do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0082/03 by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Concessions on fruit and vegetables for Morocco.
Date: 2003-01-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, Morocco, agricultural trade, association agreement (EU), free movement of goods, fruit, negotiation of an agreement (EU), trade policy, vegetable

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/175

Partial decoupling, as proposed by the Commission, allows producers to choose their crops while retaining
an incentive to produce starch potatoes and guaranteeing the neutrality of budget expenditure.

This system is intended for agricultural producers and does not constitute a form of state aid within

8.
the meaning of the Community rules.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals,

OJ L 181, 1.7.1992.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 of 27 July 1994 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of

potato starch, OJ L 197, 30.7.1994.

(3) COM(2002) 394 final.
(4) COM(2003) 23 final.

(2003/C 161 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0082/03

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Concessions on fruit and vegetables for Morocco

(23 January 2003)

The Association Agreement between the EU and Morocco is currently under negotiation.

Is the Commission aware of the socio-economic repercussions which the new concessions on fruit and
vegetables to be granted to Morocco will have on Andalusia, a region whose unemployment rate is among
the highest in the EU?

If so, can the Commission provide information on those repercussions?

Has account been taken of the opinion of the Andalusian authorities and government in the negotiations
on this new agreement?

If not, does the Commission believe that these bodies should have been consulted?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2003)

An agricultural agreement between the EU and Morocco is currently under negotiation, and a new round
of negotiations was held in Rabat on 14 January 2003.

Article 18 of the Euro-Mediterranean association agreement provides that, from 1 January 2000, the
Community and Morocco are to assess the situation with a view to determining measures for the gradual
liberalisation of their agricultural trade to create a free trade area by 2012, as stipulated in the Barcelona
Declaration.

To that end, the Commission has been given clear and precise negotiating directives from the Member
States, in which Spain supported the Commission.

The Commission’s offer takes account of the requirements of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and
the sensitivity of Mediterranean products. Community proposals on these products are almost always
subject to tariff quotas and/or well-defined import schedules. The Commission’s proposal is also mindful of
balance in the fruit and vegetable sector and provides for targeted monitoring of the quantities imported
using various control systems.

In addition, the agreement provides for control and safeguard measures protecting the Community’s
interests should market disturbances occur.
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the inspection and verification of good laboratory practice (GLP) (codified version)" (COM(2002) 529 final — 2002/0233 (COD))
Date: 2003-01-23
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: approval, chemical product, codification of EU law, exchange of information, health control, research body, testing, user guide

8.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 85/137

Reason

To be given orally.

Result of the vote

For: 40, against: 58, abstentions: 5.

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council on the inspection and verification of good laboratory
practice (GLP) (codified version)’

(COM(2002) 529 final — 2002/0233 (COD))

(2003/C 85/29)

On 28 November 2002, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee,
under Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption was responsible for the Committee’s
work on the subject. The Committee appointed Mr Bedossa as rapporteur-general.

At its 396th plenary session (meeting of 23 January 2003), the European Economic and Social Committee
adopted the following opinion by a unanimous vote.

Introduction

EU legislation clearly needs to be reviewed on a regular basis.

With this aim in view, the draft directive’s objectives are clear
and simple. They are geared, above all, to securing tangible
results.

The formal review of the draft directive with a view to
codification, even the inspection and verification of good
laboratory practice (GLP). The document, which focuses not
only on the future but also on existing law, is designed to
simplify and improve the methods employed.

Specific comments

The EESC endorses the initiative behind the draft directive for
the following reasons:

— Whilst the main concern should of course be to remove
obsolete provisions, simplification of legislation must
also bring benefits by enhancing the clarity and trans-
parency of EU law.

Brussels, 23 January 2003.

— Regular updating and codification ensures legal certainty
at any given moment in respect of the law on a given
issue.

— Simplification is important in the context of the single
market:
failure to harmonise legislative instruments,
constitutes a major obstacle which may trigger a large
number of disputes in respect of GLP.

— Simplification is being introduced at the right time,

namely on the eve of EU enlargement.

— Although the draft directive dealing with GLP is purely a
formal provision, it is nonetheless necessary as legislation
in this field is essential.

— Finally, the draft directive is a step in the right direction
as it speeds up the simplification and codification of
existing provisions, whilst enabling the legislation to be
reviewed.

The consolidated presentation is also excellent.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Roger BRIESCH
Commission Regulation (EC) No 123/2003 of 23 January 2003 fixing the maximum export refund on barley in connection with the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 901/2002
Date: 2003-01-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, barley, export, export refund, third country

24.1.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 20/19

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 123/2003

of 23 January 2003

fixing the maximum export refund on barley in connection with the invitation to tender issued in
Regulation (EC) No 901/2002

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30
June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in
cereals (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/
2000 (2),

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1501/95 of
29 June 1995 laying down certain detailed rules for the appli-
cation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 on the
granting of export refunds on cereals and the measures to be
taken in the event of disturbance on the market for cereals (3),
as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1163/2002 (4), as
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1324/2002 (5), and in parti-
cular Article 4 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

An invitation to tender for the refund for the export of
barley to all third countries except for the United States
of America, Canada, Estonia and Latvia was opened
pursuant
to Commission Regulation (EC) No 901/
2002 (6), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1230/
2002 (7).

Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1501/95 provides that
the Commission may, on the basis of the tenders noti-
in accordance with the procedure laid down in
fied,

Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92, decide to fix
a maximum export refund taking account of the criteria
referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1501/95.
In that case a contract is awarded to any tenderer whose
bid is equal to or lower than the maximum refund.

The application of the abovementioned criteria to the
current market situation for the cereal in question results
in the maximum export
the
amount specified in Article 1.

refund being fixed at

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
the Management
accordance with the opinion of
Committee for Cereals,

(3)

(4)

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For tenders notified from 17 to 23 January 2003, pursuant to
the invitation to tender issued in Regulation (EC) No 901/
2002, the maximum refund on exportation of barley shall be
EUR 15,00/t.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 24 January 2003.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 23 January 2003.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 147, 30.6.1995, p. 7.
(4) OJ L 170, 29.6.2002, p. 46.
(5) OJ L 194, 23.7.2002, p. 26.
(6) OJ L 142, 31.5.2002, p. 17.
(7) OJ L 180, 10.7.2002, p. 3.