WRITTEN QUESTION E-2217/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Felling of tropical rainforests and oil palms in Borneo.
Date: 2000-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European forestry policy, deforestation, sustainable forest management, tropical forest, vegetable oil

C 103 E/90

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

(2001/C 103 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2217/00

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Subject: Felling of tropical rainforests and oil palms in Borneo

In order to export tropical timber to Europe a certificate is now required to show that the timber was
obtained by sustainable felling. Although such a certificate is to be welcomed,
the boycotting of
commercially felled tropical timber has been of little benefit to the forests, since they are being destroyed
just as quickly as before. Once a forest has been felled (cid:129) the main markets for the tropical wood being
Japan, Korea and China (cid:129) the worthless areas remaining are converted into oil palm plantations. Several
million hectares of rainforest in Borneo have been converted in this way.

The oil is used as an industrial grease, and the cosmetics industry uses it in the manufacture of soap,
lipstick and hand-cream. However, most often it finds it way into the food industry. The product which
uses the most palm oil is margarine.

1.

Is the Commission aware that the main consumers of this palm oil are in Europe?

Does not the Commission also consider that the purchase of this oil by industry the EU encourages

2.
the felling of rainforests?

Is the Commission funding programmes in Borneo to combat further felling of rainforests in order to

3.
promote the sustainable use of these forests?

Is the Commission considering funding programmes to regenerate destroyed areas of rainforest
4.
(e.g. in order to manage them in an environmentally sound manner) so as to prevent further felling and
conversion to palm oil plantations?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

In order to export tropical timber to Europe, no certificate is required to show that the timber was
obtained by sustainable felling. Some European buyers require such certificates, but Community regula-
tions do not contain such requirements.

The Commission is aware of the fact that Europe is a major consumer of palm oil, it being mostly used for
diverse products in the food and cosmetics industries.

Demand for palm oil from European consumers does imply the establishment of palm oil plantations in
tropical countries and the Commission is concerned about the conversion of natural forests into oil palm
plantations. However, national policies of the countries concerned still determine on which type of land
such plantations are established (waste land, agricultural land, forest land).

The Commission has two major projects in Kalimantan, designed to bring about sustainable forest
management (Berau and South/Central Kalimantan projects). Details are available under http://www.eu-
flb.or.id.

The Commission is already financing programmes for the renewal of affected forest areas under a
component of the above mentioned South/Central Kalimantan project.

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/91

More generally, as set out in the recent communication on development policy (1), the Commission will
take steps to improve coherence between development policy and other Community policies.

(1) COM(2000) 212 final.

(2001/C 103 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2222/00

by Bernard Poignant (PSE) to the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Subject: Internal market and vehicle registration

The European Union(cid:146)s internal market is based on a fundamental principle: freedom of movement for
persons, goods, services and capital.

One of the aims of Community legislation is to guarantee that the principle of free movement is respected
and, hence, that any national practice acting as a hindrance to this freedom is restricted.

The concept of European citizenship has also been strengthened as a result of the Treaty of Amsterdam.
Guaranteeing mobility for individuals,
in particular young people, in the European Union will have a
decisive impact on the success of this project.

However, there are still national administrative measures which may be considered as a hindrance to
movement within the Community.

For instance, what happens to someone who decides to spend a few months in another EU Member State
with a car registered in his country of origin? Is he obliged to change the vehicle(cid:146)s registration and
insurance in the host country? If so, could consideration be given to adopting a provision to ensure that
the vehicle may still be used without having to make these changes?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(14 September 2000)

The tax arrangements relating to the temporary use of a vehicle in a Member State other than that in
which it has been registered are set out in Directive 83/182/EEC of 28 March 1983 on tax exemptions
within the Community for certain means of transport temporarily imported into one Member State from
another (1).

Under the Directive, tax exemption is granted for a period, continuous or otherwise, of not more than six
months in any twelve months for the temporary use of private vehicles and certain other means of
transport in a Member State other than that of registration, provided that the user has his or her normal
residence in a Member State other than the Member State of temporary importation, that he or she
employs the means of transport in question for his or her private use and the said means of transport is
not hired out or lent to a resident of that Member State. No change in registration is required for tax
purposes if use remains temporary within the meaning of the Directive.

Directive 83/182/EEC was implemented in 1984 and does not cover all the possible cases that could arise
in the single market as it has developed since 1 January 1993 in particular. The Commission has therefore
presented a proposal (2) to the Council to replace the Directive in question. The proposal has been
approved by Parliament but has not yet been adopted by the Council. To interpret the directive currently
in force, as far as possible in line with the needs of the European internal market, the Commission goes by
the case law of the Court and the rules governing the internal market.

In regard to civil liability resulting from the movement of vehicles, the Community legislation in force
aims to guarantee the free movement of vehicles within the Community and to compensate victims of
road accidents. The legislation was adopted on the basis of the provisions of the EC Treaty (Article 95)
(formerly Article 100a) on the establishment of an internal market between Member States.