WRITTEN QUESTION P-0571/01 by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Communication of confidential information by the Commission.
Date: 2001-02-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: access to EU information, administration of the Institutions, audit, budgetary control, interinstitutional relations (EU), report

C 235 E/226

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Consequently, the charges in question do appear to be taxes with equivalent effect to customs duties on
import, which are incompatible with Articles 23, 25 and 133 of the EC Treaty (formerly Articles 9, 12 and
113), and the Commission intends to continue the proceedings initiated against Greece.

(2001/C 235 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0550/01

by Dirk Sterckx (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 February 2001)

Subject: Impounding of Belgian ham in Portugal in the wake of the dioxin crisis

In 1999, the Portuguese authorities impounded a number of deliveries of ham from a Flemish company
which bore a date which gave grounds for suspecting that they might be contaminated with dioxin.
Similar products held in stock from the same period were tested and analysed for dioxin contamination.
Unlike the authorities in other countries, the Portuguese authorities have never adopted the method of
testing samples. In the interim, the goods have been declared unfit for human consumption and actually
had to be destroyed. The company involved is not eligible for the aid made available in Belgium for the
destruction of products from the suspect period because the final date for applications for such aid has
passed.

Is the Commission aware of the attitude of the Portuguese authorities to the Belgian method of testing and
analysing samples? Is it acceptable that, because of the attitude of the Portuguese authorities, the products
have now been declared unfit for human consumption and the company involved can no longer destroy
them and claim the aid made available in Belgium for the destruction of products from the suspect period?
How many complaints has the Commission received to date about measures taken by Member States
against Belgian products in the wake of the dioxin crisis?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2001)

The Commission has been informed on a number of occasions about a persistent problem with batches of
animal foodstuffs originating from Belgium which were delivered to Portugal during the dioxin crisis. The
Member States concerned also drew attention to this problem at the meeting of the Standing Veterinary
Committee on 4 April 2000. As can be seen from the report of this meeting published on the Internet (1),
the Commission was unable to find a solution to this problem and has urged the two parties to reach
a compromise. Even though this matter arose in connection with the implementation of Community
measures taken during the dioxin crisis, it is in fact a trade dispute between two private companies. Both
of
the Member States involved have defended their national undertakings by attaching a different
interpretation to the sampling required in order to settle the dispute.

To date, the Commission has received 166 complaints about measures taken by Member States against
Belgian products in the wake of the dioxin crisis.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/rc/svc/index_en.html.

(2001/C 235 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0571/01

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 February 2001)

Subject: Communication of confidential information by the Commission

Article 197 of the EC Treaty constitutes the legal basis for controls on the Commission by the European
Parliament and its Members. If necessary, this covers the communication of confidential information by the
Commission.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/227

Will the Commission forward to me copies of the audit report of its financial control service on ECHO-
Flight and the audit reports of Ernst &Young on the Berlaymont building?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2001)

The audit reports on the two subjects mentioned by the Honourable Member, together with information
on the conclusions drawn from those reports, have already been forwarded to Parliament on a confidential
basis, in accordance with Article 276 (formerly Article 206) of the EC Treaty.

The Commission forwarded the report on Echo Flight in the context of the 1998 discharge and on
9 February 2001, in the context of the 1999 discharge, it forwarded the confidential audit reports of Ernst
& Young to Mrs Theato, who chairs the Committee on Budgetary Control.

(2001/C 235 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0576/01

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(27 February 2001)

Subject: Freedom of association in Bulgaria

On 29 February 2000, the Constitutional Court in Bulgaria declared a Macedonian-based political party,
OMO (cid:145)llinden(cid:146) (cid:129) PIRIN, unconstitutional. That party was registered in 1999 and took part
in the
municipal elections in October 1999. It has always declared that it would respect the constitutional and
legal system of Bulgaria and carry out its political activities peacefully. The party has lodged a complaint
with the European Court of Human Rights.

On 4 February 2000, a delegation of this party was prevented by the police from laying flowers on
a monument, although the police failed to produce any document in support of its action.

Does the Commission take the view that such decisions may violate the right of freedom of association
and constitutes discrimination against a national minority? Has the Commission asked for any explanation
from the Bulgarian authorities? Can the Commission indicate any justification received from the Bulgarian
authorities?

Does the Commission consider that such a decision is compatible with respect for the democratic criteria
established in Copenhagen? Has the Commission any intention of dealing with this kind of attitude in the
forthcoming reports on the progress made by the applicant countries?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2001)

The Commission is aware of the ruling of the Bulgarian Constitutional Court concerning OMO-Illinden (cid:129)
PIRIN and that a complaint has been lodged with the European Court of Human Rights.

Regarding the specific incident to which the Honourable Member refers, the Commission does not possess
further information, and is therefore unable to comment.

In line with the Copenhagen criteria, the Commission follows closely respect for democracy, the rule of
law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. It will continue to monitor this and report
as appropriate in its next Regular Report.