WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2899/98 by Irini LAMBRAKI to the Commission. Serious problems faced by citrus fruit producers in Chios
21. 7. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 207/17 Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (23 October 1998) The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to its answer to Written Question E-2163/98 by Mr Ian White (1). (1) See page 4. (1999/C 207/021) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2899/98 by Irini Lambraki (PSE) to the Commission (2 October 1998) Subject: Serious problems faced by citrus fruit producers in Chios The specific problems faced by the European Union’s island regions, particularly the Aegean Islands, are well known and indeed provision is made for specific aid measures under the Treaty of Amsterdam. Agriculture is hardest hit by these problems, because the small size of farms, together with the high cost of transport, result in the final cost of products being uncompetitive. The citrus fruit producers agricultural cooperative in Chios is the largest producers’ association in the Aegean region. Nevertheless, it is facing serious problems because the COM in citrus fruits applies across the board to all EU regions without taking into account the specific problems of island regions. This policy will lead to the gradual abandonment of citrus fruit production in Chios, with serious repercussions for the socio-economic life of the island, and will lead to depopulation of the traditional settlement of Kambos, which is a major centre for the production of this crop. Will the Commission say: 8 what possibilities are available under existing legislation to assist these producers? 8 what measures it intends to take in the immediate future to tackle this serious problem as part of the new policy to assist island regions? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (16 November 1998) Council Regulation (EEC) 2019/93 of 19 July 1993 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean Islands concerning certain agricultural products (1) provides for specific measures to support local products and derogations from structural measures to take account of the special socio-economic problems affecting the Islands. Furthermore, the common organisation of the market in fresh fruit and vegetables includes a number of measures which could be applied to citrus fruit production in the Aegean Islands. The most important of these is the creation by producer organisations of operational funds to finance operational programmes. Such funds receive Community financial assistance and may be used to finance measures designed to overcome problems faced by the producer organisations concerned. (1) OJ L 184, 27. 7. 1993