WRITTEN QUESTION P-0412/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union.
C 303 E/190 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 3. not agree that, given the commitment which the Italian Customs Service has shown and the experience which it has gained in this area, it should continue to maintain close links with that service and should therefore give priority to its nominee for Mrs Ceaís replacement, with a view to ensuring that the mission can continue to operate in an effective manner? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (13 March 2000) 1. Following the 1997 crisis, the Customs Assistance Mission to Albania was set up in June of that year to support extensive reforms in the Albanian customs service, near to total collapse at the time, and guarantee improvements in the revenue collected for the state budget (two-thirds of budget revenue being obtained from customs duties). This objective was achieved rapidly and the collection of customs revenue has since continued satisfactorily. Far-reaching reforms have been introduced, notably a new customs code in 1999 and an action plan for the customs service. The person mentioned by the Honourable Member filled the post of head of the customs assistance mission. The Director-General of the Customs and Indirect Taxation department of Italyís Ministry of Finance has notified the Commission that it wishes to reinstate the person concerned in the department. 2. The Commission believes that this work needs to be continued and adapted to the future needs expressed by the Albanian Government. The establishment of a stable administrative structure for customs is a prerequisite for Albaniaís participation in the stabilisation process and for association with the Union. 3. One factor critical to the effectiveness of any assistance mission is that it is staffed with a competent team. The selection of the new head of mission will be done by means of a procedure based on the professional qualifications of candidates suited to the special circumstances now prevailing in Albania. (2000/C 303 E/217) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0412/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission (9 February 2000) Subject: Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union Does the Commission not consider that it should clarify, as a matter of urgency, how and according to what timetable and criteria it applies and will continue to apply Articles 6 and 7 of the TEU, in order to prevent political abuse of the provisions of the Treaty and unwarranted interference in the political life of certain Member States which have nothing to do with actual documented violations of human rights in other Member States? Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (23 March 2000) Article 6 of the European Union Treaty sets out the principles on which the Union is founded and does not require any implementing measure on the part of the Community. The criteria for triggering the mechanism provided for in Article 7(1) of the European Union Treaty are laid down in that Article, namely when the áexistence of a serious and persistent breachí by a Member State of principles mentioned in Article 6(1) has been determined. The Commission would draw the Honourable Memberís attention to the fact that its role in this procedure cannot be compared to its role in the traditional infringement procedure. Finally, in the Commissionís view the nature of the assessment required to trigger the procedure provided for in Article 7 is not compatible with the laying down in advance of precise procedures and criteria