WRITTEN QUESTION E-1857/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Export refund limits.
C 203 E/72 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (23 November 1999) There has been recently a lot of media attention on the use of sewage sludge nutrition in several Member States. The Commission reacted immediately requiring clarifications from the Member States concerned and organising urgent missions to verify the implementation of the relevant Community legislation. Commission Decision 91/516/EEC of 9 September 1991, establishing a list of ingredients whose use is prohibited in compound feedingstuffs (1), specifically prohibits the use of sludge from sewage plants treating wastewater. Nevertheless, it could be the case that certain Member States have given a different interpretation of the decision. Therefore, in order to avoid any ambiguity, the Commission is currently considering to amend the decision in question to clarify the scope of the prohibition. If it appears that a Member State is refusing to respect its obligations under Community law, the Commission will not hesitate to open proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) EC Treaty, should this prove necessary. (1) OJ L 281, 9. 10. 1991. (2000/C 203 E/088) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1857/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (14 October 1999) Subject: Export refund limits If it wishes to limit the amount of export refunds, why does the Commission not scrap its massively cumbersome proposals and simply reduce refund rates, since that would have the effect of reducing refunds while allowing current systems and procedures to operate as before? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1999) First, the Commission does not see to which proposals the Honourable Member refers when mentioning ámassively cumbersome proposalsí. Second, there are in fact a number of agricultural products for which export refunds can be granted and the Commission is responsible for fixing their amounts. On the one hand, it takes into consideration the situation on the internal market and the outlet possibilities on the world markets. On the other hand, it is constrained by the ceilings resulting from the Uruguay Round agreement and has to make the best use of budgetary availabilities. As a result of the decisions on Agenda 2000, which were taken in the first half of 1999, the need for export refunds will be reduced in the near future for important sectors like cereals, milk, beef, pig- and poultrymeat. Moreover, in the context of the next ámillenium roundí of the World trade organisation, the Community, while respecting on the full Agenda 2000 package, is prepared to continue to negotiate the process of reduction in export subsidies provided that all such support is treated on equal basis