WRITTEN QUESTION E-2132/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Industrial crops.
Date: 2003-06-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, agro-industrial cropping, common agricultural policy, energy crop, fallow, land use, set-aside

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/135

On 27 May 2003 the Commission held a seminar to assess the effectiveness of the ‘Designated driver’
campaigns, such as the BOB campaign in Belgium. Summaries of the presentations made at the seminar
can
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/road/roadsafety/behaviour/alcohol/conf_desig-
at
nated_drivers_en.htm).

found

be

In order to work, the campaigns must be supported by the police and promoted by players on the ground
such as bars, petrol stations, etc. There can be a sharp drop in the number of alcohol-related accidents
during this type of campaign.

The number of accidents caused by excessive alcohol consumption is falling in the EU. In order to reduce
the figure further, and in line with its recommendation of 17 January 2001 on the maximum permitted
blood alcohol content for drivers of motorised vehicles, the Commission has taken action on several fronts:
increasing and improving roadside checks, driver training,
research (for example into the use of
immobilisers where a driver’s BAC level is too high), the rehabilitation of habitual offenders and support
for awareness-raising campaigns.

(2004/C 58 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2132/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 June 2003)

Subject: Industrial crops

1. Will the Commission reconsider its proposal to disallow the growing of industrial and energy crops
on set-aside land?

2. Will it detail new techniques which would enable it to be reassured that land so used cannot be
brought into the production of food enjoying any CAP subsidy?

Does the Commission agree that the decoupling of production and income support should in

3.
principle remove the need for any restrictions on the use of land such as set-aside?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

During the debates on these questions, the Member of the Commission responsible for Agriculture and
Fisheries indicated to the Council on Agriculture and Fisheries of 8 April 2003 the Commission’s
willingness to examine the possibility to return to rotational set-aside and growing crops intended for non-
food use insofar as control problems are settled. The final political compromise adopted by the Council on
26 June 2003 confirms the continuation of the non-food set-aside system, as a consequence the growing
of industrial and energy crops in set-aside land will be possible.

The set-aside land used for industrial and energy crops will continue to receive the Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP) subsidy. The current controls applied on the non-food set-aside system avoid,
in the
Commission’s opinion, the risk of fraud. The Commission does, however, intend to simplify the current
control system when implementing the reform.

The set-aside was created as a market regulation instrument, therefore the production of renewable raw
materials is not its principal aim. The decoupling of production and income support does not change with
respect to this first objective. Any restrictions on the use of set-aside land will continue to apply.