# CE2004078EN.01013801.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/138 |
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(2004/C 78 E/0141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2634/03

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 2001. 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 2001:
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12 237,500 kg were exported from Ireland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 10 844,52, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,89/kg; —
18 677,300 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 12 487,13 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,67/kg; —
181 335 kg were exported from Holland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 87 462,25 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,48/kg; | — | 12 237,500 kg were exported from Ireland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 10 844,52, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,89/kg; | — | 18 677,300 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 12 487,13 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,67/kg; | — | 181 335 kg were exported from Holland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 87 462,25 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,48/kg; |
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| — | 12 237,500 kg were exported from Ireland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 10 844,52, equivalent to aid of EUR 0,89/kg; | | | | | | |
| — | 18 677,300 kg were exported from Italy to the VCS with a refund of EUR 12 487,13 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,67/kg; | | | | | | |
| — | 181 335 kg were exported from Holland to the VCS with a refund of EUR 87 462,25 equivalent to aid of EUR 0,48/kg; | | | | | | |

| (b) | the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) database shows that in 2001:
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350 700 kg were exported from Italy and 158 100 kg from Holland to the VCS, | — | 350 700 kg were exported from Italy and 158 100 kg from Holland to the VCS, |
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| — | 350 700 kg were exported from Italy and 158 100 kg from Holland to the VCS, | | |

| (c) | This indicates that:
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unwarranted aid of EUR 22 051,32 was paid on an additional 35 472,50 kg not shown in the OECD data; —
no application was made for aid of EUR 221 981,26 for the export of 332 022,70 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. | — | unwarranted aid of EUR 22 051,32 was paid on an additional 35 472,50 kg not shown in the OECD data; | — | no application was made for aid of EUR 221 981,26 for the export of 332 022,70 kg on which Community aid could have been paid. |
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| — | unwarranted aid of EUR 22 051,32 was paid on an additional 35 472,50 kg not shown in the OECD data; | | | | |
| — | no application was made for aid of EUR 221 981,26 for the export of 332 022,70 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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