WRITTEN QUESTION E-1050/02 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Own resources including transport system.
Date: 2002-04-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Economic Area, Union transit, accession to the European Union, alcohol, alcoholic beverage, customs regulations, excise duty, fraud, information technology applications, transit

C 28 E/66

Official Journal of the European Union

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6.2.2003

It is possible that those responsible for these news bulletins are acting out of fear of ETA, which has
already killed numerous journalists in Spain. However, if this is the case, does the Commission not believe
that the persons concerned should resign?

(1) OJ C 147 E, 20.6.2002, p. 184.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

As mentioned in its reply to Written Question P-3466/01 (1), while respecting the editorial freedom of
Euronews, the Commission fully shares the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member about the fact
that Euronews continues to refer to the terrorist group ETA as a ‘separatist organisation’.

The Commission has, as indicated in the previous reply, drawn the attention of Euronews to the disquiet
and offence provoked by the use of this terminology.

As a consequence, Euronews has issued a press release on 15 February 2002 which is sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

It would be inappropriate for the Commission to comment on personnel
individuals stance against terrorist threats.

issues as well as on the

(1) OJ C 147 E, 20.6.2002, p. 184.

(2003/C 28 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1050/02

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Own resources including transport system

(17 April 2002)

Has the change in Commission Regulation (EEC) 2454/93 (1) relating to the transit regime that took effect
from 1 July 2001 had a measurable effect on reducing fraud within the transit system?

Can the Commission confirm that the new computerised transit system (NCTS) will be online in all
customs offices that handle transit movements in all EEA countries, accession countries and Member States
with effect from 1 July 2003?

Given that it was excise products that caused significant amounts of fraud in the transit regime, could the
Commission please explain why it wishes to use EUR 35 million of Community resources to develop a
separate computerised movement and surveillance system for excise products (2), when it has already
developed the new computerised transit system over the past eight years as a measure to reduce fraud?

(1) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1.
(2) COM(2001) 466 final, OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002, p. 372.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 2002)

Whilst Commission Regulation (EC) No 2787/2000 (1) has the overall aim of fighting irregularities, not all
of its parts have a direct effect on reducing fraud. Such effects may exist insofar as the operator’s

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responsibilities are more clearly defined in law, but they are not measurable. For other elements, such as
the improved structure of administrative management of the system, of which some parts are only
applicable since the beginning of 2002, it is still too early to make an evaluation.

Considerable efforts have been and are being made by the Commission to assure timely introduction of the
New Computerised Transit System (NCTS). It has provided all the necessary central support such as
common software, a help-desk, hosting co-ordination meetings, running seminars and workshops, etc. In
addition, every opportunity has been taken in its contact with Member States to insist on the importance
of granting the necessary priority to the NCTS.

In May 2001 the Commission organised a demonstration of the NCTS projects for which representatives
of the Parliament and Member States were invited. Only recently the Member of the Commission
responsible for the Internal Market, Taxation and the Customs Union has raised the issue by letter to the
Finance Ministers of the Member States and within the Internal Market Council. Parliament has especially
been kept informed by letter of the above-mentioned Member of the Commission to Mr Cox, President of
the Parliament and Mrs Theato, Chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control. The Commission has
fulfilled all its legislative and technical obligations. It is urging Member States and traders to fulfil the
obligations on their part to make NCTS fully operational.

Feedback received so far from the Finance Ministers indicated that they will meet the target date of 1 July
2003 for introducing NCTS as set out in the ‘Customs 2002’ decision.

The Commission has furthermore, taken all the appropriate actions in order to get the system operational
by the same date in all the countries which are contracting party to the Convention on common transit.
Although for the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, the
Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic) no legal obligation exists, they have declared to be ready at the
same time.

While the objectives of the NCTS and the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) contain the fight
against fraud in the area of sensitive and excisable goods, both systems have as well specific objectives,
have different legal bases and administrative arrangements. They are also managed separately in the
Member States. However, the Commission is committed to maximise the commonality between the two
systems in order to ensure their interoperability where necessary, to minimise the costs incurred by the
trader community in using both systems, to minimise the risks associated to the implementation of EMCS,
to minimise its set up and operation costs. The EUR 35 million budget proposal takes already advantage of
budget offsets resulting from commonalties such as project management and elements of infrastructure.
However,
the necessary EMCS specific activities related to specification, development,
operation and maintenance, co-ordination & support for the next five years with the aim to achieve the full
deployment of EMCS across the Community by this time.

it covers all

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2787/2000 of 15 December 2000 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying
down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community
Customs Code, OJ L 330, 27.12.2000.

(2003/C 28 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1069/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(17 April 2002)

Subject: Nickel cadmium batteries

Does not the Commission feel that, since most nickel cadmium batteries are used in power tools, a system
involving deposit and recycling rather than restrictions on use might be the best way to protect both the
environment and the industry?