WRITTEN QUESTION E-0842/03 by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission. Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Date: 2003-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid system, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, farm development plan, peripheral region, young farmer

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/237

Reliable scientific studies forecast that if the trend continues, by 2015, 95 % of the North American
population will be obese. Europe will hit this figure by 2030.

Obesity is a chronic illness, which acts as a catalyst for all sorts of other illnesses, including cardiovascular
disease and diabetes (which are, for example, the major causes of death in Portugal). Properly preventive
structured preventive policies are therefore essential. Hitherto, all that has been done is to intervene
clinically by giving sufferers medication.

Are there plans to discuss strategies to tackle the problem and reverse the trend, specifically in the field of
prevention and reducing the amount people eat? What role is envisaged for experts in the field, such as
nutritionists or dieticians?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

According to the figures available to the Commission, obesity is on the increase practically everywhere,
and in particular within the EU. However, in the field of health, Article 152 of the EC Treaty defines and
limits the Community’s powers, therefore tackling obesity continues to be the responsibility of the Member
States.

The Commission wishes to act as a coordinator and catalyst in measures taken by the Member States;
thanks to the new public health programme 2003-2008, the Commission will continue to collect data to
improve understanding of the causes of the increase in obesity and will also set up the new network of
national institutes for nutrition and physical activity (NPA Network).

The Commission has already,
in the past, funded important activities in the area of nutrition under
previous public health programmes, namely the health monitoring programme, the cancer programme and
the health promotion programme.

One of the ten or so projects which have been financed is Eurodiet, for which a summary report entitled
‘Nutrition and Diet for Healthy Lifestyles in Europe’ was drawn up.

The report on Community action on nutrition, which has been posted on the Commission’s website (1),
outlines what has been done so far in this area.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph/programmes/health/reports/nutrition-report_en.pdf.

(2003/C 222 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0842/03

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission

(18 March 2003)

Subject: Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

The principle of a single farm payment subject to compliance with environmental, food safety, animal
welfare, health and occupational safety standards as well as the requirement to keep all farmland in good
condition has the advantage of moving away from the production-incentive approach that has prevailed
until now and has revealed its limits.

there is a possible concern that decoupling does not

However,
take adequate account of regional
diversities, particularly with regard to production in the ultra-peripheral regions. In these regions, many
farmers set themselves up in business each year, without necessarily occupying a farm.

C 222 E/238

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

By restricting eligibility for the single payment to producers who have received financial aid during the
2000-2002 period, the Commission proposal
in fact, denying new producers access to aid. This
measure addresses only the limitations of continental production, but is completely inappropriate for the
situation in the overseas territories where local production only provides for a small percentage of local
consumption.

is,

What specific measures does the Commission intend to put in place in order not to discourage young
farmers from setting up in business in these regions?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

The Community has for a long time been engaged in helping newly established farmers, and in particular
young farmers, to start up.

To this end, the Community set up, in the reform of rural development implemented by Agenda 2000,
a system of specific support applying mainly to young farmers, the results of which are promising.

Under the reform of the common agricultural policy which the Commission has just proposed to the
Council, particular focus was given to the issue of new entrants to farming; it is also for this purpose that
the Commission has proposed to the Council that a national reserve be constituted in every Member State.

In accordance with Article 45 of the proposal for a Council Regulation establishing common rules for
direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and support schemes for producers of
certain crops, ‘Member States may use the national reserve to grant reference amounts to new farmers who
commence their agricultural activity after 31 December 2000, according to objective criteria and in such a
way as to ensure equal treatment between farmers and to avoid market and competition distortions.’

Thus, it will be up to the Member States to define the allocation criteria and to grant rights to newly
established farmers, which will have to be objective and ensure equal treatment among farmers.

(2003/C 222 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0848/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Authenticity label for Italian restaurants in the EU

(13 March 2003)

A few months ago the Italian Institute for External Trade (ICE) conducted a survey which established that
there exist between 55 000 and 60 000 ‘Italian’ or ‘Italian-style’ restaurants over the world’s five continents,
of which a good 25 000 are to be found in the EU Member States. However, only 20-25 % of these can be
considered authentic, in the sense of using products exported from Italy and offering ‘dishes’ and recipes
that are genuinely Italian. It further appears that many of these restaurants exhibit, by way of their signs,
names referring directly or indirectly to Italy, and may even abusively employ terms that are governed by
protected designations of origin (PDOs) (as in the case of a Belgian restaurant calling itself ‘Ricotta e
Parmesan’).

All of this is possible because to date Italian recipes have not been codified and there is no specific label to
distinguish genuine Italian restaurants from their inauthentic counterparts. This means that, as things
stand, anyone can use the ‘Italian brand-name’, thus appropriating a label which can generate considerable
added value on the market. It should be sufficient to recall that, in 2002 alone, the total value of Italy’s
exports of food products was EUR 13,5 billion.