# CE2004078EN.01014201.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/142 |
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(2004/C 78 E/0146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2639/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(2 September 2003)

Subject:   Refunds on exports from Member States to the Vatican City State of beet and cane sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form (code 1701) for 1998

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 beet and cane sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form (code 1701):

| (a) | the European Commission's CATS (Clearance Audit Trail System) database shows that in 1998:
—
110 kg were exported from France to the VCS with a refund of EUR 44,18, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,40/kg; —
727 700 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 315 365,71, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,43/kg; | — | 110 kg were exported from France to the VCS with a refund of EUR 44,18, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,40/kg; | — | 727 700 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 315 365,71, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,43/kg; |
| --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| — | 110 kg were exported from France to the VCS with a refund of EUR 44,18, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,40/kg; | | | | |
| — | 727 700 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 315 365,71, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,43/kg; | | | | |

| (b) | the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) database shows that in 1998:
—
1 371 000 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS, | — | 1 371 000 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS, |
| --- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------------------- |
| — | 1 371 000 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS, | | |

| (c) | This indicates that:
—
unwarranted aid of EUR 44,18 was paid on an additional 110 kg not shown in the OECD data; —
no application was made for aid of EUR 278 789,01 for the export of 643 300 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. | — | unwarranted aid of EUR 44,18 was paid on an additional 110 kg not shown in the OECD data; | — | no application was made for aid of EUR 278 789,01 for the export of 643 300 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. |
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| — | unwarranted aid of EUR 44,18 was paid on an additional 110 kg not shown in the OECD data; | | | | |
| — | no application was made for aid of EUR 278 789,01 for the export of 643 300 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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