WRITTEN QUESTION E-0764/01 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Silk production in the EU.
Date: 2001-03-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, common agricultural policy, craft production, import (EU), sericulture, silk

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/193

(2001/C 261 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0764/01

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: Silk production in the EU

The mulberry tree which is indispensable for breeding silkworms and developing silk production grows in
an area in the Mediterranean countries of the Union. France, Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal have a
notable production of cocoons, an activity which constitutes a substantial source of income for farmers
and those employed in the silk industry. Total annual production in the Union is estimated at 60 tonnes of
dried cocoons which yield some 20 tonnes of silk thread.

The EU(cid:146)s total silk product needs could be met by cultivating 100 000 hectares of mulberry trees,
employing some 100 000 households: this would lead to a reduction in unemployment and boost the
incomes of farmers in Europe whose numbers are steadily declining.
It should be pointed out that
production of silk thread in the EU lags far behind requirements and the EU is obliged to import raw
materials from Asia (Vietnam, for instance) and Africa (Zambia, for instance), even though it could very
easily produce the silk needed on its territory.

Will the Commission say whether its services have recently drawn up a study on the problems facing
sericulture and the silk industry in the Union and, if so, what conclusions it reached? Will it also say
whether there is any prospect of the production of European silkworm eggs so as to make the Union self-
sufficient, solve the problem of dependence on third countries and offer a prospect of development to
border regions, such as Thrace, where production is ailing, leading to further unemployment and a fall in
producers(cid:146) incomes?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2001)

The Commission has not recently studied the problems of European sericulture and the Community silk
industry.

Silkworm rearing in Greece, Italy and in lesser degree Spain and France accounts for a minute proportion
of the Community(cid:146)s agricultural activity and of world sericulture. But in some regions, notably Thrace,
Veneto and Marche, it is of significance and the skills involved merit preservation.

Accordingly to enable the operators concerned to plan their activities in the longer term the Council has
decided, on a Commission proposal as part of the 2000/2001 price package, to prolong the Community
aid on boxes of silkworm eggs.

(2001/C 261 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0777/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: Uranium contamination

The question issue of the use of depleted uranium during the Kosovo war has rightly alarmed the public,
who are fearful that possible contamination may have caused an increase in irreversible diseases.

Medical authorities in various countries are performing health tests on military and civilian personnel who
operated in the areas affected by depleted uranium bombs, but have found it difficult to determine whether
they were contaminated or not.