SNP

Question ( pas trés pointue) d’un député espagnol : Subject : Infestation of red palm weevils
The red palm weevil us wreaking havoc in eastern Spain. Following the wholesale importation of palm trees from Egypt to that area in recent years, the infestation has spread at an alarming rate. There are estimated to be between 1.5 and 2 million palm trees in the Elche region alone, thousands of which have already been affected. The local authorities feel that global action is needed to counteract this situation. What support measures is the Commission currently able to take to help eradicate this infestation ?

 Réponse ( service minimum) du commissaire européen à la santé Andriukaitis. On découvre que : 1- tout a été fait au mieux depuis 2007 2- que la commission n’est pas opposée à abandonner la lutte obligatoire dans certains secteurs 3-que des fonds sont disponibles pour aider les états membres 4-que la commission a financé un programme de recherche Palm Protect.

Parliamentary questions
3 December 2015
E-013509/2015
Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission

Emergency measures to control the entry and spread into the EU of red palm weevil, also known as Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) are in place since 2007 (Decision 2007/365/EC(1)). In 2010 the Commission amended this decision, providing stricter measures. According to this decision, the import and internal movement within the EU of susceptible host are subject to specific requirements in order to prevent further introduction into the EU and spread of the pest. Furthermore, this decision also set out specific measures in order to eradicate or contain the pest in the areas where it is known to be present.

On request of most of the Member States of the endangered area, the Commission initiated a discussion on a possible revision of the emergency measures, taking into account the calls to limit the compulsory eradication measures to more limited but essential areas in which the maintenance of pest freedom is generally considered to be more realistic.

As regards possible EU funding for eradication, under Regulation (EU) No 652/2014(2), grants might be attributed under certain conditions to Spanish official authorities to help them applying ad hoc plant health emergency measures (Article 16 of the regulation) against R. ferrugineus or intensive survey programmes for that pest (Article 19).

In addition the Commission funded under the 7th Research Framework Programme a research project(3) to develop reliable methods for the early detection, eradication, control and containment of the red palm weevil. The implementation of the outcome of this project will contribute to reducing the introduction and spread of this pest.

(1) OJ L 139, 31.5.2007, p. 24.
(2) OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 1.
(3) Call FP7 &-KBBE-2011-5 Palm Protect contract number 289566.

L’avis SNP

 l’Europe a vraiment fait le service minimum dans ce dossier et les états membres n’ont pas pris le problème sérieusement en compte. La lutte serait foutue si des secteurs entiers du continent étaient abandonnés au charançon qui s’attaquera à d’autres espèces. Les financements européens : le seul souvenir que nous en ayons est une ligne de financement pour la ville de Nice obtenue en 2011*2012 grace à l’action efficace du député européen Gaston Franco. Il n’y a jamais eu la moindre information sur l’utilisation de ces sommes....... tous les autres départements français ne savaient pas que ça existait.

 En ce qui concerne le programme Protect nous travaillons actuellement sur son débriefing. Le qualificatif qui nous semble le plus adéquat présentement est celui du paté d’alouette, mais nous y reviendrons en détail dans un esprit de critique constructive.