WRITTEN QUESTION E-3364/01 by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Moroccan exports of tomatoes to the EU.
Date: 2001-12-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Morocco, association agreement (EU), fruit, fruit vegetable, import, tariff preference, tariff quota, vegetable

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/103

Formal negotiations can only start following an authorisation to that effect by the Council in accordance
with the procedures laid down in Article 24 TUE. No such authorisation has yet been given.

Any reports according to which extradition of persons from Member Sates to third States would take place
on the basis of the provisions concerning the European arrest warrant are incorrect: The European arrest
warrant is designed as an instrument of cooperation between EU Member States only.

According to Article 6 (2) TEU, the Union shall respect fundamental rights as guaranteed by the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and as they result from the
constitutional principles common to the Member States. This applies also whenever the Union acts
pursuant to Articles 24 and 38 TUE.

In the light of DeclarationNo1 on the abolition of the death penalty, annexed to the Final Act of the Treaty
of Amsterdam, it is obvious that any Agreement to be concluded between the Union and a third State will
have to respect the constitutional traditions common to the Member States pertaining to the abolition of
the death penalty.

(2002/C 160 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3364/01

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Moroccan exports of tomatoes to the EU

(6 December 2001)

Community farmers report that Morocco is systematically exceeding the quotas allocated by the EU for
exports of tomatoes. Is the Commission aware of this? If so, what measures has it taken or will it take to
put an end to this practice?

Is the Commission keeping track of the actual volume of Moroccan horticultural products placed on the
European market over the past months, and specifically of how many tonnes of tomatoes have been
placed on the market? If so, can it provide the corresponding figures?

What is the Commission’s opinion of the prices for this product on Central European markets?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Under the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities
and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part (1), tomatoes
originating in Morocco may, on import into the Community, benefit from preferential tariffs, either on the
ad valorem duty, or on the entry price, subject to a quota (2).

The state of utilisation of quotas, updated daily, is available on the Commission’s Internet site at: http://
europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/dds/es/qotcau.htm.

The order numbers for quotas concerning tomatoes imported from Morocco are 0911 16 (annual quota at
nil ad valorem duty), 0911 89 (quota with a reduced entry price for October) and 0911 90 (quota with a
reduced entry price from November to March). So far, these quotas have never been fully used.

The Commission also exercises rigorous surveillance of tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables (3) so that
it is very rapidly aware of the total quantity imported from Morocco.

Total imports of tomatoes originating in Morocco in recent months amounted to (in tonnes = t):

= 372 t in June 2001,

= 0 t from July to September 2001,

= 6 527 t in October 2001 (including 4 717 t at a reduced entry price),

C 160 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

= 26 628 t in November 2001,

= 9 750 t from 1 to 11 December 2001, and

= 16 933 t from 1 to 21 January 2002.

The Commission has no comments on the prices of tomatoes on the markets of central Europe.

(1) OJ L 70, 18.3.2000.
(2) Annex II to Council Regulation (EC) No 747/2001 providing for the management of Community tariff quotas and
of reference quantities for products eligible for preferences by virtue of agreements with certain Mediterranean
countries (OJ L 109, 19.4.2001). Council Regulation (EC) No 2264/2001 introducing certain temporary
autonomous concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas applicable to imports into the Community of
tomatoes originating in the Kingdom of Morocco (OJ L 305, 22.11.2001).
(3) Oranges, clementines, cucumbers, artichokes, courgettes and strawberries.

(2002/C 160 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3370/01

by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 December 2001)

Subject: Licences for football clubs

Recently, there have been numerous reports in the press about the financial problems of football clubs in
Italy and Spain. Their total debts run to billions of euro.

In the Netherlands, clubs are not permitted to run up such huge debts, because of the licensing policy
pursued by the national football federation, the KNVB. Under this policy, each club must demonstrate at
the beginning of the national competition that its financial policy is sound. If a club has unacceptably large
debts, it is not granted a licence to take part in the national competition.

In most Member States, no such policy exists. As a result, clubs can incur excessive debts in order to
contract the best players and perform better. This is a violation of European competition law. UEFA has
recognised this problem and has therefore decided to carry out a pilot project next year with a licensing
policy similar to that which already applies in the Netherlands. Under this approach, it will take too long
to eliminate the aforementioned distortion of the internal market.

Would it be desirable to introduce a European licensing policy to prevent distortion of competition arising
from the differences of approach to the financial policy which football clubs are required to pursue in the
various Member States?

Will the Commission use its influence to secure more rapid and compulsory introduction of the licensing
policy referred to here in consultation with UEFA and FIFA?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2002)

The Commission is aware of the problem to which the Honourable Member refers. Differences in financial
management rules between football clubs in the various Member States may create de facto inequalities
between these clubs. The Commission welcomes all
initiatives from the Union of European Football
Associations (UEFA) or from national sporting federations with a view to reducing these differences and
making the rules in force more consistent.

Nevertheless, the Commission does not itself plan to take any specific initiatives in this field. It feels that at
this stage it is up to the competent authorities, whether public or sporting authorities, to take the
necessary measures to harmonise the management rules of European clubs.