WRITTEN QUESTION E-4020/00 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE), Martin Callanan (PPE-DE), Nirj Deva (PPE-DE), Den Dover (PPE-DE), Jacqueline Foster (PPE-DE), Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE), Roger Helmer (PPE-DE), Bashir Khanbhai (PPE-DE), Timothy Kirkhope (PPE-DE), Neil Parish (PPE-DE) and Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Weights and measures.
Date: 2000-12-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, bulk product, fruit, intra-EU trade, vegetable, weights and measures

C 174 E/216

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

The first Association Council meeting took place in Luxembourg on 13 June, bringing together the Israeli
Prime Minister and his 15 EU partners. The Association Council confirmed the launch of a number of
cooperation activities including: a meeting of customs experts on 11 September; the first meeting to
negotiate greater liberalisation of agricultural trade on 6 November; the third meeting of the Scientific and
Technical Joint Committee on 22 November; the first meeting of the Joint Committee on the Agreement
on good laboratory practices on 27 November and the first meeting on economic dialogue on 5 December.

Recent events in the Middle East have resulted in a number of EU and European Parliament declarations,
which make no mention of a change in EU-Israeli relations.

Naturally, the Commissioner for external relations and foreign ministers from the Member States meet
regularly, particularly at the General Affairs Council.

(2001/C 174 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4020/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE), Martin Callanan (PPE-DE), Nirj Deva (PPE-DE),
Den Dover (PPE-DE), Jacqueline Foster (PPE-DE), Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE),
Roger Helmer (PPE-DE), Bashir Khanbhai (PPE-DE), Timothy Kirkhope (PPE-DE),
Neil Parish (PPE-DE) and Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Weights and measures

(21 December 2000)

Is the Commission aware that earlier this year a Sunderland greengrocer, Steve Thoburn, was approached
by two trading standards officers and two policemen, who, after informing him that it was against the law
for him to sell his goods in imperial measurements (pounds and ounces) rather than in metric measure-
ments, seized his imperial scales, and that Mr Thoburn later received a summons to appear in court on the
grounds that he had infringed the rules which came into force on 1 January of this year designed to make
Britain compliant with the EU(cid:146)s directives on metrification?

Could the Commission explain why it believes that it should be illegal for market traders to sell their wares
in imperial measurements, and, if that is because the Commission believes that it is necessary to achieve a
single market, to explain why a Single Market (as opposed to a single economy) within the European
Union requires the abolition of imperial measures for the sale of loose goods?

Could the Commission also indicate whether it supports the actions of
the British authorities in
prosecuting a man who is both respecting the traditions of his country and offering a service to his
customers which he believes they want, and if the British government were not to initiate prosecutions of
greengrocers selling produce only in imperial measures whether the Commission would seek to refer the
matter to the Court of Justice, or would it use the discretion granted to it by the Court of Justice (Case 87/
89 (1990) ECR I 1981) not to do so?

Finally, can the Commission confirm that it accepts that the articles covering (cid:145)supplementary indications(cid:146) in
the Commission(cid:146)s directives on units of measurement mean that is legal for traders in loose goods in the
UK to display prices in both imperial and metric measures at the same time at least until 2009?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2001)

The Commission has not been informed about the case of Mr Thoburn.

The Honourable Member refers to two elements in the Community legislation concerning units of
measurement.

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/217

The first element is the change to metrics, which started in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, prior to
its accession to the Community. The metric system of units has been agreed under the SI (International
System of Units). Most countries in the world, including the Member States, apply the metric system, with
the United States as the main exception, although it is a party to the SI. The decision to implement a
common system throughout the Community on metrication was taken by the Member States in 1971,
1980 and 1989. The United Kingdom fully agreed with this approach. Given the particular situation in the
United Kingdom and Ireland, it was, however, agreed to implement metrication in phases, according to a
detailed timeframe. As regards the final items, including (cid:145)goods sold loose in bulk(cid:146), the transitional period
was set until the end of 1999, allowing, in all, 20 years for retailers in Ireland and the United Kingdom to
adapt. From that date, all products sold must have metric indication.

Another question is whether other indications may be given as well. Community Directives state to this
effect that dual labelling shall be authorised at least until 2009, so as to allow all countries world-wide to
adapt to the SI, whilst maintaining trade flows.

It is the responsibility of national authorities to ensure that national law, implementing Community law, is
implemented in a correct way.

(2001/C 174 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4025/00

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: Refusal of grant to the International Youth Festival in Wertheim in Germany

I have received letters from the Huntingdon Town Council in England informing me that the European
Union has previously funded International Youth Festivals designed to promote the European Union.

Similar letters have been received form Huntingdon(cid:146)s twin towns, Wertheim am Main, Szentendre and
Salon de Provence.

This year, the European Union has decided to withdraw funding from the Wertheim am Main International
Youth Festival. I am told by Huntingdon Town Council that this has caused them (cid:145)consternation and great
concern(cid:146).

Why has the funding ceased?

Will the European Commission reconsider its decision to withdraw the funding?

What is the total amount of funding given by the European Commission to support international youth
festivals in each EU country and, specifically, to Huntingdon, Szentendre and Salon de Provence since
1 January 1986.

What is the annual budget for the European Commission(cid:146)s expenditure on international youth festivals.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 February 2001)

The request for funding for the Wertheim Youth Festival was submitted in the context of the Commission(cid:146)s
programme supporting actions to promote town-twinning.