WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3208/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Council. Abolition of duty-free areas in the EU
C 158/60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 5. 98 The Commission can therefore provide only a general answer on the eligibility of the investment in question, namely that priority can be granted to investments in products produced organically in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs, on condition, however, that such products are not subject to the exclusions provided for by Commission Decision 94/173/EC. (1) OJ L 142, 2. 6. 1997. This Regulation is the recasting of Regulation (EEC) No 866/90, to which the Honourable Member refers. (98/C 158/75) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3208/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Council (15 October 1997) Subject: Abolition of duty-free areas in the EU It has been decided that the duty-free areas in the EU will be abolished in less than two years. This decision is expected to have major economic implications, including a severe impact on employment. Has any study been carried out into the precise economic implications of abolishing the duty-free areas and into the number of jobs that will be lost, directly or indirectly, at a time of particularly severe unemployment in the EU? Answer (20 January 1998) The Community does not intend to abolish the duty-free areas mentioned in Articles 166 to 181 of the Community Customs Code (Council Regulation (EC) No 2913/92 - OJ No L 302, 19. 10. 1997). The question no doubt relates to the abolition of duty-free sales after 30 June 1999, for which the Council would ask the Honourable Member to refer to its Reply to Written Question No 1515/97 and the replies to Oral Questions Nos H-0133/97, H-0508/97 and H-0707/97. (98/C 158/76) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3210/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (16 October 1997) Subject: Underground railway in Thessaloniki There is much debate in Greece about the possible construction of an underground railway in the northern port area of the city of Thessaloniki. It was recently announced that construction was to be suspended following notification from the Commission that the regulations governing the award of public works contracts in the EU had been infringed. What is the Commissionís official position on the construction of the underground railway in Thessaloniki and what exactly are its objections to the work being carried out? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (8 December 1997) The Commission received a complaint concerning the procedure for awarding the concession for an underground railway at Thessaloniki, and is currently looking into the matter. It is investigating whether the procedure followed complies with Directive 93/37/EEC concerning the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts (1) and with the provisions of the EC Treaty and, more specifically, whether the tenders selected for the negotiation phase satisfy not only the technical but also the economic and financial requirements laid down in the tender specifications