WRITTEN QUESTION E-0527/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Abolition of duty-free and tax privileges for diplomats.
13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/11 An interdepartmental working party consisting of representatives of financial units from the Directorates- General is currently looking into the root causes of under-performance and will propose improvements. In Part Two of the White Paper Reforming the Commission: Action planí (1) the Commission confirms that one of the objectives of the reform is to achieve 95 % of payments within 60 days by 2002 (Action 10: Departments will be asked to set their own targets for meeting the Commission-wide target of payment in 60 days for 95 % of invoices by 2002 and to report on measures taken and results in their Annual Activity Report). The appraisal by the Commission of the outputs delivered by services will take into account this indicator. In addition, the Commission will set up a central invoices register to allow better follow up (Action 11 of the White Paper). (1) COM(2000) 200 final. (2001/C 46 E/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0527/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission (28 February 2000) Subject: Abolition of duty-free and tax privileges for diplomats With reference to Question E-1996/99 (1) and the Commissionís answer, which states that the tax privileges for which the 1961 Vienna Convention provides are no longer justified in the European internal market and should really be abolished, the Commission is asked to say whether, in accordance with the principle of fairness and political decency, it intends to extend the argument consistently advanced on the subject of the abolition of duty-free sales to all citizens of the EU and bring to an end the similar special privileges enjoyed by the EUís diplomatic staff? (1) OJ C 219 E, 1. 8. 2000, p. 63. Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (14 April 2000) On the issue of privileges granted to diplomats under the Vienna Convention, the Commission has nothing further to add to its reply to the previous Written Question E-1996/99 by the Honourable Member. (2001/C 46 E/014) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0546/00 by William Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission (28 February 2000) Subject: Welfare of laying hens If the EU fails to secure a welfare clause in the forthcoming WTO negotiations, what will the Commission do to ensure that producers are protected from a flood of cheap, third-country imports?