WRITTEN QUESTION E-0910/04 by Ingo Friedrich (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Aid for olive production; common organisation of the market in olives.
Date: 2004-03-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, common organisation of markets, olive, olive oil, production aid

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/911

(2004/C 84 E/1006)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0909/04

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: To Serve and Protect (cid:1) Netherlands Railways

(24 March 2004)

The Dutch newspaper Het Parool reported on 11 March 2004 that, as of 1 April 2004, the security firm
To Serve and Protect is to lose its contract to a competing firm. Using unorthodox methods, To Serve and
Protect has achieved outstanding results in making Amsterdam’s railway stations safe, to the complete
satisfaction of all parties.

Netherlands Railways (NS), which has employed it hitherto, says that To Serve and Protect is no longer
eligible because it does not comply with European public procurement criteria. The firm’s excessively small
size is a particular problem according to the NS. The latter’s spokesman says that a business must have a
turnover of at least EUR 4,5 million per annum and employ at least 400 staff.

If a firm is doing a good job and is competitive but too small, surely this last point cannot be

1.
grounds for debarring it from bidding for a contract? What does the Commission think about this?

2. What is the true state of affairs?

Can the Commission appreciate that such reports give newspaper-readers a negative impression of

3.
Europe and makes them angry at Europe?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The EU rules on public procurement do not include an obligation to exclude companies from participating
in invitations to tender because of their size. However, the awarding bodies are permitted to require
participants in the procedures for the award of contracts to have the technical, economic and financial
capacity necessary for the performance of the contract in question, such as a minimum turnover and/or a
minimum number of employees. In order to avoid negative consequences for small companies, under EU
rules groups of companies are allowed to tender. In the case mentioned by the Honourable Member it was
Netherlands Railways (NS) which considered that a minimum annual turnover of EUR 4,5 million and a
staff of at least 400 people was necessary to carry out the contract in question.

The Commission is aware of the negative impact of information which does not give enough explanation
in order to be understood and correctly assessed. It therefore regrets the biased way in which information
has been given to the public on this subject.

(2004/C 84 E/1007)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0910/04

by Ingo Friedrich (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 March 2004)

Subject: Aid for olive production; common organisation of the market in olives

The common organisation of the market in olives provides for olive production to receive aid as a matter
of course. In what form is it provided: per tree, hectare or litre?

C 84 E/912

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2004)

Under the common market organisation for olive oil production aid is granted to growers for the oil
actually produced. The rate for the 1998/99 to 2003/04 marketing years has been EUR 132,25/100 kg.
The maximum quantity of oil on which it can be granted is 1 777 261 tonnes per marketing year. This
guaranteed maximum is split between the producing Member States (France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain)
and if a Member’s State guaranteed national quantity is exceeded the aid rate is reduced in proportion.

Member States can allocate part of their guaranteed national quantity and of the production aid to support
for table olives.

The legal provisions on applications for, payment of, and checks on olive oil and table olive production
aid are set by Regulation (EC) No 2366/1998 (1). The national provisions on granting of aid for table olives
are to be found in Decisions 2001/670/EC (2) (Portugal), 2001/658/EC (3) (Italy), 2001/650/EC (4) (Spain)
and 2001/649/EC (5) (Greece).

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2366/98 of 30 October 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of the
system of production aid for olive oil for the 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/01 marketing years, OJ L 293,
31.10.1998.

(2) 2001/670/EC: Commission Decision of 10 August 2001 on the granting of aid for the production of table olives in

Portugal, OJ L 235, 4.9.2001.

(3) 2001/658/EC: Commission Decision of10 August 2001 on the granting of aid for the production of table olives in

Italy, OJ L 231, 29.8.2001.

(4) 2001/650/EC: Commission Decision of 9 August 2001 on the granting of aid for the production of table olives in

Spain, OJ L 229, 25.8.2001.

(5) 2001/650/EC: Commission Decision of 9 August 2001 on the granting of aid for the production of table olives in

Greece, OJ L 229, 25.8.2001.

(2004/C 84 E/1008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0912/04

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 March 2004)

Subject: Directive 2001/83/EC and Braille requirements

Has the Commission fully assessed the implications and costs involved in the requirement that all medicine
packaging must include Braille, as specified in Directive 2001/83/EC (1)?

Has the Commission considered other options such as:

(cid:1) the provision, at point of sale, of clear self-adhesive Braille labels;

(cid:1) the availability, at point of sale, of leaflets printed in Braille, which may be retained in the home with

the product in question;

(cid:1) the provision, on demand, of reusable containers printed in Braille, in which a product may be kept?

the Commission consider convening a meeting of relevant stakeholders to ensure that

Will
requirement is met in the most appropriate manner?

this

(1) OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67.