91998E0447

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0447/98 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (27 February 1998)

Subject: Current situation in the onion sector

The reform of the COM in fruit and vegetables did not take into account the proposal submitted by the European Parliament calling for onions to be included in Annex II to the relevant regulation to enable it to benefit from withdrawal premiums.

Given the importance of the onion sector, its specific features, strong regional impact and the seasonal nature of production, which has a considerable influence on producers' incomes, does the Commission not consider that the possibility of extending Annex II should be examined, in order to prevent discrimination vis-à-vis other types of vegetables?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (31 March 1998)

The common organisation of the fruit and vegetable markets covers more than one hundred products, most of which are seasonal and of great regional importance.

Under Council Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 of 18 May 1972 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables ((OJ L 118, 20.5.1972. )), some products were covered by an intervention scheme, but many did not qualify for support. The reform adopted by Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables ((OJ L 297, 21.11.1996. )) provides for a reduction in the use of intervention by limiting the quantities which can be withdrawn from the market, and for a reduction in the intervention price.

Financial assistance is now also available through the operational funds and enables producer organisations to pay withdrawal compensation for products not listed in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.

The operational funds can also be used in the context of operational programmes to improve the marketing of products or to concentrate market supply, among other things.

Onion producer organisations can thus qualify for withdrawal compensation, which they could not do before the reform of the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables.

The Commission does not therefore plan to widen Annex II and considers that a solution to most of the problems in the sector can be found in the new instruments set up under the reform.