WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4135/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Russian decision to exclude a number of products from the T.I.R. system
C 196/84 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 6. 98 On 19 July 1993 the Council adopted Directive 93/65/EEC on the definition and use of compatible technical specifications for the procurement of air-traffic-management equipment and systems. On 17 November 1995 the Council adopted a Resolution on problems caused by congestion and crisis situations in air traffic in Europe. The Honourable Member can rest assured that the Council confirms the need to continue and intensify the work of Eurocontrol, the Convention on which has just been revised (27 June 1997), so as to address and resolve the problems of air traffic in Europe, possibly even by considering the European Communityís accession to that international organization. As regards matters of Eurocontrolís internal organization, such as the Honourable Member alludes to in his Question, it is not for the Council to take a position in an area where only certain Member States, and not the Community, are qualified to act. (98/C 196/116) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4135/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (21 January 1998) Subject: Russian decision to exclude a number of products from the T. I. R. system Russia has removed a large number of products from the T. I. R. transit scheme which, in any case, could not be transported to that country under T. I. R. documentation. The Russian Federationís State Customs Committee has notified the International Road Transport Union (IRU) of Decree No 513 banning the transit on its territory of a number of goods under T. I. R. documentation. These goods include, in particular, Community products such as barley beer, sugar, confectionery, butter and other milk-based fats, chocolate, pharmaceuticals, computers, videos, televisions, means of transport, etc. The repercussions are considerable both for European products and European hauliers. The Russian decision entails a particular loss of business for hauliers in the peripheral countries of the Union such as Greece, as opportunities were open to Greek firms to transport a number of Community products from other countries to Russia which have now been completely eliminated. How will the Commission respond to the Russian authoritiesí decision in order to safeguard the interests of Community hauliers and ensure that they are competing on fair terms with their counterparts in other European countries which are asking for the Unionís financial and moral support? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (26 February 1998) The Commission shares the concern expressed by the Honourable Member in respect of the Order No 513 of the Russian State customs committee, requiring separate guarantee arrangements to be made, outside that provided within the international carriage of goods by road (TIR) Convention, 1975, for a range of 20 categories of goods. The Commission recognises the serious effect such action would have on Community exporters and transport operators, and the potential threat to the future of this regime, essential to international commerce. The Commission reacted very quickly in all sectors concerned through direct contacts with the Russian State customs committee, and through other transport and trade connections. Furthermore the issue was pursued by the Commission in the appropriate Economic commission for Europe meetings in Geneva. The implementation of Order No 513 has since been deferred until 1 April 1998. The Commission is continuing its dialogue with the Russian side and others involved at all appropriate levels to secure its permanent withdrawal