WRITTEN QUESTION E-2159/99 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Protecting high-quality traditional local products.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/105 Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (12 January 2000) The Commission is fully aware of the difficulties experienced by Community industry in combating counterfeiting and piracy. It is not however possible for the Commission to give a precise response to the Honourable Memberís questions on the basis of the information she gives. The marketing of counterfeit and pirated goods, that is goods produced without the authorisation of the holder of the intellectual property rights covering the goods, damages law-abiding manufacturers and traders and misleads consumers. To prevent such goods from being placed on the Community market, the Community has developed a legal framework that ensures the effective protection of intellectual property rights within the Community. In particular, Council Regulation (EC) No 3295/94 of 22 December 1994 laying down measures to prohibit the release for free circulation, export, re-export or entry for a suspensive procedure of counterfeit and pirated goods (1) aims to prevent the passage of counterfeit and pirated goods through the external borders of the Community. This Regulation allows the national customs authorities to suspend the release the right holder instigates infringement of goods suspected of being counterfeit or pirated whilst proceedings before the national authorities. The Commission has also, in October 1998, adopted a green paper on combating counterfeiting and piracy in the single market (2). This is the starting point of a wide consultation process, involving all further strengthening the fight against counterfeiting and piracy in the interested parties, aimed at Commuinity. Furthermore, property right (TRIPs) agreement as of 1 January 2000. it should also be noted that Egypt has to apply the Trade-related aspect of intellectual Finally, in the framework of the negotiations between the Community and the Mediterranean countries, which includes Egypt, there are specific provisions intended to ensure the adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights in accordance with the prevailing international standards, including effective means of enforcing such rights. (1) OJ L 341, 30. 12. 1994 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 241/1999, OJ L 27, 2. 2. 1999. (2) COM(98) 569 final. (2000/C 219 E/134) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2159/99 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Protecting high-quality traditional local products There have been an increasing number of complaints by trade and producersí associations against proposals that the Commission is allegedly putting forward with a view to prohibiting the production of traditional local products such as Italian mozzarella or other types of cheese which have been produced for centuries in clearly-defined agricultural areas. It would appear that the same applies to some parts of France, where the producers concerned are understandably up in arms. 1. Would the Commission say whether such proposals actually do exist? If they do, would it draw up a list of the types of cheese that would disappear, broken down by 2. Member State? 3. Is it aware of the economic and social damage that would be caused in the areas concerned by the removal of market niches which have formed part of the local culture of entire valleys and regions for many generations? 4. Does it realise that banning such products, on which in many cases the image of entire regions is built, would lead to the senseless destruction of small enterprises and that the only people to benefit from such a move would be industrial-scale producers and the retailing and distribution industry? C 219 E/106 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 Does it really believe that initiatives of this kind are likely to convey an image of a humane Europe, 5. or rather one of a Europe which is so technocratic, aloof and out of touch with the feelings of ordinary citizens that it is prepared to sweep away age-old traditions? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (5 January 2000) The Commission was not aware of the allegations to which the Honourable Member refers. The Commission has never drafted a proposal to ban traditional cheeses. Its only intention is to revise the health legislation relating to milk and dairy products, and in particular to update the microbiological criteria which apply to them. The opinions of the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public Health, of 23 Septem- ber 1999, brought together scientific knowledge in this field at international level. The question of establishing specific microbiological criteria for dairy products will be brought before the relevant scientific committee, and the committeeís opinion will serve as a basis for drawing up modernised rules. The Commissionís foremost concern is to ensure food safety, without neglecting the gastronomic and nutritional quality of food. Furthermore, its President has stated before Parliament that he gives priority to food safety and is aware of the strong social and cultural symbolism of food. As regards in particular the safeguarding of traditional production methods and typical products, it is important to note that since 1992 the Commission has pursued a policy of quality in the area of agri- foodstuffs. With regard to the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and food- stuffs (1), the Commission completed the list of names and indications registered, the total number of which is now 526. In terms both of the Member States concerned and of types of production, recent registrations prove that interest in protecting typical production forms linked to geographical origin is growing. (1) OJ L 208, 24. 7. 1992. (2000/C 219 E/135) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2161/99 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) and Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Reimbursement of travelling expenses of representatives of twinned communities in Europe When local authorities in different European countries enter into a partnership, for example to put across the European idea and to get to know each otherís habits and customs, representatives of the towns and cities involved regularly visit each other. If two local authorities take part, under the present system their representativesí travelling expenses are reimbursed at the rate of EUR 0,03 per kilometre if at least 10 representatives per local authority take part and if the distance travelled is at least 250 kilometres. If more than two local authorities are involved, the requirement is still that there should be at least 10 representatives of each local authority. What is the Commissionís view of the value of cooperation between more than two European local authorities, rather than between two? Why does the Commission impose the requirement of 10 participants per local authority even if the partnership is between more than two local authorities? To what extent does the Commission intend ü or is it prepared ü to review the system of reimbursing the travelling expenses of representatives of partner communities and, if so, in what way?