WRITTEN QUESTION P-3446/03 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Authorisation for aid in connection with a biological rest period in Sicily in 2002.
Date: 2003-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sicily, State aid, control of State aid, fishing industry

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/549

The Second International ‘Women and Sport: Action for Change’ Congress, organised by the Portuguese
‘Women and Sport’ Association, held in Porto at the beginning of this November, saw Portuguese women
athletes denounce the existing discrimination between men and women in sport, particularly in the
awarding of prizes in athletics trials where men and women are competing jointly. This unacceptable
situation is to be met with, all the time, in Portugal.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to put an end to the discrimination to which women
athletes continue to be subjected?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

The Commission would like to draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the answer given to
Mrs Breyer’s Question E-3353/03 (1), which sets out the Community’s powers in relation to implemen-
tation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in sport.

(1) See page 271.

(2004/C 78 E/0584)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3446/03

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(13 November 2003)

Subject: Authorisation for aid in connection with a biological rest period in Sicily in 2002

In March 2002, pursuant to Regional Decree (D.A.) No 22/Fisheries, the Sicilian regional authorities
notified the Commission regarding the granting of financial aid to fishermen in connection with the
biological rest period in 2002.

Subsequent and wholly justified requests from the Commission for further information considerably
delayed the reply from Brussels on the matter.

The aid provided for in the aforementioned decree was based on the legislation in force at the time,
namely Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (1).

The Commission surprisingly chose to take its decision on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 (2)
of 20 December 2002, which substantially amended Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999.

The failure to authorise the provision of aid in connection with the biological rest period in 2002 is
causing major financial problems for many fisheries operators who have implemented the rest period.

Given the above, would the Commission not agree that it should consider the request from the Sicilian
regional authorities for 2002 to be compatible with Community law, so as not to add to the financial
difficulties already being faced by Sicilian fisheries operators who are also being penalised by the measures
provided for in the Community fisheries action plan?

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p. 10.
(2) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 49.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2003)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that the situation described in his question was the
subject of a letter from the Commission’s Director-General for Fisheries in July of this year in which he
referred to the relevant sections of the Community rules (1) and to the Guidelines for the examination of
State aid to fisheries and aquaculture.

C 78 E/550

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

In October the Sicilian Regional Government’s fisheries department sent the Fisheries Directorate-General a
letter on the matter, and the Commission is still examining the dossier in the light of the abovementioned
Guidelines (2) and Regulation.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements

regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector, OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p. 12.

(2) OJ C 19, 20.1.2001.

(2004/C 78 E/0585)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3447/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject: Marketing problems and imports in the wine sector

In recent years the situation of winegrowers and cooperative wine cellars in Portugal has worsened, due to
enormous problems caused by the fact that wine production far outstrips demand. The problems in
marketing wine, at prices which are only minimally fair to the producers, are worsening with the
enormous import of wine from various countries, above all since 2001, which is delaying payments to
farmers by two or more years. In some cases, these are imports of bulk wines without any quality wine
P.S.R. classification.

Is the Commission aware of the seriousness of the situation in Portugal? What measures does it

1.
intend to take to support Portuguese winegrowers?

Is the Commission prepared to authorise and fund an emergency wine distillation (both ‘verde’ and

2.
‘maduro’), with subsidised prices, so as to improve the market?

3. What aid could be considered to support the financial recovery of the Cooperative Wine Cellars and
set up a fund for seasonal loans, so as to guarantee their funding and the rapid release of the delayed
payments to the winegrowers?

4. What measures does the Commission intend to improve wine quality, preventing blending,
particularly of wines imported from third countries, and the importation of bulk wines, so that these are
not then bottled and classified as quality wines P.S.R.?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2004)

The Commission is aware that for about two years now the wine market in Portugal has been in a less
satisfactory state. The situation has twice been relieved by crisis distillation enabling a total of 700 000 hl
of wine to be withdrawn from the market. Of this 200 000 hl was quality wine, mainly Vinho Verde. We
have received no separate figures for the cooperatives’ stock position.

Crisis distillation cannot be opened except at the official request of a Member State backed up by a detailed
explanation of why it is needed. After scrutinising this and consulting the Management Committee for
Wine we decide whether distillation will be opened. In the current wine year Portugal has not so far made
any application.

Neither the common market organisation for wine nor the rural development policy make any provision
for aid for the financial recovery of wine cooperatives. A national measure could be envisaged only if it
met the criteria set out in the Guidelines for State aid in the agriculture sector (2000/C28/02).