WRITTEN QUESTION E-3723/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Article 14 Committee.
Date: 2000-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: administration of the Institutions, committee (EU), organic farming, staff

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/13

As regards the risk referred to by the Honourable Member of the competitiveness of EU undertakings
2.
on world markets being fettered as a result of application of the Charter, the Council would refer to Arti-
cle 51 of the Charter. This Article, which defines its scope, stipulates that (cid:145)the provisions of this Charter are
addressed to the institutions and bodies of the Union with due regard for the principle of subsidiarity and
to the Member States only when they are implementing Union law. They shall therefore respect the rights,
observe the principles and promote the application thereof in accordance with their respective powers(cid:146).

3.
As for the need, stated at the Lisbon European Council, to prepare the transition to a competitive,
dynamic and knowledge-based economy, the Council would remind the Honourable Member that the
objective here was to modernise the European social model by investing in people and building an active
welfare state (cid:145)for ensuring that the emergence of this new economy does not compound the existing social
problems of unemployment, social exclusion and poverty(cid:146).

(2001/C 235 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3723/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Article 14 Committee

Will the Commission please indicate the remit of what is known as the Article 14 Committee (set up
under Regulation 2092/91 (1), and dealing with rules for the organic production of agricultural produce
and list its members by name and function?

When and how often does it meet?

(1) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2001)

The Committee set up under Article 14 of 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 is a regulatory-type committee referred to in Article 5 of Council Decision 1999/468/EEC of
28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the
Commission (1). This Committee assists the Commission in preparing measures it is assigned to take under
Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. The Committee(cid:146)s mandate is defined in several provisions in the Regulation
and includes, in particular, advising on implementing arrangements and updating technical annexes to the
Regulation. The Committee also discusses all questions referred by Member States or the Commission
regarding the application of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.

The Committee is made up of representatives from the Member States. These are appointed independently
by each Member State. However, the representative may change according to the matter being discussed at
the meeting. The Committee is chaired by the Commission, who for this purpose is represented by the
Director of Directorate Agro-economic legislation of the Directorate-General for Agriculture.

The names of civil servants from Member States are not annexed to the short minutes that are sent out
after each meeting. The Commission does not intend to change this practice.

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999.