WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3948/98 by (Hanja) MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Award of DG VIII supply contracts
Date: 1999-01-04
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: EU aid, European Development Fund, Lomé Convention, agricultural machinery, award of contract, developing countries, development aid, spare part, supplies contract, third country

21.7.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 207/149

It is recalled that Community RTD space-related activities are limited to coordination of activities in those
fields of applications (telecommunications, navigation and earth observation) which benefit from space
technologies and systems, whilst ensuring synergy with ESA activities.

The Fifth Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration (1998 to 2002)
does not include a ‘space’ activity as such.

(1999/C 207/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3948/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Award of DG VIII supply contracts

(4 January 1999)

Under present development-aid arrangements, contracts are awarded by the Commission to third-party
suppliers. Can the Commission state what conditions, in particular rules of origin, govern the supply to
developing countries of such products as agricultural machinery? Do the same rules of origin also apply to
machine components? Can use also be made of undertakings that are established in developing countries,
including the recipient country?

Can the Commission set out the reasons for imposing the condition that products may originate only in the
Community? Does the Commission not consider that it would be of some assistance to developing countries if
products or product components were also allowed to originate in developing countries?

Are the same conditions applied to other programmes such as PHARE or TACIS?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Where aid to non-member countries from the European Development Fund (EDF) is concerned, Article
294(1)(b) of the Lomé Convention stipulates that ‘supplies must originate in the Community and/or the ACP
States, in accordance with the provisions of Annex LIV’, a provision which is repeated in Article 4.1(b) of the
general regulations, general conditions and procedural rules on conciliation and arbitration for works, supply
and service contracts financed by the European Development Fund (EDF). Where contracts funded under Phare
and Tacis are concerned, an equivalent clause in inserted in the standard instructions to tenderers. In both
cases, eligibility extends to products originating in any beneficiary country on equal terms with Community
products.

Furthermore, in duly justified cases, permission can be given (Article 296 of the Lomé Convention; Articles 4
and 6 of the general regulations, general conditions and procedural rules) for firms from non-ACP (African,
Caribbean and Pacific) developing countries to tender. Similar exceptions can be made for Phare and Tacis
contracts under Article 114(2) of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European
Communities (1).

(1) OJ L 356, 31.12.1977.

(1999/C 207/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3949/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: VAT rates for veterinary surgeons

Can the Commission specify the rates at which VAT is applied to the services of veterinary surgeons in each of
the EU Member States?