WRITTEN QUESTION No. 890/96 by Ernesto CACCAVALE , Riccardo GAROSCI to the Commission. Changes made by Regulation No 272/96 setting export refunds on products processed from fruit and vegetables
Date: 1996-04-17
Institutions: CACCAVALE, European Parliament, GAROSCI
Subjects: EC Regulation, European Commission, GATT, Italy, action for annulment, export refund, fruit product, vegetable product













EUR-Lex - 91996E0890 - EN






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91996E0890

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 890/96 by Ernesto CACCAVALE , Riccardo GAROSCI to the Commission. Changes made by Regulation No 272/96 setting export refunds on products processed from fruit and vegetables  


Official Journal C 297 , 08/10/1996 P. 0044 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0890/96 by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) and Riccardo Garosci (UPE) to the Commission (17 April 1996)Subject: Changes made by Regulation No 272/96 setting export refunds on products processed from fruit and vegetablesFollowing objections raised by third countries concerning the impact on international trade of export refunds introduced in Regulation No 3290/94 ((OJ L 349, 31.12.1994, p.105)) of 22 December 1994 on the adjustments and transitional arrangements required in the agriculture sector in order to implement the agreements concluded during the Uruguay Round, the European Community undertook to reduce gradually the level of support for the export of agricultural products.Regulation No 272/96 ((OJ L 36, 14.2.1996, p.15)) amended the annex to Regulation No 1430/95 ((OJ L 141, 24.6.1995, p.32.)) by laying down new parameters for export refunds. The new annex makes a distinction between two periods:- the first covers licences issued and applications submitted between 25 October 1995 and 22 February 1996, to which the rates already laid down in the original Regulation No 1430/95 apply;- the second covers licenses issued between March 1996 and June 1996, and applications submitted between 23 February 1996 and 21 June 1996, to which the new rates laid down in Regulation No 272/96 apply.The new rules penalize manufacturers who have drawn up contracts and made commitments on the basis of the parameters previously laid down.In order to remedy this situation of uncertainty in which the market and the firms concerned find themselves, it is requested that:1. The Italian Government should assess the advisability of applying to the Court of Justice for the annulment (pursuant to Article 173 of the EC Treaty) of Regulation No 272/96;2. Before the end of Italy's six-month presidency of the European Union all possible measures should be adopted to prevent any legislative provisions from further worsening the situation.Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1996)1. The first question put by the Honourable Members is outside the Commission's field of competence.2. The Commission is taking all necessary steps to maintain export flows despite the quantitative and budgetary limits imposed on agriculture by the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). With regard to peeled tomatoes, the main product to benefit from export subsidies in the 'products processed from fruit and vegetables' sector, the Commission has observed that, notwithstanding the reduction in refund rates from 23 February 1996, the rate for this product was still attractive enough to generate an increase in export licence applications to nearly five times the available quantity (28 423 tonnes). The Commission was therefore obliged to publish a reducing factor (Regulation (EC) No 355/96) ((OJ L 50, 29.2.1996 )) for applications submitted on 23 February 1996, and to reject all subsequent applications.