WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Threat of extinction for the Sicilian Black pig.
Date: 2000-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF Guarantee Section, aid to agriculture, environmental impact, protected species, swine

C 163 E/138

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

The Commission has never taken a decision to transfer durum wheat production quotas from one
producing Member State to another.

For the record, Council Regulation (EC) No 2309/97 of 17 November 1997 amending Regulation (EEC)
No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (1) changed the specific
rules on durum wheat production by introducing a guaranteed maximum area divided among the various
producing Member States.

As part of a final compromise and in order to ensure budgetary neutrality vis-(cid:224)-vis the Commission
proposal, the Council reduced aid per hectare by 4 % and increased the overall maximum area (divided
among the Member States) to correspond as closely as possible to the current position of durum wheat
production.

There was no connection between that decision and the problems of enlarging the Community to include
Eastern European countries.

Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products
and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs (2) established a legal framework
for organic farming in response to the sector(cid:146)s difficulties and to consumer interest in its products. Organic
production methods soon also became the subject of agri-environmental measures under Council Regula-
tion (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the
requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside (3), which has
since been replaced by Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural
development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and
repealing certain Regulations (4). The measures are aimed at providing support for agricultural production
methods designed to protect the environment and preserve natural areas. Support is granted to farmers
who enter into agri-environmental commitments for a minimum period of five years. Aid is allocated
annually and calculated with reference to loss of income (particularly during the changeover to organic
farming), the additional costs resulting from the commitments, and the need to provide a financial
incentive.

As during the previous programming period, Sicily(cid:146)s agri-environmental measures provide for an initiative
to introduce and sustain organic farming. The crops eligible include cereals and hence durum wheat.

(1) OJ L 321, 22.11.1997.
(2) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991.
(3) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.
(4) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 163 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(10 November 2000)

Subject: Threat of extinction for the Sicilian Black pig

The Sicilian Black, a pig species threatened with extinction, lives in the Nebrodi mountains in Italy. In
addition to the loss of genetic resources, this pig(cid:146)s disappearance would have biological, environmental,
cultural and social repercussions, since over the centuries cultural and social traditions have grown up
around pig-breeding in the Nebrodi mountains and these would die out.

Does the Commission envisage measures to safeguard endangered animal species in the EU? Does it
consider that the structural funds could intervene to support projects aimed at protecting the Sicilian
Black?

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/139

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 2000)

The Sicilian Black is not one of the animal species listed in the Annex to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of
21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1).

The rural development assistance part-financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund (EAGGF) Guidance Section includes agri-environmental measures to support farming methods that
protect the environment and maintain the countryside.

One of the forms assistance may take is support for farmers who undertake to breed farm animals of
endangered local breeds from the regions concerned.

The pig breed (cid:145)nero dei Nebrodi e delle Madonie(cid:146)
development plan for the Sicily region recently submitted to the Commission.

is listed as an endangered species in the rural

Provided this breed is recognised as being an endangered species on the basis of scientific data accepted by
international organisations that are authorities in this field, it will be able to qualify for aid part-financed
by the EAGGF Guarantee Section under the regional rural development plan for Sicily mentioned above.

No specific measure is provided for under the Structural Funds to safeguard the (cid:145)suino nero dei Nebrodi(cid:146).
However, under the farm investment aid measures provided for in the Objective 1 operational programme
for Sicily, approved by Commission Decision C(2000) 2346 of 8 August 2000, the EAGGF Guidance
Section may part-finance investment in pig farms, provided there is no increase in total pig production.
The breed in question might conceivably be included in such a measure.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 163 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3493/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 November 2000)

Subject: Community measures to stop war in the Middle East

Once again a dramatic, bitter and bloody conflict has been going on in the Middle East for several weeks.
Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting battles for which no end is in sight. President Clinton and the
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan are working to safeguard peace in the future and to eliminate the
flashpoints of war, the victims of which include Israelis and, even more, Palestinians.

What practical steps has the European Union taken to assist the work of Clinton and Kofi Annan (apart
from the empty words uttered in Biarritz)?

In the context of the MEDA programme (cid:129) the operation of which seems to be paralysed by unjustified
bureaucratic delays (cid:129) there is scope for structural as well as humanitarian measures. How does the
Commission intend to harness this programme, and the relevant funding, as a force for peace?