WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Single payment within the reform of the COM in olive oil.
Date: 2003-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid system, common organisation of markets, farmers' income, olive oil, payment, production aid, reform of the CAP, support policy

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/63

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2004)

The Strofylia and Kotychi biotopes have been classified by Greece as special protection areas (codes
GR2320001 and GR2330009) under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation
of wild birds (1) and proposed as sites of Community importance (codes GR2320001 and GR2330006) in
accordance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and
of wild fauna and flora (2).

Under Article 7 and Article 6(2) of Directive 92/43/EEC, the Greek authorities must ensure that activities in
the area do not lead to deterioration of habitats on the sites or significantly disturb the species found there.
Article 4(1) and (2) of Directive 79/409/EEC require Member States to give these special protection areas
an appropriate legal status.

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that on the basis of the facts reported in question
E-3204/01 by Mr Papayannakis (3) it opened an own-initiative case, in order to check whether there was a
system of protection for the sites. Its investigations showed that Greece had not taken the necessary
measures to establish and implement a coherent, specific and comprehensive legal framework ensuring the
sustainable management, conservation and effective protection of
the sites, having regard to the
conservation objectives of Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC. Considering that Greece had failed to
fulfil its obligations under Article 4(1) and (2) of Directive 79/409/EEC and Article 7 and Article 6(2) of
Directive 92/43/EEC, the Commission initiated infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC
Treaty in October 2003.

In the light of the above, it is clear that the Greek authorities must set up an appropriate system for
protecting and managing the sites. This must establish the conditions under which existing activities and
new activities may be carried out on protected sites, having regard to the conservation objectives of
Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC. Under Greek law, such a system must include approval of a
specific environmental study (management plan), adoption of a joint ministerial decision specifying
environmental protection measures tailored to the site and its implementation by a management body
specifically set up for the purpose.

Once it has seen the comments of
the Commission will check for any
the Greek authorities,
incompatibility with the abovementioned Community provisions and will take all necessary measures to
ensure that Community environmental legislation is complied with.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(3) OJ C 160 E, 4.7.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Single payment within the reform of the COM in olive oil

The Commission Communication on ‘accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through
the reform of the CAP (cid:1) the tobacco, olive oil, cotton and sugar sectors’ (1) final states that ‘adhesion to
the single farm payment’ (cid:1) instead of the existing production-linked payments (cid:1) ‘enables low input olive
oil producing regions to maintain their overall level of income support’. But the Communication also states
that this single payment ‘could bring problems to certain traditional producer regions’ and that ‘there exists
a significant risk of widespread disruption to olive tree maintenance’, particularly ‘where such areas
manifest a high dependency on the olive sector in their local economies’. In its previous attempts at
reform, the Commission tried to abolish the current production aids against the wishes of the producer
countries, who resisted the attempts, pointing out the significant risk of ‘production abandonment’. The
current proposal, forming part of the recent CAP reform, goes further still, by uncoupling production
subsidies.

C 84 E/64

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission:

1. How does it assess the impact of this proposal in the case of Portugal, specifically in terms of olive
grove production in traditional producer regions? Does the Commission not believe that ending
production-linked payments will seriously reduce and concentrate olive oil production, with both
social and environmental repercussions?

2. How does it, given the partial uncoupling of aid based on hectares or per tree, intend to guarantee

that farmers will receive the same amount as before?

3. What overall result does it envisage from ending the differentiated payments to small producers under
the previous reform? How does it view the introduction of a compensatory payment for small
producers?

(1) COM(2003) 554 final.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2003)

Oil sales are already producers’ main source of income. On average Community support accounts for only
one third of it. Thus the market rather than production aid is the essential factor inducing growers to
maintain their trees and pick the olives. The reform proposal does not alter this balance and the
Commission does not expect significant production reductions. Further, with the new aid for maintaining
olive groves Member States will be able to concentrate support where for social or environmental reasons
it is most needed.

In addition the general provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 (1) make direct payments conditional
on keeping the land in good agricultural and environmental condition. Thus Member States will be able to
refuse to pay direct aid unless olive groves are maintained in good condition but they will not be able to
require that the olives be harvested.

Under the CAP reform principles the overall support for the olive sector in each Member State remains
that of the reference period. At individual level the proposal guarantees that producers will receive in the
form of the single payment at least 60 % of the aid received during that period. The fact that this amount
is decoupled will help stabilise growers’
incomes since alternation, an important phenomenon in low
production zones, will have no impact on the aid. On the other hand the aid for maintaining olive groves
in line with their varying social and environmental
will not be granted on a historical basis but
importance.

Discontinuing the system of a fixed payment to small producers in 1998 served the Commission’s
intended purpose of stopping fraudulent double payments.

Under the Commission’s proposal producers with less than 0,3 hectares will have 100 % of the aid received
during the reference period converted to single payment entitlement. This will simplify their management
and guarantee their present income level. They will also have access to the olive grove maintenance aid on
the same terms as other growers.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support
schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending
Regulations (EEC) No 2019/93, (EC) No 1452/2001, (EC) No 1453/2001, (EC) No 1454/2001, (EC) No 1868/94,
(EC) No 1251/1999,
(EEC) No 2358/71 and (EC) No 2529/2001,
OJ L 270, 21.10.2003.

(EC) No 1673/2000,

(EC) No 1254/1999,