WRITTEN QUESTION P-2706/01 by Harlem Désir (PSE) to the Commission. Lack of progress in the negotiations on the trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and South Africa.
Date: 2001-09-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South Africa, cooperation agreement (EU), economic development, fisheries policy, trade agreement (EU)

C 134 E/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

Reply

(12 February 2002)

The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the work carried out by the Council to date on the
issue of sustainable development in the field of tourism.

At its meeting on 21 June 1999, the Council adopted conclusions on tourism and employment in which it
recognised the significant role of the European Tourism Industry in the economy and the need to improve
its competitiveness on the basis of balanced and sustainable development and environmental protection,
and called on the Commission and the Member States to pursue their work, in particular on the question
of environmental protection and sustainable development in tourism.

As part of its follow-up to these conclusions, the Commission has coordinated proceedings of experts
meeting in working groups, one of which has focused on the promotion of environmental protection and
sustainable development in tourism.

At its meeting on 30 November 2000, the Council took note of the proceedings of the seminar organised
by the French Presidency in Lille on 22 November 2000 on ‘Tourism and Sustainable Development’. These
proceedings were summarised in a Presidency note, which identified a number of common concerns
among the delegations including, in particular, the desire to encourage a tourism policy committed to
sustainable development and to the well-being of the European Union’s inhabitants, mindful of their values
and diversity.
the Advisory
In its note the Presidency also recommended continuing the work of
Committee, particularly in relation to setting up a network of pilot areas to share experiences on the
sustainable development of tourism and to disseminate good regional planning practice with the aim of
fostering the emergence of a European tourism strategy.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the Commission is currently preparing a communication entitled
‘Framing the Future for European Tourism’. This communication will be presented at a forthcoming
meeting of the Internal Market Council and may very well address some of the issues raised by the
Honourable Member in his question. In any event, the communication will be forwarded to the European
Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

(2002/C 134 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2706/01

by Harlem Désir (PSE) to the Commission

(26 September 2001)

Subject: Lack of progress in the negotiations on the trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and

South Africa

What proposals will the Commission make for breaking the stalemate and completing the negotiations
with South Africa on the trade and cooperation agreement with the European Union? Is it not damaging
to delay the entry into force of this agreement, which could substantially benefit the development of
Africa, purely on account of the fisheries aspect?

Cannot the Commission accept South Africa’s desire to preserve its fish stocks as legitimate and well-
founded, and likewise its intention not to consent to further exploitation agreements of the kind which the
previous Apartheid regime concluded with Korea and Japan < which it does not intend to renew < but
rather, in advance of any agreement, to implement a programme of scientific cooperation and monitoring
of fish stocks?

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/83

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The negotiations for the Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) with South Africa were
successfully concluded in 1999. Council Decision 1999/753/EC of 29 July 1999, concerning the
provisional application of the Agreement on Trade, Development and Cooperation between the European
Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of South Africa, of the other part (1)
establishes provisional and partial application of the TDCA as of 1 January 2000, pending ratification by
the parties to the Agreement.

Negotiations for the conclusion of a separate Fisheries Agreement were suspended earlier in 2001, as it
became clear that the Commission mandate was for the conclusion of an agreement that would include
access to South African fishery resources for European vessels, in addition to cooperation in a number of
fishery-related areas. The South African delegation was mandated only to negotiate an agreement that
would not include such access.

The Commission does not rule out the possibility that parties will return to the negotiation table at a later
stage. It feels that this state of affairs does not affect the provisional application nor the full entry into
force of the TDCA.

In the opinion of the Commission this does not hold true for the ongoing Wine and Spirits negotiations.
At the South Africa-Community Cooperation Council on 26 June 2001 it was agreed that a group of six
high level officials would meet in order to work out a solution. The group met on 25 July 2001 and
agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding on outstanding issues, which is to be the basis for the
conclusion of the Wine and Spirits Agreement.

(1) OJ L 311, 4.12.1999.

(2002/C 134 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2709/01

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Definition of ‘vegetarianism’ and ‘vegetarian’

(3 October 2001)

In Germany, products are sold with a declaration that they are ‘vegetarian’ even though they contain
ingredients of animal origin.

1.

2.

Is it true that this is legal because there is no legal definition of vegetarianism?

If so, what is the Commission doing to prevent consumers being misinformed in this way?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2001)

There is no harmonised definition of ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegetarianism’ at Community or international level.

Within the framework of the Codex alimentarius, discussions aimed at laying down such a definition were
discontinued after a number of years without any conclusions having been reached owing to differences of
approach and a lack of consensus.

According to some, the term ‘vegetarian’ implies only that no meat products are consumed, whereas others
believe that all products of animal origin should be excluded; there are also a number of different
approaches between these two extremes.