WRITTEN QUESTION E-2302/01 by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Foot-and-mouth disease recovery plan.
Date: 2001-07-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, aid system, aid to agriculture, cessation of farming, farmer, foot-and-mouth disease, swine

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/103

(2002/C 93 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2301/01

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease recovery plan

(31 July 2001)

If the UK Government made a request for a financial allocation for a recovery plan in areas affected by
foot-and-mouth disease (for both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors), what financial parameters
would the Commission work within?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2300/01 and E-2301/01
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2001)

As the Commission indicated in response to the Honourable Member’s Written Question E-1407/01 (1),
there is a degree of flexibility in the use of Community support under the respective Rural Development
Plans which may be able to assist any recovery plans and, depending on the nature of the proposals, these
may require Commission approval. However, the Commission has not received any proposals from the
British authorities for financing its recovery plans for rural areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease.

If such proposals are submitted to the Commission, these will be examined on their merit prior to giving
any response. There have been a number of proposals to modify existing state-aid schemes, partly in order
to target resources on sectors most badly affected by foot-and-mouth. These are in the course of being
approved.

For British Rural Development Plans, the Commission will work within the financial parameters established
by Commission Decision 2000/426/EC of 26 June 2000 amending Decision 1999/659/EC fixing an
indicative allocation by Member State of the allocations under the European Agricultural Guidance and
Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guarantee Section for rural development measures for the period 2000 to
2006 (2)
in which the annual allocation of EAGGF Guarantee resources for all Member States was
determined.

The Commission is aware of decisions made by some of the Programme Monitoring Committees of the
relevant British Objective 1 and 2 programmes to ensure a fast-track approval of projects in the worst-off
areas and to ensure that adequate resources are made available to assist with the economic recovery in
those areas.

(1) OJ C 364 E, 20.12.2001, p. 104.
(2) OJ L 165, 6.7.2000.

(2002/C 93 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2302/01

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease recovery plan

(31 July 2001)

Have any formal or informal approaches been made to the Commission by the UK Government aiming to
establish a recovery plan in areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease in either the agricultural sector or the
non-agricultural sector?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

On 3 April 2001, the Commission has approved the ‘outgoers mark 2 scheme’. This scheme, with an
envisaged budget of £ 5 million, helps pig producers hit by foot-and-mouth disease who wish to leave pig
farming permanently to do so. This scheme also includes a restructuring element.

C 93 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

On 6 June 2001, the Commission has approved the ‘livestock welfare disposal scheme’, with an estimated
budget of £ 6 million per week. This scheme is designed to address the animal welfare problems arising
from the movement restrictions put in place to control foot-and-mouth disease. The scheme includes
payments towards the costs of transporting, slaugther, rendering,
incinerating, disposal of carcasses,
veterinary costs, as well as compensation to producers for the animals disposed of.

In addition to that, the Commission is currently examining other state aid schemes, including amendments
to the farm business advice scheme and the agriculture development scheme 2001, as well as the Scottish
Red Meat Campaign. All contain measures destined to help farmers cope with the problems created by
foot-and-mouth disease.

As far as the non-agricultural sector is concerned, the British government may be giving support falling
under the definition of ‘de minimis’ aid as provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2001 of
12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid (1). Such aid
would not have to be notified to the Commission.

(1) OJ L 10, 13.1.2001.

(2002/C 93 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2308/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 July 2001)

Subject: Health effects of sulphites in wine

Is the Commission aware of the medical evidence to suggest that high amounts of sulphites in wine may
produce adverse reactions in some drinkers, particularly in a proportion of asthmatics?

Does it consider that wine labelling should be introduced on health grounds?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 September 2001)

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the Commission’s answer to written question E-2200/01 from
Mr Davies (1).

(1) See page 78.

(2002/C 93 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2312/01

by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Non-remote island regions

The EU has more than 26 island regions with over 14 million inhabitants. Such regions cover 3.5 % of the
surface area of the EU and are home to 3.5 % of the Union’s population. These island regions experience
various disadvantages related to the fact that they do not form part of mainland Europe.