WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3688/98 by Bill MILLER The costs of and length of time taken by Court cases
12. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 325/23 2. 3. If so, what action does it intend to take to have the sale of such products banned in Germany, Denmark, the UK and other EU countries? If not, how does it intend to ensure that they can be sold without obstruction in Greece? Could aid be made available to support the production of hemp in Greece? Joint answer to Written Questions E-3679/98 and E-4095/98 given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (18 March 1999) The Commission received, during the last two months, complaints regarding the marketing prohibition of hemp-based products in Greece. These products, mainly garments, are according to the plaintiffs legally produced and marketed in other Member States (Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom). The marketing prohibition in Greece was based on three reasons: a) the promotion of the use of illegal and dangerous drugs; b) the violation of market regulations and c) the lack of official state approval on the sale of certain products. The Commission is currently investigating the case on the basis of a possible infringement of Article 30 of the EC Treaty. For that purpose, letters have been addressed to the plaintiffs requesting further information on the facts and on the reasoning of the Greek authorities for the prohibition of the products. If the measures of the Greek authorities are proved to be an unnecessary and unjustified barrier to intra- Community trade, the Commission will open infringement proceedings under Article 169 of the EC Treaty. Council Regulation (EEC) 1308/70 of 29 June 1970 introduced the common organisation of the market in flax and hemp (1). Commission Regulation (EC) 2814/98 of 22 December 1998 (2), modifying Regulation (EEC) 1164/89 of 28 April 1989 (3), lays down detailed rules concerning the aid for fibre flax and hemp. Any Greek hemp textile producer complying with these rules can benefit from the Community aid. (1) OJ L 146, 4. 7. 1970. (2) OJ L 349, 24. 12. 1998. (3) OJ L 121, 29. 4. 1989. (1999/C 325/027) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3688/98 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission (7 December 1998) Subject: The costs of and length of time taken by Court cases The recent court case involving a British sugar company, I understand, took over 10 years from start to finish. Could you explain why it took this length of time? Were costs awarded against the company? Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (11 February 1999) Without fuller information, which the Honourable Member is asked to provide, the Commission has been unable to find any case involving a sugar company on which a Community court took over ten years to reach a verdict