WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1982/97 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO to the Commission. Intergovernmental Conference and EU enlargement
Date: 1997-06-09
Institutions: CABEZON ALONSO, European Parliament
Subjects: European Council, European Union, accession to the European Union, enlargement of the Union, intergovernmental conference (EU), international conference, international negotiations

C 45/136

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 2. 98

(98/C 45/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1982/97

by Jesu·s Cabezo·n Alonso (PSE) to the Commission

(9 June 1997)

Subject: Intergovernmental Conference and EU enlargement

When  the  Intergovernmental  Conference  has  concluded  its  work,  negotiations  will  commence  on  the  future
enlargement of the EU.

Does this statement mean that negotiations will begin as soon as the IGC is over, or that they will begin once the
new  Treaty  which  emerges  from  the  IGC  has  been  ratified  by  each  and  every  one  of  the  European  Union(cid:146)s
15 present Member States?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 1997)

As  confirmed  by  the  Amsterdam  European  Council  (16-17  June  1997),  it  is  the  conclusion  of  the  inter
governmental conference (IGC) that opens the way for the launching of the enlargement process.

The above European Council also indicated that, with a view to enabling the actual opening of negotiations as
soon as possible after December 1997, the European Council in December 1997 will take the necessary decisions
on the overall enlargement process including practical arrangements for the initial phase of negotiations and the
reinforcement  of  the  Community(cid:146)s  pre-accession  strategy  as  well  as  other  possible  means  to  strengthen
cooperation between the Community and all applicant countries.

(98/C 45/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1987/97

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(9 June 1997)

Subject: Projects for cetificates of quality for beef and veal

At a recent meeting held in Venice in April by the European Quality Beef association, it was announced that the
first 13 projects for certificates of quality for beef and veal were to be launched, using ECU 18 million of the
ECU 32 million provided overall by the European Union.

Can the Commission supply documents relating to these projects?

As a new Community regulation (No 820/97) (1) has been published on this subject, what connection is there
between that regulation and the funding for self-certification and voluntary cooperatives?

(1)  OJ L 117, 7.5.1997, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr. Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 1997)

By a decision of 8 April 1997 the Commission approved 13 quality beef promotion programmes for the 1996/97
marketing year. These are being funded at a rate of 60%, i.e. ECU 11 million will be paid of their total cost of
ECU  18.5  million.  Further  information  can  be  obtained  from  the  competent  bodies  of  the  15  Member  States
(Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 1318/93 (1)).

The new Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (2) is not concerned with promotion of quality beef. It establishes a general
system for identification and registration of bovine animals and also covers labelling of beef and beef products. It
thus has no bearing on the funding to which the Honourable Member refers.