WRITTEN QUESTION E-2120/02 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) and Emilia Müller (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Direct aid to farmers.
Date: 2002-07-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU aid, EU statistics, agricultural holding, aid to agriculture, data protection, disclosure of information

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/137

(2003/C 92 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2114/02

by Janelly Fourtou (PPE-DE) to the Council

(17 July 2002)

Subject: EU membership of the Madrid protocol

In July 1996 the Commission presented a proposal for a Council decision aimed at establishing a link
between the Community mark system and the Madrid Protocol (1) and a proposal aimed at modifying
Regulation 40/94 on the Community trade mark to enable such a link to be established (2). Parliament
adopted these two proposals in May 1997.

When the Commission presented these proposals only six Member States (Denmark, Finland, Germany,
Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) were members of the Madrid Protocol. Now all the EU Member
States and all the applicant countries except Cyprus and Malta have acceded to the protocol.

The European Union’s accession would allow industry to benefit from the advantages of the Community
mark in all the Madrid protocol Member States. It would also provide protection for the mark in signatory
third countries and foster a climate favourable to trade between the European Union and the third
countries.

In view of all the advantages that accession by the European Union to the Madrid protocol would offer to
the owners of European trademarks, to the Community mark and the contribution it would make to
consolidating the single market and to trade with third countries, and given that all the Member States
have acceded individually to the protocol, can the Council say what measures it intends to take finally to
establish the link between the Community mark and the Madrid protocol?

(1) COM(96) 367 final, OJ C 293, 5.1.1996, p. 11.
(2) COM(96) 372 final, OJ C 300, 10.10.1996, p. 11.

Reply

(16-19 December 2002)

The proposed Decision and the proposed Regulation mentioned in the Honourable Member’s question
require unanimity in the Council in order to be adopted. It has not yet been possible to obtain unanimity
on all the provisions contained in the proposals.

(2003/C 92 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2120/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) and Emilia Müller (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Direct aid to farmers

(17 July 2002)

Does the Commission have any statistics on direct aid to farmers in the 15 Member States? Can it provide
them, broken down by amount (in EUR 10 000 bands) and by size of farm?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

In the past it was not possible for the Commission for legal reasons to answer positively to the Honourable
Members as to others who have addressed similar requests to the Commission (see also answer to the
Honourable Member’s written question 1949/02 (1)). However, the Commission has adopted on 6 March
2002 an amendment to Regulation (EC) No 2390/1999 (2). The new Article 2 of this Regulation allows the

C 92 E/138

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

Commission to use the accounting information of the paying agencies in the context of the clearance of
account procedure and to monitor developments as well as to provide forecasts in the agricultural sector.
The accounting information transmitted to the Commission remains, however, confidential and is
communicated only for the purposes given in Article 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2390/1999.

In carrying out the new two actions, the Commission is obliged to respect the provisions of Regulation
(EC) No 45/2001 of the Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and
on the free movement of such data (3). Therefore it renders the information anonymous and processes it in
aggregated form only.

In conclusion, the Commission will be soon in a position to provide statistical information on the amounts
paid to farmers. Detailed statistical information will be shortly made available to the public which will in
principle cover the request made by the Honourable Members.

(1) See page 123.
(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 419/2002 of 6 March 2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 2390/1999 laying
down detailed rules for the application of Regulation (EC) No 1663/95 as regards the form and content of the
accounting information that the Member States must hold at the disposal of the Commission for the purposes of
the clearance of the EAGGF Guarantee Section accounts, OJ L 64, 7.3.2002.

(3) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001.

(2003/C 92 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2127/02

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 July 2002)

Subject: Hemp products

The shelled hemp seed is rich in protein, fibre, minerals, vitamin E, iron and the fatty acids Omega 3 and 6.
Currently in the United States, products such as food, soaps, cosmetics and clothes which contain hemp
may be outlawed as minute traces (1-10 parts per million) from the bract dust on seed means that hemp
products can give false positive tests of THC, the illegal hallucinogenic, in a person.

What approach does the Commission take to the marketing of hemp products in the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

Within the frame of the Common Agricultural Policy, the production of hemp is subject to very strict
community legislation as regards the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.

On the one hand, hemp is covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 (1),
establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops. Under the terms of this Regulation, a
hemp producer can request an area payment if he observes certain conditions. These concern in particular
the use of varieties that have a very low THC content not exceeding 0,2 % and which are listed in annex XII
to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2316/1999 of 22 October 1999, laying down detailed rules for the
application of Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 (2). Member States have to implement a specific control
system on the THC content of the hemp plants, based on a sampling and analysis procedure defined at the
Community level, which can result in the withdrawal of certain varieties from the list of approved varieties
if it is established that the THC limit is exceeded. But for example, since hemp stems do not contain THC,
hemp fibres used to manufacture clothes cannot contain it either.

On the other hand, hemp is also subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 1673/2000 of 27 July 2000 on
the common organisation of the markets in flax and hemp grown for fibre (3). An aid can be granted to
authorised primary processors who obtain hemp fibres, only from hemp grown under Regulation (EC)
No 1251/1999, i.e. not exceeding 0,2 % THC. Council Regulation (EC) No 1673/2000 also stipulates