(2004/C 78 E/0589)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3457/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject:   Reform of the olive oil sector

Commission Communication (1) on ‘accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the reformed CAP — the tobacco, olive oil, cotton and sugar sectors’, it states that ‘for simplification, the olive grove payment will not be allocated before EUR 50 per aid claim’.

Various interpretations have been placed on this formulation. Would the Commission therefore please clarify whether this means that all olive growers currently receiving less than EUR 50 will henceforth receive EUR 50, or on the contrary, cease to receive any aid whatever, which would be very unfair?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2003)

The Commission's communication Accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the reformed CAP- the tobacco, olive oil and sugar sectors (2) was followed on 18 November by its adoption of the proposals for the legislation introducing the reforms in question.

The particular provision to which the Honourable Member refers has to be seen in context: simplification of the aid provisions for a sector with a very large number of recipients (more than 2 100 000 in the Community), most of whom receive very small amounts of aid. This simplification is designed not to harm the interests of the smallest producers.

A second provision has to be taken into account in this connection. Growers with an area of less than 0,3 geographical information system (GIS) hectares will be entitled, irrespective of the amount of aid received, to convert into single payment entitlement the average aid received during the reference period whereas for producers with more than 0,3 GIS hectares the conversion level proposed is 60 %. The first provision in turn makes operation of the system less burdensome by specifying that if the amount of olive grove aid claimed is less than EUR 50 it will not be paid. For the purposes of this provision the actual size of the grove is irrelevant.

Thus under the new system proposed the very small producers will receive at least the average amount granted during the reference period. Those whose grove is considered by the Member State to have an environmental or social value will also be able to receive the olive grove aid provided that the amount actually falling to be received is more than EUR 50.

(1)  COM(2003) 554 final.

(2)  COM(2003) 554 final.