WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2994/97 by Anne POISSON to the Commission. Wheat growing in the European Union and, in particular, the Ile de France region
C 102/160 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 4. 98 (98/C 102/239) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2994/97 by Anne Poisson (UPE) to the Commission (16 September 1997) Subject: Wheat growing in the European Union and, in particular, the Ile de France region The situation in the wheat-growing sector is a matter of great concern to the European Union as a whole. The figures are alarming: between 1992 and 1993, production fell by over 17% in Europe and nearly 60% in France, with the result that the EU has ceased to be an exporter and is now an importer of wheat. In view of the concern felt by all semolina manufacturers and the hegemony being established by North American producers, what action is the Commission intending to take in order to revive wheat-growing in the EU and, in particular, the Ile de France region, which had always produced very high-quality wheat? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1997) Community production of durum wheat is supported by the compensatory payments introduced by Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops. (1) In the case of durum wheat grown in traditional areas, which account for 90% of Community’s total area under durum wheat, the compensatory payment is increased by a further ECU 358. 6 per hectare. Furthermore, specific aid of ECU 138. 9 per hectare is granted to production in certain departments of France, including, in the Ile-de-France, Essonne, Seine-et-Marne and Yvelines, up to a maximum of 50 000 hectares. In total, these production aids are equivalent to those paid for production before the 1992 reform of the common agricultural policy and, subject to weather conditions, guarantee supplies to industry in Europe. In Agenda 2000 (2) the Commission stated that it had no intention of amending the aid schemes for the production of durum wheat. The Commission considers that the current very high level of market prices is the result of exceptional weather conditions affecting both the quantity and the quality of production in Europe and the quantity produced in other production areas, such as North Africa. (1) OJ L 181, 1. 7. 1992. (2) COM(97) 2000 final. (98/C 102/240) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3000/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Building of power lines for the Rome-Naples high-speed railway line On 14 February 1997 the local authority of San Cesareo (in the province of Rome) received the project for changing the route of the power lines for the main track of the Rome-Naples high-speed railway line. The local authority opposed the execution of the project, which would involve an area already used for a number of public works. According to the project submitted, the power lines would run alongside two areas protected under law No 413/85 › the ditch in the village of Vetrice and the wood called the Macchiarellaí used as a public park