WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1332/98 by Konstantinos HATZIDAKIS to the Commission. Possible non-payment of 1997 premiums to sheep and goat farmers in the Prefecture of Rethimnon
C 386/114 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 12. 98 It has been contended by the Public Contractors Association in the UK that in this case there has been a breach of the Services and Works Directive. Does the Commission have any comment to make on this case? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (2 June 1998) The Commission is not aware of the recent case in the United Kingdom involving a building maintenance contract in Oldham, to which the Honourable Member refers. He is therefore kindly requested to forward any specific information on the matter at his disposal to the Commission so that it may take appropriate action. (98/C 386/155) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1332/98 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission (24 April 1998) Subject: Possible non-payment of 1997 premiums to sheep and goat farmers in the Prefecture of Rethimnon During on the spot investigations it carried out in the Prefecture of Rethimnon in May 1997 a team from the Commissionís Directorate-General for Agriculture noted a number of failures to comply with the regulations and procedures governing sheep and goats; this led to an exchange of letters on this matter between the relevant Commission services and the Greek Ministry of Agriculture from which it transpired that Greece might be fined. However, a heavy share of responsibility for these omissions lies indisputably with the Ministry of Agriculture services which failed to carry out the required controls and draw up the necessary reports. Faced with the threat that Greece might be fined, the Greek Ministry of Agriculture has now made it clear that it is considering not paying premiums to sheep and goat farmers in the Prefecture of Rethimnon for 1997, arguing that it is the Commission that is responsible for this harsh measure. Although it is generally recognised that substantive measures must be taken to make the system more transparent, will the Commission confirm that it is ultimately at the discretion of the Ministry of Agriculture whether or not to pay premiums to sheep and goat farmers in the Prefecture of Rethimnon for 1997 and that, if it does not finally do so, this will be a purely political decision by the Ministry of Agriculture and not a penalty it has imposed? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 May 1998) Findings arising from the audit of May 1997, conducted in the context of the clearance of the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF) accounts, are still under consideration and subject to bilateral exchanges between the Commission and the Greek authorities. Under the clearance of accounts procedure, the Commission does not impose fines but refuses Community financing of expenditure not incurred in accordance with Community rules. Payment of premiums in the Prefecture of Rethimnon for 1997 should be decided by the Greek authorities on the basis of their control findings