WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3737/97 by Yves VERWAERDE to the Commission. Méda-Democracy Programme
Date: 1997-11-21
Institutions: European Parliament, VERWAERDE
Subjects: EU aid, EU financing, EU programme, civil rights, democracy, eligibility criteria, human rights, political rights, rule of law

25. 5. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 158/185

A detailed explanation should also be given of which mechanism would be used to reintroduce the tariff duties
for the products covered by these codes. Is it the mechanism outlined in Article 14, which lasts approximately
two months, or is it an automatic mechanism which reintroduces the tariff duties once it has been found that the
average for the three previous years has been exceeded?

(1)  OJ L 160, 29.6.1996, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:14)·n on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 1998)

The  Honourable  Member  has  correctly  interpreted  the  rules  for  examining  the  conditions  for  applying  the
safeguard clause provided for in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1256/96 applying multiannual schemes of
generalised tariff preferences in respect of certain agricultural and fisheries products (1) in the case of canned
tuna listed under Annex VI of the Regulation originating in the least developed countries and in countries of the
Andean community and Central America.

This examination may be carried out where, in any given year, exports from one of the countries in question
exceed the average of its exports over the three previous years. In applying the safeguard clause for 1997, the
years taken into account are 1994, 1995 and 1996; (2) in the case of 1998 the relevant years would be 1995, 1996
and 1997. As a consequence, the quantities are different for each country and the average varies upwards or
downwards  each  year  depending  on  past  exports.  This  amount,  given  as  a  guide,  does  not  constitute  a
quantitative  limitation  akin  to  quotas  or  ceilings  under  the  Community(cid:146)s  former  generalised  scheme  of
preferences.

(1)  OJ L 160, 29 June 1996.
(2)  The averages in tonnes are: Panama 25.30, Venezuela 30.37, Peru 64.63, Costa Rica903.10, Ecuador4347.40, Colombia7210.90. No imports

were recorded for the other countries (Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador).

(98/C 158/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3736/97

by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission

(21 November 1997)

Subject: Aid to victims of recent events in the Congo Republic

Has the Commission arranged for any financial support for the victims of recent events in the Congo Republic.

If so, can it supply me with a statement of the operations already carried out and a financial breakdown of the
corresponding aids?

(98/C 158/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3738/97

by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission

(21 November 1997)

Subject: Situation in the Congo Republic

Would the Commission state its position on the recent political and military events in the Congo Republic?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3736/97 and E-3738/97
given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1997)

The Commission(cid:146)s position on recent political events in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) is that presented in
the statement issued by the Council Presidency on 3 November 1997, on behalf of the European Union. A copy of
this statement will be sent directly to the Honourable Member, as well as the Parliament Secretariat.