WRITTEN QUESTION E-0412/04 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The regulation of exportation of timber from Indonesia.
Date: 2004-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Indonesia, forest conservation, forestry holding, illicit trade, import (EU), over-exploitation of resources, surveillance concerning imports, tropical forest, wood product

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/787

Furthermore, pursuant to Article 14, Member States have until 18 July 2004 to transpose Directive 2002/
49/EC into their national
the Commission has not received notification of
transposition from the Netherlands.

legal order. To date,

In view of the above, the Commission does not presently have the list of Dutch airports covered by the
scope of Directive 2002/49/EC but considers that it is not appropriate to launch infringement proceedings
against the Dutch Government. It wishes to thank the Honourable Member for drawing its attention to this
particular point and will see to it that the provisions of the Directive on environmental noise are applied
by the Member States to all infrastructures and agglomerations covered by its scope.

(1) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0883)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0410/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Aer Rianta

Is the Commission aware of, and is it monitoring, the Irish Government’s plans to break up Aer Rianta,
the state-owned company responsible for the operation, management and development of Dublin,
Shannon and Cork Airports? Does the Commission believe that plans to transfer the entire Aer Rianta debt
to Dublin Airport comply with Article 92 of the EC Treaty?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2004)

Although not aware of an assumption of debt as described by the Honourable Member, the Commission is
aware from press reports that Aer Rianta is currently building a new terminal and other supporting
infrastructures at Cork Airport. It is also reported that the cost of this investment is to be borne by the
company as a whole and it is presumed that it is to this financial arrangement that the Honourable
Member is referring.

The Commission will keep a watching brief on this situation to decide if an action under State aid rules is
appropriate.

(2004/C 84 E/0884)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0412/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The regulation of exportation of timber from Indonesia

(17 February 2004)

On the western and central islands of Indonesia including Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, organised
groups have been illegally logging parts of the rain forests and exporting timber without regard for the
environment and the local communities that depend on it. West Papua is now in danger of being targeted
by these groups.

Can the Commission outline what measures are being taken to ensure that timber imported into the EU
has been correctly logged, recorded and legally exported according to the laws of Indonesia and the trade
agreements operating between the EU, Indonesia and the World Trade Organisation?

C 84 E/788

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2004)

With the exception of timber species covered under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) there is currently no Community legislation which would only allow the importation into the EU
of legally harvested timber. Furthermore there are no multilateral agreements,
including World Trade
Organisation (WTO) agreements, which directly address the issue of trade in illegally harvested timber.

The Commission set out a number of measures to address illegal logging and associated trade in its Forest
Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan (1), adopted in 2003 and discussed in the
Parliament’s Industry, Trade, Research and Energy Committee. Amongst these measures is a proposal for
the EU to enter into voluntary FLEGT Partnership Agreements with timber exporting countries. Under
such agreements only timber from these countries with a legality ‘certificate’ would be allowed entry into
the EU. In the Communication the Commission also stated that it would examine other potential legislative
options.

in such a voluntary FLEGT partnership and is working with the
Indonesia has expressed interest
Commission in the design of a major project
logging.
to help it address the problem of
The Commission intends to put forward in 2004 a proposal for a Regulation which would allow the
implementation of the voluntary FLEGT certificate scheme at EU borders.

illegal

(1) COM(2003) 251 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0885)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0414/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: The treatment of North Korean refugees in the People’s Republic of China

A group of 12 North Korean refugees have recently been arrested by the Chinese authorities in Beijing and
Quindao, (a port on the east coast, south east of Beijing). If they are sent back to North Korea they face
prosecution, torture, imprisonment and even execution for daring to question their leader Kim Jung II.

These refugees are often helped by Chinese Christians who risk their own freedom trying to help them to
safety.

Mindful of the fact that China has signed the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the status of
refugees, and is therefore bound by the principle of not returning people to a country where they face
serious persecution, which has been made explicit by the horrific allegations in the UK press of the
systematic use of gas chambers to execute men, women and children, will the Commission condemn
North Korea’s blatant flouting of its international obligations and argue that such behaviour will not be
tolerated?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2004)

North Korea is currently a major concern for the international community including the European Union.
The Commission has various channels through which it can meet representatives of the North Korean
Government and put forward its concerns. Human rights issues, including the situation of North Korean
refugees on the border with China, are systematically raised during these regular political contacts, on the