WRITTEN QUESTION E-0784/03 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Aid for producers.
Date: 2003-03-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, agricultural production, aid recipient, aid system, information system, management information system, production aid, support policy

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/177

(2003/C 242 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0784/03

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 March 2003)

Subject: Aid for producers

It is well known that there is no land register or register of farmers in Greece.

How will the issue of the lease of agricultural land be tackled? Is there any possibility of financial aid
intended for producers ending up in the pockets of the owners of agricultural
land and not of the
producers entitled to receive it, owing to the familiar bureaucratic procedures and administrative
shortcomings in the Greek Ministry of Agriculture?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2003)

Article 20 of the Commission’s proposal establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the
common agricultural policy (CAP) (1)
set up an integrated
administration and control system. This system, for Greece as well as all other Member States, will be
based on the existing integrated system for direct aids. In this context, Greece has already put in place a
Land Parcel Identification System, which, however,
is not yet fully operational. Moreover, a system to
record the identity of each farmer who submits an aid application has also been set up. The existing
systems will be extended to cover the new elements of the Single Payment Scheme.

that each Member State shall

states

The new-styled integrated system shall comprise of an extension of the existing computerised data base
and identification system for agricultural parcels but will
include a system for the identification and
registration of payment entitlements. An integrated control system covering aid applications and a single
system to record the identity of each farmer who submits an aid application will also be adapted from the
existing integrated control system.

In order to ensure that the Single Payment will be paid to the producers entitled to it, Article 24 of the
same proposal states that the system for the identification and registration of payment entitlements shall be
set up allowing verification of entitlements and cross-checks with the aid applications and the
identification system for agricultural parcels. Article 26 lays down an obligation on Member States to
carry out administrative checks on the aid applications including a verification of the eligible area and the
corresponding payment entitlements.

(1) COM(2003) 23 final.

(2003/C 242 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0791/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 March 2003)

Subject: EU funding of religious organisations

Reports have appeared in the international press about the funding of religious organisations through
specific lines of the Community Budget and other Community initiatives.

Will the Commission give the names of these religious organisations (whether or not they are recognised)
which have been funded under the Community Budget and say exactly how much money they have
received since 1995? Have any Orthodox Christian organisations or institutions been funded over the same
period and, if so, what are they? With enlargement could religious organisations and Churches from the
new Member States (for example, the Church of Cyprus) receive funding from these Community initiatives
so as to promote their social projects and strengthen mutual understanding and religious tolerance and, if
so, from when? Could Churches from third countries with a huge social commitment (such as the
Orthodox Church of Albania and others) be included in these Community initiatives?