WRITTEN QUESTION E-0619/04 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Damage caused by extreme weather conditions in Greece.
Date: 2004-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EAGGF, EU financing, Greece, aid to agriculture, bad weather, crop losses

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/639

implementation of the
The information submitted by the Honourable Member relates to the practical
national
legislation transposing the Directives mentioned in this written question. Monitoring and
supervision of implementation are, in the first place, the responsibility of the authorities (including the
judicial authorities) of
judicial and/or
administrative proceedings have been initiated by the workers of the company or their representatives in
order to enforce the obligations laid down by the above Directives.

the Member States concerned. There is no indication that

The Commission has, moreover, not received any complaint with regard to this matter and has no
information suggesting that any infringement of these Directives has occurred.

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.
(2) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994.
(3) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0719)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0619/04

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Damage caused by extreme weather conditions in Greece

(1 March 2004)

Heavy snowfall and exceptionally low temperatures have caused widespread serious and damage to plant
and stockbreeding production,
installations
(greenhouses, livestock housing, etc.) in many parts of Greece.

to stocks of plants and animals and to agricultural

Given that producers’
Commission say:

incomes and the means of production have been very badly affected, will the

1. Will it fund actions to compensate producers for loss of income and the replacement of the means of

productions which have been affected?

2. What scope is there for using funds from the Operational Programme on agricultural development

2000-2006 or reserves from the third CSF?

3. Will it approve a national programme for granting aid, if requested to do so by Greece?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2004)

if

In addition,

The Commission has not yet received detailed information from Greece concerning the impact on
agriculture caused by the adverse weather conditions that affected the Member State during the month of
February 2004. Depending on the magnitude of this damage, Community solidarity funds may be available
to help rural areas overcome the problems they are facing as soon as possible and to rebuild production
these adverse weather conditions have destroyed the production potential,
potential.
European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) assistance may be possible inside of the
financial allocation for Greece for the programming period 2000-2006 and more specifically through the
implementation of the ‘National Operational Programme (cid:1) Rural Development (2000-2006)’. However,
it should be underlined that
there are no funds available and consequently a
reprogramming procedure will be necessary. The Greek authorities are entitled to submit a request to
redefine the programming priorities and the corresponding financial allocations within the context of the
current mid-term review.
should be emphasised that EAGGF intervention will be limited to
reconstituting production potential and does not cover the income losses which are not eligible.

the moment

for

It

It should be noted that the allocation of the performance and programming reserves of the 3rd EU (cid:1)
Greece Community Support Framework have already been executed at national level, providing for, among
other programmes,
the ‘National Operational Programme (cid:1) Rural
Development (2000-2006)’. It is up to the Ministry of Agriculture to propose reallocating of necessary
funds to the appropriate section of the programme during the current mid-term review.

reinforcement of

the financial

C 84 E/640

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission will be able to approve a national aid programme notified to it under Article 88(3) of the
EC Treaty provided all relevant conditions stipulated in the Community Guidelines for State Aid in the
Agriculture Sector are met.

(2004/C 84 E/0720)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0622/04

by Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Ban on entering Russia for Danish journalist

(1 March 2004)

The Danish journalist, Vibeke Sperling, who works for the daily newspaper Politiken, has been refused an
entry visa into Russia without any justification. This is a serious matter which raises issues of principle
concerning the standards that the EU requires of its partners, including Russia.

Will the Commission, therefore, say whether it has contemplated raising such problems of freedom of the
press in the context of the forthcoming negotiations with Russia on the cooperation agreement between
the EU and Russia, and making clear to Russia that such infringements of fundamental freedoms are not
acceptable to the EU?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2004)

The Commission is concerned at reports of infringements of the freedom of the press in Russia and is
closely following developments, including with regard to the specific case of Ms Sperling. Although the
decision to grant a visa or not is the prerogative of Russia, it is most regrettable that Russia has chosen to
act in a restrictive and opaque manner in this case. The Commission recalls the public declaration of
concern on media freedom issued by the EU in July 2003.

In its recent Communication on relations with Russia (1), the Commission underlined the need for the EU
to hold an open and frank dialogue,
in order to insist that Russia respect the values to which it is
committed as a member of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Council
of Europe, including respect for human rights and media freedom. These issues are frequently raised in the
political dialogue which the EU holds with the Russian authorities.

The EU’s activity is not limited to political dialogue. In view of its concerns on media freedom, the
Commission will continue to support the development of an independent and pluralistic media in Russia,
including via projects funded under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.

The Commission does not see this issue as linked to the extension of the EU/Russia Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement to the ten acceding Member States, which is a purely technical procedure.

(1) COM(2004) 106 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0721)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0627/04

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(3 March 2004)

Subject: Failure to comply with Community legislation during border veterinary checks in Spain

The Subdirectorate-General for External and Veterinary Health (SGSEV) of the Spanish Ministry of Health
and Consumer Affairs has issued instructions (1) ordering official veterinarians at border inspection posts to