WRITTEN QUESTION E-1980/01 by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Environmental impact of intensive olive cultivation.
Date: 2001-07-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, environmental impact, environmental protection, intensive farming, olive-growing

C 81 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

As the link between Crohn(cid:146)s disease and paratuberculosis in animals has not been established, there are no
specific rules concerning paratuberculosis in the current Community food hygiene legislation. However,
there are some general rules according to which meat and milk from clinically ill animals, suffering for
example from paratuberculosis, are rejected from human consumption. These provisions are included in
Council Directive 64/433/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (4) and
Council Directive 92/46/EEC laying down health rules for the production and placing on the market of
raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products (5).

The Commission will follow closely the situation and the research on paratuberculosis and Crohn(cid:146)s disease
and will immediately take appropriate measures to protect the safety of consumers if grounds for concern
emerge.

(1) OJ L 262, 17.10.2000.
(2) OJ L 374, 31.12.1990.
(3)

(cid:145)Possible links between Crohn(cid:146)s disease and Paratuberculosis(cid:146), Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health
and Animal Welfare adopted on 21 March 2000, http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scah/out38_en.pdf.

(4) OJ B 121, 29.7.1964 modified, OJ L 257, 28.9.1985.
(5) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992 (cid:129) OJ L 41, 18.2.1993.

(2002/C 81 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1980/01

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Environmental impact of intensive olive cultivation

(5 July 2001)

According to a report published on 18 June 2001 by the WWF and Birdlife International, intensive olive
cultivation, which has increased as a result of EU agricultural support, is causing desertification, depleting
the soil, and destroying the environment in Mediterranean countries. The report states that in Spain, for
example, 80 million tonnes of topsoil a year are lost in Andalusian olive groves on account of intensive
cultivation. Soil deposits from olive groves cause problems elsewhere by clogging reservoirs and the like.
In addition, ancient deciduous woodlands in Spain, Greece, and Portugal are being cleared to make room
for intensive plantations.

In the EU agricultural budget EUR 2 250 million has been earmarked for olive growing, and that sum is
being used almost entirely to support production. Growers receive aid in proportion to the quantity of
olives that they produce and are consequently encouraged to resort to intensive cultivation and artificial
irrigation and expand their plantations.

the Commission aware that

Is
environmental problems?

intensive olive cultivation today poses one of Europe(cid:146)s biggest

What steps will it take to minimise the damage being caused?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2001)

The Commission is aware of the WWF report to which the honourable Member refers and of the
environmental difficulties associated with the olive-oil sector and it drew attention to that concern in its
Report to the Council and Parliament on the quality strategy for olive oil (1).

The Commission also agrees with many of the Report(cid:146)s findings and indeed with the overall objective of a
sustainable agricultural policy that respects the environment. It is, however,
ill-advised to say that the
problems posed are among Europe(cid:146)s worst as there are no data to back up such a claim.

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/87

The Commission points out that olive-oil production aid has enabled the fabric of rural society to be
maintained in many regions of the Community and has thus contributed significantly to combating
desertification. Certain types of olive groves, particularly those tended by organic methods, help to restore
degraded environments. Nonetheless, in view of the adverse effects that excessive intensification could have
on the environment, the Council has decided to take measures to curb new planting since 1998.

The Commission also draws attention to the obligations of Member States in relation to environmental
protection requirements laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing
common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy (2) and it looks forward to
receiving information from the Member States concerned regarding the olive-oil sector by 30 September
2001. This information should include an analysis of the situation of land used for olive production, a
detailed description of the environmental measures contemplated in the light of the analysis and a detailed
description of any penalties decided.

There are currently no suitable means of checking aid granted on a flat-rate basis and there is therefore no
alternative to aid indexed to production. In June 2001 the Council decided that from 1 November 2003
the aid would be granted subject to the existence of aerial-photograph monitoring of the trees concerned,
which will open up several options for granting the aid.

(1) COM(2000) 855 final (fourth paragraph of point 1.3.1).
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 81 E/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1981/01

by Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 July 2001)

Subject: Marco Galucci, a European Union aid worker arrested in and deported from Israel

On 8 June 2001 Mr Marco Galucci, who is working on a Commission-funded humanitarian aid project,
was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport and, although he was able to show clearly why he had come to Israel,
questioned for several hours. He was not allowed to telephone his consulate, his computer was searched,
his diskettes confiscated, and he was eventually sent back to Italy.

Will the Commission respond to the actions of the Israeli authorities, bearing in mind that this kind of
behaviour severely impedes the smooth running of Union-funded humanitarian projects to aid the
Palestinian population hard pressed by war?

What specific steps will it take?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

Following the incident that occurred to Mr Marco Gallucci, a humanitarian aid worker employed by the
Italian non governmental organisation (NGO) (cid:145)CRIC(cid:146), on 8 June 2001, the Commission(cid:146)s Delegation to the
State of Israel on 19 June sent a Note Verbale to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing strong
protest against
the unjustified behaviour towards a European citizen employed by an NGO whose
humanitarian project is entirely funded by the Commission and asked the Ministry(cid:146)s assistance to allow
Mr Gallucci(cid:146)s entry and facilitate his humanitarian mission.