WRITTEN QUESTION E-2174/02 by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Agri-monetary compensation.
Date: 2002-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, agri-monetary policy, aid per hectare, exchange rate, non-participating country (euro area)

C 309 E/206

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

(2002/C 309 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2174/02

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(18 July 2002)

Subject: Agri-monetary compensation

Would the Commission please indicate the amounts of agri-monetary compensation claimed by each
Member State to assist arable farmers during the last round of claims made on 31 October 2001 and how
this compared to the actual maximum claim each Member State would have been permitted to make?

Answer given by Mr. Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

On the basis of the evolution of exchange rates applicable to the arable crops aids per hectare in 2001, the
application of the provisions of Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 of 15 December 1998,
establishing the agrimonetary arrangements for the euro (1) gave rise to authorising the United Kingdom to
pay compensatory aid to arable farmers. The maximum amount of the first tranche of the aid was in total
fixed at EUR 52,99 million by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1966/2001 of 8 October 2001 fixing the
maximum amount of compensatory aid resulting from the exchange rate for the pound sterling applicable
on 1 July 2001 (2). The United Kingdom has not claimed any payment on this respect within the deadline
provided for in Article 11 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2808/98 laying down detailed rules for the
application of the agrimonetary system for the euro in agriculture (1). In the case of Sweden and Denmark
the development in the exchange rates did not provide the basis for any compensatory aid.

(1) OJ L 349, 24.12.1998.
(2) OJ L 268, 9.10.2001.

(2002/C 309 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2175/02

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 July 2002)

Subject: Proposed cuts in aid for citrus fruits

The Commission is currently considering a proposal to replace the current financial aid for citrus fruits to
be delivered for processing with a flat-rate contribution of EUR 260 per hectare (as against the present
figure of EUR 4 524,16). The current contribution is calculated by multiplying the Community aid per
kilogram (EUR 0,13) by the average production per hectare (400 q), plus EUR 0,01 per kilo from the
processing industry to which the fruit
is delivered. The system currently being considered by the
Commission would therefore cut producers’ annual gross revenue from EUR 4 524,16 per hectare to
EUR 260 per hectare!

Would the Commission not agree that a Community contribution of this size would result in orange
growing being abandoned in most of the Union’s production areas, particularly in those areas in which the
bulk of the oranges grown are intended for industrial processing?

Given that the cost of producing 400 q of oranges (average production per hectare) stands at more than
EUR 7 000 and the gross revenue would be EUR 260, on what basis is the Commission proposing that
such a huge cut be made?