WRITTEN QUESTION P-1153/02 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Replanting vines in Sicily.
Date: 2002-04-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Sicily, drought, plantation, regional aid, replanting, vineyard

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/153

quality of habitat and its actual or potential levels of exploitation. The dugong lives in shallow waters of
tropical seas. Major concentrations of dugong tend to occur in wide shallow protected waters (in which
they graze on sea grass beds), but can also be observed in deeper water farther offshore in areas where the
continental shelf is wide, shallow and protected.

Notwithstanding the habitat conservation being a highly critical issue, or the direct exploitation by local
communities, accidental entangling in mesh nets in particular from coastal and traditional fisheries,
is
identified as a major concern in most of its distribution area. The Commission has no information on the
extent of possible entanglements in gillnets, in particular off the coast of East Africa.

However, Community vessels operating in the framework of fisheries agreements concluded with East
African States (Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles) within the distribution range of this species do not use
gillnets, nor are they allowed to operate in coastal waters. The vessels may only fish as from 10 to
12 nautical miles. The Commission has not undertaken research into a possible impact of those fisheries
in view of its biology characteristics and the type of fisheries concerned by these
on dugong, and,
agreements, does not consider that Community fishing represents a threat to this species.

(2002/C 277 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1144/02

by Bill Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 April 2002)

Subject: State aid

Was the Commission ever consulted as to whether the contribution of GBP 150 000 made in 1999/2000
by Lincolnshire County Council towards the construction of a road to the premises of QV Foods Limited at
Holbeach Hurn was a State aid which was acceptable under European Union rules?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2002)

The construction of new public roads which are open to all road users is in general considered to be a
general
infrastructure measure and not State aid and is therefore not subject to notification to the
Commission in accordance with Article 88 of the EC Treaty.

The Commission was not consulted on the payment mentioned, no such case has been registered.

(2002/C 277 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1153/02

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(15 April 2002)

Subject: Replanting vines in Sicily

Many wine-growers in Sicily are replanting vines in accordance with Regulation (EC) 1325/90 (1) et seq. =
set to expire in the 2002/2002 marketing year.

These wine-growers are currently experiencing serious difficulties owing to an extremely severe and long-
lasting period of drought.

In addition to the possible loss of their vines, these growers are also faced with the fact that it is legally
impossible for them to provide for the coming year.

C 277 E/154

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Given the fact that the likely failure of the replanting operations is due solely to exceptionally harsh
weather conditions, would the Commission consider granting an extension with a view to preventing
Sicilian wine-growers and producers from sustaining enormous losses and thousands of jobs from being
lost in the sector?

(1) OJ L 132, 23.5.1990, p. 19.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2002)

The regulatory provisions to which the Honourable Member refers no longer apply. They were repealed by
Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on common organisation of the market in
wine (1).

The provisions now in force are the above Council Regulation supplemented by Commission Regulation
(EC) No 1227/2000 of 31 May 2000 setting detailed rules of application for Council Regulation (EC)
No 1493/1999 as regards production potential (2).

Action on the problems encountered by the wine-growers concerned over using replanting rights must
accord with these.

The duration of such rights is set by the Council Regulation, amendment of which would require
Parliament’s opinion.

Under the present provisions replanting rights that expire are transferred to reserves run by the
Member States at national or regional level. Thus they are still available for use and can be assigned in line
with rules set by the competent authorities that respect the Community provisions.

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999.
(2) OJ L 143, 16.6.2000.

(2002/C 277 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1154/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Commission presence at the Fifth World Avocado Congress

The Fifth World Avocado Congress will be held in the Málaga and Granada provinces and will be attended
by 700 participants, 100 of whom are engaged in research.

The Congress will focus on avocado marketing, as well as on different varieties and diseases. In the light of
the forthcoming World Congress, the deplorable lack of health protection for this plant has prompted calls
in the above-mentioned provinces to set in motion the necessary mechanisms for quality control and
species protection.

Does the Commission believe that,
it should play an
important role in the World Avocado Congress forums and discussions to promote avocado production in
the provinces of Málaga and Granada, which represents 87 % of European avocado production and 97 % of
Spanish avocado production?

in view of its special powers under the CAP,