WRITTEN QUESTION P-1798/03 by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission. Refunds for sugar-processing operations.
Date: 2003-05-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, Croatia, Serbia, export refund, intervention price, sugar, sugar industry, world market price

C 33 E/170

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

(2004/C 33 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1785/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Structural Funds

What is the current procedure for making public the amounts and timing of Structural Funds to regions?
the Euro constituencies of MEPs or parts of Euro
Are there breakdowns available for
constituencies?

regions,

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 July 2003)

the Directorate general

The Commission collects and publishes financial information according to the nature of the intervention
concerned. For interventions that are delivered at regional level under Objectives 1 and 2 of the Structural
Funds, financial data are available at the level of each regional programme. These data are published on the
website of
for Regional Policy (http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/
index_en.htm). For specific information on the interventions supported by the European Social Fund,
financial data can be found on the website of the Directorate General for Employment and Social Affairs
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/esf2000/member_states-en.htm).
sup-
ported by the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), data can be found on the website of
the Directorate General for Fisheries (http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/policy_en.htm). Finally, for rural
development programmes supported by the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF),
data can be found on the website of the Directorate General for Agriculture (http://europa.eu.int/comm/
agriculture/rur/index_fr.htm).

interventions

For

the management of Structural Funds is highly
In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,
level are responsible for the
decentralised and the managing authorities at Member State and regional
selection of individual projects for support. In conformity with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1159/
2000 on information and publicity measures to be carried out by the Member States concerning assistance
from the Structural Funds (1), these authorities are required to inform the general public as well as possible
beneficiaries about Structural Funds programmes, resources allocated and application procedures.

(1) OJ L 130, 31.5.2000.

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WRITTEN QUESTION P-1798/03

by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission

(21 May 2003)

Subject: Refunds for sugar-processing operations

In accordance with the Brussels Agreement (2002/C 152/05) (1), the firm Agrar Invest Tatschl imports
sugar from Serbia and Croatia. Tatschl’s customers use the sugar imported from Serbia or Croatia in the
manufacture of juices, chocolate, etc. and then export the finished products to third countries.

The current intervention price for sugar is approximately euro 699 per tonne. The world market price, on
the other hand, is only about euro 250. The sugar-processing operations should therefore receive a refund
of approximately euro 450 per tonne for sugar imported for processing from Serbia and Croatia when the
finished products (juices, chocolate) are subsequently exported to third countries (export of Non-Annex I
products from the Union’s customs-free territory with application for an export refund).

The refund in question works without any problem in Germany and Italy. I do not understand why
Austrian sugar-processing operations have so far been placed at a disadvantage by the refusal to grant
them refunds.

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/171

The Austrian Finance Ministry took action on this matter last year (28 March 2002) by sending a request
to the Commission for clarification on whether Austrian firms were eligible for refunds in these
circumstances. So far the Commission has not replied.

I would therefore like answers to the following questions:

1. Are refunds possible for Austrian sugar-processing operations?

2.

If so, can refunds be retroactive?

3. What procedure must be gone through to obtain retroactive refunds?

4.

If not, on the basis of which directives is a refund impossible?

(1) OJ C 152, 26.6.2002, p. 14.

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

It is up to the competent national authorities to decide whether or not export refunds can be granted
pursuant to the Community regulations. Operators should therefore contact them in the event of any
problem.

In the case raised by the honourable member, the Commission takes the view that sugar imported from
Croatia and Serbia used to manufacture the processed products referred to in Annex V to Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 of 19 June 2001 on the common organisation of the markets in the sugar
sector (1) should not receive refunds pursuant to Article 27(3) and (12) of that Regulation. The Commission
will take the appropriate initiatives to ensure uniform interpretation of these provisions as soon as
possible.

(1) OJ L 178, 30.6.2001.

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WRITTEN QUESTION E-1801/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Cosmic radiation

In 1996, the EU agreed a directive (96/29/Euratom (1)) on basic safety standards for the protection of the
health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. With
reference to aviation, provision was only made for aircrew and pregnant women. In the light of the recent
evidence on risks, does the Commission now agree that frequent flyers should be included in the safety
standards?

(1) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Title VII (Articles 40 to 42) of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down the basic
safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers
arising from ionising radiation relates to significant increase in exposures due to natural radiation sources
as a consequence of work activities.

The only activity specifically identified in this Title is aircrew exposed to cosmic radiation (Article 42).
Member States can always adapt at national level, specific provisions for example for frequent flyers if they
consider that appropriate.