WRITTEN QUESTION E-0368/03 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. Problems affecting the truffle market.
Date: 2003-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: chemical product, flavouring, foodstuff, foodstuffs legislation, fresh product, import, labelling, mushroom-growing, national law, originating product

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Official Journal of the European Union

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10.7.2003

sense of the term is over 500 000 (five hundred thousand). There has also been an increase in the number
of persons retired from public service employment who now number 366 595 (three hundred and sixty-six
thousand, five hundred and ninety-five). At the same time the number of people of working age in the
private sector is declining.

How does the Commission view this situation? What impact will it have on the streamlining of the Greek
economy, on pension schemes, on competitiveness and on attaining the Lisbon objectives? Has it issued or
does it intend to issue (cid:1) recommendations on this matter to the Greek government?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2003)

Employment guidelines (1) contain policy orientations for all Member States in the framework of the
European employment strategy implemented through the Luxembourg process. Member States are invited
to take into account these guidelines in formulating their national employment policies. This framework
includes guidelines for increasing labour-force participation and raising employment rates towards
achieving the Lisbon objective (European Council of 23 and 24 March 2000) of full employment.

Promoting flexible forms of work, notably part-time work, may constitute an important policy element for
raising employment rates. On the basis of the assessment of the implementation of the guidelines and the
country specific recommendations presented in the draft Joint Employment Report (JER) 2002 (2), one of
the key issues for the future that were highlighted, is the provision for greater incentives to part-time
employment. In this connection, it is worth noting that Greece continues to exhibit the lowest part-time
rate in the Union (3,5 %) in comparison to a Union average of 18 %.

In addition, the 1st Recommendation addressed to Greece (Council Recommendation 2002/178/EC of
18 February 2002) (3), states that Greece should ‘continue efforts to ensure the implementation of the
employment guidelines across the four pillars with a view to increasing employment in particular for
women and young people’. This implies measures that will change the present pattern of work, to become
more flexible and better match the needs of specific groups of the working population (particularly for
women and older workers).

Moreover, in formulating the employment guidelines much attention is placed on ensuring consistency
with the economic policy objectives, including public finances, underpinning the Broad Economic Policy
Guidelines (BEPGs). Neither
the National Action Plans (NAPs) nor on the
implementation of the BEPGs the phenomenon highlighted by the Honourable Member has come up as
a matter of concern.

in the assessment of

With regard to pensions, the Greek Government has passed new legislation (Law 3029/02 adopted in
2002) with a view to rationalise and improve the confidence in the pension system, and avoid serious
budgetary imbalances related to the ageing population.

(1) Council Decision 2002/177/EC of 18 February 2002 on guidelines for Member States’ employment policies for the

year 2002, OJ L 60, 1.3.2002.

(2) COM(2002) 621 final.
(3) OJ L 60, 1.3.2002.

(2003/C 161 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0368/03

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2003)

Subject: Problems affecting the truffle market

The truffle is still one of the most highly prized gastronomic products in a number of Member States, in
particular Italy and France. However, the increase in consumption has given rise to three phenomena,
which to some extent are interconnected: firstly, imports from countries outside the Community of large

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quantities of truffles which are sometimes indistinguishable from European ones, secondly, the use of
essences of various kinds (sometimes hydrocarbons), which may be harmful to health, to enhance the
flavour of truffles, especially imported ones, and thirdly, a growing fashion for truffle-flavoured products
(pasta, oil, butter, etc.), often containing these same chemical flavourings.

Can the Commission say what the situation is and what measures can be taken on the basis of the facts
outlined above?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2003)

There are several species of truffle on the market, some originating from the Community such as Tuber
melanosporum (black Truffle), Tuber magnatum or Tuber aestivum (both white truffles), others exclusively
originating from third countries (such as Tuber indicum, Asian truffle), all difficult to distinguish from each
other. At the moment, there are no Community Regulations specifically requiring the labelling of the
species marketed, nor is this question addressed by any international standards. However, the Commission
is following the initiatives taken by certain Member States with a view to asking the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to elaborate a UNECE standard for fresh truffles that could
address this situation.

The Commission is not aware of any problem concerning truffle flavour.

The use of chemically defined flavouring substances in and on food is not yet harmonised in the
Community. Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 2232/96 (1)
lays down a procedure for the
establishment of a Union positive list of flavouring susbstances. Before this list is adopted, all flavouring
substances used in the Member States will be scientifically evaluated according to the programme laid
down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 (2). The Community positive list should be adopted
by July 2005.

Until then, national legislation on the authorisation and use of flavourings stays in place. The control of
compliance with existing legislation falls within the responsibility of the Member States.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2232/96 of 28 October 1996 laying down a Community procedure for flavouring

substances used or intended for use in or on foodstuffs, OJ L 299, 23.11.1996.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000 laying down the measures necessary for the adoption
of an evaluation programme in application of Regulation (EC) No 2232/96 of the Parliament and of the Council,
OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.

(2003/C 161 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0389/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Programme to combat the use of drugs in Greece

(13 February 2003)

The aims of the Union’s strategy on drugs are to reduce use and addiction, particularly among the young,
and to increase substantially the number of recovered addicts. According to the report of The European
Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for 2000, Greece continues to exhibit a rising trend in
sudden fatalities, while rehabilitation facilities fall short of the number of people seeking treatment.
Typically, public psychiatric clinics have no beds available for drug addicts for the ‘withdrawal’ period.

Since the Union has specific objectives, a programme and a timetable for measures to combat addiction,
will the Commission say whether Greece has submitted a programme and a timetable for action? What are
the Commission’s views in that regard? What measures are funded by the European Union?