WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1827/97 by Alfonso NOVO BELENGUER to the Commission. EU potato imports
Date: 1997-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, NOVO BELENGUER
Subjects: EU production, Egypt, European Union, common organisation of markets, import, import policy, potato, price reduction, restriction on competition, tariff preference

22. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21/101

(98/C 21/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1827/97

by Alfonso Novo Belenguer (ARE) to the Commission

(28 May 1997)

Subject: EU potato imports

Potato-growing is a firmly established activity in the autonomous community of Valencia. Thousands of families
depend on the smooth operation of the European market. Nevertheless, this sector is being seriously damaged by
massive potato imports from third countries, mainly Egypt, contrary to the principle of Community preference,
and this is causing a steady fall in potato prices, which have slumped to 20 pesetas. Such prices do not allow
Valencian farmers even to cover the costs involved in potato-growing.

Bearing in mind that, in spite of the crisis in the sector which has now lasted for two consecutive marketing years,
the EU has offered Egypt customs-free entry of 220 000 tonnes of potatoes, what measures will the Commission
adopt to offset the damage to the potato sector as a result of the preferential agreement with Egypt?

When will these measures come into effect?

Will the Commission guarantee minimum income levels for farmers?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 1997)

Negotiations with Egypt started in 1995 and are in progress. One of the unresolved elements of the negotiations is
the arrangement on agricultural reciprocal concessions, where the positions of both parties remain apart. The
Community position is based on the negotiation directives adopted by the Council in 1995.

Under the 1977 agreement which is operational at present, 109 000 tonnes of Egyptian early potatoes can be
imported  duty  free  between  1  January  and  31  March  each  year.  The  average  Egyptian  exports  in  the  period
1994/1996 were 204 000 tonnes, with a maximum of 271 000 tonnes in 1995. Actual exports depend strongly on
the market situation of the Community so that the record export figure of 1995 coincides with a period of short
internal  supply.  Egyptian  exports  within  the  preferential  period  account  for  140  000  tonnes  (average  figure)
while 64 000 tonnes are exported from 1 April to 15 May (paying full duties).

In the absence of a common market organization for potatoes, the Commission has no competence to regulate the
potato market in Europe. The Commission is fully aware of the problems caused by the absence of a market
organization for potatoes and proposed in 1992 to set up such a system (1). The Commission remains convinced
that  the  existing  proposal  represents  the  best  compromise  taking  into  account  the  different  points  of  view
expressed by the Member States.

(1)  OJ C 333, 17.12.1992.

(98/C 21/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1836/97

by Fernand Herman (PPE) to the Commission

(27 May 1997)

Subject: Interpretation of Directive 90/388/EEC on competition in the markets for telecommunications services

In the context of the liberalization of the market for telecommunications services, the Commission has defined
the term (cid:145)closed user groups(cid:146) as follows:

(cid:145)those entities, not necessarily bound by economic links, but which can be identified as being part of a group on
the basis of a lasting professional relationship among themselves, or with another entity of the group, and whose
internal communications needs result from the common interest underlying this relationship. In general, the link
between the members of the group is a common business activity(cid:146) (1).