(2004/C 84 E/0676)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0484/04

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject:   Rural development: less-favoured areas

The European Parliament's report on the recently adopted reform of the common agricultural policy placed particular emphasis on boosting rural development aid for less-favoured areas. Even though the final decision incorporates many of Parliament's demands, it will bring about little improvement in the situation for such areas, since this did not figure among the objectives of the initial Commission proposal.

Bearing in mind that rural development should be one of the Community's cohesion policy instruments, will the Commission improve the treatment given to these regions with a view to the forthcoming reform of the structural funds?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

Under the reform the average compensatory allowance that can be granted in the less favoured areas has been increased, in cases where this is justified on factual grounds, to a maximum annual amount of EUR 250 per hectare instead of EUR 200 as previously.

Support for investment by young farmers has been boosted in the less favoured rural areas since they are a key factor in their development: under the new provisions of Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1) the maximum total aid, as a percentage of the eligible investment volume, has risen from 55 % to 60 %. This provision is applicable for a period of five years from setting up.

Support under Article 16 for farmers in less favoured areas who are subject to restrictions in connection with the ‘Birds’ (2) and ‘Habitat’ (3) Directives can be raised to EUR 500 per hectare in warranted cases where specific problems are faced. This higher support is granted annually on a degressive basis for not more than five years from the date on which the new restrictions become mandatory in line with Community legislation.

All the rural development measures, including the compensatory allowance for less favoured areas, will be re-examined in preparation for the Regulation on rural development support during the programming period after 2006.

(1)  OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2)  Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(3)  Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.