WRITTEN QUESTION E-2944/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Government subsidies for manure processing.
Date: 2000-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, France, State aid, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, intensive livestock farming, organic fertiliser, pollution control measures, pollution from agricultural sources, restriction on competition, swine

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/139

(2001/C 136 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2944/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Government subsidies for manure processing

Manure processing is one way of tackling the problem of nitrate and phosphate pollution caused by
intensive pig-farming (as an alternative to reducing pig stocks).

In France and Denmark, government subsidies are paid to pig producers to enable them to process
manure. This distorts competition with countries where pig-farmers do not receive subsidies for manure
processing.

1.
Is the Commission aware of the government subsidies paid to pig-farmers in Denmark and France for
manure processing? If so, does the Commission consider them to be in accordance with European
competition rules? If not, will
the Danish and French
government subsidies as soon as possible to make it possible to assess whether or not they are causing
distortion of competition in relation to pig-farmers in countries where no subsidies are paid for manure
processing?

the Commission provide information about

2. What measures will the Commission adopt in the light of the answer to Question 1?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2000)

The Commission has no knowledge of any aid granted to pig farmers to process manure in France or
Denmark.

State aids to cover operating costs would normally not be compatible with Articles 87 and 88 (ex Articles
92 and 93) of the EC Treaty. The Commission attaches great importance to investigating allegations that
(illegal) state aids are being paid. However, in order to do so the Commission would need to have more
information about the nature of the aids which are being granted (is the aid granted to farmers or to the
undertaking processing the manure) and about the level at which the aid is administered (national, regional
or local).

The Commission would be grateful
possession.

if the Honourable Member could provide the information in his

(2001/C 136 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2945/00

by Dirk Sterckx (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Supplementary answer to Question E-1021/00 concerning infringement of European legislation by

the German and Belgian trotting federations

In its reply to Question E-1021/00 (1), the Commission stated that it was not aware of the problems I had
mentioned and that it would make inquiries with the competent authorities concerning them. The
Commission said it would reply to me direct about the findings. So far I have not received any further
information from the Commission.

Does the Commission have any further information yet? Has the Commission already received the
necessary information from the Member States? If so,
is European legislation being infringed? If not,
when does the Commission expect to have the information requested and when shall we learn more about
the matter?

(1) OJ C 374 E, 28.12.2000, p. 200.