WRITTEN QUESTION E-0379/01 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Vice-President Loyola de Palacio and the flax affair in Spain.
Date: 2001-02-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European official, Spain, flax, judicial proceedings, legal action

C 235 E/194

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2001)

farm animals,

From 1993 and throughout the programming period which ended in 1999 the Commission approved
programmes in most Member States to promote rearing breeds of
including cattle,
threatened with extinction. 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 maintenance of the countryside (1), namely to promote ways of using agricultural
land which are 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 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 for 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-environ-
mental premiums for rearing local breeds, including cattle, threatened with extinction.

In view of the above, the Commission considers that it has already taken the steps needed to protect cattle
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.

(2001/C 235 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0379/01

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 February 2001)

Subject: Vice-President Loyola de Palacio and the flax affair in Spain

Is the Commission aware that Vice-President Loyola de Palacio has instituted legal proceedings, as a private
individual, before a Spanish court in order to shed light on who is responsible under criminal law for the
flax affair in Spain?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Yes, the President of the Commission is aware that Ms de Palacio has started proceedings before a Spanish
court in order to establish who is responsible under criminal law for the flax affair.