WRITTEN QUESTION E-1822/99 by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU-Africa trade liberalisation agreement.
Date: 1999-10-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South Africa, agreement (EU), alcoholic beverage, product designation

C 203 E/58

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

(2000/C 203 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1822/99

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 1999)

Subject: EU-Africa trade liberalisation agreement

The trade provisions of the EU-South Africa Agreement are scheduled to come into force in January 2000.
However, the RSA and the EU continue to differ with regard to the interpretation of the agreement on
wine, and specifically the use of the registered designations (cid:145)port(cid:146) and (cid:145)sherry(cid:146).

It appears that the respective interpretations are:

(cid:129) on the part of the RSA: in 12 years(cid:146) time, talks will begin with a view to finding new names to replace
the terms in question, on which agreement would need to be reached. Without such agreement, South
Africa will continue to use these appellations.

(cid:129) on the part of the EU: the agreement lays down that South Africa will cease to use the terms in
question at the end of the twelve year period, and it is therefore necessary to start the search for
alternative designations now.

Can Commissioner Pascal Lamy tell me whether the trade component of the EU-RS Agreement will come
into force before the agreement on wine, and what is being done to clarify the correct interpretation of the
Agreement(cid:146)s provisions on the registered designation of origin of the wines in question?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1999)

The Commission is not of the opinion that there would be differing interpretation of the provisions of
Annex X of the trade development and cooperation agreement (TDC) agreement, which refers to wines
and spirits, although the text may not be fully appropriate from a legal point of view. Both parties are fully
committed to respecting the compromise agreement reached in March 1999 as was made clear by the
joint statement of 10 October 1999 on the wine and spirits agreement between South Africa and the
Community (1).

On 11 October 1999 the Council has taken note of this joint statement and has confirmed the wording of
Annex X to the agreement.

The overall TDC agreement is due to enter into effect on 1 January 2000.

(1)

The agreement will incorporate the agreement on port and sherry in the TDC ageement in the exact terms agreed
in March. That agreement is comprehensive for all products currently using the (cid:145)port(cid:146) and (cid:145)sherry(cid:146) names.

(2000/C 203 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1823/99

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 October 1999)

Subject: Exercise of the political and legislative powers of regional authorities within the European Council

of Ministers

In view of
the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference to review the Union(cid:146)s treaties, and the
Commission(cid:146)s powers of initiative, could the Commission table a reform ensuring the direct presence
within the Council of Ministers of regional political bodies (autonomous communities, federal states, etc.)
endowed with specific powers (political, economic, social and cultural), when the Council is dealing with
matters of particular concern to such regional authorities?