WRITTEN QUESTION E-2840/02 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Security in ports.
Date: 2002-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, United States, common ports policy, customs cooperation, customs inspection, maritime safety, terrorism

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/19

(2003/C 268 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2840/02

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(9 October 2002)

Subject: Security in ports

In the aftermath of the attack on the twin towers in New York, the United States saw a need for checks
and antiterrorist measures to be stepped up in ports.

Europe’s major ports have been striving to adjust to these new measures (e.g. monitoring by x-ray
scanners) in the fear that shipping deemed to be at risk might be refused entry to the United States, and
this has raised the possibility of competition between ports becoming distorted.

At the same time, these measures result in considerable delays and surcharges in the case of containers
selected to undergo inspection.

In the light of the above, can the Commission state:

1. whether and on what terms it could open discussions with the United States with a view to reaching

common agreement on security procedures in seaports.

2. whether it does not consider it essential to introduce common security measures in all European ports,

and how these would be financed.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2002)

Further to the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member on the strengthening of security controls in
the United States with a view to combating terrorism, the Commission has been actively working to find a
Community response to this question.

Various discussions with Member States have taken place and two meetings on this specific issue have
been held between the Commission and American Customs officials.

The Community shares the objective of improving maritime transport security and protecting trade against
any threat of terrorist attack, it is, therefore, important to take concrete steps to ensure a common level of
security control on both sides of the Atlantic in such a way to mutually guarantee standards for a uniform
treatment of all exports involved.

At the latest meeting both sides recognised the importance of co-operation to ensure both better security
and facilitation of legitimate trade. In the discussion a number of major principles for future co-operation
were stressed, most particularly reciprocity, common standards for the selection and performance of
controls to increase security and at the same time facilitate legitimate trade.

Different views still exist on points such as the proposed ‘US 24 hours rule’, which requires carriers to
provide American Customs with cargo manifest information 24 hours before the related cargo is loaded
on board a vessel. Both parties convened to carry out further analysis on these aspects and to quickly find
solutions to bridge such difficulties.

Both parties also agreed to quickly explore the possibilities of signing a declaration of principle to co-
operate on a mutually acceptable container security system covering the whole Union which would
integrate the needs for securing international trade in containers.

In addition to these efforts which will also introduce a more common approach to security at the
European level, a group of technical customs experts will meet to deepen the discussion of specific areas
that might also facilitate future discussions within the World Customs Organisation Task Force on Security
and Facilitation in the international supply chain.

C 268 E/20

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

Wit regard to the establishment of safety measures common to all the European ports, the Commission
considers that a first stage will be reached by the implementation co-ordinated at Community level of the
provisions concerning the harbour facilities, which should be adopted in December 2002 by the
International Maritime Organisation. In addition, the Commission undertook in 2002 a study relating to
the strengthening of the conditions of safety of the cruising passengers in the Mediterranean ports of the
Union. Its results, compounds with those awaited of a study of greater impact on the harbour problems in
terms of safety and its financial consequences, will make it possible, in co-operation with the Member
States, to envisage the measures necessary for the improvement of safety in the Community ports.

(2003/C 268 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2851/02

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 October 2002)

Subject: Fur trade

In August 2002, investigations by the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society
International showed that fur from Asian domestic cats was being sold both in Vienna and other towns in
Austria. This means that cat and dog fur can now be bought by consumers in seven Member States (cid:1)
in the United Kingdom, the authorities assume that this fur is being sold there.

How can the Commission justify saying that, although this trade goes on in 50 % of Member States of the
European Union, it is not an issue for the single European market?

Should the trade in cat and dog fur not also come under European Union control, since consumers are not
being adequately informed about their purchases?

(2003/C 268 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3088/02

by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 October 2002)

Subject: Cat and dog fur

In a recent investigation by Bont voor Dieren in the Netherlands, DNA tests confirmed that there were
items on sale in Dutch shops which were made from domestic dog fur. Items included hair ornaments
dyed to look like fun fur, misleading labels and sleeping cat figurines that were actually made from real
dogs.

Such types of fraud are knowingly perpetrated by Asian exporters to keep this business going.

What does the Commission plan to do about this consumer fraud which is now found on the markets of
seven EU Member States?