WRITTEN QUESTION E-1885/00 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU aid to Turkey in the context of customs cooperation.
Date: 2000-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, common tariff policy, customs cooperation, industrial property, intellectual property, trade-mark law

C 72 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

(2001/C 72 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1885/00

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 June 2000)

Subject: EU aid to Turkey in the context of customs cooperation

The European Parliament has repeatedly stressed the importance of stepping up customs cooperation in
order to improve and facilitate trade transactions, whilst making the Turkish authorities better acquainted
with Community customs legislation in order to prevent the entry of counterfeit and pirated goods.

In the context of the programme designed to strengthen the customs union with Turkey, does the
Commission plan to include specific projects for this purpose?

Has the Commission ascertained whether the Turkish authorities have adopted measures to ensure
compliance with the provisions to safeguard intellectual,
industrial and commercial property since the
entry into force of the customs union?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

The Commission has proposed a number of initiatives along the lines described by the Honourable
Member. However,
in the past, these have not always been supported by the other institutions. The
Commission is now proposing two new initiatives. The first is for a Council Regulation regarding the
implementation of measures to intensify the EC-Turkey customs union, costing € 15 million, on which
for a Council
Parliament was consulted on 2 December 1999. The second initiative is a proposal
Regulation to establish an EIB special action programme in support of the consolidation and intensification
of the customs union.

A programme of administrative cooperation launched in 1996 received € 1 million to develop cooperation
between the central and local administrations in Turkey and the Community, with a view to capacity-
building and improving the effectiveness of the numerous Turkish ministries, government departments,
agencies and public institutions responsible for implementing the customs union. This programme is
drawing to a close and will be continued under the MEDA programme.

In addition, the customs cooperation committee set up by Decision 1/95 of the Association Council meets
twice a year to build customs cooperation between the relevant Turkish and Community administrations.
These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss issues concerning the alignment of Turkey(cid:146)s customs
legislation on the Community(cid:146)s and the proper application of the law. The Commission and the Turkish
delegation raise problems which the authorities and traders have encountered. This dialogue enables
detailed explanations to be given and allows both sides to seek solutions together, thus improving the
Turkish authorities(cid:146) knowledge of the applicable legislation.

The latter includes intellectual, industrial and commercial property law, to which the Honourable Member
refers. Article 31 of Decision 1/95 of the Association Council confirms the importance attached to these
matters by the parties, and Annex 8 of that Decision sets out arrangements under which Turkey must
protect such rights to a degree comparable to that in the Community. Consequently, Turkey set up a
Turkish patent institute on 24 June 1995 (Decree Law No 544) and 14 texts have entered into force
(a list has been sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat).