WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1066/97 by Giulio FANTUZZI , Fiorella GHILARDOTTI , Rinaldo BONTEMPI to the Council. Rice imports from overseas countries and territories
Date: 1997-03-24
Institutions: BONTEMPI, European Parliament, FANTUZZI, GHILARDOTTI
Subjects: association agreement (EU), import, import licence, overseas countries and territories, protective clause, quantitative restriction, rice, tariff exemption













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91997E1066

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1066/97 by Giulio FANTUZZI , Fiorella GHILARDOTTI , Rinaldo BONTEMPI to the Council. Rice imports from overseas countries and territories  


Official Journal C 373 , 09/12/1997 P. 0059 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1066/97 by Giulio Fantuzzi (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) and Rinaldo Bontempi (PSE) to the Council (24 March 1997)Subject: Rice imports from overseas countries and territoriesThe volume of EU rice imports from the ACP countries, which have transited duty-free and without any quantitative restrictions through Overseas Countries and Territories rose from 58 000 tonnes in 1992 to 365 000 in 1996, thereby causing considerable disruption of the Community market. The Commission has adopted safeguard provisions, which were then approved by the Council but are, by nature, transitional measures.Does the Council consider these import arrangements to be compatible with the CAP principle, which guarantee Community preference for agricultural products?Answer (2 July 1997)The Council would point out that rice has been imported from the overseas countries and territories (OCT) in accordance with the Council Decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Economic Community ((Decision No 91/482/EEC of 25 July 1991, OJ L 263, 19.9.1991, p. 1. )).However, because of the volume of these imports at the end of 1996, the Spanish and Italian Governments drew the Commission's attention to the fact that there were serious disturbances in the Community's rice sector and to the risk of a considerable deterioration in this sector of economic activity as a result of increasing imports of low-priced rice originating in the OCT.To deal with this disturbed situation in the Community rice market, the Commission adopted in January 1997 a Regualtion introducing safeguard measures in respect of imports of rice originating in the OCt ((Regulation (EC) No 21/97 of 8 January 1997, OJ L 5, 9.1.1997, p. 24. )). Subject to an adjustment of the amounts specified for Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands, these measures were confirmed by the Council in February 1997 ((Regulation (EC) No 304/97 of 17 February 1997, OJ L 51, 21.2.1997, p. 1. )).The safeguard measures were introduced for a limited period. Before this expires, it is intended that an evaluation should be made of the situation to determine whether the measures need to be extended or adjusted.If the Council were again called upon to take a decision on this matter, it would take account of all the factors involved, including the need to protect the interests of Community producers and to honour the obligations arising from the Decision on the association of the OCT with the Community.