DG Agriculture Advisory Groups

9.10.2014

Question for written answer E-007777-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Elisabeth Köstinger (PPE)

On 16 December 2013, the Commission decided to reorganise the Advisory Groups of DG Agriculture. These civil dialogue groups do not include any representatives of institutions at regional or local level. Their European umbrella organisations and Brussels representations are likewise excluded.

Since the CAP is implemented at local level and there are numerous Advisory Groups that deal with specific local issues (e.g. women in rural areas, the environment and climate change, rural development), the exclusion of communal representatives needs to be carefully investigated.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

• 1.Why is it depriving communes of the opportunity of contributing their expertise to the DG Agriculture Advisory Groups, given that it has previously confirmed on a number of occasions that the communes’ expertise is particularly important for the implementation of the CAP?
• 2.How will the Commission give their representatives the opportunity to participate on an equal footing in the decision-making processes of DG Agriculture?
• 3.European umbrella organisations, such as the CEMR, are representative organisations, with which, according to Article 11, paragraph 2, TEU, an open, transparent and regular dialogue should be maintained. How can this be squared with the above decision?