WRITTEN QUESTION E-1710/99 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Finnish egg production subsidy.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/29 The Commission informed Italy about government should submit its observations by the end of October 1999. this procedure at the end of September 1999. The Italian As to the Honourable Memberís second question, the Commission is not competent to evaluate the quality or the content of the television programmes broadcast by RAI. The Commission has the duty to assess whether the funds granted by the state to RAI, both as licence fee and as other support measures, are proportionate to the net costs incurred by the undertaking to fulfil the public service obligations imposed by the state. (2000/C 203 E/035) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1710/99 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 September 1999) Subject: Finnish egg production subsidy The Finnish Government currently provides an EU-approved subsidy ü reportedly FIM 2,35 per kilo ü for egg production in Finland. There is no such subsidy in Sweden, which results in distortion of competition. What plans does the Commission have for phasing out this subsidy? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (8 November 1999) Article 138(1) of the Act of Accession (1) permits Austria and Finland to grant during the transitional period, subject to authorization by the Commission, transitional and degressive national aids to producers of basic agricultural products subject to the common agricultural policy. Provided the conditions set out in paragraph 2 are met, the Commission is obliged to authorize these aids. Article 138 was originally implemented as regards Finland by Commission Decision 95/33/EC of 13 February 1995 approving parts of the Finnish programme for the implementation of Articles 138 to 140 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden (2). This decision has been amended a number of times. The current limits for production-related aids in Finland for egg production are laid down in Commission Decision 97/499/EC of 30 July 1996 amending for the fourth time Decision no 95/33/EC (3). For 1999 the maximum aid rates for eggs are as follows: ü Areas A and B excluding archipelago: 1,58 FIM/kg (0,27 €/kg) ü Archipelago in areas A and B: 1,95 FIM/kg (0,33 €/kg) ü Other areas excluding archipelago: 0,52 FIM/kg (0,09 €/kg) ü Archipelago in other areas: 0,52 FIM/kg (0,09 €/kg) Article 138 is only applicable during the transitional period, until the end of 1999, so these aids will cease at that time. (1) OJ C 241, 29. 8. 1994. (2) OJ L 43, 25. 2. 1995. (3) OJ L 194, 23. 7. 1997