WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/02 by Renzo Imbeni (PSE) to the Commission. Adapting the occupation of customs agent in response to EU enlargement.
Date: 2002-12-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, accession to the European Union, customs profession, enlargement of the Union, redevelopment aid, vocational retraining

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/217

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2003)

The town-twinning scheme is based on Budget line A-321. According to the budgetary comments the
credit is targeted to promote twinnings between towns in the Union as well as twinnings between towns in
the Union and towns in the candidate countries.

The current procedure for town-twinning grants is that of a call for proposals, published annually in the
Official Journal of the European Communities.

Currently, two kinds of actions are funded under the scheme:

(a) meetings of citizens of twinned towns and municipalities,

(b) conferences on European themes relating to twinning, and training and information seminars for

town-twinning officers.

Part a is aimed at contributing directly to meetings of citizens between towns and municipalities.
Consequently, it is targeted exclusively to towns and municipalities, and not to secondary tiers of local
government (such as County Councils in the UK or in Sweden or Kreise in Germany).

Part b of the scheme is aimed at contributing more indirectly to twinning arrangements by involving key
multipliers from towns and municipalities in thematic and training events. Consequently, it is also targeted
at various organisations involved in these activities (local and regional authorities, associations and
federations of local authorities). This category also provides the secondary tiers of local government with
proper opportunities to benefit from the twinning scheme.

The Commission is aware of the diversity concerning the structures of local government in Europe.
All Member States are treated on the same basis and British counties are not disadvantaged in comparison
to equivalent structures in other Member States.

(2003/C 137 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/02

by Renzo Imbeni (PSE) to the Commission

(9 December 2002)

Subject: Adapting the occupation of customs agent in response to EU enlargement

EU enlargement will lead to the abolition of customs formalities relating to trade with the new countries,
which will then be part of the Union. Will the Commission say whether or not such abolition will be
gradual and whether or not customs documents will continue to be issued in respect of trade with those
countries, such as the T2 form for goods under the internal Community transit scheme which are
transported across one of the countries concerned?

If there is to be wholesale abolition of customs formalities, is the Commission intending to submit to the
Council a proposal for a regulation laying down Community flanking measures for the benefit of customs
agents, including special initiatives additional to the Structural Fund measures?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2003)

The Honourable Member is referred to the answer given by the Commission to written question
E-2488/02 from Mr G. Lisi.