WRITTEN QUESTION E-3017/01 by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commercial and sexual exploitation of children.
Date: 2001-10-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, European Commission, child, fight against crime, international conference, sexual violence

C 115 E/212

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

(2002/C 115 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3006/01

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 October 2001)

Subject: Milk quotas

Can the Commission say why is continuing to impose fines on Italy for surplus milk production? In the
2000-2001 marketing year many Italian farmers were fined a total of LIT 280 billion (approximately
EUR 142 million), whereas total fines imposed on all European farmers amounted to LIT 750 billion
(EUR 380 million). It has been decided that Italy cannot be granted higher quotas than those now in force
which are highly penalising: there is an imbalance compared to a number of States which the Commission
is continuing to afford preferential treatment (Germany, France, the Netherlands). The quotas are not in
proportion to the number of inhabitants, the number of livestock farmers, the areas farmed, or the number
of dairy cattle. Among Italian farmers there is growing distrust of the Commission, which is guilty of bias,
and of the European Union.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2001)

The milk quotas were introduced by the Council in 1984 to reduce the imbalance between supply and
demand for milk and milk products and to cope with the huge cost to the budget of the structural
surpluses that built up in the late 1970s.

National reference quantities were established without discrimination for all Member States, on the basis of
existing producers’ historical production figures.

The Commission does not discriminate for or against any Member State. It has always been mindful of
Italy’s problems, but it insists on the full and proper application of the scheme, which would be ineffective
otherwise. Italy has made efforts to apply the arrangements properly in recent years. Though progress has
been made, the biggest problem is still unsolved, i.e. the failure of producers to pay the substantial levy
amounts involved. To date the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) has been
credited with only 5,15 % of the levy payable for the 1995/96 to 1999/2000 milk years.

The Commission wishes to stress that all decisions concerning the level of the quotas and the scheme itself
are taken by the Council. To improve Italy’s structural situation,
increased the Italian
guaranteed national quantity by 900 000 tonnes from the 1993/94 quota year and by 600 000 tonnes in
two tranches (a further 384 000 tonnes from 2000/01 and another 216 000 tonnes from 2001/02) under
Agenda 2000.

the Council

The Commission also wishes to point out that, for the 2000/01 quota year, Italy exceeded its guaranteed
total quantity of 398 698 tonnes for the quota for deliveries (despite the additional 384 000 tonnes), which
is equivalent, under the Council Regulation (1) establishing the milk quota system, to a levy of € 142
million. The total levy for all Member States, including Italy, amounts to € 289 million for that period.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 of 28 December 1992 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk

products sector < OJ L 405, 31.12.1992.

(2002/C 115 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3017/01

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Commercial and sexual exploitation of children

(29 October 2001)

The Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children is to be held in
Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001.

16.5.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/213

Will the Commission be taking part in that Congress? What views will it express and what commitments
will
the sexual and
commercial exploitation of children, and what is its assessment of its policy so far?

it give as the European Union’s contribution to the international

fight against

Does it have an evaluation of the implementation of the action plans adopted at the First World Congress
held in Stockholm in 1996?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

The Commission participated in the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of
Children.

Its participation consisted of addressing the plenary session with a synthesis of the activities achieved in
this area since the first congress in Stockholm back in 1996. This synthesis included legislative work as
well as best practices obtained through the funding of projects, thanks to the Community programmes
Daphne and STOP, which are a major achievement since the first World Congress.

Also, a workshop, involving non-governmental organisations (NGOs), was chaired by the Commission in
order to reflect and programme further actions.

The activities carried out by the Commission show its commitment to the Action Plan set up in
Stockholm, the Daphne and STOP programmes have operational budgets for at least another couple of
years.

The Commission will inform the Honourable Member of Parliament as soon as possible of the outcome of
the Conference.

(2002/C 115 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3023/01

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 October 2001)

Subject: Commission plans for recognising and exchanging returned emigrants’ driving licences

Spanish emigrants returning from Latin America in recent years find themselves facing serious problems
both socially and in terms of employment due to the fact that they cannot get their driving licences
validated because there is, in many cases, no bilateral agreement with their former countries of residence
concerning mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences.

An EU Directive of 29 July 1991 lays down that driving licences issued by third countries can be
exchanged for Community licences only if a bilateral agreement exists between the countries concerned.
This Directive was transposed into the Spanish General Ruling on Drivers, adopted by the Royal Decree of
30 May 1997.

What are the commission’s plans for easing the problem of recognising and exchanging non-Community
driving licences and thus preventing the serious prejudice suffered by emigrants returning to countries like
Spain, who find themselves deprived of a document which is frequently essential for finding a job?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2001)

Article 1 paragraph 2 of Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences (1) provides for
mutual recognition of driving licences issued by Member States. The justification for the recognition of
licences issued in Member States lies within the harmonisation of the criteria for issue.