WRITTEN QUESTION E-1227/01 by António Campos (PSE) and Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. Wine fraud in Portugal.
Date: 2001-04-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Portugal, consumer protection, foodstuffs legislation, fraud, wine

C 261 E/232

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

(2001/C 261 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1206/01

by Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Models of privatisation and the case of Alenia Marconi Systems

The issue of privatisation has drawn attention to the serious shortcomings of the State, and has ended up
dismantling its areas of influence, leaving the responsibility for seeking and maintaining employment to a
market economy indebted to the interests of shareholders.

In the case of public-sector undertakings such as Finmeccanica, improvised privatisations and cooperation
agreements have in practice violated the procedures laid down and regulated by government, as in the
specific case of Alenia Marconi Systems.

Can the Commission confirm whether the agreements promoted by Alenia Marconi Systems in a key
sector such as defence comply with the procedures laid down by (cid:145)Segretarmi(cid:146), the body reporting directly
to the Minster of Defence and the President of the Council, bearing in mind also the fact that the
predominant British shareholding could have undermined the security features that the production of
military hardware entails?

Can it also confirm whether the change of company status of Alenia Marconi Systems, which involved a
foreign shareholding of 50 %, came about with the proper authorisations required and regularly granted by
the four ministries responsible, those for industry, defence, foreign affairs and home affairs?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

The Commission takes the view that it has no jurisdiction in this matter.

(2001/C 261 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1227/01

by Ant(cid:243)nio Campos (PSE) and Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Wine fraud in Portugal

(26 April 2001)

On 29 March 2001 the Portuguese press reported that 25 million litres of wine had been confiscated by
the Portuguese authorities on grounds of serious presumption of fraud.

Did the Portuguese authorities inform the EU institutions of this? Has the Commission monitored this
procedure? Could it provide an estimate of the volume of suspected adulterated wine held by the company
in question? Can it guarantee that this company will not be granted any Community subsidy so long as
such strong suspicions remain or in the event that they are confirmed?

Does the Commission not consider that this case has further highlighted the urgent need for immediate
administrative and legislative action to be taken to combat fraud and adulteration of foodstuffs, such as
milk, wine, oil and meat, given that such activities have taken on enormous proportions and had an
extremely harmful effect on consumers, farmers, the Community budget and the reputation of Community
institutions worldwide?

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/233

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2001)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 261 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1250/01

by Regina Bastos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 April 2001)

Subject: Simplified procedure for the construction of the new bridge at Entre-os-Rios, Portugal

On 4 March 2001 a tragic accident occurred on a bridge over the Douro river in Portugal, causing the
deaths of 53 people who were crossing Hintze Ribeiro bridge in a bus and three cars when one of its
pillars collapsed and the central sections plunged into the river.

Over and above the human drama,
repercussions:

this accident

is having extremely serious social and economic

1. Hintze Ribeiro bridge was built 116 years ago and linked Castelo de Paiva and Entre-os-Rios;

2. Castelo de Paiva is a poor rural municipality in inland Portugal;

3. The old bridge was part of the sole route available to make the population of Castelo de Paiva less
isolated and enable them to travel to neighbouring towns and villages on the other side of the river;

4. After the accident Castelo de Paiva became even more isolated, and the population is now forced to
travel for more than two hours along winding, poorly maintained roads to cover 70 or 80 km in
order to obtain hospital care, visit schools and colleges, reach their places of work in the Porto area,
etc.;

5. The Portuguese government has announced that it is to launch the tendering procedure for the

construction of the new bridge over the Douro river in April;

6. The project has a budget of more than € 17,5 million and is to be financed under the third

Community support framework;

7.

It will require an international invitation to tender, which will be subject to national and Community
rules;

8. The foundations for the new bridge will have to be laid very soon,

i.e. during summer 2001,
otherwise work will have to be postponed until May/June 2002 because the strong current in the
Douro river will prevent the work from being undertaken in the winter;

9. The Portuguese government, aware of the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for the
project to be completed, has already put forward internal legislation to reduce the time limits for the
tendering procedure.

Is the Commission prepared, in cooperation with the Portuguese authorities, to find simplified financing
and tendering procedures for the construction of the new bridge at Entre-os-Rios, in line with the urgency
of the project?