WRITTEN QUESTION E-0851/03 by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Council. Morocco's intention to sign a free-trade agreement with the United States.
Date: 2003-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, European Union, Morocco, United States, association agreement (EU), free-trade agreement, international negotiations

C 280 E/106

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

(2003/C 280 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0843/03

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Council

(18 March 2003)

Subject: Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

The principle of a single farm payment subject to compliance with environmental, food safety, animal
welfare, health and occupational safety standards as well as the requirement to keep all farmland in good
condition seems to meet society’s expectations.

However, there are possible concerns that the principle of cross compliance, which makes eligibility for the
single payment dependent on the fulfilment of these requirements, will create some problems for farms in
the ultra-peripheral regions. These regions have their own climatic constraints, which are unknown on the
European continent.

On the basis of Article 299(2) of the Treaty of Amsterdam, what measures does the Council intend to take
to find an appropriate response to this particular situation?

Reply

(22 July 2003)

The Council is currently examining the package of legislative measures proposed by the Commission on
21 January 2003 on the reform of the CAP and on which it asked the European Parliament to deliver an
opinion under the conciliation procedure.

A general preliminary debate was held within the Agriculture/Fisheries Council on 27 January 2003 on the
series of proposals for regulations. That was followed by a further debate at the Council meeting on
17 March 2003, which essentially concerned the sectoral proposals and rural development. In view of the
foregoing, it is premature at this stage to prejudge the outcome of the proceedings and discussions held
within the Council.

Regarding any specific measures for the outermost regions based on Article 299(2) of the EC Treaty, the
Council can only comment on the issue on the basis of a Commission proposal and following the opinion
of the European Parliament.

Nevertheless, the Council will certainly take due account of the European Parliament’s opinion and give its
attention to the impact of the reform on regions with specific characteristics or problems.

(2003/C 280 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0851/03

by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Council

(18 March 2003)

Subject: Morocco’s intention to sign a free-trade agreement with the United States

Might Morocco’s intention to conclude a free-trade agreement with the United States affect the association
agreements and negotiations between it and the European Union?

Reply

(21 July 2003)

The Council would inform the Honourable Member that it has not hitherto discussed this matter and is
therefore unable to give a reply. However, the Council has been informed of discussions on the negotiation
of a free-trade agreement which have been initiated between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United
States.

21.11.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/107

The Council will naturally remain attentive to any implications of such an agreement for the Association
Agreement that Morocco concluded with the European Union and its Member States and which has been
in force for almost three years now, and for the new agricultural concessions which the two Parties are in
the process of negotiating.

(2003/C 280 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0865/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Nomadic women convicted of criminal activities threatened with expulsion

In January 2003 Oradaria, an organisation in Rome which accommodates and helps nomadic people,
submitted a report on the situation of nomadic women in Italy. It revealed cases of women convicted of
crimes who are currently in prison together with their children.

In particular it mentioned the case of a nomadic Bosnian woman who has been living in Italy with her
young daughter for more than 12 years. When she arrived in 1988 she started to commit crimes in
various parts of Italy, in particular theft and robbery, and received a number of convictions. Since 2000
she has been under house arrest with her daughter in a reception centre.

After going through a process of integration into society and employment she has become a useful
member of the community and has, in particular, helped her daughter to become integrated in the school
she attends.

However, because of her complex history of convictions and proceedings pending, she will probably be
expelled.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. whether European legislation on asylum makes provision for cases of this kind;

2. whether there are any action programmes for the benefit of nomadic women with a criminal record?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2003)

In the field of asylum, there is no Community law in place at present which could make provision for the
case of the kind described by the Honourable Member. In particular, the proposal for a Council Directive
on minimum standards for the qualification as a refugee or as a person otherwise in need of international
protection (1), which might cover such a case depending on the situation, is still under negotiation in the
Council.

In the field of immigration, the Commission proposals which might cover this particular case, depending
on the circumstances under which the person in question has been allowed to stay and reside in Italy,
contain provisions for excluding or expelling persons for public order or security reasons. In particular,
third country nationals who have been residing legally and continuously for five years in the territory of a
Member State, may thus only be expelled under the conditions outlined in Article 13 of the proposal on
the status of third country nationals who are long term residents (2).

The Honourable Member is, however, advised that the Council has not yet adopted the above Directives
and that therefore in this case national law applies. Expulsion measures are regularly taken in cases of
frequent criminal convictions (cf also Article 3 of Council Directive 2001/40/EC of 28 May 2001 on the
mutual recognition of decisions on the expulsion of third country nationals (3)), since persistent offenders
are not normally considered to be successfully integrated.