WRITTEN QUESTION E-2039/03 by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Council. Aid regime for nuts.
Date: 2003-06-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid system, farm price support, nut, reform of the CAP

C 51 E/184

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

(2004/C 51 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2038/03

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Turkey and the denial of the Armenian genocide

(19 June 2003)

In recent months the Turkish authorities’ policy of denying the Armenian genocide has become ever more
the Turkish
aggressive. The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy reports that
government, through its education ministry, has launched a counter-information campaign to refute the
accusations of genocide against the Armenian people. The ministry is now running indoctrination sessions
for teachers and officials, with the aim of imposing an official classroom line, contrary to the right of free
expression, claiming that the Armenian genocide never happened. In a decree of 14 April 2003, the
Ministry called on primary and secondary schools to hold lectures affirming that the Armenian people and
other peoples who have been victims of genocide have never been persecuted in Turkey, and to encourage
pupils to write essays on ‘how to fight genocide claims’.

This manipulation of history in the classroom is a practice that runs counter to European education
standards. The policy of denying the genocide is, furthermore, incompatible with the European values of
protection of human rights and minority rights, and is therefore in breach of the Copenhagen criteria.

Does the Commission believe that
principles of the Copenhagen agreement and with the acceptance of Turkey as a candidate country?

the Turkish authorities’ policy of denial

is compatible with the

Does the Commission consider that one of the indispensable requirements for the launching of accession
negotiations with Turkey in the near future must be the public admission by the present Turkish
authorities of the facts of the Armenian genocide, as recognised by the European Parliament in June 1987
(A2-0033/87) (1)?

(1) OJ C 190, 20.7.1987, p. 119.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2003)

In response to the points raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission recalls its reply to Written
Question P-3186/00 of Ms Carlotti (1),
indicating that this issue does not fall under the scope of the
Copenhagen political criteria.

(1) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001.

(2004/C 51 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2039/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Council

(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

for a Council
On the basis of
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 Council’s adoption of
the CAP reform plan take account of Parliament’s vote of 5 June 2003?

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.