WRITTEN QUESTION E-1368/03 by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission. Increase in aid for hazelnut producers.
Date: 2003-04-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catalonia, aid per hectare, competitiveness, ecological balance, environmental protection, nut, rural development, support policy, sustainable development

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/61

(2004/C 58 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1368/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 April 2003)

Subject: Increase in aid for hazelnut producers

The production of nuts in certain European Union areas is a typical example of single-crop and
multifunctional production. The zone given over to their production provides a guarantee of
land
conservation and prevention of erosion and also helps to safeguard against the forest fires that are one of
the most common dangers in mountainous Mediterranean areas, particularly during the long and in many
cases dry summer season. This season is one of high temperatures and, at the same time, an almost total
lack of rainfall.

It would be very difficult for alternative crops to be grown in the areas where hazelnuts are currently
produced. The fact should not be overlooked that some of the areas now given over to hazelnut
production were wine-producing areas in the 18th Century, before the phylloxera outbreak which
devastated the vineyards of Catalonia in the last decades of that century. A large part of the former
vineyards were replanted with hazelnuts. The EU rules currently applicable to vines (Regulation (EC)
No 1493/1999 (1)) make any reversion to the pre-phylloxera scenario unviable.

Neither would it be possible to envisage replanting these production areas with oil crops, and more
specifically olives, given their latitude and climate, and also the current Community rules on olive oil
production (Regulation (EC) No 1873/2002 (2)).

Lastly, the introduction of cereal crops, which could substitute for the production of hazelnuts in areas
where these were grown on flat land, would not be possible in view of Regulation (EEC) 1766/92 (3).

In view of the multifunctional nature of hazelnut production and the difficulty of replacing it with other
types of production, does the Commission not consider that a form of aid should be introduced which
goes beyond that currently envisaged in the Commission proposal COM(2003) 23 final?

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 284, 22.10.2002, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2003)

As previously explained to the Honourable Member in the reply made by the Commission to his Written
Question E-0295/03 (1), the Commission, before doing its proposal (2), carried out a global analysis of the
Community nut sector. The results make a clear point on the fact that nut production in the Community
remains chronically non-competitive overall, while playing a fundamental part
in protecting and
maintaining the environmental, social and rural balance in many regions.

the Commission shares the Honourable Member’s point of view on the strategic and
Therefore,
multifunctional role that nut production has still to play in maintaining the environment and the
landscape. Consequently, the proposal submitted to the Council and the Parliament represents a new
regime, put forward as a market measure, while containing a strong ‘rural development’ aspect.

As far as the budget is concerned, the figures proposed of EUR 80 million reflect the will to ensure budget
neutrality with the current Community expenditure on improvement plans:
the Community spent
EUR 970 million in 12 years. It is foreseen to cover a large part of the productive area, which has been
estimated at 800 000 hectares (ha). This explains the level of EUR 100 per hectare for the Community
part.

C 58 E/62

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2004

The Commission proposed a single level of support by hectare, taking into consideration a number of
elements:

(cid:1) need for simplicity and ease of use;

(cid:1) the main reason for support is the multifunctional role of nuts. It is difficult to argue that different

type of nuts (almonds or hazelnuts, for example) contribute differently to this role.

The proposal of the Commission gives a substantial help towards achieving environmental and rural goals
ensuring the continuation of sustainable production in non-competitive and, at the same time, gives a
targeted support for competitive production.

Therefore, the Commission does not have the intention at this stage to make substantial modifications to
its initial proposal.

(1) OJ C 192 E, 14.8.2003, p. 167.
(2) COM(2003) 23 final.

(2004/C 58 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1374/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: (Illegal) timber used for buildings to house the European Commission

The European Commission will communicate a proposal for an EU action plan in the framework of Forest
Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). One of the issues in the action plan will be public
procurement. The Commission occupies many buildings in Brussels and should assume its responsibility to
ensure that no timber from illegal sources is being used.

Can the Commission give me a list of buildings occupied by the Commission, with details of the owners
for each of the buildings, details of all the refurbishment, redevelopment and new building over the last
five years or projected to start in the next six months, details of how the Commission checks the contracts,
details of contractors and subcontractors and in particular the companies that are providing their
contractors and subcontractors with timber and wood products?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2003)

Safeguards are in place to ensure that buildings procured by the Commission do not contain timbers from
illegal sources. Where fitting out of new buildings and refurbishment of existing buildings are executed on
behalf of the Commission they are carried out strictly in accordance with Belgian legislative requirements
including the prohibition of certain materials.

In addition, and subject to the technical particulars of a project, compliance with the requirements of
‘Immeuble Type’ is also sought. This document is the Commission’s standard specification for buildings
and sets out the standards for quality of space, use of materials and quality of technical
installations.
According to the current version ‘Improved forestry-management practices can only be encouraged if
invitations to tender specify that wood must come from forestry operations where the rules of sustainable
development are followed’.

In circumstances where the Commission can influence the market in respect of buildings it is likely to
acquire, such as the renovation of the Berlaymont, it makes an explicit requirement to the developer to
procure timber only from sustainable sources. Compliance with the requirements of Immeuble Type is
monitored by the technical staff of the Office for Infrastructures and Logistics (cid:1) Brussels. The final
acceptance of works carried out under building contracts is conditional upon the receipt of documentary
evidence of compliance with legislative and contractual requirements.