WRITTEN QUESTION E-2354/01 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU-Mercosur negotiations.
Date: 2001-08-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Mercosur, free-trade agreement, goods and services, negotiation of an agreement (EU)

C 134 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

(2002/C 134 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2346/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Seychelles

Considering the European Commission’s commitment to democracy and human rights, what financial help
and practical advice does it propose for the strengthening of democracy in the Seychelles in advance of the
forthcoming elections?

Will the Commission state the last time that one of its representatives met a Seychellois opposition leader?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

The forthcoming Presidential elections were called at very short notice, such that it would not have been
possible in the time available to provide assistance.

The last time a senior Commission representative met Seychellois opposition leaders was in January 2001,
when Mr. C. Falkowski (Director, General Directorate Development) met a Seychelles opposition delegation
which included the Rev. W. Ramkalawan and Mr. J-F. Ferrari, two of the three opposition Members of
Parliament in Seychelles.

(2002/C 134 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2354/01

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 August 2001)

Subject: EU-Mercosur negotiations

Negotiations between the EU and the Mercosur authorities with a view to making progress on the
agreement on free trade in goods and services were held in Montevideo at the beginning of July.

The Commission stated that the objective of the negotiations was to bring about substantial liberalisation
between the two parties.

In the light of the outcome of recent rounds of negotiations, particularly the latest round, in which it was
noted that certain areas still require intensive negotiations, what are the Commission’s current forecasts as
regards a successful conclusion to the negotiations on the above agreement?

When and how are detailed discussions to be held on the various aspects relating to access for raw
materials such as hides and skins and tariffs applicable to textiles?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 September 2001)

As provided for in the negotiating directives, the Commission presented its offer on tariff, services and
public purchases to Mercosur at the fifth negotiating session.

The Mercosur countries were unanimous in their very positive reaction to the Union’s political gesture and
undertook to present their own offer before the next session, or at any rate before 30 October 2001.

From the outset the Commission has taken these negotiations very seriously. Five rounds have already
been held. The sixth is planned for the week of 29 to 31 October to suit the presentation of Mercosur’s
tariff offer.

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/27

The Commission has always defended European industry’s need for access to raw materials. Thus it has
requested suspension of export taxes and even elimination of unfair trading practices which de facto make
it impossible to import this type of product. The detailed negotiations on the products themselves will
begin at the negotiating round due to be held in Brussels at the end of October.

(2002/C 134 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2357/01

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Protection measures with regard to time-sharing

(6 August 2001)

Directive 94/47/EC (1) of the European Parliament and the Council of 26 October 1994 on the protection
of purchasers in respect of certain aspects of contracts relating to the purchase of the right to use
immovable properties on a time-share basis deals with aspects relating to time-share contracts. Article 3
lays down that the Member States must make provision in their legislation for the necessary measures to
ensure that the vendor provides purchasers with information on the immovable property and that this
information forms an integral part of the contract. In practice, time-share contracts are misleading for
consumers who, once they have acquired their right, do not know what they can do to protect themselves.

Does the Commission know whether there are any Member States which have not yet made provision for
these protection measures in their legislation? What can citizens of the Member States concerned do in the
face of this legal vacuum? What measures exist to protect consumers in such cases?

What action will the Commission take to ensure that these measures are adopted and complied with in all
the Member States?

(1) OJ L 280, 29.10.1994, p. 83.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

All Member States have communicated the measures that they have taken in order to implement the
Directive 94/47/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 26 October 1994 on the protection of purchasers
in respect of certain aspects of contracts relating to the purchase of the right to use immovable properties
on a timeshare basis. However, the Commission considers, as far as Article 3 of the Directive is concerned,
that the measures adopted by Italy do not transpose this article properly, given that no provisions have
been adopted for the consequences of non-compliance with this article. Therefore, the Commission has
initiated an infringement procedure under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty. The Commission is
currently examining the situation in Greece and the United Kingdom.

(2002/C 134 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2384/01

by Emilia Müller (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 August 2001)

Subject: Information on the taxation of owners of houses and plots of land

The ownership of real property, including houses, gardens and plots of land, and related issues such as the
taxation of the owners are, in principle, the preserve of the national regulatory authorities.