WRITTEN QUESTION E-1057/04 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Implications for the Community textile sector of certain trade practices on the part of China.
Date: 2004-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, World Trade Organisation, liberalisation of trade, protective clause, quantitative restriction, restriction on competition, textile industry, trade agreement (EU)

C 84 E/936

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2004)

The Commission’s proposal for a Council Directive based on Article 13 of the EC Treaty implementing the
principle of equal treatment between women and men in the access to and supply of goods and services
prohibits the use of sex-based actuarial factors in insurance services and private (third pillar) pension
schemes.

Council Directive 86/378/EEC of 27 July 1986 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment
for men and women in occupational social security schemes (1) (as amended by Council Directive 96/97/EC
of 20 December 1996 (2)) permits the use of sex-based actuarial factors in occupational (second pillar)
pension schemes. These Directives are based on Article 141 of the EC Treaty, because they relate to
matters of employment and occupation.

The proposal for a Council Directive based on Article 13 of the EC Treaty does not apply to second pillar
pensions, because these are a matter for legislation adopted under Article 141 of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1986.
(2) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997.

(2004/C 84 E/1034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1057/04

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(5 April 2004)

Subject: Implications for the Community textile sector of certain trade practices on the part of China

The Spanish Intertextile Council has formally requested the World Trade Organisation to establish a
three-year extension to prevent the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing from coming into force until
2007; this Agreement will remove all quotas, and will bring about the total liberalisation of the sector. The
main reason for the Spanish request is the existence of certain ‘unfair’ trading practices on the part of
various countries involved in the Agreement, such as China.

Other countries,
Declaration’, stating their fear that China will globally dominate the textile and clothes sector,
continues with these practices, deemed illegal by the international community.

including the USA, Turkey and Mexico, have joined Spain in signing the ‘Istanbul
if it

Does the Commission have further information concerning these facts?

What measures does the Commission intend to take to defend the European textiles sector against China’s
‘unfair’ trading practices?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The Commission is aware of the contents of the so-called ‘Istanbul Declaration’ whereby United States,
Mexican and Turkish industry associations called for an extension of the validity of the Agreement on
Textiles of Clothing (ATC) for a further period of two years beyond its expiry date at the end of 2004.
On 4 May 2003 a letter in this sense was forwarded to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director
General. Furthermore,
it is also known that the Italian and Spanish industry are supportive of this
initiative. Some developing countries, notably sub-Saharan, also appear to be supportive of an extension of
the validity of the ATC.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/937

The Commission wishes to point out that the ATC constituted a major result of the Uruguay Round
negotiations in favour of developing countries and that it has no intention not to abide by this carefully
negotiated result. In fact, the EU, United States, Canada and Japan have already notified the WTO Textiles
Monitoring Body that, in conformity with the provisions of the ATC, restrictions on imports of textiles and
clothing from WTO members will be eliminated on schedule by the end of 2004. Any modification to the
contents of the ATC, and in particular its duration or extension, would have to be agreed upon by WTO
members. To the Commission’s knowledge, no WTO members have to date put forward such a proposal.

In response to the Honourable Member’s comments about unfair competition, there is the possibility of
anti-dumping, anti-subsidy or safeguard measures, in response to a complaint from European industry,
when the necessary conditions are fulfilled.

In addition there are specific modalities which apply to China and according to which safeguard measures
may be taken against imports from that country beyond the duration of the ATC. Such specific measures
are authorized under China’s Protocol of Accession to the WTO.

(2004/C 84 E/1035)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1062/04

by Christine De Veyrac (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 March 2004)

Subject: Economic impact of migration following enlargement of the European Union

On 26 February 2004, the European Commission presented a new study, drawn up in conjunction with
the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions,
into patterns of
migrant-worker flows after the forthcoming enlargement. The conclusions of that study indicate that, over
the next five years, some 1 % of the population of the new Member States will move to the countries
which currently make up the European Union. According to the Commission, that percentage translates
into about 220 000 people per year.

Can the Commission indicate whether it has any estimates which include figures for each host country,
and, in particular, what the likely impact of such post-enlargement migration will be on France?

Can the Commission also indicate the economic impact of enlargement on the labour market of a country
like France, where the unemployment rate is particularly high?

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The study to which the Honourable Member refers is based on the results of a Eurobarometer survey
carried out on a population sample in the future Member States and the candidate countries, one of the
topics being opinions concerning intentions to migrate in the next five years. On this basis, the figure of
220 000 per year is an indicative estimate of the possible annual migratory flow from these countries to
the current European Union. As it is an opinion poll, its conclusions should be interpreted with caution.
However, they confirm the conclusions of previous Commission studies (1) on the low migratory flows to
be expected from the new Member States to the existing ones, although the migration estimates provided
by these studies are based on statistical models and are therefore not strictly comparable to those set out in
the study referred to by the Honourable Member.

According to the updated study, the number of residents from the central and eastern European countries
(CEECs) in France would be approximately 25 800 in 2001, compared with 22 000 in 1997, representing
0,04 % of the total population. Migration to France would be 7 000 in 2004 and 9 000 in 2005. The
studies confirm that Germany and Austria are the main destinations for migrants from the CEECs.