WRITTEN QUESTION E-3876/03 by Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Exceeding of the basic cultivation areas for 2003 and application of penalties.
Date: 2003-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, aid per hectare, common agricultural policy, drought, maize, utilised agricultural area

C 84 E/256

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

In 2002, 154 such checks were carried out. Three officials were reinstated during this period.

The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the reply by the Commission to the special report
from the Court of Auditors 3/2003, in which the Commission announced its intention of developing an
overall policy aimed at both preventing invalidity and helping and encouraging rehabilitation, and to
inform the Parliament of the results of its work.

(2004/C 84 E/0303)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3866/03

by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Bird-trapping in Cyprus

In view of continued reports of bird trapping in Cyprus, what action is the Commission taking to ensure
the adequate implementation and enforcement of the EC Birds Directive in Cyprus?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 2004)

The Commission continues to monitor the situation and the progress made by Cyprus in working towards
meeting its obligations under Community law, not just in transposition but also in implementation and
enforcement. As an Acceding Country, Cyprus will be required to fully implement and enforce the Birds
Directive (1) (79/409/EEC) on 1 May 2004. No transition period has been given and no specific derogations
have been requested by Cyprus. In October 2003 Cyprus adopted national legislation to transpose the
requirements of both the Birds and Habitats Directives (92/43/EEC) (2).

The Commission clearly pointed out during the negotiation for accession that certain bird-trapping
methods, like the ones involving the use of mist nets and lime sticks, are incompatible with the provisions
of the Birds Directive. The practice is illegal
in Cyprus and the Cypriot authorities have assured the
Commission that they would step up efforts for effective enforcement of the law in question. Should
problems be observed, then the Commission would raise them with the national authorities to seek their
resolution. The Commission wishes to assure the Honourable Member that it will not hesitate to take all
the appropriate measures, in order to guarantee the correct application of Community environmental law
by its Member States.

(1) Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora,

OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2004/C 84 E/0304)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3876/03

by Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Exceeding of the basic cultivation areas for 2003 and application of penalties

With regard to the problems of maize production and the exceeding of the basic cultivation area for 2003,
with the consequent application of penalties, and also in the light of the communication by Agea (Italy) on
the expected 18,6 % reduction in the CAP premium arising from the imposition of a ceiling on the area
reserved for maize (cid:1) even though Italy’s maximum guaranteed area has not been exceeded (cid:1) it is now
essential, as a matter of urgency, to ask the Commission to rescind the (at all events exceptional) penalties.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/257

The drought of 2003 has taken its toll in considerably higher production costs (as much as 32 % higher
than previous years), especially for irrigation, as well as in a marked fall in average production, serving to
confirm the significant reduction in maize producers’ incomes.

The situation of maize producers is already highly vulnerable, and could become disastrous if further
unplanned events (classifiable as force majeure) occur to compound the effects of the expected 18,6 % cut.

What action will the Commission take to restore equilibrium in the maize-producing areas?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2004)

Concerning the request, not to apply (cid:1) as an exceptional derogation for 2003 (cid:1) the aid reductions per
hectare (ha) caused by an excess production of the separate base area for maize in Italy, it is to be noted
that the aim of the measures established in Article 2, paragraph 4 of Council Regulation (EC) 1251/1999
of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (1), is to ensure market
balance.

The global sum of the payments distributed to farmers under the arable crop scheme is not reduced if the
area payment per ha is decreased due to an excess in the separate base area for maize in Italy but the
eligible area per farmer is reduced proportionately for all the payments granted.

Finally, regarding a possible action of the Commission in order to redress the balance of the situation of
the maize areas, Member States determine the regional base areas (Article 2, § 2 of Council Regulation (EC)
1251/1999) and have the possibility of modifying their regionalisation plan.

Concerning the bad weather conditions of the summer of 2003, which penalised farmers in Italy, it is to
be noted that the Commission urgently adopted a package of measures,
in order to help farmers to
overcome the exceptional drought.

Due to these considerations, a derogation to the above-mentioned Regulation, because of exceptional
events like this summer’s drought, is not appropriate.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 84 E/0305)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3883/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Alcatel Italia: Community funding for telecommunications

From a restructuring plan presented by the management of Alcatel Italia S.p.A. it emerges that two Italian
plants will be closed down, although they are both at the forefront of telecom technology. However, there
are a number of Community programmes to support technological
innovation, such as the @-Europe
programme, which provides for the possibility of subsidising investments for broad-band facilities in
depressed areas by means of the ESF. Furthermore, in the context of measures to promote the development
of broad band, investments of EUR 1,680 million over five years are envisaged, to be financed partly by
European funds and partly by means of project-financing.

In view of all this, can the Commission say:

1.

to what extent Alcatel Italia may benefit from such funding;