WRITTEN QUESTION No. 446/99 by José VALVERDE LÓPEZ World Trade Organization
Date: 1999-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, VALVERDE LOPEZ
Subjects: State aid, United States, World Trade Organisation, agricultural market, aid to agriculture, control of State aid

29.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 341/115

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 1999)

The Community is already providing substantial support to immunisation activities, mostly in Africa, by
ensuring the supply of priority vaccines, particularly polio vaccine, and by developing and improving
immunisation activities in primary health care (PHC) facilities. There is a special programme ‘Support to
reinforcing of immunisation independence’ in 8 sub-saharan countries (€9,5 million), which aims to improve
the immunisation coverage of children and young women as well as to reduce states’ dependence on external
financing of the Expanded programme of immunisation (EPI), in particular through the promotion of its
inclusion as a budget line in the national health budgets.

The Community is actively involved in the financing of the first strategy of the Global polio eradication
programme (GPEP), through the support given to PHC facilities in 32 sub-saharan countries (over €250 million
under the 7th European development fund (EDF)) as well as through structural adjustment support
programmes, ensuring the funding of priority health budget lines (over €458 million under the 7th EDF).
At the specific request of the national authorities, the Community could finance some additional expenditure
linked to the GPEP. In this case, this expenditure must be included in the national health budgets. The
Community is also supporting, in close collaboration with the World health organisation (WHO) regional
office for Africa, the creation of an epidemiological surveillance network in West Africa (budget €500 000),
which is an important contribution to the fourth strategy of the GPEP. In addition, the Community is
discussing further collaboration with the WHO.

(1999/C 341/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0446/99

by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission

(4 March 1999)

Subject: World Trade Organization

Despite the Freedom to Farm act of 1996, which laid down that subsidies to US farmers would be
progressively phased out, the US Government paid out over US$ 6 000 million in direct subsidies in 1998.

Does the Commission intend to open the arbitration procedure provided for by the World Trade Organiza-
tion?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 1999)

Members of the World trade organisation (WTO) have undertaken to reduce domestic support in accordance
with quantified commitments. However, subsidies complying with specific criteria laid down in the agreement
on agriculture (the so-called ‘green’ and ‘blue’ box measures) are not subject to these reduction commitments.
Information available does not indicate that the United States is granting aid in contradiction with the agreed
criteria or beyond its commitments. Notwithstanding, the United States will have to notify its subsidies to the
WTO. The Community will than carefully examine whether the American notification complies with the
established rules.

(1999/C 341/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0456/99

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(5 March 1999)

Subject: Customs Union with Turkey

On 17 September 1998 the European Parliament approved a resolution (A4-0251/98) (1) on the Customs
Union with Turkey, with a view to implementing action to enable Turkey to achieve economic and social
development as part of the strategy to achieve alignment with the EC and strengthen relations.