WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3807/98 by Maartje van PUTTEN to the Commission. The alleged dumping on the European market of steel from countries affected by the economic crisis
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN PUTTEN
Subjects: OECD, World Trade Organisation, dumping, economic recession, liberalisation of the market, originating product, protectionism, single market, steel, third country

C 207/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.7.1999

(1999/C 207/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3803/98

by Luigi Moretti (NI) to the Commission

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Siting of radio and TV transmitters in residential areas

A number of articles on the damage which magnetic fields generated by radio and TV transmitters can cause to
health have recently appeared in the Italian press.

On 5 November 1998 the author of this question tabled a question to the Commission on the harm which
may be caused by such transmitters in residential areas.

Would the Commission now look into the matter without delay, with a view to determining exactly how
dangerous such transmitters are?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-3491/98 (1).

(1)

See page 77.

(1999/C 207/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3807/98

by Maartje van Putten (PSE) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: The alleged dumping on the European market of steel from countries affected by the economic crisis

In the light of the international financial crisis and the devaluation of various national currencies in the
countries affected, resulting in falling prices of products from those countries compared with the prices of
products from European countries, I should like answers to the following questions:

1. Has the Commission received a complaint from the European steel industries operating in ‘Eurofer’
concerning the possibility of steel being dumped on the European market by (companies from) countries
affected by the economic crisis and, if so, can the Commission state the precise nature of the complaint?

2. What is the Commission’s attitude towards the agreements made in early November 1998 in the Steel
Committee of the OECD on avoiding protectionist measures in response to the supply of cheap steel from
(companies in) countries suffering from the international financial crisis?

3. What is the Commission’s attitude towards the final declaration of the Ministerial Conference of the WTO
in May in Geneva which said that keeping markets open was a key element in a sustainable solution to the
international financial crisis and that protectionist measures should therefore be rejected?

4. Will the Commission take account of the positions adopted by the OECD and the WTO in handling the

complaint from ‘Eurofer’ and, if so, in what way?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(13 January 1999)

The Commission has, indeed, received an anti-dumping complaint concerning hot rolled coils of steel.
1.
As required by the Basic anti-dumping regulation (EC) 384/96 (1), the Commission is examining whether the
complainant has provided sufficient prima facie evidence regarding the existence of dumping and the material
injury resulting. Six exporting countries are involved. According to the provisions of the Basic anti-dumping
regulation, the Commission, after consultation of Member States, has 45 days from the lodging date to decide
whether or not an anti-dumping investigation is warranted.