WRITTEN QUESTION E-3591/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Côte d'Ivoire — the war breaks out again.
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Côte d'Ivoire, EU national, EU relations, competence of the Member States, diplomatic protection, peacekeeping, public safety, regional security

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/473

Given that the Treaty of Accession permits Member States to carry out the necessary controls in the
domain of the general system of ownership, transport and inspections of goods subject to consumer tax,
providing the smooth functioning of the internal market is not thereby impaired, will the Commission say
whether it has imposed restrictions on the number or frequency of mobile customs control units and what
criterion should determine the frequency of mobile customs control units?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2004)

As highlighted by the Honourable Member, products issuing from establishments which have been granted
a transitional period for certain structural requirements may only be marketed on the national (domestic)
market, and consequently cannot be sent to other Member States.

Annex V of the Act of Accession refers to certain establishments in the Czech Republic and lays down
rules to guarantee this limitation in marketing. In addition, the Commission is currently preparing detailed
implementing rules for the control and marketing of these products. The overall responsibility for ensuring
that Community rules are respected lies with the country of origin. As regards the country of destination,
the general rules foreseen by Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary
checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), will be
applicable. In this context the provisions of Chapter II Article 5. 1(a) of the Directive are applicable, viz:

The competent authority may, at the places of destination of goods, check by means of non-
discriminatory veterinary spot-checks that the requirements of Article 3 have been complied with; it
may take samples at the same time.

Furthermore, where the competent authority of the Member State of transit or of the Member State of
destination has information leading it to suspect an infringement, checks may also be carried out
during the transport of goods in its territory, including checks on compliance as regards the means of
transport.

The intervention of mobile customs control groups is possible but must be in accordance with this
Directive. For these controls on the circulation of products subject to excise duties, the Commission does
not impose any restriction, nor standard for the frequency. This issue falls under the subsidiarity principles.
Nevertheless, when putting in place these controls, Member States must ensure that
the principles
governing the internal market are respected.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989.

(2004/C 88 E/0485)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3591/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Côte d’Ivoire (cid:1) the war breaks out again

The rebel forces controlling the northern part of Côte d’Ivoire yesterday announced a state of emergency in
the regions where they operate, and accused President Laurent Gbagbo of getting ready to resume fighting
the war which was interrupted at the beginning of this year.

Disagreements about a government of national unity have brought the two sides to the brink of fresh
fighting, four months after the official ending of the conflict.

Politicians from other West African countries have attempted to save the peace process, but the rebels,
who walked out of the ‘transition executive’ in September, are now accusing the President of planning to
attack the towns of Man and Bouaké.

C 88 E/474

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

The Commission:

(cid:1) is it following this fresh upsurge of conflict in Côte d’Ivoire? What impact will a resumption of the

fighting have on political stability in that part of the world;

(cid:1) is it in contact with the two sides? What means is it using in order to try to bring pressure on them to

put an end to this situation, and to encourage them to reach agreement;

(cid:1) what steps has it taken or does it intend to take with regard to ensuring the safety of EU citizens

resident in Côte d’Ivoire?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2004)

The Commission is following closely the evolution of the political situation in Côte d’Ivoire, both from
headquarters and through its Delegation in Abidjan. At headquarters, in addition to a daily monitoring of
the situation, an ad hoc Task Force on Côte d’Ivoire headed by the Director for West and Central Africa,
meets regularly.
It is composed of representatives of all the concerned Directorates General of the
Commission. In Abidjan, a Political Adviser has recently been appointed at the Delegation, and the Head of
Delegation is one of the 13 members of the Monitoring Committee of the Marcoussis Agreement, which
meets at least once a week.

Through the Monitoring Committee of the Marcoussis Agreement, the Commission is in contact with the
two sides. Furthermore, President Prodi visited Abidjan on 13 November 2003: he met President Ggbabo,
Prime Minister Diarra and members of his government, the Monitoring Committee of the Marcoussis
Agreement and the ten political forces signatories of the Marcoussis Agreement. He stressed the necessity
to reach agreement between them solves and that the Union was willing to disburse its aid to the country,
but would do it only when peace is reached, which means that the disarmament process has to be
launched and the country has to be reunified. He urged the New Forces to come back to the Council of
Ministers and President Gbagbo and the government to fully implement the Marcoussis Agreement.

This matter remains within the competence of the Member States: the Commission does not have at its
disposal the logistic means to ensure the safety of the Union citizens in third countries.

(2004/C 88 E/0486)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3674/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 December 2003)

Subject: Textile and clothing industry

Protectionist measures have been adopted by the US against imports of various articles from China,
notably knitwear and brassieres, following complaints from professional organisations representing the US
textile industry.

Meanwhile,
in the EU 2002 saw a considerable increase in imports of Chinese textile and clothing
products, especially those which have been the object of liberalisation. The Portuguese Textile and Clothing
Association states that, by way of example, China’s market share of anoraks and tracksuits, which stood at
less than 20 % in 2001, rose in 2002 to over 50 %, leading to a fall in price levels of some 40 %.

The protectionist measures by the US could lead to a diversion of trade to Europe, bringing increased
pressure to bear on the EU market and endangering the industries of Member States such as Portugal, in
areas where the textile and clothing industry is the dominant economic activity.