WRITTEN QUESTION P-0547/03 by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Beef and live cattle exports to the Lebanon and Egypt.
Date: 2003-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Egypt, Lebanon, beef, export (EU), live animal, trade statistics

C 88 E/326

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2003)

According to Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air, Member States were
obliged to send data for the year 2001 to the Commission no later than 30 September 2002. The
Commission will prepare a summary report based on this data, which will also show the extent of
exceedances of limit values. The recent data indicates that, compared to the limit values, PM10 (1) levels in
parts of Europe are indeed rather high. Problems are more related to exceedances of the short term limit
value (no more than 35 exceedances of the daily average limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3)),
especially at hot spot locations such as traffic-related or industrial sites, rather than the long term limit
value of 40µg/m3 (annual mean). At urban background stations, exceedances are more frequently reported
in southern Europe than in northern and western regions. It must be noted, however, that these limit
values will only become legally binding in 2005.

In order to assess the health impacts of air pollution, including particulate matter, the Commission is
giving financial support to a systematic review of health aspects of air quality in Europe being carried out
by the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to a final draft report recently available, the long-
term exposure to current ambient PM concentrations may lead to a marked reduction in average life
expectancy, potentially reaching one to two years. Furthermore, a recent independent study for the
combined population of France, Austria and Switzerland (around 75 million people) estimates that some
40 000 deaths per year can be attributed to ambient PM (Kunzli et al. 2000 (2)).

At this stage, it is too early to draw any clear conclusions on whether the Member States are taking
adequate measures to ensure compliance with the limit values by 2005, as required by Directive 1999/30/
EC. According to the two Directives (96/62/EC (3) and 1999/30/EC), Member States have to report
annually on plans and programmes showing how they will achieve compliance, with the first report due in
December 2003. At that time the Commission will be in a position to assess the prospects for compliance
with the limit values.

However, in view of the urgent need to reduce PM levels, the Commission has already identified PM as one
of the core pollutants being dealt with under the Clean Air For Europe (CAFE) programme, launched in
May 2001 (4). The aim of CAFE is to prepare the development of the thematic strategy for air pollution
foreseen in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme and due to be delivered in 2005. This strategy will
include policy options on how to decrease further the health risks from PM. The Commission is supported
in this task by several working groups comprising experts from Member States, Accession Countries,
industry and environmental non-governmental organisations.

(1) Particulate Matter less than 10 micrometer (µm) in diameter.
(2) Kunzli, N. et al. Public-health impact of outdoor and traffic-related air pollution: a European assessment. Lancet

356: 795 (cid:1) 801 (2000).

(3) Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management, OJ L 296,

21.11.1996.

(4) COM(2001) 245 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0331)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0547/03

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Beef and live cattle exports to the Lebanon and Egypt

Would the Commission let me know the quantity (expressed in carcass weight equivalent of (1) live cattle
and (2) beef exported by the Community to (a) the Lebanon and (b) Egypt in the three most recent
calendar years for which figures are available?

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/327

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2003)

The table below shows the Community exports of live bovine animals and beef to Lebanon and Egypt for
the calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Complete statistical data for the calendar year 2002 are not yet available.

EU15 exports in metric tonne carcass equivalent

To Lebanon

To Egypt

1999

2000

2001

1999

2000

Live bovines

53 705

49 402

40 923

8 493

14 067

2001

277

Beef

8 506

8 022

2 339

192 271

171 107

5 436

(2004/C 88 E/0332)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0570/03

by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 February 2003)

Subject: Punitive charges on imported vehicles

The Danish Government imposes various charges on imported used motor vehicles depending on the age
of the vehicle.

§ 4, paragraph 6 (1) and (2) of Law No 977 of 2 December 2002 on registration fees for motor vehicles,
for example, indicates that the older the vehicle is, the higher the rate applied to the value of the vehicle
(180 % as opposed to 105 %).

This means in practice that the system of importing used motor vehicles into Denmark in many cases
makes it more expensive to import and register a foreign motor vehicle than an equivalent vehicle bought
in Denmark, which constitutes a technical barrier to trade to the detriment of imported goods.

Will the Commission say whether this system is consistent with the provisions on the free and non-
discriminatory movement of goods across borders in the EU?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 2003)

At present there is little Community legislation or harmonisation of national fiscal provisions applied by
the Member States in the area of taxation of passenger cars. Additionally, Community law on vehicle
taxation is extremely complex and is not in keeping with the needs of an internal market. However, any
change to that law can only be brought about by the unanimous agreement of the Member States, and in
practice there is little that the Commission can do to improve the position in the short term.

In principle, Member States remain free to apply internal taxation to motor cars on the occasion of their
first entry into circulation within their territory, and the majority of Member States in fact apply such
taxes. However, Member States’ rights in that respect are considerably restricted by the provisions of both
the EC Treaty and derived Community law.

First, under Article 90 of the EC Treaty, Member States are not allowed to charge higher taxes on imports
than on similar and competing domestic products. Bearing that in mind, a number of Member States
charge their taxes on imported 2nd hand vehicles by reference to arbitrary valuation criteria.