WRITTEN QUESTION P-3575/02 by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Shortcomings in the application of IACS in Greece.
Date: 2002-12-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, aid system, aid to agriculture, area of holding, management audit, management information system, report

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3.7.2003

The Patriarchate’s last legal resort was an appeal to the Israeli High Court of Justice, which has gone
unanswered.

Javier Solana, approached by Europe’s Armenian community, has failed to react in any way at all.

It appears that this matter is a testing of the international community by the State of Israel. If Israel
succeeds, we can start worrying about the danger that the Orthodox and Roman Catholic institutions, and
indeed every other minority living in Israel, will see their culture smothered and their heritage confiscated.

Does the Council intend to take up the case of the Baron Der Armenian monastic property, and remind
Israel of its human rights undertakings, and ask the country to respect the cultural and religious diversity
of the various elements which constitute Israeli society?

Does the Council believe that the behaviour described above violates the Association Agreement (1)
between the European Union and Israel, specifically in respect of the recitals and Article 2 thereof? If so,
does the Council not intend to terminate this Agreement?

(1) OJ L 147, 21.6.2000.

Reply

(4 March 2003)

The Council has not specifically discussed this matter. However, in meetings with Israel held in the context
of the Association Agreement, it has always stressed that relations with Israel are based on joint respect for
democratic principles and fundamental human rights, which constitute an essential element of
the
Agreement, in accordance with Article 2 thereof. It has stated that the promotion of fundamental freedoms
(cid:1) one of which is religious freedom (cid:1) constitutes a major objective of the Union’s external policy. The EU
is sparing no effort, particularly through the Quartet in which the Secretary-General/High Representative
for the CFSP, Mr Javier Solana, participates, to establish trust between the Parties and bring them back to
the negotiating table.

(2003/C 155 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3575/02

by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Shortcomings in the application of IACS in Greece

(6 December 2002)

The Court of Auditors’ Special Report No 4/2001 (1) includes a table (No 4) giving a summary of the
weaknesses identified by the Commission in the Member States with regard to the year 1998 (mission
reports from 1998 to June 2000). This table shows that there are key control weaknesses in Greece.
Specifically, the weaknesses identified in connection with area aid are: respect of deadlines, computerised
databases, the identification system for parcels, administrative controls, on-the-spot controls and penalties,
while in connection with animal premiums
respect of deadlines,
computerised databases, the identification and registration system for animals, aid applications, adminis-
trative controls and on-the-spot controls.
the
In addition, paragraph 64 of
the integrated administrative and control system (IACS)
Commission’s services have concluded that
introduced by Council Regulation No 3508/1992 (2) of 27 November 1992 establishing an integrated
administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes has not been implemented by
Greece.

the report states that

the weaknesses

identified are:

What is the current situation with regard to Greece’s implementation of IACS and what measures has the
Commission taken or does it intend to take to ensure that Greece’s implementation of IACS is satisfactory?

Is the Commission aware of the reasons for these shortcomings in implementation? In its view, what
impact have the shortcomings in applying this system had on the effectiveness of the checks carried out?

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Can the Commission state the total amount for financial corrections implemented at Greece’s expense from
1 January 1997 (the deadline for full implementation of the IACS) as a result of unsatisfactory physical
inspections arising from the failure to implement the system?

(1) OJ C 214, 31.7.2001, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 355, 5.12.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2003)

The situation in Greece and its progress has been until now, and will continue to be, closely assessed by
the Commission services responsible for the audit of agricultural expenditure.

Greece has not yet completed its bovine identification and registration system pursuant to Council
Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system
for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef
products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (1), which had to be fully in place by 1 January
2000 at the latest. Likewise, the system whereby sheep and goat farmers are required to maintain flock
movement
to Council Directive 92/102/EEC of 27 November 1992 on the
identification and registration of animals (2), does not operate correctly, even though a premium
requirement since 1995. Greece’s Land Parcel Identification System that pursuant to Council Regulation
(EEC) No 3508/92 of 27 November 1992 establishing an integrated administration and control system
(IACS) for certain Community aid schemes (2) was to be finalised by 1 January 1997 at the latest is still
incomplete. Recurrent problems have also been encountered with regard to the processing of aid
applications, payment and on-the-spot inspection arrangements.

registers, pursuant

IACS. Consequently, the
The above-illustrated deficiencies relate to each of the key components of
regulatory administrative and physical controls,
such as computerised cross-checks and on-farm
inspections, cannot be fully relied upon. This unsatisfactory situation causes a risk of over-charge on the
Fund, which is dealt with in the context of the Commission’s clearance of accounts procedure.

On this basis, the Commission has until now decided yearly corrections at the rate of 5 % or more for
arable crops, 10 % for bovine premia and 5 % for ovine premia.

As from the first of January 2000, the identification and registration of animals became a clear eligibility
requirement to receive the animal premia, so that the weaknesses of identification and registration of the
animals in Greece involve a higher rate of non compliance with the rules. Therefore, the Commission is
considering a 25 % correction rate on certain bovine premia of the year 2000. This proposal is currently at
the conciliation stage. Further corrections at a high rate, are still under consideration in the Commission.

On the other hand, the Commission, in its audits, has not found indications that the situation on the spot,
at the farm level, suggests a significant degree of anomalies or frauds. So that there is no reason to
consider that the risk for the fund is higher than the financial correction rates decided by the Commission.

The total amount already refused Community financing by Commission Decisions in respect of claim years
1997 to 1999 comes to EUR 156 153 993. However, given that expenditure is declared in the financial
year following the claim year, it should be noted that the clearance of accounts procedure is continuing
with regard to claim years 1999 onwards for the arable crops sector and 2000 onwards for the animal
premium sector, in respect of which further significant financial consequences are already at an advanced
stage of clearance and envisaged for 2003.
In addition taking into account the possibility that the
recurrence of weaknesses in control system can, year after year, imply an increase of incorrect declaration
by the farmers, the Commission is preparing guidelines aiming to increase the rate of flat rate corrections
in the case where a Member State has not applied corrective measures to weaknesses of control systems
having already lead to financial corrections in the framework of the clearance of accounts procedure.

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In conclusion, the financial corrections applied until now correspond with the financial risk to the fund as
assessed by the Commission. The situation for 2002 will be assessed during the next year and, based on
the progress made, and on the remaining weaknesses, the Commission will consider making use of the
most appropriate means in such cases, including if necessary reductions of payments to the Member State.

(1) OJ L 204, 11.8.2000.
(2) OJ L 355, 5.12.1992.

(2003/C 155 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3578/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(13 December 2002)

Subject: Persecution of members of the unofficial Catholic Church in the People’s Republic of China

For many decades, members of the so-called unofficial Catholic Church in the People’s Republic of China
have been subjected to a policy of intolerance, abuse, harassment and repression at the hands of the
Chinese authorities. The members of the Church refuse to join the Patriotic Association of Chinese
Catholics. According to information published by the Fides Agency, this policy led to 129 deaths, around
24 000 arbitrary arrests and more than 20 000 cases of maltreatment and physical abuse between 1983
and April 2002. Protestants who refuse to join the Patriotic Association suffer the same fate.

More recently, numerous cases of persecution of the representatives and leaders of the unofficial Catholic
Church have been reported.

In the province of Hebei, near Beijing, which is home to one million members of the unofficial Catholic
Church, and in particular in the diocese of Baoding, public security forces (police and local authorities)
have in recent years arrested the following priests:

(cid:1) Yibao Guo (detained in Xushui prison since April 2000);

(cid:1) Genyou Lu (arrested at the beginning of this year, sentenced to 3 years’ hard labour and detained in

Gaoyang prison);

(cid:1) Zhenhe Wang (arrested on 14 April 1999, detained in Xushui prison);

(cid:1) Zhengjun Yin (arrested on 27 January 2001, sentenced to 3 years of re-education through labour and

detained in Baoding prison);

(cid:1) Chunguang Zhang (arrested at the beginning of 2001, detained in Xushui prison);

(cid:1) Jianbo Li (arrested on 19 April 2001 in Xilinhaute in Southern Mongolia, known as Inner Mongolia);

(cid:1) Yongxing Pang, Shunbao Ma and Limao Wang (arrested on 7 July 2002 and sentenced to 3 years’
the Balizhuang labour camp in

hard labour for having ‘disrupted social harmony’, detained at
Baoding).

Moreover, the two bishops of the diocese, Zhimin Su, aged 70, and his assistant Shuxin An, aged 52, have
not been seen since they were last arrested, in 1997 and 1996 respectively. Zhimin Su has already been
deprived of his liberty for over 30 years (in prison, in labour camps, and under house arrest). In the
province of Hebei alone, 9 bishops have either disappeared, been placed under strict surveillance, or
banned from carrying out pastoral duties.

Finally, six Catholic laymen from Wenzhou in the province of Zhejiang were arrested in the province of
Hebei as they were on their way to Donglü, a popular place of pilgrimage in the diocese of Baoding. They
were accused of making an ‘illegal pilgrimage’ and were only released after paying a USD 3 850. A dozen
other pilgrims who were unable to pay the fine are still being held in Donglü prison.