WRITTEN QUESTION E-2615/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Agricultural subsidies and the environment.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/81 Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (31 January 2000) As far as grants from the Community budget are concerned the only financial instrument which Turkey can currently benefit from is the MEDA programme (Council Regulation (EC) No 1488/96 of 23 July 1996 on financial and technical measures to accompany the reform of economic and social structures in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership) (1). According to its Article 3, the MEDA regulation is based on the respect of democracy, the rule of law as well as human rights and fundamental freedoms. The violation of these principles could justify the adoption of adequate measures by the Council. In the implementation of its co-operation with Turkey, the Commission puts a particular emphasis on the respect of these principles. In its last regular report on Turkey, adopted in October 1999, the Commission made an assessment on the situation with respect to the so called Copenhagen criteria. It has concluded that Turkey does not meet for the moment these criteria in the political field. In particular the respect of freedom of religion is currently not satisfactory in Turkey. The main Christian minorities in Turkey are Greek, Armenian (recognised as minorities by the Treaty of Lausanne) and Syriac (Syrian Orthodox). The latter group, in particular, has in recent times been subject to discrimination and harassment. Other Christians include United States-origin evangelical groups, which are frequently harassed. As far as Aghia Sophia, the great church of Constantinople, is concerned, it was converted into a mosque immediately after the capture of the city in 1453. This fate was shared by many other churches, notably St Saviour in Chora which became the Kariye mosque. After the establishment of the Republic in 1923, Atatürk turned both churches into museums, with the result that they are freely accessible to those of any religion or none. The mosaics have been uncovered and restored, and Aghia Sophia is currently in the middle of a substantial renovation programme. (December 1999) to prepare an The Commission has been asked by the Helsinki European Council accession partnership to be adopted by the Council. In this document priorities for the fulfilling by Turkey of the Copenhagen criteria, including the political priorities, will be established. The question of freedom of religion will be raised in this framework. (1) OJ L 189, 30. 7. 1996. (2000/C 303 E/073) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2615/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Agricultural subsidies and the environment What plans does the Commission have to curb the payment of subsidies which support agricultural activities shown to cause ecological damage and to encourage ecologically positive farming methods? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 January 2000) There are three elements at the core of the Community strategy to encourage ecologically positive farming methods. C 303 E/82 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Council Regulation (EC) No 1259/199 of 17 May 1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy (1) applies to payments granted to farmers under support schemes in the framework of common market organisations. Under Article 3 Member States are obliged to take the environmental measures they consider to be appropriate (which may include support in return for agri-environmental commitments, general mandatory environmental requirements or specific environmen- tal requirements constituting a condition for direct payments). Member States shall decide on the penalties that are appropriate to the consequences of not observing these environmental requirements (e. g. reduction or cancellation of the payments granted under the market organisations). Under Article 5 money not spent due to the non respect of these environmental conditions ü as well as money saved by Member States which make use of the option to modulate direct payments (Article 4) ü will be available for reinforcing a Member Stateís budgetary envelope for ecologically positive support schemes (agri-environmental mea- sures, compensatory allowances in less favoured areas and in areas with environmental restrictions, afforestation). Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development for the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee fund (2) (EAGGF) foresees targeted agri-environmental measures which are the only mandatory measures to be included in any rural development programme. By this they get a prominent role within the new rural development policy and have a particular importance in the Communityís agri-environmental strategy. Common market organisations also foresee environmental provisions. Some of them have been strength- ened. In the new beef regime for instance, national envelopes now form a part of direct payments and may be linked to environmental conditions, and the extensification premium has become more effective by increasing the premia level and by introducing stricter environmental conditions. (1) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 303 E/074) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2619/99 by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Assistance for the British pigmeat industry The Commission has acknowledged that for a variety of reasons pig farmers in the United Kingdom are experiencing an extreme financial crisis. Will the Commission consider either of the following measures to alleviate at least some of the pressures which are forcing many farmers out of business: 1. the reintroduction of export refunds for EU pigmeat? 2. support for the UKís application for state aid to cover its BSE-related costs which have had a detrimental effect on the competitiveness of UK pigmeat? Can the Commission suggest other measures which the United Kingdom or the European Union may be able to take, in compliance with Community law, to help the UKís ailing pigmeat industry? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (31 January 2000) It is regrettable that pigmeat markets in all parts of Europe have experienced some very difficult times. However, the main reason for the poor prices is the continuous oversupply of pigmeat