WRITTEN QUESTION E-3833/02 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Farm Retirement Scheme.
Date: 2003-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid system, competence of the Member States, early retirement, farmer, rural development, wage indexing

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/151

The Commission acknowledges that there is a keen competitive environment within the road transport
sector. It also notes that Article 14(3) of the current sectoral working time Directive 2002/15/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 on the organisation of the working time persons
performing mobile road transport activities (2) makes provision for co-liability in the entire transport chain,
should a driver breach working time rules.

(1) OJ L 325, 29.11.1988.
(2) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002.

(2003/C 161 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3832/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Controls on the central meat market of Rendi in Athens

(9 January 2003)

On Friday, 6 December, inspectors of the Veterinary Office completed their inspection of the central meat
market of Rendi in Greece. A similar inspection had taken place from 14 to 17 January 2002. Will the
Commission state the conclusions reached by the inspectors as regards the sanitary regulations in force in
the meat market in question and say whether they are satisfied with the progress made in the construction
of the new meat market which the Government had promised to build following the announcement of the
results of the previous inspection?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

The Food and Veterinary Office inspection mentioned was the FVO’s third visit in 2002 to the Rendi
central market.

Despite some improvements, many problems were found to persist. Work has not yet started on building a
new market.

The FVO has sent the draft report to the Greek authorities, asking them to reply and indicate what
corrective action is proposed. Once these comments have been received, the report will be finalised and, as
usual, sent
the Health and Consumer Protection
Directorate-General (SANCO).

to the Parliament and posted on the website of

In view of the findings of the mission carried out in December 2002, the Commission staff and the Greek
authorities held a meeting on 21 February 2003 to consider the situation at the Rendi central market. The
Commission representatives stressed how important it was that the shortcomings found at the market be
remedied as quickly as possible. The Greek authorities acknowledged the need to act and stated their
intention that the situation should improve before the end of June 2003. A formal reply from the Greek
authorities is expected before the end of April 2003, with a detailed timetable for corrective action taking
account of the FVO recommendations. The Commission will decide on follow-up measures in the light of
this reply.

(2003/C 161 E/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3833/02

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 January 2003)

Subject: Farm Retirement Scheme

1. Why was the principle of indexation not incorporated in either the old or the current Early Farm
Retirement Scheme?

C 161 E/152

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

Does the Commission accept that the monetary value of the pensions now being received by farmers
2.
who joined in 1994 has been seriously eroded and that the absence of indexation is causing a reluctance in
many older farmers to hand over the reins to a younger, more productive and better educated generation
on the land?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2003)

Neither the superseded Council Regulation (EEC) No 2079/92 (1) nor the legislation now in force, namely
Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (2), prohibit the use of indexation in the early retirement scheme. If
a Member State wishes to introduce indexation into its rural development programme in order to
guarantee recipients the same income in real terms throughout the support period it may do so provided
that the maximum aid levels set in the Regulation are respected.

It must be noted that with introduction of the new Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 the early retirement
scheme became much more financially attractive.

The maximum amount
that Member States can grant per recipient has been greatly increased by
comparison with the old scheme (from EUR 10 000 to EUR 15 000 per transferor per year). The total
period during which compensation can be paid was raised from 10 to 15 years and the transferor can
receive it up to the age of 75 years (70 years under the old legislation). Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999
also allows the annual ceiling to be doubled. The overall ceiling per transferor set at EUR 150 000 cannot
however be altered.

The early retirement scheme, like the other rural development measures, will be reviewed in preparation
for the post-2006 period.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2079/92 of 30 June 1992 introducing a Community aid scheme for early retirement

from farming, OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(2) Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations, OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2003/C 161 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3835/02

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Procedure for designation of protected areas (ZEPAs)

(9 January 2003)

The biodiversity which characterises the Canary Islands (which have the status of one of the EU’s most
remote regions) has consistently been recognised by the international scientific community: the islands are
living museums of relictic species which once occupied the face of the earth and survived the Tertiary ice
age, which so deeply affected the planet’s sea and land ecosystems.

Numerous unique habitats in the Canary Islands have, in recognition of their importance for the study of
nature, been declared Sites of Community Interest (SCIs) and incorporated in the Natura 2000 network,
following a procedure based, in the view of the experts, on the provision of high-quality information and
strict rules for declaration.

Nonetheless, certain scientists are of the opinion that those same criteria (cid:1) strict rules and high-quality
information (cid:1) have been lacking in the procedure for the designation of the protected areas known as
ZEPAs (special bird protection zones).

Would it not be desirable for the Commission, when designating ZEPAs, to make use of the same criteria
of properly organised information, and the same procedure, as are employed for SCIs?