WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2691/98 by Joan VALLVÉ to the Commission. EU relations with Turkey and their impact on the trade in hazelnuts
C 135/96 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 14. 5. 1999 measurement representing the average organic load produced by one person within one day) whose urban effluents are discharged into waters that have been identified as sensitive by the Member States. For conurbations having more than 15 000 equivalent inhabitants whose urban effluents are discharged into waters that have not been identified as sensitive that deadline is 31 December 2000, while for small conurbations the relevant date is 31 December 2005. The Commission is currently checking the criteria used by the Member States, including Portugal, to identify sensitive areas in terms of water quality. It will for this purpose satisfy itself, in particular, that the classification of the Tagus estuary conforms, since it has not been identified as a sensitive area by the Portuguese authorities. The Commission has not been informed of any direct discharges of effluent from several Lisbon restaurants into the Tagus estuary. It will, in good time check that all conurbations, including Lisbon, comply with the provisions of the directive referred to above with regard to the collection and treatment of urban waste waters. (1) OJ L 135, 30. 5. 1991. (2) OJ L 67, 7. 3. 1998. (1999/C 135/112) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2691/98 by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: EU relations with Turkey and their impact on the trade in hazelnuts The current strain in relations between the EU and Turkey lies behind measures such as the change to the autonomous tariff quota on hazelnut imports. The new Council Regulation No 1506/98 (1) of 13 July 1998 suspends the exemption from import duties for a quota of 9060 tonnes of hazelnuts entering the EU market from Turkey. Has the Commission assessed the potential impact on European producers, especially those in the Reus district, should Turkey react to the new regulation by abandoning henceforth the minimum price support for hazelnuts of approximately 4 dollars per kilogramme? (1) OJ L 200, 16. 7. 1998, p. 1. Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (9 October 1998) As the Honourable Member points out, Council Regulation (EC) 1506/98 of 13 July suspends the autonomous tariff quota on 9 060 tonnes of hazelnuts imported from Turkey. This Regulation is a response to Turkey’s continuing ban on all imports of beef and live bovines, including those from the Community. The annual meeting provided for in Decision No 1/98 of the EC-Turkey Association Council took place in Reus, Spain, on 10 September. Representatives of the Commission, the Turkish Under-Secretariat of Foreign Trade, Community traders and Turkish hazelnut exporters discussed the hazelnut market and its prospects. At the meeting the Turkish authorities told the Commission that they intended to continue their current policy of intervention and price support