91997E3890

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3890/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (11 December 1997)

Subject: Exclusion of farmers from compensation

In its decisions interpreting Regulation (EC) 950/97 ((OJ L 142, 2.6.1997, p.1.)) which replaced Regulation (EEC) 2328/91 ((OJ L 218, 6.8.1991, p.1.)) the Greek Government has used the 'family income' and not the income of the 'farmer' as the criterion for the implementation of Article 5; this means that farmers with family members (spouses, children) working outside the agricultural holding and having their own income are excluded from compensation in respect of natural disasters.

Given that the development of the countryside as promoted by EU policies depends in part on the existence of incomes from outside agriculture, will the Commission say:

1. Is it legitimate to take into account the non-agricultural incomes of other members of the family in calculating the income of a farmer practising farming as his main occupation?

2. What does it intend to do to ensure that farmers who meet the criteria set out in Article 5 of Regulation 950/97 are not excluded from compensation for this reason?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 February 1998)

Under Regulation (EC) No 950/97 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures, in order to concentrate aid for investment on those holdings which need it most, Greece has defined farmers practising farming as their main occupation in a way which takes account of family income in the calculation of their overall income.

Member States are allowed to lay down additional criteria for the definition of farmers practising farming as their main occupation, since the above Regulation specifies only the minimum criteria that farmers practising farming as their main occupation have to fulfil to be eligible for the aid in question ((See Article 5(5) of the Regulation. )).

Application by Greece of the family income criterion in order to establish eligibility for state aid granted in the event of disasters is justified for the same reason as for aid under Regulation (EC) No 950/97. This additional criterion laid down for granting state aid does not pose a problem of compatibility with Articles 92, 93 and 94 of the EC Treaty governing aid granted by Member States.