WRITTEN QUESTION E-4036/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. 133 Committee (2).
Date: 2001-01-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, European Commission, comitology, committee (EU), common commercial policy, interinstitutional relations (EU), transparency in decision-making

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/21

1. When was the 133 Committee established and constituted?

2. Who serve as full and substitute members on the 133 Committee?

3.

How many times has the 133 Committee met since it was established?

4. What issues has the 133 Committee debated and settled since it was established?

5.

How many proposals from the 133 Committee has Coreper approved without further debate?

(2001/C 261 E/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4036/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(3 January 2001)

Subject: 133 Committee (2)

The 133 Committee is the real power behind and decision-making centre for the European Union(cid:146)s
commercial policy. It takes its name from Article 133 of the Treaty of Amsterdam. That article provides
for the establishment of a special committee appointed by the Council to assist the European Commission.
The 133 Committee constitutes the link between the European Commission and the Council.

Each Member State has one full and one substitute member to represent it on that committee. Those civil
servants take important decisions relating to international trade issues such as the banana dispute, the
supply of medicinal products to poor countries and the American levy on European steel. The Council
resolves any political problems and ratifies the decisions taken by the committee. Some proposals are
debated solely within the committee and approved en bloc by Coreper (the national civil servants
appointed to the European Union) without further debate.

Are reports published about the documents used by and the debates in the 133 Committee?

1.

2.

If so, does the public have access to those reports?

(a)

If not, why are no reports published about the documents used by and the debates in the 133
Committee, given the political nature of the decisions taken?

(b) Will the Council ensure that, henceforth, reports are published about the documents used by and
the debates in the 133 Committee? Will it also ensure that the public has access to those reports?
If not, why does the Council refuse inspection of the decision-making process in the 133
Committee?

(2001/C 261 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4037/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(3 January 2001)

Subject: 133 Committee (3)

The 133 Committee is the real power behind and decision-making centre for the European Union(cid:146)s
commercial policy. It takes its name from Article 133 of the Treaty of Amsterdam. That article provides
for the establishment of a special committee appointed by the Council to assist the European Commission.
The 133 Committee constitutes the link between the European Commission and the Council.

Each Member State has one full and one substitute member to represent it on that committee. Those civil
servants take important decisions relating to international trade issues such as the banana dispute, the
supply of medicinal products to poor countries and the American levy on European steel. The Council
resolves any political problems and ratifies the decisions taken by the committee. Some proposals are
debated solely within the committee and approved en bloc by Coreper (the national civil servants
appointed to the European Union) without further debate.