Debašu stenogramma

Otrdiena, 2007. gada 13. februāris - Strasbūra

9. Jautājumu laiks (jautājumi Komisijai)

  Presidente. Segue-se o período de perguntas (B6-0003/2007).

Foram apresentadas as seguintes perguntas à Comissão.

Primeira parte

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 41 do Deputado Evgeni Kirilov (H-0002/07)

Assunto: Destino das enfermeiras búlgaras e do médico palestiniano e relações UE-Líbia

Como avalia a Comissão o impacto da sua política de cooperação com a Líbia à luz das recentes condenações à morte pronunciadas neste país no termo de um processo marcado por graves violações dos direitos humanos? Tenciona a Comissão rever a situação e os seus instrumentos políticos caso não seja visível qualquer evolução?

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. I would like to say that I am following this issue very closely. I think I was the first person to see the children in Benghazi. I had discussions with the families. I then saw the nurses, the Palestinian doctor and the leader Gaddafi. I would like to confirm that the Commission and I, personally, are very much involved in this case. We showed that in our recent report to Parliament on 17 January. I can assure you that reaching a satisfactory solution has top priority. We know it is a tragic case. In the meantime, our team of negotiators is engaged in a dialogue with the Libyan authorities. This is still open. However, it is also expected that no decision can be taken as long as the judicial procedure is not concluded. There is still one step to go.

On the basis of future developments, the Commission and the Council will then assess the situation anew and decide what further action to take. As I have said, we are involved in a dialogue with the Libyan authorities.

I must make it clear that Libya and the European Union are not linked by any international agreement. Therefore, there is no framework for official cooperation, except the EU Council conclusions of October 2004 that establish a policy of engagement with Libya on specific issues, such as HIV/AIDS and migration.

  Evgeni Kirilov (PSE). – Commissioner, I am grateful to you for all you have done. I am grateful also to all European politicians who have been going to Libya non-stop and raising this point. But we can safely say that, after such a long period of time, there is no result. On the contrary: lately, the Libyan side – even Colonel Gaddafi – has been raising non-stop the question of some Western plot to kill these children, with our nurses having acted as part of this plot. No one answers these charges and, if you trust the Libyan court, we should say that the court decided some years ago that there is no such plot. Still it is raised. If it is true, it is a crime against humanity. Why do we not challenge the Libyan …

(The President cut the speaker off)

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. Well, first of all, I have not been going there non-stop. I was there once and then I established a group together with some others and we are working in a confidential way because it is a very delicate case.

Now, let me say it is also not true that we have never reacted. On the contrary, we have reacted very clearly and have tried to get the nurses out. We had hoped that this would happen recently. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Unfortunately, in December 2006 the death penalty was reconfirmed. We had hoped for a totally different judgment. With regard to the question of the accusation concerning the HIV/Aids infection, I must tell you that the conclusions of the most recent Council of Foreign Ministers clearly state, ‘this verdict ignores strong evidence from world-renowned international experts as to the innocence of the defendants’. So, all these questions are clearly on the table, as I said. Bear with us. There is also a little bit of confidence necessary and a little bit of confidentiality. It is a highly delicate case, but we want to resolve it.

  Jörg Leichtfried (PSE). – Herr Präsident, Frau Kommissarin! Wir haben gerade darüber gesprochen, dass verschiedene Staaten Wirtschaftskraft einsetzen, um politische Interessen durchzusetzen. Gedenkt die Europäische Union, in diesem Fall auch wirtschaftlichen Druck zu erzeugen und wirtschaftliche Kraft einzusetzen, um europäischen Bürgerinnen und Bürgern Rechtsstaatlichkeit und Freiheit zu garantieren? Ich denke, es wäre an der Zeit, hier einmal unsere Kraft spüren zu lassen.

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Mitglied der Kommission. Herr Präsident! Die Sache ist – wie ich vorhin bereits sagte – die, dass wir bisher mit Libyen in keinen internationalen Rahmen eingetreten sind. Deshalb ist es natürlich auch nicht so einfach, hier Wirtschaftskraft einzusetzen. Wir haben aber sozusagen Wirtschaftskraft in einer anderen und übrigens positiven Form eingesetzt, wie auch in den Schlussfolgerungen des Rates vom 22. Januar dieses Jahres bekräftigt wurde. Erstens haben wir seitens der Kommission schon im Jahr 2005 einen Aktionsplan auf die Beine gestellt. Zweitens haben wir zusammen mit anderen einen Bengasi International Fonds gegründet, mit dessen Hilfe wir versuchen, Hilfestellung zu leisten, vor allem natürlich für die aidsinfizierten Kinder.

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 42 do Deputado Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuzmiuk (H-0006/07)

Assunto: Problemas com o fornecimento de matérias-primas da energia importadas da Rússia

No final de 2006 e início de 2007, os Estados-Membros da UE - incluindo a Polónia - viram-se ameaçados com a quebra do fornecimento de gás natural em consequência do litígio entre a Rússia e a Bielorússia e em 8 de Janeiro de 2007 a Rússia suspendeu mesmo o fornecimento de petróleo à Polónia, Alemanha, República Checa e Eslováquia, ainda em consequência do litígio com a Bielorússia. Infelizmente este é o exemplo mais recente da utilização pela Rússia do fornecimento de matérias-primas da energia como forma de fazer pressão política sobre os Estados-Membros e países terceiros e comprova que aquele país não é fiável em questões energéticas.

Como tenciona a Comissão resolver estes problemas na estratégia energética europeia que está a ser elaborada actualmente?

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. Mr President, the issue of security of supply is of particular importance for the European Union and a number of events over the past few years highlight the need for the European Union to reinforce its policy measures in this area. Let us remember the wake-up call we had last year between Russia and Ukraine and this year between Russia and Belarus. I would like to try to provide you today with a short summary of the different initiatives that the Commission has taken to increase our security of supply in general, and in particular in the relationship with the Russian Federation.

Energy supplies from the Russian Federation play an important role in meeting Europe’s energy needs, accounting for nearly 30% of the EU’s oil imports and 44% of our gas imports. At the same time, 67% of Russia’s oil and gas exports are delivered to the European market and, given the mutual importance of this relationship, an energy dialogue was established in 2000 between the Russian Federation and the EU to discuss energy-related issues, including energy policy, market developments, infrastructure and EU-Russia energy cooperation on technology and energy efficiency.

In addition, there is a roadmap for the common economic space that was agreed during the EU-Russia Summit in May 2005, and that includes cooperation on wide-ranging issues of energy and related activities. Moreover, a new agreement is to be negotiated with the Russian Federation to follow on from the existing EU-Russia partnership and cooperation agreement which expires at the end of the year. It is now intended that this will include a comprehensive agreement on energy.

Let me also point out that in the recent communication, ‘An Energy Policy for Europe’, the Commission formulated quite a number of proposals to mitigate our growing dependence on external energy supplies and to increase our energy security. The Commission underlines that there is no singular solution, but there has to be a variety of different initiatives that must be pursued. They include increased energy efficiency, promotion of renewable energy sources, the diversification of energy supplies, proper functioning of the internal market and internal solidarity mechanisms to cope with possible supply interruptions, including through cooperation with the International Energy Agency. Furthermore, the importance of strengthening our relations with all our key energy suppliers and transit countries and for the EU to speak with a single voice is also underlined in the communication.

In response to recent interruptions in the energy supply field from Russia through Belarus, the Commission also convened meetings earlier this year of both the Gas Coordination Group and the Oil Support Group, which comprised, inter alia, representatives of the Member States. These meetings to which the third countries concerned were invited to give information then reviewed the impact on the EU’s internal energy security of the events in question and how to respond.

Finally, with reference to the area of strengthening energy dialogue, the Commission is committed to maintaining and to reinforcing our energy relations, not only with the Russian Federation, but also with other important energy-producing countries and regions like Norway, the countries of the OPEC, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the countries of the Caspian and the Black Sea basins, Central Asia and North Africa through bilateral agreements and energy dialogues.

  Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk (UEN). – Panie Przewodniczący! Chciałbym podziękować Komisji Europejskiej za zainteresowanie problematyką dostaw surowców energetycznych do wszystkich państw członkowskich, ale chcę zwrócić uwagę, że Rosja - moim zdaniem - ciągle wykorzystuje dostawy tych surowców jako próbę oddziaływania politycznego na państwa członkowskie i kraje trzecie. Niestety, widać to już bardzo wyraźnie.

Co więcej, chciałbym zapytać, czy poparcie ze strony Komisji Europejskiej dla gazociągu północnego, tj. gazociągu po dnie Bałtyku, jest przejawem solidarności państw Unii Europejskiej czy też przejawem braku tej solidarności?

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. I should like to thank the Member for his comments. On the question of the Baltic Sea pipeline, of course it is a pipeline of trans-European interest, but what is important is that we, as the European Union – that is, all of the Member States – show European solidarity. That means we have to show solidarity with our own Member States; this is our position.

  Paul Rübig (PPE-DE). – Herr Präsident, sehr geehrte Frau Kommissarin, sehr geehrte Damen und Herren! Mich würde interessieren, wie die Strategie der Kommission in Bezug auf Pipelines und LNG-Tanker aussieht. Wir haben viele Möglichkeiten, die Versorgung zu diversifizieren. Wie sehen die Pläne der Kommission aus?

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. Together with the US, we intend to finance a feasibility study for a trans-Caspian pipeline which also includes the question of liquefied natural gas, LNG. This is a contribution to the diversification of energy supplies to Europe that we think is highly important at this stage.

  Danutė Budreikaitė (ALDE). – Praeitą vasarą Rusija „Družbos“ vamzdynu nutraukė dujų tiekimą Lietuvai, minėti čia ir kiti atvejai. Reiškia, reikia ieškoti alternatyvių tiekimo kelių. Ar Komisija nemano, kad reiktų derinti veiksmus dėl infrastruktūros Baltijos jūroje ir, prieš pradedant tiesti ten naujus kelius, pradėti nuo nepriklausomo Šiaurės dujotiekio poveikio įvertinimo?

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. Let me say that what you are referring to is a technical interruption. Of course we have to keep talking to the Russians in order to ensure that these interruptions do not last and so as to prevent them altogether in the future. I think that is for the time being what we are doing and I hope that this current energy dialogue will genuinely result in a building of trust in the future. We have just held a Troika meeting with Russia, and the questions relating to energy in general were discussed. By the way, President Putin has officially said that he accepts the principles enshrined in the Energy Charter: accessibility, free and equal access to the markets, and particularly transparency. This is a matter of transparency.

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 43 da Deputada Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (H-0054/07)

Assunto: O canal da paz no Próximo Oriente

A 10 de Dezembro, representantes da Jordânia, de Israel, da Palestina e do Banco Mundial examinaram o estudo de viabilidade da construção de um canal "da paz" ou dos "dois mares" uma conduta de 180 km que irá ligar o mar Vermelho ao Mar Morto. A importância económica (rega do deserto do Negev, alimentação de centrais hidroeléctricas e instalações de dessalinização com a produção anual de 1.000 milhões de metros cúbicos de água potável) a importância diplomática (diálogo e cooperação entre Israel, a Palestina e a Jordânia) e a importância ambiental (fazer face ao risco de o Mar Morto secar completamente até 2050) deste projecto é enorme.

O seu custo global é estimado em 15,5 milhões de dólares que o Banco Mundial já cativou.

Dada a importância multi-sectorial deste canal, participa a Comissão na realização (projecto/financiamento) desta obra de grande fôlego, no quadro da cooperação euro-mediterrânica? Caso não o faça, tenciona participar financeiramente na próxima fase em que serão dispendidos 3.000 milhões de dólares para a conclusão do projecto nos próximos cinco anos? Também se poderia recorrer ao Banco Europeu de investimento, como investidor, para assegurar os recursos necessários?

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. The level of the Dead Sea is falling by one metre each year. The Commission is strongly in favour of forward-looking projects which address the water needs and environmental needs of the region, and it supports all the initiatives which involve cooperation between the neighbours on specific issues, particularly on water, a very important resource in the region, in order to find mutually satisfactory solutions. But we also have to say that the construction of the ‘Peace’ canal would be a huge undertaking, a huge endeavour, which could have a significant impact on the local environment without necessarily addressing the causes of these lower Dead Sea levels.

We think, therefore, that a somewhat cautious approach is necessary. The Commission notes that a feasibility study including an environmental and social impact assessment has recently been commissioned. A multi-donor trust fund has been established, with France, the USA, the Netherlands and Japan making firm commitments of support.

The contract for the feasibility study is expected to be awarded in July of this year, and then it could last for over two years. The Commission will then examine the outcome of the feasibility study very carefully when it is published and will consult with the European Investment Bank in the light of its recommendations. At that time, we will also keep Parliament closely informed of our reflections.

  Ρόδη Κράτσα-Τσαγκαροπούλου (PPE-DE). – Κυρία Επίτροπε σας ευχαριστώ για την απάντησή σας καθώς και για την προσοχή και την αποτελεσματικότητα με την οποία αντιμετωπίζετε τα θέματα ανάπτυξης στην περιοχή της Μέσης Ανατολής.

Είναι πολύ σωστό αυτό που λέτε ότι μια μελέτη σκοπιμότητας είναι απαραίτητη για ένα τόσο μεγάλο έργο για να ξέρουμε πόσο θα δεσμευθεί η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Ήθελα να σας ρωτήσω αν έχουμε απολογιστικές μελέτες για τα προγράμματα που μέχρι σήμερα έχουν εφαρμοσθεί για να μπορούν να αντιμετωπισθούν οι αιτίες, γιατί βλέπουμε την κατάσταση του Ιορδάνη ποταμού και πόσο το νερό αποτελεί αιτία διαφορών μεταξύ των χωρών στης περιοχής,. Ξέρουμε αν έχουν εφαρμοσθεί τα προγράμματά μας και μπορούμε να αξιολογήσουμε τί έχουν αποδώσει τόσο από οικονομικής, όσο και από διπλωματικής σκοπιάς, από της σκοπιάς της συνεργασίας μεταξύ των χωρών;

  Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the Commission. I do not know of any other studies at this moment. I can only say that this feasibility study seems to be a study involving EUR 15 million, where the Commission is probably also participating, and the volume of the whole project is EUR 3 billion. It is a huge project and therefore I think it is worthwhile to study things carefully before we really go into something. All of that is in the context of the political environment and the political solution and at this very moment we are cautiously optimistic because there is the outline at the horizon of a national unity government in Palestine. Hopefully we can start to have a sort or regional cooperation again – at least between a few countries and the Palestinian Authority. So let us keep our fingers crossed and hope, but I think there is a positive momentum at this moment.

Segunda parte

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 44 do Deputado Alain Hutchinson (H-1072/06)

Assunto: Liberalização total dos serviços postais em 1 de Janeiro de 2009

No passado dia 18 de Outubro, a Comissão adoptou a proposta de directiva COM(2006)0594 final que altera a Directiva 97/67/CE no respeitante à plena realização do mercado interno dos serviços postais da Comunidade. Trata-se, pois, de uma liberalização total dos serviços postais, isto é, dos envios de pequena dimensão com peso inferior a 50 gramas. Dois aspectos há que são frequentemente alvo de críticas: o facto de a Comissão ter decidido manter a data de 1 de Janeiro de 2009 para a entrada em vigor da directiva quando é sabido que, naquela data, muitos Estados-Membros não estarão preparados para a porem em prática; e a inadequação das medidas previstas pela Comissão para o financiamento do serviço postal universal, aspecto este denunciado por dez operadores históricos do sector dos serviços postais.

Qual é a resposta da Comissão a estas críticas? Analisou a Comissão de forma concreta e minuciosa o impacto da liberalização total dos serviços postais na Suécia, país em que esta liberalização leva vários anos de avanço? Registaram-se, na Suécia, aumentos de preço dos selos para os envios de pequena dimensão e uma perda de postos de trabalho no sector público? Em caso afirmativo, em que proporções? Qual é o índice de satisfação dos suecos na sequência da liberalização havida? Pode a experiência sueca, que constitui um exemplo concreto e não o produto de um estudo ou de uma especulação teórica ou ideológica, ser considerada um verdadeiro sucesso?

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. Mr President, honourable Members, both the state of preparation of postal markets for full opening and the financing of the universal service in an open market have been analysed with great care and attention by the Commission.

The Commission’s analysis, which was based on several years of studies and continuous and transparent discussions with all stakeholders, is presented in considerable detail in the Commission’s preparatory documents. The proposal for a directive and its supporting documents are now under discussion in both the Council and the European Parliament. It is up to you and the Member States in the Council to make your own evaluation. The Commission took into account the Swedish experience to which the honourable Member refers, as well as all other market and regulatory developments in the postal sector. It is not a question of attributing a particular value judgement to any or all of these developments or to suggest that the Swedish model, or indeed another model, should be copied elsewhere. It is rather a question of showing that various solutions exist. These solutions can be implemented according to the specificities of each national market in order to conduct the necessary postal reform while guaranteeing the provision of an efficient universal service.

It is worth noting that in Sweden the opening of the market was completed, guaranteeing the provision of the universal service, without the need for additional financing. The Swedish Government recently presented a detailed study on the opening of the Swedish postal market, and its findings do not seem to confirm the fears expressed by the honourable Member.

In conclusion, and as I said earlier, the Commission believes that completing postal reform is vital for securing further improvements in efficiency and quality of service and for ensuring the long-term viability of the postal sector and the business opportunities and employment potential it generates.

  Alain Hutchinson (PSE). – Monsieur le Commissaire, je vous remercie pour votre réponse qui, pour moi, est plus proche de la langue de bois que d'une véritable réponse aux questions que je vous pose au sujet de la libéralisation des services postaux. Je faisais allusion dans une question à des solutions qui sont étudiées par la commission d'enquête sur la libéralisation de la poste. Quand on parle de solution, c'est qu'il y a un problème. Or, nous constatons aujourd'hui que, pour ce qui est de la distribution du petit courrier – qui est le sujet à l'ordre du jour –, il n'y a pas de problème. Les citoyens sont contents, la distribution fonctionne bien. En revanche, là où la distribution du petit courrier a été libéralisée comme en Suède, le timbre est plus cher, le service est moins bien fait.

Monsieur le Commissaire, pourquoi la Commission exclut-elle le recours au maintien du domaine réservé tel que nous le connaissons, qui permet et garantit le service universel au bénéfice de tous les Européens, ce qui ne sera certainement pas le cas, les expériences précédentes le prouvent, avec les projets que vous proposez comme le prouvent les expériences antérieures.

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. According to my information, the situation in Sweden has meant that performance is better now than it was, and that has been due to competition. Furthermore, the average price of mail (of which mail sent by consumers only represents a small part), including mail by business to consumers, has sharply decreased.

In the proposal we have put forward, there is a large menu of options allowed to Member States as to how they can deal with the universal service obligations. It will be noted that I made no change at all to the universal service obligation and have allowed the Member States a large menu of options as to how they go about financing it.

Our package should come as no surprise to anybody who has been following this debate, because this debate and the opening-up of the markets have been ongoing for 15 years, and this is the final step in that particular process.

  Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE). – Mr Commissioner, I come from Finland, where we have also opened the postal services market, as has happened in Sweden. I have to say that it was very good that someone from a country where they have not done the same is putting the Swedish and Finnish model forward as an example of the positive consequences that postal market liberalisation has had.

The only problem we have seen in those countries where liberalisation has happened earlier than other Member States is that the old monopolies from the Member States that still have a monopoly market have tried to come to our markets and use the liberalisation on their behalf. That has been a very negative consequence of an early opening of markets.

So I would like to ask if the Commission intends to keep the deadline and really open the markets before 2009. If so, it will get all our support for that.

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. I am pleased that Ms Kauppi has spoken on this subject, because Finland is a country which is very sparsely populated, and the universal service obligation has been fulfilled there, and so too in Sweden. These markets have seen the benefits of open competition, and, it is fair to say, so too have the other markets that have opened up their postal area.

It is our intention to stick to the time frame of 2009, which is expressed in the 2002 directive on opening up markets, which further said that, by the end of 2006, the Commission would come forward with its proposals confirming, or not, the opening of the market in 2009 and whatever other further steps are necessary, and that is what we have done. But the matter is now in the hands of the co-legislators at Parliament and at the Council of Ministers.

  Hélène Goudin (IND/DEM). – Jag kommer från norra Sverige. Liberaliseringen i Sverige har varit ganska bra när det gäller storstäder, men staten får ju träda in och täcka andra ställen. Vi har till exempel i norra Sverige i Pajala, där jag bor, en rutt på 270 km som täcker 200 hushåll. Om vi har ett gemensamt direktiv, kan kommissionsledamoten garantera att dessa hushåll kommer att få sin post även i fortsättningen?

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. Yes, I can, because we decided in bringing forward our proposal that we would make absolutely no change to the obligations under the universal service obligation. That is left exactly as it is in the proposal that is currently before the codecision authorities.

  Δημήτριος Παπαδημούλης (GUE/NGL). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, κύριε Επίτροπε, εκτός από τις αρνητικές εμπειρίες της Σουηδίας υπάρχουν επίσης πολλά κράτη μέλη που αντιδρούν στη βιασύνη της Επιτροπής και υπάρχουν και δέκα μεγάλοι ιστορικοί ταχυδρομικοί φορείς που επισημαίνουν γραπτώς σημαντικούς κινδύνους.

Σας ρωτώ ευθέως: Θα λάβετε υπόψη αυτές τις ενστάσεις ή θα επιμείνετε δογματικά στο ορόσημο της 1ης Ιανουαρίου 2009;

Και μία δεύτερη ερώτηση: Τί θα κάνετε για να μην πληγεί η έννοια της καθολικής ταχυδρομικής υπηρεσίας, προσιτής σε όλους τους πολίτες, όταν ξέρουμε ότι ήδη στη Σουηδία υπάρχουν προβλήματα σε αυτό;

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. I have repeatedly said in reply to questions that we will make absolutely no change to the requirements under the universal service obligation. When we brought forward our proposal, some people were lobbying for the universal service obligation requirements to be changed and watered down. I decided not to do so and the requirements on the universal service obligation are exactly as they are now. To the best of my knowledge, and as repeated by Mrs Kauppi, the impact in Sweden has been entirely positive.

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 45 do Deputado Georgios Toussas (H-1085/06)

Assunto: Práticas abusivas por parte da banca

A política generalizadamente antipopular da UE e dos governos dos Estados-Membros deu audácia às práticas usurárias ilegais da banca que sugam abusivamente enormes montantes dos mutuários e dos trabalhadores em geral. Característico é o facto que o Banco da Grécia aplicou multas no montante de 25 milhões de euros a instituições de crédito por práticas opacas/abusivas mas, ao mesmo tempo, suavizou as penas em vigor para os cheques sem cobertura e recusa-se a revelar os nomes dos bancos que foram sancionados.

Qual a posição da Comissão relativamente à publicação pela comunicação social dos nomes dos bancos sancionados pelas autoridades de supervisão dos Estados-Membros por práticas abusivas ilegais a fim de, pelo menos, informar e em parte proteger os mutuários e os depositantes em geral?

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. First, I would like to thank the Honourable Member for drawing our attention to the retail banking problems which consumers in Greece are facing.

We are aware of the concerns about the level of interest rates charged in Greece and have responded to several written questions on the subject. In our answers, we have highlighted a series of initiatives that could have an impact on the level of retail interest rates in Europe. They include initiatives on mortgage credit and consumer credit as well as the competition sectoral inquiries launched in June 2005 in the areas of business insurance and retail banking. These initiatives, together with others presented in the White Paper on Financial Services Policy for 2005 to 2010, should improve the competition and efficiency of retail financial services markets and provide practical benefits for European consumers.

As to the honourable Member’s specific question, we support initiatives that encourage and promote transparency in European financial markets. Transparency is of particular importance for consumers, who need full and accurate information to be able to make an informed choice. In the competition area, the Commission names banks against which a decision concluding an anti-trust infringement is addressed. However, there are no European rules requiring the naming of banks which the Member States’ supervisory authorities have fined for unethical and illegal practices.

We will continue to monitor the level of interest rates as our initiatives on retail financial services progress to ensure that the benefits from integration provide practical benefits for European consumers.

  Γεώργιος Τούσσας (GUE/NGL). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, οι παράνομες καταχρηστικές δραστηριότητες των τραπεζών, σύμφωνα με τα μέσα μαζικής ενημέρωσης που καθημερινά τις καταγγέλλουν, αποκτούν γενικευμένο χαρακτήρα.

Αυτή είναι μία πτυχή του προβλήματος. Υπάρχει όμως και μία άλλη πτυχή: η Ευρωπαϊκή Κεντρική Τράπεζα αύξησε δύο φορές μέσα στο 2006 τα επιτόκια. Αντίστοιχες αυξήσεις έγιναν και από τις τράπεζες στα κράτη μέλη.

Τί διαπιστώνουμε στην περίπτωση αυτή; Ότι το χάσμα που υπάρχει μεταξύ των επιτοκίων καταθέσεων και των επιτοκίων χορηγήσεων διευρύνεται. Και αυτό σε βάρος των δανειοληπτών και, γενικότερα, των εργαζομένων.

Τί μέτρα προτίθεται να λάβει η Επιτροπή για να μειωθεί το χάσμα αυτό που υπάρχει μεταξύ των επιτοκίων καταθέσεων και των επιτοκίων χορηγήσεων;

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. As I said in my reply, we are aware of the concerns about the level of interest rates charged in Greece and have responded to several written questions on this subject. But the definition of retail interest rates is mainly a matter for financial institutions and it is not as such the subject of EU rules and regulations.

However, as explained in earlier responses, we have undertaken a series of initiatives that could have an impact on the level of retail interest rates in Europe, including initiatives on mortgage credit and consumer credit. In June 2005 we also launched sector-specific competition inquiries in the areas of business insurance and retail banking.

Yes, it is known to us that the level of interest rates charged in Greece are very high, but we do not have particular responsibility to make any change in that, nor is it likely that the Union will have responsibility in this area in the future. In other Member States where the winds of competition have blown, the interest rate charged to consumers has come down dramatically. I have personal experience in this regard from my home Member State. When a retail financial institution from another Member State announced that it was coming to set up shop in the Member State I know best, interest rates contracted overnight.

  David Martin (PSE). – The Commissioner will be aware of reports saying that the European Commission has paid millions of euros in bank charges in order to bypass the Hamas-led administration in Palestine. In the interests of the transparency he claims that the Commission is in favour of in relation to the banking sector, will he publish why the Commission has run up such large charges and which banks these charges have been paid to?

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. I am not in a position to answer your specific question, Mr Martin, but I will have it investigated.

  Robert Evans (PSE). – Commissioner, still on the question of unethical bank charges, could I ask you what you feel about the exorbitant fees charged by some banks for cross-border money transfers into the eurozone? For example, it costs up to ten times more for a British person to transfer money to a eurozone bank, which is obviously just at the touch of a computer button. Do you agree that this is exorbitant and do you think the whole question of cross-border money transfer needs some regulation to be consistent with the principle of free movement of capital within the EU?

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. Well, as the honourable Member is aware, the big European project in this area would be the SEPA project for the single European payments area. Of course, this will apply in the initial stages in the eurozone. Good manners prevent me from advising what should be done in Britain about the eurozone, but of course I am sure that the answer to your question is ‘more competition’.

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 46 da Deputada Sarah Ludford (H-0007/07)

Assunto: Branqueamento de capitais

A administração do município de Londres tem defendido recentemente, de forma verosímil, que a luta travada pela União Europeia contra o branqueamento de capitais, - e, assim, contra o potencial financiamento do terrorismo - sob a forma de um regime eficaz de desencorajamento e detecção de práticas criminosas está a ser dificultada pela aplicação incoerente, desigual e inadequada da segunda directiva relativa ao branqueamento de capitais de 2001 por parte dos Estados-Membros.

Estando a aplicação da terceira directiva relativa ao branqueamento de capitais prevista para 2007, qual é a estratégia da Comissão para assegurar uma implementação rápida, adequada e uniforme da legislação da UE em relação a esta matéria essencial em todos os Estados-Membros que permita explorar ao máximo as possibilidades de detectar transacções suspeitas bem como minimizar custos desnecessários e burocracias aos clientes e empresas honestos?

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. As you are aware, Member States are required to have fully transposed the third anti-money-laundering directive into national law by 15 December 2007 at the latest.

This directive reinforces our actions in the fight against terrorist financing. It provides for harmonised rules under which the obliged entities and persons can apply customer due diligence procedures, taking into account the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing. In order to help Member States ensure a timely and proper transposition of this directive, we are following a threefold strategy.

Firstly, in November 2006 we held an initial transposition workshop. The objective of this meeting was to exchange views and provide clarity on issues of interpretation or any other problem linked to transposition.

Secondly, we have set up a European platform between the Financial Intelligence Units. These are the national authorities competent to prevent and counter money-laundering and terrorist financing by receiving and analysing suspicious transaction reports filed by credit and financial institutions, as well as by selected non-financial businesses and professions. The FIUs are directly involved in the enforcement of the directive. Within the European platform, regular meetings are organised to exchange information, notably on the provision of feedback to reporting entities.

Thirdly, we support the work carried out by the joint Anti-Money-Laundering Task Force which the Committee of European Banking Supervisors has created in association with the European insurance supervisors and the securities markets supervisors. The objective of this task force is to enable the sharing of experience and best practices between financial services supervisors. This is crucial for a consistent implementation of the directive across the European Union. The Commission participates as an observer.

  Sarah Ludford (ALDE). – Thank you, Commissioner. It sounds as if you are going to get a lot of information. However, are you going to issue some guidelines to secure more consistent application? Because it seems to me at the moment that we have the worst of all worlds: no level playing field for businesses, and therefore different costs; and no consistent consumer protection, for instance on whether or not the right of customers to obtain access to information under the data protection directive is being overridden by the tipping-off provisions under anti-money-laundering laws, and whether banks are slipping in commercially useful questions under the cover of ‘know your customer’ principles.

I appreciate what you are doing, but why not issue some guidelines, which would go some way to getting some consistency? Otherwise there is going to be even more of a mess when the third anti-money-laundering directive is implemented.

  Charlie McCreevy, Member of the Commission. I think that what the honourable Member says is quite reasonable. From my knowledge of previous directives, practice varies from Member State to Member State. Furthermore, within Member States, it probably varies between financial institutions – I am aware of that too, but you must remember it is quite early days. I know that we are now on the third anti-money-laundering directive, but people are learning and, hopefully, with the processes we have set up, such as the bodies I have just referred to, best practices can be established and then people can learn from one another.

I would not rule out making some guidelines in the future, as the honourable Member referred to. Perhaps that will be done in the future, either by the Commission or some agency on our behalf through all these processes. However, as the honourable Member will understand, we have gone for the risk-based approach, which leaves a fair degree of flexibility in the hands of the entities, and that leads to some of the problems we have just outlined.

On the other hand, if you went for the more prescriptive approach, line by line, it would probably take ages to get agreement between the different Member States because of the different cultures in this particular area. Hopefully, we are learning, and I do not rule out any future initiative that would bring greater consistency in this area, which is what, I believe, everybody desires.

  Presidente. Às perguntas 47 e 48 serão dadas respostas por escrito.

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 49 do Deputado Carl Schlyter (H-1081/06)

Assunto: Proibição de matérias-primas obtidas em violação do direito internacional

Os índios Dineh e Hopi, habitantes de Black Mesa (EUA), lutam há mais de 30 anos contra a extracção de carvão no seu território e as consequências daí resultantes.

No início do corrente ano, a mina de carvão e a conduta que utiliza a única reserva de água dos índios foi encerrada. Infelizmente, a alegria foi de pouca dura, pois existem planos para uma reabertura e ampliação da mina, com as subsequentes deslocações forçadas.

A montanha de Black Mesa é sagrada para aquelas populações e seria como deixar uma empresa extrair pedras de Notre Dame de Paris (a montanha é considerada uma mulher). Não representará a demolição dos símbolos sagrados de uma religião uma violação da liberdade religiosa?

Tenciona a Comissão proibir a importação de matérias-primas obtidas em violação do direito internacional e, por conseguinte, proibir a importação de produtos das empresas envolvidas se procederem a um alargamento da exploração?

  Peter Mandelson, Member of the Commission. I should like to thank the honourable Member for asking this question. The European Union seeks to uphold the universality and indivisibility of human rights – civil, political, economic, social and cultural – as reaffirmed by the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna.

The Commission understands that the Dineh and Hopi Indians would like to preserve their identity by controlling mining activities on their territory. While the Commission is not convinced that the functioning of the coal plant would breach any relevant instruments of international law protecting religious freedom, it nonetheless takes the rights of indigenous peoples very seriously, as set out in the Commission’s May 1998 working document on indigenous peoples.

However, the production of coal in the United States is subject to environmental rules, and the overall issue of rights in this instance falls within the competence of the US Government. On the more general issue of whether import bans of coal would be effective in upholding the rights of people in specific localities, it would be difficult to determine the specific origin of coal being imported into the European Union. Consequently, a ban of this sort would be difficult to implement in practice.

  Carl Schlyter (Verts/ALE). – Dessutom finns resolution nummer två från FN:s Human Rights Council från 2006 där man tidigt betonar rätten till helgedomar för ursprungsbefolkningen. I detta fall är det hela berget som är helgedomen, framför allt även vattnet i berget. Stora mängder vatten används för att frakta kolet i en pipeline, vilket innebär att både kolet och vattnet i helgedomen utvinns på ett sätt som fråntar indianerna att deras ursprungliga rättigheter. Jag vet inte om vi har något kol från detta berg i Europa i dag. Just nu pågår en undersökning om en eventuell utökad brytning.

  Peter Mandelson, Member of the Commission. Mr President, the Commission understands very well that the region where the Dineh and Hopi Indians live is very important for their religious beliefs, and I do not contend otherwise. We also understand that their rights are protected in the US Constitution, and so it is principally a matter for the US courts and not for us to intervene. I would just repeat what I said, that import bans of the sort being envisaged are really not a desirable way, in the Commission’s view, of dealing with such issues. An import ban would have no effect if the coal in question were exported to countries other than the European Union, which would no doubt be the case, so any sanction that we introduced would, in our view, make no material difference to the objective situation of these indigenous peoples.

  Presidente. A pergunta 50 caduca, dado que o respectivo autor não está presente.

  Presidente. Dado referirem-se ao mesmo assunto, as perguntas que se seguem serão chamadas em conjunto.

Pergunta nº 51 do Deputado Brian Crowley, substituído pela Deputada Sean Ó Neachtain (H-0030/07)

Assunto: Negociações sobre o comércio mundial

Pode a Comissão Europeia emitir uma declaração sobre a probabilidade de as negociações sobre o comércio mundial, no âmbito da ronda de Doha, serem seriamente retomadas no futuro próximo?

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Pergunta nº 52 do Deputado Pedro Guerreiro (H-0069/07)

Assunto: Negociações no quadro da OMC

Tendo em conta que diversos relatórios das Nações Unidas têm denunciado o aumento das desigualdades ao nível dos rendimentos, em termos sociais e económicos, entre países e no interior dos países, ao longo dos últimos anos, num quadro em que os índices de pobreza e de desemprego permanecem elevados ou estão a aumentar, ao mesmo tempo que se verifica o aumento dos lucros das grandes transnacionais e a concentração da riqueza - realidade a que, obviamente, não é alheio o forte aumento da liberalização do comércio e dos capitais à escala mundial;.

Tendo em conta os recentes contactos entre a Presidência do Conselho da UE, a Comissão Europeia e Administração dos EUA, pergunto à Comissão quais as propostas e calendário que avança para as negociações no âmbito da OMC, que se encontram actualmente num impasse, nomeadamente quanto à agricultura, aos produtos não agrícolas (incluindo o têxtil e o vestuário) e aos serviços.

  Peter Mandelson, Member of the Commission. Mr President, I want to give this House a substantive assessment of where things stand on the world trade talks.

The Davos meeting of WTO trade ministers in January signalled the formal resumption of work in Geneva across all the negotiating groups. What lay behind this was an injection of new political commitment to the negotiations at senior levels, including from President Bush. I believe this is sincere and that there is, therefore, a new level of political investment in the process, which creates a fresh opportunity for finding success. On this basis, the Director-General of the WTO announced in the Trade Negotiating Committee on 31 January that negotiations in Geneva should restart at multilateral level in all the negotiating groups.

Farm subsidies remain the gateway to a deal. But a breakthrough inside agriculture must trigger a meaningful commitment to reductions in industrial tariffs and, further down the line, specific market-opening commitments in trade in services. In these areas, we are looking for meaningful and substantial moves by emerging economies in the G-20 group, without which it will not be possible to conclude the round.

In the meantime, US negotiators have started to turn the corner, but they have not reached the point of showing to us what new reduction of trade-distorting farm subsidies they intend to table. This is indispensable to the progress we are seeking. Susan Schwab, the US Trade Representative, is reaching out to the Democratic Congressional leadership in order to prepare the ground and to see how she can meet some of their requirements for an extension of the Administration’s fast-track negotiating authority, the Trade Promotion Authority, but she has not, so far, been ready to make the necessary jump either to agreement with Congress, or convergence with the US trade partners on key aspects of the current negotiation.

The Administration’s preliminary proposal last week for a new farm bill was welcome but somewhat disappointing in this context. If we are to have a successful outcome in the WTO, the US will need to align the new farm bill with more ambitious cuts and disciplines in trade-distorting subsidies negotiated as part of the Doha Round.

On timing, however, the US roadmap is somewhat clearer. A breakthrough on core issues in the Doha Development Agenda is the platform on which the Bush Administration says it will request a new or extended TPA before its expiry in June. That implies a breakthrough in the next few months on the big numbers in the key parts of the negotiations.

It is in our interest to try to seize the opportunity that now exists to reach a conclusion. I do not, myself, think that postponing a push for a deal into the summer or later is a realistic option. Given all the uncertainties in the United States and elsewhere, we would risk losing the fragile momentum that has been created, and this judgement accords with that of the European Council as reflected in the Presidency’s summing-up at the General Affairs Council on Monday. A DDA outcome would be very worth having, economically, politically and for the sake of the international system, and therefore we will continue to negotiate constructively but toughly for a deal.

  Seán Ó Neachtain (UEN), Ionadaí don údar. – Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an gCoimisinéir, an bhfuil i gceist aige agus ag an gCoimisiún níos mó gearradh siar a dhéanamh ar an dleacht a chuirtear ar tháirgí feola a thagann isteach san Aontas Eorpach chun an Margadh Trádála Domhanda a luaigh sé a bhaint amach?

  Peter Mandelson, Member of the Commission. The Commission tabled a substantive offer concerning all aspects of the agricultural negotiations in October 2005. Subsequently, in the summer of 2006, I indicated what further flexibility we would have within our mandate to improve our offer, should that be matched by offers from our negotiating partners both in agriculture and in other parts of the negotiations.

Our firm view is – and in this I speak under the guidance of my colleague, Mrs Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development – that such a strengthened offer, should it be justified by what others do in these talks, would be within the mandate which is provided by the reforms to the common agricultural policy that were agreed in, and have been implemented since, 2003.

  Pedro Guerreiro (GUE/NGL). – Gostaria de colocar a seguinte questão, que vem ao encontro da resposta anterior, que incide sobre saber que avaliação faz a Comissão Europeia de novas possíveis concessões, nomeadamente no campo da agricultura, para que as negociações em Genebra - que penso que já se encontram a decorrer, porquanto a sua abertura foi anunciada - possam enfim chegar a um acordo relativamente a um pacote global que incluiu, como referiu, a questão dos bens industriais e dos serviços?

Por outro lado, gostaria de saber se poderia comentar como é que o acordo ao nível do Conselho para a celebração de futuras zonas de comércio livre com as economias emergentes da Ásia se coaduna com a actual abertura das negociações no âmbito da OMC?

  Peter Mandelson, Member of the Commission. Concerning the last point, that is not currently being negotiated within the WTO round. In answer to the earlier question, my view is very clearly this: in order to advance to the other stages of negotiation, to those sectors of the talks which will yield the greatest economic and developmental benefits to the global economy and in particular to developing countries – namely industrial tariffs, liberalisation of services, the strengthening of trade rules, and in particular trade facilitation – we need first to break the agricultural deadlock in which these negotiations have been stuck now for very many months.

To do that, we need a clear sense from the United States of the direction of its policy concerning trade-distorting farm subsidies. Until that is clear, it will not be possible to clarify for the United States the answers to its questions concerning agricultural market access, because inevitably, when asked by the United States and others in the competitive agricultural economies how far they will open their markets to farm goods from the US and elsewhere, the developing countries will reply: ‘Well what are we importing? What are you expecting us to give you access for? Farmed goods or US Treasury subsidies?’

This is not an unreasonable question for developing countries to ask and therefore it is only when we get greater clarity and firmness about US intentions on farm subsidies that other questions will be easier to answer within the other agricultural pillars of the negotiation – market access and export competition – thus also allowing us to move on to the substantive negotiations in the other sectors of these talks.

My view, as I said in my opening remarks, is that the United States is making a reasonable engagement. It is making a good effort vis-à-vis the US Congress and its negotiating partners to take these talks forward, but we have yet to see on the table any clear, firm new offer on farm subsidies and, until that is the case, it will be difficult for others to match what the United States does by making further offers of their own.

  David Martin (PSE). – Firstly, let me congratulate you, Commissioner, on your persistence and doggedness in getting these talks back on track almost from beyond the grave.

While you have rightly concentrated on market access for agricultural products, non-agricultural products and services, do you accept that this might also be the time to launch an aid-for-trade initiative to connect the developing countries you have talked about to the global trading system? Many of them, as you have rightly said, fear that opening up their markets would be a one-way process of importing more, but not necessarily exporting more. To reassure them, should we not do more to assist them in terms of their ability to trade in the global trading system?

  Peter Mandelson, Member of the Commission. I am grateful to the honourable Member for raising this, because it is fundamental to the confidence with which developing countries, particularly poorer, more needy developing countries, can approach their step-by-step integration to the international economy. I think rightly it will be a condition for their support for a final result – an outcome of these negotiations.

So right from way back the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, has been pushing very strongly the case for aid for trade. I am glad to say that at the Hong Kong Ministerial, a clear commitment – independent of the single undertaking – was made and entered into. I hope others in the developed world will clearly be able to match what we are putting in order to make that programme and the resources that need to support it a reality.

In this context, I would also emphasise the importance of duty-free, quota-free access to others’ markets by the least-developed countries in the WTO. This is a commitment that we have made of very long standing and which we want others, both in the developed world and amongst the emerging economies insofar as they are able, to match. A proportionate effort from these World Trade talks would make a very big difference to creating fairness and a proportionate benefit for those who need it most in the developing world.

  Presidente. Às perguntas 53 e 54 serão dadas respostas por escrito.

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 55 do Deputado Bernd Posselt (H-1067/06)

Assunto: Desenvolvimento rural na região fronteiriça entre a Baviera e a Boémia

Como avalia a Comissão as possibilidades de desenvolvimento rural na região fronteiriça entre a Baviera e a Boémia, região essa que tanto sofreu na segunda metade do século XX, tanto do lado alemão, como do checo? Em que medida abrangem os programas de desenvolvimento rural igualmente projectos de natureza cultural?

  Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission. In Bavaria, in the programming period between 2000 and 2006, EUR 1.6 billion was allocated from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. In the next programming period between 2007 and 2013, the amount will be approximately EUR 1.3 billion in contributions from the European Union. It will be available for granting support to Bavaria’s rural areas.

Among the measures implemented are: village renewal, support for different tourism activities, and support for farmers working in less-favoured areas.

In the past, and in the next programming period, those in the border areas with the Czech Republic have benefited and will continue to benefit substantially from the implementation of these and other measures in the context of Bavaria’s rural development programme.

The new draft ERDF Operational Programme 2007-2013 for Bavaria pays particular attention to the rural and structurally weak areas bordering the Czech Republic. The Bavarian authorities have proposed to concentrate in these areas more than EUR 300 million out of the ERDF contribution, which totals EUR 575 million, including a special allocation of EUR 84 million for the border areas alone. These funds shall be used for co-financing projects destined to promote, inter alia, tourism and different cultural activities.

In the period between 2004 and 2006, a total of almost EUR 85 million was spent under this EAGGF with Czech contributions in the Czech border regions, and this shows that there is actually a very big absorption capacity. Thus the Commission believes that this trend will continue in the next programming period from 2007 to 2013.

The draft rural development plan of the Czech Republic includes measures to support cultural heritage, and it will be funded with approximately EUR 50 million from the ERDF. Furthermore, the Czech/Bavarian INTERREG cross-border programme – that started this year on 1 January 2007 – has a budget of EUR 115 million. That programme, which has just been officially submitted to the Commission, includes both rural development and support for different cultural measures.

  Bernd Posselt (PPE-DE). – Frau Kommissarin! Ich danke Ihnen für diese sehr präzisen Ausführungen. Ich möchte nur kurz zwei Punkte zur Ergänzung ansprechen. Erstens: Wie sehen Sie die Frage des kulturellen architektonischen Erbes? Ist auch die Erneuerung von historischen Gebäuden im tschechischen Grenzland Teil dieses Programms, also des architektonischen Erbes? Zweitens: Wie sehen Sie den Bereich des Kultur- und Jugendaustausches über die Grenzen hinweg, vor allem, was die Menschen im Grenzland und auch die Minderheiten betrifft. Es gibt ja den Deutsch-Tschechischen Zukunftsfonds. Können Sie sich vorstellen, dass es hier Kooperationen geben könnte?

  Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission. First of all I think I made it clear in my first reply that there are funds available to support cultural heritage. I think that it is a very important issue and one that has been taken into account by the two regions. There are possibilities under subsidiarity, which we consider very important in our rural development policy, and the third axis of that policy could take into account any desire specifically to support these sectors in the different regions.

  Justas Vincas Paleckis (PSE). – Aš manau, kad tai tikrai svarbus klausimas, kadangi Čekija ir Vokietija, Bohemija buvo atskirtos XX a. pusę šimtmečio, ir man atrodo, kad tiems regionams, kurie Šaltojo karo metais buvo atskirti, reikia ypatingo dėmesio ir ypatingų lėšų tam, kad jie vėl suaugtų. Tą patį mes galime pasakyti apie Lietuvos–Lenkijos sieną, kuri visą XX a. buvo atskirta ir skyrė dvi valstybes, kurios abi Viduramžiais buvo vienoj valstybėj.

Kaip Jūs atsakytumėte į klausimą, kad reikia skirti ypatingą dėmesį suaugimui tų regionų, kurie Šaltojo karo metu buvo atskirti?

  Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission. I think it is very important that we maintain the subsidiarity in our rural development programmes, as it provides a clear possibility for the Member States themselves to decide which are the priorities. We are currently looking into the new programmes for the next financial period (2007-2013), and we will then have a very clear overview of the importance that is given to these specific areas. You are quite right that in some border regions there are specific interests, and I am quite sure that these will be taken care of by the programmes from the different Member States.

  Presidente. Pergunta nº 56 do Deputado Georgios Papastamkos (H-1084/06)

Assunto: Revisão do quadro regulamentar relativo aos auxílios de minimis

A 12.12.2006 a Comissão anunciou a revisão do quadro regulamentar para os auxílios de minimis alargando o seu campo de aplicação à comercialização e transformação dos produtos agrícolas.

Quais são as "condições específicas" para a concessão de auxílios de minimis a empresas de comercialização e transformação de produtos agrícolas? Qual a relação entre este quadro regulamentar e as regras específicas em vigor no sector agrícola (que até hoje excluíam a agricultura dos auxílios de minimis)? Quais os limites de acumulação de auxílios de minimis com auxílios estatais? Quais se espera venham a ser as consequências deste quadro regulamentar mais flexível para o desenvolvimento da economia agrícola da UE, em particular da Grécia?

  Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission. Undertakings that are active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products listed in Annex 1 to the Treaty may be granted ‘de minimis’ aid of up to EUR 200 000 over a period of three fiscal years, provided of course that a series of conditions are fulfilled.

Before 1 January 2007, the ‘de minimis’ aid for processing and for marketing was governed by the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1860/2004 and limited to EUR 3000 per beneficiary over any period of three years, within a maximum global ceiling established for each Member State.

Processing and marketing of agricultural products have been included within the scope of the new regulatory framework because of the similarities between those activities on the one hand and processing and marketing of non-agricultural products, on the other.

In the field of processing and marketing of agricultural products, ‘de minimis’ aid may be accumulated with state aid, provided that this does not exceed the maximum aid intensity laid down for measures supported by state aid.

With the new and much more flexible rules for the ‘de minimis’ regulations, Greece, like all other Member States, will have more scope for granting aid in a much more rapid way, as the ‘de minimis’ aid will not have to be notified. There will be more advantageous conditions than those laid down in other rules applicable to state aid. This flexibility will enhance the development of the agricultural sector in Member States within the European Union.

  Γεώργιος Παπαστάμκος (PPE-DE). – Κύριε Επίτροπε, θα ήθελα να σας συγχαρώ για το προτεινόμενο νέο κανονιστικό πλαίσιο. Θεωρώ ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό τον κανονισμό απαλλαγής, υπέρ των μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων, παραγωγής αγροτικών προϊόντων.

Θα μπορούσατε να φωτίσετε περισσότερο τα σημεία σχετικά με τα υψηλότερα όρια απαλλαγής για τις ενισχύσεις στις μικρές αγροτικές μονάδες που βρίσκονται σε απόμακρες περιοχές και στα νησιά του Αιγαίου, καθώς επίσης και τα σημεία σχετικά με την ταχύτερη χορήγηση ενισχύσεων στους αγρότες που υφίστανται ζημίες οφειλόμενες σε δυσμενείς καιρικές συνθήκες;

  Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission. The idea of making the same conditions available for products within agricultural processing and marketing has clearly been that we think that there can be certain similarities to other production areas and, therefore, we introduced this possibility of EUR 200 000 over a three-year fiscal period.

We do not make any distinction between smaller and larger companies. The only condition is that it is not primary production. So this EUR 200 000 cannot be used to support a primary producer or farmer. Farmers are still subject to the present rules, with ‘de minimis’ aid of up to EUR 3 000 under the same conditions over a three-year period. However, we will be looking into the old ruling on ‘de minimis’ aid for the agricultural sector at the end of 2008.

  Paul Rübig (PPE-DE). – Herr Präsident, sehr geehrte Frau Kommissarin! Eine der wirklichen Herausforderungen ist das Energiekonzept bis zum Jahr 2010. Es gibt Vorschläge für eine Beimengung von 10% Bioethanol, Biodiesel und erneuerbare Energie. Hier werden wir dringend Produktionsanlagen für die Aufbereitung brauchen. Glauben Sie, dass die De-minimis-Regelungen auch für diese Fortschritte verwendet werden könnten?

  Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission. For the primary producer of the renewable energies, namely the farmers, we have a specific incentive which is equal to the value of EUR 45 per hectare if one enters into a contract producing renewable energies. We discussed this with the new Member States and they have been introduced into this scheme from 1 January 2007.

If one wants to invest, for example, in bio-energy at the farm level, one can look into the possibilities in the first and the second pillar of the rural development policy on competition and on the environment. So there are different possibilities of looking for specific support for energy purposes.

  Presidente.

Pergunta nº 57 do Deputado José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (H-1088/06)

Assunto: Projecto de reforma da OCM no sector das frutas e produtos hortícolas

O actual projecto de regulamento sobre a reforma da OCM no sector das frutas e produtos hortícolas altera o actual regime de ajuda à transformação de determinados citrinos (Regulamento (CE) nº 2202/96⁽¹⁾), convertendo-o num sistema de ajuda dissociada, por superfície, integrada no mecanismo do pagamento único (Regulamento (CE) nº 1782/2003⁽²⁾). Após o cálculo do montante das ajudas em função da superfície total consagrada à cultura de citrinos em cada Estado-Membro, por cada hectare de citrinos, a Itália irá receber cerca de 700 euros, a Grécia 600 e a Espanha cerca de 300 euros.

Considerando que o nível de ajudas de que beneficia o sector hortofrutícola é mínimo e inferior ao que recebem outros sectores comunitários, calculou a Comissão se o montante global médio atribuído ao sector das frutas e produtos hortícolas dispõe de uma margem suficiente para manter esta ajuda dissociada no seu formato actual? Caso tal margem efectivamente exista, com base em que relatórios técnicos foi decidida a alteração do regime actual e a sua conversão num sistema de ajudas dissociadas?

Avaliou a Comissão o impacto que a dissociação das ajudas terá sobre a indústria comunitária de sumos e as eventuais repercussões a nível de preços e do contingente de importação de sumos provenientes de países terceiros, designadamente o Brasil?

  Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission. The Commission would like to remind the honourable Member of the need to adapt the fruit and vegetable sector in order to be in line with the reformed common agricultural policy, the reforms that started in 2003. The inclusion of the fruit and vegetable sector into the Single Payment scheme will lead to an even more market-oriented sector and it will give producers a certain stability of income.

The honourable Member has predicted a distribution of aid in the Single Payment scheme that nobody could access at this moment, since it depends on the system applied for Member States from one Member State to another. The allocation of aid depends on the rights granted by the Member States according to objective and non-discriminatory criteria.

The proposal has been preceded by different initiatives. In 2004, the commission presented a communication which resulted in the Dutch Presidency of the Council establishing the line to follow. There was also the own-initiative report of the European Parliament in May 2005.

Today, the Commission has received several evaluation studies in relation to the sector. An impact assessment document has also been drawn up. The impact assessment includes wide public consultation. Most of the organisations that responded wanted continued support for producer organisations. Better promotion of the consumption of fruit and vegetables is also considered to be very important.

On decoupling, opinions differ depending on the different products concerned. Certain contributors consider that it is the right response to the problem of management and differences in treatment that we see in the sector today.

The Commission is fully convinced that the reform proposal will have a positive effect on the whole fruit and vegetable sector.

  José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE-DE). – Señora Comisaria, siento no coincidir con su apreciación. La propuesta de la Comisión nace con dos pecados originales. En primer lugar, no distingue entre cítricos y otros productos hortofrutícolas, no distingue entre árboles y plantas, y, en segundo lugar, prima a los que no trabajan y penaliza a los que trabajan bien.

Además de estos dos pecados originales, no ha tenido en cuenta cuatro propuestas formuladas por el Gobierno valenciano y el Gobierno de Murcia: creación de un fondo de crisis que contribuya a mantener el mercado, prohibición de nuevas plantaciones, incremento de los controles de origen de los cítricos procedentes de otros países y, finalmente, impulso, con financiación comunitaria, de un plan de reconversión global citrícola que permita adaptar la producción a la demanda del mercado.

  Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the Commission. If we had another half an hour, I would be very happy to explain the details and different elements of the fruit and vegetable reform. I am completely sure that we will be coming back to this on the basis of our new reform proposal, on which I had a very interesting and in-depth discussion with the Agriculture Committee.

First of all, of course we want to make a reform that makes the sector stronger. Why should we not try to get that solution? I am quite sure that what is in the proposal will deliver a stronger, much more market-oriented sector in future.

The proposal also includes a strengthening of the producer organisations because, when we have been looking at the different Member States to see how they have managed this producer organisation possibility, there are huge varieties. In some Member States where the fruit and vegetable sector is strong, there are not so many producer organisations and the level of organisation from producers is very high indeed. That makes the sector strong in competition with the retail sector, and this will be crucial in the future.

The proposal also includes a crisis management tool in the toolbox of the producer organisations. This is to make the producer organisations more attractive for producers to enter.

We have also simplified the system with a new proposal because all the land for fruit and vegetables, for apples and for potatoes for consumption will now be included in the single farm payment system, which is a huge simplification because, today, there are different types of entitlements.

So, yes, it will be an advantage for the sector, and I would be happy to come back and discuss this subject in more detail.

  Presidente. As perguntas que, por falta de tempo, não obtiveram resposta obtê-la-ão ulteriormente por escrito (ver Anexo).

O período de perguntas à Comissão está encerrado.

(1) JO L 297 de 21.11.1996, p. 49.

(2) JO L 270 de 21.10.2003, p. 1.