WRITTEN QUESTION E-1611/02 by Pernille Frahm (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. State aid to agriculture.
Date: 2002-06-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, EC Decision, European Commission, France, Italy, action for annulment (EU), viticulture

C 28 E/124

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

(2003/C 28 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1611/02

by Pernille Frahm (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 June 2002)

Subject: State aid to agriculture

I thank the Commission for its answer to question P-0744/02 (1). Once it has concluded its deliberations
concerning the possible revocation of
the
Commission inform me of the outcome of those deliberations, the background to that outcome and the
basis in the Treaties for its decision?

the Council’s decision on the destruction of wine, will

(1) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 210.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2002)

The Commission decided on 9 April not to ask the Court of Justice to quash the Council’s decisions of
28 February 2002 on behalf of French and Italian winegrowers.

The Commission will continue to voice its disapproval of such Council decisions. But after analysing those
in question in the light of previous Court findings relating to the matter it considered, given the costs and
risks involved, that referral would be inopportune.

(2003/C 28 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1619/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 June 2002)

Subject: Implementation of the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) in Greece

The Greek press reports that Commissioner Barnier has sent letters to the Prime Minister, Mr Simitis, and
to the Transport and Finance Ministers, Mr Christodoulakis and Mr Verelis, containing a stern warning
concerning the utilisation of resources under the 3rd CSF. The reports state that the letters are dated
18 April 2002 and focus on specific problems such as proceeding with infrastructure projects without
carrying out the relevant studies, running over budgets, uncertainty over the completion of infrastructure
by 2008, etc.

The Greek press reports that it is not the first time that Mr Barnier has tried to make the Greek
Government more responsive; other letters have previously been sent to Mr Simitis, Mr Papantoniou and
Mr Pachtas.

How many times has Mr Barnier sent letters to the Greek Prime Minister and the ministers responsible
urging them to step up the take-up rate of appropriations under the 3rd CSF? Is it true that programmes
more than two years behind schedule will start to be curtailed or cancelled from 2003? In which fields are
the delays to be found and which major infrastructure projects are affected? Is it true that the Commission
refuses to disburse additional funds for projects under the 2nd CSF which have overrun their budgets? Does
the Commission know whether the Greek Government will cover these additional costs from the Greek
national budget?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2002)

The press articles to which the Honourable Member refers relate to an exchange of letters between the
Commission and the relevant Greek authorities about the findings of a number of checks which the