WRITTEN QUESTION P-2248/00 by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Non-Annex 1 export refunds.
Date: 2000-06-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural product, agro-industry, economic consequence, export licence, export refund, suspension of aid

C 81 E/180

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

In the interest of developing the quality of cooperation in border areas and improving coordination
between TACIS and Interreg it would be desirable for the management of TACIS CBC projects (cid:129) as with
Interreg (cid:129) to be transferred to regional level, e.g. to the Euregio. At the very least, opinions on proposed
TACIS CBC projects should be requested from the Euregio or the recipient region, which (e.g. in the case
of the Republic of Karelia) has its own border areas programme.

1. What is the Commission(cid:146)s attitude to the Karelia Euregio(cid:146)s proposal for a pilot scheme whereby the
Euregio management committee would take decisions on projects (cid:129) for TACIS CBC as for Interreg (cid:129) on a
programme basis at regional level?

Does the Commission intend in future to hear the views of the recipient regions (e.g. the Russian

2.
Republic of Karelia) on proposed projects as part of decision-making on TACIS CBC projects?

(1) See p. 34.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

On 27 June 2000 the Commission presented, for discussion, to the TACIS management committee a
strategy paper on the TACIS CBC programme, outlining its future orientations. This paper will now lead,
first, to a full 4-year indicative programme detailing objectives and priorities, and then, to an annual
programme with a list of concrete projects to be financed under the budget 2000. Both programmes will
be presented to the TACIS committee later this year.

During the preparation of these strategic documents, opinions have been widely sought from a number of
partners. TACIS technical offices in St. Petersburg and Petrozavodk have, indeed, been particularly active in
channelling ideas coming from the relevant regions.

In addition, all TACIS CBC projects have local authorities and operators as counterparts, ensuring the full
involvement of the regions in the whole programme. This applies particularly to the demand-driven Small
project facility, promoting grass-root initiatives in the area.

Regarding the pilot scheme proposed by Karelia Euroregio, TACIS procedures do not allow the Com-
mission to transfer the decision-making responsibility to third parties.

(2001/C 81 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2248/00

by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 June 2000)

Subject: Non-Annex 1 export refunds

Will the European Commission explain in detail why it deems it necessary to suspend the issue of non-
Annex 1 export refund certificates as from 8 May 2000 by means of Regulation (EC) 1066/2000 (1)?

On what legal basis has the European Commission suspended the issue of non-Annex 1 export refund
certificates, given that Regulation (EC) 1702/1999 (2) refers (in paragraph 3a of the new Article 6b set out
under Article 15 of said Regulation) to Article 9(2) of the GATT Agreement on Agriculture?

Will the European Commission indicate the maximum amount of export refund available under the GATT
Agreement for the current financial year, given the, as yet, continuing right of carry-over from previous
years?

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/181

Will the European Commission indicate the steps it has taken to identify and given due consideration to
the impact of this suspension of the issue of export refund certificates on the value-added processed food
industry nearly five months before the end of the current financial year?

The timing of this suspension would imply that the export of products requiring export refunds have
increased by some 30 % over 1998-1999. Does the European Commission have any other firm evidence to
support this?

What proposals does the European Commission have to ensure that its approach towards the issue of
export refund certificates will be more even-handed, predictable and transparent in the coming financial
years?

(1) OJ L 119, 20.5.2000, p. 9.
(2) OJ L 201, 31.7.1999, p. 30.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2000)

The Honourable Member refers in his question to the suspension of the issue of refund certificates for non-
Annex 1 processed agricultural products as from 8 May 2000 (Regulation (EC) No 1066/2000).

The GATT limit on the EU for the 1999-2000 financial year is € 475 million, plus amounts not used in
previous years. By way of information, the budgetary authority has set the 1999-2000 budget for non-
Annex 1 refunds at € 551 million.

First of all, it should be pointed out that the system of certificates was only introduced as from 1 February.
As a result, the current financial year is of a transitional nature because refunds granted before that date
have to be added to the certificates issued. It should be noted that the total value of the refund certificates
issued in the three months since 1 February 2000 was over € 310 million. On account of the large volume
of exports (the total amount of refunds paid prior to 1 March 2000 was € 229 million) and the substantial
sums involved in the certificates requested during the first week of May, the Commission felt that it should
exercise caution in running the certificates system, bearing in mind the EU(cid:146)s international commitments
and the possibility that these could be jeopardised.

In taking this decision, the Commission was applying paragraph 8 of Article 6B of Regulation (EC)
(cid:145)insofar as the Commission considers that compliance with the
No 1222/94, which stipulates that
international commitments of
it may apply a reduction
coefficient to applications for certificates currently under examination, taking account, inter alia, of the
method of calculation referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4. It may also suspend the issuing of certificates(cid:146).

the European Union may be jeopardised,

The Commission is aware of the impact which the suspension of the issue of certificates has on the food-
processing industry. It is continuing to monitor both the market situation and payments made by the
Member States, and will not fail to take appropriate measures, including a resumption in the issue of
certificates.

(2001/C 81 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2257/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Transport of live farm animals

long journeys often result

Experience shows that
in significant welfare problems for farm animals.
Moreover, scientific research indicates that long journeys should be avoided. A majority paper on sheep
transport by scientists from Bristol University concluded that (cid:145)from a welfare point of view, transport
distances and times should be kept to the minimum(cid:146). The Scientific Veterinary Committee (SVC) has
concluded that (cid:145)it would be best for the welfare of slaughter pigs for transport to be as short as possible(cid:146).