WRITTEN QUESTION E-0953/01 by María Ayuso González (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Packaging for fruit and vegetables.
Date: 2001-03-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, crop production, packaging, waste recycling

C 364 E/30

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

(2001/C 364 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0953/01

by Mar(cid:237)a Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Packaging for fruit and vegetables

The Commission wishes to repeal Regulation (EC) No 411/97 (1)
laying down detailed rules for the
application of Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 (2) (COM in fruit and vegetables) as regards operational funds
and programmes and Community financial assistance. In paragraph 1 of the Annex to a subsequent
amendment of
is specifically stated that, amongst other environmental measures,
(cid:145)recyclable packaging(cid:146) could be eligible for funding during the period of implementation of a single
operational programme. However,
the new Commission regulation the term
(cid:145)reusable packing(cid:146) is used.

in Article 8(2)(b)(iii) of

that regulation it

In the light of the Green Paper on integrated products policy and since there will at some stage in the
future be a new proposal for a directive on packaging, could the Commission explain the reasons which
prompted the switch to a different criterion, with particular reference to the fruit and vegetable sector?

(1) OJ L 62, 4.3.1997, p. 9.
(2) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 2001)

laying down detailed rules for the
Commission Regulation (EC) No 609/2001 of 28 March 2001,
application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as regards operational programmes, operational funds
and Community financial assistance, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 411/97 (1) in application of Council
Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 411/97, provides that certain specific costs
within approved operational programmes of producer organisations may be eligible for Community
financing.

As far as packaging for fruit and vegetables is concerned, Article 8(2)(b)(iii) specifies that operational
programmes may cover specific costs for environmental measures, which may include recyclable and / or
re-useable packaging.

(1) OJ L 90, 30.3.2001.

(2001/C 364 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0998/01

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: 1999 discharge (cid:129) agriculture

The information provided by the Commission in connection with question 2.7 of the second questionnaire
on the granting of the discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European
Union for the 1999 financial year does not reply to the questions raised in various aspects. Can the
Commission therefore clarify the following points:

With regard to question 2.7(d):

(cid:129) Can the Commission clarify the concept of production aid in the context of its answer in relation to
the support scheme for olive oil? With regard to both olive oil and milk, is the Commission referring
to the reports made by the Member States during 1999 or to irregularities occurring in 1999?

(cid:129) Table 2 on the clearance of accounts process is also difficult to understand. Can the Commission make
these comparisons in the context of fraud and irregularities, excluding market mechanisms intended to
restrict surplus production?