WRITTEN QUESTION E-0253/01 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Funds allocated to wine growers.
Date: 2001-02-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Portugal, administrative responsibility, aid system, common organisation of markets, distillation, viticulture

C 235 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

In this context, it monitors the transposal of the afore-mentioned Directive by the competent authorities.
Accordingly the Commission addressed a letter of formal notice to the Belgian authorities in September
2000 plus a reasoned opinion adopted by Commission Decision of 21 December 2000.

The Belgian Government is responsible for ensuring the effective transposal of the Directive on its
territory.

As regards separate accounts for each activity (production, transport and distribution), this is essential to
the smooth running of the internal market. The Commission is therefore waiting for complete transposal,
notably the appointment of a transmission network operator and the introduction of, as under current
Community law, the unbundling of accounts and management.

(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997.

(2001/C 235 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0253/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 February 2001)

Subject: Funds allocated to wine growers

Thousands of Portuguese wine growers could be seriously disadvantaged by the fact that funds to support
wine distillation have practically run out because Spain and Italy submitted their applications more quickly
than Portugal.

While there is no denying that the Portuguese Ministry for Agriculture should have published the
guidelines for submission of applications for Community wine distillation aid more promptly, it seems
unfair that the Commission should distribute aid on a (cid:145)first-come-first-served(cid:146) basis and thereby discrimi-
nate against farmers in countries facing administrative difficulties.

The Commission:

1. Will it confirm that the available resources have been practically used up by Italy and Spain?

2. What measures will be taken to solve this problem, given the need to alleviate the resulting difficulties

faced by thousands of Portuguese wine growers?

(2001/C 235 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0358/01

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 February 2001)

Subject: Wine distillation in Portugal

The entry into force of the new Common Organisation of the Market (COM) in wine on 1 August brought
about a substantial change in the rules and procedures relating to distillation operations. The previous
arrangements provided for preventive distillation, evenly distributed between all the Member States on the
basis of an overall balance of wine surpluses. Traditionally, this distillation was carried out in December.
The new regulation has abolished the overall wine balance and replaced preventive distillation with
voluntary distillation of wines to produce potable alcohol. This operation applies automatically to anyone
who registers, and begins on 1 September.

The Portuguese authorities and distillers did not realise in time the far-reaching changes involved and, as
the Commission is aware, Portugal was not included in the overall 12 million hectolitre wine distillation
quota.