WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2623/98 by Niels SINDAL to the Commission. Failure of certain Member States to implement obligations under MAGP III
C 182/14 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 6. 1999 (1999/C 182/017) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2613/98 by Mirja Ryynänen (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Assessment of forestry aid schemes Under Agenda 2000 the Commission is proposing to expand forestry aid schemes. There is already provision for aid under the Structural Funds and the CAP for reafforestation and forest management measures. However, to my knowledge no comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of such aid has ever been carried out. How did the Commission assess the practicability, effectiveness and impact of the old aid schemes on the basis of the objectives set for them? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1998) With the exception of support for maintaining the protective role of certain forest areas, limited to zones suffering from major natural handicaps, the proposal submitted by the Commission under Agenda 2000 (1) does not provide for any new Community forestry aid schemes nor for raising the ceilings for existing ones. The forest management measures which currently qualify for aid from the Structural Funds under Objectives 1 and 5(b) as well as the forestry measures in agriculture (Council Regulation (EEC) 2080/92 of 30 June 1992 instituting a Community aid scheme for forestry measures in agriculture (2)) will therefore be renewed and adapted to the framework fixed by the new Regulation concerning assistance from the European Regional Development Fund (EAGGF) for rural development. As far as assessment of forestry measures in agriculture is concerned, at the end of 1997 the Commission submitted a progress report to Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of Regulation (EEC) 2080/92, and it used that report’s conclusions in the proposals it presented for these measures under the forestry chapter of Agenda 2000. Implementation by Member States of measures authorising funding for afforestation of agricultural land, currently compulsory under Regulation (EEC) 2080/92, has been made optional, for example. Assessment of forestry measures adopted under Structural Fund operational programmes from 1994-99 forms part of the general assessment of the Structural Funds, since these measures are included in the priorities defined in the OPs (for example, the modernisation, diversification or profitability of agriculture, employment or the environment) in the same way as other measures in other sectors of activity. (1) COM(98) 158. (2) OJ L 215, 30. 7. 1992. (1999/C 182/018) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/98 by Niels Sindal (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Failure of certain Member States to implement obligations under MAGP III According to information from the Commission a number of Member States, including the Netherlands, the UK and France, have failed to comply with their obligations under the multiannual guidance programme III @ MAGP III @ relating to the reduction of capacity in the fishing fleets of the relevant countries. What action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that these countries comply with their obligations under MAGP III?