WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1965/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Turkish 'free zones' and action by the Commission
Date: 1997-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Commission Delegation, EU control, European Commission, Türkiye, customs union, exchange of information, export, fraud against the EU, free zone, textile product

10. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 45/131

(98/C 45/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1965/97

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(9 June 1997)

Subject: Turkish (cid:145)free zones(cid:146) and action by the Commission

Since I failed to receive a fully satisfactory answer to my Question No H-0317/97 (1), I should like to raise the
subject of (cid:145)free zones(cid:146) in Turkey once again.

The answer I received states that (cid:145)Commission and Member State representatives(cid:146) visited several (cid:145)free zones(cid:146)
and adds that (cid:145)the situation appears to be satisfactory(cid:146).

Will the Commission say exactly which (cid:145)free zones(cid:146) were monitored and whether it is considering the possibility
of new spot checks in these zones by the UCLAF, since this is an exceptionally serious matter involving a breach
by Turkey of its obligations under the Customs Union Agreement and the illegal export to the EU of textile
products originating from third countries which are passed off as (cid:145)Turkish(cid:146)?

(1)  Verbatim report of proceedings, 16.5.1997.

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 1997)

The  Honourable  Member  is  referred  to  the  answer  given  by  the  Commission  to  his  Oral  Question  H-317/97
during  question  time  in  the  May  1997  sitting  of  Parliament  in  which  the  Commission  pointed  out  that  a
Community team had gone to Turkey in October 1996 to ascertain that the functioning of Turkish free zones
complies with that country(cid:146)s obligations under the customs union. At the time the team inspected the Istanbul and
Mersin free zones, in which it found no failure to comply with the rules of the customs union. Since it was a
monitoring mission, the unit responsible for the coordination of fraud prevention was not involved.

The Turkish authorities, moreover, told the Commission that they wished to be informed of any case of fraud that
might be uncovered by the Community. The Commission reserves the right to raise such cases with Turkey,
should duly substantiated complaints be put to it. Specifically, it is prepared to consider or examine any hard
facts relating to fraud which may be brought to its attention. In any event, the Community and Turkey agreed as
part of the recommendations adopted by the Community-Turkey Association Committee on 24 April this year to
keep a constant watch on this matter in order to prevent any evasion of the rules of the customs union.

(98/C 45/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1971/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(9 June 1997)

Subject: Construction of Rome Underground line (cid:145)C(cid:146) and the Casaletto to Largo Argentina high-speed tramway

In her answer to Written Question E-1273/97 (1) Mrs Bjerregaard stated, on behalf of the Commission, that both
the matters dealt with in that question, namely the construction of Rome Underground line (cid:145)C(cid:146) and the Casaletto
to Largo Argentina high-speed tramway, came under Annex II to Directive 85/337/EEC (2) on the assessment of
the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment and that, owing to the failure to transpose
that  Directive,  the  Commission  had  approached  the  Italian  authorities  in  connection  with  both  of  the  above
projects.

Can the Commission state exactly what approaches were made and to which authorities?

Can it say what effect such approaches have had?

Lastly, should Rome City Council continue to disregard the provisions of Directive 85/337/EEC and proceed
with work on the above projects, how would the Commission react?

(1)  OJ C 367, 4.12.1997, p. 109.
(2)  OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.