WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3274/98 by Kyösti VIRRANKOSKI Deferral of payment of area-based farm subsidies
6. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 320/37 As a result, liquids that are very good nutrients for dangerous bacteria penetrate wood and contaminate meat when coming in contact during production. Therefore the use of materials like plastic or metals which are easier to maintain and which do not impregnate bacterial contaminated liquids has been proposed. As a result of all the discussions and investigation as mentioned above and with the obligation for effective and preventive consumer protection, the Commission does not support derogation for the use of wood in areas of meat production establishments where exposed meat can be contaminated. (1999/C 320/049) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3274/98 by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission (30 October 1998) Subject: Deferral of payment of area-based farm subsidies One of the ways in which the European Union supports agriculture is by means of area-based subsidies. Accordingly, farmers are required to notify the areas of land used for cultivation to the nearest 0,01 hectare. In Finland the agricultural administration has had a survey of the farmland used for crop production carried out by the Mallon Group, an Irish enterprise. The survey is full of errors and inexactitudes, which farmers have tried to correct. In view of the uncertainties, the agricultural administration has announced that payment of some subsidies may be deferred. 1. If the agricultural administration and its technical consultants have done their work badly and inexactly, is this an acceptable basis for penalising farmers by deferring payment of subsidies despite the fact that they have filed correct notifications in accordance with their statutory responsibilities? Ought not farmers to receive payment for their work with the same promptness as those working in 2. other professions? Cannot any inexactitudes on the part of the agricultural administration, in whichever direction the error 3. may lie, be corrected subsequently? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (8 December 1998) The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the Commission’s answer to Written Questions P-2826/98 by Mrs Hautala (1) and P-3048/98 by Mrs Ryynänen (2). The rules provide for compensatory payments under the arable crops scheme to be made between 16 October and 31 December following the harvest. The Commission has been informed that the Finnish authorities will comply with this time limit. Therefore, while concerned to carry out its responsibility to ensure adequate controls and to make sure that aid is paid to farmers within the time limit laid down, the Commission considers that the stepping up of on-the-spot checks should not cause any delay in aid payments to farmers in Finland. (1) OJ C 207, 21. 7. 1999, p. 13. (2) OJ C 207, 21. 7. 1999, p. 24. (1999/C 320/050) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3286/98 by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission (9 November 1998) Subject: Action to prevent trafficking in women At the East-West conference on trafficking in women that took place in early October of this year Anita Gradin, the Member of the Commission responsible for immigration, justice and home affairs, said that ‘500 000 women, two thirds of them from Central and Eastern Europe, are victims of trafficking in women in the European Union’