WRITTEN QUESTION E-0162/03 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Duties on canned Asiatic tuna.
Date: 2003-01-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Philippines, Thailand, cannery, common commercial policy, fishery product, preserved product, tariff negotiations, tariff quota, tariff reduction

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/457

responsible for the content of its teaching and the organisation of its own education system and that
there are no Community provisions requiring the academic recognition of qualifications, provided that
there is compliance with the principle of non-discrimination.

(cid:1) Recognition for professional purposes, however, is intended to permit those to whom it applies to
exercise a regulated professional activity in a Member State other than that in which they have
acquired their professional qualifications. This type of recognition is governed by Community law and,
with specific reference to engineering qualifications, by Directive 89/48/EEC. In accordance with this
directive, a person who does not possess a required national qualification cannot in principle be
refused access, by the authorities of the host Member State, to a given profession on the territory of
that Member State nor denied the right to exercise the profession, provided that in his Member State
of origin he possesses the qualification which is required to access the same profession or which
prepares him to exercise the profession. However, where there are substantial differences between the
training acquired by the applicant and that required in the host Member State, the applicant may be
required to undergo an adaptation period or to take an aptitude test in order to bridge the gap.

(cid:1) It should also be pointed out that the Commission has received several complaints about the improper
in addition to certain aspects with regard to the incorrect
application of Directive 89/48/EEC,
transposition of
the directive. The difficulties in applying the directive concern primarily the
requirement of an academic qualification for enrolment in the Greek Technical Chamber and for
appointment to posts in the civil service, and this has also affected people who have already obtained
professional recognition of their qualifications in accordance with Directive 89/48/EEC. The fact is
that such professional recognition must permit those to whom it applies to exercise the profession for
which they are qualified under the same conditions as those who have gained their professional
qualifications in Greece. Since Directive 89/48/EEC has to a considerable extent been rendered
ineffective in Greece, the Commission decided at its meeting on 17 December 2002 to bring before
the Court of Justice an action for non-compliance against Greece in connection with the improper
transposition and application of Directive 89/48/EEC.

(2004/C 84 E/0532)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0162/03

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 January 2003)

Subject: Duties on canned Asiatic tuna

The European canning industry, particularly in Galicia,
the possible
reductions in duties on canned tuna from the Philippines and Thailand which, it appears, may be being
considered by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

is extremely concerned about

Is the Commission aware of the damage this type of measure could cause to the European canning
industry, in particular that of Galicia, at a time when Galicia is already burdened with huge economic
problems owing to the ‘Prestige’ oil tanker accident?

What steps will the Commission take in order to prevent such a measure from being adopted?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2003)

The Commission is aware of the importance of the tuna canning industry in Galicia and appreciates the
concern in relation to reduced tariffs for Community imports of canned tuna from Thailand and the
Philippines. It also appreciates the difficulties being experienced in that region following the ‘Prestige’
accident.

C 84 E/458

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Honourable Member will recall that during the Doha Ministerial in November 2001, the Member of
the Commission responsible for Trade agreed that the Community would enter into consultations to
examine the claims of Thailand and the Philippines that the Community’s preferential tariff (duty-free) for
imports of canned tuna from the Afriacan, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States was causing undue
impairment. The Member of the Commission also agreed that the Community would enter into mediation
if the consultations failed to produce a mutually satisfactory solution. The Honourable Member will also
recall that the Commission felt it necessary to take this action in order to secure the agreement of Thailand
and the Philippines for a waiver that had been sought by the Community over many months for the
Cotonou Agreement.

In January 2003 the Commission informed the Member States of the mediator’s ‘opinion’ proposing that
the Community should open a non-discriminatory quota of 25 000 tonnes at 12 % tariff
rate.
The Commission carefully examined the proposal and concluded that the quantity and duty rate suggested
by the mediator was fair and reasonable and that it would not have an adverse economic effect on the
Community market. It is worth recalling that 25 000 tonnes represents only 9 % of total imports and
around 4 % of total consumption in the Community of canned tuna in 2001.

The Commission, therefore, intends making a formal proposal to the Council that the mediator’s opinion
should be accepted by the opening of a tariff quota as mentioned above.

(2004/C 84 E/0533)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0496/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(21 February 2003)

Subject: Palestine: hatred spreads to football

The Palestine National Authority’s daily newspaper Al Hayat Al Jadida recently reported extensively on a
football tournament held in the Palestinian town of Tulkarem (located in the northern part of the West
Bank), partly on account of the fact that the seven teams taking part (all made up of Palestinian youths)
had adopted the names of seven shahid (cid:1) the kamikaze Palestinian martyrs who carry out dynamite
attacks in Israel.

Such a shameful and disgraceful choice of name is only one indication of the widespread approval enjoyed
by the shahid.

Will the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Can it confirm the above report, which appeared in a number of European newspapers?

2. Will it confirm whether or not the sports event in question, which was obviously intended to stir up
further trouble by inciting young people to hatred and encouraging them to exalt false and dangerous
heroes, received Community funding which should instead be used in order to promote social and
other more tangible initiatives intended to facilitate cooperation and possibly bring about a
reconciliation between the two peoples concerned?

3. Does it intend to condemn the event and to call upon the Palestinian Authority to ban any further

events of a similar nature?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of press reports about a football tournament in Tulkarem referred to in the

1.
question of the Honourable Member.

2.
The Commission can confirm that the soccer tournament in question has not received Community
funding. The Commission is unaware of any involvement or financial support of the Palestinian Authority
in the aforementioned tournament.