WRITTEN QUESTION No. 369/99 by Reinhard RACK Progress of candidates for EU accession: Slovenia
C 320/134 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 11. 1999 For the purpose of completeness, it should be noted that in 1994 the Commission found state aid granted under the market development fund to be incompatible with the common market. Commission Decision 94/814/EC of 14 September 1994 on aid in respect of exports of mushrooms, granted in connection with the market Development Fund in Ireland was published (2). Following this negative decision the Irish authorities were obliged to abolish the aid and to recover the aid amounts paid in disregard of Community provisions. About 80 % of the aid concerned, plus interest, has been recovered. The Irish authorities are to keep the Commission informed on the recovery of the remaining 20 %. (1) OJ L 142, 2. 6. 1997. (2) OJ L 335, 23. 12. 1994. (1999/C 320/179) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0320/99 by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission (19 February 1999) Subject: Beef and veal exports from Ireland Can the Commission state how much beef and veal has been exported from Ireland to destinations outside the EU in the current (WTO) year to date and how much was paid in respect of this beef and veal in export subsidies? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1999) The Commission has no definitive data available on the actual exports, which took place since the beginning of the current General agreements on tariffs and trades (GATT) year (July 1998). The customs statistics on external trade contain information until November 1998. For the period July 1998 9 November 1998 the Irish exports to third countries shown in those statistics were 108 000 tonnes of beef (expressed in carcass weight). More accurate information is obtained from the communication by the Member States on the export licences requested. On that basis the quantities for which licences were requested in Ireland (period 1 July 1993- 31 January 1999) were 144 133,5 tonnes (carcass weight). The corresponding amount of export refund is €162 227 890,6. (1999/C 320/180) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0369/99 by Reinhard Rack (PPE) to the Commission (12 February 1999) Subject: Progress of candidates for EU accession: Slovenia In the assessment, carried out before the Vienna summit, of the progress achieved by the candidate countries, criticism was levelled against Slovenia in particular for a lack of willingness to adapt to the acquis communautaire on decisive points such as the acquisition of property by EU citizens. Has any further progress been made on these points, and have all objections to the entry into force of the EU-Slovenia association agreement thus been eliminated? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (18 March 1999) The Slovene government adopted in January 1999 a decision for accelerating the legislative alignment with the Community acquis, including a timetable of priority measures requiring fast-track adoption. The situation of Slovenia’s preparations for membership will continue to be reviewed at the end of each year in the Commission’s regular report