WRITTEN QUESTION E-3716/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Protected geographical indication (PGI) for Balsamic vinegar from Modena.
Date: 2000-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Emilia-Romagna, common agricultural policy, condiment, designation of origin

C 174 E/124

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Community fishing vessels. The Commission may initiate legal procedures under the relevant provision of
the EC Treaty in respect of Member States failing to comply with their obligations under Community
legislation and notably the Community control system.

(1) OJ L 125, 27.4.1998.
(2) OJ L 171, 6.7.1994.
(3) OJ L 261, 20.10.1993.

(2001/C 174 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3716/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Protected geographical indication (PGI) for Balsamic vinegar from Modena

Italian Presidential decree No 162 of 12 February 1965 stipulates in Article 46 that the characteristics of
the composition and methods of preparing Balsamic vinegar from Modena are to be laid down by
ministerial decree.

Subsequently, a ministerial decree of 15 November 1989 gave Balsamic vinegar from Modena designation
of origin status.

Community procedures are now underway to obtain a protected geographical indication (PGI) for Balsamic
vinegar from Modena, whereas, traditional Balsamic vinegar from Modena and Reggio Emilia (cid:129) protected
at national level by law No 93 of 3 April 1996 (cid:129) already has PDO status.

In recent years, a number of firms have taken advantage of the above ministerial decree of 15 November
1989 to invest in the areas of Modena and Reggio Emilia in order to produce Balsamic vinegar with the
designation (cid:145)from Modena(cid:146).

In a judicial sitting on 30 October 2000 the Italian Council of State (cid:129) upholding the appeal submitted by
the De Nigris company from the Campania region (cid:129) overturned the judgment of the Lazio regional
administrative tribunal and, consequently, the Italian ministerial decree of 15 November 1989, de facto
confirming the (cid:145)non-territorial nature(cid:146) of the production of this product although it is typical of the
Modena and Reggio Emilia areas.

This decision will involve the disappearance of Balsamic vinegar from Modena, which is a different product
and cannot be confused (cid:129) in quality or price (cid:129) with traditional Balsamic vinegar from Modena and
Reggio Emilia, but which, like the latter, is linked to the area of the provinces of Modena and Reggio.

This judgment, with its concept of (cid:145)non-territoriality(cid:146), threatens all local products in the Community and in
regions and provinces of Italy, and not only Balsamic vinegar from Modena.

Can the Commission say whether it is prepared to defend the principle of territoriality, which is linked to
the valorisation, defence and production of local products?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2001)

The application for registration of aceto balsamico di Modena (Modena balsamic vinegar) as a protected
geographical
indication was made by Italy on the basis that this was a name protected by national
legislation under a decree of 15 November 1989 restricting the production area to the Provinces of
Modena and Reggio Emilia.

Italy first asked the Commission to await the outcome of an appeal to the Lazio Administrative Tribunal.
Subsequently the Council of State in its judicial capacity annulled the Administrative Tribunal(cid:146)s judgment
and consequently the 1989 decree. Following this Italy withdrew the application.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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The Commission can state as regards local products of well-defined origin that its set policy is to defend
their promotion on the basis of the territoriality principle,
i.e. defend the quality policy enshrined in
Regulations (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on protection of geographical indications and designations
of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1) and No 2082/92 of 14 July 1992 on certificates of
specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1).

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992.

(2001/C 174 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3719/00

by Demetrio Volcic (PSE) and Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Illegal immigration in Italy

(30 November 2000)

With the beginning of winter there has been a significant increase in illegal immigration by road in the
area of Gorizia and Trieste in Friuli Venezia-Giulia. The number of illegal immigrants that have crossed the
borders by road is now assuming similar proportions to the existing problem of illegal immigration on the
Italian coast, and in particular off Apulia and Calabria.

The Friuli Venezia-Giulia regional council has asked for army intervention to combat and manage this
problem. The Apulia regional council is asking what action the European Community intends to take.

On 16 March 2000 the European Parliament called on the EU to adopt adequate measures to deal with
this problem and the EC made a similar appeal at the Conference on Security in the Ionian and Adriatic
which took place in Ancona in May 2000.

The uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants causes problems in terms of public security and situations of
uncertainty.

Commissioner Vitorino says that he is fully aware of the problems linked to the trafficking in human
beings and lists the measures to combat organised crime already taken under various regional initiatives in
the countries of origin.

Can the Commission say:

1. what measures it intends to take to assist communities in the Italian regions directly concerned by this

problem;

2. how it intends to manage the movement of immigrants through EU countries of transit;

3.

4.

if it intends to set up monitoring points for immigration flows on Community territory;

if it intends to set up humanitarian aid units for immigrants in transit, and finally

5. what financial instruments it intends to use to help Italian regions of transit?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2001)

At the special European Council meeting, held in Tampere (Finland) on 15 and 16 October 1999, the
Heads of State and Government of the 15 Member States adopted far-reaching conclusions on, inter alia,
the way in which a common policy regarding illegal immigration (Article 63 (ex-Article 73k) paragraph 3
lit. (b) of the EC Treaty) should be shaped. The Heads of State and Government expressed their support for
a comprehensive management of migration flows at all their stages and called, inter alia, for the prevention
of all forms of smuggling and trafficking in human beings.