Brussels, 28/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - A reasoned opinion was sent to the United Kingdom on Thursday 24 November calling on it to pay the amounts due to the EU Budget from the import of fresh garlic, €20.3 million. If it fails to do so within two months, the European Commission may refer the matter to the Court of Justice.
Between 2005 and 2006, the UK customs authorities allowed imports of fresh garlic from the People's Republic of China under wrong authorising documents. They erroneously stated that the goods imported were frozen garlic for which significantly lower import duties apply. The Commission considers that the UK authorities did not act with all due care when issuing the authorising documents and failed to collect the correct amount of duties. They are, therefore, held financially responsible for the loss of own resources (approximately £20 million) to the EU budget. The matter came to light during an OLAF (European Anti-fraud Office) inspection visit in July 2006.
Customs duties, which are charged on imports of goods coming from a non-EU state, are collected by member states on behalf of the EU and paid to the common EU budget. Member states retain 25 % of the amounts collected to cover collection costs. This traditional own resource makes up approximately 12% of the income of the EU budget. (LC/transl.rt)