91997E1783

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1783/97 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission (14 May 1997)

Subject: Lower Community premiums for goats and sheep in Greece

There has been a substantial cutback this year in the level of Community premiums to producers of goat and sheepmeat in Greece for each eligible ewe (a reduction of over Drs 2000 for low-weight animals).

If, in accordance with the information given to producers, this reduction is due to an increase in the slaughter price for goat and sheepmeat at European level, can the Commission say on what data it based its conclusion that there had been a corresponding rise in the price of goat and sheepmeat in Greece of a nature to justify a substantial reduction in premiums? How was that data collected and from what sources?

Finally, in view of the great difficulties such a sudden decision creates for producers, will the Commission say whether there is a possibility of an exemption for areas where there has obviously been no rise in the slaughter price for goat and sheepmeat or, at all events, for areas which have problems in general, e.g. the islands, where distribution and general production costs are considerably higher?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (11 June 1997)

It is true that the amount of the Community premium received by producers of sheepmeat and goatmeat fell in the marketing year 1996 by 32% compared with the previous marketing year. However, contrary to the Honourable Member's information, this fall was not the result of any increase in the slaughter costs of sheep and goats at European level. It was in fact due to a sharp rise in the Community market price in 1996 over the previous marketing year, which automatically reduced the premium, in accordance with current Community legislation.

In this context, it appears therefore that the questions raised about slaughter costs in certain parts of the Community, and in particular Greece, have no link with the reduction in the premium. In any case, the Commission has no official information on the slaughter costs of sheep and goats in the Community.