WRITTEN QUESTION P-3410/02 by Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. European Union action plan to promote organic food and farming.
Date: 2002-11-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, action programme, foodstuff, organic farming, organic product, sustainable development

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/67

What subsidies were paid to Italian vineyards each year between 1990 and 2000 on the basis of which
areas under vine, and what was the position with regard to distillation of Italian wines in that 10-year
period?

Whether it sees a link with increased sales of Italian wines and cultivation on non-legalised land, and what
action it proposes to take to eliminate any such improper practices?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2002)

The Commission cannot confirm the figures that the Honourable Member advances.

Under the common market organisation arrangements for wine, as set out in Council Regulation (EEC)
No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 (1), Member States were directed to provide the Commission with an
inventory of their production potential.

For Italy the figures showed an area under vines of 792 440 ha at the beginning of the 1999/00 wine
production year: 263 817 ha for production of ‘quality wines produced in specified regions’ (QWPSR) and
526 623 ha for production of ‘table wines’.

The corresponding figures for 1990/91 were 936 457 ha: 228 525 ha for QWPSR and 707 932 ha for
table wines.

A fall of 16 % (26 % for table wines) is therefore indicated over the last ten years.

If the Honourable Member’s figures are confirmed the Commission will not fail to question Italy about the
discrepancies.

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999.

(2003/C 222 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3410/02

by Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: European Union action plan to promote organic food and farming

(25 November 2002)

In June 2001 the Göteborg European summit and the Agriculture Council instructed the Commission to
draw up a European Union action plan to promote organic food and farming.

What stage has the Commission reached in its work on the European Union action plan to promote
organic food and farming?

How will the European Parliament be involved in drafting the action plan?

In what form will the Commission present the action plan to the European Council?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2002)

In June 2001 the Göteborg European Council agreed that ‘the common agricultural policy and its future
development should, among its objectives, contribute to achieving sustainable development by increasing
its emphasis on encouraging healthy, high quality products, environmentally sustainable production
methods, including organic production …’.

C 222 E/68

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

On 19 June 2001 the Agriculture Council in conclusions invited the Commission ‘to analyse the possibility
of a European Union action plan to promote organic food and farming and present appropriate proposals’.

The Commission began its work in April 2002 and drew up a working document containing the outcome
of the reflections of a group of experts and of an interdepartmental working group. The experts’ group was
widely representative of the stakeholders, both public and private, in the organic farming sector.

The working document is to be presented to the Agriculture Council. The Commission envisages its being
followed by in-depth consultation of the Member States and the sector to devise a European action plan
incorporating a working programme for the coming years and a commitment to launch specific proposals
and determine priorities.

Working out of the plan will however be dependent on the outcome of the Council’s discussion of the
working document.

(2003/C 222 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3412/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council

(29 November 2002)

Subject: Christian groups in Pakistan

Has the Council made representations to the Government of Pakistan in order to respond to the plight of
certain Christian groups in Pakistan?

If not, does it intend to do so?

Reply

(5 and 6 May 2003)

1.
The Council has repeatedly underlined the importance of freedom of religion as a fundamental
human right. Human rights are an essential part of the EU’s political dialogue with all countries, including
Pakistan.

2.
The EU has noted the incidents of violence against Christians as well as institutions belonging to the
Christian community in Pakistan. These include the attack on the Murree Christian School and the Taxila
Christian Hospital in August 2002, the Christian welfare organisation in Karachi in September 2002 which
caused the death of six people and, most recently, an attack on a Protestant church in Daska, near Lahore,
on 25 December 2002 following which four women died.

On several occasions the EU has raised its concerns about the situation of Christians in Pakistan with
the European Union issued

3.
the Pakistan authorities. On 7 August 2002 and 25 September 2002,
declarations deploring the attack on Christian institutions.

4.
The Council would remind the Honourable Member that in the declaration by the Presidency on
behalf of the European Union on the election of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan the European Union
stressed that it would carefully monitor the transfer of power to a civilian administration within the time
frame laid down in the Pakistani authorities’ roadmap to democracy and voiced once again the hope that
all the Parties and political forces would work together to achieve good governance and functioning
democratic institutions. It also looked forward to cooperation with the new Pakistani Government on all
issues of mutual interest, including the fight against terrorism.

5.
In line with its guiding principles of respect for fundamental rights, and in particular freedom of
thought, conscience and religion as referred to in Article 10 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union, the EU will continue to pay close attention to the situation of Christians in Pakistan, and
will, if necessary, raise the various problems with the Pakistani Government.