WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2819/97 by Honório NOVO to the Commission. Damage to Portuguese fruit and vegetables caused by rain and hailstorms
C 102/128 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 4. 98 Joint answer to Written Questions E-2804/97 and E-2805/97 given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1997) The Commission assumes that the Honourable Member is referring to the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 3051/95 on the safety management of roll-on roll-off passenger ferries (1). Member States had the possibility of derogating from the requirement to impose international standards method (ISM) obligations on ferries and companies operating exclusively in sheltered waters until 1 July 1997. The Commission regrets that it does not at present have sufficient information to be able to provide a full answer to the question but will ask the Member States for up-dated information and communicate with the Honourable Member when it is available. (1) OJ L 320, 30. 12. 1995. (98/C 102/193) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2819/97 by Hono·rio Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (1 September 1997) Subject: Damage to Portuguese fruit and vegetables caused by rain and hailstorms The untimely recent torrential rains, coupled in many cases with violent hailstorms, have devastated fruit and vegetable crops in Portugal. According to some estimates, approximately 60% of the potato crop has been affected, especially in parts of the Beira Litoral, Ribatejo (Chamusca), Setu·bal, and Tra·s-os-Montes regions. The cherry and tomato crops in, respectively, Beira Interior and several other areas have also been damaged. Portuguese agricultural insurance apparently does not cover bad weather of this particular sort. Furthermore, the vast majority of the farmers concerned, who work on family farms or holdings nearly as small, have scant capital resources and, as the Commission is well aware, receive little or no Community support. Funds are available in the Community budget to cope with the kind of severe weather conditions which have occurred. However, the small farmers now in difficulty will not be able to obtain them unless the Portuguese Government elects to inform the Commission and submit the necessary request/application. Can the Commission therefore say: 1. What amounts are earmarked to make good the losses sustained when fruit and vegetable crops in Member States have been almost completely destroyed by bad weather? Are the sums granted in the form of non-returnable payments and/or loans with interest-rate subsidies? 2. Has the Portuguese Government already informed the Commission about what has happened to fruit and vegetable crops in Portugal? Has it already submitted the necessary requests for aid? If so, how has the Commission responded? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1997) The Commission does not finance losses of agricultural production caused by bad weather. However, Article 5(h) of Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 laying down implementing provisions for the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Section (EAGGF) › Guidance Section, as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2085/93 (1), states that the EAGGF Guidance Section may provide financial assistance to restore agricultural and forestry production potential damaged by natural disasters