WRITTEN QUESTION E-0747/04 by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Safeguard clause relating to satsuma imports.
Date: 2004-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: CCT duties, China, citrus fruit, common commercial policy, import (EU), preserved product, protective clause, tariff quota

C 88 E/528

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(cid:1) 7,4 % of the participants in submitted proposals are from Spain (3 754 Spanish participants) of which
24,5 % are SMEs. These 919 Spanish SMEs participants have requested 19,5 % (EUR 232,8 million) of
the total contribution requested by Spanish participants.

(cid:1) 6,2 % of the participants in main-listed proposals are from Spain (577 Spanish participants) of which
18,2 % are SMEs. These 105 Spanish SMEs participants have requested 13,4 % (EUR 26,3 million) of
the total contribution requested by Spanish participants.

Please note that these figures are only provisional based on submission of proposals. More definitive data
will become available after the conclusion of the negotiation of the contracts of the successful proposals.

The Economic and Technological Intelligence scheme is used to promote innovation by SMEs and to
facilitate their participation in FP6. Under certain thematic priorities Integrated Projects specifically devoted
to SMEs have been organised. Finally, encouraging the participation of SMEs with limited research capacity
is actively done through the horizontal programmes including Cooperative and Collective Research.

(2004/C 88 E/0541)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0747/04

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Safeguard clause relating to satsuma imports

(11 March 2004)

In November 2003 the EU introduced a temporary safeguard clause for the purpose of restricting imports
of tinned mandarin oranges from third countries (in particular China) in response to the huge increase in
imports which has occurred over the last
few years and which is seriously affecting Community
production.

The EU set a quota of 11 389 tonnes for tinned produce from China and 906 tonnes for imports from
other countries.

Any exports to the Community market which exceed the above quantities are subject to additional
customs duties which are, however, proving insufficient, since the volume of produce sent has already
significantly exceeded the quotas laid down. Furthermore, the safeguard clause will expire on 10 April
2004.

Is the Commission intending to extend the clause beyond that date and to make the necessary changes in
order to convert it into an effective mechanism for protecting the Community market?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(21 April 2004)

On 7 April 2004, after consultation with Member States, the Commission has adopted a proposal to
impose definitive safeguard measures in respect of imports of canned satsumas to the Community. The
provisional safeguard measures come to an end on 10 April 2004, and in order to avoid a gap in the
protection afforded to the Community producers, the definitive measures will enter into force on 11 April
2004 and remain in force until 8 November 2007, thereby providing the Community industry with the
necessary breathing space to implement restructuring.

Given the continuing high level of imports in the final months of 2003 and the evidence of stockpiling by
importers before the imposition of provisional measures as well as the exchange rate fluctuations, the level
of duty (EUR 301/tonne) under the definitive measures is substantially higher than that applicable under
the provisional measures (EUR 155/tonne).