WRITTEN QUESTION E-2535/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Farm incomes in Portugal.
Date: 2003-07-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Portugal, agricultural statistics, animal production, area of holding, crop production, farm income

C 78 E/122

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2535/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 July 2003)

Subject: Farm incomes in Portugal

In the report on the state of Portuguese agriculture the Commission indicates that, according to the
Eurostat economic accounts for agriculture, farm incomes rose by approximately 30 % between 1986 and
1995 and by 32 % between 1995 and 2002. However, these calculations do not say how the income
growth was spread according to the scale (in economic and area terms) on which farmers operate or to the
type of production.

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:1) What was the trend in farm incomes (for Portugal and the EU) between 1986 and 2002 (as evidenced
by annual figures), taking into account the economic scale of and the size of the land areas used by
farmers, especially those with less than 5 hectares (and/or less than 4 ESU) or more than 50 hectares
(and/or more than 100 ESU)?

(cid:1) What was the trend in farm incomes during the same period for farmers producing fruit and

vegetables, wine, olive oil, arable crops, milk, and beef and veal?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 September 2003)

The Commission’s ‘Report on the situation in Portuguese agriculture’ (1) described the increase in farm
incomes in Portugal on the basis of Eurostat economic accounts for agriculture. Unfortunately, this
approach does not permit a breakdown of income in terms of size or type of holding.

However,
methodology, data from Directorate General
used to provide an indication in the trends in terms of size or type of holding in Portugal.

though the income indicators are not strictly equivalent and are based on a different
(DG) Agriculture’s Farm Accounts Data Network can be

In the period 1993 to 2000, by this method, incomes expressed as Net Value Added per Annual Working
Unit (NVA/AWU) are estimated to have increased more quickly for larger than for smaller holdings.
Holdings greater than 100 Economic Size Units (ESU) increased by 7,3 % per year while incomes on
holdings smaller than 4 ESU increased by 4,6 % per year. The incomes on intermediate sized holdings of 4
to 100 ESU grew by 5,2 % per year. It can be seen from the table below that incomes grew at a higher rate
in Portugal than the Union’s average.

In terms of type of holding, over the same period and by the same method, the annual rate of increase in
incomes was positive for specialist horticulture, specialist vineyard, specialist fruit and citrus fruit and
specialist dairying holdings, at between 3,4 and 5,0 % per year. Incomes for holding specialised in cattle-
dairying (rearing and fattening combined) were estimated to be somewhat higher. Income growth was
estimated to be negative on specialist arable holdings (− 2,1 % per year) and stable for specialist olive oil
holdings (− 0,2 % per year).

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/123

The data can be found in the tables below:

(Annual rate of increase 1993-2000 in %)

NVA/AWU
in real terms

Portugal

EU-12

< 4 ESU

4-100 ESU

> 100 ESU

All farms

4,55

3,89

5,14

− 0,60

7,31

− 0,53

3,62

0,21

NVA/AWU
in real terms

Specialist cer-
eals, oilseeds
and protein
crops

Specialist
horticulture

Specialist
vineyards

Specialist fruit
and citrus fruit

Specialist olives

Specialist
dairying

Cattle-dairying,
rearing and
fattening com-
bined

Portugal

− 2,09

4,97

4,62

3,36

− 0,21

4,66

12,26

(Annual rate of increase 1993-2000 in %)

(1) COM(2003) 359 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2540/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(30 July 2003)

Subject: Agreements between the Spanish State and the Vatican State which violate fundamental rights

The questioner would like to refer to:

(cid:1) Articles 6(1) and 6(2) of the EU Treaty, Articles 226 and 307 of the EC Treaty,

(cid:1) Articles 1(1), 14,16 and 27(3) of the Spanish Constitution; and

(cid:1) Articles 6, 10, 21 and 14(3) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU.

Knowing that:

(cid:1) the application of certain agreements concluded between the Vatican State and the Spanish State in
1976 and 1979 is giving rise to a violation of the fundamental rights of equality, freedom and non-
discrimination protected under EU law and the Spanish Constitution;

(cid:1) by virtue of the Agreement concerning Economic Affairs, the Catholic Church enjoys tax benefits and
exemptions that are not enjoyed by any other religious faith in Spain, which constitutes religious
discrimination against the other religious faiths registered in that country;

(cid:1) in addition to giving rise to a violation of the fundamental right protected under Article 14(3) of the
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and Article 27(3) of the Spanish Constitution, the Agreement
on Education and Cultural Affairs, through laws such as the Organic Law on Quality in Education,
contravenes Article 16(2) of the Spanish Constitution and Article 3(2) of Royal Decree 2438/1994, as
was established by the Supreme Court of the Canaries (TSJC) in its judgment No 153/2003.

Is the Commission aware of the above facts, and if it has taken them into consideration and assessed them,
what conclusions does it draw from this assessment?

Does it consider the agreements between the Holy See and the Spanish State to be incompatible with the
EC Treaty and the EU Treaty, and does it believe that the Kingdom of Spain has taken all appropriate steps
to remove the incompatibilities?

Does it believe that complaints against infringements of the Constitution should be brought only through
the country’s national law, or can they be taken into consideration by the Community institutions as
serious violations of the rule of law and democracy?