WRITTEN QUESTION E-3998/00 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Delays in the development of organic farming in Greece.
Date: 2000-12-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EAGGF, Greece, aid to agriculture, organic farming

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/103

(2001/C 187 E/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3991/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: Swedish ban on alcohol advertising

The Court of Justice is soon to hear a case concerning the Swedish ban on alcohol advertising. According
to Swedish press reports, the Commission considers that the ban should be lifted.

Can the Commission set out the reasons why it wishes to see the Swedish ban on alcohol advertising
lifted?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2001)

Stockholms tingsr(cid:228)tt (Stockholm District Court) has asked the Court of Justice to give a preliminary ruling
on whether Community law on free movement of goods and freedom to provide services allows a national
legislation entailing a ban on advertising alcoholic beverages like the Swedish one. The Commission has
been invited to submit observations and has given its views on the legal implications on the application of
the national legislation. It has not questioned that a ban on advertising alcoholic beverages may be justified
to protect the health of the general public. Concerns have been raised as regards the proportionality of the
application of the legislation, depending on the circumstances in the case. The Commission(cid:146)s observations
are summarised by the Advocate General Mr Jacobs in his Opinion given on 14 December 2000 (case
C-405/98). The Commission has not taken any formal position regarding whether or not the ban should
be lifted. The Court of Justice will finally give a judgement.

(2001/C 187 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3998/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Delays in the development of organic farming in Greece

(21 December 2000)

A memorandum from the organisation for the inspection and certification of organic produce in Greece
claims that the implementation of agro-environmental measures (organic farming), which is 75 % funded
by the European Union, is significantly behind schedule. In particular, while the three-year programme for
1998-2000 provides for the cultivation of 14 000 hectares, only 3 000 hectares had been made available
for organic farming by June 2000.

1. What data does the Commission have concerning the area over which agro-environmental measures
have been implemented to date?

2. What amount of funds were earmarked in the 2nd CSF for aid to organic farming in Greece and what
proportion of those funds has Greece taken up to date?

3.

To what are the delays attributable and what consequences will they have?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 February 2001)

The initial organic farming programme which Greece submitted under Council Regulation (EEC)
No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of

C 187 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside (1) was approved in July 1995
for 6 000 hectares (ha). An amended version of the programme, submitted in 1998 and approved
in January 1999, increased that area by 14 000 ha. Of the 20 000 ha covered by the programme overall,
farmers entered into agri-environmental commitments in respect of organic farming on 9 332 ha up to the
end of 1999.

Of the € 13,7 million total budget for the initial and amended versions of the organic farming programme
during the period 1995-1999, approximately € 7,4 million was paid to recipients by 31 December 1999.
It should be added that the Community appropriations for the programme did not form part of the second
Community support framework, since common agricultural policy (CAP) accompanying measures (cid:129)
including agri-environment measures (cid:129) are part-financed by the Guarantee Section of the European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

In view of the above, the Commission does not consider the delays to the Greek organic farming
programme under Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 to be significant (cid:129) particularly since the amended
version of the programme was not approved until January 1999 and was therefore in effect operative (as
regards entering into agri-environmental commitments) for only one farm year. The three-year programme
to which the Honourable Member refers was, in practice, barely a one-year programme. It should also be
pointed out that the programme is not primarily intended to supply the market with organic products
(which is in fact the certification bodies(cid:146) main concern) but rather to provide an environmental service to
society, the latter being the objective of Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92. The combination of these two
objectives therefore makes the selection of recipients more demanding and rigorous.

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(2001/C 187 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3999/00

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: Heritage and museum railways

Would the Commission agree that throughout the European Union heritage and museum railways play an
important part in preserving our industrial heritage and in providing a service to tourists, young and old.
With this in mind, would the Commission consider giving a blanket derogation to these railways from any
future EU transport regulations or directives, in order that they may authentically preserve Europe(cid:146)s railway
heritage?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2001)

Heritage and museum railways are part of the European industrial and cultural heritage. The Commission
shares the view that this heritage should be preserved and made accessible to the public.

The European legislation, in particular the recent proposals for directives on rail transport (mentioned
below), does not prevent the preservation of historic railways.

The proposal for a Directive of the Parliament and of the Council on the interoperability of the trans-
European conventional rail system (1) only covers new equipment or the upgrading of existing equipment.