WRITTEN QUESTION P-0472/04 by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Common External Tariffs.
Date: 2004-02-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: CCT duties, EU Member State, agricultural levy, agricultural trade, trade statistics

C 84 E/594

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission has not referred the case to the Court of Justice under Article 88(2) of the EC
6.
Treaty. The Commission is in the process of verifying what measures the Italian State has taken to comply
with the above-mentioned Decision regarding the aids granted by Italy to the Azienda Comunale Centrale
del Latte di Roma. If, after this verification, the Commission is informed that Italy has not complied with
the said Decision, as stated by Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission may, in derogation from the
provisions of Articles 226 and 227, refer the matter to the Court of Justice.

(1) OJ L 83, 27.3.1999.

(2004/C 84 E/0670)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0472/04

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 February 2004)

Subject: Common External Tariffs

In 2002, under the Common External Tariff, what was the aggregate value (in euro billion) of the customs
duties (i.e.
‘tariffs’) that the 15 EU Member States collected on goods (including agricultural produce)
imported into the EU from countries which were not members of the EU; and what was the aggregate
value in 2002, (in billion euro), of all such imports of goods (including agricultural produce) into the EU
from countries which were not members of the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2004)

Customs duties (i.e. duties on non-agricultural products) and agricultural duties are collected by Member
States on imports from third countries and are paid with a two-month delay to the Commission, after
deduction of 25 % in collection costs.

For the year 2002, the aggregate value for the EU-15 of agricultural duties and customs duties recorded in
the EU accounts, before deduction of collection costs, amounted to EUR 1,18 billion and EUR 12,92 billion,
respectively.

The aggregate value of import duties collected on goods (including agricultural products) (cid:1) i.e. the
addition of the last two above-mentioned figures (cid:1) amounted consequently to EUR 14,10 billion for the
EU-15 in 2002.

See below the breakdown by Member State.

Agricultural duties

Import duties
(excluding agricultural duties)

Import duties
(including agricultural duties)

(million euros)

European Union

1 180,3

12 917,5

14 097,8

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

22,9

7,4

144,2

12,0

38,1

132,6

0,7

72,6

1 346,2

258,5

2 743,2

173,2

887,7

1 178,1

135,4

1 290,7

1 369,1

265,9

2 887,4

185,2

925,8

1 310,7

136,1

1 363,3

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/595

Agricultural duties

Import duties
(excluding agricultural duties)

Import duties
(including agricultural duties)

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

0,2

201,8

10,8

20,4

3,7

14,7

498,2

16,7

1 340,5

208,9

123,0

98,7

348,0

2 768,7

16,9

1 542,3

219,7

143,4

102,4

362,7

3 266,9

According to the latest information from Member States, compiled by Eurostat, the aggregate value of
extra EU-15 imports of goods (1) (including agricultural products) for the period November 2001-October
2002 (corresponding to payments of import duties to the EU budget between January 2002 and December
2002), amounted to EUR 916,5 billion for the EU-15 (see below the breakdown by Member State).

European Union

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

916,5

57,8

14,9

216,5

15,0

55,3

99,3

18,3

101,9

2,9

106,2

24,2

9,4

11,8

22,4

160,6

For information, please note that the total value of extra EU-15 imports of goods (including agricultural
products) in 2002 (January-December) is EUR 920,2 billion (see below the breakdown by Member State).

European Union

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

920,2

58,7

14,7

215,4

15,5

56,3

99,5

C 84 E/596

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

18,2

103,4

2,9

106,9

24,7

9,2

12,1

23,0

159,5

The imports are measured according to the Cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value. This means that all
transport and insurance costs are included up to the border of the importing country.

These statistics are based on harmonised Community concepts which can differ, in some cases, from the
national concepts used by Member States.

(1)

Free trade goods (Regime 1). The corresponding statistics for total trade (Regime 4) are: EUR 987,2 billion for
November 2001-October 2002 and EUR 989,4 billion for the year 2002 (January-December). Goods included
under Regime 4 but not in Regime 1 are partially or totally exempted from import duties.

(2004/C 84 E/0671)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0473/04

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Pension adjustment

Pension reform is now on the agenda in all the Member States for various reasons. Does the Commission
not think that the time has come to standardise pension reform on the basis of a common Community
model? Although the historical, social and economic reasons for the introduction of the present pension
systems vary,
there is one principle which should be safeguarded in all countries, that of pension
adjustment. The Italian Constitutional Court has already ruled (173/1986) that the minimum subsistence
amount insured is not merely the amount that satisfies vital basic needs but also needs commensurate with
the standard of living achieved by the worker concerned in terms of income and position. This approach
has also been advocated on several occasions at Community level, supported by the view that pension
adjustment solely on the basis of the percentage increase in the cost of living is not sufficient to maintain
pension purchasing power and that pensions should therefore also be linked to earnings and, in other
words, to salary and wage rises.

Pending the opening of a debate on a single European pension system, does the Commission not consider
that it could usefully address a communication to Member States to ensure that the principle of pension
adjustment is safeguarded, so as to avoid any further loss of pension purchasing power?

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2004)

One of the common objectives underlying the open method of coordination with regard to pensions calls
on Member States to ‘provide access for all individuals to appropriate pension arrangements, public and/or
private, which allow them to earn pension entitlements enabling them to maintain, to a reasonable degree,