WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2346/97 by Reino PAASILINNA to the Commission. Customs problems on the border between the EU and the Russian Federation
10. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 45/173 (98/C 45/228) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2345/97 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (30 June 1997) Subject: European Green Forum Why did the Commission not extend an invitation to Members of the European Parliamentís Environment Committee to attend the inaugural meeting of the European Advisory Forum on the Environment and Sustainable Development (the European Green Forum) held on June 5 1997? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (18 July 1997) The Commission invited all the members (full and alternate) of Parliament’s Environment Committee, along with its Secretariat, to attend the inaugural meeting of the European Advisory Forum on the Environment and Sustainable Development held on 5 June 1997 in Brussels. The invitations were delivered to the reception at Parliament’s offices in the rue Belliard on Friday 16 May 1997. Twenty or so Members took up the invitation. (98/C 45/229) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2346/97 by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission (30 June 1997) Subject: Customs problems on the border between the EU and the Russian Federation Problems still exist in heavy goods traffic from Finland to Russia, although the Commission publicly denies this. The main problem has changed from traffic jams to the arrest of vehicles and impounding them in ácustoms cagesí. At present 21 lorries are impounded in customs cages in Vyborg. The stated reason is unclarity in the stamps on the TIR carnets. In addition there are 150-200 vehicles waiting at the border and in Moscow for their customs documents to be cleared, which can take several days. The situation is the fault of the Russian recipients of the goods, who are endeavouring by various means to evade the payment of taxes and other dues in their own country. The means used include, to our knowledge, collaboration with the designated customs authorities and collaboration with the senders of the goods. In the latter case the goods listed on the invoices and bills of consignment differ from the actual load. However, containers marked with the TIR symbol entering the country are sealed and the carrier is not able, nor indeed permitted, to inspect their contents other than by the documents. The carriers and transport firms act in good faith, trusting the documents and the customs procedures they have used in the past. The carriers have become scapegoats, being forced to compensate for the crimes of others, and suffering considerable economic harm as a result of their vehicles standing idle in cages. The action of the Russian customs authorities is also arbitrary and illogical. Some vehicles cleared through customs for the same customer at the same customs post have been able to leave the country within a clearance period of 3 to 9 days, while others are sent from the border to a customs cage in Vyborg. What does the Commission propose to do to ensure that the action of the Russian customs and other authorities is brought into line with the principles of normal and non-discriminatory border traffic, and made to comply with the letter of the cooperation and partnership agreement between the EU and Russia? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (4 August 1997) The Commission is aware that the situation at the Finnish › Russian border is sometimes very difficult. It understands that some of the difficulties are due to the very rapid increase in transport at this border and the inadequate equipment at the border check points and, especially, lack of training of customs officials and border guards. Furthermore, the complicated legislative, administrative and technical rules, primarily in the Russian customs sector, often change at short notice or even without prior notice