91999E0833

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0833/99

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

(7 April 1999)

Subject: Slate industry and generalised system of preferences

According to the answer given by Sir Leon Brittan, on behalf of the Commission, to my previous Written Questions E-4009/97 and E-4011/97(1), finished slate was classified as a non-sensitive product under the GSP scheme for developing countries, which means that slate imports into the EU are exempt from customs duty. Sir Leon's answer also indicates that the Commission does not plan to review the classification of these products before the current GSP scheme expires on 31 December 1998.

Now that the scheme has expired, can the Commission say whether it has started to review the GSP scheme for developing countries or, if it has not done so, say when that review will take place?

Specifically, can the Commission say whether the classification of slate as a non-sensitive product has been reviewed and can it provide information on the outcome of and reasoning behind that review? If no review has taken place, can it say when it will carry out such a review and whether it intends to change the current classification of this product?

Can the Commission say what specific criteria are generally followed in classifying a product as non-sensitive under the GSP scheme?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 1999)

On 21 December 1998 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) 2820/98 applying a multiannual scheme of tariff preferences for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 December 2001(2), the second such scheme within the ten-year framework laid down for the period 1995-2004. Products remain classified by sensitivity in the same four categories as under the previous regulation.

As was pointed out in the answer to the Honourable Member's written question E-1580/98(3), for the purposes of the GSP, the classification of products according to their degree of sensitivity broadly reflects their sensitivity on the Community market as established at the time of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations. This classification underpins the ten-year guidelines and will not be substantially amended during their currency, since one purpose of those guidelines was precisely to ensure that the GSP schemes operated with some consistency over the ten-year period.

Obviously, limited adjustments can be made when each successive scheme is adopted, but the Commission saw no need to propose adjustments for the second scheme and no Member State asked for any change when the scheme was adopted by the Council.

(1) OJ C 196, 22.6.1998, p. 56.

(2) OJ L 357, 30.12.1998.

(3) OJ C 402, 22.12.1998, p. 145.