EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/594

(2004/C 84 E/0670)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0472/04

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 February 2004)

Subject: Common External Tariffs

In 2002, under the Common External Tariff, what was the aggregate value (in euro billion) of the customs duties (i.e. ‘tariffs’) that the 15 EU Member States collected on goods (including agricultural produce) imported into the EU from countries which were not members of the EU; and what was the aggregate value in 2002, (in billion euro), of all such imports of goods (including agricultural produce) into the EU from countries which were not members of the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2004)

Customs duties (i.e. duties on non-agricultural products) and agricultural duties are collected by Member States on imports from third countries and are paid with a two-month delay to the Commission, after deduction of 25 % in collection costs.

For the year 2002, the aggregate value for the EU-15 of agricultural duties and customs duties recorded in the EU accounts, before deduction of collection costs, amounted to EUR 1,18 billion and EUR 12,92 billion, respectively.

The aggregate value of import duties collected on goods (including agricultural products) — i.e. the addition of the last two above-mentioned figures — amounted consequently to EUR 14,10 billion for the EU-15 in 2002.

See below the breakdown by Member State.

(million euros) Agricultural duties Import duties (excluding agricultural duties) Import duties (including agricultural duties) European Union 1 180,3 12 917,5 14 097,8 Belgium 22,9 1 346,2 1 369,1 Denmark 7,4 258,5 265,9 Germany 144,2 2 743,2 2 887,4 Greece 12,0 173,2 185,2 Spain 38,1 887,7 925,8 France 132,6 1 178,1 1 310,7 Ireland 0,7 135,4 136,1 Italy 72,6 1 290,7 1 363,3 Luxembourg 0,2 16,7 16,9 Netherlands 201,8 1 340,5 1 542,3 Austria 10,8 208,9 219,7 Portugal 20,4 123,0 143,4 Finland 3,7 98,7 102,4 Sweden 14,7 348,0 362,7 United Kingdom 498,2 2 768,7 3 266,9

According to the latest information from Member States, compiled by Eurostat, the aggregate value of extra EU-15 imports of goods (1) (including agricultural products) for the period November 2001-October 2002 (corresponding to payments of import duties to the EU budget between January 2002 and December 2002), amounted to EUR 916,5 billion for the EU-15 (see below the breakdown by Member State).

European Union 916,5 Belgium 57,8 Denmark 14,9 Germany 216,5 Greece 15,0 Spain 55,3 France 99,3 Ireland 18,3 Italy 101,9 Luxembourg 2,9 Netherlands 106,2 Austria 24,2 Portugal 9,4 Finland 11,8 Sweden 22,4 United Kingdom 160,6

For information, please note that the total value of extra EU-15 imports of goods (including agricultural products) in 2002 (January-December) is EUR 920,2 billion (see below the breakdown by Member State).

European Union 920,2 Belgium 58,7 Denmark 14,7 Germany 215,4 Greece 15,5 Spain 56,3 France 99,5 Ireland 18,2 Italy 103,4 Luxembourg 2,9 Netherlands 106,9 Austria 24,7 Portugal 9,2 Finland 12,1 Sweden 23,0 United Kingdom 159,5

The imports are measured according to the Cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value. This means that all transport and insurance costs are included up to the border of the importing country.

These statistics are based on harmonised Community concepts which can differ, in some cases, from the national concepts used by Member States.

(1) Free trade goods (Regime 1). The corresponding statistics for total trade (Regime 4) are: EUR 987,2 billion for November 2001-October 2002 and EUR 989,4 billion for the year 2002 (January-December). Goods included under Regime 4 but not in Regime 1 are partially or totally exempted from import duties.