WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/00 by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Canary Islands import regulations.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/207 (2000/C 330 E/239) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/00 by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Commission (17 March 2000) Subject: Canary Islands import regulations Can the Commission explain why the Canary Islands have different regulations for importing certified seed potatoes than other regions of the European Union and whether the present arrangements will ever change? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (25 April 2000) The Community plant health regime, established by Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21 December 1976 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (1) was adapted by Directive 94/13/EC (2) to accommodate the specific plant health situation in the Canary Islands. The remote and insular nature of the Islands and hence the peculiar plant health situation was acknowledged and the need for specific provisions in the Annexes to the Directive for the protection of the Canary Islands was foreseen. However, the practical implementation of the integration of the Canary Islands into the Community plant health regime has not yet taken place, because an updated list specifying the harmful organisms of concern to the Canary Islands, with an indication of the phytosanitary measures considered appropriate, to be supplied by Spain, is still awaited. Because of the exceptional geographical situation, which constitutes a severe handicap, the Canary Islands also benefit from the application of Regulation 1601/92 which is a regime of exemption from levies and/or customs duties on different products, including certified seed potatoes, imported directly from third countries. The quantity of goods entitled to benefit from the regime is fixed yearly based on the supply balance. (1) OJ L 26, 31. 1. 1977, as last amended by Commission Directive 1999/53/EC, OJ L 142, 5. 6. 1999. (2) OJ L 92, 9. 4. 1994. (2000/C 330 E/240) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0705/00 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Council (2 March 2000) Subject: Amendments to the Netherlands Exceptional Medical Expenses Act In the Netherlands, everybody is covered by the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (AWBZ). Since 1 January 2000, Netherlands nationals living abroad who are not insured with a health insurance fund have no longer been covered by the AWBZ. However, Netherlands nationals residing in Belgium cannot subscribe to a health insurance fund because Belgian social legislation regards this as incompatible with the Dutch AWBZ facilities. This is very much a Catch 22 situation: Netherlands nationals residing in Belgium must subscribe to a health insurance fund in order to be entitled to AWBZ facilities, but Belgian health insurance funds refuse to accept them as members because they are entitled to AWBZ facilities. Does the decision by the Netherlands Government to exclude Netherlands nationals who reside 1. abroad and are not insured with a health insurance fund from AWBZ facilities as of 1 January 2000 violate European law, inter alia the freedom of citizens and patients to settle in other EU Member States (ECJ, 28 April 1998, no. C-158/96)? (a) If so, what will the Council do to remedy this situation? (b) If not, does not the Netherlands Governmentís measure detract from European law, inter alia the freedom of citizens and patients to settle in other EU Member States (ECJ, 28 April 1998, No C-158/96)?