EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/338

(2004/C 78 E/0356)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0001/04

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Refunds for exports to the Vatican City State

Since questions P-3279/03 (1) and E-3280/03 (2) incorrectly stated the value of exports to the Vatican City State — because it was not specified at the end of the extracts from the CATS database (answer to question P-3202/02) (3) that the figures represent the general total — the questioner acknowledges that the correct amount of export refunds for the period 1998-2001 is EUR4000 813,01.

The answer to question P-3279/03 confirms the figures given in point (d) and hence, since the correct total of payments is EUR 321 711 242,39, the proportion of payments made in cases where the product and/or the unit of measurement is not indicated is 30,26 % of the total, rather than 15,13 %.

In reply to question E-3280/03 the Commission said that it did not consider the questions relevant, in view of the error made in stating the amount of refunds for exports to the Vatican City State, and stressed the following:

1. in point (c) or the supplementary answer to questions E-1477/03-E-1480/03 (4) it is stated that: — ‘There is no specific monitoring of the quantities of beet and cane sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form exported from Member States to the Vatican City State. The quantity of exports to this country appears reasonable.’ — ‘In the case of exports of agricultural products with refund from the Community to the Vatican City, the Vatican City authorities certify that they have been released for consumption in the territory of the Vatican City or the institutions and offices of the Holy See.’ — ‘As regards the special provisions for products exported with refund to the Vatican, the customs agreement between Italy and the Vatican City and Community legislation on export refunds … apply.’

2. in point (d) it is stated that Article 11 of the Lateran Treaty, which governs the relations between the Vatican City State and the Italian Republic guarantees the central bodies of the Catholic Church exemption from ‘any interference on the part of the Italian State’.

Can the Commission therefore say, as it was originally asked in question E-3280/03:

— why no specific checks are conducted on the quantities of beef, cane sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form exported from Member States to the Vatican City State?

— whether it has a list of the Holy See institutions and offices located outside the Vatican to which the goods are exported?

— whether any infringement of the Community rules on export refunds should be exempt from interference on the part of the Italian State within the meaning of Article 11 of the Lateran Treaty?

— which assessments provide the basis for its statement that the quantity of exports to the Vatican appears reasonable?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.

(1) See page 249.

(2) See page 252.

(3) OJ C 137 E, 12.6.2003, p. 172.

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