title: Report from the Commission - Summary report on the communications by the Member States on their inspection activities and findings and questions of principle relating to traditional own resources - 1998 - (article 17(3) of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1552/89)

eurovoc_concepts:
EU customs procedure
financial control
financial year
fraud
own resources

formats: html pdf

text: COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 29. 02. 2000 COM(2000)107 final REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION Summary report on the communications by the Member States on their inspection activities and findings and questions of principle relating to traditional own resources - 1998 - (Article 17(3) of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1552/89) Summary report on the communications by the Member States on their inspection activities and findings and questions of principle relating to traditional own resources - 1998 - (Article 17(3) of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1552/89) 1. INTRODUCTION Under Regulation No 1552/891 the Member States are responsible for collecting 1. "traditional" own resources and are obliged to take all the necessary steps to ensure that debts due to the Community budget (chiefly import duties) are established, entered in the accounts, recovered and made available to the Commission. The Commission is kept informed of these activities by various reports it receives from the Member States on the basis of Regulation No 1552/89. As regards inspection work in particular, Article 17(3) of the Regulation provided that Member States must keep the Commission informed of their activities by means of half-yearly reports. With the adoption of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1355/96,2 the reports became annual and the Commission was required to produce a summary of the reports for the budgetary authority. 2. These summary reports were intended to take stock of inspection activities and findings at national level and provide an overall view of the volume of fraud and irregularities involving the European Communities' traditional own resources. They should also enable the Commission to conduct an additional documentary check and make optimum use of risk analysis in drawing up its own inspection programme. In view of the disappointing experience with the previous half-yearly reports, it was agreed when Regulation No 1552/89 was amended in 1996 that a solution should be found for the considerable discrepancies between the national reports and differences in the interpretation of various basic concepts. After extensive discussion within the Advisory Committee on Own Resources, a harmonised model annual report was sent to the Member States in March 1997. 3 This set out the overall data to be provided on cases of fraud and irregularity and aimed at greater consistency in the accounting data supplied. 1 2 3 Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1552/89 of 29 May 1989 implementing Decision 88/376/EEC on the system of the Communities' own resources (new version - Decision 94/728/EC). Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1355/96 of 8 July 1996 amending Council Regulation No 1552/89 of 29 May 1989. Commission Decision 97/245, 20. 3. 97 (C(97) 800 final). 2 As the Member States found it difficult to harmonise the data, there was a considerable delay before the Commission received the annual reports for 1996. When it examined the information it had received, the Commission concluded that it was better not to publish its summary report, as the Member States had failed to follow the model. However, a summary document was drawn up in May 19984 and examined by the Advisory Committee on Own Resources on 8 July 1998. Analysis of the reports for 19975 has shown that the results largely failed to live up to expectations: the Commission considered that it couldnot yet reach any completely valid conclusions in view of the absence of comparable or, in some cases, reliable data. 3. From the 1997 report analysis the Commission did establish that there had been a net improvement in the presentation of information by Member States even if supplementary information had to be requested in some instances. It considered that publication of even an incomplete and non-standardised report could throw light on current difficulties in connection with traditional own resources and encourage the Member States to improve the quality of the information they supply. It was also planned that there should be an analysis of questions of principle relating to the problems encountered in applying Regulation No 1552/89, including those raised in matters in dispute. However, from past experience, the Commission has concluded that any problems reported by the Member States will be better dealt with by being brought to the attention of the ACOR as they arise rather than analysed in the summary reports drawn up under Article 17(3). This analysis tabulates the key elements of the model report which the Commission has sent to the Member States. Each table is accompanied by appropriate explanations and gives the reasons for the production of the indicator. 2. ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL REPORTS The analysis of national reports is intended to reveal two main types of information: a general picture of the Member States' inspection operations and an assessment of measures to combat fraud and irregularities. For this purpose, data are first compiled concerning inspection activities in the form of the number of entries processed by each national administration at the time of importation and at the time of inspection (ex post) and the number of staff assigned to inspection work. This provides an indication of inspection activity in relation to the volume of traffic in each Member State. 4 5 XIX/24329/98, 27. 5. 1998. COM(1999) 110 final 12. 03. 1999 3 The national reports then provide the information needed to quantify and categorise the results of activities to combat fraud and fraudulent practices. Given the cross-border nature of fraud, and with a view to illustrating the patterns of fraud on the Community's customs territory, the national figures (number of cases, amounts) are expressed in terms of the totals for all the Member States. In this analysis a distinction is made in the data between the different stages of fraud prevention: investigation and detection of cases, determination and entry of amounts, recovery of duties. These data are also compared with other information supplied by the Member States on the entry in the accounts of own resources not collected and on the fraud forms. This comparison is intended to throw light on disputes involving own resources and reveal any discrepancies in the establishment and making available of these resources. Finally, the analysis categorises cases of fraud and irregularity by customs arrangement and by type of fraud. To produce this analysis of national reports, the Commission used some of the data supplied in the national reports for previous years, with due allowance for the fact that some of them were incomplete and that the information supplied by the Member States was not readily comparable. Although limited, this comparison between the years concerned nevertheless allows certain conclusions to be drawn on the development of the Member States' inspection activities and findings and the main trends affecting the collection of own resources. 2. 1. Inspections by Member States A general picture of inspection operations can be provided by comparing the entries accepted, the entries checked after customs clearance and staff specialising in inspections of this kind in each Member State. This comparison is set out in Annex 1, which also shows the percentage of entries inspected and the ratio of entries inspected per person. At the same time this gives an idea of the volume of transactions on the Community's customs territory. To place these indicators of inspection activity in perspective, Annex 2 compares overall inspection activity in the Member States in 1996 and 1998. The following comments can be made on the two tables in Annexes 1 and 2: (a) Number of entries accepted A total of 95 302 846 entries were accepted in 1998. The number has increased in the great majority of Member States; in Greece the figure almost doubled. Over the last four years there has been a slight decline in transactions in Finland, while in 1998 France recorded a more surprising drop from nearly 10 million in 1997 to less than 7 million. 4 As in previous years, comparison between Member States reveals a wide discrepancy between the number of entries accepted by the Netherlands and Germany and those accepted by the United Kingdom, especially when compared with each Member State's share of established traditional own resources (amounts entered in the "A" and "B" accounts). The ratio between this figure and the number of entries is relatively stable (except for the Netherlands and the United Kingdom), as the following chart shows: Number of entries/Amounts established in A and B accounts 1998 35. 00% 30. 00% 25. 00% 20. 00% 15. 00% 10. 00% 5. 00% 0. 00% B DK D EL E F IRL IT L NL A P FIN S UK Number of entries Amounts established (b) Post-clearance checks The data on the number of entries checked cannot be used to make an exhaustive comparison between the Member States (proportion of entries checked after customs clearance), since only nine Member States submitted the actual number of entries checked after customs clearance (see also the explanations in the notes to Table 1 in Annex 1). However, this represents an improvement on the previous year. Only Portugal and the United Kingdom had no figures available. Subject to these constraints, it is worth pointing out that the number of entries checked after customs clearance increased sharply from 2. 3 million in 1997 to 4. 6 million in 1998, although there was a significant drop in Finland and Denmark. This enormous increase in the number of post-clearance checks in 1998 (+96%) cannot be explained by the increase in staff (+1. 1%). The Commission is currently examining instances where the scale of these changes is not justified by any variation in transactions. The figures might reflect a decline in inspection activity (Italy and Finland over the three-year period), a major re-targeting of inspections or the introduction of new accounting methods (Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Austria and Sweden). 5 As a result there has also been a general improvement in inspection rates, albeit with major variations between Member States, for example 25% in Greece, 1. 73% in Italy and 1. 22% in Ireland. (c) Staff assigned to post-clearance checks As for the relationship between staff specialising in post-clearance checks and the number of entries inspected, it is difficult to make comparisons between Member States because of differences in the internal organisation of national government departments. With the usual reservations, the total number of customs officers in the European Union comes to 84 116. The figures set out in Annex 2 show that, apart from a very large increase in the United Kingdom, the total number of staff assigned to customs services rose slightly in 1998 (up 1. 7% compared with a 13% increase between 1996 and 1998). The number of staff assigned to inspections has followed a similar trend (+15% from 1996 to 1998, +1. 1% from 1997 to 1998). 2. 2. Fraud and irregularities 2. 2. 1. Amounts established and already recovered in 1998 The annual reports contain two types of statistics on cases of fraud and irregularity: the volume of cases detected and accounting data. The table in Annex 3 therefore sets out three series of figures: the number of cases detected, amounts established and amounts recovered. This gives a picture of the patterns of fraud on the Community's customs territory and the efforts deployed in combating fraud. A "rate of recovery" is then calculated to give an initial indication, at the end of the first year, of the result of the efforts of each Member State to recover the amounts involved in these cases. The table also shows the amounts established and recovered in each Member State in relation to the totals for the Community. It should first be pointed out that the number of cases of fraud and irregularity reported in column 2 are far from uniform. Sometimes a country's figures are at odds with its intensive trade in third-country goods (Germany). Numbers in the thousands may mean that the Member State has reported all infringements handled in the course of the year by its government departments. By contrast, the figures for other Member States seem to indicate that only some of the infringements have been reported. In the case of amounts established, comparison of the data between Member States reveals major discrepancies which are difficult to interpret: it is striking, for example, that the amounts established in Belgium come to double the figure for Germany and the same as for the Netherlands (column 3) and that the amounts for the United Kingdom (in cases involving over 10 000 only) are around three times those for the Netherlands. The only explanation for these discrepancies would be that the concepts of fraud and irregularity have not been interpreted uniformly or that only amounts over 10 000 have been reported, i. e. those covered by the fraud forms provided for in Article 6(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 1552/89. € € 6 It is worth noting that the recovery rate indicated in column 7 is a “crude” rate (i. e. the to take account of amounts established still have to be adjusted, where appropriate, corrections and cancellations). The recovery figure for the year also covers amounts which have often been established several years earlier. This rate can therefore serve only as a indicator, giving a fairly broad picture of the recovery situation before any statistical corrections that have to be made. Given this situation, it can be said that the average recovery rate for all the Member States combined has risen markedly since 1997 (up from 23. 26% to 37. 63%). It has been pushed up by the figures for a number of Member States (Denmark, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Finland and Sweden) which, together, account for almost 30% of established amounts and have an average recovery rate of 83%. On the other hand, the rate of recovery is around 20% in a group of countries accounting for nearly 70% of established entitlements (Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, Italy and United Kingdom). At first sight, this variation in rate between Member States raises a problem as regards assessing the efforts made: the shortcomings may be in establishment or in the recovery of entitlements. Finally, if the amounts established and recovered in each Member State in 1998 are compared with the total amounts for all the Member States (columns 4 and 6 of the table), a strange discrepancy is found between the relative share of some national administrations in the total amount established and in the overall recovery figures. However, this discrepancy appears to be caused mainly by the differences observed in amounts established. The percentages recorded for two Member States in particular (Germany and Netherlands) require some explanation if they are to be interpreted correctly. 2. 2. 2. Changes in amounts established and the rate of recovery As treatment of cases of fraud and irregularity is necessarily cyclical, the table in Annex 4 tries to identify significant trends by examining changes in the volume of fraud over a number of years. However, to a certain extent, this comparison of data on cases of fraud and irregularity reported for 1995 to 1998 may reveal changes caused by different factors such as an improvement in inspection activity, a temporary increase in fraudulent or irregular operations or the isolated discovery of cases of fraud or irregularity involving a particularly high amount. a. Cases of fraud and irregularities The number of fraud cases has increased in the majority of Member States (ten). However, it has been falling steadily in Germany and sharply in Portugal. The overall increase is 25% on 1997. The analysis comes up against the problem of the comparability of data, which relate either exclusively to infringements reported in the fraud forms and thus to amounts exceeding € 10 000 (United Kingdom and possibly Germany) or to all infringements (the other Member States). However, the following anomalies should be noted: 7 – In Germany the number of cases is constantly falling with the result that the figure for 1998 is half that for 1995. – In Denmark the number of cases is six times higher than last year. – In Austria the number of cases rose suddenly from 64 in 1997 to 15 474 in 1998 (compared with 47 783 in 1995). This sharp increase, similar to the one recorded in Sweden in 1997 could be a result of including cases involving less than 10 000. € Some discrepancies are not merely cyclical and require further explanation from the Member States (decline in Germany and Portugal, increases in Denmark and Austria). b. Amounts established In absolute terms, the amounts established in the Community as a whole tripled between 1995 and 1998, although there was a slight drop in 1998 (0. 78% down on 1997). There are sharp contrasts, however, in individual trends, with large increases in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Luxembourg and smaller ones in Finland and Austria (a doubling of amounts established). Nevertheless, some changes are difficult to explain: the 42% fall in amounts established in Belgium over the period 1995-1998 is at odds with the twofold increase in the number of cases, while the 27% fall in Denmark is hard to explain, as the number of cases increased by a factor of 21. The 58% drop in the Netherlands contrasts with a mere 7% reduction in the number of cases. In general, despite the large increase in the number of infringements detected by the Member States in 1998, the total amounts established as a result of these infringements have, paradoxically, declined. The case of Germany deserves a special mention here. Amounts established have moved in parallel with the number of cases, but the Commission is intrigued by the 60% drop in both figures. For its part, the United Kingdom recorded a threefold increase in amounts established over the reference period, while there was a steady but slight rise in the number of cases. The Commission does not have any data to explain these phenomena. The Member States will be asked to provide any further information required. c. Rate of recovery Between 1995 and 1998, the amounts recovered in the Community as a whole increased substantially (fourfold in Denmark, tenfold in Austria and by a factor of forty-eight in Sweden), although six countries recorded a fall (Ireland, Portugal, Finland and especially Belgium, Greece and the United Kingdom). In three Member States (Italy, Finland and the United Kingdom, but not Luxembourg) the decline in the rate of recovery was accompanied by a drop in the amounts established. However, the falling rate in these Member States may be due to a number of reasons such as cyclical factors (types of fraud leading to establishment), changes in establishment procedure and the correction of establishments or, finally, a drop in recovery itself. 8 2. 2. 3. Amounts established and amounts entered in the accounts All traditional own resources established must be entered in the accounts. Amounts recovered or guaranteed and not contested are entered in the "A" account (Article 6(2)(a) of Regulation No 1552/89) and amounts which have not been recovered and are contested, even though a security has been provided, are entered in the "B" account (Article 6(2)(b) of the Regulation). Many of the cases of fraud and irregularity detected are contested or are not covered by a security and are therefore entered in the "B" account. It is therefore worthwhile comparing the amounts established and mentioned by the Member States in their annual reports for 1998 with the totals entered in the B account (table in Annex 5). In 1998, the total established as a result of fraud and irregularities differed from the total entered in the B account (containing amounts established but not yet recovered) in eight Member States. The differences may be due to the fact that these countries reported only cases of fraud and irregularity involving more than 10 000, contrary to the instructions in the model annual report. 6 € The following table gives more precise details of the differences noted when comparing the amounts established and mentioned by certain Member States in their annual reports with the totals entered in the B account for 1995 to 1998. Amounts established<Amounts in B account (EUR) Member State Differences D EL F IRL I L NL A P S UK TOTAL 1995 1996 1997 1998 - 93. 984. 391 - 67. 692. 435 - 75. 721. 840 - 105. 123. 249 - 17. 520 - 10. 711. 597 - 393. 152 - 37. 253. 440 - 5. 022. 805 - 328. 095 -v9. 395. 515 - 353. 094 - 15. 931. 675 - 13. 320. 715 - 1. 760. 482 - 7. 307. 827 - 27. 985. 598 - 8. 121. 325 - 5. 226. 456 - 27. 591. 278 - 57. 866. 009 - 157. 106. 515 - 133. 957. 506 - 202. 044. 339 - 3. 471. 092 - 32. 439. 052 - 193. 880 - 26. 834. 436 - 8. 378. 445 - 4. 875. 652 - 254. 062. 472 - 398. 834. 610 In the case of Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Portugal and the United Kingdom, this difference has consistently been negative. In 1998 it was negative for even more Member States. 6 Annex 6, endnote 2, of the Commission Decision of 20 March 1997 laying down the arrangements for the transmission of information by the Member States under the Communities' own resources system (C(97)800 final) states that all cases are to be reported, regardless of threshold value. 9 This situation is obviously abnormal since the total amount established in connection with cases of fraud and irregularity cannot be lower than the amount entered in the separate account as not all the amounts involved in these cases are contested or without a security. The Commission considers that this anomaly is due to the incorrect interpretation given by some administrations to the concepts of "fraud and irregularity". In this connection it has repeatedly asked the Member States to apply the definitions of these two concepts set out in Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 19957 on the protection of the Community’s financial interests or in the Convention of 27 November 1995 on the protection of the Community's financial interests. 8 2. 2. 4. Annual reports/fraud forms Article 17(3) of Regulation No 1552/89 provides for a comparison between the number of cases of fraud and irregularity contained in the report on inspection activity and the fraud forms submitted under Article 6(4) of the Regulation (amounts exceeding 10 000 contained in the IRENE base for the year). This comparison is set out in the table in Annex 6. € The problem highlighted in last year's report no longer occurs, i. e. the amount to be recovered according to the fraud forms received by the Commission (cases involving over 10 000) is systematically lower than the total amount established as a result of fraud and irregularities. € The Commission feels that this pattern is in line with the regulations. 2. 3. Breakdown of fraud and irregularities by customs procedure and type of fraud Not all customs procedures are equally susceptible to fraud and irregularities; their vulnerability may change in the course of time as certain economic sectors are briefly targeted. Transit operations have thus been a favourite target of fraud in recent years, particularly as regards certain sensitive agricultural products. The table in Annex 7 presents a quantitative picture of how cases of fraud and irregularity break down by Member State and by customs procedure in order to determine how vulnerable each procedure was in 1998. It shows that, as in 1997, external transit (10. 6% of cases and 10% of the total amount at stake) and release for free circulation (80. 8 % of cases of fraud/infringements accounting for 81. 4% of the total amount at stake) are particularly affected. By comparison, the following chart shows that other customs procedures and end-uses are only marginally affected. The figures unfortunately confirm what is already a well-known trend. 7 8 OJ L 312, 23. 12. 1995, p. 1. Irregularity: "Any infringement of a provision of Community law resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the Communities. ". OJ C 316, 27. 11. 1995, p. 49. Fraud: “Any intentional act or omission relating to: the use or presentation of false, incorrect or incomplete statements or documents which has as its effect the illegal - diminution of the resources of the general budget of the European Communities or budgets managed by or on behalf of, the European Communities, - - non-disclosure of information in violation of a specific obligation, with the same effect, misapplication of a legally obtained benefit, with the same effect". 10 As regards the breakdown of infringements by Member State, two findings require further explanation. The amounts established by the United Kingdom concerning release for free circulation came to nearly four times the figure for the Netherlands (and over ten times that for Austria), despite a comparable number of cases. In the transit field, Belgium established one and a half times the amounts established by the Netherlands ( 11. 145 million as against € € 7. 25 million), again with a comparable number of cases. F r a u d /ir r e g u la r it ie s b y c u s t o m s p r o c e d u r e % 1 0 0 , 0 8 0 , 0 6 0 , 0 4 0 , 0 2 0 , 0 0 , 0 P L R T A P P P T A R T N E P ro c e d u re s ES R T U A C a s e s V a lu e Legend: LP TR Free circulation External transit ENTR Warehousing PA PP AT Inward processing Outward processing Temporary admission Other Other customs procedures and end-uses If a comparison is now made in this respect between 1997 and 1998, as is done in the table in Annex 8, it is found that the amounts established have decreased slightly for all procedures, but particularly in the case of the free circulation and external transit procedures, where there is a clear contrast between the trend in the number of infringements (which have risen sharply) and in the amounts established (which have fallen substantially). By contrast, the amounts established in connection with inward processing have doubled compared with 1997. The number of cases of fraud and irregularity in connection with the transit and free circulation procedures have increased (by 42% and 1% respectively), while the amounts established have fallen (by 16% and 40%). For these two procedures the general trend seems to be towards an increase in infringements with a lower financial impact. By contrast, in the case of the inward processing procedure, both the number of infringements and the amounts involved have increased substantially. 11 The breakdown of cases of fraud and irregularity by Member State and by type of infringement shown in the table in Annex 9 reveals that the most common cases are inaccuracies in the description or tariff classification of goods (26. 2%), false declarations of value (23%) and irregular entry into the customs territory of the Community (13% of cases). impact However, the infringements with the most in terms of amounts established are incorrect description of goods (21%) and false declarations of value (17. 1%). These types of infringement, which are very frequent in Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Austria, sometimes involve large sums, for example in France, the Netherlands and Sweden in the case of the former and in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in the case of the latter. Contraband has reached remarkable levels in Germany (in terms of amounts involved) and there are many problems with declarations of origin in Italy. The comparison between 1997 and 1998 in the table in Annex 10 reveals a decline in the financial impact (but not the frequency) of contraband, while the amounts established in cases of inaccurate declarations of weight or quantity are more or less back to 1996 levels. This comparison confirms the trend towards a higher number of infringements with a lower financial impact, apart from incorrect classification and "other" infringements. 3. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 17(2) OF REGULATION (EEC, EURATOM) NO 1552/89 3. 1. Use of the procedure Article 17(1) states that the Member States must make available to the Commission all the entitlements they establish. When this is not possible for reasons of force majeure or in specific cases when recovery is impossible for reasons that cannot be attributed to the Member State, the entitlement is written off. If the amount of duty exceeds the threshold of € 10 000, the case is referred to the Commission for examination in accordance with Article 17(2). In 1998 two Member States notified the Commission of eleven cases in which amounts were written off. A further fifteen cases relating to 1998 were notified in 1999. to check all In addition, the twelve requests to write off own resources shown in the first table in Annex 11 (including cases notified in previous years but still pending) were examined in the relevant data which the Member States have to report under detail Article 17(2) of Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1552/89. An interdepartmental working party, set up for this purpose in 1997, meets regularly to assess each case as effectively and as quickly as possible. The appropriate Commission departments thus reach a common position. Of the twelve requests mentioned above, four (including one in part) were accepted by the Commission which, after a detailed analysis of all the information supplied, considered that the own resources could not be recovered for reasons which could not be attributed to the Member State concerned. However, eight requests (including one in part) were rejected as the Commission considered that the Member State concerned has not displayed due diligence and had not availed itself of all the powers offered by Community and national law to protect the Community's financial interests. 12 Finally, one case was considered inadmissible since the Community entitlements for which the write-off was requested had not been established even though the establishment of entitlements is a precondition for application of Article 17(2). The Member State has been held financially liable. Of the fifteen cases in the second table in Annex 11, seven are still pending. The Commission has not yet expressed its final position, as the information supplied by the Member States concerned does not enable it to do so in full possession of the facts. It will complete its examination on receipt of the information requested from the Member States concerned. In the other eight cases the request to write-off was rejected following a detailed examination of all the pertinent facts and with the agreement of all the relevant departments, which were duly consulted. Despite the Commission's inspections and the continuous dialogue with the Member States, there has been no notable change in the number of cases written off by the Member States. However, seven Member States make regular use of this procedure (Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom and, since 1997, Belgium and Denmark). This is the course advocated by the Commission which considers that this procedure allows a fair and open examination of the collection of own resources by the Member States and makes for efficient management of Community entitlements. 3. 2. Comparison of amounts written off The inspections carried out by the Commission included a comparison of the amounts written off and included in the report provided for in Article 17(3) of Regulation 1552/89 and the amounts removed from the separate accounts. Annex 12 sets out the results of this comparison, alongside the amounts written off in connection with the reports on fraud and irregularities. € € By 1 October the Member States had notified for consideration by the Commission a total of fifteen write-offs for 1998 totalling 4 193 441. The total amounts entered in the separate account, of which the Commission receives a quarterly statement, and then written off came 4 770 133 in 1998. Although the separate account records all amounts irrespective of to thresholds, there appears to be a considerable discrepancy between the amounts notified 10 000) and the accounting entries. Only the amounts for Ireland are (amounts over comparable. By contrast, the amounts entered in the B account by Belgium and the Netherlands are very small compared with the amounts notified. This is inconsistent with accounting procedure. € € 103. 8 million) The total corrections made to established amounts entered in the B account ( 92. 5 million) appear to be large when and those included in fraud forms sent in 1998 ( compared with total amounts written off. From an accounting point of view, it would make more sense if the real problem concerning fraud and irregularities were in recovery, and be reflected in amounts written off. Moreover, the corrected amounts in the separate account must necessarily be higher than those arising from the fraud forms, whereas the opposite appears to be the case here. € This suggests confusion between what is a revision mechanism for established own resources entitlements and cases where debts are written off because of recovery problems. The confusion evident in the amounts reported by Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. 13 The Commission will be asking for more information on these discrepancies, which are in apparent contradiction with Articles 8 and 17 of Regulation 1552/89. 4. CONCLUSIONS The Commission concludes from the information supplied that progress has been made in the way in which the Member States report on their inspection activities and findings. In particular, the Commission notes a clear improvement in producing and reporting data compared with the previous two years. However, the continuing differences in the information reported reflect the difficulties in harmonising the basic concepts between the Member States and, for the Member States themselves, in ensuring the internal consistency of the information supplied. The comparability of data thus suffers from considerable differences in the interpretation of concepts of "fraud and irregularities" which are often incorrect. This gives a sometimes improbable picture of the volume of fraud detected and makes it difficult to judge the record of the national authorities. Moreover, the information supplied by some Member States in their annual report cannot be reconciled with figures from other sources such as the separate accounts for own resources. Certain inconsistencies have been found this year. As regards inspections, the information supplied shows a large overall increase in staff assigned to this activity together with a sustained increase in the number of entries accepted. these data do not allow precise assessment of the efforts actually made by However, the analysis is undermined by differences in administrations and the reliability of administrative organisation. The quality of the information supplied by the Member States on their inspection findings is better than for the previous year. However, progress is patchy and divergences between in particular as regards amounts established. Member States are difficult Moreover, some Member States have seen their in terms of both establishment and recovery: further information is therefore required, particularly where there is a considerable discrepancy with the volume of traffic. results plummet to explain, Analysis of the national reports since 1995 gives a fairly clear picture of trends in connection with fraud. For example, it reveals an increase in the number of infringements detected, which, however, has had no impact on the level of established entitlements, quite the contrary. The risk attached to the various procedures is also clearly established, the most vulnerable being release for free circulation and transit. As for the procedure for writing off amounts which cannot be recovered, progress remains limited but seven Member States now use this procedure. At least part of this result can be attributed to inspections by the Commission and the Court of Auditors in connection with the separate account and clearance procedures, but it is also the outcome of the continuous dialogue between the Commission and the national administrations on these matters. Finally, the Commission would point out that the only real point of this report is to give an idea of the efforts which the Member States are making to comply with their obligations under Article 17(3) of Regulation No 1552/89. The document will be put before the Advisory Committee on Own Resources. The Commission will endeavour to establish the best 14 conditions necessary to ensure that any difficulties arising in the Member States are quickly resolved. 15 ANNEXES 16 ANNEX 1 Inspections by Member States Member States Entries accepted Entries checked after customs clearance % of entries checked after customs clearance Total number of staff in customs departments at national level Total number of staff assigned to post- clearance checks at national level Average number of entries checked per person (1) (2) (3) (4)=(3)/(2) 4. 349. 229 300. 756 1. 211. 011 (1) 79. 980 (1) 24. 900. 000 615. 315 (2) 957. 634 243. 455 4. 065. 566 (4) 388. 609 (5) 9. 731. 275 698. 365 (7) 811. 748 (9) 9. 950 6. 646. 156 45. 753 114. 895 4. 277 (10) 31. 246. 637 (11) 1. 732. 550 (12) 5. 471. 853 181. 438 (14) 428. 310 1. 721. 554 (16) 1. 370. 000 5. 248. 367 (15) …… 93. 930 51. 000 …… 6,92 6,60 2,47 25,42 9,60 11,90 1,22 1,73 9,35 5,54 3,32 …… 5,46 3,72 …… B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK Notes: (5) 4. 135 743 26. 170 3. 882 3. 964 (6) 19. 656 (8) 550 6. 142 125 5. 481 4. 567 1. 101 2. 327 2. 434 (18) 2. 839 (19) (6) 485 45 5. 320 (3) 162 284 666 30 829 15 4. 603 (13) 182 355 142 (17) 82 (18) 106 (19) (7)=(3)/(6) 620 1. 777 116 1. 503 1. 368 1. 221 332 139 285 376 997 …… 661 621 …… Number of tariff headings. No figures available for the number of entries scrutinised in checks on firms. Checks at firms only. This figure includes 1 044 454 import entries. This figure refers only to import entries checked by sampling methods. Including 309 persons assigned to central departments and those assigned to surveillance departments. Post-clearance documentary checks by the specialised regional services (CERDOC), not including general inspections. Total staff numbers, including senior management and laboratory staff. This figure includes 470 540 import entries. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Entries selected by the SADBEL computerised system, manual entries and entries checked by the Inspection d'Audit. (11) This figure includes 25 420 799 import entries and 3 593 821 transit entries. (12) This total includes computerised entries and entries in the agricultural sector. (13) The figure includes 23 persons in the Ministry of Agriculture, but not tax investigation staff (FIOD). (14) This figure includes 954 cases involving several entries. (15) There is no reliable inventory of this type of inspection. (16) This total includes imports and exports, in particular 418 189 transit operations. (17) Not all staff are assigned full-time to this type of activity. (18) Expressed in person/years. (19) Staff in employment at border and internal customs offices. 17 ANNEX 2 Inspections by Member States Entries accepted Entries checked after customs clearance Total number of staff in customs departments at national level Total number of staff assigned to post-clearance checks at national level 1996 1997 1998 Change 1996 1997 1998 Change 1996 1997 1998 Change 1996 1997 1998 Change B DK D EL E F IRL I L …. 3. 465. 188 4. 349. 229 1. 137. 522 1. 186. 024 1. 211. 011 21. 200. 000 20. 600. 000 24. 900. 000 …. 572. 600 957. 634 3. 189. 410 3. 800. 064 4. 065. 566 8. 423. 471 9. 800. 000 6. 829. 028 617. 485 740. 501 811. 748 4. 852. 713 5. 940. 066 6. 646. 156 27. 041 43. 629 45. 753 NL 21. 272. 970 25. 657. 280 31. 246. 637 A P FIN S UK 4. 845. 731 4. 536. 545 5. 471. 853 420. 775 419. 542 428. 310 1. 762. 404 1. 736. 762 1. 721. 554 1. 194. 659 1. 287. 000 1. 370. 000 3. 933. 688 4. 633. 921 5. 248. 367 + X X X X X X X X X X X X X - …. 838 32. 537 …. 10. 759 211. 641 143. 858 32. 430 7. 833 12. 636 X 774. 384 180. 330 …. 1. 262. 397 2. 976 …. 85. 096 3. 180 300. 756 79. 980 615. 315 243. 455 388. 609 813. 028 9. 950 114. 895 4. 277 (1) 1. 032. 399 1. 538. 103 1. 732. 550 45. 091 27. 988 181. 438 …. … … X 144. 309 106. 727 93. 930 + X X X X X X X X X … … 1. 360 … 51. 000 X … - X X … …. 815 3. 552 4. 135 816 743 27. 500 26. 700 26. 170 …. 4. 073 3. 962 4. 056 3. 882 3. 964 18. 259 19. 679 19. 656 1. 240 6. 135 129 5. 387 4. 769 915 2. 223 2. 285 462 1. 347 6. 491 550 6. 142 129 125 5. 373 4. 584 891 2. 282 2. 400 429 5. 481 4. 567 1. 101 2. 327 2. 434 2. 839 - X X X X X X X = X + X = X X X X X …. 66 915 65 485 45 5. 180 5. 400 5. 320 …. 240 441 …. 754 15 36 240 643 31 852 15 162 284 666 30 829 15 4. 202 4. 270 4. 603 175 132 157 91 118 177 172 148 90 106 182 355 142 82 106 + X X X = = X X X = - X X X = X = X X = (1) In 1998, 5854 physical checks were made, equivalent to 12. 8% of the total entries handled. 18 ANNEX 3 Fraud and irregularities: amounts established and already recovered Number of cases Amounts established Establishments as % of EU 15 total Amounts already recovered Establishments as % of EU 15 total "Crude" recovery rate (Amounts in EUR) (1) B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN (2) S UK (3) (2) 12. 701 3. 498 290 1. 781 12. 828 12. 243 1. 159 4. 414 8 16. 641 15. 474 463 5. 024 25. 936 13. 194 EUR-15 125. 654 (3) 43. 340. 242 19. 120. 826 24. 236. 751 5. 242. 674 21. 412. 278 42. 198. 908 5. 405. 318 26. 599. 948 85. 120 43. 654. 564 12. 539. 555 202. 348 3. 047. 336 14. 367. 089 112. 511. 528 373. 964. 485 (4) 11,59 5,11 6,48 1,40 5,73 11,28 1,45 7,11 0,02 11,67 3,35 0,05 0,81 3,84 30,09 (5) 8. 299. 009 16. 515. 907 5. 095. 808 295. 671 14. 582. 067 8. 760. 277 3. 610. 475 5. 065. 210 73. 383 (1) (6) 5,9% 11,74% 3,62% 0,21% 10,36% 6,22% 2,57% 3,6% 0,05% 37. 561. 204 26,68% 6. 105. 713 171. 754 2. 668. 209 13. 887. 633 18. 047. 642 4,34% 0,12% 1,9% 9,87% 12,82% 100,00% (7)=(5)/(3) 19,15% 86,38% 21,03% 5,64% 68,10% 20,76% 66,79% 19,04% 86,21% 86,04% 48,69% 84,48% 87,56% 96,66% 16,04% 37,63% 100,00% 140. 739. 962 The euro exchange rate used in the tables is the average rate for 1998. Notes: (1) (2) This total includes around goods. € 3 000 corresponding to the proceeds of public auctions following the confiscation of The computer system does not distinguish between the recovery of amounts evaded through fraud and of other € recovered amounts. Amounts in cases involving less than 10 000 are assumed to have been recovered. (3) Columns 3,5 and 6 relate only to debts of over € 10 000. 19 Fraud and irregularities: amounts established and recovery rate - Change ANNEX 4 Number of cases Amounts established "Crude" recovery rate (Amounts in EUR) 1995 1996 1997 1998 Change 1995 1996 1997 1998 Change 1995 1996 1997 1998 Change B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK 11. 258 12. 701 6. 507 167 726 1. 042 8. 617 9. 932 500 1. 300 14 … 47. 783 415 1. 811 9. 485 6. 820 7. 052 593 657 384 1. 257 1. 792 10. 759 12. 636 10. 870 12. 752 594 4. 232 10 1. 104 4. 264 21 17. 931 14. 002 64 1. 002 3. 835 28 398 4. 513 3. 412 3. 498 290 1. 781 12. 828 12. 243 1. 159 4. 414 8 16. 641 15474 463 5. 024 23. 394 25. 936 12. 137 12. 115 13. 093 13. 194 ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ … ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ 74. 151. 928 40. 532. 767 65. 710. 653 43. 340. 242 26. 103. 970 17. 946. 990 7. 309. 440 19. 120. 826 60. 413. 609 38. 323. 565 28. 473. 160 24. 236. 751 4. 095. 480 7. 868. 906 15. 733. 057 5. 242. 674 21. 147. 076 21. 971. 279 24. 354. 357 21. 412. 278 34. 457. 403 32. 668. 325 40. 961. 412 42. 198. 908 1. 424. 848 3. 204. 644 5. 887. 044 5. 405. 318 19. 725. 560 48. 289. 595 106. 587. 889 26. 599. 948 17. 866 3. 526 37. 853 85. 120 …. 104. 826. 310 36. 014. 402 43. 654. 564 5. 937. 332 1. 344. 518 6. 036. 675 12. 539. 555 2. 964. 195 2. 855. 173 8. 261. 544 202. 348 1. 365. 885 6. 973. 097 3. 712. 886 3. 047. 336 3. 975. 905 5. 572. 753 -389. 758 14. 367. 089 36. 639. 485 33. 898. 722 131. 425. 991 112. 511. 528 ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ … ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ 8,13% 18,35% 18,28% 19,15% 32,30% 83,40% 62,10% 86,38% … 3,23% 10,18% 21,03% 8,03% 2,65% 3,68% 5,64% 41,29% 49,42% 52,31% 68,10% … 80% 21,56% 19,97% 20,76% 84,05% 73% 66,79% 1,53% 6,28% 3,89% 19,04% 100% 100,00% 100% 86,21% … … 90,99% 84,96% 86,04% 17,50% 10,64% 48,69% 8,54% … 2,59% 84,48% … … 100% 76,77% 92,58% 87,56% … … … 96,66% 22,57% 16,04% ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ … ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ … ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↔ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ … ↓ ↑ … ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ … … ↓ ↓ 20 ANNEX 5 Amounts established/Amounts entered in the accounts Amounts established (Table 3) Amounts entered in B account (Amounts in EUR) Difference Amounts established< amounts in B account (5) X X X X X X X X (1) B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK TOTAL 1998 (2) 43. 340. 242 19. 120. 826 24. 236. 751 5. 242. 674 21. 412. 278 42. 198. 908 5. 405. 318 26. 599. 948 85. 120 43. 654. 564 12. 539. 555 202. 348 3. 047. 336 14. 367. 089 112. 511. 528 373. 964. 485 1998 (1) (3) 23. 549. 000 6. 779. 000 129. 360. 000 5. 232. 000 10. 760. 000 45. 670. 000 791. 000 59. 039. 000 279. 000 70. 489. 000 20. 918. 000 5. 078. 000 1. 435. 000 284. 000 (4)=(2)-(3) 19. 791. 242 12. 341. 826 - 105. 123. 249 10. 674 10. 652. 278 - 3. 471. 092 4. 614. 318 - 32. 439. 052 - 193. 880 - 26. 834. 436 - 8. 378. 445 - 4. 875. 652 1. 612. 336 14. 083. 089 366. 574. 000 - 254. 062. 472 746. 237. 000 - 372. 272. 515 (1) Amounts corrected because of differences in rates and divergences in quarters. 21 ANNEX 6 Annual reports/Fraud forms Annual reports - Article 17(3) of Regulation 1552/89 Fraud forms - Article 6(4) of Regulation 1552/89 Fraud and irregularities - Cases/total amounts (irrespective of amount involved in individual cases) Fraud and irregularities - Cases/total amounts(1) (> ECU 10 000) Number of cases Amounts Number of cases Montants (Amounts in EUR) Amounts given on fraud forms > Amounts given in annual report (1) B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK (2) 12. 701 3. 498 290 1. 781 12. 828 12. 243 1. 159 4. 414 8 16. 641 15. 474 463 5. 024 25. 936 13. 194 (3) 43. 340. 242 19. 120. 826 24. 236. 751 5. 242. 674 21. 412. 278 42. 198. 908 5. 405. 318 26. 599. 948 (2) 85. 120 43. 654. 564 12. 539. 555 202. 348 3. 047. 336 14. 367. 089 112. 511. 528 Total 125. 654 373. 964. 485 (4) 345 131 154 2 73 212 24 173 0 210 147 18 42 96 499 2. 126 (5) 12. 663. 823 14. 702. 123 14. 029. 860 312. 760 3. 338. 526 14. 327. 051 862. 568 22. 986. 641 0 1. 846. 880 6. 710. 265 21. 509 1. 682. 245 8. 357. 308 99. 068. 587 200. 910. 147 (6) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1) Net amount to be recovered, adjusted after corrections, cancellations, etc. (2) This figure includes five cases of fraudulent consumption involving over € ( 1 126 812) was not entered in the accounts until 1999 for procedural reasons. € 10 000, where the total amount at stake 22 Vulnerability of customs procedures to fraud and irregularities ANNEX 7 Free circulation External transit Warehousing Inward processing Outward processing Temporary admission Other procedures (Amounts in EUR) Total Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount N° cas Montant N° cas Montant N° cas Montant N° cas Montant 8. 594 2. 806 216 857 8. 108 9. 511 501 B DK D EL E F IRL I L 29. 270. 660 3. 330 11. 145. 330 15. 612. 673 20. 749. 756 4. 492. 202 ? 58 18 13. 533. 735 567 233. 965 1. 912. 978 46. 076 946. 426 31. 706. 191 2. 010 6. 565. 179 2. 448. 216 4. 208 19. 295. 695 4 81. 706 NL 12. 474 32. 654. 478 A P FIN S UK 11. 302 9. 433. 214 401 170. 951 3. 767 2. 496. 562 25. 645 12. 402. 695 13. 194 112. 511. 528 291 132 0 3. 980 2. 754 6 34 175 … 714. 809 6. 429. 680 0 7. 256. 853 2. 248. 996 512 187. 423 179. 018 … 530 16 3 1 18 82 5 3 0 80 88 3 21 11 … 2. 376. 299 4. 510 253. 468 67 30. 045 742. 924 98. 139 10. 568 0 351. 226 148. 930 25. 395 6. 917 92. 988 … 37 464 4 43 427 42 348 30 0 55 457 12 428 70 … 3. 367. 736 748. 848 320. 508 95. 577 712. 741 244. 173 2. 108. 112 256. 494 0 3. 050. 764 193. 489 3. 615 248. 339 1. 668. 232 … Total 101. 588 306. 860. 262 13. 355 37. 867. 245 861 4. 141. 476 2. 417 13. 018. 628 39 28 5 0 45 8 0 3 0 3 30 1 147 0 … 309 4. 584 153. 987 730. 187 0 75. 113 170. 015 0 47 0 4. 538 60. 846 56 21. 038 0 … 92 2 4 76 169 76 14 4 4 2 19. 629 39. 923 269. 854 32. 338 282. 092 84. 772 36. 042 10. 944 3. 414 0 799 247. 431 11 53 35 … 0 9. 459 24. 157 … 79 182 0 786 3. 494 514 0 34 0 47 44 29 574 0 … 156. 003 12. 701 46. 340. 241 2. 326. 920 3. 498 19. 120. 826 0 290 24. 236. 751 576. 413 1. 781 5. 242. 673 5. 832. 125 12. 828 21. 412. 277 2. 685. 654 12. 243 42. 198. 908 0 596. 520 0 1. 159 4. 414 8 5. 405. 318 26. 599. 948 85. 120 336. 705 16. 641 43. 654. 564 201. 649 15. 474 12. 534. 555 1. 818 77. 598 0 … 463 202. 347 5. 024 3. 047. 336 25. 936 14. 367. 090 13. 194 112. 511. 528 1. 220. 411 1. 341 1. 060. 055 5. 783 12. 791. 405 125. 654 376. 959. 482 Impact on total 80,8% 81,4% 10,6% 10% 0,6% 1,1% 1,9% 3,5% 0,2% 0,3% 1,06% 0,3% 4,6% 3,4% 100% 100% 23 ANNEX 8 Vulnerability of customs procedures to fraud and irregularities Free circulation External transit Warehousing Inward processing Outward processing Temporary admission (Amounts in EUR) Other procedures Total Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount 1995 (1) Impact 1996 53. 528 210. 383. 644 7. 621 90. 366. 720 845 2. 767. 720 300 8. 433. 675 347 5. 893. 995 153 1. 099. 310 5. 774 15. 690. 244 68. 568 334. 635. 376 Impact 78,07% 62. 87% 11,11% 27,% 1,23% 0,83% 0,44% 2,52% 0,51% 1,76% 0,22% 0,33% 8,42% 4,69% 8. 058. 039 1,7% 100 % 87. 622 100% 100 % 456. 152. 006 100% 12. 791. 405 125. 654 376. 959. 482 3,4% 100% 100% 1997 71. 284 364. 576. 179 12. 313 63. 788. 955 538 9. 652. 450 924 6. 995. 687 Impact 81,3% 80% 14% 14% 0,6% 2,1% 1,1% 1,5% 1998 101. 588 306. 860. 262 13. 355 37. 867. 245 861 4. 141. 476 2. 417 13. 018. 628 Impact 80,8% 81,4% 10,6% 10% 0,6% 1,1% 1,9% 3,5% 275 0,3% 309 0,2% 1. 655. 875 1. 016 1. 589. 085 0,3% 1,2% 0,3% 1. 220. 411 1. 341 1. 060. 055 0,3% 1,06% 0,3% 1. 272 1,5% 5. 783 4,6% (1) The data available are not comparable. 24 ANNEX 9 Free circulation: Types of fraud and irregularities Undeclared imports Incorrect description of goods or wrong CCT classification Origin Value Weight / Quantity Other Cases Amount Cases Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK 277 49 151 9 124 766. 084 2. 023. 853 12. 402. 251 733. 581 206. 979 7. 437 4. 672. 678 11. 732 741. 597 61 2 976 1 1. 224 2. 129 25 165 557 5 2. 441 1. 123 33 204 Amount 1. 993. 295 3. 879. 261 4. 098. 295 1. 016. 814 3. 081 5. 142. 753 921 420 733 0 14. 939. 341 2. 325. 854 2. 662. 176 0 Cases 148 681 15 443 546 128 1 529 2 472 Amount 1. 399. 499 3. 990. 408 990. 893 2. 219. 747 1. 039 728. 967 29 14 41 3. 471. 944 3. 161. 377 127. 897 911. 374 2. 137 3. 567. 044 3. 244. 108 957 521 73 3. 449. 597 98. 920 10. 077. 738 1. 166 3. 150. 696 66. 771 1 14. 874 2. 703. 169 4. 605 10. 514. 088 10. 608 715. 697 90. 157 96 719 25. 562 419. 846 4. 271 849. 638 783 0 15. 345 17 66. 767 282. 375 0 37. 942 0 774. 149 5. 020 3. 303 0 15 0 1 1 40 24 0 295 0 830 7 30 0 27 1. 209. 778 4. 473 12. 497. 561 2. 323. 919 1. 822 2. 211. 785 1. 017 1. 873. 139 4. 485 1. 313. 859 2. 537 203. 819 598. 137 2. 368. 524 103 1. 247 8. 001 2. 025 65. 916 764. 842 8. 677. 893 4. 052. 037 30 714 816 532 (Amounts in EUR) Total Cases Amount 8. 594 2. 806 216 857 8. 108 9. 511 501 29. 270. 660 15. 612. 673 20. 749. 756 4. 492. 202 13. 533. 735 31. 706. 191 2. 448. 216 Amount 24. 382. 033 2. 247. 207 81. 594 394. 146 5. 118. 092 10. 752 2. 180 3. 638. 819 4. 674 924 2 159 480 5 509 0 870 2. 625. 546 4. 208 19. 295. 695 0 4 81. 706 4. 955. 734 1. 842 1. 705. 492 117 922 63. 025 392. 359 12. 474 11. 302 401 3. 767 32. 654. 478 9. 433. 214 170. 951 2. 496. 562 1. 480. 309 4. 219 21. 788. 444 134 0 6. 279 82. 822. 215 13. 194 112. 511. 528 226. 679 11. 973 1. 960. 191 25. 645 12. 402. 695 TOTAL 13. 131 28. 265. 530 26. 627 64. 327. 823 6. 074 29. 7740574 23. 416 52. 682. 753 1. 404 1. 412. 380 30. 936 130. 397. 205 101. 588 306. 860. 262 Impact on total 13% 9,2% 26,2% 21% 6% 9,7% 23% 17,1% 1,4% 0,5% 30,4% 42,5% 100% 100% 25 ANNEX 10 Free circulation: Types of fraud and irregularities Undeclared imports Incorrect description of goods or wrong CCT classification Origin Value Weight / Quantity Other (Amounts in EUR) Total Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount Cases Amount 1995 (1) Impact 1996 14. 044 36. 318. 871 10. 819 47. 198. 747 Impact 26. 24% 17,26% 20,21% 22,43% 1997 10. 642 36. 579. 518 Impact 14,8% 10,04% 1998 Impact 13. 131 28. 265. 530 13% 9,2% 16. 810 23,6% 26. 627 26,2% 51. 133. 326 14,03% 64. 327. 823 21% (1) The data available are not comparable. 5. 137 9,60% 6. 246 8,8% 8. 074 6% 48. 707. 825 10. 946 37. 295. 743 23,15% 20,45% 17,73% 38. 726. 962 10,6% 29. 774. 574 9,7% 12. 605 17,7% 23. 416 23% 62. 943. 033 17,2% 52. 682. 753 17. 1% 862 1,61% 1. 128 1,6% 1. 404 1,4% 1. 623. 394 11. 720 39. 239. 061 0,77% 21,90% 18,65% 89. 513. 115 24,5% 23. 853 33,5% 90. 787. 372 24,9% 53. 528 100% 71. 284 100% 210. 383. 641 100% 364. 576. 179 100% 1. 412. 380 30. 936 130. 397. 205 101. 588 306. 860. 262 0,5% 30,4% 42,5% 100% 100% 26 ANNEX11 Cases of written-off own resources handled in 1998 Reasons given Amount State of play Bankruptcy Insolvency Accepted Rejected Observations ES ES UK UK UK UK FR BE UK UK BE UK TOTAL X X X X X X X 7 902. 857 (1) 1. 555. 753 (2) 576. 925 (2) 481. 063 (2) 116. 862 (2) 356. 381 (3) 10. 734 (3) 35. 910 (3) 639. 434 (4) 150. 622 (4) 13. 390 (4) 1. 152. 850 (4) X X X X 4 X X X X x X X X X X X X Amount paid Rejected for euros 25. 728 (paid) Accepted for euros 455. 335 Amount paid Not admissible. Amount not established (paid) Amount paid Old regulations Letter being sent to Member State (1) Case relating to 1994 (2) Case relating to 1995 (3) Case relating to 1996 (4) Case relating to 1997 Cases of written-off own resources –1998 (reported in 1999) Reasons given Amount State of play EM BE UK UK UK UK NL NL NL NL NL NL NL NL IR ES Bankruptcy Insolvency X X X X X 172. 192 14. 650 824. 190 22. 585 24. 183 329. 372 111. 837 148. 250 33. 907 24. 551 33. 471 75. 357 70. 040 708. 824 23. 079 TOTAL 1 4 2. 616. 488 Accepted X Rejected Observations Letter being sent to Member State Further information requested Letter being sent to Member State Letter being sent to Member State Old case Further information requested Further information requested Further information requested Further information requested Letter being sent to Member State Letter being sent to Member State Letter being sent to Member State Further information requested Further information requested X X X X X X X 8 27 ANNEX 12 Corrected amounts and amounts written-off Article 17(3) report write-offs number amounts B DK D EL E F Irl I L NL A P FIN S UK 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 4 EUR 15 15 1. 703. 522 29. 042 700. 035 818. 117 942. 725 4. 193. 441 written off 42. 368 11. 770(2) 0 151. 547 100. 016 21. 826 718. 081 831 0 58. 855 0 -3. 833 (3) 6 1. 075. 556 2. 593. 110 4. 770. 133 B account corrections 33. 694. 264 2. 083. 654 0 3. 448. 010 4. 848. 184 13. 909. 360 791. 607 5. 990. 781 0 20. 829 3. 135. 381 489. 387 28. 539 -318. 549 35. 765. 782 103. 887. 229 Amounts in EUR corrections -4. 616. 880 -154. 146 0 0 Ownres(1) number 87 C 6 C 0 0 written off 0 0 0 0 -14. 758 3C, 2NV 30. 137 69 0 -16. 941. 194 0 7C 0 49C 0 0 0 0 0 -13. 147. 517 130C, 4NV 58. 673 293. 956 -273. 952 0 0 -57. 637. 434 -92. 491. 856 29C 4C 0 0 71C 0 0 0 0 0 88. 810 (1) (2) (3) Updated figures as at 1 October 1999. This amount is entered as a negative figure in the statement for the first quarter (impact here cancelled out). Including a negative amount of 4 147. 92 (impact here cancelled out). € 28


title: SCHRIFTELIJKE VRAAG P-0663/00 van Martin Schulz (PSE) aan de Commissie. Gebeurtenissen rond de Leuna raffinaderij in de Bondsrepubliek Duitsland.

eurovoc_concepts:
Germany
competence of the Member States
control of State aid
fraud
oil refining

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text: C 330 E/198 Publicatieblad van de Europese Gemeenschappen NL 21. 11. 2000 (2000/C 330 E/228) SCHRIFTELIJKE VRAAG P-0662/00 van Helena Torres Marques (PSE) aan de Commissie (28 februari 2000) Betreft: Vijfde actieprogramma inzake de gelijkheid tussen mannen en vrouwen Naar aanleiding van het debat van 22 februari jl. met Anna Diamantopoulou, lid van de Commissie, over het Vijfde actieprogramma inzake de gelijkheid tussen mannen en vrouwen zou ik de volgende vragen willen stellen: 1. Hoe zal dit programma in 2001 van start kunnen gaan nu ervan uitgegaan wordt dat het eind 2000 of begin 2001 zal worden goedgekeurd? 2. Hoe denkt de Commissie de financiºle middelen te verdelen over de mainstreaming- en positieve acties die zij in dit programma denkt op te nemen? Antwoord van mevrouw Diamantopoulou namens de Commissie (21 maart 2000) Zoals het lid van de Commissie verantwoordelijk voor werkgelegenheid en sociale zaken tijdens het debat in de Commissie rechten van de vrouw op 22 februari 2000 vermeldde, moet het voorstel voor een nieuw kaderprogramma inzake de gelijke behandeling van mannen en vrouwen voor de periode 2001-2005 volgens plan v(cid:243)(cid:243)r de zomer van 2000 ter. goedkeuring worden voorgelegd. Zowel het Portugese als het Franse voorzitterschap hebben dit punt op hun respectieve agenda(cid:146)s gezet om ervoor te zorgen dat het nieuwe programma op grond van artikel 13 van het EG-Verdrag door de Raad wordt goedgekeurd, zodat het in 2001 ten uitvoer kan worden gelegd. De financiering van het nieuwe programma zal een afspiegeling zijn van de gecombineerde aanpak van het programma waarbij specifieke acties om ongelijkheden waarmee vrouwen worden geconfronteerd weg te werken, aan gender mainstreaming worden gekoppeld. Volgens die nieuwe aanpak wordt de Commissie verzocht haar activiteiten ter bevordering van de gelijke behandeling van mannen en vrouwen (ongeacht of het om mainstreamingsacties dan wel om positieve acties gaat) zowel wat de inhoud als wat de middelen betreft, te definiºren, aangezien het nieuwe programma alle communautaire beleidsmaatregelen die tot de verwezenlijking van de gelijke behandeling van mannen en vrouwen kunnen bijdragen, overkoepelt. Het nieuwe programma zal ook een reeks horizontale en co(cid:246)rdinerende acties bevatten om de interne samenhang en doeltreffendheid, alsook de controle, de rapportering en de evaluatie te waarborgen. Acties die niet voor financiering onder andere begrotingslijnen in aanmerking komen, zullen in de vorm van een besluit van de Raad voor een actieprogramma met een specifieke begrotingslijn (B3-4012) worden gepresenteerd. (2000/C 330 E/229) SCHRIFTELIJKE VRAAG P-0663/00 van Martin Schulz (PSE) aan de Commissie (29 februari 2000) Betreft: Gebeurtenissen rond de Leuna raffinaderij in de Bondsrepubliek Duitsland 1. Heeft de Commissie de evaluatie van de mededingingssituatie in verband met de bouw van de Leuna raffinaderij in Duitsland volledig afgesloten? Is de Commissie ervan overtuigd dat de verantwoordelijke instanties in Duitsland de zaak nu volgens de regels afwikkelen en uitvoeren? 2. Is de Commissie ervan op de hoogte dat in het kabinet van de bondskanselier stukken zouden kunnen zijn verdwenen die verband houden met de steunverlening aan de Leuna raffinaderij? Heeft de Commissie maatregelen getroffen om te onderzoeken of met deze gebeurtenissen ook belangen van de EU zijn gemoeid, met name met betrekking tot de mogelijkheid te toetsen of de vergunningen op rechtmatige wijze zijn of worden verstrekt? 3. Heeft de Commissie reeds contact opgenomen met de instanties in de bondsrepubliek Duitsland, om te bezien of bij de eventueel verdwenen dossiers en gewiste bestanden ook documenten zaten waarvan de EU-instanties duplicaten hebben, of althans documenten die de Commissie kan helpen terugvinden? 21. 11. 2000 NL Publicatieblad van de Europese Gemeenschappen C 330 E/199 Antwoord van de heer Monti namens de Commissie (21 maart 2000) 1. In het kader van haar verantwoordelijkheden met betrekking tot de controle op steunmaatregelen van de staten uit hoofde van artikel 87 en 88 (voorheen de artikelen 92 en 93) van het EG-Verdrag, onderzoekt de Commissie momenteel of de kosten voor de bouw van de Leuna 2000 raffinaderij door Elf kunstmatig werden verhoogd. Elf heeft wellicht steunbedragen ontvangen die het voor Oost-Duitsland toegestane steunplafond van 35 % overschrijden. Met betrekking tot het onderzoek naar mogelijk gepleegde fraude in verband met de toekenning van staatssteun zij vermeld dat dergelijke onderzoeken onder de verantwoordelijkheid van de lidstaten vallen. De Commissie zal de resultaten van dergelijke onderzoeken aandachtig bestuderen om na te gaan of zij hieruit conclusies moet trekken. 2. De Commissie is op de hoogte van beschuldigingen dat enkele stukken zouden zijn verdwenen uit het kabinet van de bondskanselier die verband houden met de Leuna raffinaderij. Dergelijke gebeurtenissen doen echter niets af aan de verplichtingen van een lidstaat om de Commissie alle informatie te verstrekken welke noodzakelijk is om de verenigbaarheid van de steun te toetsen. De Commissie is bereid om de Duitse autoriteiten te helpen bij hun onderzoek en alle informatie te 3. verstrekken in verband met handelingen die mogelijk als strafbaar moeten worden aangemerkt, met als enig voorbehoud de noodzaak belemmeringen van de goede werking en de onafhankelijkheid van de Gemeenschappen te vermijden. (2000/C 330 E/230) SCHRIFTELIJKE VRAAG P-0666/00 van Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) aan de Commissie (29 februari 2000) Betreft: Mogelijke fraude bij het ESF in Spanje Op 19 februari heeft de Spaanse minister van Arbeid en Sociale Zaken (cid:129) nadat hij de directeur-generaal migratie had ontslagen (cid:129) zijn politieke verantwoordelijkheid genomen en is afgetreden, nadat was ontdekt dat het bedrijf (cid:132)Centro PolitØcnico de Educaci(cid:243)n a Distancia y Editorial(cid:148) (CPD), waarin de vrouw van genoemde topambtenaar voor 50 % deelneemt, vertrouwelijke gegevens had gebruikt voor het in rekening brengen van ongeveer 2 000 miljoen peseta(cid:146)s (€ 12 miljoen) voor de medewerking aan programma(cid:146)s van het Nationaal Instituut voor de Werkgelegenheid (INEM). Het INEM beheert een groot gedeelte van de fondsen van het ESF in Spanje: is de Commissie van deze situatie de hoogte? Is het de Commissie bekend of er mogelijk sprake is van misbruik van subsidies van het Europees Sociaal Fonds of van andere Europese subsidies? Gaat het om een op zichzelf staand geval of heeft zij andere soortgelijke gevallen ontdekt? Heeft het OLAF onderzoek ingesteld en zo ja, kan zij de conclusies ervan of de stand van het onderzoek meedelen aan bovengenoemd parlementslid of aan de terzake bevoegde commissie van het Europees Parlement? Antwoord van mevrouw Diamantopoulou namens de Commissie (7 april 2000) De Commissie is via berichten in de media reeds op de hoogte van de door de geachte afgevaardigde genoemde situatie. Gezien de aard van de betrokken acties (scholingsacties) en de band met de grootste beheerder van het Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF) in Spanje (Instituto Nacional de Empleo: (cid:132)INEM(cid:148)) is de Spaanse autoriteiten gevraagd de Commissie op de hoogte te houden van de resultaten van het door de autoriteiten ingestelde onderzoek en de mogelijke betrokkenheid van het ESF. De informatie van de Spaanse autoriteiten moet de Commissie in staat stellen de omvang van het eventuele probleem vast te stellen. In het kader van haar jaarlijkse controle-activiteiten is de Commissie voornemens een controlebezoek aan het INEM te brengen; de nationale autoriteiten zijn in december 1999 via de notificatie van het bezoek- schema van dit geplande bezoek op de hoogte gesteld


title: Kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 465/2000 av den 29 februari 2000 om införande av skyddsåtgärder rörande import från utomeuropeiska länder och territorier av sockerprodukter som omfattas av kumulation mellan EG och ULT

eurovoc_concepts:
import
overseas countries and territories
protective clause
sugar product

formats: pdf print

text: 1. 3. 2000 SV Europeiska gemenskapernas officiella tidning L 56/39 KOMMISSIONENS FÖRORDNING (EG) nr 465/2000 av den 29 februari 2000 om införande av skyddsåtgärder rörande import från utomeuropeiska länder och territorier av sockerprodukter som omfattas av kumulation mellan EG och ULT EUROPEISKA GEMENSKAPERNAS KOMMISSION HAR ANTAGIT DENNA FÖRORDNING med beaktande av Fördraget om upprättandet av Europeiska gemenskapen, med beaktande av rådets beslut 91/482/EEG av den 25 juli 1991 om associering av de utomeuropeiska länderna och terri- torierna med Europeiska ekonomiska gemenskapen (1), senast ändrat genom beslut 2000/169/EG (2), nedan kallat ULT- beslutet, särskilt artikel 109 i detta, efter samråd med den kommitté som inrättades genom artikel 1. 2 i bilaga IV till det nämnda beslutet, och av följande skäl: (1) (2) (3) (4) Kommissionen har konstaterat att importen av socker (KN-nummer 1701) och blandningar av socker och kakao med KN-numren 1806 10 30 och 1806 10 90 som kommer från de utomeuropeiska länderna och territorierna (nedan kallade ULT) har ökat kraftigt sedan 1997, särskilt oförädlat socker som omfattas av kumula- tion. Denna import har utvecklats från 0 ton år 1996 till över 48 000 ton år 1999. För dessa produkter beviljas vid import till gemenskapen undantag från importtullar och de får importeras i obegränsade mängder i enlighet med artikel 101. 1 i ULT-beslutet. Kommissionen förordning (EG) nr 2423/1999 av den 15 november 1999 om införande av skyddsåtgärder rörande socker med KN-nummer 1701 och blandningar av socker och kakao med KN-numren 1806 10 30 och 1806 10 90, med ursprung i de utomeuropeiska länderna och territorierna (3), vilken skall tillämpas till och med den 29 februari 2000, innebär att ordningen med minimipris gäller för socker och ordningen med gemenskapsövervakning gäller för blandningar av socker och kakao, så att de importerade produkterna hamnar på samma konkurrensmässiga nivå som gemenskapspro- dukterna. Genom beslut 2000/169/EG av den 25 februari 2000 om förlängning av beslut 91/482/EEG om associering av de utomeuropeiska länderna och territorierna med Euro- förlängdes tillämp- peiska ekonomiska gemenskapen, ningen av ULT-beslutet med ett år fram till och med den 28 februari 2001. Det har under de senaste åren uppstått svårigheter på gemenskapsmarknaden för socker. Det råder överskott på denna marknad. Sockerkonsumtionen ligger på en (1) EGT L 263, 19. 9. 1991, s. 1. (2) EGT L 55, 29. 2. 2000, s. 67. (3) EGT L 294, 16. 11. 1999, s. 11. import av socker konstant nivå på omkring 12,7 miljoner ton. Produk- tionen uppgår till mellan 16,7 och 17,8 miljoner ton. innebär därför export av en All motsvarande kvantitet socker som producerats i gemen- skapen, men som inte kan avsättas där. Exportbidrag för detta socker betalas – inom vissa kvotbegränsningar – via gemenskapsbudgeten (för närvarande cirka 520 euro per ton). Denna export med exportbidrag är dock begränsad i volym genom det avtal om jordbruk som slöts inom ramen för Uruguayrundan och minskas från 1 555 600 ton regleringsåret 1995/1996 till 1 273 500 ton regleringsåret 2000/2001. Den gemensamma organisationen av marknaden för socker riskerar att kraftigt störas på grund av dessa svårigheter. För regleringsåret 2000/2001 som börjar den 1 juli 2000 planeras det, på grundval av de mest försiktiga beräkningar som för närvarande finns tillgäng- liga, att minska kvoterna för gemenskapens producenter med omkring 500 000 ton (4). All ytterligare import av socker och produkter med hög sockerhalt från ULT kommer att innebära en större minskning av gemen- skapsproducenternas kvoter och, följaktligen, en större minskning av deras garanterade inkomst. Importen sker under en period på omkring tre månader efter ansökan om utfärdande av importlicenser på grund av giltighetstiden för dessa. Hela den ökande importen, även den som skett månaderna före regleringsåret 2000/ 2001, påverkar dock situationen på marknaden under det regleringsåret och får de negativa följder som nämnts i skäl 5. Det föreligger alltså risk för försämring för en av gemen- skapens verksamhetssektorer. Kommissionen beslutade därför den 22 februari 2000 att det är lämpligt att tillämpa skyddsåtgärder i enlighet med artikel 109 i ULT-beslutet när det gäller import från ULT av socker- produkter som omfattas av kumulation mellan EG och ULT. Enligt artikel 100 i ULT-beslutet skall handeln främjas mellan ULT och gemenskapen med hänsyn till deras respektive utvecklingsnivå. Följaktligen bör enligt artikel 109. 2 i ULT-beslutet företrädesvis sådana åtgärder väljas som innebär minsta möjliga störningar för associeringen och för gemenskapen. Dessutom får dessa åtgärder inte gå utöver vad som är absolut nödvändigt för att åtgärda de svårigheter som uppstått. (5) (6) (7) (8) (4) Artikel 26. 5 i rådets förordning (EG) nr 2038/1999 av den 13 av september marknaden för socker (EGT L 252, 25. 9. 1999, s. 1. ). organisationen gemensamma om den 1999 L 56/40 SV Europeiska gemenskapernas officiella tidning 1. 3. 2000 (9) (10) (11) (12) I detta syfte bör kumulationen av EG/ULT-ursprunget för produkter med KN-numren NC 1701, 1806 10 30 och 1806 10 90 begränsas till högst 3 340 ton socker, vilket utgör summan av de största årliga importvolymer som konstaterats för de berörda produkterna under de tre åren närmast före 1999, vilket var det år då importen uppvisade exponentiell tillväxt och för vilket en under- sökning från Europeiska byrån för bedrägerikämpning pågår till följd av misstänka oegentligheter. Import av produkter med och KN-numren 1806 10 90 bör också omfattas av skyddsåtgärder med tanke på den höga sockerhalten i dessa produkter och med tanke på att de ger upphov till samma typ av negativa följder för den gemensamma organisationen av marknaden för socker som oförädlat socker. Denna åtgärd bör säkerställa att de importerade kvantiteterna av sockerprodukter från ULT inte överskrider en mängd som kan innebära störningar för den gemensamma organisationen av marknaden för socker samtidigt som den säkerställer att det finns avsättningsmöjligheter för dem. 1806 10 30 Kommissionen förbehåller sig rätten att föreslå rådet, inom ramen för översynen av ULT-beslutet, att de bestämmelser som tillåter kumulation avskaffas, eller att en kvantitativ gräns tillämpas som sätts på så låg nivå som möjligt med hänsyn till de utomeuropeiska ländernas och territoriernas verkliga inkomster, till den gemensamma jordbrukspolitikens målsättningar och till budgeten. Särskilda kontroller för de varor som berörs av de åtgärder som föreskrivs i den här förordningen liksom de kontroller som infördes i samband med gemenskaps- bestämmelserna rörande övergång till fri omsättning och tullvärde genom rådets förordning (EEG) nr 2913/92 av den 12 oktober 1992 om inrättandet av en tullkodex för gemenskapen (1), senast ändrad genom Europaparlamen- tets och rådets förordning (EG) nr 955/1999 av den 13 april 1999 (2), tillämpliga på handeln med tredje land, bör säkerställa att de bestämmelser som införs genom denna förordning iakttas. För att säkerställa god förvaltning, undvika spekulation och möjliggöra effektiva kontroller bör det fastställas bestämmelser för hur ansökningarna om licenser skall utformas. Dessa bör särskilt innehålla bevis för att den ansökande bedriver regelbunden handelsverksamhet inom sockersektorn, en deklaration om att det inte finns ytterligare licensansökningar för samma sökande samt bevis för att det har ställts en särskilt säkerhet om fullgö- rande av de skyldigheter som följer av licensen. (13) Mot bakgrund av de effekter av importen som anges i skäl 6 bör skyddsåtgärderna tillämpas med omedelbar verkan. HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE. Artikel 1 För produkter med KN-numren 1701, 1806 10 30 och 1806 10 90 som omfattas av den kumulation av ursprung mellan EG och ULT som avses i artikel 6 i bilaga II till beslut 91/482/EEG skall en kvantitet på 3 340 ton socker tillåtas under tillämpningsperioden för denna förordning. För att inte denna mängd skall överskridas skall hänsyn tas till sockerhalten för andra importerade produkter än oförädlat socker. Artikel 2 För import av de produkter som avses i artikel 1 krävs 1. importlicens. 2. Artiklarna 2–6 i kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 2553/97 av den 17 december 1997 om bestämmelser för utfärdande av importlicenser för vissa produkter med KN- numren 1701, 1702, 1703 och 1704 som omfattas av kumu- lation av ursprung mellan AVS-länderna och ULT (3), skall gälla i tillämpliga delar. Dock gäller följande: — Licenserna skall ha löpnummer 53. 0001. — Artikel 4. 3 i förordning (EG) nr 2553/1997 skall inte till- lämpas. — Ansökningarna skall lämnas in till de behöriga myndighe- terna under de fem första arbetsdagarna i varje månad med undantag av mars 2000 då ansökningarna skall lämnas in senast den 15 mars 2000. 3. Till ansökan om importlicens skall bifogas en kopia på exportlicenser som utfärdats enligt artikel 13 i rådets förord- ning (EG) nr 2038/1999 av den 13 september 1999 om den gemensamma organisationen för socker (4), för sockret i de produkter som avses i artikel 1. Artikel 3 Denna förordning träder i kraft samma dag som den offentlig- görs i Europeiska gemenskapernas officiella tidning. Den skall tillämpas till och med den 30 september 2000. (1) EGT L 302, 19. 10. 1992, s. 1. (2) EGT L 119, 7. 5. 1999, s. 1. (3) EGT L 349, 19. 12. 1997, s. 26. (4) EGT L 252, 25. 9. 1999, s. 1. 1. 3. 2000 SV Europeiska gemenskapernas officiella tidning L 56/41 Denna förordning är till alla delar bindande och direkt tillämplig i alla medlemsstater. Utfärdad i Bryssel den 29 februari 2000. På kommissionens vägnar Franz FISCHLER Ledamot av kommissionen


title: KIRJALLINEN KYSYMYS E-0581/00 esittäjä(t): Mark Watts (PSE) komissiolle. Yhteisön kestävä liikennepolitiikka.

eurovoc_concepts: relations between the State and the regions

text: 28. 12. 2000 FI Euroopan yhteis(cid:246)jen virallinen lehti C 374 E/111 Franz Fischlerin komission puolesta antama vastaus (15. maaliskuuta 2000) Kuten parlamentin j(cid:228)sen mainitsi, komissio osallistuu tiettyjen yhteis(cid:246)n alueelta per(cid:228)isin olevien maata- loustuotteiden menekinedist(cid:228)misohjelmien rahoittamiseen. T(cid:228)ll(cid:228) hetkell(cid:228) on k(cid:228)ynniss(cid:228) seuraavia tuotteita koskevat ohjelmat: oliivi(cid:246)ljy, maito ja maitotuotteet, korkealaatuinen naudanliha, omenat ja sitrushedelm(cid:228)t, p(cid:228)hkin(cid:228)t, sy(cid:246)t(cid:228)v(cid:228)ksi tarkoitetut oliivit, rusinat, ryp(cid:228)lemehu, syrj(cid:228)isimmilt(cid:228) seuduilta per(cid:228)isin olevat hyv(cid:228)- laatuiset tuotteet, kukat ja el(cid:228)v(cid:228)t kasvit sek(cid:228) kuitupellava. N(cid:228)it(cid:228) tuotteita koskevat neuvoston asetukset ovat n(cid:228)ille ohjelmille my(cid:246)nnett(cid:228)v(cid:228)n yhteis(cid:246)n osarahoituksen oikeusperusta. T(cid:228)m(cid:228)ntyyppisten elintarviketeollisuuden tuotteiden menekinedist(cid:228)miskampanjoiden yleistymisen mahdol- listamiseksi komissio antaa l(cid:228)hiaikoina neuvostolle asetusluonnoksen, joka yhdenmukaistaa ja yksinkertais- taa yhteis(cid:246)n maataloustuotteiden menekinedist(cid:228)misj(cid:228)rjestelm(cid:228)(cid:228). J(cid:228)rjestelm(cid:228)n tuoteluettelon ei n(cid:228)in ollen ole tarkoitus olla lopullinen, vaan kaikkien tuotteiden menekin edist(cid:228)miseen olisi mahdollista hakea yhteis(cid:246)n osarahoitusta. (2000/C 374 E/129) KIRJALLINEN KYSYMYS E-0580/00 esitt(cid:228)j(cid:228)(t): Mark Watts (PSE) komissiolle (29. helmikuuta 2000) Aihe: Yhteis(cid:246)n kest(cid:228)v(cid:228) liikennepolitiikka Voivatko perinteisesti liittolaisina toimivat EU:n toimielimet, erityisesti parlamentti ja komissio, noudattaa yhten(cid:228)ist(cid:228) l(cid:228)hestymistapaa levitt(cid:228)ess(cid:228)(cid:228)n (cid:148)Euroopan edun(cid:148) k(cid:228)sitett(cid:228) laajemmalle yleis(cid:246)lle? Romano Prodin komission puolesta antama vastaus (15. kes(cid:228)kuuta 2000) Komissiolla ei valitettavasti ole riitt(cid:228)vi(cid:228) tietoja, jotta se pystyisi vastaamaan kysymykseen. (2000/C 374 E/130) KIRJALLINEN KYSYMYS E-0581/00 esitt(cid:228)j(cid:228)(t): Mark Watts (PSE) komissiolle (29. helmikuuta 2000) Aihe: Yhteis(cid:246)n kest(cid:228)v(cid:228) liikennepolitiikka Miss(cid:228) m(cid:228)(cid:228)rin EU:n j(cid:228)senvaltioiden kansallisten ja paikallisviranomaisten perinteisesti riitaisat suhteet ovat vaikeuttaneet Euroopan laajuisiin liikenneverkkoihin liittyvien hankkeiden kehitt(cid:228)mist(cid:228)? Loyola de Palacion komission puolesta antama vastaus (10. huhtikuuta 2000) Toissijaisuusperiaatteen mukaisesti j(cid:228)senvaltiot vastaavat verkon soveltamisesta omalla alueellaan. Kansal- listen, alueellisten ja paikallisten viranomaisten asema infrastruktuurien hankekehittelyss(cid:228) vaihtelee j(cid:228)sen- valtioiden v(cid:228)lill(cid:228), mutta kussakin tapauksessa kansallisten toimijoiden v(cid:228)liset neuvottelut k(cid:228)yd(cid:228)(cid:228)n j(cid:228)senval- tiossa ilman, ett(cid:228) komissio osallistuu asiaan suoraan


title: PERGUNTA ESCRITA P-0664/00 apresentada por Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) à Comissão. Minorias nos PECO.

eurovoc_concepts:
Czechia
EU competence
Germany
Hungary
Slovakia
Slovenia
accession negotiations
expropriation
war crime

text: 26. 1. 2001 PT Jornal Oficial das Comunidades Europeias C 26 E/85 (2001/C 26 E/104) PERGUNTA ESCRITA P-0664/00 apresentada por Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) (cid:224) Comissªo (29 de Fevereiro de 2000) Objecto: Minorias nos PECO A Comissªo nªo s(cid:243) recebeu o mandato por parte do Conselho Europeu de Copenhaga como tem tambØm o dever, por for(cid:231)a do artigo F do Tratado da UE de 1992, de velar pelo respeito da protec(cid:231)ªo das minorias. Tal aplica-se igualmente aos futuros Estados-membros. A exposi(cid:231)ªo superficial e sumÆria da problemÆtica das minorias que figura nos pareceres sobre os diversos pa(cid:237)ses candidatos, de Julho de 1997, e nos relat(cid:243)rios sobre os progressos efectuados, de Dezembro de 1998 e Outubro de 1999, em que a Comissªo que se limita a apresentar de forma unilateral a problemÆtica da cidadania dos imigrantes russos nªo aut(cid:243)ctones no BÆltico e os problemas sociais enfrentados pelos ciganos na Europa Central e Oriental e no BÆltico, nªo permite concluir que a Comissªo consagre a este tema a aten(cid:231)ªo necessÆria e disponha de informa(cid:231)ıes adequadas. Seria, por esse motivo, desejÆvel que a Comissªo se debru(cid:231)asse sobre as seguintes questıes com a devida profundidade e sem se limitar (cid:224)s habituais afirma(cid:231)ıes lapidares: O decreto Benesch e as decisıes de Jajce e do AVNOJ de 1945 declararam sem direitos, fora da lei e sem direito a qualquer indemniza(cid:231)ªo a totalidade dos grupos Øtnicos alemªo e hœngaro na ChecoslovÆquia, que a(cid:237) representava quase 30 % da popula(cid:231)ªo, assim como os cidadªos de origem alemª e austr(cid:237)aca residentes na JugoslÆvia. Estes decretos injustos mantŒm-se ainda em vigor na Repœblica Checa, na EslovÆquia e na EslovØnia. O Tribunal Constitucional Checo de Brno declarou o decreto Benesch «legal» e «leg(cid:237)timo» em 8 de Mar(cid:231)o de 1995. Considerar grupos Øtnicos, indiscriminadamente desde a crian(cid:231)a de tenra idade ao anciªo, responsÆveis pelos crimes de guerra cometidos por outros, como Ø o caso dos decretos supracitados, e infligir-lhes uma puni(cid:231)ªo colectiva, inclusive sob a forma de massacre, constitui em si um crime de guerra, (cid:224) luz de toda a concep(cid:231)ªo jur(cid:237)dica civilizada. A Conven(cid:231)ªo Europeia dos Direitos do Homem pronunciou-se tambØm claramente sobre esta questªo. Apenas a Comissªo se remete obstinadamente ao silŒncio no tocante (cid:224) manuten(cid:231)ªo em vigor destas disposi(cid:231)ıes injustas nos trŒs pa(cid:237)ses candidatos (cid:224) adesªo. Nªo seria no pr(cid:243)prio interesse destes pa(cid:237)ses candidatos se a Comissªo chamasse inequ(cid:237)voca e abertamente a sua aten(cid:231)ªo para a necessidade de abolir o mais rapidamente poss(cid:237)vel estas disposi(cid:231)ıes manifestamente discriminat(cid:243)rias e indemnizar as v(cid:237)timas, tanto mais que estas disposi(cid:231)ıes injustas nªo poderªo ser mantidas ap(cid:243)s a adesªo (cid:224) UE? Tenciona a Comissªo abordar, nos seus pr(cid:243)ximos relat(cid:243)rios sobre os progressos efectuados, estes dØfice fundamental nas ordens jur(cid:237)dicas checa, eslovaca e eslovena? Resposta dada pelo ComissÆrio Verheugen em nome da Comissªo (24 de Mar(cid:231)o de 2000) Na sua qualidade de futuros Estados-membros, os pa(cid:237)ses candidatos comprometeram-se a respeitar o Estado de Direito e a aderir aos princ(cid:237)pios relativos aos Direitos do Homem. Contudo, os decretos Benes e as decisıes Jajce/AVNOJ foram adoptadas e aplicadas antes da institui(cid:231)ªo da Comunidade e da entrada em vigor do Tratado de Roma. Os pa(cid:237)ses candidatos terªo de adoptar e aplicar todas as Æreas da pol(cid:237)tica e da legisla(cid:231)ªo comunitÆria. O artigo 295o (ex-artigo 222o) do Tratado CE declara expressamente que o Tratado em nada prejudica o regime da propriedade nos Estados-membros. Por conseguinte, a Comissªo nªo tem competŒncia para intervir em questıes relativas (cid:224) restitui(cid:231)ªo da propriedade num Estado-membro, actual ou futuro. A Repœblica Checa, a EslovÆquia e a EslovØnia sªo partes contratantes da Conven(cid:231)ªo Europeia dos Direitos do Homem (CEDH). A aplica(cid:231)ªo da CEDH Ø da responsabilidade do Conselho da Europa. As questıes relativas a problemas que surjam ao abrigo desta conven(cid:231)ªo sªo abordadas no Conselho da Europa. ` luz do que precede, os relat(cid:243)rios peri(cid:243)dicos centram-se nos progressos realizados pelos pa(cid:237)ses candidatos na prepara(cid:231)ªo da sua adesªo (cid:224) Uniªo, em especial ao seu n(cid:237)vel de adop(cid:231)ªo do «acervo» da Uniªo. Neste contexto, a Comissªo continuarÆ a seguir o mØtodo adoptado pela Agenda 2000 para a avalia(cid:231)ªo da capacidade dos pa(cid:237)ses candidatos de preencherem os critØrios econ(cid:243)micos e de cumprirem as obriga(cid:231)ıes decorrentes da adesªo


title: QUESTION ÉCRITE E-0533/00 posée par Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) à la Commission. Programme Falcone (1997-2001).

eurovoc_concepts:
EU financing arrangements
EU programme
aid recipient
organised crime
use of aid

text: 28. 12. 2000 FR Journal officiel des CommunautØs europØennes C 374 E/99 amendes. (cid:201)tant donnØ que la Banque d(cid:146)Italie a entrepris les enquŒtes qui ont menØ (cid:224) cette dØcision, et que l(cid:146)effet sensible sur le commerce entre (cid:201)tats membres reste (cid:224) dØterminer, la Commission n(cid:146)a pas estimØ opportun d(cid:146)intervenir dans l(cid:146)affaire en question. JO L 135 du 31. 5. 1994. (1) (2) COM(1999) 232 final. (3) JO C 280 E du 3. 10. 2000, p. 120. (2000/C 374 E/114) QUESTION (cid:201)CRITE E-0533/00 posØe par Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) (cid:224) la Commission (28 fØvrier 2000) Objet: Programme Falcone (1997-2001) La Commission peut-elle dresser la liste des administrations rØgionales et/ou nationales ainsi que des organismes publics ou privØs auxquels ont ØtØ octroyØes des sommes ou des aides, que les versements aient dØj(cid:224) ØtØ effectuØs ou non, en en indiquant le montant, en ce qui concerne les diffØrentes actions prØvues par le programme Falcone (1997-2001) (budget de 10 millions d(cid:146)Øcus reprØsentant environ 19 milliards de lires) qui ont dØj(cid:224) ØtØ mises en (cid:156)uvre en Italie et dans les autres (cid:201)tats membres? A-t-il ØtØ vØrifiØ si ces montants ont effectivement atteint la destination prØvue et si les projets ont donnØ les rØsultats voulus? RØponse donnØe par M. Vitorino au nom de la Commission (14 avril 2000) La Commission souhaite attirer l(cid:146)attention de l(cid:146)Honorable Parlementaire sur le contexte gØnØral dans lequel il convient d(cid:146)apprØcier la mise en (cid:156)uvre du programme Falcone, tout comme d(cid:146)ailleurs les autres programmes dans le domaine Justice et affaires intØrieures. Les projets sØlectionnØs (cid:224) l(cid:146)issue d(cid:146)une double procØdure d(cid:146)Øvaluation faisant intervenir des professionnels puis des reprØsentants des (cid:201)tats membres rØunis au sein du comitØ Falcone ont pour but de promouvoir une coopØration entre professionnels provenant d(cid:146)un nombre ØlevØ d(cid:146)(cid:201)tats membres (et de pays tiers) et sur une base pluridisciplinaire. Ils se concentrent sur des actions de formation, des projets conjoints et des Øtudes sur des thŁmes liØs (cid:224) la rØpression et (cid:224) la prØvention de la criminalitØ organisØe. L(cid:146)approche n(cid:146)est donc pas de considØrer le bØnØficiaire et son origine nationale, mais de soutenir les projets en fonction des synergies qu(cid:146)ils permettent entre (cid:201)tats membres. Les critŁres de sØlection et les thŁmes prioritaires font l(cid:146)objet d(cid:146)une description dØtaillØe dans le programme annuel Falcone, publiØ au Journal officiel (1). la rØpartition des projets La Commission rappelle qu(cid:146)elle publie tous les ans un rapport notamment par types de bØnØficiaires et par types d(cid:146)actions. (cid:192) ce titre, et au-del(cid:224) des indications contenues dans le programme annuel quant aux prioritØs par types d(cid:146)actions, elle est attentive (cid:224) stimuler la coopØration tant entre administrations nationales qu(cid:146) autoritØs rØgionales ou organisations non Øtatiques (universitØs, associations). C(cid:146)est ainsi qu(cid:146)en 1998, la rØpartition a ØtØ de 51,3 % pour les autoritØs nationales, 11,3 % pour les autoritØs rØgionales et 37,4 % pour les organisation non-gouvernementales (ONG) et un certain nombre d(cid:146)instituts de recherche. Les chiffres sont respectivement de 59,7 %, 18,3 % et 22 % pour l(cid:146)annØe 1999. indiquant Nombre de projets AutoritØs nationales AutoritØs rØgionales ONG, dont universitØs 1998: 35 dont 1999: 38 dont 18 22 6 8 11 8 Financements AutoritØs nationales AutoritØs rØgionales ONG, dont universitØs 1998: € 2 252 644 1999: € 1 959 960 1 156 064 1 171 306 255 458 357 974 841 122 430 680 C 374 E/100 Journal officiel des CommunautØs europØennes FR 28. 12. 2000 La Commission a Øtabli (cid:224) l(cid:146)intention de l(cid:146)Honorable Parlementaire une liste reprenant les projets cofinancØs en 1998 et 1999 rØparti entre ces trois types de bØnØficiaires. Cette liste est envoyØe directement (cid:224) l(cid:146)Honorable Parlementaire et au SecrØtariat gØnØral du Parlement. Par ailleurs, elle rappelle qu(cid:146)un rapport d(cid:146)exØcution qui porte sur l(cid:146)ensemble des programmes relatifs (cid:224) l(cid:146)exercice 1998 a ØtØ transmis au Parlement (2). S(cid:146)agissant du contr(cid:244)le de l(cid:146)exØcution des projets et du financement, le fait que les versements sont effectuØs par tranches permet (cid:224) la Commission de s(cid:146)assurer de la bonne mise en (cid:156)uvre des diffØrentes phases des projets. Le dernier versement est liØ (cid:224) la production d(cid:146)un rapport d(cid:146)Øvaluation par le bØnØficiaire. La Commission participe dans la mesure du possible aux projets, ce qui lui donne l(cid:146)opportunitØ de s(cid:146)assurer sur place que la mise en (cid:156)uvre correspond aux critŁres et aux dØcisions d(cid:146)octroi. La Commission a pu ainsi constater la forte motivation des bØnØficiaires qui ont atteint les objectifs fixØs et contribuent (cid:224) une coopØration qui souvent va bien au-del(cid:224) des actions financØes. Par ailleurs, un exercice d(cid:146)Øvaluation par des experts indØpendants est actuellement menØe pour l(cid:146)ensemble des programmes, qui permettra Øgalement d(cid:146)apprØcier les rØsultats des projets dØj(cid:224) achevØs dans le cadre du programme Falcone, qui a dØbutØ (cid:224) la fin de 1998. JO C 355 du 8. 12. 1999. (1) (2) SEC(1999) 1955. (2000/C 374 E/115) QUESTION (cid:201)CRITE P-0540/00 posØe par Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) (cid:224) la Commission Objet: Agriculture et environnement dans le cadre de l(cid:146)OMC (21 fØvrier 2000) L(cid:146)Øchec, (cid:224) Seattle, de l(cid:146)ouverture du cycle de nØgociations multilatØrales au titre de l(cid:146)OMC ne fait pas obstacle aux discussions sur les dossiers inscrits (cid:224) l(cid:146)ordre du jour automatique, (cid:224) savoir ceux de l(cid:146)agriculture et des services. Par contre, l(cid:146)incertitude demeure quant aux formes que revŒtira dØsormais le nouveau cycle de nØgociations au titre de l(cid:146)OMC. L(cid:146)approche globale que la Commission europØenne a prØconisØe (cid:224) Seattle dans la perspective du nouveau cycle de nØgociations de l(cid:146)OMC est-elle encore valable? Comment la Commission entend-elle prendre en compte la nØcessitØ d(cid:146)inscrire la thØmatique de l(cid:146)environ- nement dans un nouveau cycle de l(cid:146)OMC? Quelles initiatives compte-t-elle prendre afin que les ONG puissent trouver place dans le cadre de l(cid:146)OMC? Transmettra-t-elle au Parlement europØen toutes les informations relatives aux nØgociations? RØponse donnØe par M. Lamy au nom de la Commission (20 mars 2000) Comme l(cid:146)Honorable Parlementaire le sait, l(cid:146)approche suivie par la CommunautØ concernant un nouveau cycle de nØgociations dans le cadre de l(cid:146)Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC) a ØtØ approuvØe tant par le Conseil que par le Parlement dans sa rØsolution du 15 dØcembre 1999. Cette approche globale reste donc valable. La nØcessitØ de s(cid:146)assurer que l(cid:146)OMC rØponde aux prØoccupations lØgitimes concernant des domaines connexes au commerce, tels que l(cid:146)environnement, en fait partie. Bien qu(cid:146)il s(cid:146)agisse encore d(cid:146)une question la Commission est convaincue de la validitØ des objectifs essentiels fixØs. Elle examine controversØe, actuellement la possibilitØ de faire avancer ce dossier particulier dans le cadre de l(cid:146)activitØ qu(cid:146)elle dØploie sans rel(cid:226)che pour lancer le nouveau cycle de nØgociations, par exemple en intensifiant ses efforts pour expliquer plus clairement les buts, pour crØer des relations de confiance afin d(cid:146)apaiser les inquiØtudes de certains partenaires commerciaux, notamment les pays en dØveloppement, et pour Øvaluer les moyens d(cid:146)atteindre les objectifs fondamentaux de l(cid:146)OMC


title: PREGUNTA ESCRITA E-0509/00 de Christopher Huhne (ELDR) a la Comisión. Evaluación de los diferenciales de inflación.

eurovoc_concepts:
comparative study
euro area
inflation
purchasing power parity
statistical method
statistics

text: C 330 E/178 Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas ES 21. 11. 2000 Sin embargo, es cierto que las rentas de la producci(cid:243)n no son las mismas que las rentas disponibles de los ciudadanos; la diferencia procede de los impuestos y transferencias. Por otra parte, el PIB regional se evalœa en el lugar de producci(cid:243)n, mientras que la renta disponible deber(cid:237)a evaluarse en el lugar de residencia de los hogares. La Comisi(cid:243)n no dispone aœn de informaci(cid:243)n sobre la renta disponible de los hogares a nivel regional. No obstante, en el marco de la revisi(cid:243)n del Sistema europeo de cuentas (SEC) que se produjo en 1995, se definieron los principios metodol(cid:243)gicos necesarios para elaborar cuentas regionales de los hogares. Este trabajo, realizado con la participaci(cid:243)n de los institutos nacionales de estad(cid:237)stica, permitirÆ disponer, a partir de 2001, de informaci(cid:243)n de primera mano en este Æmbito. Esta informaci(cid:243)n se publicarÆ regularmente, lo que permitirÆ a los usuarios disponer de un indicador complementario para la medida de las disparidades regionales. (2000/C 330 E/204) PREGUNTA ESCRITA E-0509/00 de Christopher Huhne (ELDR) a la Comisi(cid:243)n (28 de febrero de 2000) Asunto: Evaluaci(cid:243)n de los diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n En la respuesta del Sr. Solbes Mira a la pregunta escrita E-2228/99 (1), de 20 de diciembre de 1999, la Comisi(cid:243)n afirma que los diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n se evaluarÆn teniendo en cuenta la situaci(cid:243)n econ(cid:243)mica general para evitar cualquier divergencia de la inflaci(cid:243)n que pueda ser perjudicial. Puesto que tambiØn afirma que «ser(cid:237)a dif(cid:237)cil evaluar cuantitativamente el margen para los diferenciales continuos de inflaci(cid:243)n en la zona del euro», ¿de quØ manera piensa «evaluar» estos diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n? ¿Ser(cid:237)a mÆs cre(cid:237)ble la evaluaci(cid:243)n propuesta por la Comisi(cid:243)n si se basara en un estudio ex ante en vez de en uno ex post? ¿Va a hacer pœblico la Comisi(cid:243)n este estudio, aunque sin dejar de hacer hincapiØ en lo inseguro de estas suposiciones? (1) DO C 219 E de 1. 8. 2000, p. 127. Respuesta del Sr. Solbes Mira en nombre de la Comisi(cid:243)n (27 de marzo de 2000) La Comisi(cid:243)n y el Consejo siguen constantemente la evoluci(cid:243)n econ(cid:243)mica en la zona euro y en cada uno de los Estados miembros. Este seguimiento se lleva a cabo particularmente en documentos oficiales, tales como el informe anual sobre la econom(cid:237)a comunitaria, y mediante debates en materia de supervisi(cid:243)n en el seno del ComitØ Econ(cid:243)mico y Financiero, el ComitØ de Pol(cid:237)tica Econ(cid:243)mica, el Grupo Euro-11 y el Consejo Ecofin. El seguimiento de los diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n y de las divergencias c(cid:237)clicas dentro de la zona euro es un aspecto fundamental de la supervisi(cid:243)n econ(cid:243)mica. La Comisi(cid:243)n reconoce que en la Uni(cid:243)n Econ(cid:243)mica y Monetaria (UEM) pueden persistir diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n. Los recientes estudios emp(cid:237)ricos basados en el modelo de Balassa-Samuelson subrayan esta posibilidad y forman una importante base para evaluar la evoluci(cid:243)n efectiva de la inflaci(cid:243)n. Sin embargo, un examen de los supuestos impl(cid:237)citos en estas simulaciones numØricas indica que es muy dif(cid:237)cil cuantificar ex ante la posibilidad de que se registren diferenciales continuos de inflaci(cid:243)n dentro de la zona euro. Esto no puede hacerse con un elevado grado de fiabilidad. La Comisi(cid:243)n no aplica un marco estÆtico para evaluar los diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n de la UEM y no lo aplicarÆ en el futuro. MÆs bien han de considerarse una serie de factores que puedan explicar las diferencias en los resultados econ(cid:243)micos. La Comisi(cid:243)n evalœa actualmente las diferencias c(cid:237)clicas y la divergencia en los niveles de inflaci(cid:243)n basÆndose en una amplia gama de indicadores, tales como las brechas de producci(cid:243)n, los niveles de crecimiento econ(cid:243)mico, los salarios, los costes laborales unitarios, la inflaci(cid:243)n, las variaciones de precios de los bienes comercializables y no comercializables y las fluctuaciones de los tipos de cambio reales respecto de los niveles a largo plazo del patr(cid:243)n de poder de compra (PPC). 21. 11. 2000 ES Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas C 330 E/179 A fin de mejorar la comprensi(cid:243)n de los diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n de la UEM, la Comisi(cid:243)n se propone organizar un estudio externo que analice los factores de la persistencia de diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n aplicando un modelo de Balassa-Samuelson modificado. Los resultados de este estudio, que se esperan para finales de 2000, se harÆn pœblicos. MÆs que proporcionar una serie de estimaciones ex ante de la posibilidad de observar diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n dentro de la UEM, el objetivo del estudio serÆ mejorar y perfeccionar el marco empleado por la Comisi(cid:243)n para evaluar las diferencias c(cid:237)clicas y los diferenciales de inflaci(cid:243)n dentro de la UEM. (2000/C 330 E/205) PREGUNTA ESCRITA E-0519/00 de Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) a la Comisi(cid:243)n (28 de febrero de 2000) Asunto: Transparencia Durante la Sesi(cid:243)n de informaci(cid:243)n del Servicio de Prensa del Parlamento Europeo para el per(cid:237)odo parcial de sesiones del 12 al 16 de febrero de 1996 se declar(cid:243) que, en relaci(cid:243)n con la Directiva «Aves», la Comisi(cid:243)n propon(cid:237)a asimismo que en el futuro decisiones semejantes las tomara en secreto un comitØ especial, lejos de los focos de la publicidad y sin someterse a control parlamentario. ¿Puede facilitar la Comisi(cid:243)n detalles acerca del contexto de dicha declaraci(cid:243)n? ¿Ha especificado la Comisi(cid:243)n en otras ocasiones que el control parlamentario no era necesario? De ser as(cid:237), ¿en quØ circunstancias se considera innecesario? Respuesta de la Sra. Wallstr(cid:246)m en nombre de la Comisi(cid:243)n (4 de abril de 2000) La declaraci(cid:243)n del Servicio de Prensa del Parlamento se realiz(cid:243) en el contexto de la primera lectura del Parlamento (sesi(cid:243)n de 15 de febrero de 1996) de la propuesta de la Comisi(cid:243)n (1) para modificar el apartado 4 del art(cid:237)culo 7 de la Directiva 79/409/CEE del Consejo, de 2 de abril de 1979, relativa a la conservaci(cid:243)n de las aves silvestres (2). La Comisi(cid:243)n no comparte la opini(cid:243)n de la declaraci(cid:243)n seæalada por Su Seæor(cid:237)a. Por el contrario, de las siete enmiendas votadas por el Parlamento (3), la Comisi(cid:243)n aprob(cid:243) inmediatamente la enmienda no 4 relativa a la transmisi(cid:243)n a los Estados miembros y al Parlamento del informe de s(cid:237)ntesis sobre la aplicaci(cid:243)n de la Directiva. AdemÆs, la Comisi(cid:243)n informa peri(cid:243)dicamente al Parlamento sobre los procedimientos del ComitØ, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en la Decisi(cid:243)n 1999/468/CE del Consejo, de 28 de junio de 1999, por la que se establecen los procedimientos para el ejercicio de las competencias de ejecuci(cid:243)n atribuidas a la Comisi(cid:243)n (4). (1) DO C 100 de 9. 4. 1994. (2) DO L 103 de 25. 4. 1979. (3) Bolet(cid:237)n, 1996/1/2, p. 1. 3. 152. (4) DO L 184 de 17. 7. 1999. (2000/C 330 E/206) PREGUNTA ESCRITA E-0522/00 de Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) a la Comisi(cid:243)n (28 de febrero de 2000) Asunto: Procedimientos de adjudicaci(cid:243)n de contratos del Servicio de Correos italiano para los servicios de distribuci(cid:243)n postal ¿Piensa la Comisi(cid:243)n intervenir para verificar la regularidad de los procedimientos de adjudicaci(cid:243)n de contratos efectuados por el Servicio de Correos italiano, en especial para el servicio de correo prioritario?