91997E2664

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2664/97 by Sérgio Ribeiro (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (25 July 1997)

Subject: Reform of the CAP and aid to arable crops

According to various reports, the Commission has estimated at ECU 8.5 million the overpayments made to the European Union's cereal sector in the context of compensatory aid based on the reform of the CAP.

Would the Commission clarify the matter by providing the following information:

1. the data used and calculations made to arrive at this figure;

2. the estimated overpayments:

- by Member State

- according to size and location of holdings.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 September 1997)

1. The Commission has forwarded to Parliament the working paper ((SEC(97) 1183. )) which estimates the over-compensation paid to cereal producers in relation to the targets of the July 1992 reform at approximately ECU 8 500 million. Since the Commission has opted for a global approach to the matter, this amount should be seen as an order of magnitude rather than a specific figure.

2. The Commission has made an overall analysis for the Community as a whole rather than detailed analyses for the Member States or the different types of holdings.