WRITTEN QUESTION E-3007/03 by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Role of the European Rural Carrefours in CAP information campaigns.
Date: 2003-10-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, common agricultural policy, dissemination of EU information, information network, information policy, public awareness campaign, technical cooperation

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/191

Assembly. The reference to the respect for Human Rights and democratic principles in the EC-Vietnam
Cooperation Agreement enables the Commission to address human rights issues in its bilateral contacts
with the Government of Vietnam.

It is also noteworthy that the Vietnamese Government has stated its interest in extending an invitation to a
delegation from the Parliament to visit the country soon, which might provide the Parliament with an
opportunity to assess the situation at first hand itself.

(2004/C 70 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3005/03

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Classification of albumin

At present in the EU albumin from hens’ eggs is classified in the ‘non-Annex I’ product group (CN 3502/
1190/1990/2091/2099). This has given rise to the following anomalous situation: when an egg is
separated, the yolk remains an agricultural product, but the albumin is classified as an industrial product.
Although albumin was used for industrial purposes in the past, the situation has now changed completely
and it is used in the food sector.

This inappropriate classification is placing egg producers who export albumin at a serious disadvantage,
given that they are forfeiting substantial volumes of export refunds.

Can the Commission state how and when it intends to deal with this ‘anomaly’, which has a serious
adverse impact on European egg producers?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2003)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission’s answers to Written Questions P-2696/03 (1) and
P-2976/03 from Mr Kindermann (2).

(1) See page 129.
(2) See page 182.

(2004/C 70 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3007/03

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Role of the European Rural Carrefours in CAP information campaigns

The ‘Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of
Council Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 on information measures relating to the common agricultural
policy’ (1) expresses satisfaction at the results achieved by the information campaigns conducted in 2000,
2001 and 2002, but also stresses that their impact on the public and their cost-effectiveness could be
improved. The Commission states, on the basis of data obtained from ‘flash’ Eurobarometers, that the
general public’s lack of knowledge about the CAP, WTO, food safety and other issues linked to agricultural
policy confirms more than ever the need to step up information measures and improve their impact.

For some years now the European network of Rural Carrefours has been playing a role in informing the
public about the common agricultural policy, thanks to the existence of about 140 European rural
information and promotion centres supplied with publications, newsletters and websites and staffed by

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Official Journal of the European Union

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20.3.2004

people competent to deal with CAP issues. The European network of Rural Carrefours can make a
worthwhile contribution to achieving the objectives of Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 (2), as regards
improving both the impact on the general public and cost-effectiveness. In order to achieve this result, the
Commission’s Agriculture DG should ensure structured involvement of the ‘Carrefours’, in the interests of
running information campaigns more efficiently and making the information measures carried out by the
Commission more coherent.

One of the measures undertaken by the Commission was, precisely, to train those working in the Rural
Carrefours in a number of specific CAP-related subjects, under the auspices of the Agriculture DG, which
links with these centres. The Rural Carrefour network has
demonstrated the need for functional
accompanied Commission staff on information stands at agricultural fairs.

Can the Commission say:

1. whether it intends to broaden its collaboration with the European network of Rural Carrefours in

order to carry out activities relating to measures taken on the Commission’s initiative;

2. what role the European network of Rural Carrefours will play in the measures taken on the

Commission’s initiative to implement the aforementioned Regulation (EC) No 814/2000?

(1) COM(2003) 235 final.
(2) OJ L 100, 20.4.2000, p. 7.

(2004/C 70 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3068/03

by Hugues Martin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Funding of bodies which play host to an Info-Point Europe

According to my sources, following the entry into force, on 1 January 2003, of the new Financial
Regulation applicable to all the European institutions (Council Regulation (EC) No 1605/2002 of 25 June
2002 (1)) and its implementing procedures, the operating subsidies hitherto granted to bodies which play
host to an Info-Point Europe will henceforth be awarded on the basis of a new procedure. Instead of
receiving automatic funding, these information centres will be required to take part in an invitation-to-
tender procedure, failing which they will not be eligible for subsidies.

In addition to the operating subsidies, the bodies in question also received logistical support, such as
supplies of publications, access to the ‘relays and networks Intranet’, back-up from the relays and networks
helpdesk, in the form of documentary and technical assistance, from the meeting of relay heads, etc. It has
been decided that bodies which submit an appropriate request will continue to receive this logistical
support, on a temporary basis, in 2004.

This new procedure, which is intended to increase transparency in connection with the award of funding,
raises three questions to which the European Commission alluded without providing a detailed answer:

(cid:1) What criteria will be used to select the bodies which respond to the invitations to tender?

(cid:1) Will the logistical support measures continue after 2004?

(cid:1) In more general terms, the European Commission is now considering new forms of cooperation
which will ensure that information is readily available to the public locally, whilst complying with the
new rules laid down in the above-mentioned Financial Regulation. Can the Commission be more
precise on this point?

(1) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.