WRITTEN QUESTION P-0849/03 by Encarnación Redondo Jiménez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Impact of CAP reform on potato production.
Date: 2003-03-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural market, agricultural situation, common organisation of markets, farm prices, impact study, policy on agricultural structures, potato, reform of the CAP

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/221

These incidents give rise to the following questions:

(cid:1) How many contracts were concluded in 2002 between the Commission and management consultants

and what is their total value?

(cid:1) Has the Commission ever become aware of consultancy work being carried out unsatisfactorily? What

criteria does the Commission apply when assessing advisory services?

(cid:1) Has a consultancy contract ever proved damaging to the Commission?

(cid:1) If so, to what extent and was compensation demanded? If not, why not?

(cid:1) Why are management consultants and not Commission officials called on to carry out certain tasks?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2003)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2003/C 192 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0849/03

by Encarnación Redondo Jiménez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Impact of CAP reform on potato production

(13 March 2003)

Potato farmers in the Community are this year suffering from one of their habitual cyclical crises, a
phenomenon which points up the need to create a common organisation of the market (COM) in this
sector. Despite farmers’ attempts at self-regulation of production, price sensitivity to market fluctuations is
such that crises are all but inevitable.

In this context of periodic price collapses, does the Commission not believe that its proposal for the
reform of the CAP, entailing as it does the possibility of farmers entitled to decoupled aids choosing to
convert to non-eligible crops, will tend only to further destabilise the potato sector? When does the
Commission intend to submit an impact assessment on the effects of decoupled aids on such crops? Has
the Commission definitively ruled out the introduction of a COM to regulate potato production?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2003)

The Commission’s common agricultural policy reform proposal is in fact designed to lead to market-
oriented agriculture in which market rules would have to play their full preventive role and obviate any
structural imbalance between supply of and demand for any particular product.

The Commission asks the Honourable Member to give careful consideration to the provisions of Chapter 5
of Title III of the reform proposal, which allow Member States to opt for a regional approach that could be
very advantageous to traditional potato growers.

It should also be recognised that as for most crops potatoes require a certain amount of specialisation,
investment in farm equipment and solid experience if they are to be successfully marketed.

C 192 E/222

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

Since the Member States have never been able to reach agreement on it, the Commission has recently
withdrawn its proposal to the Council of November 1991 for a common market organisation for potatoes.

In any case, now that its proposal for common agricultural policy reform has been made, an organisation
on the lines proposed no longer appears desirable.

(2003/C 192 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0852/03

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Public supply contracts

Article 7(2) of Greek law 2955/2002 authorises the supply of products in the absence of estimates
regarding annual requirements or procedures for the awarding of contracts. It does not provide for any
means of establishing which product is the most suitable for patients and allows prices to be set arbitrarily
at the highest level thereby limiting competition. Similarly Joint Ministerial Decision DG6a/GP/73754/24-
7-7-02(Official Gazette 984/31/7-02)
implementing the above law is not based on any technical
specifications, observing that no comparison is possible as, more specifically, that entire categories of
products cannot be compared with each other, on the principle that, by definition, all manufacturers
produce items which cannot be compared with those produced by any other manufacturer. It also fails to
stipulate procedures for the according of public supply contracts or require estimation of annual
requirements to be drawn up specifying either exact content or quality, leaving matters to the discretion of
the body concerned.

Is Greek Law 2955/2002, together with the Ministerial Decision implementing it, in accordance with EU
legislation in this field and more specifically Directive 93/36/EEC (1).
If not, what measures will the
Commission take to ensure that Greece fully complies with the directive and when?

(1) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 2003)

the
The Commission will procure a copy of
implementing Ministerial Decision (DY6a/GP/73754/24-7-02/FEK 984/31-7-02), to examine their con-
formity with the provisions of Directive 93/36/EEC (1) (on the award of public supply contracts).

the Greek law in question (No 2955/2001) and of

To facilitate this examination, the Commission asks the Honourable Member to kindly supply all the
relevant information he has on this subject.

(1) Council Directive 93/36/EEC of 14 June 1993 coordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts (cid:1)

OJ L 199, 9.8.1993.

(2003/C 192 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0914/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(24 March 2003)

Subject: The Seville European Council

What progress has there been in the implementation of the JHA conclusions of the Seville European
Council? In particular, what progress has been made in relation to the prospect that the Commission and
the Council would look at further work towards the creation of a common European border guard?