WRITTEN QUESTION E-0782/02 by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission. Support for horse-farming.
Date: 2002-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, equidae, horsemeat, livestock farming, principle of subsidiarity, rural development

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/137

(2002/C 229 E/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0782/02

by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 March 2002)

Subject: Support for horse-farming

In recent years, horse-farming has become an increasingly important factor in rural development, while
during the same period the number of traditional farmers has declined. Within the EU, horses are used as
trotting-horses, for riding and as pets. Demand for horsemeat has also risen in Europe. At present, much
horsemeat is imported from outside Europe.

Horse-farming is hampered because of problems of viability and certain structural problems. Aid to horse-
farming ought to be sufficient to provide an incentive and enable the sector to develop. At the same time,
it should be possible to preserve original breeds.

What will the Commission do to improve the economic position of horse-breeders in the EU, thereby
making horse-farming an important element in a multifunctional countryside? Can substantial slaughter
grants play a leading role in aid to horse-farming, so as to increase the number of horses for slaughter and
thereby accelerate the turnover of the horse stock and encourage horse-breeding?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2002)

In the framework of the rural development policy, second pillar of the Common agricultural policy (CAP)
established with the Agenda 2000, a broad bundle of support measures has been introduced to promote
the multifunctional role of agriculture going beyond the production of agricultural goods and including
objectives such as improving the environmental situation and contributing to the development of the rural
society.

The underlying 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) foresees measures as aids for investments in agricultural holdings or in processing
and marketing of agricultural products. Furthermore, eco-compatible production methods or farming in
less favoured areas are subject to Community support, as well as rearing endangered breeds or farmers’
diversification activities.

Common to these measures is that
they are implemented through rural development programmes
designed, at the appropriate level, by the Member States who decide whether or not to give preference to
certain designated sectors.

In the Commission’s opinion horse farming has a potential to contribute to sustainable rural development
as it is objective of the above-mentioned aid schemes.

This potential consists in particular of:

8 creation of income in rural economies by diversification of animal husbandry and offering services
(e.g. pension animal keeping; sport events, rural tourism etc.); the demand for these services is
expanding, however limited and regionally concentrated;

8 Improvement of

the environment: horse-farming is usually extensive and requires (permanent)
grassland. Both extensive farming methods and the preservation of grassland are important elements
of the Commission’s agri-environment policy;

C 229 E/138

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

8 Contribution to the upkeep of economic activities in less favoured areas, since horse-farming is
possible also on marginal sites: the continuation of agricultural activities in such areas is an important
objective of the Community’s rural development policy;

8 Preservation of genetic diversity: the rearing of animals (including horses) of local breeds indigenous to

the area and in danger of being lost for farming is part of the agri-environment measures.

The Honourable Member may see from these examples that the instruments and means already exist to
foster the economic situation of horse breeders in the framework of rural development. In the spirit of
subsidiarity it is up to the Member States to include the relevant measures in their programmes.

As to substantial slaughter grants, the Commission envisages no Common Market Organisation for horses
that might include such grants.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 229 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0790/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: Banning of a film in Turkey

(22 March 2002)

The Associated Press reports from Ankara that the Turkish authorities have banned the screening of a
Turkish film entitled ‘Big Man, Small Love’ because it contains dialogue in Kurdish. The film was in fact
partly funded by the Turkish Ministry for Culture, which issued the order not to show the film in cinemas
because it considered that there was a problem with the inclusion of dialogue in Kurdish, despite the fact
that Turkish subtitles were shown.

Is such a measure consistent with Turkey’s conforming to standards of conduct befitting a European state?
What action has the Council
freedom and gross
taken in the past when violations of
infringements of democratic freedoms in Turkey came to light? In how many cases did Turkey rectify the
situation and which cases were those?

intellectual

Reply

(27 June 2002)

The Council refers the Honourable Members to the reply given on a similar subject raised in question
E-426/02.

(2002/C 229 E/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0797/02

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(21 March 2002)

Subject: Common Fisheries Policy

Does the Commission have plans to extend the benefits of the Common Fisheries Policy to the Aegean,
Baltic, Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas or the appropriate waters surrounding extra-European territories of
EU members in the Caribbean Sea, Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans?

If there are no such plans, please explain why.