WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2220/98 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO , Juan COLINO SALAMANCA to the Commission. Number of bovine animals eligible for premiums in Spain
C 135/34 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 14. 5. 1999 The method of calculation of these standard amounts, which are applied across the Community, is laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) 1643/89 of 12 June 1989 defining the standard amounts to be used for financing material operations arising from the public storage of agricultural products (3) and is based on the weighted average of the real costs communicated by the four least expensive Member States, provided that those Member States hold at least 33 % of the quantities of the product in question. The Commission does not have a policy of publishing the real rates communicated to it for the purpose of this calculation. Since the Commission pays a uniform rate throughout the Community, the suggestion that different payment rates for storage across the Community distort competition is not relevant. Although the real rates applicable from one Member State to another may vary, this is a reflection of the market conditions in each Member State. If no physical movement of product takes place, the standard amount is reduced by ECU 0,72 per ton. (1) (2) Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EEC) 3597/90 of 12 December 1990 on the accounting rules for intervention measures involving the buying-in, storage and sale of agricultural products by intervention agencies, OJ L 350, 14. 12. 1990. (3) OJ L 162, 13. 6. 1989. (1999/C 135/037) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2219/98 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (16 July 1998) Subject: Olive oil and blends Why does the most recent reform of the common organization of the market in olive oil approved by the Council not include a ban on blends, even though their use is detrimental to the quality or designations of origin of olive oil and, moreover, the European Parliament had supported such a ban in its recommenda- tions? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 September 1998) Mixtures of olive oil and other vegetable oils do not qualify for protected designations of origin or protected geographical indications. The Council and the Commission, in connection with the compromise of 25 June 1998, agreed to give particular priority to a detailed examination of quality strategy during the period preceding the definitive proposal for the reform of the common organisation of the market in olive oil. This includes the question of mixtures of olive oil and seed oils. This question requires an investigation of the various possible options, for which Member States put forward contradictory arguments, and has to be studied in connection with aspects relating to analyses and quality control. (1999/C 135/038) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2220/98 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (16 July 1998) Subject: Number of bovine animals eligible for premiums in Spain In the Agenda 2000 forecasts and the proposals for regulations concerning the reform of the CAP, the Commission has determined that 649 896 bovine animals qualify for premiums in Spain