WRITTEN QUESTION E-0147/02 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Beet-growers in southern Italy.
Date: 2002-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Mezzogiorno, aid to agriculture, operational programme, regional aid, structural policy, sugar beet, water management, water resources

C 172 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2002)

Irrespective of the possibility of setting up a European Civil Protection Agency, the Commission wishes to
draw the Honourable Member’s attention to Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999
establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection (1). The programme states,
among other things, that action to prevent risks and damage and to provide information and prepare those
responsible for and involved in civil protection in the Member States is important and increases the degree
of preparedness for accidents.

With regard to the uniformity of Member States’ legislation in this area, the Commission wishes to remind
the honourable Member that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, Community cooperation
supports and supplements the national civil protection policies in order to make them more effective. The
pooling of experience and mutual assistance will help to reduce losses of human life, physical and material
damage, economic losses and environmental damage throughout the Community by making the aims of
social cohesion and solidarity more tangible. However, the above programme excludes any measures aimed
at the harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States or the way in which their national
preparedness is organised.

Going beyond the implementation and development of the above Decision, the Commission wishes to
inform the Honourable Member that it has planned to give consideration to an integrated strategy on
prevention, preparedness and response to natural and other hazards in its 2002 work programme.

During the 2000-2006 programming period, funding is available from the Structural Funds for action to
prevent natural or technological disasters, under both regional programmes and trans-frontier and trans-
national cooperation programmes. Some regional programmes include preventive measures for natural
risks (strengthening of river embankments; equipment
fires; erosion
protection, etc.). There is also provision for preventive action as part of trans-frontier and trans-national
cooperation, e.g. alerts relating to flooding and technological disasters; establishment of pluri-national
centres to combat forest fires; cooperation relating to the safety of popular mountain areas, etc.

for centres to combat

forest

The Structural Funds can also finance some reconstruction work after natural or technological disasters
(except of dwellings) as part of the regional programmes and in the normally eligible zones.

(1) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.

(2002/C 172 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0147/02

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(1 February 2002)

Subject: Beet-growers in southern Italy

Does the Commission intend to take action to support beet-growers in southern Italy by providing a
regional contribution to cover part of the depreciation costs of irrigation systems, given the following:

1.

2.

the fact
Article 4.9/N @ (Reg. EC 1257/99 (1)) ‘sugar beet growing’,

that

the EU has approved, under the Regional Operational Programme for Sardinia,

the fact that installations set up for more than five years may be considered as forms of structural
intervention,

3.

the need for maximum rationalisation of water resources in southern Italy.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/157

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2002)

Since the support in question appears to be operating aid, the Commission is afraid that the kind of
Community support suggested by the Honourable Member cannot be granted. 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 (1) does not
foresee
financing for such expenses. Also the granting of national aid for such purposes would not seem possible,
since operating aid would normally be considered to be incompatible with the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 172 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0151/02

by Jan Andersson (PSE) and Hans Karlsson (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Closure and structural aid @ Gislaved, Sweden

(1 February 2002)

Continental has decided to stop tyre manufacturing at Gislaved in Sweden. This decision will result in the
loss of about 800 jobs, and will also directly affect a number of persons performing tasks for the factory,
such as carriers of its products. Closure will also indirectly affect trade and other commercial and public
services in the local community, thus causing a further loss of jobs. It is claimed that the factory is being
closed because of the opportunity of obtaining EU aid to move production to Portugal, and that this aid
would make it commercially profitable to do so, which would not be the case without that aid.

Is it permissible to use EU structural aid to move output and jobs from one Member State to

1.
another?

2.

If it is, is the Commission prepared to initiate a review of the rules in question?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2002)

The Honourable Members are requested to refer to the answers given by the Commission to Oral
Questions H-0009/02, H-0031/02 and H-0040/02 by Mr Sjöstedt, Mr Gahrton and Mr Schmidt
respectively at the Question Time of the first February 2002 (1) part-session of Parliament.

(1) Written answer of 5 February 2002.

(2002/C 172 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0159/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Protection of the environment in the Po Delta

(4 February 2002)

The creation of a regional park in the Po Delta should, it was hoped, have ensured preservation of the
delicate equilibrium of a wetzone which is one of the largest in Europe and where over 300 bird species @
including flamingos, cormorants, falcons, buzzards, black swans and mallards @ find their natural habitat
among the salt canals and the sandbanks of the estuary.