WRITTEN QUESTION P-2300/99 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Future of the European shipbuilding industry.
Date: 1999-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU industrial policy, shipbuilding

C 303 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

that enzyme treatment of these fats is prohibited. (A seventh fat (cid:141) coconut oil (cid:141) is allowed only for the
manufacture of ice-creams and similar frozen products.)

In the common position referred to at the beginning of this reply, the Council judged that certain vertical
Directives relating to foods should be simplified in order to take account only of the essential requirements
to be met by the products they cover in order that those products may move freely within the internal
market. The aim is not only to guarantee the single nature of the internal market but also to provide the
consumer with correct, neutral and objective information in addition to the list of ingredients.

With regard to the social and economic impact on the cocoa-producing countries, Commission officials
submitted a preliminary study of the impact of the proposed Directive on those countries producing cocoa
and vegetable fats before the Council adopted its common position.
In that preliminary study, the
Commission concluded that the proposed Directive would probably not have any negative impact on the
countries concerned. A second study will be initiated in order to remove any lingering doubts.

Regarding the same question, the Council makes provision in Article 2(4) of its common position for the
Commission to carry out a study of the Directive(cid:146)s impact on the economies of those countries producing
cocoa and other vegetable fats after the Directive in question enters into force. The Council would suggest
that the Honourable Member contact the Commission directly for more details.

With specific regard to question 3, the Council would suggest that the Honourable Member contact the
Member States themselves as it is not the Council(cid:146)s responsibility to provide details of individual positions.

(2000/C 303 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2300/99

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(29 November 1999)

Subject: Future of the European shipbuilding industry

On several occasions since the crisis of 1973, European shipyards have undergone restructuring leading to
job losses and slumps in regions whose prosperity depended on shipbuilding and its role as a driving force
for other economic sectors. The Commission has itself acknowledged the continued decline in prices.
Between January 1997 and March 1999 prices of newly built vessels fell by between 15 and 31,5 per cent.
The explanation for this lies primarily in the fact that certain Asian countries, South Korea notably, sell
their products at a loss, with prices sometimes 30 per cent below European prices. Sizeable subsidies
enable them to pursue such commercial dumping practices.

Over and above the tentative measures announced by the Council of Industry Ministers on 9 November
last, what emergency measures is the Commission prepared to take in support of European shipyards so as
to guarantee their survival?

Did the Commission take account of an international climate dominated by unfair practices on the part of
South Korea in deciding to demand the return of 18 451 million pesetas granted in the form of tax credits
to the shipbuilding industry in Spain, which it considered to be State aid?

What measures does the Commission intend to take to protect existing shipbuilding jobs in the European
Union? How does it intend to guarantee the future of this sector, and the thousands of working people
who depend on it?

What proposals will the Commission be taking to the first round of talks in Seattle at the end of this year
with a view to shielding the European shipbuilding industry from the unfair practices in which third
countries indulge?

24.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/47

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 1999)

The Commission fully shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concerns about the current situation on the world
shipbuilding market and the difficulties facing Community yards. However in its view the various actions
decided by the 9 November 1999 Industry Council represent a balanced package of useful measures that
should be pursued to tackle the problem of unfair competition. At this stage there are no plans for short-
term emergency measures. The Commission will continue to keep the market situation under review and
will collate and evaluate all the information and evidence collected pursuant to the Council conclusions on
the issue.
It will submit its findings to the Council and to the Parliament as soon as necessary in
accordance with Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998 establishing new
rules on aid to shipbuilding (1).

Following the conclusions of the Council, the Korean side has agreed to participate in bilateral discussions
involving industries and administrations from both the Community and Korea in the margins of an
Organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD) working party meeting in Paris in mid-
December.

In addition, the Commission has encouraged Member States to urge the International monetary fund (IMF)
and World Bank to continue investigating whether the conditions and assumptions under which the
IMF-led rescue package was given to Korea are fully respected.

So far as the Millennium Round negotiations are concerned, these should be launched and concluded as a
single undertaking, in order to strike a generally advantageous overall balance of rights and obligations for
all World trade organisation (WTO) members. It would be difficult for the Community, at this stage, to
identify shipbuilding as a specific sector where it seeks special rules. Nevertheless, the existing agreement
on subsidy and countervailing measures includes a dispute mechanism which provides a means to tackle
unfair subsidies. As requested by the Council, the Commission stands ready to launch a trade action under
the WTO when sufficient supporting evidence has been gathered.

As for the Commission(cid:146)s recent negative decision regarding special tax credits paid to the publicly-owned
yards in Spain, the Commission was carrying out its duty to monitor that conditions of aid decisions are
fully respected. The current difficulties facing Community yards underline the need to ensure that
Community aid rules are complied with in order to avoid distortions to intra-Community competition.

(1) OJ L 202, 18.7.1998.

(2000/C 303 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2302/99

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Veterinary inspections in establishments producing fishery products and fees charged for such

inspections

Is the Commission aware that the veterinary inspections in establishments producing fishery products,
required to be carried out under Directive 91/493/EEC (1), vary in their frequency and nature not only
from one country to another within Europe, but from one Land to another within the Federal Republic of
Germany?

Is it also aware that, contrary to Directive 96/43/EC, there is also a considerable lack of uniformity not
only at European level but also among the Federal L(cid:228)nder of Germany with regard to the charging of fees
for such inspection and the amount of these fees?