particular to
ecological, scientific and cultural requirements, while taking account of economic and recreational
requirements, or to adapt to the population of these species to that level(cid:146).

It is the responsibility of the Commission to ensure that the Directive is properly implemented.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2001/C 113 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2605/00

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Measures to support the dried fruit sector

(1 August 2000)

The general reform of the fruit and vegetable sector (cid:129) which includes almonds, locust beans, hazelnuts,
walnuts and chestnuts in the new common organisation of the market (cid:129) will mean the end of specific
support measures for the sector (improvement plans).

Commissioner Fischler has mentioned the possibility of specific EU intervention in favour of such crops
under the rural development programmes.

Does the Commission approve of EU intervention in favour of dried fruits through the rural development
programmes?

If so, what specific support measures for the dried fruit sector have been laid down in the rural
development programme for Spain in general, and for the Balearics region in particular?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 2000)

Financial support for Community nut production under Title IIa of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72
of 18 May 1972 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1) was discussed at the
Council meeting (agriculture) of 17 July 2000. The Ministers concluded that the Council should ask the
Commission to propose that payments to nut growers be continued under the budget for 2001 for those
programmes that would otherwise expire in 2000.

C 113 E/132

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Furthermore, the Commission will be considering the situation in the nuts sector in connection with the
report it is to present by the end of 2000 on the arrangements for fruit and vegetables.

In principle the Commission has always been in favour of providing Community support for the nuts
sector through rural development programmes, which are drawn up and proposed by the Member States
or, where applicable, by the regions. However, the initial versions of the rural plans for 2000-2006
proposed by Spain and the Balearic Islands make no provision for any specific measures regarding
economic support for nuts.

(1) OJ L 286, 23.12.1972.

(2001/C 113 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2606/00

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: State aid for fishing vessels and the fishing fleet

Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (1) lays down that state aid for the modernisation of fishing vessels was to
be defined for the period beginning on 1 January 2000.

The Member States may also adopt measures to promote investment in port facilities and the processing
and marketing of fisheries products.

What measures and actions have been adopted by Spain for the implementation of Regulation (EC)
No 2792/1999?

What measures and actions have been proposed for the Balearics region in particular?

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Under Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down detailed rules and
arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector on 8 March 2000 Spain
sent the Commission its proposed restructuring programmes for 2000-2006 in both Objective I and non-
Objective I regions. In neither case is the programme broken down by Autonomous Community.

Under Article 87 (ex Article 92) of the EC Treaty Spain has submitted for approval to the Commission its
national-level structural aid scheme for the sector and the aid schemes of certain regions. No scheme has
yet been notified for the Balearic Islands Autonomous Community.

The programmes and structural aid schemes are being examined by the Commission.