WRITTEN QUESTION E-3316/01 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Aid for marketing of eco-friendly products from Andalusia.
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, EU aid, aid to agriculture, eligibility criteria, marketing, organic farming, organic product, production

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/217

(2002/C 134 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3315/01

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Tourist arbitration in the EU

Numerous tourists in the EU are resorting to the tactic of citing grounds of complaint with the intention
of obtaining refunds on the costs of their holidays after the event.

For this reason, and to prevent hotels suffering from tourists’ claims for refunds from tour operators which
are then passed on to the hotels, a number of tourist centres in the Community have set up tourist
arbitration departments in the hope that this type of structure will be generalised at Union level.

Will the Commission consider the possibility of cooperating with a view to establishing, at Community
level, a Community Tourist Arbitration Centre, whose brief would be to find solutions to disputes of
whatever type arising between tourist entities and users in the different Member States, with a view to
avoiding unnecessary prejudice to hotels and tourist entities in general?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2002)

The question asked by the Honourable Member falls within the area of responsibility of the Member States,
in its Communication of 13 November 2001 (1), the Commission did not identify the
which is why,
establishment of a Community Tourist Arbitration Centre as one of the priorities and actions to be taken
by the various public and private operators in the sector.

the Commission,

However, as regards consumer policy,
in collaboration with Member States, has
established the European Extra-Judicial Network (the ‘EEJ-Net’) in order to help consumers resolve their
cross border disputes with traders more effectively by using out-of-court dispute resolution schemes.
National contact points (2) have been established by each Member State as well as Norway and Iceland to
provide a communication and support structure to facilitate the working of national out-of-court
settlement bodies cross border. The purpose of the network is to address the practical obstacles which
consumers’ face if using an out-of-court settlement body in a country other than their own. Primarily those
barriers involve lack of information about foreign bodies as well as linguistic and geographical barriers that
make it difficult for the consumer to make a complaint in the first instance. The national contact points
will help the dissatisfied consumer with information and support in making a claim to the out-of-court
settlement body in the country where the business from which the products or services were acquired is
located. The pilot phase was launched on 16 October 2001 and will run for 1 year.

(1) Commission Communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the

(2)

Committee of the Regions 9 Working together for the future of European tourism, COM(2001) 655 final.
For further information see: http://europa. eu. int/comm/consumers/policy/developments/acce_just/acce_just14_en.
pdf.

(2002/C 134 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3316/01

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Aid for marketing of eco-friendly products from Andalusia

(28 November 2001)

The Andalusian Association of Eco-Friendly Producers (Spain) intends to promote the production and
marketing of its products, and has therefore asked for information on the existing Community aids.

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 9 OJ L 160,
26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991 9 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?