WRITTEN QUESTION No. 691/99 by Esko SEPPÄNEN Licensing requirement for Wassenaar exports
21. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 370/89 Commission Regulation (EC) 2125/95 of 6 September 1995 opening and providing for the administration of the quota (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) 2493/98 (2), lays down specific provisions for ensuring that the quantities available ’ including 22 750 tonnes for products originating in China ’ are shared out fairly among the various traders in the Community. Part of these quantities is reserved for ‘traditional importers’, as defined in Article 4(1)(a) of the Regulation. A company cannot claim recognition as a ‘traditional importer’ on the basis of imports that are not within the scope of the Regulation, but can always, within the quota, qualify for certain quantities as a ‘new importer’ if it fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 4(1)(b) of the Regulation. Apart from the above-mentioned quota there is no quantitative limit on imports of the products in question. (1) OJ L 212, 7. 9. 1995. (2) OJ L 309, 19. 11. 1998. (1999/C 370/121) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0690/99 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Official use of language by the EU (26 March 1999) In the answer to my written question P-0024/99 (1), what do the letters ‘Sir’ before Commissioner Leon Brittan’s name mean? Are they part of the EU’s official linguistic usage? (1) OJ C 289, 11. 10. 1999, p. 135. Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (27 April 1999) In matters of personal titles, the Commission follows the rules and customs of each Member State. (1999/C 370/122) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0691/99 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Licensing requirement for Wassenaar exports (26 March 1999) In the reply to my written question (P-0024/99) (1), Commissioner Leon Brittan states that on 2-3 Decem- ber 1998 the parties to the Wassenaar Agreement decided to relax controls on encryption products. However, if such products exceed 64 bits, they require an export licence. This means that the EU Member States are consenting to restrictions on trade in encryption products imposed by the USA, allowing them to be applied even to civil products in a manner which is to the advantage of US enterprises and espionage services. How can the Commission use Article XXI of the GATT Agreement to justify the fact that these products are subject to export licences and the requirement that transactions be notified, given that the products concerned have no military applications? (1) OJ C 289, 11. 10. 1999, p. 135