WRITTEN QUESTION E-1901/03 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Processed tomatoes.
Date: 2003-06-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, State aid, aid to agriculture, common organisation of markets, control of State aid, producer organisation, vegetable product

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/187

(2004/C 33 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1901/03

by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Processed tomatoes

(11 June 2003)

I have been informed that the Greek Government used national funds to support producers of processed
tomatoes, in the village of Gastouni in the Ilias Prefecture, during 2001, despite the EU decision not to
grant any subsidies.

Is the Commission aware of such payment of subsidies?

Did the Greek Government officially apply to the Commission for a derogation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2003)

The Greek authorities have not formally notified the Commission any State aid as regards the question
raised by the Honourable Member.

Community subsidies for tomatoes intended for processing are provided for by Council Regulation (EC)
No 2201/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the markets in processed fruit and
vegetable products (1),
introducing an aid scheme for producer organisations which deliver tomatoes
harvested in the Community to approved processors. This aid scheme is based on contracts between, on
the one hand, producers organised in Producer Organisations recognised under Regulation (EC) No 2200/
96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1) and, on the
other hand, processors approved by the competent authorities. Aid is granted to producer organisations
which, in turn, pay it to their members. The recognition of producer organisations is the competence of
in accordance with the regulations referred to above, establish a series of
the Member States, which,
criteria to be satisfied by producer organisations, in order to be entitled to receive Community aid.

The producer organisation referred to in the question raised by the Honourable Member (A.S. Gastounis)
was recognised by the Greek authorities in the first place but, at a later stage, the Greek authorities
informed the Commission that the producer organisation did not comply with the minimum criteria for
recognition. It is, in the first instance, for the Greek authorities to draw the necessary consequences from
that fact.

At the Community level, the financial consequences for the Member State of the non-respect of the
conditions have to be examined, in particular in as far as the reimbursement by the European Agriculture
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) to the Greece State is concerned, in the context of the clearance of
accounts procedure.

The Commission is much obliged to the Honourable Member for the information provided. Following his
question, the Commission has already contacted the Greek authorities in order to ascertain whether any
national State aid is being granted to the producer organisation concerned. The Commission will keep the
Honourable Member informed about the outcome of this issue.

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996.

(2004/C 33 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1905/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Publicity for the 2008 CSF in Greece

(11 June 2003)

Recently, publicity promoting the 2008 Community Support Framework has been screened on Greek
television at peak viewing times (e.g. before or during news bulletins).