WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2346/97 by Reino PAASILINNA to the Commission. Customs problems on the border between the EU and the Russian Federation
Date: 1997-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, PAASILINNA
Subjects: European Union, Russia, commercial vehicle, cross-border transport, customs formalities, customs inspection, customs profession, modernisation aid, vocational training

10. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 45/173

(98/C 45/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2345/97

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1997)

Subject: European Green Forum

Why  did  the  Commission  not  extend  an  invitation  to  Members  of  the  European  Parliament(cid:146)s  Environment
Committee to attend the inaugural meeting of the European Advisory Forum on the Environment and Sustainable
Development (the European Green Forum) held on June 5 1997?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 1997)

The Commission invited all the members (full and alternate) of Parliament’s Environment Committee, along with
its  Secretariat,  to  attend  the  inaugural  meeting  of  the  European  Advisory  Forum  on  the  Environment  and
Sustainable Development held on 5 June 1997 in Brussels. The invitations were delivered to the reception at
Parliament’s offices in the rue Belliard on Friday 16 May 1997. Twenty or so Members took up the invitation.

(98/C 45/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2346/97

by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1997)

Subject: Customs problems on the border between the EU and the Russian Federation

Problems still exist in heavy goods traffic from Finland to Russia, although the Commission publicly denies this.
The main problem has changed from traffic jams to the arrest of vehicles and impounding them in (cid:145)customs
cages(cid:146). At present 21 lorries are impounded in customs cages in Vyborg. The stated reason is unclarity in the
stamps on the TIR carnets. In addition there are 150-200 vehicles waiting at the border and in Moscow for their
customs documents to be cleared, which can take several days.

The situation is the fault of the Russian recipients of the goods, who are endeavouring by various means to evade
the  payment  of  taxes  and  other  dues  in  their  own  country.  The  means  used  include,  to  our  knowledge,
collaboration with the designated customs authorities and collaboration with the senders of the goods. In the
latter  case  the  goods  listed  on  the  invoices  and  bills  of  consignment  differ  from  the  actual  load.  However,
containers marked with the TIR symbol entering the country are sealed and the carrier is not able, nor indeed
permitted, to inspect their contents other than by the documents. The carriers and transport firms act in good
faith, trusting the documents and the customs procedures they have used in the past. The carriers have become
scapegoats, being forced to compensate for the crimes of others, and suffering considerable economic harm as a
result of their vehicles standing idle in cages.

The  action  of  the  Russian  customs  authorities  is  also  arbitrary  and  illogical.  Some  vehicles  cleared  through
customs for the same customer at the same customs post have been able to leave the country within a clearance
period of 3 to 9 days, while others are sent from the border to a customs cage in Vyborg.

What does the Commission propose to do to ensure that the action of the Russian customs and other authorities is
brought into line with the principles of normal and non-discriminatory border traffic, and made to comply with
the letter of the cooperation and partnership agreement between the EU and Russia?

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

(4 August 1997)

The  Commission  is  aware  that  the  situation  at  the  Finnish  ›  Russian  border  is  sometimes  very  difficult.  It
understands that some of the difficulties are due to the very rapid increase in transport at this border and the
inadequate equipment at the border check points and, especially, lack of training of customs officials and border
guards. Furthermore, the complicated legislative, administrative and technical rules, primarily in the Russian
customs sector, often change at short notice or even without prior notice.