WRITTEN QUESTION E-0410/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Cambodia.
Date: 2000-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cambodia, corruption, democratisation, development aid, eligibility criteria, international human rights law

C 374 E/68

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.12.2000

(2000/C 374 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0407/00

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(15 February 2000)

Subject: Compensation for German shipping and transport firm operating on the Danube following the

closing of the Yugoslav section of the Danube

A number of firms in Regensburg (Germany) are specialised in transport operations from Germany to
destinations below Yugoslavia on the Danube. As a result of the war in Kosovo, the destruction of bridges
over the Danube, and the subsequent closure of the Yugoslav section of the Danube the business
operations of these firms have come to a halt. Since these firms specialise in very specific transport
operations on the Danube, they have practically no possibility of branching out into other areas of activity.

Can the Commission therefore provide the following information:

1.

Should these firms be regarded as victims of the Kosovo war in the same way as firms situated in
Kosovo itself?

2. Are these firms eligible for financial restructuring aid to offset their losses?

3. Are these companies entitled to non-reimbursable aid for restructuring or consolidation to offset their

ongoing losses and to publicly guaranteed investment aid?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2000)

The Commission is aware of the specific problems of companies involved, both directly and indirectly, in
transport on the Danube as a result of the blockage of the Danube due to NATO(cid:146)s destruction of the
bridges at Novi Sad.

However, the question of any compensation for such losses cannot be addressed until the issue of liability,
if any, for these losses has been determined in the appropriate legal fora.

As regards the restoration of navigation on the Danube, the European Commission is presently analysing a
request by the Danube Commission for cofinancing of a project proposal for the clearance of a navigation
channel by removing the debris of the bridges destroyed by NATO, as well as any unexploded ordnance,
and also the repair of the riverbed and banks. The project and its context is complex, from the political,
technical and legal points of view.

(2000/C 374 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0410/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(23 February 2000)

Subject: Cambodia

Is the Commission aware that there are still allegations of a whole range of problems in Cambodia from
desperate poverty, famine in some areas, high levels of corruption and abuses of human rights? Does the
Commission consider it necessary to implement any conditionalities at this time?

28.12.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 374 E/69

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2000)

The Commission is well aware that Cambodia is among the least developed countries in the world and that
it is still marred by poverty and other related problems. The country is facing major challenges in the
forthcoming years and needs to implement wide-ranging reforms swiftly. Since the formation of the new
Cambodian government, the Commission has had regular consultations with it to discuss these reforms.

At this time the Commission is not considering imposing any conditions on its development programmes,
but it will continue to monitor the situation in Cambodia carefully.

Concerning the questions of human rights democratisation and corruption, the Commission intends to
have thorough discussions with Cambodian authorities on these issues on the occasion of the first
Community Cambodia joint committee, scheduled for the first half of year 2000.

Regarding the food situation for year 2000, international organisations are of the opinion that the overall
food situation in Cambodia remains satisfactory. Nevertheless, a sizeable section of the population remains
vulnerable to food shortages and the Commission continues to follow the situation in order to be prepared
should an emergency occur.

(2000/C 374 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0416/00

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2000)

Subject: Lower rate of VAT on recombinant products

Can the Commission state whether it is prepared to make a proposal for the lower rate of VAT to be
applied to recombinant blood products and if not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2000)

For VAT purposes a distinction is made between different types of products derived from blood.

Some products derived from blood or human plasma, such as albumin, coagulation factors and
immunoglobulins, are considered medicinal products (in accordance with Council Directive 89/381/EEC
of 14 june 1989) (1).

Under Article 12(3)(a) and Annex H, Category 3, of the Sixth VAT Directive (77/388/EEC) (2), VAT may be
applied to such products at a lower rate.

Recombinant blood products (obtained through genetic engineering, not extracted from human blood) are
medicinal products because they fall under Part A of the Annex to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2309/
93 (3), which requires a marketing authorisation to be granted under the centralised Community procedure.
As such, they are also charged at the lower rate of VAT.

Labile blood derivatives such as plasma and blood cells of human origin, on the other hand, are not
considered medicinal products. They are thus taxed at the standard rate of VAT, while whole blood is
exempt from VAT.

It might be appropriate to review this anomalous situation, where whole blood is exempt but labile blood
derivatives are charged at the standard rate. The Commission is currently examining the matter to see what
the practice is in the different Member States.