WRITTEN QUESTION E-2354/02 by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Commission. European farm subsidy for the Netherlands royal family.
Date: 2002-07-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF, EU financing arrangements, Tuscany, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, eligibility criteria, farmers' income, olive

C 110 E/44

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.5.2003

The Commission has not, however, been informed of any fraud in part-financing under the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE).

Regarding the work part-financed by the ERDF for the Laganas Maríne Park project in Zakynthos, the
Commission would point out that (cid:1) in accordance with the subsidiarity principle (cid:1) sole responsibility for
project selection and implementation rests with the Member States. The Commission therefore does not
hold comprehensive information, which is supplied only in the event of checks, and would ask the
Honourable Member to request that information from the managing authority for the Environment
operational programme (Evritania and Itea Street 2, 11523 Athens, telephone 010-6971700).

The Commission is not responsible for determining financial compensation in respect of the losses referred
to or for taking expropriation decisions. Expropriations are a matter for the national authorities in
compliance with national
legislation. Expropriation costs may be eligible for part-financing by the
Structural Funds, subject to the conditions and limits stipulated in rule No 5 of Commission Regulation
(EC) No 1685/2000 of 28 July 2000 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 as regards eligibility of expenditure of operations co-financed by the
Structural Funds (1).

(1) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000.

(2003/C 110 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2354/02

by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: European farm subsidy for the Netherlands royal family

(31 July 2002)

According to a report in the Volkskrant newspaper on 16 July 2002 under the headline ‘Beatrix looks
forward to Balkenende’s arrival’, Queen Beatrix told a group of Members of the Netherlands Second
Chamber in February 1999 that the Netherlands royal house had received European subsidies for planting
an olive grove at the Netherlands royal family’s country estate at Porto Ercole in Italy.

Can the Commission confirm that the Netherlands royal house has received subsidies for planting an

1.
olive grove at Porto Ercole, Italy?

Does the Netherlands royal house receive other kinds of European subsidies, from the agricultural

2.
fund or from other funds (such as the European Social Fund)?

Is the subsidy to the Netherlands royal house granted under Article 33, paragraph 1(b) of the Treaty
3.
of Rome, which says that one of the objectives of the common agricultural policy is ‘to ensure a fair
standard of living for the agricultural community, in particular by increasing the individual earnings of
persons engaged in agriculture’? If not, on the basis of what objective was it paid?

4.
Does the Commission agree that insofar as any financial aid is granted to the agriculture sector it
should be restricted to small farms with low incomes, and that even the ceiling of EUR 300 000 proposed
by Commissioner Fischler is too high in some cases?

Does the Commission share the view that a decision to grant a subsidy should at least be based on

5.
an income and means test? Is it prepared to revise its plans accordingly?

(2003/C 110 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2413/02

by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Commission

(7 August 2002)

Subject: Further questions concerning the agricultural subsidy granted to Queen Beatrix

On 18 July 2002 I put questions to the Commission concerning the subsidy which Queen Beatrix of the
Netherlands reportedly received in connection with the establishment of an olive grove at the Netherlands