WRITTEN QUESTION E-2212/99 by Gérard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Draft free trade agreement between Turkey and the USA.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/123 (2000/C 219 E/153) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2212/99 by GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 November 1999) Subject: Draft free trade agreement between Turkey and the USA Is the Commission aware of the draft free trade agreement between Turkey and the USA (S. 1746) which Senator Moynihan presented to the US Senate on 18 October? The text provides for a bilateral agreement between the USA and Turkey seeking to reduce and eventually eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers, and possibly to establish a free-trade agreement between the USA and Turkey. Can the Commission say what will be the probable effects of this US Senate bill on the Customs Union agreement between the European Union and Turkey? If the American Congress passes this bill, what consequences will it have for Turkeyís status as a candidate for EU membership? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1999) The Commission has not received precise details of the draft referred to by the Honourable Member and does not have a copy of the full text of Senator Moynihanís proposal. However, it seems this kind of initiative is not new in the United States. Turkey and the Community have had a customs union since 31 December 1995, which de facto prevents Turkey from establishing a free trade zone with the United States. By entering into a customs union, the parties adopted a common customs policy including a common external tariff, which does not allow them any autonomy in this matter. Given that Turkey cannot enter into a free trade area with the US, even if Congress agreed to the proposition it would be a unilateral act which would not commit Turkey and would therefore pose no barrier to Turkish membership of the European Union. (2000/C 219 E/154) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2215/99 by Enrico Ferri (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 November 1999) Subject: Blackout of RAI TV programmes and free movement of services It is now common practice on the part of RAI TV to áencodeí certain popular films, sporting events and other TV programmes for overseas viewers. 1. (a) (b) (c) Can the Commission say whether: in the light of the principles of the single market, it does not consider it disgraceful that the RAI is blacking out its programmes for overseas viewers, flying in the face of the principle of the free movement of services laid down in Article 49 (ex Article 59) of the EC Treaty? such discrimination against overseas residents and other EU citizens is not all the more reprehensible in that being penalised on account of a border, they are not even allowed to buy a decoder should they wish to do so? this behaviour is not in blatant defiance of the letter and the spirit of Article 3(a) of the Television without Frontiersí directive, which stipulates that all Member States may require broadcasters to broadcast visibly and clearly all events of particular importance? In fact it is precisely those events that Italy has defined universal pursuant to Article 3(a) (e. g. football matches involving the national team, European cup matches and Formula One Grands Prix) that it is blacking out for overseas viewers