WRITTEN QUESTION E-2538/99 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Milk quota exceeded in the Azores Autonomous region of Portugal.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/19 In line with the decision of the Trilogue, the contracts of any non-permanent language teachers were not renewed once the institutions were in a position to outsource these services. All the teachers concerned and their representatives were kept fully informed of developments at all stages. All courses that have been outsourced are monitored on a regular basis. All evaluations demonstrate a high level of satisfaction on the part of the participants and there is no indication that the quality of any of the outsourced courses is inferior to those provided by the permanent teaching staff. Regular meetings are held between the institutions and the language schools concerned to review performance. At present, the Commission has no intention of suggesting a modification to the Trilogue arrangements, which would be necessary if it were to recruit a permanent Finnish-language teacher. The cost of outsourcing language teaching is, on average, about 40 % of that of a permanent teacher. (2000/C 330 E/018) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2538/99 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (4 January 2000) Subject: Milk quota exceeded in the Azores Autonomous region of Portugal The dairy sector is of strategic importance to the Azores since it accounts for nearly 80 % of the islandsí gross agricultural product, 25 % of milk delivered and over 13 % (equivalent to over 5 000 producers) of Portugalís dairy farmers. The sector also acts as a stimulus to economic activities which provide jobs in a region which has to bear the costs of being island-based and which qualifies as an outlying region, even though it accounts for only 0,03 % of European production. The sector has received a certain amount of investment and has been increasing its annual production, which is the only way for farmers to ensure that they earn at least the minimum income, in view of the fact that production prices have fallen in relative terms over the last ten years. For the current marketing year, all the indications are that the Azores has already exceeded its own internal quota, which means that Portugalís quota as a whole will also be exceeded. Producers should not, however, be penalised as a result since most of them operate small, family-run farms. On the basis of the Amsterdam Treaty and taking into account the Azoresí status as an outlying region, what action could be taken at Community level in order to ensure that the above producers are not penalised? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (4 February 2000) The Commission knows how important milk production is in the Azores. Because the national quota set in 1991 also reflected that importance, milk production in the Azores has been able to for Portugal increase each year since then (as the Honourable Member acknowledges). The Commission therefore considers that the Council has already taken into account the dairy sectorís strategic importance for the Azores region and that a new proposal in favour of the Azores would not be appropriate, particularly given the Councilís recent decision ü by Regulation (EC) No 1256/1999 of 17 May 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector (1) ü to continue the milk quota system and to set Member Statesí quotas until 2008. It should be borne in mind that this Agenda 2000 decision was reached after lengthy discussion in which a delicate balance was struck within the Council between the legitimate demands of all the Member States, the fall in official prices and their entry into force in 2005. If the national quota is in fact exceeded as forecast, it will be up to Portugal to implement the adjustment measures available under Community legislation in order to ensure fair treatment for the producers affected. (1) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999