WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1933/98 by Esko SEPPÄNEN to the Commission. The EU and the prevention of plant diseases
18. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 13/119 (1999/C 13/167) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1926/98 by Armelle GuinebertiŁre (UPE) to the Commission (18 June 1998) Subject: Flanking measures in the context of the abolition of the duty-free sector The decision to abolish the duty-free sector with effect from 30 June 1999 (Directive 91/680(EEC)) (1) was confirmed when the Ecofin Council refused to accede to Irelandís request for the impact assessment which had been promised to the Members of the European Parliament by Commissioner Scrivener in 1992, and duly noted by them. While such a decision may be regarded as questionable when tax harmonisation has hardly been begun in the Member States of the EU, one is entitled to wonder what domestic and European mechanisms will need to be put in place to help restructure the duty free sectors. I should be glad if the Commission would explain its position. What flanking measures does it intend to adopt, and what mechanisms will it use, to help the sectors which currently benefit from the duty-free scheme to adapt to the new situation? (1) OJ L 376, 31. 12. 1991, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1998) The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that it is for Member States to analyse the consequences of abolishing duty-free sales on 30 June 1999, in line with the decision taken unanimously within the Council in 1991. They should also take any accompanying measures deemed by them to be necessary. The Commission would further point out that on 19 May 1998 it undertook before the Ecofin Council to draw up a working paper clarifying the instruments that could be deployed by Member States to mitigate any difficulties they might encounter. That paper, which summarises existing mechanisms at Community level, is currently being drafted. Parliament will, of course, be kept informed of developments. (1999/C 13/168) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1933/98 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (18 June 1998) Subject: The EU and the prevention of plant diseases It is well known that appropriations from the general budget have been allocated for the prevention of a number of animal diseases in the EU, including BSE and swine fever. In addition to these there are reports from a number of countries of new plant diseases arriving in Europe from South America. Has the Commission any information on what diseases these are and how they came to Europe? Have there been instances of negligence in border controls, and what plans are there to combat these diseases? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (27 July 1998) The Commission is aware of the risks of pests and diseases being brought into the Community with imports of plants and plant products from non-member countries. The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that Community plant-health arrangements were set up by Council Directive 77/93/EEC (1), as last amended by Commission Directive 98/2/EC of 8 January 1998