WRITTEN QUESTION E-1059/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Discrimination against family-run farms in Spain's allocation of aid received from the EAGGF Guarantee Section: the case of Galicia.
Date: 2002-04-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF Guarantee Section, Galicia, Spain, agricultural policy, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, family farming, farm income, rural development

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/77

Since refusal of a residence permit and deportation having the force of law in Austria would also apply to
nationals of the countries signatory to the Schengen Agreement, the new Residence Act might give rise to
a situation in which a person from a country where French is spoken might come to Austria, fail to learn
a sufficient amount of German and then, although speaking perfect French, not be permitted to return to
France under the Schengen Agreement.

Can the Council verify whether this depiction of the situation is accurate and whether this absurd

1.
example might be one of the consequences of the Austrian Residence Act?

Does the Council take the view that the new Residence Act could be implemented in the European

2.
Union and that it is compatible with its principles?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The Council points out that it does not comment on draft legislation of the Member States.

The Honourable Member is also reminded that matters concerning immigration, visas and asylum fall
within Community competence by virtue of Title IV of the TEC. It is, therefore, for the Commission, as
guardian of the Treaties, to verify whether the Member States are fulfilling their obligations with regard to
these matters.

(2002/C 309 E/088)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1059/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(17 April 2002)

Subject: Discrimination against family-run farms in Spain’s allocation of aid received from the EAGGF

Guarantee Section: the case of Galicia

Last year, EUR 6,2 billion of aid for Spanish agriculture was allocated from the EAGGF Guarantee Section.
In practice that aid, as in all previous years, was distributed in a highly discriminatory fashion since it
mainly benefited major producers and even the owners of large estates who live off their capital, have
huge fortunes and belong to the Spanish nobility (cid:1) whereas farming families living in rural areas are
marginalised. Since the EAGGF Guarantee Section aid mainly goes to farms in arid areas which grow
oilseed plants, cereals, flax, cotton, tobacco, and so on, farmers in more humid areas who rear livestock for
meat or milk are marginalised twice over. This is the case with farmers in Galicia. Since Galicia is
remarkably suited to agriculture and to multifunctional rural development, it receives only 1 % of the
EUR 6,2 billion which Spain receives from the EAGGF Guarantee Section, whereas other Spanish regions
(essentially their large landholders) receive up to 30 % of the total.

What action is to be taken in order to ensure that the EAGGF Guarantee Section serves regional
development and social cohesion, in accordance with EU principles? What immediate compensation is
Galicia to receive?

Reply

(3 October 2002)

1.
The Council attaches great importance to the development of the rural environment. This issue
underlies the policy of diversification and development of rural areas that was confirmed by Agenda 2000.
The CAP approach is based on the idea that agriculture must be multifunctional and spread throughout
Europe and must enable a key contribution to be made to the vitality of rural life.

C 309 E/78

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

In order to implement rural development, which constitutes the second pillar of the CAP, the Council
2.
has decided that, apart from the traditional agricultural market measures, the EAGGF Guarantee Section
should finance rural development programmes, four of which (early retirement, compensatory allowances,
afforestation and agri-environment) cover the entire Union. However, six other measures (investment in
agricultural holdings, young farmers,
forestry, processing and marketing, adaptation and
diversification of rural areas) which are also financed by the EAGGF Guarantee Section are, in the case of
the regions covered by Objective 1 (including Galicia), the responsibility of the EAGGF Guidance Section.
The other Structural Funds also contribute.

training,

Current regulations on rural development provide for the amalgamation of all measures in this area,
3.
with the Member State responsible for choosing to implement those which will be most effective for the
future development of rural areas.

The Council

4.
informs the Honourable Member that on 15 July 2002 it conducted a preliminary
debate on the mid-term review of the CAP following the Commission’s presentation of its communication.

(2002/C 309 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1060/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

Subject: Prevention of military operations against Iraq

(17 April 2002)

The reference by the President of the USA to the ‘axis of evil’ and the persistent talk of imminent military
operations against Iraq have alarmed public opinion in the Member States. Since any new war in Iraq will
also directly affect European interests in the region, what common position has the Council adopted in
response to this likely eventuality and what initiatives has it taken to avert further military operations
against Iraq?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The Council remains convinced that any solution as regards Iraq must
involve the complete, and
unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions, in particular Resolutions 687, 1284
and 1382, and that Iraq must comply with its disarmament obligations. The Council is monitoring closely
the meetings with the UN Secretary-General and supports his efforts. In fact, the Iraqi Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Naji Sabri, has met the UN Secretary-General on two occasions, on 7 March and 1 and 2 May. The
UN Secretary-General felt, at the end of the last meeting, that rapid progress had been made, bearing in
mind in particular the fact that the Iraqi Minister had been accompanied by senior officials who were
disarmament experts and that genuine dialogue had taken place on the application of the Resolutions and
cooperation with UNMOVIC. The next meeting [is to be held in about one month, and the EU hopes that
it will yield positive, tangible results] (1).

(1) To be updated by corrigendum if this reply has not reached the European Parliament by the date in question.

(2002/C 309 E/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1061/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council

(17 April 2002)

Subject: Interchange of Data between Administrations (I.D.A.)

The Council of Ministers of Transport and Communications of the European Union met on 25 March
2002 and adopted a decision on the ‘interchange of data between administrations’ (I.D.A.). The news
bulletin Euractiv reported on 26 March 2002 that this decision also involves the transfer of data between
Member States and non-Member States (web page www.euractiv.com).