WRITTEN QUESTION E-1695/02 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE), Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE),Anne Van Lancker (PSE) and Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. Guarantee in connection with the running-down of intervention stocks that food will be distributed to disadvantaged groups.
Date: 2002-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU stock, accession to the European Union, aid to disadvantaged groups, common agricultural policy, intervention stock, voluntary organisation

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/151

(cid:1) the move to the operational phase of the Sixth Framework Programme for Research, covering all

aspects of road safety;

(cid:1) various studies on the behaviour of road users, vehicle technology, road infrastructure and technology

and the fight against legal and illegal drugs.

A Community action plan on road safety, giving more details of the abovementioned measures and listing
further measures to be taken, will soon be the object of a Commission communication.

(1) European transport policy for 2010: time to decide, COM(2001) 370 final.

(2002/C 309 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1695/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE), Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE),
Anne Van Lancker (PSE) and Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(12 June 2002)

Subject: Guarantee in connection with the running-down of

intervention stocks that

food will be

distributed to disadvantaged groups

In the run-up to the enlargement, it is only normal that the Commission should be seeking to make
revisions to agricultural policy. It is also understandable that the new policy should be geared more
towards quality than quantity, one of the reasons which prompted the decision to run down intervention
stocks. On the other hand, the idea that, although not originally intended for this purpose, part of the
intervention stocks should now be used in order to guarantee disadvantaged groups the right to food
should not be rejected out of hand.

Can the Commission state whether it has considered this idea in connection with any moves to run down
intervention stocks and, if not, whether it intends to take other steps to ensure that food provision for the
most disadvantaged population groups in Europe at least remains at current levels?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2002)

The aid programme introduced by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3730/87 of 10 December 1987 laying
down the general rules for the supply of food from intervention stocks to designated organisations for
distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community (1) and organised by Commission Regulation
(EEC) No 3149/92 of 29 October 1992 (2) is one of the food programmes developed by the Union. The
special feature of the programme is that it is based on intervention stocks and therefore helps reduce
Europe’s agricultural surpluses.

One of the objectives of the reform launched several years ago is to prevent intervention stocks from
building up. The resulting downward trend in intervention stock quantities could ultimately entail re-
examining the programme’s advisability and implementation. It should be emphasised, however, that this
trend is gradual and that the quantities needed to implement the programme are relatively small compared
with present intervention stocks of various products.

The Commission would therefore point out that the downward trend in intervention stocks highlighted by
the Honourable Members does not constitute an obstacle to implementing the current (2002) annual plan
in the normal way or to preparing the next (2003).

C 309 E/152

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

Over time the Commission has adjusted implementation as necessary so that the programme can continue
and develop. The Commission is mindful of
the impact which the trend highlighted by the
Honourable Members and particularly the forthcoming enlargement of the Union will have on the
programme’s future.

(1) OJ L 352, 15.12.1987.
(2) OJ L 313, 30.10.1992.

(2002/C 309 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1696/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 June 2002)

Subject: The Oporto inner ring road

The ‘Committee for the Oporto inner ring road’ recently sent the Directorate-General for the Environment
a report on the problems suffered by people living near the road, caused by failure to resurface the road or
erect noise barriers.

Can the Commission say what its position is on this report?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2002)

The Commission confirms that it has been approached by a Residents Committee from the city of Oporto
on the subject of noise caused by traffic on the Oporto inner ring road.

The provisions of Community law on environmental noise are not yet applicable to the situation in
In May 2002 the Parliament and the Council adopted a Directive on the assessment and
question.
management of environmental noise (1). This entrusts the competent authorities in the Member States with
the task of making noise maps, using common indicators, for Europe’s largest towns and cities and major
roads, railways and airports, informing the public about noise exposure and its effects, and implementing
action plans to reduce noise exposure where necessary and maintain environmental noise quality where it
is good. The Directive entered into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Communities, and the Member States have two years from that date to transpose it into national
law.

The project concerned would appear to come under Annex II of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June
1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (2), as the
information received by the Commission shows that it does not meet the criteria for definition as an
express road. Under Article 4(2) of the said Directive it is for the national authorities to decide whether
such projects should be made subject to an environmental impact assessment. However, Article 2 of the
Directive stipulates that projects likely to have significant effects on the environment must be made subject
to such an assessment.

This being the case, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it has asked the
in particular the classification of the road in
Portuguese authorities for information on the situation,
question, the possible need for an environmental impact assessment and the need to take measures to
minimise the effects.

The Commission will not fail to keep the Honourable Member informed of the outcome of its contacts
with the Portuguese authorities.

(1) Directive 2002/49/EC, 25.6.2002.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3.3.1997, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.