WRITTEN QUESTION E-1597/03 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding of the European Ombudsman Institute.
Date: 2003-05-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European official, international organisation, management, mediator

C 11 E/202

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Can the Commission say how the problem that businesses and other persons concerned cannot

3.
appeal on such certificates is being tackled?

Does the Commission realise that the fact that certificates of origin are recognised in one Member

4.
State, and not in another, is hindering the proper functioning of the single market?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2003)

1.
The Commission refers the Honourable Member to Articles 26, 62 and 68 of the Community
Customs Code (1) and to all specific Community rules introducing special measures or treatment for
products originating in certain non-Community countries.

Some special rules introducing mandatory measures to ban or limit imports of products from particular
non-Community countries require a certificate of origin to be presented before such products can be
released for free circulation.

If it is required, the person concerned may rely on it but Community customs authorities do of course
have the right to demand additional proof that the stated origin is correct.

If no Community rules require an origin certificate to be lodged, it is only of commercial value and the
person concerned cannot rely on it. The origin indicated in the declaration will then be taken into account
but may be checked in accordance with Article 68 of the Comunity Customs Code.

2. and 3.
The Commission does not have any information about problems encountered by business as a
result of errors by Member State authorities which issue certificates of origin or about difficulties
encountered by traders or other persons in being able to use such certificates.

4.
The Commission is well aware of the importance for the internal market of ensuring uniform
decisions to accept or reject origin certificates in all Member States. The fact that the issue and acceptance
of such documents is governed by Community legislation which is directly applicable by the Member
States is a guarantee. Furthermore, any questions arising from the interpretation and implementation of
this legislation are regularly dealt with by the relevant committees on which Member States and the
Commission are represented.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC)No 2913/92 of 12 0ctober 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (OJ L 302,

19.10.1992).

(2004/C 11 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1597/03

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject: Funding of the European Ombudsman Institute

Could the Commission say whether the European Ombudsman Institute (EOI), which is based in
Innsbruck, Austria, is funded through any kind of Community Initiative? Does a representative of any of
the Community bodies participate in its work, or have any sort of say in its running?

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/203

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2003)

According to the information in the Commission’s possession, the institute in question has not been
provided with Community funding.

(2004/C 11 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1637/03

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(16 May 2003)

Subject: Conditions of employees on board cruise ships

The report ‘Sweatships: What it is really like to work on board cruise ships’, published recently by War on
Want and the International Transport Workers’ Federation, details very poor working conditions on board
cruise ships. These include low salaries, illegal charges to get a job, sometimes amounting to as much as
GBP 1 000, opposition to the forming of workers’ trade unions and evasion of minimum wage legislation
via the use of ‘flags of convenience’ registration.

Ratification of the ILO Maritime Convention would assist in tackling these abuses. What action is the
Commission taking in regard to pressing Member States to sign up to the ILO Maritime Convention?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2003)

the Commission makes every effort

Bearing in mind that living and working conditions are crucial for seafaring profession and may also affect
seafarers’ performance,
the
application of the existing Community social provisions that apply also to seafarers. The Commission
would like to underline that Directive 1999/63/EC (1), implementing the Agreement on the organisation of
working time of seafarers concluded by the social partners, applies to seafarers on board every sea-going
ship, whether publicly or privately owned, which is registered in the territory of any Member State and is
ordinarily engaged in commercial maritime operations. It lays down minimum requirements concerning
the working conditions of seafarers, notably maximum weekly working time, minimal age to work at night
or on board a ship, annual paid leave, etc. The deadline for transposition of the Directive into national law
was 30 June 2002.

the Union,

throughout

to ensure,

On the other hand, Directive 1999/95/EC (2) provides a mechanism for the verification and enforcement of
compliance by ships calling at ports of Member States with Directive 1999/63/EC in order to improve
maritime safety, working conditions and the health and safety of seafarers on board ships. It applies
therefore to every ship calling at ports of a Member State, irrespective of the place of registration.

It is also deeply concerned about the inconsistent record of the Member States in ratifying some of the
the International Labour Office (ILO) dictating minimum international
international Conventions of
maritim labour standards.

In this regard, the Commission is following very closely the developments within the Member States, but
also the Candidate countries, as regards the ratification of the international requirements, as scarce