WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1902/98 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. Special provisions relating to quality wines produced in specified regions
Date: 1998-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, WATSON
Subjects: Belgium, Spain, bottling, delivery, designation of origin, export monitoring, export restriction, product quality, wine of superior quality

29.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 118/7

(1999/C 118/007)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1902/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Special provisions relating to quality wines produced in specified regions

Will the Commission explain why, at a time when the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the
case brought by Belgium against Spain (Case C388/95) is so eagerly awaited, the Commission is
proposing to amend Regulation 823/87 (1) so as to permit Member States to allow particular Appellations
to prohibit the despatch of their quality wines in bulk outside their specified regions provided that certain
criteria are met?

In view of the above situation can the Commission explain why a proposal for the controlled consignment
of wine in bulk › aimed at protecting the authenticity of the wine in question › has been languishing in the
Commission for longer than the Judgment in Case C388/95 has been awaited?

(1) OJ L 84, 27.3.1987, p. 59.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 1998)

In relation to the first part of the question, the Commission informs the Honourable Member that in
connection with the question of the bottling of quality wines produced in a specified region (psr), it
decided, simultaneously, to present a statement in intervention before the Court of justice in case C-388/95
pending between Belgium and Spain, and to review the legislation.

The Commission transmitted to the Council a proposal (1) for a Council regulation amending Regulation
(EC) 823/87 laying down special provisions relating to quality wines produced in specified regions (2)
with the aim of proposing a Community framework in this area and in order to avoid this measure being
taken without a proper justification and the consensus of majority of operators in the area. In relation to the
content of this proposal the Honourable Member should refer to the answer given to Written Question P-
1657/98 by Mr Buffetaut (3).

In relation to the second part of the question as to why a proposal for the controlled consignment of wine in
bulk has not been approved, the Commission informs the Honourable Member that this proposal did not
find the support of producing Member States on the grounds that the proposal was too burdensome and
could not be widely applied to all quality wines psr transported in bulk. To make this measure compulsory
for all quality wine psr was considered disproportionate because while it might improve the control of
authenticity of the transported wine in bulk, it could not guarantee the specific intrinsic quality and
identity of origin of each bottled quality wine psr.

(1) OJ C 108, 7.4.1998.
(2) OJ L 84, 27.3.1987.
(3) OJ C 31, 5.2.1999, p. 65.

(1999/C 118/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1934/98

by Outi Ojala (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 June 1998)

Subject: Condition of the Kymijoki river

The Kymijoki, Finland(cid:146)s fourth-largest river, is situated in an area affected by the timber processing and
chemical industries and was for many years badly polluted. Over the past 15 years the state of the river has
improved noticeably thanks to new processes in the cellulose industry and a reduction in waste water.
However, in spite of the fact that emissions have ceased, decades-old organochloride compounds from
bleaching are still present in the sludge at the bottom of the river and its delta, including chlorine catechols,
guaiachols and cymenes. KY-5 › chlorophenyl products were manufactured to prevent timber from
becoming blue-stained, and during the production process unwanted byproducts also arose, the presence