WRITTEN QUESTION P-3309/00 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Remuneration of the experts assessing the situation in Austria.
Date: 2000-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, EU financing, committee (EU), extreme right, international sanctions

C 151 E/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

When drawing up its proposal the Commission recognised that a risk did indeed exist that imports of
sensitive agricultural products such as sugar might increase above traditional
levels with a resulting
disturbance of the market organisations concerned. For this reason, free access is envisaged to be phased
in over a transitional period of three years during which the impact can better be assessed.

In addition, safeguard measures are foreseen which provide for tariff concessions to be temporarily
suspended in cases of fraud, failure to adhere to the rules of origin or huge increases in imports into the
Community. Also the rules of origin and in particular the minimum added-value conditions will provide
further safeguards.

The Commission is furthermore being consistent with its agricultural sector proposal on the common
market organisation to apply in the sugar sector from 1 July 2001 onwards (2) which essentially provides
for a breathing space of two years during which time deeper reforms will be examined on the basis of
studies of
the
Community(cid:146)s agri-food processing industry as a whole.

the common market organisation for sugar in particular and of

the functioning of

The potential undesired side effects underlined by the Honourable Member do indeed present a challenge
to the Community(cid:146)s policy in the sugar sector until now and demonstrate the difficulties in reconciling
conflicting policy objectives. In the final analysis, however, the Commission has taken the view that the
potential benefits from its proposal clearly outweigh the potential costs for the Community when an
overall view is taken. This being said, the Commission will monitor very carefully future developments in
the sugar sector with a view to taking appropriate measures as and when necessary.

(1) COM(2000) 561 final.
(2) COM(2000) 604 final.

(2001/C 151 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3309/00

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 October 2000)

Subject: Remuneration of the experts assessing the situation in Austria

A group of three experts was set up by one of the EU institutions to assess the possibility of lifting the
sanctions against Austria. The group reported that it would indeed be possible to lift the sanctions. Which
institution remunerated the experts, and how much did they receive?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(29 November 2000)

The Commission did not pay the experts(cid:146) fee, and the Honourable Member is kindly requested to contact
the Council in this connection.

(2001/C 151 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3310/00

by Giuseppe Di Lello Finuoli (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 October 2000)

Subject: Illegal building works

The municipality of Villa Castelli (Brindisi, Italy) includes a (cid:145)gravina(cid:146) (natural canal that is a characteristic
feature of the Apulian countryside), which is of outstanding natural beauty.