WRITTEN QUESTION P-3318/01 by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Natura 2000 network.
Date: 2001-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, biotope, protected area, protection of animal life, protection of plant life

C 134 E/218

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

This non-profit-making association, set up in February 2001, represents the economic, social and
professional interests of eco-friendly agri-food producers in Andalusia. Its main objective is to increase
production.

Can the Commission give an indication of the nature of the reply which this association is likely to receive,
in the context of the special aid facilities existing under Community law and its objective of promoting and
encouraging the production and marketing of eco-friendly agri-food products?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The aim of the new rural development policy adopted by the Council in June 1999 is to establish a
coherent and sustainable framework for safeguarding the future of rural areas by promoting the
maintenance and creation of employment while taking into account
the essential requirements of
agricultural product quality and environmental protection. A number of structural measures provided for
in Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (1) and adopted under rural development programmes could
therefore help to address the concerns to which the Honourable Member refers.

Subject to certain conditions, agri-environmental measures enable premiums to be granted to farmers
starting organic production in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on
organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and
foodstuffs (2); these measures have been incorporated into the Spanish horizontal rural development
programme. Aid for investment in agricultural holdings, including for improving the quality of agricultural
products, has been provided for in the horizontal operational programme for the improvement of
production structures in Objective 1 regions in Spain. The regional operational programme for Andalusia
provides for processing and marketing aid, including for product improvement and quality control, for
tailoring production to market
trends and for opening up new markets. The regional operational
programme also includes provision for aid to promote the adaptation and development of rural areas, and
particularly for providing services to agricultural holdings and for marketing quality products.

It should be pointed out that the national and regional authorities within the Member State manage these
programmes.

The Andalusian organic products association should therefore ask the Spanish authorities responsible to
examine whether the proposed measures are eligible for support under the programmes.

(1) 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 8 OJ L 160,
26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991 8 as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 436/2001 of 2 March 2001, OJ L 63,

3.3.2001.

(2002/C 134 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3318/01

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Natura 2000 network

What objections were detected by the Commission to the SCI which has been proposed by the Spanish
Government as part of the Natura 2000 network and which is known as the Sistema Transversal Catalán
ES5110005? What species and habitats are to be found within that SCI? Has the list undergone any recent
changes?

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/219

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2001)

The Spanish authorities proposed the site on November 1996 as a site of Community importance. With an
area of 228,227 hectares, the site hosts habitats and species of the Mediterranean region.

The types of habitats described for these sites are:

8 Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara sp (3140).

8 European dry heaths (4030).

8 Sub-Atlantic semi-dry calcareous grassland (6212).

8 Sub-Atlantic very dry calcareous grassland (6213).

8 * Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea (6220).

8 Humid tall herbfringes of watercourses and woodlands (6431).

8 Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis) (6510).

8 Western eu-mediterranean and oro-iberian calcareous cliffs (8211).

8 Central pyrenean calcareous cliffs (8212).

8 Siliceous rocky slopes with Chasmophytic vegetation (8220).

8 Caves not open to the public (8310).

8 Medio-european limestone beech forest of the Cephalanthero-Fagion (9150).

8 * Alluvial forest with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Pandion, Alnion Incanae, Salicion

Albae) (91 E0).

8 Castanea sativa woods (9260).

8 Salix alba and Populus alba galleries (92A0).

8 Quercus suber forests (9330).

8 Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests (9340).

In relation to the species of Community interest the site hosts the following species of mammals:
Miniopterus schreibersi, Barbastella barbastellus, Myotis blythii and Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum.

In relation to fish, the site hosts the specie Barbus meridionalis.

In relation to invertebrates, the site hosts the following species, Austropotamobius pallipes, Graellsia
isabelae, Cerambyx cerdo and Vertigo moulinsiana.

For the time being, the Commission has not analysed any site of Community importance from the
Mediterranean region proposal.

The Bio-geographical seminar for the Mediterranean region is foreseen for July 2002. During this meeting,
all the sites proposed by the Member States will be analysed.

(2002/C 134 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3347/01

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 December 2001)

Subject: Payment of maternity benefit

According to the founding Treaties, the Community is to ensure the social protection of workers, and the
payment of social security benefits, irrespective of the country in which they are resident. To that end, the