WRITTEN QUESTION E-2040/03 by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission. Aid regime for nuts.
Date: 2003-06-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid system, farm price support, nut, reform of the CAP

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/185

Reply

(7 October 2003)

At its June session, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council reached political agreement on the legislative
proposals concerning the CAP reform, on the basis of a Presidency compromise supported by the
Commission.

Regarding the nuts sector, it was agreed that Community aid shall be granted for nuts for a maximum
guaranteed area (MGA) of 800 000 hectares. The amount of the Community aid shall be EUR 120,75 per
hectare per year calculated as an average at national level.

In addition, a national aid of up to EUR 120,75 per hectare per year may be granted by Member States.

In this way, a total aid of EUR 241,50 per hectare is available for eligible production in this sector. This is
equivalent to the level of aid granted under the ten-year improvement plans (last extended by Council
Regulation (EC) No 545/2002), although the aid is subject to different requirements and conditions.
Compared with the Commission’s proposal, the compromise provides for a higher total level of aid and for
a higher contribution from Community funds.

This compromise was achieved in the context of a global package that covered a broad range of sectors
and whose overall budgetary cost was subject to the limits set by the Brussels European Council
in
October 2002.

The formal legislative act will be adopted with the rest of the Reform package once the necessary texts
have been finalised.

(2004/C 51 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2040/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 June 2003)

Subject: Aid regime for nuts

Several districts in Catalonia are currently faced with a difficult situation regarding the production of nuts,
especially hazelnuts.

its legislative resolution (P5_TA-PROV(2003)0256) on the proposal

On the basis of
for a Council
regulation establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy
and support schemes for producers of certain crops, adopted in Strasbourg on 5 June 2003, the EP
adopted Amendment 133 to the report by Mr Arlindo Cunha (A5-0197/2003) calling for an increase in
the aid payable for nuts from EUR 100 to EUR 241,50 per hectare per year. Will the Commission take all
steps to insist with the Council that it adopts the CAP reform measures in the form approved by
Parliament in its vote of 5 June 2003?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2003)

The Commission is well aware of the fact that several regions in Europe, and several districts in Catalonia,
are currently faced with a difficult situation regarding the production of nuts, especially hazelnuts.

This is the reason why the Commission has proposed a new and permanent support scheme for nuts in its
proposal of January 2003. The Commission has taken careful note of the legislative resolutions of the
Parliament on this, and other issues related with its January proposals, and believe that they have been a
very positive contribution to the final agreement achieved in Luxembourg.