WRITTEN QUESTION P-2388/99 by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Banana import arrangements.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/121 the new legal framework also provides for a withdrawal mechanism that will enable the Fourthly, competition authorities to intervene even below the 30 % market share threshold, if vertical restraints lead to an anti-competitive outcome. The Commissionís aim is to establish a competition policy genuinely based on economic criteria and focused on the analysis of the effects of vertical agreements on the market. The Commission does not want to regulate, through the Community competition rules, the contractual relations between the parties for the purposes of re-equilibrating their respective bargaining positions. The antitrust rules are there to protect competition and to ensure that vertical restraints do not lead to an anti-competitive outcome in the markets, in particular where suppliers have significant market power. The new policy will also benefit SMEs. (1) OJ C 270, 24. 9. 1999. (2) Green paper on vertical restraints in EC competition policy, COM(96) 721 final. (3) Communication on the application of the EC competition rules to vertical restraints, (COM(98) 544). (2000/C 225 E/128) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2388/99 by SØrgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission (1 December 1999) Subject: Banana import arrangements The proposal adopted by the Commission at its meeting of 10 November 1999 on the new import arrangements for bananas poses a substantial threat to the continued production of bananas in the EU, owing in particular to the probable substantial change in marketing channels. This change may seriously hinder the marketing of Community bananas and the risk is that no aid system may be able to compensate producers. Because of this and the fact that a senior Commission official stated that the new arrangements would not adversely affect Community bananas, can the Commission say how it intends to safeguard the interests of banana producers in Madeira under the new arrangements? Furthermore, assuming that the marketing of Community bananas is guaranteed and bearing in mind the budgetary commitments made in Agenda 2000, how will the additional cost of the system of aid to Community producers (ádeficiency paymentsí) be funded following the increased supply of bananas and the consequent fall in prices? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1999) The proposal adopted by the Commission on 10 November 1999 (1) aims to meet the Communityís obligations to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), while taking into account the essential concerns of the Community and the banana producers in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the need to comply with the strict limits of the Community budget. It is based on a tariff-only system which would enter into force not later than 1 January 2006 following a transitional period during which a system of tariff quotas would apply, together with a tariff preference which would be sufficient to maintain access for ACP produce. The Commission considers that support for Community producers is guaranteed by the present system of compensatory aid calculated on the basis of the difference between the flat-rate reference income ü which was increased by 5 % in 1998 and by 3 % in 1999 ü and the average prices obtained during the banana marketing year. This system ensures that Community production is marketed, by providing full compensa- tion no matter how prices move on the Community market during this period. C 225 E/122 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 The Commissionís proposal is accompanied by a financial statement. The proposal is expected to entail an increase in expenditure of EUR 77 million and an increase in income of EUR 30 million. The impact on the budget of applying a tariff-only system is not quantifiable at this stage. (1) SEC(1999) 1820 final. (2000/C 225 E/129) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2391/99 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Irregularities in the construction of the Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona high speed train link Two senior members of staff of the Railway Investment Management Body (GIF) which comes under the Spanish Governmentís Ministry of Public Works. Have recently been dismissed after giving contracts worth 5 billion pesetas to companies with which they have shareholding links for construction work on the Madrid-Barcelona-Zaragoza high-speed train link. Given that the EUís Cohesion Fund is co-funding this construction work is the Commission aware of these irregularities and if so, does it believe that they should be investigated by the Community authorities? Does the Commission believe that these facts could delay the high-speed train link or endanger its EU co- funding? Has the Commission asked the Spanish Government for clarification, and if so, will it do so? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) The Commission is aware of the resignation of two members of the staff of the GIF (the body managing railway infrastructure) and of the opening of an administrative inquiry. This inquiry, conducted by the Spanish Ministry of Transport ( Fomentoí), was intended to establish whether there was a link between these members of staff and the two companies awarded contracts for construction work on the high-speed railway line from Madrid to Barcelona and the French border and whether those companies received preferential treatment. The Minister responsible recently presented the results of the inquiry to the Spanish Parliament. The contracts in question are not receiving part-financing from the Cohesion Fund but form part of two groups of projects for which the Spanish authorities have applied for part-financing. This application is currently being considered. The Commission is awaiting the results of the inquiry carried out by the Spanish authorities before deciding what measures to take. (2000/C 225 E/130) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2392/99 by Jean-Claude Martinez (TDI) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Lethal flooding in the south of France In November 1999, torrential rain, floods, landslides and broken material swept through four southern French dØpartements, Aude, HØrault, Tarn and the PyrØnØes Orientales, causing widespread devastation and more than 30 deaths, destroying roads, railway lines and all public electricity, water and telephone