91997E3891

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3891/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (11 December 1997)

Subject: Organizations responsible for the management of EAGGF Guarantee Section spending

Will the Commission provide detailed information about the organizations (payment, certification and coordination bodies) authorized in each Member State in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) 1287/95 ((OJ L 125, 8.6.1995, p.1. )) and Commission Regulation 1663/95 ((OJ L 158, 8.7.1995, p.6. )) to manage EAGGF Guarantee Section spending, and say in particular which product they have been authorized to manage, what is their legal basis and whether they have a technical service or have entrusted other bodies with the technical controls?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1998)

The detailed information requested on the payment certification and coordination bodies set up under Article 4(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 of the Council of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common agricultural policy ((OJ L 94, 28.4.1970. )) and Articles 1, 2 and 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 1663/95 of 7 July 1995 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 regarding the procedure for the clearance of the accounts of the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF) -guarantee section, is forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. The position shown has been confirmed by Member States as correct as at 1 May 1997. The data is planned to be revised and updated following the accounts clearance decision for the 1997 financial year in April 1998.

All paying agencies rely on technical services either in house or by delegation to other national authorities. As a general rule the physical controls pertinent to claims for export refunds are performed by the customs authorities. The delegation of technical services for other measures follows the national administrative structures adopted by each Member State. All technical services - in house or delegated - must comply with the relevant accreditation criterion which is set out at point 4 of the annex to Regulation (EEC) No 1663/95.

The Commission has already evaluated the performance of all major paying agencies against the accreditation criteria set out in the annex to Regulation (EEC) No 1663/95 and has obtained improvements where deficiencies have been noted. This process continues by means of direct visits on-the-spot and by means of the annual audit reports which are submitted by certifying bodies, and evaluated by the Commission, with any problems identified pursued as necessary.