WRITTEN QUESTION P-3111/00 by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission proposal for an egg classification system.
Date: 2000-09-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common organisation of markets, egg, marketing standard

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/65

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2000)

The essential aim of the project was to involve the national authorities in developing a working method
and management policy to guarantee the maintenance and durability of the works, on the obvious
assumption that improvement and repair works would still be needed and would continue well beyond
the lifetime of the project. Since it was necessary, among other things, to protect large areas of the banks
of a river the morphology of which was constantly changing, the general objectives of the project included
a dynamic approach, based on observation and study of the development of the watercourse following the
various operations carried out, in order to draw the necessary conclusions for improving future operations.

This is the basis on which the national administration was prepared for taking over the project and
carrying out with its own means and capacities the successive adjustments which would be needed.

The financing agreement has to have a longer period of validity than the project and attendant contracts in
order to allow the administrative conclusion of the project before the agreement expires. The Community
funding provided for protecting the town of Montero has formed the subject of two financing agreements,
signed in April 1993 (emergency works) and July 1993 (protection of the town of Montero). The project
was due for completion in six years. The technical assistance contract was extended by a rider for a further
six months up to 30 September of this year.

(2001/C 151 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3111/00

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 September 2000)

Subject: Commission proposal for an egg classification system

At the beginning of September, the Commission submitted a proposal for compulsory indication of the
farming method on eggs as of 1 January 2001. This proposal radically alters the existing classification
system for eggs. The preparation time seems rather brief if the new system is to enter into force on
1 January 2001. The first question, therefore,
is: when does the Commission intend to consult the
European Parliament about the proposal?

It is very important that such a radical change in the classification system should have the support of
operators in the industry. The second question is: has the Commission consulted the industry while
drafting the proposal, and if so, how and with what outcome?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2000)

The proposal (1) for amending Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 on certain marketing standards for eggs (2)
would introduce compulsory labelling for all methods of egg production, not only for battery-laid eggs.

The common organisation of the market in eggs stipulates that marketing standards are to be adopted by
the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission (Article 2(2) of Regulation
(EEC) No 2771/75) (3), but does not refer to Parliament being consulted. Parliament was nevertheless
informed of the proposal.

The Commission informed the public of
its intention to introduce compulsory production-method
labelling in its March 1998 communication to the Council on the protection of laying hens (4). While the
majority of producers and consumers are prepared to accept the principle of compulsory labelling, at an

C 151 E/66

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

initial meeting of experts in March 1999 producers(cid:146) representatives nevertheless expressed reservations
about the technical details. The October and November 2000 meetings of the Advisory Committee(cid:146)s
standing and ad hoc groups are due to continue discussing the technical details, which would have to be
stipulated in a Commission Regulation in accordance with the management committee procedure.

(1) COM(2000) 522 final.
(2) OJ L 173, 6.7.1990.
(3) OJ L 282, 1.11.1975.
(4) COM(98) 135 final.

(2001/C 151 E/078)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3112/00

by Evelyne Gebhardt (PSE) to the Commission

(27 September 2000)

Subject: Disbursement of grants authorised under the Socrates Comenius programme

Schools in Baden-W(cid:252)rttemberg taking part in the Socrates Comenius programme have been waiting in
vain for disbursement of authorised grants by the Commission.

How does the Commission account for the delay in payment of grants under the Socrates Comenius
programme?

Are these isolated cases, or is there a general problem with implementation of the Socrates Comenius
programme?

When does the Commission intend to pay the outstanding sums?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The delays in the payment of advances for decentralised actions under the Socrates programme are
exceptional and are due essentially to the fact that 2000 is the first year in the implementation of the new
programme (the decision establishing the second phase of Socrates has only been adopted during the first
semester of 2000).

As a result, several measures had to be taken by the Commission and the Member States. There were
delays in the setting up of the national agencies by some Member States, as well as in the completion of
the national work programmes and their operational budgets.

With the new programme, the Commission wanted to reinforce the management of decentralised funds,
with a view to improving their management. In this context, a new standardised form of operating
agreement with the national agencies had to be devised. All measures are being taken in order to ensure
the payments for decentralised actions are made as soon as possible.

As for the situation of schools in Germany, the work programme put forward by the P(cid:228)dagogischer
Austauschdienst (PAD) (the national agency nominated in Germany to handle Comenius grants to schools
under the Socrates programme) has been agreed by the Commission. A contract to enable payments for
the decentralised actions has been sent for signature to the PAD.

However, the Commission has now been informed by the German authorities that the distribution of work
as between the PAD and the other agency involved in grants to schools (the Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft)
cannot go ahead as was originally foreseen. This implies that the contract with the PAD as originally
drawn up is no longer appropriate, and it will have to be returned to the Commission for the cancellation
and re-commitment to the Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft of some of the credits involved.

This process will add a few weeks to the date before the contract can be signed with the PAD and the first
payment reaches them. Even so, credits should be available to them before mid-November 2000. It will
then be up to the PAD to process the funds as quickly as possible.