WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1062/99 by Graham WATSON Payments to flax farmers
C 348/150 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 12. 1999 (1999/C 348/207) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1062/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (12 April 1999) Subject: Payments to flax farmers In view of the immense hardship caused to flax farmers by the introduction of new conditions to EC flax regulations which delay payment of subsidies for up to 12 months, would the Commission not consider the possibility of granting interim part payments as a compromise which would help ease the burden on farmers? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (26 April 1999) The common organisation of the market in flax and hemp introduces new constraints, from the 1999/2000 marketing year, into the conditions for granting aid for fibre flax. The recent requirements pertaining in particular to checking the minimum flax straw yield at the processing stage can indeed give rise to an additional delay in the payment of aid. In order to limit the disadvantages of this, the Commission is currently examining the possibility of introducing a system of advances on the aid involving the lodging of a security. (1999/C 348/208) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1065/99 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (20 April 1999) Subject: Bringing the additional provisions of the French law 97-1051 of 18 November on sea fishing guidelines and marine crops into line with Community law With reference to the Commission’s answer to my written question E-0301/99 (1), once it has requested and examined the provisions referred to in my question, will it say whether it considers them to be in conformity with Community law as interpreted by the Court of Justice, with particular reference to the provisions laid down in the circular on stable establishment? (1) OJ C 341, 29. 11. 1999, p. 87. Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (5 May 1999) The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it considers the circular of the French administration on the new conditions for the fishing of French quotas, which was addressed to the fishing companies late in 1998, to be compatible with Community law. The Commission however has emphasised once again to the French authorities the need to show some flexibility in the initial application of the new conditions to allow fishing companies to adapt themselves smoothly to the new situation. The French authorities have reassured the Commission that this will be the case