WRITTEN QUESTION E-2882/02 by María Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) to the Commission. Case brought by the Commission against the Kingdom of Spain — Case C-358/01 — importation of cleaning agents containing bleach.
Date: 2002-10-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Court of Justice of the European Union, European Commission, Spain, chemical salt, infringement procedure (EU), market access, polishing and scouring preparations, product designation

C 110 E/118

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.5.2003

Ireland and the United Kingdom therefore asked the Commission at the beginning of the summer for
authorisation to pay an advance on the area payment for arable crops. Having checked the accuracy of the
data sent the Commission authorised advance payment, from 16 October 2002, of a maximum of 50 % of
the 2002/03 marketing year area aid payment to farmers located in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

This authorisation was given by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1818/2002 of 11 October 2002 (1)
derogating from Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 (2) under which payments for 2002/03 were
due to be made from 16 November 2002.

Similar waivers had already been granted for certain regions of Germany and Italy by Commission
Regulations (EC) Nos 1519/2002 of 23 August 2002 (3) and 1535/2002 of 28 August 2002 (4) derogating
from Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999.

the weather
On beef sector premiums,
conditions adduced, by Regulation (EC) No 1830/2002 (5) authorised all Member States so wishing to raise
from 60 % to 80 % the advance on 2002 calendar year premiums in order to help farmers meet their
immediate cash needs.

the Commission, having verified the exceptional nature of

Under Regulation (EC) No 2342/1999 of 28 October 1999 (6) laying down detailed rules of application for
Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 advances on bovine premiums can be made, on the basis of
the
administrative and on-the-spot checks required by the Community rules, only from 16 October of the
calendar year for which the premium is requested.

(1) OJ L 276, 12.10.2002.
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain

arable crops, OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(3) OJ L 228, 24.8.2002.
(4) OJ L 231, 29.8.2002.
(5) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1830/2002 of 14 October 2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 2342/1999 laying
down detailed rules for application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 on common organisation of the
market in beef and veal as regards premium schemes, OJ L 277, 15.10.2002.

(6) OJ L 281, 4.11.1999.

(2003/C 110 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2882/02

by María Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) to the Commission

(14 October 2002)

Subject: Case brought by the Commission against the Kingdom of Spain (cid:1) Case C-358/01 (cid:1) importation

of cleaning agents containing bleach

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in the above proceedings?

Can it say whether it has received any response to its request from the Spanish Government?

What concrete measures will it take to resolve this case and ensure that Community legislation is complied
with?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

The infringement procedure mentioned by the Honourable Member is Procedure No 1999/4134 relating
to Spanish legislation on liquid bleach.

The Spanish authorities have replied to the Commission at the various stages of the administrative
proceedings launched under Article 226 of the EC Treaty.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Since the Commission does not consider the responses provided to be satisfactory, Spain has not complied
with the reasoned opinion and has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 28 of the EC Treaty by
refusing access to the Spanish market for products lawfully manufactured and marketed in other Member
States under the name of ‘cleaning agents with bleach’ or a similar term, when these have chlorine
concentration of less then 35 grammes/litre. As a result, the Commission has brought this case before the
Court of Justice (Case C-2001/358).

This case is currently pending before the Court.

(2003/C 110 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2889/02

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(14 October 2002)

Subject: Coordination of Community aid measures

Knowing that:

(a)

the objective of the European Union is basically to ensure optimal use of resources by achieving
effective results in the regions concerned;

(b)

to achieve this objective is essential to have a national administrative structure in place;

(c) however, a single programme may be managed by several directorates-general (in both the Member
States and in non-member countries) or two programmes (e.g. CARDS and Interreg III) have the same
task (in terms of technical assistance).

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

Should it not review the responsibilities of the various directorates-general, within its organisation, in
order to optimise the coordination of measures;

2.

Should it not also check that the objectives of programmes match the resources available?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2002)

In improving its working methods and making them more effective the Commission constantly strives to
improve the coordination of Community activity.

In relation to the management of the programmes supported by the Structural Funds, such coordination
concerns, on the one hand, the authorities and actors at national, regional and local
level and the
Commission, and, on the other hand, the different specialist services of the Commission that contribute to
the conception and implementation of the interventions. In general, the Community programmes financed
by the Structural Funds include measures in several sectors (small and medium-sized firms, agriculture,
training,
the environment, etc.) which fall within the scope of various Directorates-General. At the
programming stage, on the basis of the proposals submitted by the Member States, the coherence and
coordination of assistance are guaranteed by the joint definition of priorities and general objectives. These
concerns are also addressed as part of the monitoring of programmes through internal coordination within
the various Commission departments concerned with the implementation of programmes. For all structural
measures, the Regional Policy Directorate-General is responsible for coordinating matters of concern to all
the Funds.

interregional cooperation programmes involving non-member countries, assistance in
In the case of
Community cross-border regions is carried out under the Interreg Community Initiatives programme, in
coordination with similar measures financed by external financial instruments (CARDS, PHARE, TACIS,
etc.). To improve this coordination, the managing and Monitoring Committees for many programmes
include joint representation of the Community regions and non-member countries concerned; Interreg
projects are selected jointly and joint information and technical assistance initiatives are organised.