WRITTEN QUESTION E-3489/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Stepping up supplies to the Sinaga's sugar production units — Azores Autonomous Region.
Date: 2003-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Azores, production quota, raw sugar, supply

C 78 E/292

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0292)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3489/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Stepping up supplies to the Sinaga’s sugar production units (cid:1) Azores Autonomous Region

The Sinaga (cid:1) Sociedade de Indústrias Agrícolas Açorianas, S.A. (cid:1) has informed me that in July 2003, the
Azores Autonomous Region (AAR) asked for a 3 000 tonne increase in supplies of white sugar obtained
from refining raw sugar. This sugar is essential to keep the company working and save the hundred plus
jobs it provides. The increase in the quota represents less than 0,0016 % of Community production, and is
vital to the AAR, an ultraperipheral region which is one of the poorest in the EU; the social and economic
fabric is weak, and there are no real or economic alternatives.

Sinaga says that the request has not yet been answered by the Community authorities, and that it had no
reply to its letter of 7 October 2003 to Commissioner Fischler. As the request is for 2003, it is urgent that
a reply be given.

Will the Commission tell me where this request has got to? Does the Commission not think that given the
AAR’s ultraperipheral status, the quota increase requested should be provided?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2004)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-3166/03 by Mr Casaca (1).

(1) OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 229.

(2004/C 78 E/0293)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3492/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(17 November 2003)

Subject: Romano Prodi (cid:1) Manifesto

The President of the Commission has written a text entitled ‘Europa: il sogno, le scelte’ explicitly directed
to the Italian centre-left parties, calling on them to unite in a single list for the forthcoming European
elections and act unitedly in the ensuing Parliament.

This initiative produced an immediate reaction from the Italian opposition parties, and comprehensive
criticism from the parties comprising the government majority, having already been repudiated by
representatives of European political groups. Italian political commentators have even stated that the
Commission President was positioning himself as the possible leader of the left in Italy, with a view to the
elections next June.

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:1) How does the Commission view the initiative taken by its President? Does it believe it to be
compatible with the nature of his duties, as set out in Article 211 et seq. of the EC Treaty? How does
it guarantee the impartiality of
its political guidelines and interventions, which are legally the
responsibility of its President? Specifically, how does it assess it in the light of the principles of
separation of powers, independence, and general interest of the Community? How does it define and
delimit what counts as ‘intervention in the internal politics’ of the Member State?