WRITTEN QUESTION E-3413/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Trade agreement between the EU and China.
Date: 2000-11-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, World Trade Organisation, accession to an agreement, trade agreement (EU)

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/161

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3404/00, E-3405/00, E-3406/00 and E-3408/00
given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2000)

The Commission is not aware of the specific situation concerning the Sicilian family outlined in the
Honourable Members(cid:146) questions. If the Honourable Members could provide details of the case to the
Commission, it could investigate further.

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to its answer to Written Question P-3394/00 by
Mr Musumeci (1) for an explanation of Community law on the renewal and withdrawal of residence
permits as well as an explanation of the correspondence between the Commission and the German
authorities on this subject. The German authorities have replied to the letter mentioned in the answer to
Written Question P-3394/00 and have assured the Commission that they have written to the authorities at
L(cid:228)nder level, who in turn have informed their authorities responsible for foreigners.

the
The Commission has taken infringement proceedings against Germany on the related topic of
expulsion of Italians from Germany for alleged public order offences. Other than launching infringement
proceedings the Commission has no power to take other action to require a Member State to comply with
Community law. There are no specific sanctions for breach of the rules on free movement of workers
other than those which apply generally in the case of a breach of Community law. Union citizens who are
involuntarily unemployed are entitled to social assistance, and must not be expelled from the territory for
that reason.

The right to free movement of workers is a fundamental right under Community law. Any citizen who
feels his right to free movement has been breached may complain to the Commission or petition the
Parliament. He may also start proceedings before national courts alleging that national authorities have
breached his Community law rights and are thus liable to compensate him (2).

The Commission is forwarding directly to the Honourable Members and to the General secretariat of the
Parliament its report on Member States(cid:146) legal provisions to combat discrimination for information on the
measures introduced by Germany to combat racism, intolerance and xenophobia.

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 229.
(2) See Cases C-9/90 Francovich [1991] ECR I-5357 and C-48/93 Brasserie du PŒcheur [1996] ECR I-1029.

(2001/C 151 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3413/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Trade agreement between the EU and China

In February 2000 the negotiations between the EU and China on the conditions for China to join the
WTO were broken off.

What progress has been made in the contacts and negotiations between the EU and China since then?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2000)

The bilateral negotiations between the Community and China concerning the conditions for China(cid:146)s entry
into the World Trade Organisation were concluded on 19 May 2000. The member of the Commission

C 151 E/162

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

responsible for conducting these negotiations reported regularly on their progress to the relevant
committee, including immediately after their conclusion in May 2000. Details of the outcome are sent
direct to the Honourable Member, who may also wish to refer to the Commission(cid:146)s website for the most
up to date information (1), and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(1) http://www.cc.cec:8082/comm/trade/bilateral/china/wto.htm.

(2001/C 151 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3414/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Size of Swedish fermented Baltic herring ((cid:145)surstr(cid:246)mming(cid:146)) tins

According to (cid:145)Dagens Industri(cid:146) of 2 August 2000 the EU has targeting the Norrland surstr(cid:246)mming.
According to the report, the tins had to be made narrower and taller or production would be halted. To
comply with the EU decree Wahlstr(cid:246)ms Fisk at Utvaln(cid:228)s, near G(cid:228)vle, had to alter its canning plant to
rescue production for the start of the surstr(cid:246)mming starting date of 17 August.

Earlier,
in summer 1998, there was a debate in Sweden on whether or not surstr(cid:246)mming could be
prepared in wooden barrels. On that occasion it turned out that Swedish officials had interpreted the EU
directives too zealously.

What was the position in August 2000? Was it the Commission directive which obliged surstr(cid:246)mming
producers to change the size of their tins, or was it the Swedish authorities once again over-zealously
interpreting a directive?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 2000)

The Community has no power to set the size of fish tins nor is there any need to legislate on this. It is up
to the industry, if it wishes, to propose the use of norms issued by the standardisation organisations.

(2001/C 151 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3415/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: EU Member States and the international Convention for the protection of the European Commu-

nity(cid:146)s financial interests

This Convention has been in existence for five years. By January 2000 it had been adopted by only 5 of
the 15 Member States: Sweden, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Have any more countries now signed the convention and what is the Commission doing to persuade more
countries to adopt it?

Would it not be appropriate to decide that countries that have not signed the Convention cannot take
responsibility for the proper administration of EU payments and that payments to those countries should
therefore be suspended until they have adopted the Convention?