WRITTEN QUESTION P-1086/01 by Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Slovenia's free-trade agreements with Croatia, FYROM and Bosnia.
Date: 2001-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, accession to the European Union, common commercial policy, free-trade agreement, restriction on competition, trade policy

C 318 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

and comitology practices; and the deconcentration of responsibilities to the Commission(cid:146)s Delegations. The
Commission(cid:146)s Delegation in Nicaragua, which is responsible for the PRRAC, is one of the 23 priority
Delegations to be included in the first wave of deconcentration in 2001. The reform is now under active
implementation. The Commission believes that, once completed, these measures will make a significant
improvement in the quality and timely delivery of the Commission(cid:146)s external assistance.

The Commission will present soon a Communication on the issue of linking relief, rehabilitation and
development which recognises the complexities of the problems and identifies a range of measures that
could improve the Community(cid:146)s record, in particular:

(cid:129) to facilitate co-ordination on a more systematic basis;

(cid:129) to reduce time delays, mobilise adequate resources in a timely fashion, and ensure the involvement of

appropriate partners.

(1) SEC(2000) 814.

(2001/C 318 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1086/01

by Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 March 2001)

Subject: Slovenia(cid:146)s free-trade agreements with Croatia, FYROM and Bosnia

In the context of the negotiations on Slovenia(cid:146)s accession to the EU, the EU has asked that country to drop
its free-trade agreements with Croatia, FYROM and Bosnia in order to comply with the obligations of EU
membership. Free-trade agreements with countries which do not belong to the EU would give Slovenian
companies a competitive advantage over undertakings in other EU countries. This would affect the
operation of the common agricultural policy, the implementation of the Common Customs Tariff and the
free movement of goods within the internal market.

Does the Commission agree that free trade between Slovenia and Croatia, FYROM and Bosnia would
enhance regional cooperation, which is vital to peace and stabilty in the Balkans and will contribute to
further economic development of all the countries involved?

Is it true that transitional periods in respect of the free-trade agreements of a new European Union
Member State with a non-Member State have been granted in the past?

Does the Commission support the view that the free-trade agreements between Slovenia and Croatia,
FYROM and Bosnia can be brought in line with the trade liberalisation measures envisaged for the
countries of South-east Europe in the framework of the stabilisation and association processes?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2001)

The Commission confirms that any arrangement allowing Slovenia to maintain separate trade agreements
with third countries after accession to the Union would disrupt the functioning of several key Community
policies, notably the Common Commercial Policy, the Common Agriculture Policy and the Customs
Union. It would also be incompatible with the operation of the single market without internal borders. It
would also provide Slovenian companies with an unfair competitive advantage over other Community
undertakings,
Former
trade
Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are based on different principles than those followed under
the Union(cid:146)s Stabilisation and Association Process, resulting in better access to these markets for Slovenian
products than those enjoyed by Community products.

agreements with Croatia

Slovenia(cid:146)s

and the

current

since

free

No transitional arrangement has ever been granted to any acceding State that would allow it to maintain
a bilateral free trade agreement with a third country.

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/199

Promoting regional trade by means of asymmetrical trade concessions in favour of the countries concerned
is an important element of the Union(cid:146)s Stabilisation and Association Process for south-east Europe.
Fostering economic development is also an objective of the Stabilisation and Association Agreements
(SAAs), one of which will soon be signed with FYROM, while one is currently under negotiation with
Croatia. The autonomous measures already granted by the Union, soon to be superseded by the
Stabilisation and Association Agreements, liberalise approximately 95 % of these countries(cid:146) exports to the
Union. Upon accession, Slovenia will become a party to these agreements, which are more comprehensive
in scope than its current arrangements, and would provide a solution to a large part of the concerns put
forward by Slovenia. As the Honourable Member points out, such agreements will indeed enhance regional
co-operation, thus supporting peace, stability and further economic development in the Western Balkans.

Technical contacts are ongoing with the Slovenian authorities to assess the practical dimension of the
issue.

(2001/C 318 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1088/01

by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Commission

(27 March 2001)

Subject: Schengen agreement (cid:129) medical passport, identification card and permanent border control

For which medicines is special certification required under Schengen rules when private individuals cross
national frontiers, and is the Danish Government(cid:146)s list consistent with Schengen rules?

Under Schengen rules, must all citizens be able to identify themselves to the police by means of an ID card
to be carried at all times, or is it permissible not to carry an ID card? Which ID cards will be recognised in
Denmark when the country joins the Schengen area on 25 March 2001?

Do the rules allow the permanent deployment of patrol cars at internal borders in the Schengen area to:

(cid:129) check passports and/or identification papers,

(cid:129) carry out veterinary checks, and

(cid:129) verify compliance with environmental legislation?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2001)

The Schengen rules do not lay down any list of medicines for which a traveller in the Schengen
area requires special certification. However, Article 75 of the Convention implementing the Schengen
Agreement provides that persons may carry the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that are
necessary for their medical treatment provided that they can produce a certificate issued by a competent
authority.

This rule covers drugs and substances prescribed by a doctor which the persons wishing to visit another
Member State need during their stay.

The Article refers to medicines that are mentioned in international Conventions on drugs (Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances) or which contain
substances mentioned in those Conventions and are hence governed by national laws on drugs. However,
in accordance with these Conventions, the checks provided for in national legislation on drugs may also
cover other substances. Consequently, the list of products that constitute or contain narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances may vary from one State to another.