WRITTEN QUESTION E-0631/00 by María Ayuso González (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Consequences of abolishing export refunds for certain sectors of agriculture.
13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/21 (2001/C 46 E/024) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0630/00 by María Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Companies in receipt of export refunds (3 March 2000) Export refunds have played an important role in stimulating agricultural exports and have been applied for, and paid to, EU exporting companies, most of which are involved in processing and marketing. Would the Commission state which companies have received export refunds exceeding 100 000 euros/ecus per year and provide the following information: (a) the total amount received for each of the years from 1986 to 1999; (b) the country to which the companies belong or to which the amount was assigned; (c) the crops or products exported; (d) whether the companies involved are engaged solely in marketing (processing and/or export) or also in production (agricultural or livestock)? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 April 2000) including export refunds, The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that much of the work is delegated to the Member Statesí paying agencies, under the statutory provisions governing the treatment of Community agricultural aid, in the Community budget, and in particular the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 296/96 of 16 February 1996 (2) on data to be transmitted by the Member States and the monthly booking of expenditure financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), and laying down certain detailed rules of application for Council Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy (3)). Consequently, as applications for aid are managed by these paying agencies (approved by the Member States in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1663/95 of 7 July 1995 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 regarding the procedure for the clearance of the accounts of the EAGGF Guarantee Section (4)), they have all the data concerning the recipients. The Commission does not possess the information requested by the Honourable Member. For purposes of control, the Member States notify the Commission of the accounting data specified in the Regulation; it would be possible to process those data to reveal the identity of aid recipients, but Community provisions on personal data protection, which are binding on Community institutions by virtue of Article 286 (ex- article 213b) of the EC Treaty, would prevent the Commission from divulging this information. (1) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2) OJ L 39, 17. 2. 1996. (3) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (4) OJ L 158, 8. 7. 1995. (2001/C 46 E/025) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0631/00 by María Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission (3 March 2000) Subject: Consequences of abolishing export refunds for certain sectors of agriculture Does the Commission consider that abolishing export refunds (originally introduced to provide an outlet for excess production by farmers and stockbreeders) will directly affect producers (farmers and stock- C 46 E/22 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 breeders)? What will be the implications for some sectors of agriculture whose principal customers are in the export and processing sector, in view of the problem of continuity which may arise, particularly in undertakings which depend on certain products? Are there any studies or reports on this subject? (2001/C 46 E/026) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0633/00 by María Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission (3 March 2000) Subject: The social and economic effects which the progressive withdrawal of export refunds would have on the processing and export sector In view of the World Trade Organisationís move towards having export refunds reduced or withdrawn, and in view of the many marketing and export companies which receive export refunds and which are involved in pre-export production or processing operations, has the Commission given any consideration to the social and economic effects which the gradual withdrawal of export refunds (which, in the case of many products, have become essential or crucial to the feasibility of export sales and even to the survival of companies) would have on the processing and export sector? Can it provide any studies or reports on the subject? Joint answer to Written Questions E-0631/00 and E-0633/00 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 April 2000) The negotiation approach for agriculture outlined in the communication from the Commission to the Council and to the Parliament on the EU approach to the Millennium Round (1) is still relevant. In this communication it was stated that the decisions adopted regarding the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) within the framework of Agenda 2000 would constitute essential elements in defining the Commissionís negotiating mandate for the future multilateral negotiations at the World Trade Organisa- tion. This communication does not refer to elimination of export subsidies. It should, however, be recalled that the decisions taken regarding reform of the CAP would diminish the need for export subsidies, since market price support is reduced and support to the farmers is granted to a larger degree as direct payments. As a consequence of such reform measures, agricultural basic products will remain available for the processing industry at lower prices than at present, and the need for export subsidies for processed product will also be reduced. In addition, the Commission is considering modernisation of the inward processing regime with a view to improving transparency and predictability in the administration of the regime. The Commission is not aware of studies or reports as mentioned by the Honourable Member. (1) COM(1999) 331 final. (2001/C 46 E/027) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0638/00 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission (28 February 2000) Subject: Aid for farmers Does the Commission intend to involve Parliament in the process of granting direct aids to producers and agricultural export subsidies for the period 2000 to 2006? The agricultural sector is continually penalised