WRITTEN QUESTION No. 752/98 by Joan COLOM I NAVAL to the Commission. Law governing imports of cars into Ukraine
21. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 323/67 Networksí indicated under the actions on community information on rare diseases means building structures in and between holders of data, while ágroups collaboration and networkingí mentioned in the second actions of the second objective refers to organisations of individuals representing patient and family support groups. As regards the second objective, the Commission agrees that the Internet (ánewsgroupsí and áchatgroupsí) can also play a very useful role in fostering contacts between patients and professionals, as in most cases people suffering from rare diseases live far apart from one another. As regards the third objective, the Commission wishes to indicate that the experience from dealing with clusters that are of different character and magnitude, and may be caused by different factors, is unique and most valuable and will certainly lead to the development of guidelines such as those published by the centres for disease control in the United States. The Commission is unfortunately not yet in a position to indicate the financial framework for the proposal beyond its first year of action (1999) because this will entirely depend on the establishment of the future financial perspectives. Furthermore, the Commission will keep the need for continuing action in this area under review. (1) OJ C 203, 3. 7. 1997. (98/C 323/89) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0752/98 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission (18 March 1998) Subject: Law governing imports of cars into Ukraine In September 1997 Ukraine amended its statutory rules governing the import of new and used vehicles from third countries, including the EU. Does the Commission consider that the resulting legal framework complies with the current agreements between the EU and Ukraine? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1998) In relation to a major investment by the Korean car company Daewoo in the Ukrainian car manufacturer Avtozaz, the Ukrainian government adopted, in September 1997, a law granting discriminatory fiscal advantages to the Korean investor. The Commission considers that this law is in violation of the most-favoured-nation treatment of the World trade organisation (WTO) (incorporated in article 10 of the partnership and co-operation agreement with Ukraine which entered into force on 1 March 1998), in violation of the non-discrimination clause of the partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) (article 15 of the PCA) and in violation of state aid rules (article 49 of the PCA). This law will make it virtually impossible for any one else to sell cars in Ukraine. It compounds with a March 1998 regulation banning the import of second hand cars more than five years old and imposing a USD 5 000 minimum customs value for all used cars, that will practically halt second hand car imports to Ukraine. The Commission considers this a quantitative restriction in violation of article 14 of the PCA. The Commission presented its concerns to the Ukrainian government as early as July 1997. A verbal note was transmitted to Ukraine on 21 October 1997. As Ukraine did not yet reply on the substance, the Commission started formal consultations with the Ukrainian authorities on 9 March 1998 with a view to using the dispute settlement procedure provided by article 96 of the PCA with Ukraine