WRITTEN QUESTION No. 807/99 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS Turkish exports of steel products
Date: 1999-04-06
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Cyprus, ECSC Treaty, EU production, Türkiye, export, iron and steel product, market supervision, restriction on competition, statistics, third country

21.12.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 370/117

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 1999)

As the Honourable Member says, Turkey has not signed the 1997 UN Convention referred to in his
written question. Turkey cannot therefore be required to conform with its provisions.

Apart from this, the Community budget is not contributing to the project referred to by the Honourable
Member. This being the case, the issue of UK funding for the project is a matter for the UK authorities.

(1999/C 370/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0807/99

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(6 April 1999)

Subject: Turkish exports of steel products

Turkey has been exempted from the Community surveillance system for iron and steel products covered
by the EEC and ECSC Treaties, despite opposition from Greece which duly lodged its objections with the
competent management committee of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

The above exemption has had the effect of promoting exports of Turkish steel products, which are offered
at low prices to the detriment of Member States’ production. According to the latest statistics, Turkish
exports of steel products increased by 105 % last year, delivering a devastating blow to Greek iron and
steel in particular. Recently, Greece made an official request that Turkish exports of steel products should
be subject to the Community surveillance system. Will that happen and when?

Has an assessment been made of
corresponding Turkish products infiltrate European markets?

the impact on Community production of steel products if

the

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 1999)

EC Treaty steel products originating in Turkey were excluded from the Community’s prior surveillance
regime in March 1998 and European coal and steel Community (ECSC) Treaty steel products were
excluded in January 1999, when Turkey eliminated its remaining tariffs on steel
imports from the
Community.

The Community’s steel imports from third countries generally increased dramatically in 1998, to around
23,5 million metric tonnes, around 45 % higher than in 1997. Community imports from Turkey increased
by 66 % to around 1,7 million tonnes, and Greece’s steel imports from Turkey increased by 90 % to
406 000 tonnes. Greece accounts for around 23 % of total Community steel imports from Turkey.

These developments took place when most of Turkey’s steel products were still covered by prior
Community surveillance, a system which provides advance information on probable import trends based
on automatic licensing of imports. The inclusion or exclusion of countries in the prior Community
surveillance system does not, therefore, explain the increase in imports during 1998. The increase in
Community steel imports from third countries generally, including Turkey, is due to the turbulence on
international steel markets resulting from the crises in South East Asia and Russia.

The Commission is closely monitoring the impact of the international financial crisis and has regular
dialogue with a wide range of third countries,
including Turkey, to discuss developments in the steel
sector. The Commission and Turkey exchange detailed statistics on trade in steel products each month.