WRITTEN QUESTION No. 572/98 by Carles-Alfred GASOLIBA I BÖHM to the Commission. Aid to combat the citrus wilt virus
C 310/92 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 10. 98 Furthermore, the joint research centre devotes a large part of its budget to safeguards in the implementation of the Community support programme to the International atomic energy agency. Plutonium management is among the highest priorities. Provided that the appropriate resources (manpower and finance) required to keep track of the increasing amount of plutonium handled in installations in the Community are available, the Commission considers that it will be able to meet its safeguards objectives in the future. (98/C 310/123) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0572/98 by Carles-Alfred Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm (ELDR) to the Commission (4 March 1998) Subject: Aid to combat the citrus wilt virus According to a study drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture the prospects for the citrus sector in the Valencia Region are not very encouraging. It indicates that 48. 5% of the citrus farms in the region are affected by the citrus wilt virus. The situation is worst in Valencia itself, with a 65% infection rate, followed by Castello·n with 30% and Alicante with 20%. This serious disease is causing a substantial decline in agriculture in the area, since trees are being grubbed up and farmers are suffering heavy financial losses. The removal of leaves and stems, as suggested by the Commission, and the moving of trees affected by the virus to and within the region and within it is not the appropriate solution to the problem. Can the Commission say whether it envisages a programme for the conversion of the areas affected by the virus to include the relevant aid and accompanying measures? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 April 1998) The Commission has no specific programme for the conversion of areas affected by the átristezaí virus. However, there are three cross-sector regional measures which may apply to such conversion, though recipients cannot qualify for more than one. Operational programmes of fruit-and-vegetable producer organisations are financed by the operational funds established by the latter with a (50%) contribution from the Community (Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1)). Operational programmes are presented by the Member States under Regulation (EEC) No 2081/93 of 20 July 1993 (2) on the objectives of the Structural Funds (ERDF, ESF and EAGGF Guidance Section). The Commission has approved an operational programme for the region of Valencia for the period 1994-99, providing for Community and Member State part-financing of conversion, restructuring and varietal improvement operations in the citrus-growing sector. Such operations comprise the financing of citrus seedlings not sensitive to the átristezaí virus. The Community contribution to operations under this programme amounts to 70% of total public expenditure, the remaining 30% being the responsibility of the Member State. The aid equals ESP 600 per seedling planted. Under Regulation (EC) No 950/97 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures (3), farmers who fulfil the conditions laid down in Article 5 of that Regulation can qualify for aid for investments carried out in accordance with their holding improvement plans. Investments in perennials like citrus are eligible for Community part-financing provided that the purchase of the plants does not form part of the holdingís running costs. The total aid is expressed as a percentage of the eligible investment and varies with the type of investment (immovable property, etc. ) and the area where the investment is made (less-favoured or other areas). (1) OJ L 297, 21. 11. 1996. (2) OJ L 193, 31. 7. 1993. (3) OJ L 142, 2. 6. 1997