WRITTEN QUESTION E-0614/01 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Football transfer fees.
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: complaint to the Commission, professional sport, sports body, termination of a contract, work contract

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/159

(2001/C 261 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0609/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Greek-Turkish agreement to construct new natural gas pipelines under the Inogate Umbrella

Agreement

An agreement was reached recently between the Greek company DEPA and the Turkish company BOTAS
to build a bi-directional natural gas pipeline linking the broader Caspian Sea region with consumer
countries in Europe under the Inogate Umbrella Agreement. In accordance with the analytical memo-
randum accompanying this agreement, the two countries are committed to creating a joint body to
monitor the project, draw up a feasibility study and seek funding for the construction of the pipeline. Will
the Commission say:

Can it provide details concerning the agreement in question and the contribution it will make

1.
towards making the European Union self-sufficient in energy?

2.

Do any estimates exist regarding the route this pipeline is likely to take?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 2001)

The Commission can confirm that under the Inogate programme (Interstate Oil and Gas Transport to
Europe) a cooperation agreement has been concluded between DEPA (Greece) and BOTAS (Turkey) to
study interconnections between the Greek and Turkish gas networks at an initial stage and subsequently
the extension of the project to neighbouring Balkan countries. This project to interconnect gas networks
makes provision for an extension to Italy and the principle of East-West and West-East supplies.

Greece and Turkey are signatories to the Inogate Umbrella Agreement (the institutional framework for the
establishment of these oil and gas transportation systems), as are the following countries: Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Belarus,
Moldova, Romania, Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria et Croatia.

The Commission regards this agreement as important for meeting the growing demand for gas in Europe,
especially the internal market of an enlarged Community, and for the security and diversity of supplies.
This interconnection will offer the European gas market supplies from the Caspian Sea area, Central Asia
and Iran via Turkey and from the Maghreb and Mashreq via Italy and Turkey (southern link of network) in
addition to traditional gas suppliers (Russia, Algeria and Norway).

The engineering studies to trace the path of the pipeline have not yet started. The Commission is engaged
in talks with the Greek and Turkish authorities and companies concerning the financing of feasibility
studies under Community financial and technical assistance instruments.

(2001/C 261 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0614/01

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Football transfer fees

It is said that a small number of complaints started the current football transfer fees debate.

C 261 E/160

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

How many complaints had the Commission received when it started the process of talking to the various
footballing authorities?

How many complaints has it received in total?

Who made these complaints and why?

How many representatives received by the Commission have asked for the current system to be
maintained?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Four formal complaints gave rise to the proceedings opened against the International Federation of
Association Football (FIFA) in December 1998. Subsequently, the Commission received a further formal
complaint.

By September 2000, when the Commission stepped up its discussions with the football authorities, two
complaints, both concerning the same case, had already been withdrawn following a settlement with FIFA.

As a matter of principle the Commission is unable to disclose the names of complainants in matters
concerning procedures relating to application of the competition rules of the EC Treaty.

The complaints concerned two aspects of the FIFA rules on international transfers: a total prohibition of
unilateral termination of contracts and payment of compensation for transfer at the end of the contractual
period in situations not covered by the judgment in Bosman.

The Commission has received many representations advocating the retention of the current FIFA rules. It
has also received many others urging that those rules be amended.

After a meeting on 5 March 2001, FIFA, in agreement with the Union of European Football Associations
(UEFA), undertook to make changes in the very near future to its 1997 rules on the status and transfer of
players in accordance with principles that have been made public.

(2001/C 261 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0619/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(2 March 2001)

Subject: Democratic control of European commercial policy

There is in effect no democratic control of the EU(cid:146)s commercial policy. The real power and decision-
making centre is located in the fifteen national civil servants of the 133 committee. This committee is
named after Article 133 of the EC treaty and was set up by the Coumcil to support the Commission.

Commissioner Lamy has proposed a substantial increase in Parliament(cid:146)s say in terms of commercial policy
(P-3674/00) (1). He is aware that referring to the role played in the Council by the governments (cid:129) which
are accountable to their own national parliaments (cid:129) is no remedy for the lack of democratic control.