WRITTEN QUESTION E-0482/04 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Eurostat.
Date: 2004-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Anti-fraud Office, European official, Eurostat

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/599

(2004/C 84 E/0673)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0477/04

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Banana trade

In 1998 the EU launched a three-year ‘New Banana Recovery programme’. Please could the Commission
confirm if the productivity of bananas has been increased or decreased since this date?

Has an inquiry taken place following the three-year programme to ascertain if it was a success? If so,
please give details.

Following the end of the recovery programme was a new Banana Recovery programme launched? If so,
please give details. Who approved this programme?

Were any MEPs substantially involved in the Banana Recovery programme? If so, please give details.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2004)

Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 of 13 February 1993 on the common organisation of the market in
bananas (1) introduced management and support measures for this product.

On the structural aid side, measures to improve quality and competitiveness for the banana production
chain were included in the 1994-1999 Operational Programmes for structural assistance in Objective 1
regions and were maintained for the period 2000-2006. There is however no specific ‘three-year
programme’ of Structural Fund assistance for banana production.

Since the market organisation was set up launching aid has been available for banana producer groups.

There is also an income loss compensation scheme for producers. The rate applied is calculated for each
marketing year.

A report assessing the effectiveness of the various market organisation measures is due at the end of this
year.

(1) OJ L 47, 25.2.1993.

(2004/C 84 E/0674)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0482/04

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Eurostat

Could the Commission confirm if any of
investigation were amongst the 12 former UCLAF staff moved from OLAF to the Commission in 2001?

the OLAF investigators initially involved in the Eurostat

C 84 E/600

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2004)

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has informed the Commission that four of the officials referred to
in the Honourable Member’s written question were part of the investigation section of the Unit for the
Coordination of Fraud Prevention (UCLAF) which dealt, among other things, with the questions relating to
Eurostat.

(2004/C 84 E/0675)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0483/04

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Rural development: young farmers

The recently adopted reform of the CAP improves some forms of aid for young farmers (chiefly as regards
setting-up and investment).

Rural development policy still does not give priority to young farmers, even though the rapid ageing of the
European farming population may make agriculture a residual economic activity. The new CAP reform
does not yet resolve all the difficulties experienced by young farmers in successfully running a farm, and
this is currently the real obstacle to the survival of the traditional model of European farming.

Has the Commission considered tackling the problem within the framework of the forthcoming reform of
the structural funds?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2004)

The concerns of young farmers in European agriculture have been taken seriously into account in the
Common agricultural policy (CAP) reform agreed in June 2003. The modifications that the Honourable
Member states in his written question (higher aids for setting up and investment) have been introduced
through an amendment to the rural development Regulation (1) approved by this reform.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1783/03 (2) has introduced three new provisions
in the new rural
Development Regulation which will improve the treatment given to young farmers: an increase of 5 % in
the percentage of public support for investments in agricultural holdings: the previous percentage for
public aid in young farmers’ agricultural holdings investments was of 45 % (cid:1) and 55 % in less favoured
areas (cid:1) (LFA); now it will be of 50 % (cid:1) and 60 % in LFA; higher support for the setting-up of young
farmers: until now it was EUR 25 000 and now, with the new Regulation, the setting up premium can go
up to EUR 30 000 to young farmers who are using farm advisory services linked to the setting-up of their
activity during a period of three years after setting-up; and finally, a new recital has been introduced in the
Regulation which establishes that because ‘young farmers represent a key factor in the rural areas, support
to this category of farmers should be considered a priority’.

Member States can now take the chance of this reform to adapt their rural development programmes
according to new provisions of the Regulation.