WRITTEN QUESTION E-1349/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Intra-EU trade.
Date: 2003-04-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU statistics, intra-EU trade, national statistics, statistical method, trade statistics, trading operation

C 268 E/188

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

Furthermore, any information concerning practical problems related to the implementation and application
of the Directive will be given due attention. It is well known that complaints received from European
citizens constitute essential information which enables the Commission to carry out properly its duties as
the guardian of the Community law. It should be noted that up to now the Commission has received only
one single complaint concerning the implementation and application of the Directive which has led to the
initiation of infringement proceedings in accordance of Article 226 of the EC Treaty (pending case C-341/
02).

(1) OJ L 18, 21.1.1997.
(2) OJ C 161 E, 10.7.2003, p. 219.

(2003/C 268 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1349/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 April 2003)

Subject: Intra-EU trade

Further to the answers given to my Written Questions E-1020/01 (1), E-0992/02 to E-0994/02 and
E-1106/02 (2), will the Commission provide an updated, geographical analysis of exports of goods and
non-factor services by Member State to include 2001 and 2002, and will it further express such figures as
a percentage of each country’s GDP for the period in question?

(1) OJ C 340 E, 4.12.2001, p. 149.
(2) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 244.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 2003)

The Commission provides to the Honourable Member and the Parliament’s Secretariat an updated
geographical analysis of Intra-Community trade in goods and services expressed both, in EUR million and
as percentages of each country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

It should be stated that the tables containing the analysis for trade in goods are derived from Foreign Trade
Statistics (1), while the tables containing the analysis for trade in services are derived from Balance of
Payments Statistics. 2002 figures shown in the tables covering trade in goods should be considered as
provisional and, therefore, subject to revision in the coming months. More definitive figures will only be
available at the end of the year 2003. The tables covering trade in services do not include figures for the
year 2002, as the information required will only become available in December 2003.

It should be stressed that Foreign Trade Statistics collected by the Commission (Eurostat) are based on the
community concept. They often differ from the data published at the national level, which are based on
the national concept.

Also, as stated in the reply by the Commission to the Honourable Member’s Written Questions E-2464/02
and E-2465/02 (2), the data provided by Member States to the Commission (Eurostat) to compile the
Balance of Payments of the Union are based on a different methodology (principle of consignment) than
the one used by Member States for compiling and publishing their national Balance of Payments (principle
of origin). This difference should be kept in mind before interpreting the figures.

(1) See the answer provided by the Commission to the Honourable Member’s Written Questions E-0992/02 to E-0994/

02 and E-1106/02.

(2) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003, p. 243.