WRITTEN QUESTION E-0794/03 by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Coordination, integration and marketing of rural tourist accommodation and services as an additional measure under Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.
Date: 2003-03-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF, marketing, rural development, rural tourism

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/81

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2003)

The Commission is aware of the decision of 14 January 2003 whereby the Netherlands Competition
Authority (Nma) has imposed fines totalling EUR 13,781 million on eight wholesale traders in shrimps,
and four Dutch, three German and one Danish producer organisation in the shrimp fishery industry, for
infringements of the European and Dutch competition rules prohibiting cartels. In its decision the NMa has
established, first of all, that the producer organisations and the wholesaler traders entered into agreements
with each other to limit the size of the catch of North-Sea shrimps and to set minimum prices and
secondly, that these agreements were also implemented in the period from January 1998 until February
2000.

The Commission has frequent contacts with producer organisations by way of the Advisory Committee on
Fisheries and Aquaculture. The questions at issue in the present instance were discussed at the Advisory
Committee on 26 February 2003. Furthermore, these questions were discussed with Member States at the
meeting of the Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products on 7 March 2003. The
Commission is ready to hold further discussions with interested parties if they so wish.

The Commission does not concur with the Honourable Member’s opinion that the NMa ruling is at odds
with European policy. It is correct that the main objective of the reform of the common organisation of
the markets in fishery and aquaculture by way of Regulation No 104/2000 (1)
is to ensure that the
production and marketing of fishery products take account of the need to support sustainable fishing. It is,
therefore, designed to comprise measures which ensure a better match between supply and demand. To
this end, producer organisations have been entrusted with specific tasks. This is in line with the
sustainability focus of the Common Fisheries Policy, a feature which has been clearly strengthened by the
most recent package of decisions on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, which the Council
adopted in December 2002. It is clear, however, that there cannot be a conflict between sustainability
requirements and competition rules as long as producer organisations stick to acting within the bounds of
their lawful tasks under the Common Fisheries Policy. Inversely, sustainability considerations may not be
used as an argument to justify practices, such as collusive action between producer organisations and
wholesale traders concerning minimum prices and catch limits, which fall outside the lawful tasks of
producer organisations as specified in the relevant legal
instruments and which violate the European
competition rules.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 of 17 December 1999 on the common organisation of the markets in

fishery and aquaculture products, OJ L 17, 21.1.2000.

(2004/C 33 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0794/03

by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 March 2003)

Subject: Coordination,

integration and marketing of rural

tourist accommodation and services as an

additional measure under Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999

Farm holidays secure both agricultural and non-agricultural revenue and jobs, satisfy the growing demand
in many sections of the population for nature-based forms of tourism, promote understanding between the
urban and rural population and contribute to the protection of nature and the environment. This type of
rural holiday is also a particularly good way of raising holidaymakers’, and therefore consumers’, awareness
of the origins and nature of agricultural products. To a great extent, farm holidays or tourist services
provided by rural businesses
sustainable development connected to the
Community’s policy on rural development.

the guidelines

fulfil

for

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

The success of farm holidays very much depends on marketing. Businesses and their regional and national
marketing organisations have to contend with stiff competition, sometimes on a very limited budget. It is
true that, up to now, support (including at Community level) for marketing work has brought nothing but
success, but the supply potential for this kind of rural holiday has not yet been exhausted. At the same
time, competition from alternative types of holiday and non-European destinations is increasing.

If farm holidays are to continue to contribute to employment and the regional economy in rural areas, as
well as to consumer awareness, and if this contribution is to increase in the future, then marketing efforts
must be stepped up and professionalised particularly in the industry-wide organisations created for this
purpose.

Does the Commission also see the need for increased action in terms of more specific support for the
marketing of farm holidays, and can this be ensured by the inclusion of the additional measure of
‘coordination, integration and marketing of rural tourist accommodation and services’ in Regulation (EC)
No 1257/1999 (1)?

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

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

In particular,

Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (1) foresees in its article 33, financial support for the adaptation and
development of rural areas.
for
‘encouragement for tourist and craft activities’. The term ‘encouragement’ can cover not only investments
to facilitate the provision of these tourist activities (e.g.
investments in farm houses to accommodate
visitors, or investments in leisure activities such as mountain sports) but can also include measures to
promote rural tourism and activities, for example, by tourism offices and through marketing/advertising
campaigns.

this article establishes support

the 10th indent of

The support
to this kind of measures is granted through the European Agriculture Guidance and
Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)-Guidance in Objective 1 areas (the programming instruments will be Single
Programming Documents or Operational Programmes) or through EAGGF-Guarantee in regions not
included in Objective 1 (in this case, the measures will be included in the rural development programmes).

During the programming period 2000-2006, support given to measures included in article 33 (which
includes other measures apart from rural tourism) amounts to approximately 25 % of EAGGF (cid:1) Sections
Guarantee and Guidance. The mid-term evaluation of rural development programmes which will take place
in 2003 will help to determine the importance and the impact of actions financed in the domain of rural/
green tourism.

The Community Initiative Leader+ (2) finances pilot rural development strategies decided and implemented
by the local actors. In this framework and on condition that it fits into the approved development strategy
of a particular local Leader group, Leader+ can also finance marketing of rural tourist accommodation and
services as this kind of measures can be included in its four thematic priorities: the use of know-how and
new technologies to make the products and services of rural areas more competitive; improving the quality
of life in rural areas; adding value to local products; and making the best use of natural and cultural
resources.

Leader+ also includes support for networking and co-operation between rural territories (inside the same
Member State or from different Member States). The phase of co-operation between local action groups is
just starting and could also include exchange of experiences and specific projects on marketing of rural
tourist accommodation and services, these activities being of increasing importance in the rural areas of
the Union.

6.2.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/83

The Member States and/or the regions have already financed this type of activities. Therefore, as the actual
community instruments (Rural Development Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 and Community Initiative
Leader+) already cover the possibility of financing measures relating to marketing of tourist activities, the
Commission does not consider it necessary to include a new measure in Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 of May 1999 on support for rural development from the European

Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations.

(2) Commission notice to the member states of 14 April 2000 laying down guidelines for the Community initiative for

rural development (Leader+). OJ C 139, 18.5.2000.

(2004/C 33 E/078)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0799/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: The situation of the Kurdish leader Abdulah Ocalan

Can the Commission confirm that Abdulah Ocalan has been in solitary confinement in Turkey since the
present Turkish Government took office?

What steps is the Commission taking to prevent the political situation from deteriorating as far as the
rights of the Kurdish minority are concerned?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2003)

The Commission is aware of Abdullah Öçalan’s current detention conditions. The Commission took note
that, after a period of around three months of isolation, A. Öçalan received the visit of his brother Mehmet
and of a number of his lawyers on 12 March 2003.

The Commission is monitoring closely Turkey’s compliance with the Accession Partnership priorities,
including the provisions aimed at ensuring cultural diversity and guaranteeing cultural rights for all citizens
irrespective of their origin.

The Commission will give a detailed assessment of Turkey’s compliance with the Copenhagen political
criteria in its forthcoming 2003 Regular Report on Turkey.

(2004/C 33 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0805/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 March 2003)

Subject: Baby feeding and powdered milk in Africa

By means of a relentless propaganda campaign, multinational powdered-milk producers are continuing to
encourage African women to feed their new-born babies on powdered milk instead of breastfeeding them.
Such propaganda goes against the normal rules and is also particularly dangerous, since (1) in many parts
of Africa the water needed in order to dissolve the milk powder is impure and it therefore acts as a disease
carrier; (2) for the duration of the breastfeeding period, new-born babies enjoy immunity from various
diseases;
insistent advertising of powdered milk in very poor countries is of benefit only to
multinational companies and to the wealthy industialised countries which produce such milk.

(3)