WRITTEN QUESTION P-1862/02 by Joseph Daul (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Exports of sugar from the Balkans to the European Union.
Date: 2002-06-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Western Balkans, common tariff policy, domestic market, import (EU), liberalisation of trade, shortage, sugar, tariff preference

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

(2004/C 11 E/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1862/02

by Joseph Daul (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 June 2002)

Subject: Exports of sugar from the Balkans to the European Union

Council Regulation (EC) No 2563/2000 (1) of 20 November 2000 extended to the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia the exceptional trade measures for countries
and territories participating in or linked to the European Union’s stabilisation and association process and
amending Regulation (EC) No 2820/98.

Under these arrangements, all the Balkan countries have free access to the European Union market,
without having to pay customs duties. All agricultural products from these countries, with the exception of
certain fisheries products, wines and ‘baby-beef’ products, to which special provisions apply, may be
exported to the European Union without any quantitative restrictions.

Before the introduction of these measures, the Balkan countries did not export sugar to the European
Union. However, 70 000 tonnes of sugar were exported to the EU in 2001 and 80 000 tonnes have
already been exported in the first three months of 2002.

These exports are having an impact on local markets,
in that they have led to sugar shortages. The
opening up of the Community market is therefore adversely affecting the local population and is having
the direct effect of obliging these countries to import sugar to supply their own markets. These imports
will cancel out all the economic benefits deriving from the trade measures adopted by the European
Union.

What is the Commission’s assessment of the trade concessions granted to the Balkan countries?

How does it intend to ensure that they do not have an adverse effect on the populations of these
countries?

(1) OJ L 295, 23.11.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2002)

The Commission is aware of the big increase in exports of sugar to the Community from several western
Balkan countries in 2001-2002. Against that background, it is keeping a close eye on these imports which
are causing concern owing to the disruptive effect they could have at regional level on both sides. A notice
has been issued to sugar importers to draw traders’ attention to the possibility of irregularities.

The Commission does not think the major increase in sugar exports to the Community will seriously affect
domestic sugar supplies. It believes opening up the Community market to imports from the western
Balkan countries can only foster lasting economic growth in the region. The effects of this liberalisation
should be seen in a wider context that takes the situation of the region’s consumers, producers, industries
and traders into account.

The autonomous trade preferences introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000 of 18 September
2000 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the
European Union’s stabilisation and association process, amending Regulation (EC) No 2820/98 and
repealing Regulations (EC) Nos 1763/1999 and 6/2000 (1) and amended by Council Regulation (EC)
No 2563/2000 of 20 November 2000 (2), are designed, by asymmetrically opening up markets to the
to contribute to the region’s economic and political stabilisation. The
benefit of

those countries,

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liberalisation of

trade with the Union, coupled with enhanced regional
Commission believes that
integration in the Balkans and WTO membership, will have a lasting beneficial effect on its partners in
south-eastern Europe. This policy was launched by the Cologne European Council
in June 1999 and
extended at the end of 2000 to the whole region after the lifting of sanctions against the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia (FRY).

(1) OJ L 240, 23.9.2000.
(2) OJ L 295, 23.11.2000.

(2004/C 11 E/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2453/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 August 2002)

Subject: Release from prison of the Turkish Cypriot journalists Sener Levent and Memduh Ener

The Turkish Cypriots Sener Levent and Memduh Ener, the former the editor and the latter a journalist, of
the Turkish Cypriot newspaper ‘Africa’ (who aroused the wrath of the regime for supporting a peaceful
solution to the problem of Cyprus and the accession of Cyprus to the European Union), have been given a
six-month jail sentence for publishing an article criticising Rauf Denktash and the Turkish army of
occupation. Given that the situation as regards human rights and freedom of expression is steadily
deteriorating in the occupied territories, will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to
secure the release of these two journalists and ensure that the above rights are respected?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2002)

The Commission regrets the fact that, on 8 August 2002, the editor and a journalist of the newspaper
‘Africa’ were sentenced to six months in prison for an article published in July 1999 that was said to have
contained an ‘insult against the President’.

It believes that the right to free speech constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society.
Free speech, as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, and interpreted by the
European Court of Human Rights, does not only encompass value judgements that are favourably received
or regarded as inoffensive or as a matter of indifference, but also those that offend, shock or disturb. Such
are the demands of pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness without which there is no ‘democratic
society’.

These principles are of particular importance as far as the press is concerned.

On 9 October 2002, the Commission will present this year’s Regular Report of Cyprus Progress towards
Accession to the Union. The report will contain a section dealing with the situation in the northern parts
of Cyprus, and will take into account the events to which the Honourable Member refers.

(2004/C 11 E/004)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2513/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Pollution in the vicinity of a steam power plant at Keratsini

(9 September 2002)

A study carried out by the port police of the Ministry of Merchant Shipping (reference number 2412 of
2 April 2002) and the Central Port Authority of Piraeus has identified pollution in the fishing port of
Keratsini and in the adjoining land and sea areas close to the steam power plant at Keratsini belonging to
DEH (the Greek Public Power Corporation).