WRITTEN QUESTION No. 524/98 by Susan WADDINGTON to the Commission. The promotion of certain foodstuffs
C 304/126 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 2. 10. 98 (98/C 304/190) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0524/98 by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission (2 March 1998) Subject: The promotion of certain foodstuffs Current dietary advice urges us to reduce our meat, milk, fat and sugar consumption and increase our fruit and vegetable consumption. In view of this, recent press reports in the UK have raised concern that a portion of the CAP budget is used to promote the consumption of meat and dairy products, and yet not to promote the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. These reports argue therefore that the CAP fails to promote the consumption of a balanced diet. Are these press reports accurate, and if so, what measures will the Commission be taking to encourage the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in the future? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (12 March 1998) The Commission would like to point out to the Honourable Member that the Community budget for promoting agricultural products is used in particular to encourage consumption of certain fruit and vegetables. Promotion schemes have been adopted by the Council for apples, citrus fruit, dried grapes and nuts, covered respectively by Regulations (EEC) No 1195/90 (1), (EEC) No 1201/90 (2), (EC) No 399/94 (3) and (EC) No 2200/96 (Article 54) (4). In addition, since the reform of the fruit and vegetable sector in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, the Commission has been granting financial aid for operational programmes run by producer organisations, which may include promotion schemes. A considerable share of the Community budget devoted to promoting agricultural products is thus spent on fruit and vegetables. These promotion campaigns normally consist of stressing the health benefits related to consumption. The same applies to promotion of the consumption of olive oil, which revolves around the nutritional advantages of a Mediterranean-style diet, in which both olive oil and fruit and vegetables play an important part. (1) OJ L 119, 11. 5. 1990. (2) OJ L 119, 11. 5. 1990. (3) OJ L 54, 25. 2. 1994. (4) OJ L 297, 21. 11. 1996. (98/C 304/191) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0531/98 by Concepcio· Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (2 March 1998) Subject: Raphael Programme The Commission has selected 92 of the 841 projects submitted under the Raphael Programme for the protection of the cultural heritage and a total budget of ECU 9. 2 million has been allocated. These 92 projects have been divided into five separate actions. Will the Commission say which projects have been approved by each Member State under each of these actions, which organizations have been granted the aid, what sums are involved and what is the purpose of the projects concerned? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (14 April 1998) The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the implementation of the Raphael programme for 1997 concerned the selection of 92 projects for all its five actions. The number of projects and the budgetary allocation per action is as follows: › Action 1 › Events and dissemination initiatives of a European dimension in favour of the preservation and increased awareness of European cultural heritage: 43 projects selected out of 511 submissions with a budgetary allocation of 1. 80 MECU; › Action 2 › Co-operation in developing thematic networks between European museums: 13 projects selected out of 103 submissions with a budgetary allocation of 2. 55 MECU;