Question for written answer E-004624/2013/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 117
Cristiana Muscardini (ECR)
Subject:The hidden side of counterfeiting
It is clear that counterfeiting leads to job losses, destroys a healthy economy, swallowsupvast sums of moneyand contributes nothing to the exchequer, which is to say the state’s coffers.The figures on this issue are appalling.According to the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, the counterfeit goods market costs the Italian economy EUR7billion every year and puts 110000 peopleout of work, equivalent to 300 every day.In Prato alone, Chinese counterfeiters make EUR1billion per year in illegal profits.
What people do not realise isthat behind every non-EU national selling counterfeit goods there is organised crime, controlling and exploiting these wretched hawkers.There are whole industrial districts dedicated to the production, distribution and marketing of such goods.People also need to realise that there is anillicit payment system for this enormous quantity of goods.The owner of amajor network of money transfer agencies has been charged with illegally launderingmoney transfers in China to the tune of EUR5.4billion.There is a remarkable number of these agencies in Italy:39000 money transfer outlets transferring EUR7.5billion per year, compared with the 5900 branches of the largest banking group in the country.Apart from the value of the transfers, which can be put at around EUR1000 per month per household (141 for Indians), what does the EUR2000 transferred by Chinese nationals really hide?What lies behind these considerable sums transferred to China every month?
1.Leaving asideinconsistentlythorough customs checks, can the Commission say how much counterfeiting costs the European Union as a whole, in terms of both imported counterfeit goods and counterfeit goods produced within the EU?
2.Has it worked with the Member States to verify the value of transfers made through money transfer agencies?
3.In order to prevent other countries from growing rich from the sale of counterfeit goods in Italy (from glassware to jewellery, from toys to Chinese Parma ham, from German ‘parmigiano grana padano’ cheese to luxury watches, from spare parts for cars to scooters, from leather goods to footwear, and so on), what steps will the Commission propose to combat this growing phenomenon?
934495.ENPE 510.250