WRITTEN QUESTION E-0381/02 by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Council. Import controls on Moroccan tomatoes.
Date: 2002-02-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Morocco, agreement (EU), fruit vegetable, market prices, originating product, surveillance concerning imports, tariff quota

C 277 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

welcomes the assurances given by the US authorities that they will treat all detainees humanely and, to the
extent appropriate and consistent with military necessity, in a manner consistent with the principles of the
Geneva Convention. President Bush made a public statement on this subject on 31 January 2002.

In the conclusions on human rights relating to the session of the CHR in Geneva, adopted by the General
Affairs Council on 11 and 12 March 2002, the Council recalled the attachment of the European Union to
the permanent duty of all States to protect and promote human rights,
fundamental freedoms and
humanitarian law and to comply with international engagements subscribed on these matters. While
supporting the bringing of suspected terrorists to justice and reaffirming that terrorism represents a threat
to Europe as well as others, the Council made a point of emphasising its full conviction, especially after the
tragic events of last September, that the fight against terrorism must respect human rights and the rule of
law.

(2002/C 277 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0381/02

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Council

(20 February 2002)

Subject: Import controls on Moroccan tomatoes

The chairman of the organisation of farmers and stock-breeders of Tenerife (ASAGA), Fernando Jiménez,
recently asked the Spanish Agriculture Minister, Miguel Aria Canete, that the European Union should
in his opinion, controls are
imports of Moroccan tomatoes since,
exercise stricter controls over
systematically ignored, causing producers in the Canary Islands problems as regards marketing outlets
and pricing.

What view does the Council take of this claim?

Reply

(22 July 2002)

On 24 January 2000 the Council adopted the Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of
the
European Community and the ECSC, of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association
between the European Communities and the Kingdom of Morocco (1). That Agreement entered into force
on 1 March 2000. Article 1(5) of Protocol 1 annexed thereto on the arrangements applying to imports
into the Community of agricultural products originating in Morocco lays down certain provisions
regarding tariff quotas for certain products, including tomatoes.

Where tomatoes are concerned,
following consultations under
Article 2(6) of the aforesaid Protocol, the Community decided on an autonomous increase of the quota
opened for Morocco, which was finally set at 168 757 tonnes for the period 1 October 2001 to 31 May
2002 (namely 150 676 tonnes under the Protocol and 18 081 tonnes on an autonomous basis) (2).

it should also be remembered that,

To obviate possible disturbances on the Community tomato markets, Morocco undertook in the context of
this Agreement to ensure that its total exports would not exceed the overall volume referred to above.

12 081 tonnes of the autonomous quota will be opened only provided Morocco’s total exports between
1 October 2001 and 31 March 2002 do not exceed 156 676 tonnes. Morocco has hitherto complied with
these limits.

The quantities Member States import on to the Community markets each week are notified on a weekly
basis to the Commission. For their part, the Moroccan authorities also submit weekly figures for their
exports of tomatoes to the Community. As a result, over and above the TAXUD supervision,
the
Commission has instruments enabling it to monitor day to day the quantities of tomatoes imported from
Morocco.

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/41

It should be borne in mind that the average prices of tomatoes in the Community have been higher than
the preferential entry price threshold since December, a fact which appears to indicate that imports of
Moroccan tomatoes have not had a negative effect on prices, the variability of which may in fact be the
result of internal fluctuations in Community production.

Accordingly, while the Council believes it has managed to find an equitable solution,
vigilant, particularly as regards the difficulties the Honourable Member describes.

it will remain

(1) OJ L 70, 18.3.2000, p. 1.
(2) See Regulation (EC) No 2264/2001 (OJ L 305, 22.11.2001, p. 20).

(2002/C 277 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0394/02

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 February 2002)

Subject: European aid for development projects in the south of Monagas, Venezuela

In what way is the European Commission involved in the development programme in the south of the
State of Monagas in Venezuela, including Barrancas, which is reported to be costing somewhere around
€ 10 million, and what is the precise substance of and the Commission’s contribution to that programme?

Is the Commission aware of reports that local organisations are not being sufficiently involved in the
project and that the project in Barrancas is being thwarted by political forces?

Why is the project currently stalled, and what is the Commission doing to help re-start it?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2002)

The Commission and Venezuela signed the Financing Agreement for the project ‘Support Programme for
the socio-economic Development of the southern region of Monagas’ at the end 2000. The total cost of
the project is € 10 000 000, the Community contribution being € 5 000 000. The direct beneficiaries are
three municipalities: Libertador, Sotillo (the capital of which is Barrancas), and Uracoa. The project
includes four components: institutional modernisation and capacity building, land-use planning, streng-
thening of human resource training services, and social development.

Local representatives were consulted and involved in the process of identifying the project; meetings were
indigenous organisations, the Catholic Church, and municipal
held with neighbourhood associations,
authorities. Local organisations will also be involved in all the phases of the Project Cycle as is foreseen in
the Financing Agreement. The local authority is currently preparing a socio-economic analysis of the
region, which will be ready before the start of implementation. The Commission is not aware of any
attempts by political forces to impede grassroot participation in the project and would welcome any
information the Honourable Member may have in this respect.

Project implementation is expected to begin in a few months. The Commission is in the final phase of
evaluation of the offers that were made in response to its call for tender.