WRITTEN QUESTION E-0410/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Cambodia.
C 374 E/68 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 (2000/C 374 E/079) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0407/00 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission (15 February 2000) Subject: Compensation for German shipping and transport firm operating on the Danube following the closing of the Yugoslav section of the Danube A number of firms in Regensburg (Germany) are specialised in transport operations from Germany to destinations below Yugoslavia on the Danube. As a result of the war in Kosovo, the destruction of bridges over the Danube, and the subsequent closure of the Yugoslav section of the Danube the business operations of these firms have come to a halt. Since these firms specialise in very specific transport operations on the Danube, they have practically no possibility of branching out into other areas of activity. Can the Commission therefore provide the following information: 1. Should these firms be regarded as victims of the Kosovo war in the same way as firms situated in Kosovo itself? 2. Are these firms eligible for financial restructuring aid to offset their losses? 3. Are these companies entitled to non-reimbursable aid for restructuring or consolidation to offset their ongoing losses and to publicly guaranteed investment aid? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (29 March 2000) The Commission is aware of the specific problems of companies involved, both directly and indirectly, in transport on the Danube as a result of the blockage of the Danube due to NATOís destruction of the bridges at Novi Sad. However, the question of any compensation for such losses cannot be addressed until the issue of liability, if any, for these losses has been determined in the appropriate legal fora. As regards the restoration of navigation on the Danube, the European Commission is presently analysing a request by the Danube Commission for cofinancing of a project proposal for the clearance of a navigation channel by removing the debris of the bridges destroyed by NATO, as well as any unexploded ordnance, and also the repair of the riverbed and banks. The project and its context is complex, from the political, technical and legal points of view. (2000/C 374 E/080) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0410/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (23 February 2000) Subject: Cambodia Is the Commission aware that there are still allegations of a whole range of problems in Cambodia from desperate poverty, famine in some areas, high levels of corruption and abuses of human rights? Does the Commission consider it necessary to implement any conditionalities at this time? 28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/69 Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (7 March 2000) The Commission is well aware that Cambodia is among the least developed countries in the world and that it is still marred by poverty and other related problems. The country is facing major challenges in the forthcoming years and needs to implement wide-ranging reforms swiftly. Since the formation of the new Cambodian government, the Commission has had regular consultations with it to discuss these reforms. At this time the Commission is not considering imposing any conditions on its development programmes, but it will continue to monitor the situation in Cambodia carefully. Concerning the questions of human rights democratisation and corruption, the Commission intends to have thorough discussions with Cambodian authorities on these issues on the occasion of the first Community Cambodia joint committee, scheduled for the first half of year 2000. Regarding the food situation for year 2000, international organisations are of the opinion that the overall food situation in Cambodia remains satisfactory. Nevertheless, a sizeable section of the population remains vulnerable to food shortages and the Commission continues to follow the situation in order to be prepared should an emergency occur. (2000/C 374 E/081) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0416/00 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission (23 February 2000) Subject: Lower rate of VAT on recombinant products Can the Commission state whether it is prepared to make a proposal for the lower rate of VAT to be applied to recombinant blood products and if not, why not? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (6 April 2000) For VAT purposes a distinction is made between different types of products derived from blood. Some products derived from blood or human plasma, such as albumin, coagulation factors and immunoglobulins, are considered medicinal products (in accordance with Council Directive 89/381/EEC of 14 june 1989) (1). Under Article 12(3)(a) and Annex H, Category 3, of the Sixth VAT Directive (77/388/EEC) (2), VAT may be applied to such products at a lower rate. Recombinant blood products (obtained through genetic engineering, not extracted from human blood) are medicinal products because they fall under Part A of the Annex to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2309/ 93 (3), which requires a marketing authorisation to be granted under the centralised Community procedure. As such, they are also charged at the lower rate of VAT. Labile blood derivatives such as plasma and blood cells of human origin, on the other hand, are not considered medicinal products. They are thus taxed at the standard rate of VAT, while whole blood is exempt from VAT. It might be appropriate to review this anomalous situation, where whole blood is exempt but labile blood derivatives are charged at the standard rate. The Commission is currently examining the matter to see what the practice is in the different Member States