WRITTEN QUESTION E-2448/03 by Georges Berthu (NI) to the Commission. Inappropriate incentive to destroy hedgerows.
Date: 2003-07-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid per hectare, eligibility criteria, environmental protection, utilised agricultural area

C 78 E/114

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2448/03

by Georges Berthu (NI) to the Commission

(23 July 2003)

Subject: Inappropriate incentive to destroy hedgerows

Article 22(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 (1) of 11 December 2001 specifies that the
width of hedgerows taken into account when determining the surface area of agricultural parcels eligible
for area aid ‘must correspond to a traditional width in the region in question and shall not exceed 2 metres.
The Member States may […] allow a width greater than 2 metres if those areas were taken into account
for the fixing of the yields of the regions concerned.’

The upshot of these provisions is to encourage farmers to destroy hedgerows that exceed the permitted
width, at a time when their conservation would often seem to be an objective in the general interest.

Might the Commission present to the Council and the European Parliament a measure reforming the
article in question so as to put an end to its perverse effects?

(1) OJ L 327, 12.12.2001, p. 11.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2003)

The Commission is committed to improving and maintaining the rural environment in the context of the
Common Agricultural Policy. It considers hedges and field ditches as being of great importance for wildlife
and other environmental functions across the whole farming spectrum. However, the Commission has also
to ensure that only eligible land may benefit from Community aid, hence the provisions under Article 22
of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 of 11 December 2001 laying down detailed rules for
applying the integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes established
by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92, which were adopted only after much consideration of the
environmental issues involved, allow the Member States to decide that certain features such as hedgerows
may be considered part of the fully utilised area of an agricultural parcel.

Thus, the Commission considers that the regulatory provision cited by the Honourable Member provides
sufficient flexibility for Member States to account for specific environmental needs, and does not agree
with his assertion that the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 encourage farmers to
destroy hedgerows.

Consequently, there are no plans to amend the article in question.

(2004/C 78 E/0116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2450/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(23 July 2003)

Subject: Infringement by the Salerno Chamber of Commerce of legislation on fixed term employment

contracts

In Italy, the conclusion of fixed-term employment contracts is governed by Legislative Decree No 368 of
6 September 2001 (implementing Directive 1999/70/EC (1)).

The Salerno Chamber of Commerce, a public authority under the supervision of the Italian Ministry of
Production Activities by virtue of Article 4 1. 1993/580- has, for over ten years now, been inviting
applications for one-year ‘educational grants’.