WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1739/97 by Riccardo NENCINI to the Commission. Payment of aid for agriculture at regional level
C 60/40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 2. 98 (98/C 60/65) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1739/97 by Riccardo Nencini (PSE) to the Commission (23 May 1997) Subject: Payment of aid for agriculture at regional level Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 (1) introduced various incentives for farmers, including a compensatory allowance in respect of ánatural handicapsí. The Region of Umbria (Italy) then issued Regional Law No 11/88 laying down rules for the application of that regulation and delegated to the local authorities in the mountain areas concerned the task of paying the relevant allowances, which they did until 1993. Subsequent annual allowances have not been paid yet, even though farmers have complied with the conditions laid down by the regulations in force; moreover, it should be emphasised that the Communityís financial contributions have already been transferred to the Regions. Could the Commission urge the Region of Umbria to ensure the annual allowances due since 1993 are paid? (1) OJ L 93, 30. 3. 1985, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 June 1997) The aid scheme which provides for the payment of compensatory allowances to farmers in less-favoured areas is not compulsory for the Member States. Member States and regions can choose whether or not to introduce such support measures, the cost of which is part-financed by the Community. However, once a region has introduced such a scheme and the Commission has approved the relevant implementing provisions, the region is required to apply it according to the rules and in a sustained way. Any discontinuation of the aid scheme or suspension of payments must be approved anew by the Commission. Since introducing the system of compensatory allowances, the Umbria Region has never notified the Commission of any intention to suspend the scheme. According to the Commissionís information, payments were not made in 1994 while the annual instalment for 1995 was paid normally. The Commission is contacting the Italian authorities to clarify the situation and will remind them of their obligations under the Community provisions. (98/C 60/66) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1742/97 by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission (23 May 1997) Subject: Narcolepsy 1. Is it true that consideration is being given at European level to withdrawing the entitlement to participate in motorized traffic from all people with a sleep-related disorder, including people with narcolepsy, in advance and as a category? 2. Can the Commission explain how this is regulated in other Member States? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (25 June 1997) 1. Community provisions on the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving a power-driven vehicle are laid down in Annex III of Council Directive 91/439/EEC (1) of 29 July 1991 on driving licences. Considering that sleepiness in general and narcolepsy in particular are not addressed specifically in the standards set by the Annex, they fall under the general provision (point 18 of Annex III) which states that: