WRITTEN QUESTION No. 717/99 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL Structural Funds
21. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 370/91 (1999/C 370/124) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0694/99 by Sebastiano Musumeci (NI) to the Commission (26 March 1999) Subject: Infringement proceedings in respect of oil The infringement proceedings initiated by the EU against Italian Law No 313/98 on the labelling of oils, also known as the ‘Made in Italy’ Law, appear totally unwarranted, given that the law in question does not serve to create trade barriers but is aimed at safeguarding the quality and typical nature of the product and at guaranteeing food safety for consumers. The EU’s Management Committee for Oils and Fats drastically reduced the estimated quantity of olive oil production for the 1997/98 marketing year owing to the sharp rise in Spanish production, and this has had serious repercussions for Italy, one of the leading producer countries. Given that the unacceptably large cuts (of around 40 %) in Community aid for the 1997/98 marketing year will exacerbate the serious crisis already facing the olive oil sector. Can the Commission say: 6 Whether it agrees that it should revoke the infringement proceedings initiated against Italy in respect of the application of Law No 313/98, and 6 Whether it has the political will to work with the Italian Government to renegotiate Community aid for olive-growing for the 1997/98 marketing year in order to alleviate the effects of the serious crisis already affecting the market and prices? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 May 1999) The Commission considers that the infringement proceedings initiated against Italy are well-founded, as the law mentioned by the Honourable Member was approved contrary to the provisions of Council Directive 83/189/EC on ‘technical standards’ (amended inter alia by Directive 88/182/EC, and consolidated by Directive 93/84/EC) and contrary to the provisions of Article 10 of the EC Treaty (ex Article 5). Italy did not react to the reasoned opinion that the Commission addressed to it. The Commission does not share the opinion of the Honourable Member on the consequences of the reduction in aid on olive growers’ income. Indeed, in the case of small producers (producing less than 500 kilograms of olive oil), there was no reduction in aid; and these producers account for more than 60 % of all Community olive growers (75 % in Italy). As for the large producers, their income comes from the sale of oil, which depends on the quantities produced, and from production aid, which is the result of multiplying the unit amount of aid by the quantities produced. Because of production in the 1997/98 marketing year, the large producers did not suffer significant losses of income. Moreover, this problem was discussed in the Council meeting on 28 and 29 September 1998 and the Council did not consider it necessary to take action further to the Italian request. (1999/C 370/125) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0717/99 by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (29 March 1999) Subject: Structural Funds The regions whose level of income per inhabitant is less than 75 % of that which corresponds to the average Community inhabitant are classed as ‘Objective 1 regions’ and are entitled to substantial Community aid. In order to work out whether this threshold has been crossed or not, the draft Council Regulation, COM(98) 0131 final (1), laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, stipulates that the figures corresponding to the last three years on which Eurostat has information will be taken into account