WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3210/98 by Werner LANGEN to the Commission. Consequences of the abolition of duty-free arrangements
Date: 1998-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, LANGEN
Subjects: EU aid, Structural Funds, coastal region, duty-free sale, marketing restriction, regional aid

14.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 135/177

For the information of the Honourable Member it would appear that ‘Juraat’ is an Urdu language, limited
circulation, local daily newspaper published in Karachi. Despite enquiries with the National library of
Pakistan it has not been possible for the delegation of the Commission in Islamabad to obtain a copy of the
edition cited in order to verify the precise text.

Further enquiries by its delegation in Islamabad have failed to trace any reaction to the advertisement,
whether from the government of Pakistan or from Pakistan based human rights organisations.

(1999/C 135/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3210/98

by Werner Langen (PPE) to the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Consequences of the abolition of duty-free arrangements

At the meeting of Economic and Finance Ministers of 19 May 1998 in Brussels, the Irish proposal to make
an EU-wide study of the implications of intra-Community duty-free sales was rejected. The German
government had explicitly supported the Irish proposal on the basis of the relevant decisions of the
Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Given that the proposal did not find a majority, the Commission agreed to
submit a working document on possible instruments to cushion the impact of the abolition of duty-free
sales.

Can the Commission say:

1. When will the working document on the instruments available at regional level in connection with the

abolition of duty-free sales be available?

2.

3.

Is the Commission prepared to envisage further special regional assistance, going beyond the existing
regulations, within the framework of the Structural Funds or new special measures?

In what way have the coastal regions affected, almost all of which are EU-assisted areas, been
supported since the decision on the abolition of duty-free sales in 1991/92?

4. Does the Commission expect duty-free sales to end in the middle of 1999 as agreed?

Answer given by M. Monti on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 1998)

1.
The Commission paper clarifying the instruments available to Member States to address possible
consequences of the abolition of intra-Community duty-free sales on 1 July 1999 will be presented as soon
as possible and in any event before the end of this year.

2.
The Commission is prepared to consider any proposals put forward by national and regional
authorities for assistance in the eligible areas and under the structural funds pursuant to the existing rules
of procedures.

3.
Given that not all structural fund programmes have a specific regional character, the Commission is
not in a position to provide the Honourable Member with a precise figure for the contribution from the
structural funds to coastal regions. It estimates however that, for the current programming period (1994-
1999), this contribution could be in the order of ECU 100 000 million (in 1994 prices).

4.

Yes.