Brussels, 05/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 4 April, the European Commission decided to set in place a system for monitoring imports of cotton yarn from Syria. Imports increased from 2,428 tonnes in 1995 to 30,417 tonnes in 2000, that is, 10% of European imports of this product as opposed to 1% five years earlier. In order to control flows, the Syrian exporters of yarn should have permits "automatically granted within 5 working days of request and without any restrictions, thus avoiding any trade disruption for Syrian exporters", the Commission notes in a press release. The latter will also open a public inquiry with the interested parties. Consultation with Syrian authorities has been opened at the request of certain Member States. The Commission, which is cautious at the time when it negotiates an association and free trade agreement with Syria, has specified that the monitoring system in place "hopes to address the current problem amicably" with the Syrian authorities.