WRITTEN QUESTION E-2269/00 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Insurance in Russia.
Date: 2000-07-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, extra-EU trade, insurance law

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/101

(cid:129) initiative by the French Republic with a view to the adoption of a Directive on the responsibility of
carriers. This initiative provides for the imposition of penalties by Member States on carriers
transporting into the territory of the Member States third country nationals not in possession of the
documents necessary for admission into the territory of the said States. The initiative also takes
account of the protection due to asylum applicants;

(cid:129) initiative of the French Republic with a view to the adoption of a draft Directive together with a draft
framework Decision on the prevention of unauthorised entry and residence. The draft texts are
intended to establish a framework of penalties for facilitators.

The Council is also expecting a number of Commission proposals in this area.

As regards the strengthening of customs controls, the Council would point to the Convention of
1.
26 July 1995 on the use of
information technology for customs purposes and the Convention of
18 December 1997 on mutual assistance and cooperation between customs administrations. These
Conventions (1) have not yet been adopted by all the Member States in accordance with their respective
constitutional rules.

2.
In addition, the Council would refer to the possibilities for intensified policing through projects for
recognised routes as provided for in the Resolution of 27 May 1999 on combating international crime
with fuller cover of the routes used (2).

The Tampere European Council(cid:146)s conclusions state that Eurojust will have the task of facilitating the
3.
proper coordination of national prosecuting authorities and of supporting criminal
investigations in
organised crime cases. The German delegation on the one hand, and the Portuguese, French, Swedish
and Belgian delegations, on the other, have forwarded draft Decisions setting up Eurojust.

The two draft Decisions concerned cover ways of combating trafficking in human beings; the first one
indirectly, in that it makes Eurojust responsible for supporting criminal investigations into particularly
serious crimes requiring recourse to mutual legal assistance if they are to be solved (3), and the other
explicitly, by incorporating trafficking in human beings (cid:129) as defined in the Council Decision of
3 December 1998 supplementing the definition in the Annex to the Europol Convention (4) (cid:129) into
Eurojust(cid:146)s sphere of competence.

(1) OJ C 316, 27.11.1995, p. 33 and OJ C 24, 23.1.1998, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 162, 9.6.1999, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 206, 19.7.2000, p. 1.
(4) OJ C 26, 30.1.1999, p. 21.

(2001/C 103 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2269/00

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Insurance in Russia

According to information obtained from the Finnish authorities, the Russian authorities are requiring
Finnish nationals travelling in their country to take out special insurance with Russian insurance firms and
do not recognise travel insurance taken out with firms operating in the European Union. This principle is
directly contrary international insurance conventions and causes unjustifiable harm to Finnish nationals
travelling in Russia.

What measures does the Commission propose to take to place pressure on the Russian government to halt
its arbitrary action with regard to the validity of insurance?

C 103 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2000)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member about the new Russian requirement on
travel insurance under Regulation No 1488 of the Russian Federation.

The Commission raised this issue at the Union-Russia subcommittee on trade and industry, when it last
met in Moscow on 9-10 March 2000. The Russian response was that it had been introduced on the basis
of reciprocity in view of analogous requirements in force in the Schengen countries vis-(cid:224)-vis Russian
travellers.

The Commission is continuing to examine this matter,
including the implications for international
insurance conventions, and is also checking Member States(cid:146) practice with regard to travel insurance. The
Commission may raise the question again at forthcoming meetings with Russia.

(2001/C 103 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2271/00

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Banana import fraud

Forged import licences for bananas have been in circulation on European territory for almost a year.
164 000 tonnes of bananas have entered our market in this way. The volume of fraudulently imported
bananas and the length of time over which this practice has gone on have caused prices to collapse, and
pose urgent questions as to the efficacy of controls.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to improve controls on the issuing of import licences?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-2237/00 by Mr Fruteau (1).

(1) See p. 93.

(2001/C 103 E/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2272/00

by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE), Giovanni Procacci (ELDR)
and Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Protecting the method of production, and quality, of mozzarella cheese

Is the Commission aware that, in Italy, only fresh milk may be used to make mozzarella cheese, and

1.
milk derivatives, and powdered milk in particular, may not be used for that purpose?

2.
In order to guarantee the authenticity of the products in question, would it not be appropriate for
the Commission to draw up a proposal for a regulation laying down rules concerning their production
that would apply to all producers in the Community,
thus maintaining both the quality and the
authenticity of the products, which would also benefit consumers?