WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3425/98 by Dietrich ELCHLEPP to the Commission. Breakdown of EU subsidies for Baden-Württemberg (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
28. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 182/83 (1999/C 182/106) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3425/98 by Dietrich Elchlepp (PSE) to the Commission (24 November 1998) Subject: Breakdown of EU subsidies for Baden-Württemberg 1. What subsidies from EU programmes flowed to Baden-Württemberg in 1995-97? 2. What amounts were involved, for what projects and in what places? Supplementary answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (25 February 1999) In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat. (1999/C 182/107) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3427/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Imposition by Turkey of duty on cotton imports (24 November 1998) The Turkish Government recently imposed duty of 35 US cents a kilo on ginned cotton imports, despite the fact that the Customs Union Agreement provides that the signatory states may not impose customs duty or levies on trade amongst themselves. Since this duty is at odds with the commitments assumed by Turkey vis-à-vis the European Union, will the Commissions say: 1. Is the imposition of this duty in keeping with the spirit and letter of Customs Union? 2. Did Turkey absolutely require the prior consent of the EU before imposing this duty? Did the EU give its consent? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1998) As mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Turkish authorities adopted a decree No 23462, dated 13 September 1998, establishing a customs levy of 35 cents per kilogramme on raw cotton and a surtax of 35 cents per kilogramme on cotton export. By another decree No 23489, dated 10 October 1998, the export tax has been removed and the import duties reduced from 35 cents per kilogramme to 5,2 %. These decrees have been adopted without the prior consultation of the Commission foreseen for such trade measures on industrial products in Decision No 1/95 of the Community-Turkey association council on the customs union. The Commission considers that the measure still in force is not in line with the customs union obligations as set out in Article 4 of Decision No 1/95 under which no new customs duties on imports or exports or any charges having equivalent effect can be introduced between the two parties. The Commission is raising the matter with the Turkish authorities through the appropriate channels