WRITTEN QUESTION P-3026/00 by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Situation of olive oil producers in Sicily.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sicily, common agricultural policy, derogation from EU law, oil mill, olive oil, olive-growing

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/161

(2001/C 136 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3025/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Rules implementing adjustments to direct CAP payments

(26 September 2000)

It has been announced that rules are being drawn up on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1259/
99 (1) concerning direct payments to farmers under common agricultural policy support schemes.

Would the Commission therefore provide:

(cid:129) information on the proposals for implementing the arrangements for adjusting the direct payments to
farmers eligible for CAP support schemes, with particular reference to the application of Article 9 of
the above regulation and to the way in which the amounts will be calculated and incorporated into
rural development planning;

(cid:129) information concerning the date on which the rules are likely to be adopted and introduced?

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 113.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 2000)

The Commission is in fact currently preparing the implementing regulation of Council Regulation (EC)
No 1259/1999 of 17 May 1999, establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the
common agricultural policy. Although it is premature at this stage to give a detailed list of the contents,
the Commission would indicate that the principal objectives of this implementing regulation will be to
specify how retentions applied by Member States under Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999
can be used to support rural development measures (in accordance with Article 5 (2) of the above
Regulation, these are exclusively supporting measures such as early retirement, less favoured areas, agri-
environment and afforestation). Under Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999, the implementing
regulation will also define how information relating to its implementation by Member States is to be
communicated to the Commission.

Since methods for calculating the figures to be used have already been set out in detail in Article 4 of
Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999, they need not be repeated with regard to the implementing regulation.

It is the Commission(cid:146)s intention to approve and publish this implementing regulation as quickly as
possible.

(2001/C 136 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3026/00

by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Situation of olive oil producers in Sicily

Article 7(b) of Regulation No 2366/98 (1) provides, with regard to the arrangements for the inspection of
oil mills, that from the 2000/2001 marketing year the facilities must include an automatic system for
weighing olives and recording weights and an electricity meter specifically for the pressing equipment.

Sicilian agriculture, and in particular regional olive-growing, is undergoing a serious crisis as a result of
internal factors such as structural organisation and problems of altitude, and of external factors such as the
constant increase in production costs, which are no longer subject to control and assessment by the
various agricultural market organisations.

C 136 E/162

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

that provision as required would penalise small-scale regional mills (which
The implementation of
characteristically work on a seasonal basis), chiefly because the expenditure on the purchase of the
above-mentioned equipment might not be recuperated in the selling prices laid down for the 2000/2001
marketing year.

Implementation of that provision is likely further to marginalise or even eliminate small regional oil mills.
This runs contrary to the Community programme the intention of which is allegedly to promote the
typical Sicilian extra virgin oils produced precisely by these small oil mills.

In view of these facts, can the Commission provide for a derogation from the application of the provision
referred to above by extending by one year the period within which the requirements laid down therein
must be implemented?

(1) OJ L 293, 31.10.1998, p. 50.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 October 2000)

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention to the reasons for its introduction of
automatic weighing systems as a control tool in mills.

In 1998 both the Council and Parliament clearly intimated that the transitional period of three years
(1998/1999 to 2000/2001) for olive oil needed to see progress in transparency and control in the sector.

It was evident therefore that greater discipline should be imposed in enabling growers to benefit from what
is due to them and continue being supported in the future.

The measures introduced by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2366/98 of 30 October 1998 laying down
detailed rules for application of
for the 1998/1999 to
2000/2001 marketing years, notably on weighing of the olives, are undoubtedly the minimum needed to
guarantee the transparency that the whole olive oil production industry demands.

the system of production aid for olive oil

Moreover, the Court of Auditors in its Special Report No 11/2000 (1) stressed the need to improve controls
in the sector. Analysis of the first results achieved and the experience gained through implementation of
Regulation (EC) No 2366/98 show that these measures must continue. Given the situation the Commission
cannot grant a one-year extension of the time limit for compliance with point (b)
in Article 7 of
Regulation (EC) 2366/98 but must insist that it be strictly respected.

(1) OJ C 215, 23.7.2000.

(2001/C 136 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3029/00

by Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE),
Stefano Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE), Generoso Andria (PPE-DE), Renato Brunetta (PPE-DE),
Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE), Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE),
Guido Podest(cid:224) (PPE-DE), Amalia Sartori (PPE-DE), Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE),
Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE), Giuseppe Nistic(cid:242) (PPE-DE), Luigi Cesaro (PPE-DE),
Marcello Dell(cid:146)Utri (PPE-DE) and Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Price of petroleum

In view of the following facts:

(cid:129) the cost of petroleum supplies has reached high levels and does not look likely to fall significantly;