WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1444/98 by Mirja RYYNÄNEN to the Commission. EU aid to develop Finnish sheep-farming
C 13/34 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 1. 1999 The impact on inflation › if any › of reducing working time to 35 hours per week will depend on the relationship between changes in labour productivity and changes in wage costs. The Commission will, of course, take account of any changes observed when conducting multilateral monitoring exercises and formulating broad economic policy guidelines. (1999/C 13/047) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1444/98 by Mirja Ryynänen (ELDR) to the Commission (11 May 1998) Subject: EU aid to develop Finnish sheep-farming In autumn 1997 Finland drew up a plan for the development of its currently very small-scale sheep-farming sector. Its aim is to raise the quantity produced so as to improve the efficiency and quality of breeding. The structural development involved requires new investment. One problem with developing the sheep-farming sector is the small size of ewe premiums. Finland asked the EU to support the payment of larger premiums. However, the EU has as yet been reluctant to commit itself on the matter. In Finland a higher ewe premium is regarded as essential for the development of the whole sector. What is the Commission doing to enable Finnish sheep-farmers be paid a ewe premium which will help the development of the existing small-scale sheep-rearing industry? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (12 June 1998) The Commission is aware of the problems facing the Finnish sheep sector. The problems are essentially structural in nature and as a result Finland is putting into place certain programmes with the agreement of the Commission which aim to improve structures in the sector as well as the quality of carcases. The Commission rejected a request from Finland for the payment of a supplementary premium to its producers because this would lead to the reopening of an unwelcome debate that the calculation of the premium should be made on a regional basis. The existing annual premium payable within the framework of the sheep and goatmeat regime compensates producers according to the level of the average Community price. Rather than allowing the development of a dependency on such payments the Commission takes the view that the best incentive for producers to improve quality and to invest in structural improvements is the resultant increase in prices and growth in market opportunities. The Commission does not therefore envisage making any proposal for an additional premium to be paid to Finnish sheep farmers. (1999/C 13/048) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1451/98 by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission (7 May 1998) Subject: Chrysotile asbestos Given the urgent nature of the prohibition on Chrysotile asbestos and effective recognition of substitutes under the Chemical Agent Directive (recently adopted by the Council), will the Commission now bring forward the appropriate proposal for this prohibition during the current Presidency?