WRITTEN QUESTION E-3862/00 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Opening up of third-country markets.
Date: 2000-12-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: World Trade Organisation, export (EU), market access, negotiation of an agreement (EU), quantitative restriction, tariff reduction, textile product, third country

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/71

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2001)

The Commission is aware that the Segura basin is contaminated by an excess of nitrates, caused principally
by intensive agricultural practices, including pig-farming or some types of fruit and vegetable production.
The Segura basin authority has named three sites in the region of Valencia and eight in the region of
Murcia where nitrates in surface water regularly exceed the level of 50 milligrams/litre (mg/l). In ground-
water, seven aquifers exceed altogether or locally 50 mg/l in the Murcia region (which covers 95 % of the
Segura basin).

While the region of Valencia recently officially designated these areas as vulnerable and published an
action programme (31 January 2000), however, the region of Murcia in its official bulletin of 11 January
2000 stated that there were no problems connected with agricultural nitrates on its territory.

Having come across similar shortcomings in several regions of Spain, the Commission is currently looking
into the question. An earlier procedure dealing with the lack of action programmes led to the condemna-
tion of Spain by the Court of Justice (1) in April 2000. Finally, within the context of the rural development
plans, Spain is bound to designate all its vulnerable areas before the end of 2001, failing which the
Commission may contemplate suspending Community aid.

(1) Case C-274/98, Court Reports p. I-2823.

(2001/C 187 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3862/00

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Subject: Opening up of third-country markets

The European Union has adopted a series of measures aimed at liberalising imports of 65 categories of
textile products and clothing from other member countries of the World Trade Organisation, with a view
to completing Stage 3 of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.

In conjunction with these measures it has started negotiations with third countries to ensure that their
markets are opened up further and hence bring about a better balance in trade between the EU and third
countries.

Can the Commission specify what measures have been proposed to achieve this aim?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2001)

In proposing to Council the list of products to be integrated in the Third Stage of Integration under the
World trade organization (WTO) Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), the Commission took the line
that due to the absence of improved market access for Community textiles and clothing exports in third
countries, third stage liberalisation should not go beyond the legal requirements of the ATC. Therefore,
a number of quotas on the most sensitive products, have been retained whilst envisaging the possibility for
further liberalisation in exchange for better access to third countries textiles clothing markets.

In order to address the issue of lack of market access, the Council simultaneously adopted negotiating
directives for the Commission to hold bilateral market access negotiations with third countries, on
a mutually beneficial basis. Such talks could lead to improved market access to the Community market
for third countries, going beyond the content of the third stage liberalisation, on a bilateral basis.

C 187 E/72

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

The Commission has publicly invited all textiles exporting WTO members to show their willingness to
engage in such market access talks and a number of them have already expressed interest.

So far the Commission has been able to negotiate and initial an agreement with Sri Lanka. Under the deal
initialled on 5 December 2000, Sri Lanka will reduce and bind tariffs on Community textile exports, while
the Community will suspend the four textiles quotas currently applicable on Sri Lanka(cid:146)s exports to the
Community.

Other third countries have expressed interest and the Commission is presently engaged in exploratory talks
with these third countries.

(2001/C 187 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3865/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Environmental rehabilitation of Mt Mainalo

(8 December 2000)

Some four months have now elapsed since the catastrophic fires which ravaged Arcadia and in particular
the fir forest of Mt Mainalo which is a geomorphological site unparalleled in Greece. Because of its special
environmental significance, Mt Mainalo has been included in the Natura 2000 network, while 5 of the 33
species of amphibian found in the region are referred to in Community Directive 92/43/EEC (1) and are
protected by Greek legislation and the Bern Convention; one of these species is found nowhere else in the
Peloponnese.

Local citizens and social, environmental and political bodies are concerned that work to begin rehabilitat-
ing the destroyed forest and wooded areas has been delayed, and there are fears that, owing to the lack of
anti-erosion measures, erosion (cid:129) particularly on sloping ground (cid:129) will frustrate efforts to rehabilitate the
forest. Furthermore, I have received complaints that steps are being taken to tarmac forest tracks which
will make it easier to drive to the most remote shelters in this wild region, thus leading to an upsurge in
poaching and noise and atmospheric pollution and posing a risk of fire which will in turn nourish well-
founded expectations that the land will be developed.

Will the Commission say what measures the Greek Government has taken to draw on Community funds
to tackle the disasters which have struck Mt Mainalo?

Have the relevant Greek authorities submitted specific programmes with a detailed description of the
reforestation, anti-erosion and flood prevention projects and actions planned for the region? If so, when?
More generally as regards the regions included in Natura 2000, a Commission representative recently told
the European Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on the Environment that, where no protection was provided for
regions included in Natura 2000, structural fund aid would be suspended.

Do any management plans exist for the protected regions, and are there any management bodies to
promote the implementation of such plans in Greece?

Are the nature conservation agencies in Greece adequately staffed or are there any weaknesses or
shortcomings here?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2001)

Mt Mainalo is included in the list of sites of Community importance proposed by Greece by virtue of
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora. In view of the future inclusion of the site in the Natura 2000 network, the national authorities
have to ensure that its conservation value is preserved.