WRITTEN QUESTION E-0819/03 by Ole Krarup (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. GM crops and liability.
Date: 2003-03-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: World Trade Organisation, cultivation system, genetically modified organism, indemnification, pollution from agricultural sources, producer's liability, transgenic plant

C 78 E/358

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(cid:1) There is an important number of local NGOs working in the field of women’s rights, which have
proved to be particularly well organised. They have set up the Women Action Forum (WAF), which
not only monitors the situation concerning women’s rights but also plays an advocatorial role with
the relevant authorities.

(cid:1) The new 3rd generation Co-operation Agreement which the Honourable Member is referring to was
signed with Pakistan on 24 November 2001 but has not yet entered into force. The Commission
hopes that the Agreement will offer the possibility to re-establish the full co-operation dialogue with
Pakistan, including on sensitive human rights issues. Other similar 3d generation agreements with
third countries have already opened this possibility to the Union.

(2004/C 78 E/0376)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0586/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 February 2003)

Subject: Reduction of VAT on CDs

A reduction of VAT on CDs would be a significant boost to the music industry in Europe, which is
currently plagued by piracy. A significant reduction in the price of CDs produced by record companies
would also simultaneously increase sales and government revenue for every Member State. In Greece, CDs
are in fact subject to the highest rate of VAT (18 %).

What is the Commission’s position on this subject? What measures will it take to reduce VAT in the
Member States? What are its views on the idea put forward by organisations in the music industry that the
rate should be harmonised with the VAT applying to books and cinema tickets?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission’s answers to Written Questions E-1553/02 from
Mrs Angelilli (1) and E-3841/02 from Mr Veltroni (2).

(1) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003, p. 120.
(2) OJ C 161 E, 10.7.2003, p. 153.

(2004/C 78 E/0377)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0819/03

by Ole Krarup (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 March 2003)

Subject: GM crops and liability

How does the Commission assess the position in the WTO on the introduction of a liability clause for
patent holders and/or producers of GM crops in the event of GMO contamination of conventionally or
organically cultivated farmland?

More particularly, what initiatives has it taken to encourage a process at the WTO which will in the future
mean that WTO rules incorporate provisions on the liability of patent holders and/or producers of GM
crops to pay damages in the event of their product contaminating conventionally or organically cultivated
crops?

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/359

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2003)

The Honourable Member has raised the complex issue of liability in the case of GM crops spreading into
conventional or organic crops, should this cause damage to conventional or organic producers.

The issue is related to intentional and non-intentional spread of GMOs into the environment and to the
co-existence of different agricultural production systems and is in particular a matter of gene flow. Gene
flow between crops related to production methods in the country of origin and is therefore not a trade
issue per se. The Commission therefore does not consider that the WTO is the appropriate international
forum to discuss gene flows between GM crops and conventional crops and a liability regime.

Liability is normally addressed in international conventions dealing with particular issues. In the case of
GMOs, the Commission is currently involved in the on-going discussions on liability and redress in the
context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Such discussions
are, however, at a very early stage and the formal negotiating process on this matter will only be launched
at the First Meeting of the Parties to the Biosafety Protocol which is due to take place in April 2004.

(2004/C 78 E/0378)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0906/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(24 March 2003)

Subject: Cuba; Cotonou Agreement; Human rights

In view of the fact that:

(a) Commissioner Paul Nielsen is currently visiting Cuba for the opening of the Commission delegation’s

office there;

(b) Cuba has expressed its desire to accede to the Cotonou Agreement;

(c)

the European Union has been Cuba’s most important trading partner;

(d) according to Common Position 96/697/CFSP (1) the Union’s policy with regard to Cuba is based on

dialogue designed to encourage transition to pluralist democracy;

(e)

the Member States have systematically condemned Cuba in the UN Commission on Human Rights;

(f)

in 1999 the EU presidency expressed deep concern at certain provisions of
incorporated into Cuban criminal law, which restrict even further the exercise of citizens’ rights;

the amendments

(g) on 16 December 2002 Oswaldo José Paya Sardinas, the 2002 Sakharov prize winner, told the
European Parliament that some of his friends were being ‘victimised and subjected to real acts of
terror’ and that if the Government decided to sign the Cotonou Agreement, the issue of human rights
would have to be dealt with in accordance with the clause included in the Agreement itself,

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether there are changes in the behaviour of the political

leadership in Cuba to justify closer
relations with the European Union, in particular that country’s accession to the Cotonou Agreement?
What tangible results the European Union’s policy towards Cuba has already achieved with regard to
transition to democracy? Whether it is developing a policy to promote Cuba’s accession to the
Agreement and what results it expects to achieve and when? How the Commission classifies Cuba,
with reference to its political system and the regime’s behaviour?

(1) OJ L 322, 12.12.1996, p. 1.