WRITTEN QUESTION E-1441/99 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Support for Galician dairy producers in the context of aid to family farms.
C 170 E/16 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 Since this decision, taken in 1996, a number of studies have been funded under the trans-European transport network budget with a view to improving rail connections in this region. Furthermore, the proposal by the Commission in 1997 to amend the European Parliament and Council Decision of 1996 amending Decision No 1692/0096/EC as regards seaports, inland ports and intermodal terminals as well as project No 8 in Annex III (2) also entailed amending the title of specific project No 8 Motorway Lisbon- link Portugal ü Spain with the rest of Europeí. The relevant explanatory Valladolidí to Multimodal memorandum focused explicitly on the need to reinforce this corridor, one of the three sections of which specifically links Galicia (La Coruæa) to Portugal (Lisbon). Under the amendments proposed by Parliament on 10 March 1999 after first reading, the Commission presented an amended proposal (3) and a communication on the common position of the Council, currently in the preparatory stage. In particular, the Commission intends to accept the amendment proposed by Parliament calling for a detailed definition of the aims of specific project No 8 so as to ensure that the integration of Galicia into the trans-European network is more transparent. As far as funding is concerned, it should be pointed out that other funds (European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund and the European Investment Bank) have been used, and remain available for use, for the funding of studies and infrastructures designed to improve rail connections in this region. (1) OJ L 228, 9. 9. 1996. (2) COM(97) 681 final. (3) COM(1999) 277 final. (2000/C 170 E/017) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1441/99 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Support for Galician dairy producers in the context of aid to family farms Galician agriculture has, over the last few decades, been increasingly oriented towards specialisation in dairy farming. Its development has, however, been set back by the allocation of a milk quota of a Malthusian nature, which is in itself in flagrant contradiction of the right to agricultural modernisation along the lines existing in the Unionís central Member States. This obstacle is accentuated by the serious de facto discrimination affecting Galician agriculture as regards EC aids. In 1998, Galiciaís agricultural sector, which accounts for 18,5 % of the active agricultural workforce in Spain, received only 1,2 % of the ESP 852 903 million allocated to Spanish agriculture in EAGGF (Guarantee) monies, under a system which is biased towards large farms and tends, in addition, to encourage abuse of the Unionís Structural Funds. Given these circumstances, can the Commission state whether it intends to propose a system of special aids for family livestock farms, and, in particular, dairy farms, as a means of compensating for the significant under-funding of countries such as Galicia by the application of a system of EAGGF (Guarantee) aids which is clearly inadequate and, indeed, unfair in relation to their agricultural economy. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 October 1999) The Council introduced milk quotas in 1984 to deal with a costly imbalance in the milk sector. As part of the Agenda 2000 reform it recently decided to apply them until 2008. At the same time it provided for increases for the Member States with continuing problems. In the case of Spain there will be two successive increases, of 350 000 tonnes in 2000 and 200 000 tonnes in 2001 (a total of + 10 %), which should take account of particular situations, such as that of Galicia described by the Honourable Member. These increases are in addition to those for Spain in 1987 and 1993/94, totalling over 20 % altogether. 20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/17 In addition, farmers, and family farms in particular, can take advantage of Community measures to improve their structural efficiency. This aid, which includes aid for investments, is at present granted under the agriculture part of the Objective 1 programme for Galicia. In 1998 the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) spent ESP 4 153 million on such measures, which represents 19 % of the Fundís expenditure for Objective 1 regions in Spain. In the future the new rural development policy, the second pillar of the common agricultural policy, will ensure that family farms continue to be supported. Furthermore, the new framework gives the regional authorities even more scope to adapt measures to the specific needs and conditions in their regions. So individual problems, like that raised by the Honourable Member, can be dealt with appropriately. (2000/C 170 E/018) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1452/99 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Harmonisation in the field of transport safety The European Commission devotes considerable attention to transport, not least because transport involves not only covering the distance from A to B as fast and in as environmentally-friendly manner as possible, but also increasing the safety of European roads and railways. Concerning road safety: ü does the Commission have any thoughts, or are there any legislative provisions, on the following questions? ü if so, please provide precise details of the stage reached in the discussions or of the legislative standard, and any transitional periods. 1. How many legislative standards has the EU adopted on the safety of drivers of vehicles? As a result of national legislative provisions being adopted after a time-lag is it possible for European 2. citizens to be able to drive a vehicle without a driving licence? 3. 4. Are there standard rules in Europe on the size and appearance of vehicle registration plates? Are there standard rules in Europe on turning right when traffic lights are on red? Is it possible that different traffic lights mean different things in different Member States (e. g. a 5. flashing amber light)? 6. Are there European rules on road signs and on the appearance (colours) of traffic signs? Are there uniform exhaust gas standards in the Union for lorries and cars? If not, how great is the 7. margin between the most stringent and the most generous limit value? Is there a general obligation to wear a seat belt and is there a standard speed limit on European 8. roads? Answer given by Mme de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (15 October 1999) 1. The Community has been very active in the field of legislative standards for vehicle construction, known as type approval. To date, over 50 directives have been adopted, many of which have been