WRITTEN QUESTION E-3379/01 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. WTO waiver.
Date: 2001-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ACP countries, World Trade Organisation, import, international agreement, tariff policy, tropical fruit

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/47

(2002/C 172 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3379/01

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(7 December 2001)

Subject: WTO waiver

Given the success in obtaining a waiver in respect of the Cotonou Agreement at the WTO Ministerial
Meeting in Doha, Qatar, would the Commission confirm that ACP bananas will,
like other products
originating in ACP countries and in accordance with the Cotonou Agreement, continue to be entitled to
duty-free access to the EU market until 2008?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2002)

The waiver granted to the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and the Community in respect of the
Cotonou Agreement covers the non-reciprocal tariff preferences granted by the Community to all ACP
imports until 2008.

Although the Cotonou Agreement provides for tariff preferences on bananas, and does not specifically
address the issue of the exact level of the tariff for ACP imports, the Community has granted duty free
access to ACP imports and has no intention to change this in the future.

(2002/C 172 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3385/01

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 December 2001)

Subject:

’Jihad levy’

According to reports in the European press, a system of collecting a ‘jihad levy’ allied to an illicit banking
system is operating among illegal, semi-legal and legal Muslim immigrants in Europe (and especially in
Germany). This ‘banking system’ is operating in western European countries and enables illegal immigrants
(who cannot legally conduct business with the banks) to send money to their countries of origin.

This system is known as ‘Hawala’ and operates through ‘agents’ in the immigrants’ country of residence
who undertake to send the money, for a commission, to the countries of origin of legal and illegal
immigrants. During this transaction, and with the full consent of those involved, a ‘jihad levy’ is withheld
which is intended as financial support for the Taliban.

Is the Commission aware of this illicit banking system and what will it do to put an end to such financial
support for terrorism in compliance with the decisions of the Council, Parliament and the UN?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2002)

The Commission has taken note of allegations that the Hawala system of money transfers has played a
major role in the financing of activities of certain terrorist groups. It is aware that there are often no
written records of transactions in this system, which is based on trust, and that it is therefore difficult to
verify or substantiate the allegations which have been made.

In general terms, transfers of money between the Community and third countries benefit from the EC
Treaty provisions on the free movements of capital and payments. However, the transfers referred to by
the Honourable Member might fall foul of national banking laws (for example in Germany, where a
banking licence is required for money transmission business), Community legislation to combat money