92002E2965

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2965/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Subject: Television station providing information to farmers

Funds were made available under the Second Community Support Framework and on the initiative of the Greek Minister for Agriculture to set up a television station designed to provide Greek farmers with information relating to their work.

Since, to my knowledge, no such station is operating as yet, will the Commission say:

1. What amount of funding was provided, and when, for the operation of the station?

2. Why the station is not in operation and what developments there have been in this respect?

3. Whether it is satisfied with the management of the funds concerned and, if not, what steps it will take to ensure transparency in the administration of those funds?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 November 2002)

1. A pilot action was planned within the context of the National Operational Programme Development of the Agricultural Sector under the 2nd Community Support Framework (1994-2000) for Greece, concerning the digitalisation of the Ministry of Agriculture's existent data on rural development and the purchase of a limited number of decoders. This action was implemented by the Ministry of agriculture after great delays only in the summer of 2001.

2. The creation of a station and the establishment of a rural television development programme, including the purchase of 20 000 decoders and satellite antennas (10 000 for collective entities and 10 000 for a selected group of individuals) was proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture during the 3rd Community Support Framework within the context of the National Operational Programme Rural Development (2000-2006). Already at an early stage, this action faced major programming and implementing difficulties and was withdrawn from the programme upon the Commission's request in spring 2002. No expenditure has been made for this action during the 3rd CSF. The corresponding measure will be eliminated from the National Operational Programme Rural Development (2000-2006) while the initial amount foreseen for this action will be reallocated in other actions within the context of the modification of the programme that is already underway.

3. The Commission will consider the outcome and management by the Ministry of agriculture of the first pilot action on digitalisation and will decide on the financial follow-up within the context of the final report of the National Operational Programme Development of the Agricultural Sector, which has not yet been submitted by the Greek authorities and the closure of the 2nd Community Support Framework (1994-1999) for Greece.