WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2435/98 by Irini LAMBRAKI , Konstadinos KLIRONOMOS to the Commission. Destruction of vineyards by heatwave
8. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 96/97 Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (15 September 1998) The post of head of delegation in Bratislava was originally published internally in the Commission. In the framework of the recruitment of officials for the three Member States that joined the Community in 1995, the post of head of delegation was subsequently earmarked for an Austrian citizen. In the framework of the procedures established for such cases, the Commission has examined a number of Austrian candidates and is on the point of designating the successful candidate. (1999/C 96/136) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2435/98 by Irini Lambraki (PSE) and Konstadinos Klironomos (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Destruction of vineyards by heatwave (30 July 1998) At the beginning of July 1998 a prolonged heatwave caused enormous damage over an extensive viticultural area in Greece: vineyards growing table grapes and high-quality wine grapes are the worst affected. Will the Commission say whether there is any scope for addressing a disaster of this kind which will have long- term repercussions for the market in quality wines and severely affect producersí incomes and whether it intends to support the replanting of the vineyards destroyed by this heatwave? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (22 September 1998) The common market organisation (CMO) in wine does not make general provision for granting aid in the event of bad weather. Nor do the regulations governing the CMO provide for either production-based or area-based aid. The only reference to natural disasters is in Article 78 of Council Regulation (EEC) 822/87 of 16 March 1987 on the common organisation of the market in wine (1), under which exemption may be granted from such requirements as compulsory distillation › which is not relevant in this case. The Community legislation currently in force provides for two ways in which, at the Member Stateís instigation, a programme can be launched to help wine-growers replant vineyards damaged by drought: › national investment aid for planting vineyards, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EEC) 2741/89 of 11 September 1989 laying down criteria to apply under Article 14 of Council Regulation (EEC) 822/87 on national aid for the planting of wine-growing areas (2) (the Commission must receive prior notification of such aid); › investment aid for replanting funded jointly by the Community under the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), which must fall within the financial allocation for Greece for the current programming period (1994-1999) and comply with the relevant procedure laid down in the Objective 1 Community Support Framework; any reprogramming intended to remedy drought damage would need to be submitted for approval to the Commission by the Greek Government as soon as possible. (1) OJ L 84, 27. 3. 1987. (2) OJ L 264, 12. 9. 1989