WRITTEN QUESTION E-4092/00 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Lack of EU funding for the solar energy programme in Andalusia (Spain).
Date: 2001-01-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, fund (EU), operational programme, solar collector, solar energy

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/131

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2001)

At present there are many ongoing initiatives which aim at improving trade relations between the

1.
two economic blocs.

2.
Firstly, the European Commission works closely with the Mercosur EU Business Forum (MEBF),
which is an association of business representatives and associations from both regions that wishes to
enhance commercial relations between the EU and Mercosur and facilitate trade and investment flows. The
MEBF has been able to establish itself as the main representative of the business communities of the EU
and Mercosur and the European Commission has continued to support the MEBF initiative from its
inception in 1998. The recent EU-Latin America/Caribbean business summit in Madrid declared its support
for the MEBF(cid:146)s activities and specifically invited the MEBF to participate in a prominent way in the summit
meeting. Thus, within the business community there already exists a forum aimed at improving trade
relations between the EU and Mercosur.

3.
Secondly, the European Commission has undertaken practical measures in support of EU-Latin
American business relations, among others through a number of business-related economic co-operation
programmes, such as AL-INVEST, ALURE and ECIP. These types of successful programmes, in particular
AL-INVEST, will continue into the future with the aim of supporting the European business community in
its contacts with Mercosur.

4.
Taking into account the above, the European Commission considers there is no need at present for
a monitoring centre in Madrid which would put forward initiatives and proposals designed to enable
business circles in the EU and Mercosur-Chile to improve trade relations.

(2001/C 187 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4092/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 January 2001)

Subject: Lack of EU funding for the solar energy programme in Andalusia (Spain)

Andalusian manufacturers and fitters of solar panels have warned that a cut in funding for their regional
government(cid:146)s aid programme for this type of renewable-energy technology is threatening the viability of
the sector. The amount of aid has been reduced from an original ESP 1,7 billion to 1,2 billion.

According to the Andalusia regional government(cid:146)s ministry for industry, this reduction is due to a lack of
EU funding which, in the view of companies operating in the sector, will lead to a major scaling-down in
growth predictions. Current demand is for over 45 000 m2 of panels, half of which will not now be
manufactured.

What information can the Commission provide regarding the lack of EU funding for the implementation
of a programme to fit this type of renewable-energy technology, and to what extent can this shortfall be
made up, so as not to impede the major growth in this sector which is currently being witnessed in
Andalusia?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(19 February 2001)

The integrated operational programme for the Autonomous Community of Andalusia for the 2000-2006
programming period, which the Commission approved on 29 December 2000, provides just over € 65
million (about PTE 11 billion) to promote and support renewable energy and energy saving among
business and private consumers. The Community Funds are providing 59 % of this amount.

C 187 E/132

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

in accordance with the principle of
The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that,
subsidiarity, the Member State lays down the arrangements for the actual allocation of this amount
among the various alternative sources of energy according to its own energy policy criteria.

(2001/C 187 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4094/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 January 2001)

Subject: EU action to prevent domesticated animal species from dying out

The world(cid:146)s population of farm animals is gradually declining. According to a report recently published by
the FAO, two species of domesticated animal die out each week. One EU Member State (Spain) is in the
worrying situation of having 69 species of domesticated animal at risk of dying out, 22 of which are in
a critical state.

The situation is a constant cause for concern since, according to the experts, the animals in question
display rich genetic diversity and the loss of genetic diversity makes species more vulnerable.

In view of this alarming situation, what action is the EU going to take in order to protect the species of
domesticated animal which are under threat of extinction, bearing in mind the fact that biodoversity is an
essential factor in the fight against diseases and pests?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 February 2001)

From 1993 and throughout the programming period which ended in 1999 the Commission approved
programmes to promote rearing farm animal breeds threatened with extinction in most Member States.
The programmes were designed to contribute towards achieving one of the agri-environmental objectives
referred to in Article 1(c) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural
production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the
the countryside (1), namely to promote ways of using agricultural
land which are
maintenance of
compatible with protection and improvement of genetic diversity. The Community(cid:146)s effort on this matter
is continuing in the 2000-2006 period under 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 (2), which incorporates into a single regulatory instrument all
rural development support measures and also the objectives of Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92.

Under Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, and in particular the agri-environmental measures referred to in
Articles 22 to 24, support is to be granted to farmers who commit themselves for at least five years to
agricultural production methods designed to protect the environment and to maintain the countryside; that
support is also intended to promote genetic diversity. Article 13 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1750/
1999 of 23 July 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/
1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
(EAGGF) (3) provides for agri-environmental support in respect of commitments to rear local farm animal
breeds in danger of extinction. Most of the rural development programmes which Member States have
drawn up and which the Commission has approved for the 2000-2006 programming period provide for
agri-environmental premiums in respect of rearing local breeds threatened with extinction.

In view of the above, the Commission considers that it has already taken the steps needed to protect farm
animal breeds which are under threat.

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
(3) OJ L 214, 13.8.1999.