WRITTEN QUESTION P-0532/03 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Removal of tariff suspension for CRTs.
Date: 2003-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, electronic component, suspension of customs duties, tariff policy, television equipment

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/93

The only exception would be if a relevant new fact was to be revealed (cid:1) in particular in the criminal
proceedings mentioned in point 3 (cid:1) which had previously been unknown to the Commission and the
Court. If that was to happen, the Commission would naturally take any appropriate steps as a result.
However, those proceedings are still pending. The Commission would point out that it has intervened in
those proceedings as ‘partie civile’ in order to take advantage of any possibility of taking further steps,
should it arise.

(2004/C 11 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0529/03

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(18 February 2003)

Subject: Cod recovery plan

At the December 2002 Fisheries Council, the Commission agreed to present a revised long-term cod
recovery plan by 15 February 2003.

the Commission has since acknowledged that

Given that
Commission give the European Parliament a date by which it will
Furthermore, what timetable does it envisage for the adoption of the plan?

this deadline will not be met, can the
in fact present a revised plan?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2003)

The Commission is conducting consultations with Member States and stakeholders on this issue prior to
present the proposal to Council. Following the further general consultation scheduled for 10 and 11 March
2003, the Commission will finalise its proposal that should be adopted towards the end of April or
beginning of May 2003.

(2004/C 11 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0532/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Removal of tariff suspension for CRTs

The Commission is proposing to end the current EC tariff suspension for the cathode ray tube (CRT) due
to an objection, proposed by the Netherlands, stating that LG-Philips in Eindhoven can supply identical or
equivalent products.

Within the south-west of England, Toshiba is a major importer of CRTs.

Were this tariff suspension to cease it would have the following effect:

(cid:1) Toshiba would be unlikely to be able to purchase the CRTs produced by LG-Philips because the

mechanical dimensions are incompatible with Toshiba 36 televisions; however,

(cid:1) if Toshiba continued to purchase its CRTs from outside the Community as it currently does, but with
the tariff applied, prices would increase, and sales would drop by around 25 %; Toshiba estimates that
this would have a knock-on effect of a reduction in the workforce in Plymouth of 50 people;

(cid:1) LG-Philips would gain a monopoly as the only producer of CRTs within the EU market.

Would the Commission indicate what it plans to do to respond to these concerns and what its future plans
are with respect to this tariff suspension?

C 11 E/94

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2003)

The Netherlands submitted a request to repeal the current suspension for colour cathode-ray tubes with a
diagonal measurement of the screen of 85,5 centimeter (cm) or more on the basis that a production of
similar tubes will start in Durham, United Kingdom, creating a significant number of new jobs.

Autonomous tariff suspensions and their repeal are adopted by the Council with qualified majority on the
basis of a proposal from the Commission. At present no decision has been taken on the request submitted
by the Dutch authorities and, consequently, no proposal has been submitted in this respect to the Council.
The Commission will decide on this issue in accordance with the principals set out in its ‘Communication
concerning autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas’ (1).

In this context the Commission would like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to point 3.2
of the Communication which states that ‘unless the Community interest dictates otherwise no suspension
will be proposed where identical, equivalent or substitute products are manufactured in sufficient
quantities within the Community’. Point 3.3. of the same Communication mentions that where there is
some Community production but such production is insufficient to meet the requirements of all the
relevant processing or manufacturing companies, tariff quotas (limited to the unavailable quantities) or
partial tariff suspensions may be granted. Nevertheless, the same point 3.3 says ‘in this connection, account
will be taken, where appropriate, of consequential damage to any new production and of any
manufacturing capacity which could be made available in the Community’.

At present the Commission is still examining all substantiated information and has asked some Member
States to provide further documentation on this question. Its decision on this issue will be made in due
course after a careful evaluation of the request and a detailed discussion with the experts of the Member
States.

(1) OJ C 128, 25.4.1998.

(2004/C 11 E/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0579/03

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Commission

(28 February 2003)

Subject: Distribution of seats in the European Parliament

At the Brussels and Copenhagen European Councils a framework agreement was negotiated on the future
allocation of seats in the European Parliament after the enlargement of the Union. Up to now Belgium has
had 25 seats, 14 of which were for the electoral district of Flanders, 11 for that of Wallonia. After the
enlargement Belgium will have only 22 seats. As a transitional arrangement, however, pending the
accession of Bulgaria and Romania, it is planned that there will be a gradual adjustment in the number of
seats to which the present Member States will be entitled at next year’s European elections. Various
newspapers have reported that Belgium will still be given 24 seats at the 2004 European elections, and
that this number will be reduced to 22 only at the 2009 elections.

Can the Commission indicate how many seats the present Member States will be given at the elections in
June 2004 and 2009?

Has the Commission given any recommendations to the Member States as to any proportional distribution
of seats among the various electoral districts to be made in each Member State?