WRITTEN QUESTION E-0066/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Position of the presidency of the Council with regard to the reform of the CAP.
Date: 2002-01-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Presidency of the Council of the EU, Spain, aid to agriculture, foodstuff, milk, production quota, reform of the CAP, rural development, security of supply

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Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

(2002/C 277 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3709/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 January 2002)

Subject: Free-trade agreement with Mercosur

Does the Commission consider it possible to reach a settlement regarding a free-trade agreement between
the European Union and the South American customs union Mercosur in the near future, and is anything
currently happening in the negotiations between the Union and Mercosur?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2002)

The Union has long supported a strengthening of the process of regional integration represented by the
Mercosur (1) initiative which it has supported since its inception in 1991. Notwithstanding the current
the Union continues to work towards a stronger
cyclical downturn on both sides of the Atlantic,
relationship with Mercosur and a deepening of
the Mercosur process internally. According to the
Directives for the negotiation by the Commission, this Association Agreement has three pillars: political,
co-operation and trade.

Six rounds have already taken place in the negotiation of a biregional Association Agreement between
Mercosur and the Union. The 7th round of negotiations will take place in Buenos Aires on 8-12 April
2002.

Substantial progress has been achieved on the political and co-operation chapters.

Concerning the trade negotiations, a comprehensive and ambitious agenda is under negotiation, including
inter alia liberalisation of goods and services, investment, government procurement, intellectual property
rights, competition, a dispute settlement mechanism.
Important progress has been registered so far,
especially in the second half of 2001, with the exchange of tariff offers and of negotiating texts for the
chapters on goods, services, and government procurement. The nature of these negotiations and the
number of partners involved means that time is needed for these negotiations. The progress of these
negotiations is at least in part linked to the evolution of economic integration within Mercosur.

The current situation in the region and, in particular the crisis in Argentina, is clearly a cause for concern:
it is clear that both sides are determined to carry out their work programme in these
nevertheless,
negotiations and ensure that further progress is made. The General Affairs Council of 28 January 2002
adopted a political Declaration in favour of Mercosur as the Union believes that a strengthened Mercosur
will be the key to the development of the region. At
the Union also reiterated the
commitment to continue to make further progress in the negotiations.

this meeting,

(1) Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

(2002/C 277 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0066/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(23 January 2002)

Subject: Position of the presidency of the Council with regard to the reform of the CAP

The priorities announced by the Spanish presidency do not include the reform of the CAP, which requires
a decisive boost in 2002, in particular, in view of the important role to be played by rural development
and food security, with measures which may affect the EU budget, a large proportion of which is currently
devoted to agricultural policy.

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The reform of the CAP may in particular affect regions such as Galicia, which the questioner represents in
the EP, and whose agriculture needs effective measures to help overcome the trend towards desertification
of the countryside and ensure the development of cattle breeding, currently suffering adverse effects, in
particular because of a system of milk quotas which are clearly inadequate for the potential of the Galician
countryside. What general expectations does the Council have regarding the reform of the CAP and, in
particular, the agricultural budget and the issue of milk quotas?

Reply

(22 July 2002)

The Council’s priority aim in the agriculture sector is the consolidation of the European agricultural model
in accordance with Agenda 2000.

Concerning the mid-term review of the CAP provided for in the decisions taken in connection with
Agenda 2000, the Council awaits proposals from the Commission during the first half of 2002. In this
perspective, an initial policy debate on the review is scheduled for the Council meeting in June 2002.

The Presidency will devote the informal meeting of Ministers for Agriculture in Murcia (27 to 30 April
2002) to a preliminary discussion on the future of the CAP and on rural development.

With regard to the budgetary questions, the Berlin European Council has set up a financial framework
which runs until 2006; it decided that the agriculture guideline would be re-examined, where appropriate,
on the basis of a report from the Commission to the Council before the next enlargement, in order to
make any adjustments which may be deemed necessary.

Concerning milk quotas, the Honourable Member is reminded that the quota arrangements have been
extended to the end of the 2007/2008 marketing year for guaranteed quantities. Five Member States A
Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) A had the benefit, for the 2000/
2001 and 2001/2002 marketing years, of a specific increase in quotas for quantities.

In order to protect agricultural incomes in the milk sector following the lowering of intervention prices by
15 % in three stages, planned to take place from 2005, a system will be introduced involving aid which
will increase over a three-year period. This aid will also be increased in three equal instalments to reach
€ 17,24/t in 2007 and will be supplemented by a payment from the EU financial allocation granted to the
Member States, also to be increased over three years, from 2005 to 2007. The Council has undertaken to
carry out, on a basis of a Commission report, an assessment with a view to the expiry, after 2006, of the
present quota system.

As part of the mid-term review of the CAP, the Council will take due account of all relevant factors when
examining the proposals which the Commission intends to submit to it and on which the Council will
seek the Opinion of the European Parliament.

(2002/C 277 E/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0074/02

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 January 2002)

Subject: Technical assistance to China for health and plant health requirements

Under the bilateral agreement of May 2000 on the accession of China to the World Trade Organisation
(WTO), the EU has agreed to provide China with assistance to enable it to comply with its undertakings in
the context of that agreement, including those relating to meeting its public health obligations.

Can the Commission state in detail what cooperation and technical assistance projects it intends to
introduce in the field of health and plant health? Is the Commission planning any specific programme with
a view to removing the health obstacles standing in the way of imports of bivalve molluscs into the
Community?