WRITTEN QUESTION P-4076/00 by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission. Developing the production of fodder protein in response to the recent ban on the use of meat meal.
Date: 2000-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, aid to agriculture, fodder plant

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/173

situation in which the health of the peoples of Europe is at risk. Despite the major vested interests of the
animal feedingstuff industry, it is still possible to change the composition of the feed of cattle bred in the
European Union.

Will the Council consider subsidising the cultivation of plant varieties to gradually replace the animal
feedingstuffs produced today which are responsible for these problems?

Reply

(12 March 2001)

in the conclusions of its 2 317th meeting (4 December 2000), subject to the financial
The Council,
perspective agreed in Berlin,
(cid:145)notes the statements by the Commission concerning the production of
protein-rich plants and calls upon it speedily to analyse the issue in greater detail and to draw its
consequences for the policy currently being pursued in this sector and for set-aside,
including any
appropriate proposals(cid:146).

The Council will take a decision on these proposals when it receives them.

(2001/C 174 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3886/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE), Minerva Malliori (PSE)
and Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (mad cow disease)

The spread of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (mad cow disease) has put the issue of the quality and composition
of cattle feedingstuffs in the European Union back on the top of the agenda. The gradual shift in the
ingredients of animal feedingstuffs away from plants to animal products has resulted in the present
situation in which the health of the peoples of Europe is at risk. Despite the major vested interests of the
animal feedingstuff industry, it is still possible to change the composition of the feed of cattle bred in the
European Union.

Will the Commission consider subsidising the cultivation of plant varieties to gradually replace the animal
feedingstuffs produced today which are responsible for these problems?

(2001/C 174 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-4076/00

by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Developing the production of fodder protein in response to the recent ban on the use of meat

meal

The ban on the use of animal meal for farm animal fodder will increase the Community(cid:146)s vegetable protein
needs and a response is needed that will not increase dependence on imports or exposure to GMO.

Will the Commission introduce an emergency programme to develop Community production of vegetable
protein based on the following main points:

1. An increase in per hectare payments for protein crops such as peas, horse beans and lupins, which are

not subject to international restrictions, would be of vital importance;

C 174 E/174

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

2. Under the Blair House agreements, the restriction on Community production of oilseeds for food use
to an area of 4 934 000 ha will expire in 2002, when specific aid will disappear to be replaced by
compensatory aid for all arable crops under Agenda 2000. The critical year will therefore be 2001,
when a derogation on grounds of force majeure will have to be negotiated with our partners so as to
increase the surface areas with the existing level of aid.

3. With regard to dried fodder, lucerne is a perfectly healthy source of protein and the MGQ and aid per

tonne for artificially dried fodder can be substantially increased.

4. The Union must find ways of making oilseed crops for bio-fuels more attractive; in addition to its
benefits as regards the greenhouse effect, every tonne of bio-fuel produced also produces two tonnes
of oil meals (sunflower or rape seed).

5. With regard to environmental measures, encouragement should be given for diversifying crop rotation
under a system more accessible than the current agri-environmental measure, so as to curb the trend
towards single-crop cereal farming in some regions.

6.

Finally, the Community must introduce a safety net for European oilseed and protein crop producers,
in the form of a price guarantee similar to that enjoyed by American soya bean producers.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3886/00 and P-4076/00
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2001)

In line with the commitment it made on the occasion of the Agriculture Council of 4 December 2000 on
bovine spongiform encephalopathy and at
the
Commission is investigating in depth the supply and demand situation for oil and protein plants. It will
examine the suggestions of all interested parties.

the Nice European Council,

the express request of

The Commission will notify its conclusions to Parliament and the Council as soon as they are ready. As
requested by the Council and the European Council all figures put forward will be in line with the Berlin
agreements and the Community(cid:146)s international commitments.

(2001/C 174 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3889/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Integrated policy against crime

The Council will be aware that individual criminal organisations are increasingly involved in a variety of
crimes, including drugs trafficking, illegal immigration and fraud affecting the interests of the European
Communities.

Does the Council not take the view that the European Union needs an integrated policy to combat this
trend, rather than one policy to combat fraud against the European Community and another to combat
other serious types of crime?

If so, does the Council not believe that it would be consistent for Eurojust to be created at the same time
as 15 new magistrates(cid:146) posts are created to perform similar functions for OLAF?