WRITTEN QUESTION E-2501/02 by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Crisis affecting durum wheat producers in the commune of Raddusa.
Date: 2002-09-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, Sicily, agricultural disaster, agricultural expenditure, agricultural situation, aid per hectare, cereal-growing, common agricultural policy, farm income

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/61

the Polish Government

took an important step by adopting a plan entitled
In February 2002,
‘Entrepreneurship-Development-Employment’ which includes i.e. actions to increase the flexibility and
efficiency of the labour market. Within the framework of the National Development Plan 2004-2006, to
be submitted by Poland in December 2002, the Polish Government will present its overall strategy for
higher sustainable growth and employment. On the basis of
together with the
Commission also identify how the Community Structural Funds can go hand in hand with the national
policy framework and the reforms of the labour market, in order to address the problems of the labour
market including in agriculture and rural areas.

this, Poland will

According to the Labour Force Survey of Eurostat, the employment in Polish agriculture amounts to
19,2 % of total employment i.e. 2 887 000 persons and is, thus, indeed higher than the average Union
employment in agriculture. There is, however, a high variation in agricultural employment across the
Union and the Commission would expect Poland to remain above the Union average after accession.
Moreover these figures include subsistent and semi-subsistent farmers.

To date no reliable data have been published on the number of people employed in family farms. For this
reason the Commission has given considerable support to the agricultural census undertaken together with
the population census between 21 May 2002 and 8 June 2002. The Commission is awaiting the
preliminary results towards the end of 2002. This information will allow a more effective targeting of
policies and resources.

The Commission does not expect a large increase of unemployment as a result of accession to the Union.
Membership of the Union will alleviate the economic problems farmers in Poland are facing. Remaining
outside the Union will not help resolve these issues. Such assertion is confirmed by studies undertaken and
commissioned by the Commission, such as on ‘Competitiveness and farm incomes in the Central and
Eastern-Europe Countries (CEEC) agri-food sector’.

Investment, restructuring, and making semi-subsistence farming commercially viable are the real keys to
competitiveness in the agricultural sector of the new Member States. Removing disincentives to shift into
non-agricultural employment and supporting alternative employment prospects by means of increasing/
adapting qualifications within a significantly strengthened active labour market policy are examples of
is the Polish Government’s strategy to deal with the
other actions envisaged. The key however,
restructuring of the agriculture sector and promoting rural area development within a coherent overall
strategy to tackle the economic and employment situation throughout the country.

Moreover, being inside the Union will provide Polish farmers and the rural population with the
instruments targeted to meet their needs, including an appropriate level of safety net in the form of farm
income support. This will ensure that the necessary restructuring process will take place in a socially
acceptable way.

The restructuring process is likely to take place gradually and to a large extent to be cushioned by
Structural Funds and Rural Development Programmes as co-financed by the Union. Therefore,
the
Commission does not expect significant migration flows due to higher unemployment after accession.

(2003/C 110 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2501/02

by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 September 2002)

Subject: Crisis affecting durum wheat producers in the commune of Raddusa

Raddusa in the province of Catania has for centuries depended on agriculture for its livelihood, mainly
cereal production (the area specialises in growing durum wheat).

Because of the EU policy of reealigning prices farmers have seen a significant reduction in their incomes.
In view of this the EU has introduced compensatory payments for durum wheat producers (income
support).

C 110 E/62

Official Journal of the European Union

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8.5.2003

In view of the fact that there have been a series of disastrous events (in particular drought) over the last
few years, which have jeopardised harvests and brought the Sicilian economy to its knees, the only means
of subsistence for farmers has been, precisely, EU income support, minimal though it is. In view of the
situation outlined above, it is clear how important supplementary aid is for farmers.

Can the Commission say whether it intends to reduce by 27 % the supplementary payment to farmers,
which would thus fall from the present EUR 344,5 per hectare to EUR 250 per hectare?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 2002)

The Honourable Member will certainly be aware of the Court of Auditors’ recommendations in its 1997
report and of the assessment made by independent experts who examined the effectiveness of the support
these into
granted for durum wheat
consideration in its mid-term review (1), which proposes a reduction from EUR 344,5 to EUR 250 per
hectare (over a three-year period) in the supplementary compensatory payment to durum wheat growers
in traditional areas.

following the 1992 reform. The Commission took both of

To promote quality production a new aid of EUR 15 per tonne is also proposed for durum wheat for
industrial processing grown under a sale contract requiring observance of certain quality standards.

As far as disastrous events (drought) are concerned, the Honourable Member should note that the
supplementary durum wheat aid of EUR 250/ha will count for the purpose of calculating the single
decoupled aid to be paid to farmers. This will ensure them greater flexibility of resources when events of
this type occur.

In addition, following the exceptional drought in the Mezzogiorno, Sardinia and Sicily the Commission
this summer authorised Italy to pay in advance (from 26 August 2002) a maximum of 50 % of the 2002/
03 area aid payments for arable crops, the durum wheat supplement included.

(1) COM(2002) 394 final.

(2003/C 110 E/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2504/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 September 2002)

Subject: Severe problems in the agricultural sector as a result of a natural disaster in Crete

Last week a natural disaster hit Crete, causing the widespread destruction of agricultural crops, particularly
raisin crops in the regions of Iraklion, Rethimnon and Hania.

Knowing that:

(cid:1) there is a possibility of covering the damages from national resources (ELGA), provided that the

Commission gives the relevant authorisation;

(cid:1) part of the funding could be covered by resources from the operational programme for rural

development under the CSF (through reallocation of resources or use of reserves).

1. What proposals has Greece submitted regarding compensation for producers hit by this natural

disaster?