WRITTEN QUESTION E-0220/00 by Willy De Clercq (ELDR) to the Commission. Post-clearance recovery of customs duty on textile products imported from Bangladesh.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/105 During the following years however the programme enlarged its objectives to competitiveness and protection of the environment. Priority was given to projects reducing the environmental impact of hydrocarbon exploitation and promoting the competitiveness of European technology. In the period from 1975 to 1998, nearly € 750 million of support was granted to projects for the research development and demonstration of innovative hydrocarbons technology. The € 750 million of financial support already mentioned in the Commissionís previous reply to Written Question E-2126/99 by Mrs Maes refers only to oil and gas technology (it did not include the support for coal technology projects). The following table indicates the split by year and by country for the period 1990-1998, which related to the Thermie programme. In addition the total support for the period 1975-1989 has been included in the first column. Support to hydrocarbons technology 1975-1998 (in million euros) 1975-1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Total Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland Italy The Netherlands Portugal Sweden 0,53 3,03 1,02 12,17 66,30 3,19 0,59 195,64 5,36 8,02 6,65 80,54 28,07 1,03 1,03 0,41 4,50 0,60 0,14 1,55 5,48 0,21 4,79 6,56 2,58 2,67 0,45 1,10 0,21 0,22 10,61 14,78 5,43 0,69 8,32 0,43 3,33 0,30 4,79 0,49 1,85 0,11 0,74 United Kingdom 132,28 2,03 6,60 5,55 6,90 11,72 10,44 Norway Kingdom 2,87 1,09 1,39 4,40 1,13 0,40 1,12 14,70 87,40 7,34 2,44 11,42 7,39 7,69 270,49 5,68 1,84 4,68 3,37 0,63 3,58 1,18 5,45 2,61 7,14 119,36 36,13 1,17 2,58 5,27 2,50 189,05 9,92 Total 526,46 9,85 23,42 26,72 26,30 37,23 24,92 18,33 25,44 29,05 747,72 The relatively high amount of support allocated to the United Kingdom, Italy and France, derives from the support to the United Kingdom and Italy related to projects for the production of hydrocarbon in the Mediterranean and in the North Sea and the French strong network of service and supply industry. As far as the split between oil and gas is concerned, this is somewhat more complex. Innovative drilling equipment or a new seismic acquisition system can be used both for oil and gas applications. In such cases it is not possible to classify a technology as a gas or as an oil technology. However, there are some techniques whose application is limited to gas, mainly in relation to gas conversion and transport issues. The number of projects dealing exclusively with gas technology is fairly limited and the related financial support can be estimated at less than 10 % of the total budget. (2000/C 330 E/117) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0220/00 by Willy De Clercq (ELDR) to the Commission (4 February 2000) Subject: Post-clearance recovery of customs duty on textile products imported from Bangladesh Following a visit to Bangladesh by a Community delegation towards the end of 1996 with the aim of issued between the end of 1993 and mid-1996, the checking 15 000 certificates of origin, form A, C 330 E/106 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 customs authorities of each Member State were asked to undertake post-clearance recovery of duty for those certificates which (1) had clearly been falsified or related to goods not produced in Bangladesh and (2) had been obtained on the basis of false declarations to the Export Promotion Bureau by the manufacturers. Bangladesh recognised the problems arising with the issue of certificates of origin (form A) and inadequate checking of them. Moreover, the importers in the European Union were apparently only informed of the problems with the Bangladeshi authorities at a very late stage. Is it true that the Commission is currently considering a proposal to exonerate the importers from payment of certain customs duties on grounds of áexceptional circumstancesí? If so, what measures will be taken, and to what period will these measures relate? If not, will the Commission take measures in this regard? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (28 March 2000) It is true that customs duties relating to goods imported under cover of 15 000 certificates of origin issued by the Bangladeshi authorities between 1994 and mid-1996 have been declared payable, following the decision by the Bangladeshi authorities to withdraw (cancel) the certificates in question ü a decision taken in circumstances described in the Honourable Memberís question. The demand for such payment is entirely in line with the provisions of EEC Regulation No 2454/93 (1). A Community delegation visited Bangladesh in December 1996 on an administrative cooperation and investigation mission. There, they were able to confirm that the suspected irregularities had in fact taken place. On the basis of the evidence they gathered, the Commission published a notice in the Official Journal in April 1997 (2). Between June and August 1998, Bangladesh was struck by a natural catastrophe (floods) which had a substantial and damaging impact on both the economic life of its administrative authorities. The Commission is presently considering whether these events might be held to constitute áexceptional circumstancesí, within the meaning of the regulation cited above. the country and the work of (1) OJ L 253, 11. 10. 1993. (2) OJ C 107, 5. 4. 1997. (2000/C 330 E/118) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0223/00 by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (31 January 2000) Subject: Road widening works at Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Has the Commission ascertained the significance of the new evidence that has come to light in relation to the Glen of the Downs, County Wicklow, Ireland, designated a proposed SAC on 12 August 1999? Is the Commission of the opinion that the information provided so far by the Irish authorities enable it to assess with precision the level of damage to be incurred by the proposed SAC? Is the Commission likely to put a stay on proposed road works pending replies to its queries by the Irish Government? Is the Commission going to issue legal proceedings against Ireland on this matter? What further steps if any is the Commission going to take to fully assess the impact of the road works at the Glen of the Downs? Is the Commission likely to withdraw part or all of its funding should the results of enquiries prove unsatisfactory?