17. Question Time (Commission)

Parliament considered a number of questions to the Commission (B6-0019/2005).

First part

Question 16 (Bill Newton Dunn): The Union's Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals.

Franco Frattini (Vice-President of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by Bill Newton Dunn, Paul Rübig and David Martin.

Question 17 (Paul Rübig): Aviation security.

Jacques Barrot (Vice-President of the Commission) answered the question and a supplementary by Paul Rübig.

Question 18 (Inés Ayala Sender): Closure of the Spanish-French border to large vehicles at the Somport tunnel.

Jacques Barrot answered the question and supplementaries by Inés Ayala Sender and Josu Ortuondo Larrea.

Second part

Question 19 (David Martin): Counterfeit products and trade with Russia and China.

László Kovács (Member of the Commission) answered the question and supplementaries by David Martin, Georgios Papastamkos and Daniel Caspary.

Question 20 (Claude Moraes): Trade concessions to help developing countries.

Andris Piebalgs (Member of the Commission) answered the question.

Claude Moraes spoke.

Question 21 (Josu Ortuondo Larrea): Disadvantages for European manufacturers of pliers from excessive import duty rates in the USA.

Andris Piebalgs answered the question and a supplementary by Josu Ortuondo Larrea.

IN THE CHAIR: Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS ROCA
Vice-President

Question 22 (Georgios Papastamkos): Threatened increase of US duties on processed peaches from Europe.

Andris Piebalgs answered the question and a supplementary by Georgios Papastamkos.

Question 23 (Jan Andersson): Impact of EU agricultural policy on world trade.

László Kovács answered the question and a supplementary by Jan Andersson.

Questions 24 to 25 would receive written answers.

Question 26 (Mihael Brejc): Administrative reform of the European institutions.

Andris Piebalgs answered the question and supplementaries by Mihael Brejc and Åsa Westlund.

Question 27 (Paul van Buitenen): The role of the Court of Auditors as the 'financial conscience of Europe'.

Andris Piebalgs answered the question and a supplementary by Bart Staes (deputising for the author).

Question 28 (Bernd Posselt): Energy dependence on Russia.

Andris Piebalgs answered the question and supplementaries by Bernd Posselt and Daniel Caspary.

Question 29 (Justas Vincas Paleckis): Linking of energy systems in western and eastern Europe.

Andris Piebalgs answered the question and supplementaries by Justas Vincas Paleckis and Bernd Posselt.

Question 30 (Ryszard Czarnecki): Harmonisation of energy laws.

Andris Piebalgs answered the question and a supplementary by Ryszard Czarnecki.

Questions which had not been answered for lack of time would receive written answers.

Commission Question Time closed.

(The sitting was suspended at 20.25 and resumed at 21.00.)