WRITTEN QUESTION E-3476/00 by Mario Mastella (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Reform of the fruit and vegetable sector.
Date: 2000-11-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, agricultural production, fruit, production aid, vegetable

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/133

the Financial services forum circulated the text adopted by the
The Commission representative at
Commission in the morning. In his intervention at the meeting of the Financial services forum early in
the afternoon of 11 October 2000, the chairman of the European federation for retirement provision
based his remarks on earlier drafts of Commission working documents, which were however very similar
to the final text.

(1) COM(2000) 507 final.

(2001/C 163 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3476/00

by Mario Mastella (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 November 2000)

Subject: Reform of the fruit and vegetable sector

In July of this year the Commission submitted a proposal to reform the fruit and vegetable sector that will
entail palpable disadvantages for the sector and Italian products in particular.

The reform proposal is calling for a substantial reduction in the financial resources earmarked for fruit and
vegetable producers and their organisations and especially for operating plans, industrial tomatoes, nuts,
and citrus fruits.

The fruit and vegetable sector accounts for 23 % of the value of Italian farm produce. The expectations are
that the reform should be adopted by the end of the year, a fact which suggests that the need to restore a
financial balance in favour of Mediterranean products has not been taken into consideration.

Will the Commission take steps to avert such a sharp cut in funding for the fruit and vegetable sector?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2000)

The Council of agriculture ministers arrived by qualified majority at a political compromise on the reform
of the fruit and vegetable sector on Tuesday, 21 November 2000. The main points in this agreement are
the simplification of the financial rules for producer organisations, an increase in the ceiling on financial
aid towards operational programmes introduced by producer organisations, higher thresholds for various
Mediterranean products, in particular industrial tomatoes, citrus fruit and peaches, and a rise in aid for
industrial tomatoes.

(2001/C 163 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3479/00

by Ari Vatanen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 October 2000)

Subject: Current system for car taxation and its inconsistency with the internal market and free trade

The Commission is urged to consider the correction of distortions in car taxation as a matter of urgency.
In several Member States, the tax system treats car imports unfairly, especially when the importer is a
private citizen. The taxes levied on imported cars are frequently not based on the real value of the car,
particularly if the car is a used car. The excessively high taxes act as a barrier to intra-EU trade and prevent
the establishment of competitive markets in the European Union. Article 25 of the Treaty establishing the
European Community forbids custom duties on imports and exports between Member States as well as
charges having equivalent effect.