# CE2004078EN.01013902.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/139 |
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(2004/C 78 E/0143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2636/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(2 September 2003)

Subject:   Refunds on exports from Member States to the Vatican City State of butter and other fats and oils derived from milk, milk products (code 0405) for 1999

In response to questions E-1477/03 and E-1480/03( 1 ) relating to refunds on exports of agricultural products from Member States to the Vatican City State (VCS), Commissioner Fischler stated on 21 May 2003 that the Commission was collecting the information it needed to answer the question and would communicate its findings as soon as possible.

The following supplementary data can be supplied in relation to the export of butter and other fats and oils derived from milk, milk products (code 0405):

| (a) | the European Commission's CATS (Clearance Audit Trail System) database shows that in 1999:
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135 000 kg were exported from Austria to the VCS with a refund of EUR 231 985,50, equivalent to aid of EUR l,72/kg; —
21 000 kg were exported from Germany to the VCS with a refund of EUR 35 986,05 equivalent to aid of EUR 1,71/kg; —
230 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 402,90 equivalent to aid of EUR l,75/kg; | — | 135 000 kg were exported from Austria to the VCS with a refund of EUR 231 985,50, equivalent to aid of EUR l,72/kg; | — | 21 000 kg were exported from Germany to the VCS with a refund of EUR 35 986,05 equivalent to aid of EUR 1,71/kg; | — | 230 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 402,90 equivalent to aid of EUR l,75/kg; |
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| — | 135 000 kg were exported from Austria to the VCS with a refund of EUR 231 985,50, equivalent to aid of EUR l,72/kg; | | | | | | |
| — | 21 000 kg were exported from Germany to the VCS with a refund of EUR 35 986,05 equivalent to aid of EUR 1,71/kg; | | | | | | |
| — | 230 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 402,90 equivalent to aid of EUR l,75/kg; | | | | | | |

| (b) | the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) database shows that in 1999:
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120 000 kg were exported from Austria and 21 600 kg from Germany to the VCS, | — | 120 000 kg were exported from Austria and 21 600 kg from Germany to the VCS, |
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| — | 120 000 kg were exported from Austria and 21 600 kg from Germany to the VCS, | | |

| (c) | This indicates that:
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unwarranted aid of EUR 26 179,07 was paid on an additional 15 230 kg not shown in the OECD data; —
no application was made for aid of EUR 1 028,17 for the export of 600 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. | — | unwarranted aid of EUR 26 179,07 was paid on an additional 15 230 kg not shown in the OECD data; | — | no application was made for aid of EUR 1 028,17 for the export of 600 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. |
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| — | unwarranted aid of EUR 26 179,07 was paid on an additional 15 230 kg not shown in the OECD data; | | | | |
| — | no application was made for aid of EUR 1 028,17 for the export of 600 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. | | | | |

Could the Commission state the technical reasons for the foregoing of this Community aid?

Does it not agree that the increasingly patent omissions and the discrepancies between the data from the different institutional sources seriously affect the credibility of these institutions and might be due to possible fraud against Community funds, or is it already able to discount this possibility of fraud?

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( 1 )  OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 45.

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