WRITTEN QUESTION P-0525/02 by Gian Gobbo (NI) to the Commission. The future of tobacco growing in Europe and in the Veneto.
Date: 2002-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Veneto, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, redirection of production, tobacco

C 205 E/160

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

(2002/C 205 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0523/02

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Private radio and television media in the European Union

(19 February 2002)

According to statistics of the European observatory for television and radio broadcasting, there are
currently 843 television and 1 424 radio broadcasting companies in the European Union, and many of
these are private.

Will the Commission say what is the status of the private radio and television media in Greece and in
particular whether frequency owners are required to pay for occupying frequencies?

Will it also say whether Directive 89/552/EEC (1), as amended in 1997, and particularly the provisions of
Chapter II, Article 2(1) and Article 3(2) and Chapter VII, Article 25(2) on controls on compliance with the
rules governing the activities of radio and television broadcasting channels are being implemented?

(1) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2002)

The Television without frontiers Directive (Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the
coordination of certain provisions laid down by Law, Regulation or Administrative Action in Member
States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 199 (1) 1, (hereafter the TVWF Directive)) provides that Member
States shall ensure freedom of reception on their territory of television broadcasts from other Member
States (Article 2a(1)). The TVWF Directive is based on Internal Market principles, notably, the application
of the rules of the country of origin.

The granting of licences for television broadcasting falls within the competence of the Member States,
subject to compliance with the general principles of the EC Treaty relating in particular to the freedom to
provide services. Also the access to networks and the allocation of frequencies insofar as they are not
covered by other Community Directives concerning networks and access (the Electronic Communications
package) are within the competence of the Member State. According to Article 25(2) of the TVWF
Directive, Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national
law that they adopt in the fields governed by the Directive. Member States therefore had no duty to inform
the Commission on their licensing procedures.

(1) OJ L 202, 30.7.1997.

(2002/C 205 E/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0525/02

by Gian Gobbo (NI) to the Commission

(19 February 2002)

Subject: The future of tobacco growing in Europe and in the Veneto

Tobacco has been grown in Europe since the seventeenth century. European tobacco is generally grown on
small farms where farming is a family tradition handed down from father to son. Tobacco growing is often
combined with the production of other crops or livestock rearing and helps maintain agricultural diversity,
which is certainly the case in the Veneto region, and the province of Verona in particular.

Tobacco is grown by 130 000 producers in Europe who provide employment for around 500 000
workers, mainly in Italy, Greece, France and Spain.

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/161

The Commission recently proposed a regulation which would put an end to aid for European tobacco
growers. Such a measure would lead to the disappearance of tobacco growing in Europe, greatly to the
benefit of non-European producers, but would not have the slightest effect on cigarette consumption, as
no European Union country plans to prohibit smoking.

Does the Commission agree that it would be appropriate to maintain the centuries-old practice of tobacco
growing, both on social grounds and in order to maintain a balanced agricultural sector?

Does the Commission still regard as valid the principle of Community preference, the basis on which the
Common Agricultural Policy was established and developed?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2002)

On 21 November 2001 (1) the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council Regulation fixing the
premiums and guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by variety group and Member State for the 2002,
2003 and 2004 harvests and amending Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common
organisation of the market in raw tobacco (2).

The proposal is consistent with Commission policy on the future of production aids for tobacco as set out
in the Communication on a European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development, especially as regards
the need to dismantle tobacco aids gradually while putting in place measures to find alternative sources of
income and economic activity for tobacco growers and those working in the industry.

This Commission decision is justified by concern for an agriculture policy that
is consistent with
Article 152 of the EC Treaty which states that ‘A high level of human health shall be ensured in the
definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities’.

The Commission is nevertheless aware of the difficulties which converting raw tobacco production could
present, particularly in certain production regions. That is why the proposal amends a number of common
market organisation mechanisms, in particular the Tobacco Fund, which has been recast to permit the
financing, inter alia, of feasibility studies on retraining raw tobacco producers for other crops or economic
activity and of initial specific conversion measures in production regions.

In addition,
further proposals on the sector will be preceded by a study evaluating the common
organisation of the tobacco market. The Commission will proceed in a resolute but gradual manner so as
to safeguard the economic and social vitality of the production regions.

(1) COM(2001) 684 final.
(2) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(2002/C 205 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0536/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Destruction of the environment by gold mining

(28 February 2002)

According to the ‘Initiative Committees’ which have been set up in provincial capitals in Thrace, a number
of companies are planning to mine gold at Sapes in Rodopi and at Perama in Evros. The Initiative
Committees claim that mining will damage the environment in that it brings sulphur to the surface which
on contact with water forms vitriol and contaminates the ground water. Furthermore, the dust created by
the rock-breakers used in extracting the gold is carried by the air and pollutes agricultural produce. The
entire operation is obviously a health hazard for the population of Thrace but also creates problems for
farmers and fishermen in the region since the ecosystem from which they make a living will be under
severe stress.