Parliamentary question - O-000073/2016Parliamentary question
O-000073/2016

The existence of non-tariff barriers on food exporters in the internal EU market

Question for oral answer O-000073/2016
to the Commission
Rule 128
Czesław Adam Siekierski, on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Procedure : 2016/2681(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
O-000073/2016
Texts tabled :
O-000073/2016 (B8-0707/2016)
Votes :
Texts adopted :

The increasingly frequent occurrence of Member States imposing non-tariff barriers on food exporters in the internal market, and the fact that these actions are in contravention of EU law, challenges one of the four fundamental freedoms of the EU, namely the free movement of goods (Article 3 TFEU, Article 28 TFEU and Article 49 TFEU).

As well as being discriminatory in character, these actions impact the competitiveness of imported food in the internal market (Article 101 TFEU and Article 102 TFEU) in a way that could have negative implications for the EU economy and may contribute to a decline in cross-border trade in food products in the internal market. The consequences of such actions may also have a negative impact on the functioning of SMEs in the internal market.

1. What legal action does the Commission intend to take against Member States that implement discriminatory practices against food exporters in the EU?

2. Has the Commission analysed the aforementioned problems and will it consider the introduction of EU provisions prohibiting such practices affecting food imports in order to guarantee a proper, fair and transparent functioning of the EU internal market for food producers and retailers?

3. In the context of the internal market strategy adopted by the Commission in October 2015:

a. Will the Commission consider proposing decisive actions that would limit the application of protectionist measures/practices by Member States in the internal market?

b. Will the Commission study the possibility of introducing EU provisions prohibiting such practices with regard to food imports, in order to guarantee a proper, fair and transparent functioning of the EU internal market for food producers and retailers, and when does it envisage doing so?