WRITTEN QUESTION E-1586/03 by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Radioactive contamination from Sellafield.
Date: 2003-05-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Finland, United Kingdom, environmental risk prevention, fuel reprocessing, nuclear power station, nuclear safety, radiation protection, radioactive pollution, safety standard, transfrontier pollution

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/719

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2003)

The Commission confirms that, in accordance with the provisions of Community Customs Code (1) and in
particular Article 24, canned tuna produced in countries wishing to export to the Community within the
proposed quota, will bear the origin of the country in which it underwent its last, substantial, economically
justified processing, independently of the origin of the tuna fish used. In accordance with Article 26 of the
above-mentioned Regulation, Article 4.2 of the proposed Council Regulation to open the quota requires
that a certificate of origin be presented to the Community authorities to prove that the goods are eligible
for the part of the quota from which the benefit is requested.

The Commission would respectfully refer the Honourable Member to the proposed Regulation to open a
quota for canned tuna and, in particular, to Article 1 which states that the quota shall be open to goods
originating in any country. This is in accordance with General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
Article XIII, as is the division of the quota, based on past trade of the countries concerned, into the four
parts laid down in Article 3 of the proposed Regulation. The complainants, for their part, have signalled
their agreement to this division. The Honourable Member will note that canned tuna from Indonesia may
be exported to the amount of 11 % of the annual volume of the quota. This is because, in order to comply
with GATT Article XIII, Indonesia, as the third main supplier to the Community (i.e. an import share
≥ 10 %), is entitled to any increased most favoured nation (MFN) quota. The Commission considers it
unlikely, therefore, that either Thailand or Philippines would see any economic advantage by attempting to
the quota (52 % and 36 %
re-export canned tuna from Indonesia within the limited amounts of
respectively) from which they benefit.

The Commission is not of the opinion that damage will be occasioned to the Community tuna processing
industry by the implementation of the above-mentioned rules of origin. The Commission will of course
monitor the situation following the implementation of the quota and therefore does not intend to adopt
any measures at this stage.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992, OJ L 302, 19.10.1992.

(2004/C 78 E/0767)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1586/03

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject: Radioactive contamination from Sellafield

Will the Commission set out the means by which it is in a position to independently determine, as required
under Euratom Treaty Article 37, whether the reprocessing activities at Sellafield and La Hague respectively
are liable or not to result in the radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member
State?

(2004/C 78 E/0768)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1587/03

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject: Basic nuclear safety standards

Will the Commission set out the means by which it is able to guarantee that the Basic Safety Standards on
radiological protection are respected concerning the La Hague and Sellafield facilities?