WRITTEN QUESTION E-0473/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. Albania's membership of the WTO.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/197 (2000/C 303 E/225) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0473/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Albaniaís membership of the WTO In his answer 2526/99 (1) to the written question on Albaniaís membership of the WTO, Commissioner Lamy gave evasive information on the progress made in applying WTO consistent rules and maintained that Albaniaís membership of the WTO was in its final stages of preparation. However Commissioner Lamy failed to reply to the main question the Commission was asked, in particular whether it could confirm or deny the information that Albaniaís membership of the WTO was hostage to a dispute between France and another member country of the WTO, a dispute unrelated to the strict question of Albaniaís membership of the WTO. If this is the case, what action has the Commission taken or does it intend to take so that, in accordance with the decision taken by the Union, Albania can quickly become a full member of the WTO? (1) OJ C 219, 1. 8. 2000, p. 177. Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission (20 March 2000) The Commission is sorry if the Honourable Member thought the previous answer was evasive. The fact of the matter is that the Community was not able to accept the commitments proposed by Albania for audio- visual services. These commitments, if implemented, would hamper the development of the future relations of Albania with the Community in the field of audio-visual policy, and risked excluding Albania from the possibility of participating in various Community programmes like Media. These commitments were proposed when almost all the bilateral negotiations on Albanian accession to the World trade organisation (WTO) had been concluded, and at the request of the United States. Given the limited market interests of the US industry in Albania, the American requests risked being counter- productive as they may delay the further integration of Albania in Europe which is at the heart of the Community strategy for the Balkans. The Commission is therefore actively engaged in negotiations with the interested parties so that the accession of Albania to the WTO, which the Community strongly favours, can be swiftly completed. (2000/C 303 E/226) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0486/00 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission (15 February 2000) Subject: Remuneration of officials of the European Investment Bank (EIB) The budget of the European Investment Bank (EIB) makes provision for around ECU 129 million to cover the salaries of its staff of around 1 000 (998 to be exact). This figure includes not only senior managers, on whom expenditure is in the region of ECU 260 000 per year, but also ordinary administrative staff. Can the Commission answer the following: 1. What is the composition of the EIBís management bodies? 2. Will the Commission give details of salaries and taxation (gross and net salaries including benefits)? 3. What is the average overall remuneration of senior managers (EIB employees)?