WRITTEN
QUESTION P-3621/02
by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission
(04 December 2002)
Subject: Local abattoir
facilities - Western Isles of Scotland
Written question E-2293/02,
asked by me and answered by Commissioner Byrne, gave an encouraging
response to the possibility of support being given using Community funding
under the Highlands and Islands programme to small local abattoirs, in
order to bring such establishments up to required standards and ensure
their viability.
Can the Commission confirm
whether Mr Byrne's encouraging response took into account state aid rules,
and that therefore no restriction would be applied under state aid rules
to the type of assistance envisaged in that response?
P-3621/02EN
Answer given by Mr Fischler
On behalf of the Commission
(9 January 2003)
As far as state aid is
concerned, point 4.2 of the Community guidelines for State aid in the
agriculture sector apply. "As a general rule aid granted to support
investments in connection with the processing and marketing of
agricultural products may only be granted to enterprises which can be
demonstrated to be economically viable, based on an assessment of the
prospects of the enterprise, and which comply with minimum standards
regarding the environment, hygiene and animal welfare". No aid may be
granted unless sufficient evidence can be produced that normal market
outlets for the services concerned can be found. For small local
abattoirs, this has to be assessed at the appropriate level in relation to
the services concerned, the types of investments, and existing and
expected capacities.
As already the Commission
has pointed out, investments for the establishment of small local
abattoirs may be eligible for aid within the framework of the structural
funds programme for the Highlands and Islands under Objective 1 (Article
25 – 28 of Council Regulation (EC) 1257/1999 on support for rural
development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)
and amending and repealing certain Regulations).
The Scottish authorities have to assess if
these conditions are met in the case of investments for local abattoir
facilities in the Western Isles of Scotland and should notify to the
Commission if state aid in the sense of Art. 87 par. 1 of the EC Treaty is
concerned. |
