92001E2670

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2670/01

by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 October 2001)

Subject: Aid for the restructuring and conversion of vineyards in Greece

Under the new Council Regulation on the common organisation of the market in wine (Regulation (EC) 1493/1999(1) of 17 May 1999) the Member States are entitled to annual financial subsidies to restructure and convert vineyards. However, Greece has not received any financial aid for the 2000/2001 period.

1. Why has Greece not received any aid for the 2000/2001 period? Can it confirm that the reason is the delay in the drawing-up of a scheme and the inventory of the production potential? Are the Commission services acquainted with the reasons for this delay?

2. Does the Commission consider that the scheme put forward by Greece and the declared inventory will ensure an effective restructuring of vineyards in Greece and allow an improvement in the competitiveness of Greek viticulture?

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2001)

Commission Decision 2000/503/EC of 25 July 2000 fixing an indicative financial allocation, in respect of a number of hectares, by Member State for restructuring and conversion of vineyards under Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 for the 2000/01 marketing year(1), allotted Greece8 280 000 for a minimum of 1 162 ha. This was in line with Article 14(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on common organisation of the market in wine(2).

The inventory of viticultural production potential, presentation of which is a prerequisite for access to Community funds, was sent by the Greek Government to the Commission by a letter of 25 June 2001. The Commission took the appropriate decision on 18 July 2001.

It is this situation that was the reason for non-utilisation by 30 June 2001 of the Community funds made available to Greece by the Commission. Nor did she make use of the provision in the detailed rules (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1227/2000 of 31 May 2000 laying down

detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 as regards production potential(3)) for allowing Member States to use by 15 October 2001 part (maximum 75 %) of the Community funds not used by 30 June. For the 2002 budget year she has received an allocation of 7 323 000 for 3 028 ha.

Under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 responsibility for restructuring plans falls to the Member State. The Commission has no data allowing it to forecast the impact of the restructuring and conversion plans on the competitive position of each Member State's viticulture industry.

(1) OJ L 201, 9.8.2000.

(2) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999.

(3) OJ L 143, 6.6.2000.