WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2320/98 by José APOLINÁRIO Agriculture in Portugal's inland area
6. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 320/5 The Commission has always placed great emphasis on the universality of human rights in all discussions with the Chinese. It has welcomed the signature by China of the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and continues to press China for an early ratification of this covenant as well as an early signature of the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Indeed, various measures are being developed to make European expertise available to the Chinese authorities to provide assistance aimed at ensuring China’s full adherence to international norms and standards in human rights. The human rights situation in China is continually monitored both by the Commission and by the Member States. It is the Commission’s firm view that a policy based on such concrete measures is the most effective way to urge the Chinese authorities to take further steps in the right direction towards the full respect for human rights. (1999/C 320/006) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2320/98 by José Apolinário (PSE) to the Commission (22 July 1998) Subject: Agriculture in Portugal’s inland area Can the Commission provide information on the prospects for agriculture in Portugal’s inland areas? What action does it intend to take in the future as regards the special contribution which farming can make to the development of rural areas in Portugal? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (1 October 1998) Structural aid financed by the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), under the second Community Support Framework for Portugal (1994-1999), is granted through the following programmes: 6 the subprogramme on agriculture (which covers the whole of Portugal, except the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira), which is allocated an overall amount of ECU 1 698 million and aims at modernisation and improving the competitiveness of Portuguese agriculture. This financial aid is distributed between the various mainland regions according to priorities established by the Member State; 6 the PPDR (promotion of regional development potential) which includes a special measure aimed at the development of rural centres, where the EAGGF Guidance Section provides funding of ECU 24 million; 6 the Pediza (special integrated development programme for the Alqueva area) is a multifund programme which aims at the development of an inland area of the country threatened by desertification and drought. The EAGGF Guidance Section provides funding of ECU 70 million. The Commission will continue in the future to attach great importance to local development in rural areas, as the core of a diversification and development policy for such areas. In the proposal for a Regulation on support for rural development from the EAGGF (1), it groups together all the rural development measures from which the Member State will have to choose those which are likely to have the most positive effects on the future development of rural areas. The next programming period for the Structural Funds (2000-2006) will be the subject of negotiations between the Member State and the Commission, on the basis of a proposal to be submitted by the Member State. (1) OJ C 170, 4. 6. 1998