25 August 2014
E-006346-14
Question for written answer
to the Commission
Rule 130
Alfred Sant (S&D)
Question:
Having regard to the Russian embargo on food imports from the EU and to the preparation and implementation by the Commission of countermeasures of support for European businesses hit by this embargo,
— could the Commission ensure that when such countermeasures are being considered in the dairy, pigmeat, beef and poultry sectors, appropriate support will also be considered and extended to producer and processor SMEs in islands and peripheral regions of the Union?
— could the Commission consider the fact that these SMEs are already in a precarious financial position due to problems of insularity and/or diseconomies of scale, and will be adversely (quite likely fatally under the prevailing economic conditions) affected by intra-Community surges of food imports towards their local markets from other EU destinations in the aforementioned sectors, at price levels which they have no hope of meeting?
Answer:
9 October 2014
Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission
Following the Russian import ban for certain EU agricultural products the Commission has adopted a series of measures, on the basis of the legal framework of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013(1) specifically on Article 219 on measures against market disturbance.
For the milk sector, the Commission has adopted a package of four measures: Implementing Regulations (EU) No 947/2014(2) skimmed milk powder, Delegated Regulation (EU) No 949/2014(4) for butter and skimmed powder, and Delegated Regulation No 950/2014(5) aid scheme for certain cheeses. The cheese PSA measure had to be stopped on 23 September for disproportionate use by cheese producers from areas not traditionally exporting significant quantities of cheese to Russia. The other dairy market stabilisation measures remain in place until the end of the year.
These measures are available to all operators, including SMEs, in all EU Member States including their islands and peripheral regions; specific measures for SMEs in island and peripheral regions are not foreseen.
In the meat sector, the Commission has not intervened as the market impact is less severe so far. However, the Commission is closely monitoring market developments for all products concerned and is ready to put in place additional appropriate measures if necessary to stabilise these markets.
In parallel, market monitoring is enhanced and all measures available under the CAP are examined.
(1) Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products , OJ L 347, 20.12.2013.
(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 947/2014 of 4 September 2014 opening private storage for butter and fixing in advance the amount of aid, OJ L 265, 5.9.2014.
(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 948/2014 of 4 September 2014 opening private storage for skimmed milk powder and fixing in advance the amount of aid, OJ L 265, 5.9.2014.
(4) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 949/2014 of 4 September 2014 laying down temporary exceptional measures for the milk and milk product sector in the form of extending the public intervention period for butter and skimmed milk powder in 2014, OJ L 265, 5.9.2014.
(5) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 950/2014 of 4 September 2014 opening a temporary exceptional private storage aid scheme for certain cheeses and fixing in advance the amount of aid, OJ L 265, 5.9.2014 — repealed by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU)
No 992/2014 of 22 September 2014, OJ L 279, 23.9.2014.
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