WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3511/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Counterfeit and pirated goods
Date: 1998-11-25
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: EU customs procedure, customs fraud, customs regulations, export restriction, industrial counterfeiting, intellectual property

C 182/90

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

in detailed discussion of the Parliament opinion in the Council working group a
Member. However,
modification was proposed to add economic and social cohesion to the list of policies to which particular
attention will be accorded.

(1999/C 182/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3508/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Community Statistical Programme

With reference to the proposal for a Council decision on the Community Statistical Programme (1998-2002)
(COM(97) 735 final , 98/0012 CNS and CES 800/98-98/0012 CNS), can the Commission stress the need for
a common methodology for collecting statistics on the development of consumer prices and purchasing
power parity and provide more information as to the statistics required with a view to the adoption of a
permanent VAT system at Community level?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 1999)

The need for comparability in Community statistics, which carries with it the harmonisation of methodologies
and nomenclatures, is clearly stated in the third recital of the proposal to which the Honourable Member
refers, and runs as a common thread through all themes of the Community statistical programme. It is thus a
fundamental component of the work on consumer prices and purchasing power parities.

The Commission has yet to finalise its proposals for a permanent system of value added tax in the Community.
In view of the possible solutions retained, Eurostat has already engaged preliminary discussions with the
national statistical institutes on the possible impact on statistical indicators and this aspect is fully covered
under Title V in Annex 1 of the programme. Following the opinion of Parliament, the text on this part of the
programme was reviewed and clarified by the Council working party.

(1999/C 182/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3511/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Counterfeit and pirated goods

With reference to the proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) 3295/94 laying down measures to prohibit the
release for free circulation, export, re-export or entry for a suspensive procedure of counterfeit and pirated
goods (COM(98) 25 final , 98/0018 ACC) (1), direct contact between rightholders (undertakings) and customs
services is essential in order to increase the motivation of customs officials.

The power to restrict applications for seizure of goods at the frontier to specific EU countries is incompatible
with the fundamental concept of the Community trade mark. In view of the fact that this is a single trade mark
with a single legal basis throughout the Community, the only sensible solution in the long term is to have a
single application for seizure of goods at the frontier which is valid in all Member States. Can the Commission
take the appropriate action to this effect?

(1) OJ C 108, 7.4.1998, p. 63.