WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2275/98 by Glyn FORD to the Council. Criminal financial assets
14. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 135/37 (1999/C 135/041) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2266/98 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission Subject: Ban on exports of textile waste for recycling (13 July 1998) Pursuant to Regulation (EEC) 259/93 (1) companies are forbidden from exporting hazardous waste materials to countries which are not members of the OECD. In December 1996 the scope of this regulation was extended to the export of waste materials for recycling. Secondhand textiles are an example of the exports which are now prohibited. This causes major problems to companies which export these textiles for reuse or recycling. What exactly are the reasons why the Commission considers that secondhand textiles are waste materials? Is the Commission aware of the ESC opinion (10/95) which criticizes the total ban on the export of products for recycling, in view of the economic and ecological importance of recycling? What effect does this ban have on employment opportunities both inside and outside the Union? (1) OJ L 30, 6. 2. 1993, p. 1. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1998) The reasons for which secondhand textiles constitute waste materials are set out in the Commission’s answer to Written Question E-107/98 by Mrs Oomen-Ruijten (1). The Commission’s amended proposal for a Council regulation establishing common rules and procedures to apply to shipments to certain non-OECD countries of certain types of waste (2) would apply a control procedure (prior informed consent) to exports of non-hazardous wastes on the basis of the precautionary principle, but would prohibit exports of non-hazardous waste for recovery to non-OECD countries that have indicated they do not wish to receive such imports. The Commission is aware of the opinion of the Economic and social committee to which the Honourable Member refers and of the economic and ecological issues involved. It is for these reasons that the Commission has proposed a control procedure, rather than a total ban which would have its greatest impact on some of the world’s poorest countries with the most fragile economies. The Commission has however not made an assessment of the effects on employment. (1) OJ C 310, 9. 10. 1998, p. 22. (2) COM(94) 678 final. (1999/C 135/042) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2275/98 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council (28 July 1998) Subject: Criminal financial assets What steps is the Council planning to take to utilise the unique opportunity available to identify criminal financial assets at the instant of the conversion from national currencies to the euro? Are there plans to enlarge Europol’s remit to set up a financial unit to enable Europe-wide coordination and cooperation, particularly with regards to drug monies?