WRITTEN QUESTION E-3457/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Reform of the olive oil sector.
Date: 2003-11-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid to agriculture, olive oil, olive-growing, reform of the CAP

C 78 E/554

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0589)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3457/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject: Reform of the olive oil sector

Commission Communication (1) on ‘accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the
reformed CAP (cid:1) the tobacco, olive oil, cotton and sugar sectors’, it states that ‘for simplification, the olive
grove payment will not be allocated before EUR 50 per aid claim’.

Various interpretations have been placed on this formulation. Would the Commission therefore please
clarify whether this means that all olive growers currently receiving less than EUR 50 will henceforth
receive EUR 50, or on the contrary, cease to receive any aid whatever, which would be very unfair?

(1) COM(2003) 554 final.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2003)

The Commission’s communication Accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the
reformed CAP- the tobacco, olive oil and sugar sectors (1) was followed on 18 November by its adoption of
the proposals for the legislation introducing the reforms in question.

The particular provision to which the Honourable Member refers has to be seen in context: simplification
of the aid provisions for a sector with a very large number of recipients (more than 2 100 000 in the
Community), most of whom receive very small amounts of aid. This simplification is designed not to harm
the interests of the smallest producers.

information system (GIS) hectares will be entitled,

A second provision has to be taken into account in this connection. Growers with an area of less than
0,3 geographical
irrespective of the amount of aid
received, to convert into single payment entitlement the average aid received during the reference period
whereas for producers with more than 0,3 GIS hectares the conversion level proposed is 60 %. The first
provision in turn makes operation of the system less burdensome by specifying that if the amount of olive
grove aid claimed is less than EUR 50 it will not be paid. For the purposes of this provision the actual size
of the grove is irrelevant.

Thus under the new system proposed the very small producers will receive at least the average amount
granted during the reference period. Those whose grove is considered by the Member State to have an
environmental or social value will also be able to receive the olive grove aid provided that the amount
actually falling to be received is more than EUR 50.

(1) COM(2003) 554 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0590)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3459/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 November 2003)

Subject: Measures to prevent the breaking-up in Europe of old US warships contaminated with chemicals,

asbestos and diesel

1.
Is the Commission aware that the Netherlands firm ICT is bringing US warships from the Second
World War era which are contaminated with large quantities of chemicals, asbestos and heavy diesel oil to
Europe with a view to them being broken up by the British firm Able in the North Sea port of Hartlepool?