WRITTEN QUESTION E-0220/00 by Willy De Clercq (ELDR) to the Commission. Post-clearance recovery of customs duty on textile products imported from Bangladesh.
Date: 2000-02-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Bangladesh, customs duties, customs regulations, fact-finding mission, import (EU), textile product

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/105

During the following years however the programme enlarged its objectives to competitiveness and
protection of the environment. Priority was given to projects reducing the environmental
impact of
hydrocarbon exploitation and promoting the competitiveness of European technology.

In the period from 1975 to 1998, nearly € 750 million of support was granted to projects for the research
development and demonstration of innovative hydrocarbons technology. The € 750 million of financial
support already mentioned in the Commission(cid:146)s previous reply to Written Question E-2126/99 by
Mrs Maes refers only to oil and gas technology (it did not include the support for coal technology
projects). The following table indicates the split by year and by country for the period 1990-1998, which
related to the Thermie programme. In addition the total support for the period 1975-1989 has been
included in the first column.

Support to hydrocarbons technology 1975-1998

(in million euros)

1975-1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Total

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

The Netherlands

Portugal

Sweden

0,53

3,03

1,02

12,17

66,30

3,19

0,59

195,64

5,36

8,02

6,65

80,54

28,07

1,03

1,03

0,41

4,50

0,60

0,14

1,55

5,48

0,21

4,79

6,56

2,58

2,67

0,45

1,10

0,21

0,22

10,61

14,78

5,43

0,69

8,32

0,43

3,33

0,30

4,79

0,49

1,85

0,11

0,74

United Kingdom

132,28

2,03

6,60

5,55

6,90

11,72

10,44

Norway Kingdom

2,87

1,09

1,39

4,40

1,13

0,40

1,12

14,70

87,40

7,34

2,44

11,42

7,39

7,69

270,49

5,68

1,84

4,68

3,37

0,63

3,58

1,18

5,45

2,61

7,14

119,36

36,13

1,17

2,58

5,27

2,50

189,05

9,92

Total

526,46

9,85

23,42

26,72

26,30

37,23

24,92

18,33

25,44

29,05

747,72

The relatively high amount of support allocated to the United Kingdom, Italy and France, derives from the
support to the United Kingdom and Italy related to projects for the production of hydrocarbon in the
Mediterranean and in the North Sea and the French strong network of service and supply industry.

As far as the split between oil and gas is concerned, this is somewhat more complex. Innovative drilling
equipment or a new seismic acquisition system can be used both for oil and gas applications. In such cases
it is not possible to classify a technology as a gas or as an oil technology. However, there are some
techniques whose application is limited to gas, mainly in relation to gas conversion and transport issues.
The number of projects dealing exclusively with gas technology is fairly limited and the related financial
support can be estimated at less than 10 % of the total budget.

(2000/C 330 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0220/00

by Willy De Clercq (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 February 2000)

Subject: Post-clearance recovery of customs duty on textile products imported from Bangladesh

Following a visit to Bangladesh by a Community delegation towards the end of 1996 with the aim of
issued between the end of 1993 and mid-1996, the
checking 15 000 certificates of origin, form A,

C 330 E/106

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

customs authorities of each Member State were asked to undertake post-clearance recovery of duty for
those certificates which (1) had clearly been falsified or related to goods not produced in Bangladesh and
(2) had been obtained on the basis of
false declarations to the Export Promotion Bureau by the
manufacturers.

Bangladesh recognised the problems arising with the issue of certificates of origin (form A) and inadequate
checking of them. Moreover, the importers in the European Union were apparently only informed of the
problems with the Bangladeshi authorities at a very late stage.

Is it true that the Commission is currently considering a proposal to exonerate the importers from
payment of certain customs duties on grounds of (cid:145)exceptional circumstances(cid:146)? If so, what measures will be
taken, and to what period will these measures relate? If not, will the Commission take measures in this
regard?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2000)

It is true that customs duties relating to goods imported under cover of 15 000 certificates of origin issued
by the Bangladeshi authorities between 1994 and mid-1996 have been declared payable, following the
decision by the Bangladeshi authorities to withdraw (cancel) the certificates in question (cid:129) a decision taken
in circumstances described in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question. The demand for such payment is
entirely in line with the provisions of EEC Regulation No 2454/93 (1).

A Community delegation visited Bangladesh in December 1996 on an administrative cooperation and
investigation mission. There, they were able to confirm that the suspected irregularities had in fact taken
place. On the basis of the evidence they gathered, the Commission published a notice in the Official
Journal in April 1997 (2).

Between June and August 1998, Bangladesh was struck by a natural catastrophe (floods) which had a
substantial and damaging impact on both the economic life of
its
administrative authorities. The Commission is presently considering whether these events might be held
to constitute (cid:145)exceptional circumstances(cid:146), within the meaning of the regulation cited above.

the country and the work of

(1) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993.
(2) OJ C 107, 5.4.1997.

(2000/C 330 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0223/00

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Road widening works at Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Has the Commission ascertained the significance of the new evidence that has come to light in relation to
the Glen of the Downs, County Wicklow, Ireland, designated a proposed SAC on 12 August 1999? Is the
Commission of the opinion that the information provided so far by the Irish authorities enable it to assess
with precision the level of damage to be incurred by the proposed SAC?

Is the Commission likely to put a stay on proposed road works pending replies to its queries by the Irish
Government? Is the Commission going to issue legal proceedings against Ireland on this matter? What
further steps if any is the Commission going to take to fully assess the impact of the road works at the
Glen of the Downs? Is the Commission likely to withdraw part or all of its funding should the results of
enquiries prove unsatisfactory?