WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3867/97 by José VALVERDE LÓPEZ to the Commission. Olive oil exports
16. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 187/73 Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (15 January 1998) The matters referred to by the Honourable Member do not fall within the competence of the Commission. The seat of the Parliament was fixed by the governements of the Member States at the Edinburgh European Council in December 1992. This decision has recently been confirmed by the decision of the Court of justice referred to by the Honourable Member. (98/C 187/115) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3865/97 by Jose· Valverde Lo·pez (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1997) Subject: Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline The opening of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline is a historical milestone for Andalusian industry. This link could usefully be incorporated in the European Energy Charter, in the interests of greater geopolitical stability in the regionís economic relations. What action is the Commission in a position to take to incorporate this aspect into the European Energy Charter? Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1998) The Energy Charter Treaty is a legally binding instrument, which imposes obligations on governments to protect foreign investment and to ensure open trade in energy materials and products. It does not contain any reference to a particular project. It would not, therefore, be possible to make a reference to the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline in the Energy Charter Treaty. Nevertheless, the Commission considers the Energy Charter Treaty as a point of reference for its Mediterranean policy. Consequently, in November 1996, the Commission organized a briefing session on the Energy Charter Treaty for the Mediterranean countries. The countries of the Maghreb have participated from the very beginning as observers during the negotiations of the Energy Charter Treaty. To date, none of them has become a contracting party to the Energy Charter Treaty, but they have observer status in the Energy Charter Conference. (98/C 187/116) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3867/97 by Jose· Valverde Lo·pez (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1997) Subject: Olive oil exports Olive oil exports are now subject to the limits imposed by the GATT agreements on refunds, which are to be reduced by 20% in volume and 36% in value, on a cumulative basis, by the year 2000. What measures does the Commission envisage to offset these losses and support the opening-up of new export markets?