WRITTEN QUESTION E-0668/03 by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Young farmers ignored under the new CAP.
Date: 2003-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF, State aid, aid to agriculture, installation allowance, interest rate subsidy, reform of the CAP, regional aid, rural development, young farmer

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/225

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

All vehicles are subject to serious accidents and the Commission has an on-going programme of work to
harmonise and improve the safety provisions of vehicle through the type approval process. Whilst it is
appropriate for vehicles to generally comply with a common set of provisions, where a particular risk is
identified for a vehicle category, additional provisions are included, for example side-marker lamps on long
vehicles.

European requirements concerning the installation of
lighting and light-signalling devices on motor
vehicles are contained in Council Directive 76/756/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles
the United Nations Economic
and their trailers (1), as amended, which refers to Regulation 48 of
Commission for Europe for its technical provisions.

Compliance with Council Directive 76/756/EEC is mandatory for passenger cars when they are first placed
on the market. However, Member States are able to apply their own provisions for other categories of
motor vehicles and for vehicles in-use, although compliance with such requirements will not guarantee
that the vehicles concerned can be used in international traffic. The Commission is not aware of any
particular requirements laid down by the German Federal Road Research Institute, and therefore is not in a
position to comment on whether the Automatic Rear Fog Flashlight (ARFF) is the only system that meets
them.

An expert working group of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, which the Commission
and Member States attend, meets twice a year to discuss proposals to amend the requirements for lighting
and light-signalling devices on vehicles. As a member of this working group, the Commission follows all
the discussions and regularly reviews their position on all matters under discussion. A few years ago this
group was made aware of the ARFF during discussions to enhance the stop lamp function. However, at
that time, the general principle of enhanced stop lamps was not supported and neither was ARFF. More
recently, though, attitudes have started to change towards innovative lighting devices and it might be an
appropriate time to re-present ARFF to the group, especially if there is an improved second-generation
version. If the inventor of ARFF would like to contact Directorate General Enterprise, it would be possible
to examine the feature of
the new version. This would allow the Commission to decide on the
appropriateness of bringing the matter to the attention of the working group again.

(1) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.

(2003/C 222 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0668/03

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 March 2003)

Subject: Young farmers ignored under the new CAP

One voice has been missing from the passionate debate surrounding the reform of
the common
agricultural policy (cid:1) that of young farmers. Nor was there any tangible reference in the Commission
document to what will become of these farmers, their problems and their expectations.

We have therefore not moved on from articles 7 and 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (1), which
envisage higher percentages for the EAGGF premium, so that instead of the ceiling of 40 % of the volume
of investments for ordinary holdings, the figure rises to 45 % for young farmers and 55 % for young
farmers in disadvantaged areas.

Article 8 envisages a maximum amount of EUR 25 000 of setting-up aid for young farmers. This is not
much as an incentive for a young person to set up a farm, faced with the forthcoming major reforms.

C 222 E/226

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

Can the Commission therefore say why the draft CAP reform does not set aside a specific chapter

1.
devoted to young farmers?

2. Whether it is possible to incorporate in the draft reform an amendment to update Article 8 of
Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, proposing at least a 100 % increase in the setting-up aid, raising it to
EUR 50 000?

3. Whether it is possible to incorporate in the draft reform an amendment to increase aid as a
percentage of the volume of investment from 45 % and 55 % to 65 % and 75 % respectively for young
farmers in lowland and mountain areas?

4. Whether it is possible to incorporate in the draft reform an amendment to suspend the system of
State aids as regards direct aid to young farmers from the Member States and regional authorities?

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (1) is concerned solely with young farmers and the
1.
Commission must point out that substantial improvements have already been made under Agenda 2000.

First, the maximum eligible amount of both the setting-up premium and the interest subsidy were raised
by 66 % from EUR 15 000 to EUR 25 000. Second, the maximum aid rate for farm investments can be
raised by 5 percentage points for young farmers’
five years following
establishment on the farm. Third,
the maximum eligible early retirement aid, a measure indirectly
benefiting young farmers by encouraging release of agricultural land, was raised by 50 % from EUR 10 000
to EUR 15 000 and Member States have the option of
this measure to the
establishment of young farmers.

investments during the first

linking their use of

2.
Thus there has been a considerable increase in aid from the previous to the present programming
period. Moreover, in the case of authorised rural development measures, Article 52 of Regulation (EC)
No 1257/1999 allows the Member States to provide additional financing which they must notify to the
Commission for approval by including it in the rural development programmes.

3.
Article 51(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 allows aid for certain types of farm investment to
exceed the percentages set earlier in the Regulation. Thus Member States provide further finance by
including in their development plans higher aid rates for young farmers for certain types of investment.

The Commission does not envisage any suspension of the system of State aid rules, which would

4.
result in distortion of competition between farmers in different Member States.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance

and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (cid:1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2003/C 222 E/256)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0684/03

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(7 March 2003)

Subject: Andalucía’s Integrated Operating Programme and Community Funds

The Spanish Government has programmed a total of Euros 827 million in funds for measure 3,6 of
Andalucía’s Integrated Operating Programme,‘Protection and regeneration of the natural environment’
(devoted to forestry activities, biodiversity and natural species). This figure is broken down into Euros
620 million ERDF aid and Euros 270 of national co-funding, a requirement which reflects the express