WRITTEN QUESTION E-3610/03 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission. Circumvention of sugar import tariffs.
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: customs duties, import (EU), import policy, quantitative restriction, sugar, sugar product, tariff exemption

C 78 E/302

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

and national levels, through their involvement in national co-ordinating bodies, designing the key messages
of the EYPD, choosing its logo and slogan, etc.

Overall, the awareness-raising campaign that was a key objective for the EYPD has had very positive
effects, not least among employers and the media. One notable success in this context, was an initiative
taken by the Greek Presidency, in co-operation with the Commission and organisations of people with
disabilities. This was the organisation of a European Year conference on the critical issue of overcoming
stereotypes of disabled people. As a result of this event, a ‘European Declaration on Media and Disability’
was approved in June 2003. The decision was also taken to establish a European network on media and
disability to continue improving the image of disabled people in the media, the levels of employment, and
access to the media.

Thousands of events have been held throughout the participating countries to promote the rights of
people with disabilities and to raise awareness of the barriers they face daily in society. Actions took place
simultaneously at European, national, regional and local level involving a great diversity of stakeholders:
people with disabilities, their families and their representative organisations, non-disabled people, decision-
makers at all levels, the social partners and relevant stakeholders from the public and private sector.

The exceptional mobilisation of stakeholders throughout the Year has demonstrated a broad desire for a
change of gear in achieving equal opportunities and the EYPD has induced a new political impetus to
promote the further integration of people with disabilities. Apart from the transposition of the Community
Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation, new policy
developments have been announced and are currently taking place in the Member States. These do not
only concern the updating of existing laws and the passing of new ones, but also promote new
approaches, innovative methods and positive measures.

On 30 October 2003, the Commission adopted a communication entitled ‘Equal opportunities for people
with disabilities: a European Action Plan’ (2), which sets out how the Commission plans to follow up on
the EYPD (Action Plan, mainstreaming, biennial report, etc.). The communication describes, inter alia, the
main achievements of the Year so far.

(1) Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in

employment and occupation, OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.

(2) COM(2003) 650 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0304)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3610/03

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Circumvention of sugar import tariffs

It was recently reported (in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, 30 September 2003) that, by importing the
semi-finished product tomato sugar (consisting of sugar, vinegar and tomato extract) from Switzerland,
companies based in the EU are taking advantage of the low world market price of sugar. Producers in
Switzerland import European ‘C sugar’ for this purpose, thereby avoiding high sugar prices. The same
process is used in the production of soft drinks.

Does the Commission view this as an unwanted development? If so, what does the Commission

1.
intend to do about it?

Is the Commission aware of situations involving other third countries or other products where the

2.
same problem exists or could arise?

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Does the Commission feel that such imports, which from 1 May 2004 will be directed principally

3.
towards the new Member States, are desirable?

Does the Commission share the view that the problem outlined above could be solved by setting

4.
import quotas on such products?

5.
Does the Commission share the view that the problem of the circumvention of rules of origin, which
has occured with regard to the Balkans and which, it is feared, may occur in the case of the ‘Everything
But Arms’ group of countries, could also be solved by setting import quotas?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2004)

Under the 1972 Agreement the preferential treatment granted to Switzerland includes customs duty
exemption for her exports to the Community of certain processed products, such as soft drinks, that may
contain sugar.

Whether European sugar or sugar bought on the world market is used when these products are made in
Switzerland is of no real importance. This is so for both the cost price of the sugar used and the origin of
the finished product.

We are well aware of the impact on the Community sugar market that can be made by imports from
various countries of sugar and products containing relatively high proportions of sugar.

Importation taking advantage of preferential rights granted by the Community is of course encouraged by
the existence of a Community sugar price that is generally three times higher than the world price.

These issues are one aspect of a situation that has resulted in a Commission Communication to the
Council and Parliament (1) setting out three policy options for the sugar organisation. The first is retention
of quotas, the second achievement of market balance through lower prices and the third liberalisation of
the market. Once discussion of the Communication is over the Commission will submit a proposal on the
future organisation for sugar.

(1) COM(2003) 554 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0305)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3618/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 December 2003)

Subject: Building cooperatives in Greece

Commissioner Byrne gave me a polite reply to my question No E-2850/03 (1), indicating that the issue it
touched on was a ‘private matter’, and at the same time providing a brief analysis of timeshare leases
which, however, have no connection with the issue which I raised in my question.

I would like to return to the subject I initially raised, which affects at least 500 000 Greek citizens (as many
the following totally
leading Greek newspapers have been pointing out) and which consists of
unacceptable situation: there are building cooperatives in Greece which were founded up to 38 years ago
(such as the Medical Staff Summer Property Cooperative situated in Athens which owns land in Saronida,
Attica, and many other plots), whose members have been paying their annual and additional contributions
for decades, but nobody is giving them any information on when they will receive the plots to which they
are entitled.