Compensation for olive producers on the island of Thassos for damage caused by extreme weather conditions
| 6 March 2015 |
|
|
| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
||
Olive production on the island of Thassos was severely damaged in 2014: 70 to 80% of the crop was destroyed and production in some areas was wiped out completely.
There are approximately 43 000 decares of olive groves in the area and 2 300 farmers depend exclusively on this activity.
According to an expert report, the reduction in the olive crop was caused by the extreme weather conditions that swept through the area on 24 and 25 October 2014, when the island was hit by heavy storms and gale-force-9 winds, which are extremely uncommon in that area.
Despite the fact that the above catastrophe occurred over four months ago, the olive farmers affected have yet to receive any form of compensation.
Unfortunately, however, the farmers in Thassos impoverished by the Memorandum are unable to pay their bills, as this is the second year running that their income has dropped dramatically due to the poor harvest in the area in 2013.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
What measures does it intend to approve to support olive farmers in Thassos and to compensate them for the damage caused to their crops by the extreme weather conditions and to what timetable?
Source: European Parliament
Joint answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission
There is no measure at EU level directly compensating farmers for damages due to climatic events.
However, as far as products listed in Part IX of Annex I to Regulation 1308/2013(1) (which includes citrus fruit, avocados, cucumbers and tomatoes) are concerned, Article 33(3) in that regulation provides for Union support to crisis management and prevention measures included in the operational programmes of recognised producer organisation. In particular, a measure that may be of use in this case is harvest insurance, the provisions for which are developed in Articles 88 and 89 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No 543/2011 of 7 June 2011(2). The aim of the harvest insurance measures is to contribute to safeguarding producers’ income and covering market losses caused by natural disasters, climatic events and, where appropriate, diseases or pest infestations.
Moreover, in rural development programmes(3) co-financed by the EU budget, Member States can introduce measures providing support for risk management including insurance contracts, and mutual funds which can be used in case of adverse climatic events, plant diseases and pests. Additionally, in order to compensate for severe drops in income, Member States may consider making use of the income stabilisation tool. The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development also offers support for restoring the agricultural production potential damaged by adverse climatic events. The use of these instruments is conditional on the inclusion of the relevant measures in the rural development programmes.
A Member State can also decide to provide support from their own resources, in accordance with the applicable state aid rules(4) or on the basis of the de minimis regulation(5).
|
Source: European Parliament
Recent Comments