WRITTEN QUESTION E-1751/01 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Aid for dried fruit.
Date: 2001-06-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Balearic Islands, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, economic and social cohesion, nut, production aid, regional aid

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/195

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

On 1 June 2001, the Commission has decided to undertake a full, second phase investigation of the
proposed acquisition of joint control over Spanish utility HidroelØctrica del CantÆbrico S.A. (Hidrocant-
Æbrico) by Spanish Group Villar Mir and Energie Baden-W(cid:252)rttemberg (EnBW). The Commission considers
that the proposed operation raises serious doubts, as it could consolidate the existing collective dominant
position in the Spanish electricity market. It will also examine the extent to which the dominant position
of ElectricitØ de France (EdF), which jointly controls EnBW, could be strengthened. The Spanish
government has asked referral of the case, but as the Commission is starting an in-depth probe, according
to article 9 of the Merger Regulation (1) it does not need to take a decision on the request made by the
national authorities at this stage of the procedure.

The Commission has from the date it decided to open a second phase investigation, a maximum of four
months to reach a final decision.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989, on the control of concentrations between
undertakings (OJ L 395, 30.12.1989), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 of 30 June 1997
(OJ L 180, 9.7.1997).

(2001/C 364 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1751/01

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 June 2001)

Subject: Aid for dried fruit

Agriculture plays only a small part in economic activity on the island of Majorca. Nevertheless, agriculture
is a key element in its social structure and in regional planning and environmental protection policy on the
island.

Dried fruit accounts for the bulk of agricultural production in Majorca, and the reduction or abolition of
European Union aid would therefore deal a heavy blow to social cohesion on the island, since virtually all
farming activity would disappear and farms would be abandoned.

1. What is the Commission(cid:146)s policy on dried fruit?

2. Will aid policy for dried fruit be continued?

3. Will the Commission draw a distinction between possible types of aid in line with their social impact
in the various areas?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2001)

1.
The policy of the Commission on nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios and carobs) since
1989 has been to support the nut sector through specific and temporary measures. In this context, specific
aid has been granted to the nut sector for 10 years under the provisions of Title IIa of Regulation (EEC)
No 1035/72 of the Council of 18 May 1972 on the common organization of the market in fruit and
vegetables (1) (improvement plans). The aim of the measure has been essentially to improve productivity
and competitiveness.

A temporary specific flat-rate aid for hazelnuts was granted between 1997 and 2000.

C 364 E/196

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

Community expenditure from 1990 to 2000 was over € 800 million. Further expenditure of nearly
2.
€ 200 million is foreseen until 2006 for improvement plans still in operation. In addition to this, producer
organisations whose improvement plans were approved in 1990 were able to request continued financing
of their plans for up to one year.

However such specific aid was always intended to be temporary and digressive, in order to allow a shift of
financial responsibility on to the growers. On this basis, the Commission considers that a prolongation of
improvement plans to provide economic support for the sector is not the most appropriate method to
address this issue. The issue of nuts therefore has to be looked at in a wider context.

As for all other products in the fruit and vegetable sector, aid is available for nuts through the operational
fund scheme of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organization of
the market in fruit and vegetables (2), which provides financial support for all fruit and vegetables marketed
through producer organisations.

3.
Finally, taking into account environmental and social aspects of nut production, Member States can
of course include nuts in their rural development plans under the conditions of 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 (3).

(1) OJ L 118, 20.5.1972.
(2) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996.
(3) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 364 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1754/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(15 June 2001)

Subject: Electricity from renewable sources in the Netherlands

No fewer than 40 % of households in the Netherlands are considering switching to electricity from
renewable sources. As from 1 July 2001, consumers in the Netherlands will be able to select their own
supplier of renewable ((cid:145)green(cid:146)) electricity, no matter where they live. Essent BV is already offering green
electricity at prices which undercut those of electricity from non-renewable sources. The price differential
has been made possible by the Regulatory Energy Tax, which is not levied on green electricity. In order to
meet the rapidly growing demand, Dutch suppliers wish to buy in green electricity from abroad.

The Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs wishes to limit imports of green electricity because it fears
the loss of revenue from the Regulatory Energy Tax if large numbers of people switch to green electricity.
The sum at stake is said to be € 1,8 billion (NLG 4 billion).

The Regulatory Energy Tax (commonly referred to as the EcoTax) was introduced with the aim of curbing
energy consumption and encouraging consumers to switch to green electricity. The revenue is intended to
enable income tax to be cut and labour made cheaper in relation to energy.

Surely this is a senseless turn of events?

To what extent are the plans of the Ministry of Economic Affairs incompatible with the liberalisation of
the energy market?