WRITTEN QUESTION No. 296/98 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Commission. Anti-Israeli declarations made by European firms
C 223/160 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 7. 98 The specific design of Interreg for the new programming period has not been decided but it will leave sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the border regions, as the Member States may propose the regions to be covered and the projects to be supported. Given the proposed reduction in the number of Community initiatives, it will also have a very significant financial envelope. (98/C 223/208) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0294/98 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (17 February 1998) Subject: Regulation 3254/91 on imports of fur from leghold traps Can the Commission confirm that a prohibition on the import of furst has been placed on countries not complying with the terms of Regulation 3254/91 (1) as from 1 December 1997, and can it supply a list of countries which export furs to the EU and would be affected by this prohibition? (1) OJ L 308, 9. 11. 1991, p. 1. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (24 March 1998) The Commission can confirm that Council Decision 97/602/EC of 22 July 1997 (1) concerning the list of countries authorised to export pelts and derived products pursuant to the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 was published in the Official Journal. Consequently, restrictions on the importation of such goods entered into force on 1 December 1997 in accordance with the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 35/97 of 10 January 1997 laying down provisions on the certification of pelts and goods covered by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 (2). The information currently available to the Commission suggests Argentina to be the non-member country worst hit by the embargo. In 1995, Argentina exported ECU 51 000 worth of beaver skins to the Community. (1) OJ L 242, 4. 9. 1997. (2) OJ L 8, 11. 1. 1997. (98/C 223/209) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0296/98 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Commission (17 February 1998) Subject: Anti-Israeli declarations made by European firms 1. Is the Commission aware of the view expressed by the Dutch multinational, Philips NV, that, when it supplies goods to companies requesting a declaration that the goods to be supplied by Philips NV neither originate in Israel nor include any material originating in Israel, it is proper for such an undertaking to be given? 2. Does not the Commission feel that multinational undertakings operating within European Union Member States must be required to comply with the agreements with the Arab countries laid down in the Oslo Accords on the lifting of the boycott against Israel?