WRITTEN QUESTION E-0074/02 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Technical assistance to China for health and plant health requirements.
Date: 2002-01-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU aid, World Trade Organisation, accession to an agreement, bilateral agreement, health legislation, public health

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/17

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 7
Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) 7 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?

C 277 E/18

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2002)

The Commission adopted a ‘Framework programme for Community support to China’s accession to the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) of € 3 million in 1998. This amount has been increased by € 600 000 in
2001, and the programmes’ duration has been extended until 31 December 2003. This programme is
currently under implementation and aims to strengthen China’s administrative capacity to comply with
WTO requirements,
including the recognition and implementation of agricultural and sanitary/
phytosanitary standards.

In the China National Indicative Programme 2002/2004 which is part of the China Country Strategy
Paper, high priority is given to continued support to China’s WTO membership, and an amount of € 15
million will be available for commitment in 2002. This new programme will help China to further develop
its legal and regulatory framework, and to strengthen its administrative capacity to implement and enforce
this framework. A Community expert mission is scheduled to visit China in April 2002 to further define
the new programme proposal, which is expected to include a significant component related to sanitary and
phytosanitary standards (SPS).

(2002/C 277 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0079/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

Subject: Removal of lines marking borders from US charts

(24 January 2002)

The USA’s removal of the lines marking borders on American digital charts of the eastern Aegean at the
same time as Turkey has issued a NOTAM requiring all national aeroplanes passing through air corridors
G-18 to Rhodes and R-19 to Nicosia to submit their flight plans to the Turkish authorities, or be
intercepted, represent another attempt to revise the operational and legal status of the Aegean.

Given that the removal of the borderlines affects the Union because the borders in the Aegean are also its
own borders:

1.

can the Council confirm that the borderlines are marked on the Union’s charts, and

2. will the Council make representations to Turkey concerning the fact that the Turkish NOTAM creates
further tension in the Aegean, does not promote good neighbourly relations with a Member State and
is contrary to Turkey’s obligation under the partnership agreement to take a constructive approach to
finding a solution to the problem of Cyprus?

Reply

(22 July 2002)

In general, the borders between Member States and third States are clearly marked on European Union
including the borders between Greece and Turkey. Concerning
charts published by the Commission,
specific information on digital air traffic charts, the Honourable Member is invited to consult Eurocontrol,
which is the competent body for air traffic management in Europe.

The need for all candidate countries including Turkey to resolve any outstanding border disputes and other
related issues was clearly stated in the Helsinki European Council conclusions on 10-11 December 1999.
This was also specified in the Accession partnership. The need for Turkey to promote good relationship
with its neighbour in the Aegean is regularly stressed by the Council in the framework of the political
dialogue, most recently at the level of the political directors troika meeting in Madrid on 8 January.