# CE2004078EN.01013601.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/136 |
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(2004/C 78 E/0138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2631/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(2 September 2003)

Subject:   Refunds on exports from Member States to the Vatican City State of fresh and frozen beef (code 0201) for 1998. Inconsistencies between CATS and OECD data.

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 fresh and frozen beef (code 0201):

| (a) | the European Commission's CATS (Clearance Audit Trail System) database shows that in 1998:
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346 233 kg were exported from Holland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 233 566,63 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,67/kg; | — | 346 233 kg were exported from Holland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 233 566,63 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,67/kg; |
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| — | 346 233 kg were exported from Holland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 233 566,63 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,67/kg; | | |

| (b) | the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) database shows that in 1998:
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314 600 kg were exported from Holland, 240100 kg from Italy, 329 600 from Ireland and 74 700 kg from Belgium to the VCS; | — | 314 600 kg were exported from Holland, 240100 kg from Italy, 329 600 from Ireland and 74 700 kg from Belgium to the VCS; |
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| — | 314 600 kg were exported from Holland, 240100 kg from Italy, 329 600 from Ireland and 74 700 kg from Belgium to the VCS; | | |

| (c) | this indicates that:
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unwarranted aid of EUR 21 339,43 was paid on an additional 31 633 kg not shown in the OECD data; —
no application was made for aid of EUR 434 708,24 for the export of 644 400 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. | — | unwarranted aid of EUR 21 339,43 was paid on an additional 31 633 kg not shown in the OECD data; | — | no application was made for aid of EUR 434 708,24 for the export of 644 400 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. |
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| — | unwarranted aid of EUR 21 339,43 was paid on an additional 31 633 kg not shown in the OECD data; | | | | |
| — | no application was made for aid of EUR 434 708,24 for the export of 644 400 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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