do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4026/03 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission. Precious Metals Directive.
Date: 2004-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, European Commission, approximation of laws, harmonisation of standards, precious metal, product quality, proposal (EU), quality label

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/133

(2004/C 84 E/0170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4026/03

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Precious Metals Directive

Given the Council of Minister’s failure to reach agreement on the Precious Metals Directive during the
Italian Presidency, will the European Commission withdraw its proposal on Articles made of precious
metal (1)? If not, why not?

(1) COM(1993) 0322, OJ C 318, 25.11.1993, p. 5.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2004)

The Committee of Permanent Representatives on 19 November 2003 did not consider the subject ready
for discussion in the Council of Ministers.

As there continue to be divergent views on the proposal for the directive in Council, the Commission will
consider its position and duly inform the Honourable Member on its further course of action.

(2004/C 84 E/0171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4028/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 January 2004)

Subject: The euro and public opinion

January 2004 will see the second anniversary of the introduction of the euro.

According to the latest Eurobarometer poll, published on 15 December 2003, 59 % of EU citizens and
67 % of citizens of the eurozone countries think the single currency is a good thing. These figures show a
fall of 7 and 8 percentage points respectively if compared to those for the first half of 2003.

Does the Commission believe the economic downturn in some of the eurozone Member States could be
influencing their citizens’ views on the pros and cons of the single currency?

Does the Commission expect this negative trend of public opinion to worsen? What measures does it
intend to take on the matter?

Does the Commission believe that Ecofin’s decisions of 25 November 2003 concerning the stability pact
could affect the euro’s credibility?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2004)

The Eurobarometer figures (Standard Eurobarometer 60 published on 15 December 2003)
the
Honourable Member refers to indeed indicate that support for the euro has declined to 67 % in the euro
area and 59 % in the EU as a whole. On logical grounds, one would expect that the economic situation in
the euro area has an impact on the public perception of the euro and the benefits of monetary union as
such. At the same time, many other elements play a role. For example, support for the euro stood at its
highest in the period between spring 2002 and spring 2003 (see page 9 of the survey), a period
characterised by relatively low growth. A broader analysis over the period 1998-2003, moreover, shows

that
Notice concerning the Commission Green Paper on the future of rules of origin in preferential trade agreements
Date: 2004-01-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: certificate of origin, international trade, originating product, tariff preference, trade policy

C 5/38

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

9.1.2004

Notice concerning the Commission Green Paper on the future of rules of origin in preferential
trade agreements

(2004/C 5/04)

On 18 December 2003 the Commission adopted a Green Paper on the future of rules of origin in
preferential trade agreements.

With this discussion and consultation paper, the Commission is seeking to provide the fullest possible
legal and financial context of the preferential trade agreements which the
overview of the economic,
preferential origin rules will be called upon to serve in the coming years.

Starting from an assessment of the present situation and the expected outcome of current trends, the
Green Paper seeks briefly to pinpoint the various courses of action and options available to ensure that the
rules of origin play their role to the full and contribute to the smooth operation of arrangements which are
increasingly geared to greater market access and sustainable development.

The Green Paper is aimed at international traders and the competent authorities of the Member States,
candidate countries and the Union's partner countries in preferential arrangements, as participants in these
arrangements.

The Commission thereby hopes to prompt corresponding analyses from other interested parties and
imaginative responses to the options presented — or even alternative proposals by 1 March 2004 at
the latest.

The Green Paper and related documents and information can be consulted on the website of the Direc-
torate General for Taxation and Customs Union:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/customs/consultations_en.htm