ISSN 0378 - 6986 Official Journal C 182 Volume 29 of the European Communities 21 July 1986
English edition Information and Notices
Notice No Contents
I Information
European Parliament
'Written Questions with answer:
86/C182/01 No 610/84 by Mr Karl von Wogau to the Commission Subject: Purity requirements for German sausage (supplementary answer) 1 86/C 182/02 No 365/85 by Mrs Brigitte Heinrich to the Commission Subject: Community deliveries of dried milk to Indonesia (supplementary answer) 1 86/C 182/03 No 1044/85 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission Subject: Government contracts in the telecommunications field 2 86/C182/04 No 2206/85 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission Subject: Government contracts in the telecommunications field 3 Supplementary and joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1044/85 and 2206/85 . . 3 86/C182/05 No 1345/85 by Mr Jean-Pierre Cot to the Commission Subject: Trade relations with South Africa 3 86/C 182/06 No 1649/85 by Mr Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission Subject: The discontinuance of export subsidies 6 86/C 182/07 No 1799/85 by Mr Marijke Van Hemeldonck to the Commission Subject: Parallel imports of medical products 7 86/C 182/08 No 1809/85 by Mr Jean-Pierre Abelin to the Commission Subject: ERDF aid in France 8 86/C 182/09 No 2017/85 by Mrs Marlene Lenz to the Commission Subject: European Community subsidies for local interest groups 8 86/C 182/10 No 2024/85 by Mr Karl von Wogau to the Commission Subject: Mutual assistance by the competent authorities of the Member States in the field of direct taxation and value added tax 9 86/C 182/11 No 2037/85 by Mr Raphael Chanterie to the Commission Subject: Mesh sizes of nets used to catch round and flat fish 9 86/C 182/12 No 2044/85 by Mr Ernest Miihlen to the Commission Subject: Practice of refusing the use of the national trademark 'Rose' for butter made from milk or cream not produced in Luxembourg 10 (Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) Page
86/C 182/13 No 2068/85 by Mr Alfeo Mizzau to the Commission Subject: Dutch natural gas and subsidized prices for floriculture 11
86/C 182/14 No 2070/85 by Mr Alfred Lomas to the Commission Subject: Conservation of wild birds 11
86/C 182/15 No 2108/85 by Mr Willy Kuijpers to the Commission Subject: Second annual report to the European Parliament on Commission monitoring of the application of Community law 12
86/C 182/16 No 2110/85 by Mr Willy Kuijpers to the Commission
Subject: Proceedings instituted by the Commission against the Kingdom of Belgium 12
Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2108/85 and 2110/85 12
86/C 182/17 No 2113/85 by Mr Willy Kuijpers to the Commission Subject: Family budget for education 13 86/C 182/18 No 2133/85 by Mrs Vera Squarcialupi to the Commission Subject: Dangerous foodstuffs in EEC trade 14
86/C 182/19 No 2175/85 by Mr Ernest Muhlen to the Commission Subject: Banning of hormones in livestock farming and fattening and collection of fees for health inspections on meat 14
86/C 182/20 No 2197/85 by Mr Ray MacSharry to the Commission Subject: Establishment of young farmers 15
86/C 182/21 No 2205/85 by Mr Gene Fitzgerald to the Commission Subject: Information to workers on impact of new technology 15
86/C 182/22 No 2221/85 by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek to the Commission Subject: Organizations in the Euroregions 16
86/C 182/23 No 2222/85 by Mrs Marijke Van Hemeldonck to the Commission ] Subject: Recognition of the Hageland as a development area 1& "
86/C 182/24 No 2231/85 by Mr Willy Vernimmen to the Commission
Subject: Development area status for Hageland 16
Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2222/85 and 2231/85 17
86/C 182/25 No 2236/85 by Mr Jochen van Aerssen to the Commission Subject: Cooperation between Venezuela and the EC on fisheries 17 86/C 182/26 No 2243/85 by Mrs Marijke Van Hemeldonck to the Commission Subject: Racist behaviour by Belgian immigration officers 17
86/C 182/27 No 2254/85 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission Subject: Eureka projects 18
86/C 182/28 No 2269/85 by Mr Roberto Costanzo to the Commission Subject: EAGGF grants for rural infrastructure 18
86/C 182/29 No 2275/85 by Mrs Bodil Boserup to the Commission Subject: Damages for Stanley Adams 19
86/C 182/30 No 2285/85 by Mrs Jacqueline Hoffmann to the Commission Subject: EEC Directive of 1975 on redundancies 19
< 86/C 182/31 No 2291/85 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission Subject: Liability of Commission officials implicated in the Stanley Adams Case 20 Notice No Contents (continued)
86/C 182/32 No 2311/85 by Mr Luc Beyer de Ryke to the Commission Subject: The pharmaceuticals market in the EEC — BEUC and 'Test Achats' report — Commission policy 21
86/C 182/33 No 2315/85 by Mr Raphael Chanterie to the Commission Subject: VAT on equipment for the visually handicapped 22
86/C 182/34 No 2316/85 by Mr Petrus Cornelissen to the Commission Subject: Excess deep-freeze and cold storage capacity 22
86/C 182/35 No 2329/85 by Mr Jas Gawronski to the Commission Subject: Expulsion of Community nationals by the Spanish authorities 23
86/C 182/36 No 2385/85 by Mr Richard Cottrell to the Commission
Subject: Spanish aliens Law 23
Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2329/85 and 2385/85 23
86/C 182/37 No 2332/85 by Mr Fernand Herman to the Commission Subject: Fourth Directive on company law, concerning annual accounts 24 86/C 182/38 No 2334/85 by Mrs Undine Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission Subject: The military use of fast breeders — Reply from the Commission departments to working document PE 96.973 (XVII/326/85) 25
86/C 182/39 No 2344/85 by Mr Alberto Tridente to the Commission Subject: EUR-10 uranium imports from Namibia 26
86/C 182/40 No 2347/85 by Mr Paul Staes to the Commission Subject: Official Belgian research on nuclear energy 26
86/C 182/41 No 2348/85 by Mr Paul Staes to the Commission Subject: Costs of a nuclear accident 27
86/C 182/42 No 2349/85 by Mr James Ford to the Commission Subject: Limited expansion potential of nuclear industry 27
86/C 182/43 No 2361/85 by Mrs Dorothee Piermont to the Commission Subject: Doc. XVII/326/85 by the Commission departments 27
86/C 182/44 No 2364/85 by Mr Alberto Tridente to the Commission Subject: Doc. XVII/326/85 by the Commission departments 28
86/C 182/45 No 2366/85 by Mr Alberto Tridente to the Commission Subject: The use of fallacious reasoning by the Commission departments in Doc. XVII/326/85 28
86/C 182/46 No 2371/85 by Mr Thomas Raftery to the Commission Subject: Information policy 28
86/C 182/47 No 2384/85 by Mrs Barbara Castle to the Commission Subject: Textile industry in North-West England 29
86/C 182/48 No 2405/85 by Mr Thomas Raftery to the Commission Subject: Implications for the brewing industry of technological innovation 30
86/C 182/49 No 2406/85 by Mr Thomas Raftery to the Commission Subject: Production of ethanol 30
86/C 182/50 No 2417/85 by Mr Terence Pitt to the Commission Subject: Use of PCBs and PCTs 31
(Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) Page
86/C 182/51 No 2427/85 by Mr Francois Roelants du Vivier to the Commission Subject: Pact on world food security 31
86/C 182/52 No 2428/85 by Mr Joachim Dalsass to the Commission Subject: Unnecessary and unacceptable customs checks 32
86/C 182/53 No 2463/85 by Mr Mario Di Bartolomei to the Commission Subject: Standardization of currency abbreviations 32
86/C 182/54 No 2468/85 by Mr Andrew Pearce to the Commission Subject: Dried vine fruits 33
86/C 182/55 No 2482/85 by Mr Hans-Jurgen Zahorka to the Commission Subject: Levying of customs duties on touring bicycles belonging to foreign tourists on leaving Greece 33
86/C 182/56 No 2488/85 by Sir Peter Vanneck to the Commission Subject: Duties applicable to certain products intended for use in the construction, maintenance and repair of aircraft 34
86/C 182/57 No 2498/85 by Mr John Iversen to the Commission Subject: Development aid and conservation of the environment 34
86/C 182/58 No 2503/85 by Mr Werner Munch to the Commission Subject: Organization of the market in eggs — indication of the packing date 35
86/C 182/59 No 2505/85 by Mr Christopher Jackson to the Commission Subject: Costs of translation 35
86/C 182/60 No 2549/85 by Mr Andrew Pearce to the Commission
Subject: Translation work of the Commission 36
Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 2505/85 and 2549/85 36
86/C 182/61 No 2506/85 by Mr Hugh McMahon to the Commission Subject: Euratom Treaty: Safety aspects in the United Kingdom 36 86/C 182/62 No 2508/85 by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser to the Commission Subject: Series of publications by the Economic and Social Committee entitled 'The Other European Assembly' 37
86/C 182/63 No 2523/85 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission Subject: Scope of European Council Agreement 37
86/C 182/64 No 2525/85 by Mr Jef Ulburghs to the Commission Subject: Aid to Tamil refugees 38
86/C 182/65 No 2527/85 by Mr Horst Seefeld to the Commission Subject: Adherence to social provisions in road transport 38
86/C 182/66 No 2542/85 by Mrs Johanna Maij-Weggen to the Commission Subject: Replacement of mercury batteries by zinc-air batteries in the Netherlands 39
86/C 182/67 No 2560/85 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission Subject: Directive on maximum permitted noise levels in the workplace 39
86/C 182/68 No 2564/85 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission Subject: Public works contracts 40
86/C 182/69 No 2581/85 by Mrs Simone Martin to the Commission Subject: Restructuring the common organization of the market in cereals 40 Notice No Contents (continued)
86/C182/70 No 2585/85 by Mr Luc Beyer de Ryke to the Commission Subject: European air space 41
86/C182/71 No 2605/85 by Mr Gerard Deprez to the Commission Subject: The situation in Nicaragua in relation to the forthcoming EEC — Central America Cooperation Agreement 41
86/C 182/72 No 2607/85 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission Subject: Publication of the Europe '85 magazine 42
86/C 182/73 No 2616/85 by Mr Ernest Muhlen and Mr Hans-Jiirgen Zahorka to the Commission Subject: Food aid for Afghan refugees in Pakistan 43
86/C 182/74 No 2617/85 by Mr Ben Visser to the Commission Subject: Ban on imports into the USA of high strength aramid fibres 43
86/C 182/75 No 2637/85 by Mrs Vera Squarcialupi to the Commission Subject: An unnecessary road, posing a threat to the environment, financed by the Community in the commune of Pisticci (Matera) 44
86/C 182/76 No 2640/85 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission Subject: Imports of medicaments 44
86/C 182/77 No 2647/85 by Mr Arthur Newens to the Commission Subject: European Community action on worker co-ops 45
86/C 182/78 No 2649/85 by Mr Gijs de Vries to the Commission Subject: Use of the ECU in international trade 46
86/C 182/79 No 2656/85 by Mr Roberto Costanzo to the Commission Subject: Rural infrastructure and forestry projects in regions covered by the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes (IMPs) 46
86/C 182/80 No 2658/85 by Mrs Barbara Castle to the Commission Subject: Battery hen cage sizes 47
86/C 182/81 No 2659/85 by Mrs Barbara Castle to the Commission Subject: Cereal prices 48
86/C 182/82 No 2664/85 by Mr Kenneth Stewart to the Commission Subject: Factory reorganization, Merseyside West 48
86/C 182/83 No 2682/85 by Mr Francois Roelants du Vivier to the Commission Subject: Obligation to report emergency action plans to the authorities responsible for overseeing the carriage of hazardous goods 48
86/C 182/84 No 2686/85 by Mr Ove Fich to the Commission Subject: The intergovernmental agreement on the financing of the 1985 budget 49
86/C 182/85 No 2693/85 by Mr Gerhard Schmid to the Commission Subject: Protection of computer programs 49
86/C 182/86 No 2698/85 by Mr Dieter Rogalla to the Commission Subject: 14th VAT Directive 50
J/C 182/87 No 2734/85 by Mrs Anne-Marie Lizin to the Commission Subject: Pluralism of the press and press mergers in France and Belgium 50
(Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) p
86/C 182/88 No 2742/85 by Mr Terence Pitt to the Commission Subject: Commercial activity in developing countries 51
86/C 182/89 No 2746/85 by Mr John Marshall to the Commission Subject: Telecommunications and national protection 51
86/C 182/90 No 2748/85 by Mr Ray MacSharry to the Commission Subject: Additives used in the food processing industry 52
86/C 182/91 No 2749/85 by Mr Ioannis Boutos to the Commission Subject: Ecological disaster threatening the lake in the prefecture of loannina 53
86/C 182/92 No 2759/85 by Mr Andrew Pearce to the Commission Subject: Vehicles bought by the Governments of the Member States 53
86/C 182/93 No 2764/85 by Mr Hans-Gert Poettering to the Commission Subject: Distortion of competition in the horticultural industry 53
86/C 182/94 No 2766/85 by Mrs Ien van den Heuvel to the Commission Subject: Aid to Colombia 54
86/C 182/95 No 2772/85 by Mrs Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission Subject: Distribution of appropriations from the European Regional Fund in the Upper Palatinate (Bavaria), in particular in Amberg and Schwandorf 55
86/C 182/96 No 2793/85 by Mr James Ford to the Commission Subject: Trade 55
86/C 182/97 No 2800/85 by Sir Jack Stewart-Clark to the Commission Subject: Shooting of birds in Greece 56
86/C 182/98 No 2829/85 by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke to the Commission Subject: Social Fund assistance 56
86/C 182/99 No 2842/85 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission Subject: Europrotectionism 56
86/C 182/100 No 2843/85 by Mr Alasdair Hutton to the Commission Subject: The use of local project teams in agricultural and integrated programmes 57
86/C 182/101 No 2850/85 by Mr Robert Battersby to the Commission Subject: The market for Loligo squid 58
86/C 182/102 No 2851/85 by Mr Pol Marck to the Commission Subject: Manioc imports from Thailand 58
86/C 182/103 No 2852/85 by Mr Pol Marck to the Commission Subject: Flax 59
86/C 182/104 No 2862/85 by Mr Francois Roelants du Vivier to the Commission Subject: Levy on imports of tropical agricultural products and direct aid to small producers in the Third World 59
86/C 182/105 No 2907/85 by Mrs Vera Squarcialupi to the Commission Subject: Export of foreign currency from a Member State by tourists or businessmen 59
86/C 182/106 No 2935/85 by Mr Ernest Glinne to the Commission Subject: Observance of the United Nations decision on the exploitation of natural resources in Namibia 60
86/C 182/107 No 2987/85 by Mr Andrew Pearce to the Commission Subject: Food-aid programmes 60
(Continued on inside back cover) Notice No Contents (continued) Pa e
86/C 182/108 No 3006/85 by Mr Michael Welsh to the Commission Subject: Report on the Community's anti-dumping activities 61
86/C 182/109 No 3007/85 by Mr Ernest Muhlen to the Commission Subject: Clearing operations in ECU 61
86/C 182/110 No 3033/85 by Mr Francois Roelants du Vivier to the Commission Subject: Trade in frogs 62
86/C 182/111 No 3078/85 by Mr Luc Beyer de Ryke to the Commission Subject: ESPRIT programme — Franco-British constuction of a supercomputer 63
86/C 182/112 No 3119/86 by Mr Willy Kuijpers to the Council Subject: European environmental policy — Netherlands presidency 63
86/C 182/113 No 3139/85 by Mr Luc Beyer de Ryke to the Commission Subject: Situation in Haiti and EEC aid 64
86/C 182/114 No 49/86 by Mr Herman Verbeek to the Commission Subject: Expulsion by the French Government of the MEP Dorothee Piermont from Polynesian territory 64
86/C 182/115 No 50/86 by Mr Alberto Tridente to the Commission Subject: Expulsion by the French Government of Mrs Dorothee Piermont from Polynesian territory 65
Joint answer to Written Questions Nos 49/86 and 50/86 65
86/C 182/116 No 168/86 by Mr Frank Schwalb-Hoth to the Council Subject: 'Unforgeable and machine-readable' version of the new European passport 65
86/C 182/117 No 190/86 by Mrs Anne-Marie Lizin to the Council Subject: Research Council of 8 April 1986 on the programme on new materials 65 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/1
(Information)
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER
WRITTEN QUESTION No 610/84 The situation is different if such a regulation is applied to by Mr Karl von Wogau (PPE—D) imported products legally marketed in another Member State. As the Commission explained in its communication on to the Commission of the European Communities the consequences of the judgment of the Court of Justice in (20 August 1984) case 120/78 (Cassis de Dijon) i1), it must in principle be (86/C 182/01) possible to market such products in every Member State, and it is only in order to meet imperative requirements as regards Subject: Purity requirements for German sausage in particular consumer protection, fair trading or public health protection, that a national regulation can be used Under paragraph 4 of the German Meat Regulation of 21 against imported products. January 1982, meat products may not be marketed in Germany if, for example, milk or milk products, eggs or egg In this case it falls to each Member State to show that products or ingredients containing protein, starch or dextrin application of the national regulation in question is necessary obtained from plants are used in their manufacture. Many for satisfying imperative requirements or justified in the light meat products manufactured and marketed in accordance of Article 36. with the law in other Member States of the Community, a number of types of French sausage for example, contain The German provisions, as in paragraph 47 of the Foodstuffs added milk, eggs or plant extracts. The importation of these Law and paragraph 4 of the Meat Regulation, amount a meat products is prohibited by paragraph 47(1) of the priori to a ban on the marketing of meat-based products German Foodstuffs Law and the marketing of them is banned which are not in conformity with these provisions but are by paragraph 4 of the Meat Regulation. legally manufactured or marketed in other Member States, without there being any apparent necessity or justification 1. Does the Commission consider that the ban on certain for such a ban. The Commission has therefore approached ingredients under paragraph 4 of the German Meat the Federal German Government under the procedure Regulation is compatible with the EEC Treaty, in provided for in Article 169 of the EEC Treaty. particular Articles 30 and 36 thereof? (') Court Reports 1979, pp. 649 to 665. 2. What measures does the Commission intend to take, where appropriate, to ensure that meat products manufactured and marketed in accordance with the law in other Member States may be marketed in Germany regardless of the ingredients used?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 365/85 Supplementary answer given by Lord Cockfield by Mrs Brigitte Heinrich (ARC—D) on behalf of the Commission to the Commission of the European Communities (23 April 1986) (8 May 1985) There is no provision in Community law relating to the composition of meat-based products. The Member States (86/C 182/02) accordingly have the right to lay down regulations within their own territories regarding the composition of these Subject: Community deliveries of dried milk to Indonesia products, for example prohibiting the use of certain ingredients. A regulation of this sort is not, therefore, 1. How much dried milk has the Community supplied to incompatible as such with Articles 30 to 36 of the EEC Indonesia since 1980? How many litres of UHT milk is this Treaty. equivalent to? No C 182/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
2. Is it true that the usability of the dried milk is reduced as The rules governing package and controls for food aid are a result of excessively long storage in the Community? laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1354/83 (>). 3. Is it correct that the dried milk is damp on arrival, because of inadequate packaging, and is supplied in sacks? 4. The deliveries of powdered skimmed milk in the context of the food aid system to Indonesia were as Does weight loss occur? What measures does the follows: Commission intend to take to ensure that the dried milk reaches Indonesia undamaged? — 1980: 2 425 tonnes of which 800 (2) tonnes indirect food aid, 4. Are these deliveries part of food-aid programmes? — 1981: 2 150 tonnes of which 800 (2) tonnes indirect food How is the dried milk shipped to Indonesia? aid, — 1982: 3 580 tonnes of which 1 590 tonnes indirect food 5. How much have dried-milk deliveries cost the aid, Indonesian Government since 1980? — 1983: 1 562 tonnes of which 1 562 tonnes indirect food aid, 6. Via which organizations or institutions in Indonesia is this transaction arranged? — 1984: 2215 tonnes of which 1 015 tonnes indirect food aid, — 1985: 795 tonnes of which 795 (2) tonnes indirect food aid.
Supplementary answer given by Mr Andriessen 5. The fob values of Community exports of the quantities on behalf of the Commission mentioned in point 1 are given below: (5 March 1986) (•000 ECU) 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
1. Exports from the Community to Indonesia of dried SMP + WMP 3 450 9 778 8 885 6 204 9 099 milk since 1980 amounted to:
(tonnes) 6. Concerning direct food aid, the beneficiary is to be 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 represented by the Indonesian Embassy in Brussels. The government via the National Logistics Agency, BULOG, has Skimmed-milk powder taken on the responsibility for international transport and (SMP) 3 420 5 588 5 594 1 725 1 316 handling of donated skimmed-milk powder up to the Whole milk powder processing plant. The milk is processed by the Ultra Jaya (WMP) 839 2 560 1 285 1 965 2 467 Company for distribution to school children by the Dharma Approximate liquid Wanita organization, with support from the Department of milk equivalent Public Health. For the last shipments, estimated cost of '000 litres 43 900 81 570 70 740 35 220 35 140 international transport and handling is about 150 US $ per tonne of SMP. 2. The duration of the storage period of intervention The indirect EEC food donations through NGOs and skimmed milk powder has not been a limiting factor on its international organizations are cif (3) deliveries to Indonesia. usability. It is true, however, that an excessively long storage Major beneficiary agencies have been CRS (Catholic Relief period will reduce the usability of SMP, particularly for Services); Dutch Inter-Church Aid; Flosvierden and ADE, as human consumption. Whole milk powder is produced on well as the World Food Programme. demand, and cannot be stored for more than some weeks. (») OJ No L 142, 1. 6. 1983, p. 1. (2) Not including WFP and Licross. 3. Loss in transport and handling in the EEC food-aid (3) The Commission pays except for transport costs. programme has been minimal since 1980; between 0,7 and 2,7 of total shipment.
For the 1980 and 1981 EEC donations of dry milk powder within the direct food-aid programme, the Indonesian WRITTEN QUESTION No 1044/85 agencies have stated that a substantial amount of shipment, approximately 12 %, arrived in a relatively poor quality not by Mr Gijs de Vries (L—NL) suitable for human consumption, due to bag breakage and to the Commission of the European Communities mould. However, the exact amounts by quality grade have (25 July 1985) not been established. (86/C 182/03)
Since then, to improve the quality of donations, the Subject: Government contracts in the telecommunications Commission has taken several steps, including the field reimbursement of a quality control test undertaken by the beneficiary (country, non-governmental organization) at the On 12 November 1984 the Council adopted a port of embarkment for both fob and cif deliveries. recommendation, the aim of which was to develop a 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/3
Community market in telecommunications equipment. of access to public telecommunications contracts According to this recommendation the governments of the (84/555/EEC) (*) recommends, in particular, that the Member States are to ensure that the telecommunications Governments of the Member States report at the end of each administrations provide opportunities for undertakings six-month period on the measures taken by the established in other Community countries to tender without telecommunications administrations to implement the policy discrimination (recommendation 84/550/EEC) (*). of opening-up access to public contracts in the telecommunications sector. The governments of the Member States are to report to the Commission at the end of each six-month period starting at These six-monthly reports are to be examined by the the end of 1984 on the measures taken by the Commission and the Senior Officials Group on telecommunications administrations to implement this Telecommunications, set up by the Council on 4 November policy, their practical effects, the problems encountered and 1983. any further action needed. By 15 November 1985, the date mentioned in the What were the findings in the reports by the Member States Honourable Member's question, the Commission had for the first half of 1985? Is the Commission satisfied with received reports from four Member States. Two others these findings? What additional measures are necessary? submitted their reports on 21 and 22 November 1985. H OJ No L298, 16. 11. 1984, p. 51. After 30 June, at the SOGT meetings that took place on average every six weeks during 1985, the Commission regularly invited representatives of the Member States to submit these reports. The last reminder was issued at the WRITTEN QUESTION No 2206/85 SOGT meeting of 26 and 27 November. by Mr Gijs de Vries (L—NL) The Commission considers that the application of the to the Commission of the European Communities Council recommendation concerning the first phase in the (5 December 1985) opening-up of access to public contracts is important, because it represents a first step towards establishing a (86/C 182/04) measure of transparency for the award of telecommunications operators' contracts, and allows Subject: Government contracts in the telecommunications difficulties which may stand in the way of such access to be field identified and discussed by the committee provided for in the recommendation, namely the SOGT. In its answer of 17 September 1985 to my Written Question No 1044/85 0), the Commission stated that it had not yet Early in 1986 the Commission was already reminding received the reports on the measures taken by the Member Member States to submit their reports for the second half of States to implement Recommendation 84/550/EEC (2) 1985; it will repeat its request at the next SOGT meeting. during the first six months of 1985. When it has received all the reports for the first half of 1985, 1. Which Member States had submitted their reports by 15 the Commission will be able to inform the Honourable November 1985? Member of the results obtained in the first six months. On the basis of reports received so far, the Commission can already 2. On what date did the Commission invite those Member state that certain favourable results were achieved during the States which had not yet submitted their reports to do so period, though it is clearly impossible to say whether this without delay? level of improvement, if maintained in 1985, will suffice for the attainment of the 10 % threshold proposed in the 3. Does the Commission consider the abovementioned recommendation for network equipment. The reports for the Recommendation sufficiently important to request the second half of 1985 should allow an assessment of the Member States to submit their reports referring to the results. second half of 1985 by 31 March 1986? (») OJ No L 298, 16. 11. 1984, p. 51. 4. fc the Commission prepared to give a supplementary answer to Written Question No 1044/85 to answer the points raised in it as soon as the reports on the first half of 1985 are available so that this answer may also appear in the Official Journal? (') OJ No C 291, 13. 11. 1985, p. 13. WRITTEN QUESTION No 1345/85 (2) OJ No L 298, 16. 11. 1985, p. 51. by Mr Jean-Pierre Cot (S—F) to the Commission of the European Communities (3 September 1985) Supplementary and joint answer given by Mr Narjes (86/C 182/05) on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1986) Subject: Trade relations with South Africa The Council recommendation of 12 November 1984 Can the Commission provide figures for exports and imports concerning the first phase in the opening-up for each of the 10 Member States of the Community to or No C 182/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
from South Africa during 1984 and the figures so far Imports ('000 ECU) Exports ('000 ECU) (•) available for 1985, as far as possible broken down by type of Member State January- January- product? 1984 March 1984 March 1985 1985
Can the Commission also provide figures for investment in Belgium/ South Africa by each of the 10 Member States? Luxembourg 2 337 120 572 481 320 420 56 332 Denmark 153 865 48 141 88 379 17 977 What is the value of arms sales to South Africa by each of the France 853 161 198 198 637 300 146 977 10 Member States of the Community? Germany 1 284 346 329 749 2 970 560 634 255 Greece 37 556 13 307 5 843 333 Finally, can the Commission supply any corresponding data Ireland 14 455 4 858 53 340 13 805 for South Africa's other major trading partners and the Italy 2 189 653 585 001 660 452 121 046 United States in particular? Netherlands 189 669 50 145 352 053 70 191 United Kingdom 1 526 762 408 030 2 033 320 427 071
EUR-10 (total) 8 586 587 2 209 910 7 121 667 1 487 987
Answer given by Mr De Clercq on behalf of the Commission (23 April 1986) Products imported from South Africa to the European Community represent about 2 % of the Community's total imports. In value, for 1984 and the first quarter of 1985, the In 1984 and the first quarter of 1985, the total trade by value principal products imported by the Community from South of Member States of the European Community with South Africa, with the major importers by Member State, were as Africa can be broken down as follows: follows:
Value ('000 ECU) Major importers (') 1984 January-March Products January-March 1984 1985 1985 (%) (%)
Diamonds 1 916 693 434 242 Belgium / Luxembourg (99,8) (99,7) Gold 1 615 343 427 406 Italy (94,9) (93,2) Minerals 894 467 269 879 France (31,4) (28,1) Italy (31,4) (28,0) Metallic ores 598 208 137 178 United Kingdom (48,1) (50,4) Germany (25,9) (12,8) Wool and animal hairs 365 233 121 229 United Kingdom (27,2) (27,1) France (24,5) (16,3) Italy (23,4) (22,5) Germany (20,1) (25,9) Chemical products 300 432 55 040 France (57,7) (64,7) Germany (29,6) (13,3) Copper 244 351 62 844 Germany (54,3) (53,5) Belgium / Luxembourg (32,8) (25,3) Ferro-alloys 209 509 61 174 Germany (43,6) (55,4) France (29,5) (19,3) Italy (22,9) (18,6) Gold coins 189 225 38 849 Germany (71,4) (67,1) Belgium / Luxembourg (27,2) (32,9)
(]) Source: Eurostat — Comext.
Exports from the European Community to South Africa in products), parts of motor vehicles (7%), internal 1984 represent only about 2% of the Community's total combustion engines (5,4%) and data processing machinery export market, but for certain products, however, the South (4,8 %). In value, for 1984 and the first quarter of 1985, the African market is much more important - telephone principal exports of the Community to South Africa, with the apparatus (8,9% of total Community exports of these major exporters by Member State, were as follows: 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/5
Value ('000 Ecu) Major importers (')
1984 January-March Product January-March 1984 1985 1985 (%) (%)
Machinery and mechanical apliances 2 071 494 442 760 Germany (43,4) (46,9) and parts including: United Kingdom (24,6) (23,3) — data processing machinery 311 785 70 015 United Kingdom (45,4) (38,0) Germany (20,4) (23,8) — internal combustion engines 238 101 40 118 Germany (80,9) (78,7) United Kingdom (12,7) (13,6) — nuclear reactors etc. 156 454 36 698 Germany (52,9) (49,5)
Motor vehicles and parts including: 1 126 743 203 143 Germany (66,1) (69,6) United Kingdom (23,6) (21,8) — motor vehicle parts 675 752 115 210 Germany (81,7) (84,8) — motor vehicles 292 586 44 256 United Kingdom (42,5) (38,9) Germany (40,2) (49,8)
Electrical equipment including: 717 381 177 651 Germany (46,7) (48,8) United Kingdom (26,4) (21,4) — telephone apparatus 164 617 45 225 Germany (63,9) (67,6)
Plastics etc. 271 305 61 048 Germany (35,1) (36,3) United Kingdom (33,8) (39,8)
Source: Eurostat — Comext.
Figures later than for the first quarter of 1985 on a 2. Portfolio Community-wide basis are not yet available. For further investment 3.(1+2) 1. Direct Net dis details of 1984 trade, the Commission would refer the and other Net investment investment Honourable Member to the statistics available from long-term investment Eurostat, all of which should be available to the Parliament's capital Secretariat. 1982 ( + ) 67 — As far as investments in South Africa are concerned, the (-) 72 — Commission has only figures showing investment flows for Net - 5 + 22 — 17 nine of the EC Member States together (not including the 1983 United Kingdom). In the table which follows (Table I), the ( + ) 7 — Honourable Member will find these figures calculated (-) 118 — according to internationally accepted accounting rules for Net -111 -290 -401 — balance of payment flows. 1984 ( + ) 24 — Table I (-) 168 — Net -143 -339 -482 — European Community's (without United Kingdom) transactions with South Africa - 1980-1984 (') (*) Source: Statistical Office of the European Communities.
— Direct investment, portfolio investment and other long-term For the United Kingdom, the figures are calculated slightly capital (balance of payments assets) differently and the Honourable Member will find the figures (million ECU) which are available in Table II which follows.
2. Portfolio Table II investment 3. (1+2) 1. Direct Net dis and other Net United Kingdom capital transactions with South Africa investment investment long-term investment 1980-1984 (') capital (million ECU) 1980 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 ( + ) 39 — (-) 98 — Net - 60 -277 -337 — Direct investment — outward invest Not 1981 ment (exclud avail ( + ) 25 — ing oil companies -388 -528 -407 -504 able (-) 145 — Net -120 -154 -274 — I1) Source: Statistical Office of the European Communities. NoC 182/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
On the subject of sales of arms by the Member States, the this Decision to damage and restrict, rather than promote, 10 Member States of the Community in the framework of Greece's export potential. European Political Cooperation have declared on several occasions that they scrupulously respect their oligations Would the Commission state therefore: under UN Security Council Resolution No 418 of 1977 on the embargo of arms to South Africa. On 10 September 1. Why it is ignoring the serious worsening of Greece's 1985, within the framework of European Political foreign trade deficit during the first six months of 1985 Cooperation, the Foreign Ministers of the Ten decided to by 13,7 % in US dollars compared with the harmonize a series of both restrictive and positive measures corresponding period last year, while the foreign trade in respect of South Africa. The restrictive measures also balances of most European countries over the same concern embargos on the import and export of arms, period have improved? paramilitary and sensitive products. Why is it ignoring in particular the fact that during this
J period exports in Greece have declined while imports According to the latest figures available (1982) ( ) South have risen, whereas exports of other EEC Member States Africa's exports total some US$ 17 792 million, whilst have improved owing to the fall of the dollar and the imports are valued at US$ 16 939 million. In both cases, the development of international trade over the same period, European Community is South Africa's largest trading etc.? partner, supplying some 38 % of its imports and taking 21 % of its exports. 2. Why is the Commission adding to the problems facing After the Community the most important export markets for Greece's trade balance which has already suffered very South Africa are Japan (8,75%), the United States (6,9%) severely from the EEC accession arrangements and Switzerland (5,3%). implemented so far, notably the dismantling of tariff barriers, the gradual reduction of tax protection for industry by means of a regulatory tax, the relaxation of On the import side, the same countries are the most import quotas, the abolition of a series of national aids significant suppliers after the Community of South Africa's and subsidies etc.? imported requirements: (USA) 15%, (Japan) 10,1% and (Switzerland) 3,2 %. 56 %of imports from the United States are machines and transport equipment, and 13 % chemicals. 3. Is the Commission unaware that Greece's trade balance 48 % of exports to that country are basic manufactured and foreign payments balance will receive a new and goods and 18% miscellaneous manufactured goods. powerful shock on 1 January 1986 when — at the demand of the Commission — the arrangements for the (') Source: UN Geneva. termination of the transitional period will be applied, namely the total dismantling of tariff barriers and elimination of import quotas, the relaxation of financial controls, etc. and the implementation of value added tax?
4. Why is the Commission behaving in a discriminatory manner towards Greece when the Treaty of Rome itself provides for export subsidies for regions of the Federal WRITTEN QUESTION No 1649/85 Republic of Germany and a series of other subsidies? by Mr Alexandros Alavanos (COM—GR) 5. In view of these problems facing Greece's trade balance to the Commission of the European Communities and the even gloomier prospects for the immediate (12 September 1985) future, why is the Commission launching a new attack on (86/C 182/06) the Greek economy by its decisions, proceedings instituted with the Court of Justice, etc., instead of helping to find a solution? Subject: The discontinuance of export subsidies Does the Commission intend to cease these activities, and if In a Decision published in the Official Journal of the so, when? European Communities, the Commission is seeking the abolition of tax repayment, etc. (based primarily on the decision of the Monetary Committee) since it is considered to be a form of export aid and thus incompatible with the common market under Article 92(1) of the Treaty of Rome. Answer given by Mr Sutherland on behalf of the Commission Leaving aside the question to what extent these subsidies (6 May 1986) actually benefit Greek exports or further the interests of major undertakings, and whether they need to be modified in the interests of the Greek economy — a matter of Greek Since the Honourable Member put this question, the internal policy — it is clear that the Commission intends in Commission has authorized Greece to take certain protective 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/7 measures in view of its balance-of-payments difficulties; the payments. It will, however, contribute to the relevant Decision, under Article 108 (3) of the EEC Treaty, establishment of a healthier tax system. was published in Official Journal No L 373 of 31 December 1985. 4. The Treaty does not provide for export subsidies for particular regions of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Commission is not aware of the existence of any such aid. Certain types of aid may be considered In its Decision under Article 92 of the EEC Treaty to which compatible with the common market when they fulfil the the Honourable Member refers in his question, the conditions set out in Article 92 (3) of the Treaty, and the Commission found that the payments made to Greek Commission will authorize the Greek Government, as it exporters by virtue of Decision No 1574 / 70 of the Monetary will the Government of any other Member State, to grant Committee were a form of export aid, i.e. government aid to them. give firms an artificial advantage when selling their products abroad. Such aid is liable to force efficient and competitive 5. When Greece joined the Community, it undertook, like firms unable to receive similar aid out of the market. the other Member States, to stick to certain rules that ensure that the system works. As to measures under common policies, Greece is still a major net recipient from the Community budget, for amounts representing Normally, countries protect themselves against imports at over 2 % of its annual gross domestic product; in artificially low prices that can damage their own economies addition, Greece receives financial resources equivalent with counter-measures such as countervailing duty, import to almost 1 % of its annual gross domestic product. quotas and so on. However, the Member States have by Treaty waived application of such measures to one another. They could not have done so if the Commission had not at the same time been granted authority to monitor national aid measures. In particular, the Commission must see to it that national governments do not grant to their own firms aids that will put firms from other Community countries at a disadvantage. That is why aid measures within the WRITTEN QUESTION No 1799/85 Community are not just an internal matter for the Member States. by Mr Marijke Van Hemeldonck (S—B) to the Commission of the European Communities 1. The deficit on Greece's balance on goods and services is (14 October 1985) the result of many years of structurally unbalanced (86/C 182/07) developments which the Commission is watching closely. It has found that the imbalance is worsening, Subject: Parallel imports of medical products more as a result of the decline in the surplus on services than as a result of a deterioration in the trade balance itself. Can the Commission give figures on the scale of parallel imports of medical products for the various Member States and their impact, if any, on prices in the Member States? The Commission has frequently expressed concern about the situation, in particular in its annual economic reports. It has constantly stressed that the imbalance arose from the failure of domestic demand to adjust to the various changes in the external environment since the Answer given by Lord Cockfield end of the 1970s, with accession to the Community only on behalf of the Commission one among them. (23 April 1986)
The official statistics on trade between Member States do not 2. Export aid is forbidden because it can seriously damage distinguish between direct and parallel imports. This makes trade between Member States. It is not even an efficient it difficult to assess the actual scale of parallel imports of form of aid, for it is unlikely to contribute durably to proprietary drugs. improving the health of businesses, since it merely tackles symptoms, delays necessary adjustment measures and, in Clearly, parallel imports of medicines primarily affect those brief, wastes precious resources. Member States where prices for such products are higher than elsewhere. These are currently the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Denmark. A study recently carried out for the Commission 3. In 1985, economic maladjustment in Greece led to a has shown that parallel imports of medicines represent a further deterioration in external equilibrium. On 14 significant share of the market only in the Netherlands October, the Greek Government therefore adopted a (between 5 and 10 %). In the Federal Republic of Germany series of corrective measures, at the same time devaluing they account for barely 1 % of total sales and in the United the drachma. The introduction of value added tax has no Kingdom 1,5 %; there are practically no parallel imports impact in itself on Greece's balance of trade or of into Denmark. It should perhaps be pointed out, however, No C 182/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 that parallel imports of individual products may represent 2. What associations have made use of this money over the appreciable shares of sales in specific markets. last five years?
Account should also be taken of the fact that final consumers gain no advantage from parallel imports where they pay a 3. What initiatives it has supported? fixed contribution towards the cost of a drug, as in the first three countries referred to earlier. Medical insurance bodies will only benefit to the extent that different reimbursement 4. How many projects is has so far approved? rates apply to medicines imported in parallel, which does not happen in most cases.
Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION No 1809/85 (24 February 1986) by Mr Jean-Pierre Abelin (PPE—F) to the Commission of the European Communities (14 October 1985) There is no specific Community fund under which direct (86/C 182/08) subsidies may be granted to local initiatives. The existing guidelines for the European Social Fund (ESF), however, Subject: ERDF aid in France authorize co-funding for employment initiatives taken by local groups. For details on selection criteria and general Would the Commission list the applications by France to the Commission activities as a follow-up to the Council ERDF regarding the Poitou-Charentes region which are at resolution of 7 June 1984 (') on the contribution of local present being considered by the European Communities? employment initiatives combating unemployment, attention is drawn to the joint answer given by the Commission to Written Questions Nos 127, 128 and 129 by Mr Martin (2) and to the joint answer to Written Questions No 2367/84 by Mr Vandemeulebroucke and No 30/85 by Mr Answer given by Mr Varfis Huckfield (3). on behalf of the Commission (11 December 1985) With regard to the Honourable Member's question on the The Commission takes the view that grant applications number of projects financed/approved over the last five submitted to it by Member States must be examined years, it would be misleading to list just the number of confidentially. projects co-funded under the guideline provisions directly relevant to local employment initiatives, since a considerable As all grant applications for metropolitan France are drawn number of projects have been introduced under other up and submitted by Datar (Delegation a l'Amenagement du guideline provisions. For this reason, the Commission regrets Territoire et a l'Action Regionale), the Commission suggests it is unable to give a full listing. In regard to activities relating that the Honourable Member might apply direct to that body to the year 1984, attention is drawn to the Commission's for the information requested. Annual Report on the activities of the ESF for 1984 (4) and in particular to pages 64—67.
Since 1983, the Commission has been granting small launching subsidies for co-operatives and other local employment initiatives by women. The encouragement of WRITTEN QUESTION No 2017/85 such initiatives is based upon action 12 of the New by Mrs Marlene Lenz (PPE—D) Community Action Programme on the Promotion of Equal Opportunities for Women, 1982—1985 (5) which calls for to the Commission of the European Communities efforts to promote the desegregation of employment at all (18 November 1985) levels of the occupational hierarchy. If they are to be eligible (86/C 182/09) for a subsidy, local employment initiatives must enable women to manage their own affairs, as exemplified by women's co-operatives. As set out in the Action Programme, Subject: European Community subsidies for local interest such projects must also serve to create additional jobs. groups
Can the Commission state Thus the creation of 18 women's co-operatives and local 1. The qualitative and quantitative criteria by which local employment initiatives has been grant-aided by the interest groups (e.g. support for unemployed women) are Commission in this way since 1983 (excluding those 1985 selected to receive subsidies? projects not yet finally approved at the time of writing). It is 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/9 envisaged to continue supporting this type of project during 1977 (77/799/EECM1) and 6 December 1979 the period covered by the Medium-Term Action Programme (79/1070/EEC) (2) into national law until the end of 1985 on Equal Opportunities (1986—1990) transmitted to the (see Article 2 of the 1986 Tax Adjustment Law — BGB1.-I of Council on 19 December 1985 (6). The Commission will 24 December 1985, p. 2436). send directly to the Honourable Member and to the General Secretariat of the Parliament a list of the projects concerned. The Commission has instituted proceedings in this matter It will be seen from this list that the projects are extremely against the Federal Republic of Germany under Article 169 diverse as regards content, sectors of activity, and the of the EEC Treaty for its failure to fulfil its obligations under Member States/regions in which they are located. the Treaty and will decide whether or not to proceed with that action after it has closely examined the German (») OJNoC 161, 21. 6. 1984. implementing measures. (2) OJ No C 251, 2. 10. 1985. 3 ( ) OJ No C 255, 7. 10. 1985. As for Greece, the Directive on mutual assistance in the field (4) COM(85) 508. 5 of turnover tax has at present no relevance, since Greece has ( ) OJ No C 149, 14. 6. 1982, p. 54. (6) COM(85) 801 final. not yet introduced such a tax. Moreover, even the incorporation into national law of the Directive on mutual assistance in the field of direct taxation must, in the case of Greece, be considered in conjunction with the adoption of the whole system of Community tax law. The Commission is pressing Greece to adopt the entire system as rapidly as possible. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2024/85 by Mr Karl von Wogau (PPE—D) The Commission is not yet aware of any measures taken by to the Commission of the European Communities Spain or Portugal to incorporate the Directives into national law; according to the Commission's information, all the (13 November 1985) other Member States have incorporated both Directives into (86/C 182/10) national law.
Subject: Mutual assistance by the competent authorities of 3. Experience in the Member States up to now in the the Member States in the field of direct taxation and context of mutual assistance in tax matters has revealed that value added tax the Member States are not making all the use that would be desirable of the opportunities afforded them under the two The Council Directives of 19 December 1977 Directives; they still seem to be operating on a bilateral (77/799/EECM1) and 6 December 1979 basis (3). Even more than in the field of direct taxation, such (79/1070/EEC) (2) regulate mutual assistance by the a state of affairs is regrettable where turnover tax is competent authorities of the Member States in the field of concerned, for the Directive is the only instrument of direct taxation and value added tax. Mutual assistance of this international cooperation. kind is of considerable importance with regard to the (>) OJ No L 336, 27. 12. 1977, p. 15. dismantling of tax frontiers between the Member States with 2 a view to the establishment of a European internal ( ) OJ No L 331, 27. 12. 1979, p. 8. (3) COM(84) 603 final, p. 4. market. 1. Have all the Member States operating VAT systems now put into effect the relevant provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in order to comply with the abovementioned Directives?
2. If not, which Member States have failed to put the WRITTEN QUESTION No 2037/85 provisions into effect and for what reasons? by Mr Raphael Chanterie (PPE—B) 3. Where the provisions laid down by law, regulation or to the Commission of the European Communities administrative action have been applied, what has been (13 October 1985) the experience of the Member States in their (86/C 182/11) international cooperation in the field of mutual assistance in matters of taxation? Subject: Mesh sizes of nets used to catch round and flat 0) OJNo L336, 27. 12. 1977, p. 15. fish (2) OJ No L 331, 27. 12. 1979, p. 8. Will the Commission state whether it would be possible to increase the mesh size of nets used to catch round and flat fish (plaice), e.g. to 110 mm? Answer given by Lord Cockfield on behalf of the Commission The immediate effect of larger mesh sizes would be: (11 April 1986) — fewer small fish on the market,
1 and 2. The Federal Republic of Germany did not take — less fuel used (as there would be less drag), steps to incorporate the Council Directives of 19 December — less rubbish and sand in the net (less work); NoC 182/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 and, in the longer term: WRITTEN QUESTION No 2044/85 — more fish would survive, thereby creating better fish by Mr Ernest Muhlen (PPE—L) stocks, to the Commission of the European Communities — higher quotas? (13 November 1985)) (86/C 182/12)
Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha on behalf of the Commission Subject: Practice of refusing the use of the national (12 March 1986) trademark 'Rose' for butter made from milk or cream not produced in Luxembourg The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the first four advantages listed would result from increases in 1. Is it true that Commissioner Nicolas Mosar sent a mesh sizes. Higher quotas would not necessarily result reasoned opinion to the Luxembourg Government on behalf because this would depend upon the size of the mesh. As a of the Commission on 14 August 1985, pointing out that the mixture of species is caught in all of the fisheries for national trademark system for butter in Luxembourg does bottom-living fish in Community waters, the mesh size must not comply with Community law, with specific reference to inevitably be a compromise designed to achieve the optimum the fact that use of the national trademark is not granted for catch from this mixture. butter made from milk or cream not produced in Luxembourg? For example, sole and plaice are caught together in the main flatfish fishery in the North Sea. The optimum mesh size for plaice is of the order of 140 mm, but such a mesh size would 2. Does the Commission apply these criteria to other not retain any sole. Neither would a mesh size of 110 mm registered descriptions of origin, 'Charentes-Poitou', retain many sole. 'Charentes' and 'Deux Sevres' butter for example, which are subject to regulations on the origin of milk and cream similar It is the policy of the Commission to propose increases in to those connected with the 'Rose' trademark? mesh sizes where these are justified by the scientific advice, but the Council has either failed to adopt these proposals or consistently postponed their implementation after such 3. Does the Luxembourg Government accept the proposals have been adopted. Commission's attitude to the 'Rose' trademark, as set out in Mr Mosar's letter? For example, the measure to increase the minimum mesh size from 80 mm to 90 mm in the North Sea with effect from 1 4. Does the Commission not think that its position is January 1984 was provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) J likely to affect other registered descriptions of origin used in No 171/83 of 25 January 1983 ( ), but its entry into force Luxembourg, such as those applied to wine or honey and has twice been postponed by the Council, initially to 1 which have not so far been contested, despite the prescription January 1985 (Regulation (EEC) No 2931/83 of 4 October of the origin of the products used in their manufacture? 1983 (2)) and then to 1 January 1987 (Regulation (EEC) No 1637/85 of 7 June 1984 (3)).
In its proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the second time Regulation (EEC) No 171/83 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources (4), the Commission proposed a series of mesh size Answer given by Mr Andriessen increases, none of which were accepted by the Council. on behalf of the Commission (3 April 1986) The main reason for which the Council has failed to adopt the proposals of the Commission or has deferred implementation of the increases which it has adopted appears 1. Yes. The Commission considers that the 'Rose' to be the problem of the short-term losses to the fishing trademark does not possess any specific qualities or industry which occur upon the introduction of larger mesh characteristics that result from its origin in a particular sizes. geographical area and does not, therefore, constitute a registered description of origin. The Commission is, for these The Commission will continue to propose the adoption of reasons, of the opinion that the practice of refusing the use of appropriate minimum mesh sizes in order to ensure the the national trademark for butter made from milk or cream conservation and balanced exploitation of fishery resources not produced in Luxembourg is not warranted under in the interest of both fishermen and consumers and the Community Law. achievement of the management objectives described by the Honourable Member. (>) OJNoL24, 27. 1. 1983, p. 14. 2. The Commission is aware of the existence of other (2) OJ No L 288, 21. 10. 1983, p. 1. registered descriptions of origin that may use criteria on the (3) OJ No L 156, 13. 6. 1984, p. 1. origin of milk and cream similar to those associated with the (4) COM(84) 269 final. 'Rose' trademark. The staff concerned are currently mustering detailed information on the arrangements in question for consideration by the Commission. The same 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/11 criteria will be applied for all cases found to be similar to that against the Netherlands before the Court of Justice on 24 July of the 'Rose' trademark. 1985 for its failure to comply.
3. The Luxembourg Government maintains its position The Court has not yet ruled. that the 'Rose' trademark is a registered description of origin. It has, however, recently submitted a draft Order of the (') OJ NoL97, 4. 4. 1985, p. 49. Government in Council establishing a different quality description for Luxembourg butter excluding the criterion of the origin of the cream as justification for entitlement. This text is currently being examined by the Commission.
4. It is clear from the answer to the first question that the Commission contests the designation of the 'Rose' trademark as a registered description of origin. It follows that its WRITTEN QUESTION No 2070/85 position is not likely to affect genuine descriptions of origin. by Mr Alfred Lomas (S—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities (18 November 1985) (86/C 182/14)
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2068/85 Subject: Conservation of wild birds by Mr Alfeo Mizzau (PPE—I) to the Commission of the European Communities Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the (18 November 1985) conservation of wild birds (*) allows the shooting of thrushes (86/C 182/13) and some other species to remain legal within France, although the sale of thrushes is quite illegal. Will the Subject: Dutch natural gas and subsidized prices for Commission give its opinion on the continued legality of floriculture shooting thrushes, and other wild birds, in some Member States? Given that: — Dutch floriculturists enjoy preferential treatment in the Is the Commission aware that thrushes are cooked and served form of cut-price natural gas supplies for heating in restaurants in France? What action will the Commission greenhouses, take to prevent restaurants from breaching the Council Directive. — the abovementioned subsidies are incompatible with the regulations of the Treaty of Rome and give Dutch H OJ No L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1. floriculturists an unfair competitive advantage over other European floriculturists and those in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in particular, what measures does the Commission intend to take vis-a-vis Answer given by Mr Clinton Davis the Dutch Government to ensure equal treatment for on behalf of the Commission European floriculturists? (15 April 1986)
Answer given by Mr Andriessen Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the on behalf of the Commission conservation of wild birds authorizes the hunting and (10 April 1986) marketing of certain bird species under certain conditions.
The Commission considers the measures referred to by the For example, Article 7 of the Directive specifies that certain Honourable Member as incompatible with the common species may be hunted under national legislation. In market under Article 92 (1) of the Treaty. particular, subject to the conditions imposed by Article 7, thrushes may be hunted in France, Italy and Greece. It considers that the preferential tariff for natural gas for Dutch horticulturists is a form of aid as defined in Article 92 On the other hand, if is illegal to market thrushes because (1) which is ineligible for any of the derogations provided they are not among the species which can be marketed by way for. of an exception in accordance with Article 6 of the On 22 February 1985, in accordance with the procedure laid Directive. down in Article 93 (2), it therefore sent a negative decision to the Netherlands Government stating that the measure was In accordance with the general principles underlying the incompatible with the common market and should be Community's institutional system and governing relations revoked (1). between the Community and the Member States, it is the responsibility of the Member States, pursuant to Article 5 of As the Netherlands Government failed to comply with the the EEC Treaty, to ensure that Community legislation is terms of the decision, the Commission brought an action implemented in their territory. NoC 182/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
Having said that, if a case of failure to implement the I should appreciate all this information in table form. provisions of a Directive by a Member State, in this case the marketing of thrushes in France, is referred to the I should also like to know the Commission's position with Commission, the latter would be able to avail itself of the regard to such regional responsibilities, particularly in view powers provided for in Article 169 of the EEC Treaty with of the accession of Spain and its autonomous regions? regard to infringement procedures. ») OJNo L 194 25. 7. 1975,p . 23. 2) OJ No L 194 25. 7. 1975,p . 26. 3) OJ No L 194 25. 7. 1985,p . 39. In view of its concern that this Directive should be properly 4) OJ No L 108 26. 4. 1976,p . 41. implemented in the Member States, the Commission has s) OJ No L 54, 25. 2. 1978, p. 19. initiated infringement procedures against all the Member 6) OJ No L 84,31 . 3. 1978, p. 43. States either because the provisions of the Directive have not 7) OJ No L 259 15. 10.1979 , p. 10. been fully incorporated into national law or because they 8) OJ No L 271 29. 10.1979 , p. 44. have not been properly implemented. The procedures in question have been brought either at the Commission's initiative or as a result of complaints which the Commission has received from private individuals about national WRITTEN QUESTION No 2110/85 practices which are not in keeping with the objectives of the by Mr Willy Kuijpers (ARC—B) Directive. to the Commission of the European Communities (27 November 1985) The Commission has also contacted the administrative and (86/C 182/16) political authorities in the Member States to urge them to implement the Directive properly. Subject: Proceedings instituted by the Commission against the Kingdom of Belgium
The Commission of the European Communities has instituted proceedings against Belgium for failure to comply with four Directives on the environment.
In Belgium, the environment is dealt with at regional level and is the responsibility of the autonomous regions. However, there are a number of exeptions for which the WRITTEN QUESTION No 2108/85 national Government is responsible. by Mr Willy Kuijpers (ARC—B) Can the Commission provide the following information: to the Commission of the European Communities 1. Do the Directives which have not been complied with (27 November 1985) - cover matters that are the responsibility of the Flemish and Walloon regions or the responsibility of the national (86/C 182/15) Government?
2. If the matters concerned are a regional responsibility, can Subject: Second annual report to the European Parliament the Commission say which region has complied with the on Commission monitoring of the application of Directives and which region has failed to do so? Community law 3. What is the Commission's position with regard to regional responsibility in this area (failure to comply with This report (COM(85) 149 final) indicates that Belgium has Directives), particularly in view of the forthcoming failed to comply with a number of Directives on the accession of Spain where the regions also enjoy environment, namely Directives 75/439/EEC (!) on constitutional autonomy? disposal of waste oil, 75/440/EEC (2) on the quality of surface water, 75/422/EEC (3) on waste, 76/403/EEC (4) on disposal of PCBs andPCTs, 78/176/EEC (5)on titanium dioxide waste, 78/319/EEC (6) on toxic and dangerous Joint answer given by Mr Delors waste, 79/831/EEC (7) on dangerous substances and on behalf of the Commission 8 79/869/EEC ( ) on the analysis of surface water. However, (1 April 1986) since the 1980 constitutional reform, the environment has been dealt with on a regional basis, responsibility lying with Decisions of the Court of Justice have clearly established (see the autonomous regions of Flanders and Wallonia. Cases 96/81 and 97/81: Commission v. Netherlands / 1982 / ECR 1791 et seq.) that each Member State is free to For all the environmental Directives with which the Belgian delegate powers to its domestic authorities as it considers fit Government has failed to comply, can the Commission and to implement a Directive by means of measures adopted indicate whether responsibility for the subject concerned lies by regional or local authorities. Community law is, with the regions or with the Member State itself (in the case of accordingly, applied and implemented in a Member State Directives which have not been complied with) and which of according to the powers and procedures determined by the the Directives have indeed been complied with by one of the constitution of that State or in another manner and the regions concerned (e.g. Flanders) and not by the other? Commission is quite unable to interfere in the matter. 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/13
As regards the implementation in Belgium of the Directives (books, clothes, school trips and holidays, public mentioned by the Honourable Member, the situation is, transport to school, etc.)? according to the latest information available to the Commission, as follows: 2. If so, what were the findings of this study, broken down Directive 75/440/EEC concerning the quality required of by Member State and income group? surface water and Directive 79/869/EEC concerning the methods of measurement and frequencies of sampling and 3. What conclusions has the Commission drawn from the analysis of surface water are incorporated correctly in study? Belgian national law. On the other hand, the Commission has brought an action before the Court of Justice because Belgium has failed to adopt the measures necessary to incorporate into national law the provisions of Directive 78/319/EEC on toxic and Answer given by Mr Pfeiffer dangerous waste and Directive 79/831 /EEC on dangerous on behalf of the Commission substances. (7 April 1986) Moreover, the Commission has brought a further action before the Court of Justice for failure to implement the Court's Decisions concerning non-application of three other The Statistical Office of the European Communities Directives listed in the Honourable Member's question. currently has data at its disposal concerning expenditure in individual Member States (with the exception of Luxembourg and Portugal), based on national surveys on family budgets carried out around 1980. These data have been incorporated in harmonized tables in which the information is broken down by several different criteria: WRITTEN QUESTION No 2113/85 by Mr Willy Kuijpers (ARC—B) — socio-economic category, to the Commission of the European Communities — type of household, (27 November 1985) — income bracket, (86/C 182/17) — urban/rural environment. Subject: Family budget for education The cost of transport to and from school, stationery, Virtually half the Belgian families with children of school age clothing, etc., are included in the corresponding items of the spend between Bfrs 3 000 and 6 000 per child at the general classification and cannot be separated. beginning of the school year. Once the children are 12 years old, these costs may well rise to Bfrs 10 000. The table given below, therefore, gives figures for All this eats into the family budget considerably and, 'Educational fees' only, which covers registration fees, school according to studies carried out in Flanders, many families charges and all costs relating to private schools. These figures make a real financial sacrifice to buy what their children need taken from the following Eurostat publications: for school. — Family budgets — Comparative tables: Germany — Can the Commission say: France '— Italy — United Kingdom 1. Whether there is a European study of family budgets — Family budgets — Comparative tables: Netherlands — with specific reference to expenditure on education Belgium — Denmark — Greece — Ireland — Spain
Educational fees by income category (Total expenditure = 10 000)
D F I NL B UK IRL DK GR ES
Total population 39 76 H 22 82 62 54 78 29 121 211 Income lower than first quartile 13 40(») 3 41 14 15 58 22 36 86 Income between first quartile and the median 25 60(') 11 52 43 20 39 26 86 154 Income between the median and the third quartile 34 70(M 22 77 56 33 60 25 114 188 Income higher than the third quartile 49 100 (') 28 119 91 93 114 36 156 288
(') Includes half board.
Since these figures only partly cover expenditure on education, no significant conclusions can be drawn from them. NoC 182/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2133/85 Commission not feel that there should be a total ban on by Mrs Vera Squarcialupi (COM—I) certain hormonal substances in livestock farming and fattening, as proposed by the European Parliament, so that, to the Commission of the European Communities in the interests of the consumer, those countries which have (27 November 1985) strict regulations do not suffer as a result and, more (86/C 182/18) specifically, competition is not distorted in favour of those countries where the regulations governing the use of hormones are more lenient? Subject: Dangerous foodstuffs in EEC trade
x Can the Commission state whether warning of the dangerous 2. Directive 85/73/EEC( ) concerns the nature of certain foodstuffs reported by the Federal Republic of Germany was given early enough to EEC countries to implementation of health inspections and the fees payable: enable them to prevent sales of the products concerned: a) on slaughter; 1. frankfurters containing formaldehyde, a substance considered to be carcinogenic, and produced in b) on imports from third countries. Rhineland-Palatinate and Westphalia; Does the Commission not feel that the introduction of fees 2. 'Rio de la Plata' tinned sardines from Spain containing for a third category — such as the Grand Duchy of toxic doses of histamine? Luxembourg's proposed fees for permanent monitoring of meat processing establishments — will lead to discrimination and, subsequently, to the distortion of competition, contrary to the spirit of the Directive in question, which aims to establish uniform conditions for competition for products, Answer given by Lord Cockfield most of which are covered by a common market on behalf of the Commission organization? (2 April 1986) (M OJNoL32, 5. 2. 1985, p. 14.
The instances mentioned by the Honourable Member did not trigger any alert at Community level since, according to the findings of the German authorities, the products involved were unlikely to be sent to other Member States. 1. In this case the cooked or preserved meats are produced locally, on a small scale, and are not sold widely. Answer given by Mr Andriessen on behalf of the Commission 2. In the second case the accused product was a batch of (17 March 1986) preserved anchovies. It was possible to identify their sole distribution and the consignment was withdrawn from sale. 1. On 19 December 1985, the Council adopted a It was in this way possible to avoid any danger to consumers Directive prohibiting the use of hormones for livestock in the Member States. fattening. This is a measure which is in line with Parliament's views and should put a stop to distortions of competition.
2. On 29 January 1985, the Council adopted Directive 85/73/EEC on the financing of health inspections and controls of fresh meat and poultrymeat (*). The field of application of the Directive is stated in the recitals. It covers health inspections and controls: WRITTEN QUESTION No 2175/85 by Mr Ernest Miihlen (PPE—L) — at the place of production, as laid down in Directive 2 to the Commission of the European Communities 64/433/EEC ( ) (meat of bovine animals, swine, sheep, goats and domestic solipeds) and 71/118/EEC (3) (3 December 1985) (poultrymeat); (86/C 182/19) — as laid down in Directive 72/462/EEC (4) (meat of bovine animals, swine, sheep, goats and domestic Subject: Banning of hormones in livestock farming and solipeds imported from third countries) and pursuant to fattening and collection of fees for health Article 15 of Directive 71/118/EEC) (poultrymeat inspections on meat imported from third countries);
1. At present, the regulations governing the use of — required under national inspection schemes for meat to hormones differ from country to country. Does the be sold on the domestic market. 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/15
Furthermore, Article 12 of Council Directive 85/358/EEC operate the provisions of Article 7 (1) of the Regulation of 16 July 1985 supplementing Directive 81/602/EEC relating to the payment of a premium to a young farmer on concerning the prohibition of certain substances having a first installation and discussions with the Irish Authorities in hormonal action and of any substances having a thyrostatic this regard are proceeding. action (5) provides that 'Member States shall ensure, except where expenses are incurred by the application of Articles 3 2. So far, six Member States have undertaken to grant the and 6, that the expenses entailed by the controls referred to in first installation premium (Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Article 2 et seq. are charged against the fees laid down by Greece and Luxembourg). Directive 85/73/EEC. In four Member States (Belgium, Denmark, France and The Commission considers that inspections and controls Luxembourg), these schemes are already in operation. These carried out pursuant to the Council Directive of 21 December Member States have also in the past already implemented 1976 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in identical or similar first installation aid systems. meat products (6) are not covered by Directive 85/73/EEC. Harmonized principles for the financing of inspections of establishments manufacturing meat products have therefore not yet been adopted at Community level.
(») OJNoL32, 5. 2. 1985, p. 14. (2) OJ No L 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64. (3) OJ No L 55, 8. 3. 1971, p. 23. (4) OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. 5 ( ) OJ No L 191, 23. 7. 1985, p. 46. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2205/85 (6) OJ No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 85. by Mr Gene Fitzgerald (RDE—IRL) to the Commission of the European Communities (5 December 1985) (86/C 182/21)
Subject: Information to workers on impact of new WRITTEN QUESTION No 2197/85 technology by Mr Ray MacSharry (RDE—IRL) to the Commission of the European Communities In adopting the Brok report and resolution Doc. A 2-97/85, (5 December 1985) Parliament asked the Commission to prepare a proposal for a Directive relating to information, consultation and (86/C 182/20) negotiation between labour and management about rationalization plans, working methods, production Subject: Establishment of young farmers processes, health protection and safety at work with regard to the changes in the work environment brought about by 1. Has the Irish Government made a formal application new technologies, with a view to establishing social for aid under the EEC's scheme for the establishment of partnership at factory and company level. young farmers under the new Community farm structures programme? Could the Commission please indicate if and when it intends to prepare and present such a proposal for a Directive? 2. Could the Commission reveal which Member States have so far formally applied for aid under the scheme?
How many schemes have commenced, and in which Member States? Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (25 March 1986)
Answer given by Mr Andriessen on behalf of the Commission The question of informing and consulting workers on the impact of the new technologies was on the agenda of the (10 March 1986) meeting held at Val Duchesse on 12 November 1985 on the initiative of Mr Delors, President of the Commission, which 1. The Irish Government intends to grant the additional brought together top-level representatives of the European investment aid provided for in Article 7 (2) of Regulation Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Union of (EEC) No 797/85 for the implementation improvement Industries of the European Community (UNICE). plans submitted by young farmers within five years of their taking over a holding for the first time. The Commission At the conclusion of this meeting it was decided to set up a understands that the Irish Government also intends to restricted working party made up of ETUC and UNICE NoC 182/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 representatives, which would examine the possibility of market (l), the Commission is not at this stage considering arriving at a joint approach to a social dialogue on the any practical measures concerning associations. introduction of the new technologies, thus promoting such dialogue at the appropriate levels, in particular at single-firm The Commission has no specific short-term solutions to and sector levels, in line with the procedures pertaining in the propose to the problem of divergences in the Member States' individual Member States. laws on the formation of associations. If it appeared that there were serious obstacles to the freedom of establishment At the appropriate time the Commission will decide, in the of associations, the Commission would take the necessary light of the working party's progress, whether and when it steps to remedy the situation. will put before the Council a proposal for a Directive on the H COM(85) 310 final. information and consultation of the workers regarding the new technologies.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2222/85 by Mrs Marijke Van Hemeldonck (S—B) to the Commission of the European Communities WRITTEN QUESTION No 2221/85 (5 December 1985) by Mr Florus Wijsenbeek (L—NL) (86/C 182/23) to the Commission of the European Communities (5 December 1985) Subject: Recognition of the Hageland as a development (86/C 182/22) area
Can the Commission indicate what information it has Subject: Organizations in the Euroregions received from the Belgian Authorities to make it decide North Hageland should no longer be considered a development Is the Commission aware that, within the Euroregions, area? transfrontier associations of many different kinds are being organized but are encountering serious difficulties as a result Is the Commission aware of the unemployment trends in this of the divergences in the various Member States' laws on the region? formation of associations? Does the Commission believe that the Belgian Authorities have provided it with sufficient information to enable it to Does the Commission intend to create European law to cover arrive at a proper distribution of development areas in associations as it has done for companies? Belgium?
Can the Commission propose any short-term solutions for Is the Commission considering reversing its decision the associations concerned in the Euroregions? concerning the Hageland?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2231/85 Answer given by Lord Cockfield on behalf of the Commission by Mr Willy Vernimmen (S—B) (5 March 1986) to the Commission of the European Communities (11 December 1985) (86/C 182/24) The Commission is not aware of the serious difficulties encountered by transfrontier associations within the Euroregions as a result of the divergences in Member States' Subject: Development area status for Hageland laws on the formation of associations. This year the Commission decided that Hageland would no longer have the status of a development area. This is a severe Articles 52 and 58 of the EEC Treaty provide for freedom of establishment for companies or firms constituted under civil blow to this area. or commercial law, and other legal persons, except those that The advantages for development areas contained in the are non-profit-making. The companies or firms thus defined legislation on economic expansion are lost; are also covered by coordination Directives based on Article 54 (3) (g) of the EEC Treaty. the opportunities for engineering companies to set up in the Diest-Webbekom zone have been scrapped; To date, the Commission's efforts to harmonize provisions in this field have concentrated on limited liability companies. the redevelopment measures under the law of 31 July 1984 As is clear from the White Paper on completing the internal have been halted; 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/17
Community aid, in particular ERDF aid, is no longer WRITTEN QUESTION No 2236/85 available. by Mr Jochen van Aerssen (PPE—D)
What were the Commission's specific reasons for removing to the Commission of the European Communities Hageland's status as a development area? (11 December 1985) (86/C 182/25) Did it consider the arguments put forward by the regional development association for Flemish Brabant? Subject: Cooperation between Venezuela and the EC on fisheries If not, why not? Venezuela has expressed great interest in setting up joint If so, why did it not heed the recommendation that the status ventures with the Community in the fisheries sector. should be maintained? Is the Commission prepared to accept Venezuela's proposal, Lastly, was this a final decision? to help bring Venezuelan catches into the Community's programme and to transfer responsibility for marketing If not, when will the Commission reconsider the supplies of fresh fish and fisheries products (preserved fish, situation? fish oil, etc.) to the Community?
If so, will the Commission now draw up specific proposals? Joint answer given by Mr Sutherland on behalf of the Commission (9 April 1986) Answer given by Mr Cardose e Cunha on behalf of the Commission The Commission's decision of 31 July 1985 to terminate (6 March 1986) Noord-Hageland's status as a development area was taken after detailed study of the social and economic situation in At present the Community grants Venezuela certain fishing the areas concerned in both a national and a Community opportunities in the 200-mile zone off the coasts of the context. The study covered in particular: French department of Guiana. Closer cooperation to protect a) a comparison of unemployment rates in stocks in the Caribbean region is essential. Noord-Hageland from 1980 to 1984; As far as the Commission is aware, Venezuela has not yet b) changes in total employment and industrial employment submitted any special requests concerning fishing. from 1980 to 1982; It should be noted that relations with Latin American c) the trend of per capita tax revenue from 1979 to countries generally can only be strengthened as a result of 1982. enlargement. The Community has made provision in particular in Protocol 4 to the Act of Accession for a The Commission was therefore aware of the unemployment mechanism for additional responsibilities facilitating, within trends in the region. the framework of a fisheries agreement, the purchase of fishery products originating in the third country concerned The data used in this analysis were transmitted to the by Community vessels which are authorized to fish in those Commission by the Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs waters. Such a mechanism could apply to Venezuela if there and originated from the Flemish Regional Economic was interest on the part of both parties. Council, the Brabant Regional Economic Council and the association of local authorities, Interleuven.
This information was sufficient to carry out the abovementioned socio-economic analysis and to assess the situation in Noord-Hageland in relation to the national and Community averages. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2243/85 by Mrs Marijke Van Hemeldonck (S—B) The Commission is aware that Noord-Hageland is no longer eligible for the aid referred to now that it has lost its to the Commission of the European Communities development area status. (11 December 1985) (86/C 182/26) The Commissions decision is final. However, if the social and economic situation in the area concerned were to deteriorate sharply in the future, the Commission might Subject: Racist behaviour by Belgian immigration officers consider reviewing its decision. On 11 September 1985, the Indian journalist Dr Madhu Kishwar arrived in Ostend on her way to Zaventem to catch an aeroplane. Although the Belgian embassy in London had NoC 182/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 assured her that she would be able to obtain a transit visa in Eureka, held on 5 and 6 November 1985, it can be seen that Ostend, she was refused entry and put back on the ferry to Belgium has expressed an interest in three projects: Dover, having been mistreated and subjected to racist abuse Eurolaser, Eurotrac and European Research Network by the Belgian immigration officers. (ERN).
What action does the Commission intend to take to prevent Furthermore, the Commission points out that in accordance such inadmissible incidents from occurring at the with the declaration of principles relating to Eureka, Eureka Community's internal borders? projects will be prepared by an intensive exchange of information among enterprises, research institutes and — where appropriate — potential users, and finally will result from consultations among parties concerned. The Answer given by Mr Marin governments and the Commission give their support to the on behalf of the Commission exchange of information in order to inform all interested (11 April 1986) parties of planned projects.
On 14 December 1985, the Commission drew up a draft declaration on attitudes and organizations motivated by racism and xenophobia (!) and proposed that it be jointly adopted by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. It vigorously condemns all forms of discrimination, including those referred to by the WRITTEN QUESTION No 2269/85 Honourable Member and calls on the Member States to adopt the necessary measures to protect the identity and by Mr Roberto Costanzo (PPE—I) dignity of every member of society regardless of their to the Commission of the European Communities race. (11 December 1985) In addition, the Commission will help, by means of (86/C 182/28) information campaigns, to alert the population to the dangers of racism and xenophobia. Subject: EAGGF grants for rural infrastructure (') COM(85) 743 final. The objective of Regulation (EEC) No 1760/78 (x) is to improve public amenities in certain Mediterranean regions of the Community which are in an unfavourable situation owing to the absence or inadequacy of electricity and drinking water supplies or of a rural road network.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2254/85 However, certain regions exist where the projects carried out by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC—B) have not yet succeeded in reducing the structural disparities to the Commission of the European Communities compared to other more favoured regions. (11 December 1985) 1. Does the Commission consider that the aid granted has always been used for infrastructure projects which are (86/C 182/27) exclusively or primarily of benefit to the agricultural sector? Subject: Eureka projects 2. Does the Commission not consider that it should In connection with the two-day ministerial conference in recommend to the Member States that they should Hannover on this programme for cooperation in the field of adhere scrupulously to the spirit of Article 7 of the technology, many Member States were already able to put Regulation so as to prevent EAGGF grants being used for forward specific proposals concerning their own projects which could be financed by the ERDF or under contribution to this initiative. Most of the Member States are national measures relating to public works? also participating in the 10 initial projects. However, there is no sign of any participation at all on the part of Belgium. 0) OJNoL204, 28. 7. 1978, p. 1.
Can the Commission state the precise reasons for this?
Answer given by Mr Andriessen Answer given by Mr Narjes on behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission (3 March 1986) (11 April 1986) Infrastructure projects have generally observed the From the list of the first 10 Eureka projects which was conditions laid down in the Regulation. There have been published following the second ministerial conference on some projects, however, where (contrary to the details in the 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/19
aid application) the infrastructures were not in fact intended 4. Compensate Stanley Adams for the considerable legal primarily for agriculture. In such cases the Commission has costs not covered by aid that the Court of Justice can revoked the decisions granting the aid. grant?
In the costs mentioned above, the Commission has also called on the competent authorities concerned to ensure that the conditions and criteria laid down in Community rules are Answer given by Mr Delors strictly observed. on behalf of the Commission The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (4 March 1986) contributes in theory towards the provision of non-agricultural infrastructure. As the matter is sub judice the Commission can only answer the Honourable Member's question as follows: Nevertheless, pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EEC) No 1787/84 (J), the Fund may grant aid towards investments in 1. The Court requires the parties to reach agreement as to electrification, water supply and rural roads in mountain and the amount of damages to be paid within nine months. If hill or less-favoured areas as referred to in Directive they fail the Court will itself decide the amount. The 75/268/EEC, where they qualify for ERDF grants. Commission has been in touch with Mr Adams' legal advisers since 27 November 1985 and is still awaiting a Such aid may not be granted concurrently with aid from the submission from them with regard to the actual damage Guidance Section of the EAGGF. said to have been suffered combined with the figures necessary for calculating damages. (») OJNoL 169, 28. 6. 1984. 2. In order to comply with the Court's judgment, the Commission will naturally take account of all the circumstances of the case and any damage clearly shown to have resulted from the discovery of Mr Adams' identity by means of the documents which it handed over to Hoffmann-La Roche. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2275/85 by Mrs Bodil Boserup (COM—DK) 3. The Court has ordered the Commission to compensate Mr Adams for one half of the damages suffered by him as to the Commission of the European Communities a result of his being identified as the source of (11 December 1985) information regarding Hoffmann-La Roche's (86/C182/29) anti-competitive practices. The Court ordered this because Mr Adams had, in its view, contributed substantially to his own misfortunes. Subject: Damages for Stanley Adams 4. The Commission is unable to answer this part of the The European Court of Justice has recently delivered question because the Court has reserved the costs. The judgment in the case brought by Stanley Adams against the Commission does not know whether the Court will Commission. The Court upholds Stanley Adams' assertion consider that all of Mr Adams' legal expenses are that the Commission acted thoughtlessly and extremely reasonable and should be repaid by the Court's legal aid unwisely when it handed over certain documents to the fund, or otherwise. Hoffman-La Roche pharmaceutical company which enabled it to identify Stanley Adams as the Commission's source of information about its illegal trading practices.
The Court ordered the Commission to pay damages to Stanley Adams, and set a deadline of nine months for closure of the case. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2285/85 Will the Commission: by Mrs Jacqueline Hoffmann (COM—F) 1. Admit that nine months is an unnecessarily long time to to the Commission of the European Communities wait before putting an end to this unseemly case, and (12 December 1985) seek a speedy settlement with Stanley Adams? (86/C 182/30) 2. Bear fully in mind that Stanley Adams has had to suffer the consequences — involving both imprisonment and Subject: EEC Directive of 1975 on redundancies poverty — of the Commission's folly for more than 10 years? Can the Commission state which Member States apply in full the EEC Directive of 1975 on collective redundancies? 3. Forsake entirely its previous attitude of granting only minor damages to Stanley Adams despite the fact that he What proceedings have been taken for violation of the acted exclusively in the Commission's interest? Directive, and what was the outcome in each case? No C 182/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
Answer given by Mr Marin the Community shall, in accordance with the general on behalf of the Commission principles common to the laws of the Member States, make (3 March 1986) good any damage caused by its institutions or by its servants in the performance of their duties'. Article 178 of the Treaty provides that the Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction in All the Member States — except Italy, Belgium and Greece — disputes relating to compensation for the damage in have conformed to the provisions of the Directive in question. question.
As regards application of the Directive On that basis, the Court of Justice of the European Communities gave judgment on 7 November 1985 in Case by Italy: 145/83 between Mr Stanley Adams and the Commission, The Court of Justice found in June 1982 (J) that this country which was 'ordered to compensate the applicant to the extent was not living up to its Community obligations in this field. of one half of the damage suffered by him as a result of the When Italy failed to observe this judgment, a new judgment fact that he was identified as the source of information which by the Court of Justice handed down on 6 November 1985 led the Commission to impose a fine on his former employer, found that Italy was failing to meet the obligations deriving the Swiss company Hoffmann-La Roche, for certain from Article 171 of the EEC Treaty. Italy is understood to anti-competitive practices.' The amount of compensation have the intention of adopting in the near future a bill which was, fixed at £ 500 000 according to 'The Observer' of 10 is in conformity with the Directive, but no such bill has as yet November 1985. been submitted to the Commission; by Belgium: We should like to know, in view of the information published in Mr Adam's book, 'Roche versus Adams' (a), and set out in A judgment by the Court of Justice handed down on 28 the statement of the facts before the Court: March 1985 (2) stated that Belgium had failed to meet its Community obligations, in particular because it was not 1. What precautions has the Commission taken or decided applying the Directive in the event of collective redundancies to take and what instructions has it given or decided to following the closure of an undertaking which was not the give in order to strengthen its obligation of discretion or 3 result of a court decision ( ). secrecy with regard to the identity of persons who have The Belgian authorities have indicated to the Commission provided or will provide the Commission with that royal decrees in conformity with the Directives would be information on the restrictive practices followed by adopted in the near future. A collective agreement, No 24 b, certain companies? was concluded on 8 October 1985; 2. What disciplinary measures has the Commission taken by Greece: against the officials still in its service who are responsible The Commission takes the view that Greece is not or jointly responsible for the 'leaks' at the expense of Mr conforming fully to the Directive in question as regards Adams and what is the Commission's attitude towards a building workers. On 22 October 1985 notice was served on former official who has been implicated, in particular by the Greek authorities, pointing this out. The Commission is Written Question No 2203/80 by Mrs Boserup (2); at present studying the reply made by the Greek authorities. 3. What is the total amount and the spacing of the sums (') Judgment of 8 June 1982 — Case 91/81; Judgment of 6 paid by the Commission, and on what dates, in the November 1985 — Case 131/84. 2 Adams Case, including the compensation ordered by the ( ) Case 215/83. Court of Justice's judgment of 7 November 1985? (3) See the Commission's reply to Written Question No 1465/84 by Mrs Dury — OJ No C 145, 13. 6. 1985, p. 11. (') Jonathan Cape, London, 1984. (2) OJ No C 129, 29. 5. 1981, p. 16.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2291/85 by Mr Ernest Glinne (S—B) Answer given by Mr Sutherland to the Commission of the European Communities on behalf of the Commission (12 December 1985) (2 April 1986) (86/C 182/31)
Subject: Liability of Commission officials implicated in the 1. Article 214 of the EEC Treaty requires Commission Stanley Adams Case officials, among others, not to disclose information of the kind covered by the obligation of professional secrecy. In The second paragraph of Article 215 of the Treaty of Rome exercising its powers for giving effect to Articles 85 and 86, states clearly that 'in the case of non-contractual liability, the Commission always acts with the utmost discretion. 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/21
Since the adoption by the Council in February 1962 of for reporting an infringement to the authority responsible for Regulation No 17 (*), which confers on the Commission ensuring compliance with those rules. powers of investigation, thousands of investigations have been conducted, sometimes in very difficult conditions, The Commission regrets that the fact that the offending without any serious incident taking place. industrial group was able to rely on a rather special rule of Swiss criminal law resulted in personal interests being harmed.
The circumstances surrounding the case to which the 3. As the matter is still sub judice before the Court of Honourable Member refers have, however, highlighted the Justice of the Communities, the Commission can only answer risks that may be run, despite the precautions taken, by the question as follows: persons who draw the Commission's attention to possible infringements of Community law in the event of the The Court ordered the Commission to compensate Mr Commission's using the documents they have provided or Adams for one half of the damages suffered. The Court which the Commission itself obtains without having to resort did not fix the amount of compensation but required the to the investigation procedures laid down in Council parties to reach agreement as to the amount. The Regulation No 17. Commission has invited Mr Adam's legal advisers to provide the figures necessary for calculating such damages. This information has not yet been made available to it. To prevent similar cases from occurring in future, Commission officials were given instructions, before the As has been pointed out in the Court's judgment, the judgment was delivered, on how to handle such documents Commission has reimbursed the sum of Sfrs 25 000 to Mr while an investigation is in progress or a decision is being Adams representing bail on which be was released and has taken. Further, more specific, instructions have been issued paid the fees of his lawyers in connection with the criminal in the light of the judgment. Thus, where the informant's proceedings. Furthermore in May 1980, the Commission has identity is known to the Commission, the documents may be made an ex gratia payment to Mr Adams of 50 million shown or returned to the firm concerned, within the limits lire. indicated by the informant, only after his attention has been drawn to the fact that there might be certain risks attendant 0) OJ No 13, 21. 2. 1962, p.204/62 upon such communication and after he has given his consent. Where, on the other hand, the author or sender of the documents has not revealed his identity, the documents will not be shown or returned to the firm until after a detailed examination by the Commission's staff of their importance to the investigation, the risk that they might be traced back to the person concerned and the possibility that he might be subjected to legal proceedings. Prior to such examination, no decision will be taken as to whether and in what way the WRITTEN QUESTION No 2311/85 documents will be used. by Mr Luc Beyer de Ryke (L—B) to the Commission of the European Communities (12 December 1985) 2. The Staff Regulations of officials of the European (86/C 182/32) Communities empower the Commission to take disciplinary action in respect of officials who fail to comply with their obligations. That cannot be said of the officials who were Subject: The pharmaceuticals market in the EEC — BEUC entrusted with the 'Vitamins' case and the Commission and 'Test Achats' report — Commission policy continues to place complete confidence in them, an attitude which is perfectly justified in view of their ability, devotion to The Belgian periodical 'Test Achats' and the European duty and conscientious approach to their work. (It does not Bureau of Consumers' Unions (BEUC) have recently intend, therefore, to order any disciplinary measures against published hundreds of pages on the pharmaceuticals market them.) in the EEC. This report concludes that there is a total lack of harmonization.
Could the Commission state what measures it intends to take In the case in point, they were faced with enormous to harmonize the market in pharmaceuticals in the Member difficulties and in performing their duties they were mindful States with regard to price policy, competition, protection of the general interest of the Community and of their and control of the consumption of pharmaceuticals, responsibilities as guardians of the competition rules classification, standardization of makes of the same products contained in the Treaty. The Commission and its staff also (problem of 'specialists'), advertising and the information considered at the time that it was inconceivable that persons contained in packaging leaflets, non-branded concerned about respect by undertakings for the rules of the pharmaceuticals, sales other than by pharmacists EEC Treaty might be liable to prosecution in a third country (hypermarkets), parapharmacy (vitamins, etc.)? No C 182/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
Answer given by Lord Cockfield Ireland 25 % on behalf of the Commission Italy 18% (20 February 1986) Netherlands 5 % United Kingdom 0 %
1 Spain 6 % In the White Paper on completing the internal market ( ), the Portugal 0 % Commission announced proposals covering a number of the points raised by the Honourable Member, including Greece does not yet apply VAT. transparency of price and reimbursement measures, information for doctors and patients and the conditions for distribution to patients as well as the realisation of a definitive system for the free movement for goods. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2316/85 Nevertheless, it is a fact that medical practices and traditions do sometimes differ considerably between the Member by Mr Petrus Cornelissen (PPE—NL) States. One indicator of this is the very different market to the Commission of the European Communities shares taken by various categories of medicinal products in (12 December 1985) different Member States. For example, although systemic antibiotics account for 20 % of the Greek pharmaceutical (86/C 182/34) market, they have only 3,2 % of the German market. Similarly, drugs affecting the central nervous system have a Subject: Excess deep-freeze and cold storage capacity 22 % share of the Danish market but only 6,8 % of the 2 In recent years large quantities of butter and meat have been Italian market ( ). In these circumstances the Commission withdrawn temporarily from the market through does not at present consider that it is feasible to aim for the intervention. This has created the need for substantial degree of uniformity apparently sought by the Honourable deep-freeze and cold storage capacity. Member, or that such a step would necessarily serve all the interests of public health involved. Since it is Commission policy to curb over-production in a number of agricultural and dairy sectors, surpluses can be (>) COM(85) 310 final. expected to fall in the longer term. It is conceivable that in (2) Economists Advisory Group, 'The Community's Pharmaceutical Industry'. some Member States this trend will eventually lead to excess deep-freeze and cold storage capacity, if decisions to extend such facilities are taken over-hastily on the basis of temporary over-production. 1. Does the Commission not share the view that in this situation the existing storage capacity in the Member States should be used as efficiently as possible? WRITTEN QUESTION No 2315/85 2. Is the Commission prepared to take steps to encourage by Mr Raphael Chanterie (PPE—B) any Member State facing a temporary shortage of storage to the Commission of the European Communities capacity to use storage facilities in other Member States (12 December 1985) wherever possible? (86/C 182/33) 3. Is it true that there are vast differences in storage costs for butter and meat from one Member State to another? Subject: VAT on equipment for the visually handicapped 4. In answer to question 3, will the Commission provide figures and indicate the main reasons for these In Begium, VAT at the rate of 19 % is paid on purchases of differences? braille machines for the visually handicapped. 5. Can the Commission say to what extent the flat-rate Can the Commission say what VAT rate is applied in the storage subsidy for butter and meat reflects actual other Member States of the Community? costs? 6. If the answer to question 1 and / or 3 is in the affirmative, is there any reason why there should not be somewhat more flexible storage arrangements for intervention Answer given by Lord Cockfield stocks (particularly butter and meat) in the on behalf of the Commission Community? (9 April 1986)
The VAT rates applicable to braille machines in the Member Answer given by Mr Andriessen States other than Belgium are as follows: on behalf of the Commission Denmark 22 % (11 March 1986) Federal Republic of Germany 7 % France 18 % Generally speaking, cold stores in the Community are used Luxembourg 6 % chiefly for the commercial storage of many products. The 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/23 agricultural products purchased by the public intervention decide to expel foreign residents, including nationals of agencies are added to these and can normally be placed in the Community countries, who have no right of appeal to the storage capacity available. Only in a very few cases have judiciary. This law appears to have led to many abuses, public intervention stocks been stored in neighbouring including the expulsion on 9 August 1985, without countries of the Community. convincing reasons, of two Italians living in Cadaques, where they pursued normal economic activities. 1. Yes. Under the Community rules storage in third countries is permitted only where there is a lack of 1. Does the Commission consider that this law is capacity and has to be authorized by the Commission. compatible with the principle of the free movement of citizens and workers which operates in the 2. Yes, but observing the principle of economic Community? management, because storage in a neighbouring country may be less costly than storage in a distant region of the 2. Does the Commission intend to ask the Spanish Community. Government to remedy this situation?
3. Yes.
4. Storage costs vary between Member States from 1 to 4 for butter and 1 to 4,5 for beef. The reasons are very WRITTEN QUESTION No 2385/85 diverse and depend mainly on the particular economic environment. by Mr Richard Cottrell (ED—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities 5. The flat-rate storage subsidy paid by the EAGGF to the (16 January 1986) intervention agencies reflects the weighted average of the (86/C 182/36) real costs of storage to the latter.
6. The Commission considers that its affirmative answers Subject: Spanish aliens Law to questions 2 and 3 do not automatically imply a need to modify the arrangements for the management of public intervention stocks. In its communication of 18 Is the Commission aware that the Spanish Cortes has recently December 1985 entitled 'A future for Community passed a new law concerning aliens. This law (12767 Ley agriculture'^), it expressed its concern relating to Organica 7/1985, de 1 julio, sobre derechos y libertades de intervention systems in general and its views as regards los extranjeros en Espana) forbids foreigners to convene or making them more flexible. take part in meetings, gives the Spanish Government power to expel foreigners for inter alia being involved in activities considered to be contrary to Spanish interests, not having Futhermore, at the same time it issued a memorandum on sufficient funds to maintain themselves in Spain and adjustments to the organization of the market in 2 overstaying their time as a tourist. In so far as this law applies beef/veal ( ), proposing, among other things, a major to EEC citizens, it is clearly contrary to the Treaty of Rome reduction in intervention in the form of public storage. and will require amendment to take account of Spain's entry into the EEC. What action does the Commission propose to (») COM(85) 750 final. (2) COM(85) 834 final. take to ensure that this is done?
Joint answer given by Lord Cockfield on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1986) WRITTEN QUESTION No 2329/85 by Mr Jas Gawronski (L—I) The law in question, Articles 5 to 10 of which govern the to the Commission of the European Communities exercise of civil liberties by foreign nationals, merely lays (10 January 1986) down, as regards the organization of meetings, that the (86/C182/35) competent authority may prohibit public meetings if they are likely to endanger national security, national interests, public order or public health, or the morals or rights and liberties of Subject: Expulsion of Community nationals by the Spanish Spaniards. authorities As regards the grounds for expulsion laid down by the law, to The Spanish Government has recently passed a law which the Honourable Member refers, Spain will have to incorporating restrictive measures applicable to foreign ensure that in any measures implementing the law such residents in Spain. It provides that provincial governors may grounds are consistent with the Community rules in force. No C 182/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
Moreover, Article 3 of the law lays down that the provisions 1. In the Commission's view, are companies of this type apply without prejudice to the provisions of special laws and covered by the Fourth Directive? international treaties to which Spain is a contracting party. 2. How have the Member States dealt with this point in their national legislation implementing the Fourth As part of its responsibilities concerning the application of Directive, or in draft legislation to that effect? Community law, the Commission has begun an investigation of the Spanish legislation in question in the light of the rules on the free movement of persons contained in the Act 3. If the Commission considers that such companies are not concerning the accession of the Kingdom of Spain to the covered by the Fourth Directive, does it intend to take European Communities. action to prevent part of this Directive thereby effectively being rendered null and void? Naturally, the Commission will not fail to take the matter up with the Spanish authorities should any provisions of Spanish (M OJ No L 222, 14. 8. 1978, p. 11. law be considered incompatible with the Community rules referred to above.
Answer given by Lord Cockfield on behalf of the Commission (29 April 1986)
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2332/85 by Mr Fernand Herman (PPE—B) 1 and 3. By virtue of Article 1 of the Fourth Directive on to the Commission of the European Communities the annual accounts of certain types of companies (78/660/EEC) (!), the Directive applies (in Belgium) to 'la (10 January 1986) societe anonyme', 'la societe en commandite par actions', and (86/C 182/37) 'la societe de personnes a responsabilite limitee'. The Directive does not refer expressly to 'societes en nom collectif (partnerships) or 'societes en commandite simple' (limited Subject: Fourth Directive on company law, concerning partnerships) in which the partners with unlimited liability annual accounts are companies covered by Article 1 of the Directive.
The Fourth Directive on the annual accounts of certain types of companies (78/660/EEC) (]) applies, according to However, the obligation to draw up annual accounts Article 1 thereof, to 'la societe anomyme', 'la societe en provided for in the Fourth Directive is based essentially on commandite par actions' and 'la societe de personnes a the fact that a limited company, whether public or private, responsabilitie limitee (in Belgium). has nothing to offer to third parties as security except its capital. A similar effect may be created by forming partnerships or limited partnerships in which the partners It is common practice in some Community Member States to with unlimited liability are companies organized in one of the create 'societes en nom collectif (partnerships) or 'societes en forms mentioned in Article 1 of the Directive. If such commandite simple' (limited liability partnerships), the partnerships were not subject to the same accounting partners of which, with unlimited liability, are companies obligations as the types of company expressly mentioned in covered by Article 1 of the Directive. the Directive, the practical effect of the Directive would be considerably weakened. In this case, the theoretically unlimited liability of these partners is actually limited to the amount of the capital subscribed by the partners themselves, so that at one remove, For this reason, the Commission does indeed intend to take this is a company in which the liability of the partners is action to prevent the provisions of the accounts Directives limited. being evaded by the creation of such partnerships.
If such companies were not covered by national laws 2. According to the information available, only three implementing the Fourth Directive, very many companies Member States have so far dealt with this point when which were actually limited liability companies would not be incorporating the Fourth Directive into national law. bound by its requirements with regard to the drawing up and publication of accounts. This situation would seriously distort the conditions of competition between companies in In the Federal Republic of Germany, although the provisions the Community. Moreover, companies established under on drawing up and publishing accounts were applied to such one of the forms referred to in Article 1 of the Directive might partnerships in the first draft law submitted by the be encouraged to change into one of the forms referred to Government to the Bundestag in 1981, that is no longer done above in order to avoid its provisions. in the Law of 19 December 1985. 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/25
In Belgium, the Royal Decree of 12 December 1983 extended — plutonium losses; to such partnerships the rules on publication of annual — doubling time. accounts applicable to limited companies. How is the Commission so sure that these problems can In the Netherlands, the Law of 7 December 1983 treats such be solved so that fast breeder technology can still be partnerships as subsidiary companies, whose accounts must economically viable? be consolidated with those of the partner with unlimited liability, where the latter is a limited company. The Commission says in its introduction, page 2, second paragraph: (») OJ No L 222, 14. 8. 1978. 'The PINC was . . . submitted to the Economic and Social Committee, which delivered a very favourable opinion on 30 May 1985.' 3. What action has the Commission so far taken on the Economic and Social Committee's following recommendation, contained in Doc. Energ. 112:
'The Commission should at least objectively analyze the problems proper to nuclear energy, such as: WRITTEN QUESTION No 2334/85 — technological complexity, necessitating a permanent by Mrs Undine Bloch von Blottnitz (ARC—D) awareness to prevent all proliferation and irradiation risks . . .'? to the Commission of the European Communities (10 January 1986) (86/C 182/38) Answer given by Mr Mosar on behalf of the Commission Subject: The military use of fast breeders — Reply from the Commission departments to working document PE (21 April 1986) 96.973 (XVII/326/85) 1. It is a principle of the Commission not to comment on In its written reply to the working document by Mr Staes on hypothetical situations; at all events, in the field in question it discontinuing the nuclear-powered production of electricity will ensure that the commitments entered into by the and the amendment of the Euratom Treaty the Commission Community vis-a-vis non-Community countries and those states, on page 34, section VI, fourth paragraph: entered into by France within the framework of Euratom are honoured. 'The issue which the author calls vertical proliferation and which in reality is confined to the use of the 2. The practical experience on which the Commission plutonium produced by Superphenix for military bases its assertion that fast breeder reactors can operate purposes, has been raised on several occasions by the efficiently and are capable of making nuclear fission a European Parliament . . .' virtually inexhaustible energy source derives on the one hand from the satisfactory operation of test reactors such as 1. What will the Commission do if France announces its Harmonie, Masurca and Rhapsodie in France and the DFR intention (in accordance with Euratom safety provisions) in the United Kingdom and of the prototype reactors PFR in to use plutonium produced in the breeder blanket of the United Kingdom and Phenix in France. It also derives Superphenix for military purposes? from the fact that the two last mentioned reactors have been fuelled with plutonium obtained from the reprocessing of The Commission says on page 3, section 1.4, second their own fuel, an achievement which validates the paragraph: techniques and quantifies the performances — including plutonium losses — of industrial-scale installations. 'In fact, once burnt, coal, oil and gas are lost forever, whereas nuclear fission, because of the breeder 3. In response to the recommendations set out in the possibility, is a virtually inexhaustible energy source.' opinion adopted on 30 May 1985 by the Economic and 2. On what practical experience does the Commission base Social Committee (*), calling upon the Commission to its assertion that fast breeders make nuclear energy an provide regular communications on all data concerning inexhaustible energy source? nuclear energy and in particular on the problems referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission wishes to assure her that it will continue its information activities by Where were the requisites for the effective functioning on means of appropriate communications. the fast breeder tested in practice? (>) OJNoC 188, 29. 7. 1985. The problems to be solved are:
— the reconversion of breeder fuel cells, No C 182/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2344/85 MPE, on the costs of the nuclear-powered production of by Mr Alberto Tridente (ARC—I) electricity (Doc PE 96.973), the Commission states on page 28, section III, lines 4—8 of document XVII/326/85: to the Commission of the European Communities (11 January 1986) 'The figure of Bfrs 0,6 per kilowatt hour (kWh) given by Mr Staes as the amount necessary to amortize nuclear (86/C 182/39) research in Belgium would mean, given a total capacity of the existing Belgian reactors throughout their service life Subject: EUR-10 uranium imports from Namibia of 0,934 x 1012 kWh (x = times), that research had swallowed Bfrs 560,4 million, which is obviously It its wirtten reply to the working document by Mr Staes, exaggerated.' MEP, on the costs of the nuclear-powered production of electricity (Doc. PE 96.973) the Commission states on page 31, section IV, paragraph 3 (ii) of Doc. XVII/326/85: Why does the Commission not apply the general principle, which it states in the same document in the last three lines of 'these countries do not belong to the same geographical page 18, that 'discounting to present worth also applies to region or sphere of political influence.' energy production . . .'? Does the Commission think that importing from Namibia constitutes an appropriate way of diversifying political If production is discounted, the total cost amounts to only influences on the uranium supply? half the sum quoted by the Commission, i.e. Bfrs 560,4 million/2 = Bfrs 280,2 million, which agrees with the What is the absolute and relative value of importing uranium officially published figures. from Namibia, as far as total imports from outside EUR-10 are concerned? What are the alternatives to importing from Namibia? What are the obstacles to imports of uranium from Namibia? Answer given by Mr Mosar on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Mosar (21 April 1986) on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1986) The comment by the Honourable Member is a pertinent one. In the case in question, however, discounting to present The Commission can state that there are currently seven worth does not seem justified. Such discounting is indeed countries supplying the Community of Ten; a necessary if it is wished to compare or combine the economic discontinuation of imports from Namibia would reduce the effects of continuous events (e.g. electricity production, fuel present spread of sources. It is also worth pointing out that utilization, etc. with those of one-off events (e.g., the quantity contracted from Namibia is tending to construction or dismantling of a power station). On the other decline. hand, both research costs and day-to-day production In 1984 the Community imported around 8 000 tonnes of cost-effectiveness relate to continuous events and, for this reason, it would be preferable to compare them on an annual natural uranium. None of the seven supplier countries basis. accounted for more than 25 % of the total.
In current circumstances, the only alternative would be to Furthermore, if discounting to present worth is to be carried increase supplies from the six other producing countries. out, even in this case, it is necessary to ensure that it is applied in accordance with the same procedures. In this connection, The Euratom Supply Agency is required to meet all orders it should be noted that the reference quoted by the unless there are legal or physical constraints on fulfilling Honourable Member, namely 'Energiek' of December 1984, them; this is not the case at the moment. discounts all the costs from 1955 on, but does not discount production before 1983.
Moreover, independently of the calculation methods, it should seriously be considered whether it is advisable to set off all nuclear research costs solely against nuclear power WRITTEN QUESTION No 2347/85 production. Indeed, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy have by Mr Paul Staes (ARC—B) given an exceptional impetus to research in general, which to the Commission of the European Communities provides the basis for scientific and technological advances in modern society. Materials science, structural mechanics, (10 January 1986) data-processing and electronics are the sectors which have (86/C 182/40) benefited most from that impetus. Other fields that have also benefited are basic physics, medicine and agriculture. Subject: Official Belgian research on nuclear energy
In its written reply to the working document by Mr Staes, 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/27
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2348/85 'Thus the potential for expansion of nuclear energy is by Mr Paul Staes (ARC—B) much greater than suggested by the table on page 21 of the working document.' to the Commission of the European Communities (10 January 1986) What potential for the expansion of nuclear energy does the (86/C 182/41) Commission consider will: — give higher independence vis-a-vis third countries, and Subject: Costs of a nuclear accident will — not be at the expense of domestic coal consumption? In its written reply to the working document by Mr Staes, MEP, on the costs of the nuclear-powered production of Will the Commission please specify country by country, for electricity (Doc. PE 96.973), the Commission states on page the year 1983 (as in given table, part of Table 5 in Annex to 23, section III, lines 8—11 of document XVII/326/85: Doc. PE 96.973). 'The figure given in the working document (evacuation of Harrisburg at a cost of 30 million ECU) must be compared with the figure of 200 million dollars, which is the current cover for a nuclear power station insurance coverage in the USA.' Answer given by Mr Mosar on behalf of the Commission What does the Commission think about the recent (7 April 1986) information on the actual costs of the accident at Three Mile Island (Harrisburg): (De Morgen of 16 October 1985): The table below has been derived from pages 166, 167, 168 — direct costs: 400 million dollars. If indirect costs were of Eurostat 1983. It shows the theoretical proportion of also included, the total cost would exceed the costs of electricity production which in 1983 could have been building the power plant itself, which were 700 million obtained by employing nuclear energy. This has been derived dollars? by maintaining at its constant value domestic coal and other indigenous resources but excluding gas and oil.
Maxi- Answer given by Mr Mosar Domestic Hydro Actual thermal Others nuclear Total on behalf of the Commission % % % % for (15 April 1986) nuclear
D 60,3 5,3 0 1,2 17,8 33,2 100 The question by the Honourable Member concerns a case F 9,7 24,9 0 0,3 48,3 65,1 100 different from that dealt with in the Commission working I 1,0 25,2 1,5 0,4 3,2 document (XVII/326/85), which was confined to 71,9 100 third-party liability. NL 0 0 0 1,8 5,9 92,3 100 B 16,8 2,3 0 0,4 45,7 81,5 100 As regards the damage suffered by the Three Mile Island UK 70,1 2,5 0 0 17,0 27,4 100 power station, which is for the account of the power station owner, the Commission has no comments to offer.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2361/85 by Mrs Dorothee Piermont (ARC—D) to the Commission of the European Communities WRITTEN QUESTION No 2349/85 (10 January 1986) by Mr James Ford (S—GB) (86/C 182/43) to the Commission of the European Communities (10 January 1986) Subject: Doc. XVII/326/85 by the Commission (86/C 182/42) departments
Subject: Limited expansion potential of nuclear industry Even though the document referred to above may be of some scientific use and political value, does the President of the In its written reply to the working document by Mr Staes, Commission not think that specific guidelines should be MEP, on the costs of the nuclear-powered production of issued regarding the use and wastage of paper? electricity (Doc. PE 96.973), the Commission states on page 12, section II, lines 15 and 16 of document In particular, does he not feel that the last two pages of the XVII/326/85: document in question could have been reduced to one? NoC 182/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
Answer given by Mr Mosar nuclear power is greater in areas where such stations already on behalf of the Commission exist. (8 April 1986) Italy is no exception in this respect.
The Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the fact that this is merely a typographical presentation specific to certain language versions of the document. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2366/85 by Mr Alberto Tridente (ARC—I) to the Commission of the European Communities (10 January 1986) (86/C 182/45) WRITTEN QUESTION No 2364/85 Subject: The use of fallacious reasoning by the Commission by Mr Alberto Tridente (ARC—I) departments in Doc. XVII/ 326/85 to the Commission of the European Communities (10 January 1986) 1. Does the President of the Commission realize that administrators in his institution use eristic syllogism as the (86/C182/44) usual form of argument in their documents, for example in the third paragraph of section 1.3, on page 3 of the above- Subject: Doc. XVII/ 326/85 by the Commission mentioned document? departments 2. Does the President not feel that he should perhaps ask his Greek colleagues to run intensive courses in the On page 3 of the abovementioned document, the methodology of reasoning to explain that ever since the time Commission departments state that 'as regards the local of Plato and Aristotle 'eristic syllogism' has been considered a authorities, the fact that they are all the more favourably fallacious form of argument? disposed to nuclear power when they already have nuclear power stations in their area is completely ignored' (presumably by Mr Staes). Answer given by Mr Mosar Setting aside the incredibly unscientific use of sophism in the on behalf of the Commission form of an eristic syllogism, is the President of the (2 April 1986) Commission aware that in Italy alone: — at Viadana, the site chosen for the installation of a Contrary to the belief of the Honourable Member, the nuclear power station, a referendum showed that only paragraph in question does not contain an eristic 10% of the population were in favour of its being syllogism. installed? The sentence in question in working paper XVII/326/85 — in the region of Apulia, the communes of Avetrana, may be understood as follows: Carovigno, Manduria, Porto Ceseneo, Maruggio and 'If the price of electricity falls, consumption will Torricella are opposed to the installation of nuclear undoubtedly increase unless there is State intervention or power stations on their territory? a reduction in the price of other energy sources.' — the Apulian Regional Council has requested the This link between prices, consumption and State revocation of the decision by the CIPE (Interministerial intervention was not taken into consideration in document Committee for Economic Planning) regarding the siting PE 96.973. of power stations in that Region? — the mayor of Montalto di Castro is opposed to the capacity of the existing power station being doubled?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2371/85 by Mr Thomas Raftery (PPE—IRL) Answer given by Mr Mosar to the Commission of the European Communities on behalf of the Commission (10 January 1986) (8 April 1986) (86/C 182/46)
All the cases mentioned in the Written Question by the Subject: Information policy Honourable Member concern places where there are no nuclear power stations in operation: they therefore confirm The Commission has stated that it has decided to give the Commission's observation that public acceptance of priority in its information policy to informing the general 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/29 public, but that the budget for information policy is what is involved is the perception of the new Community restricted. reality by people of different — often contradictory — mentalities, cultures, traditions and interests. Specific Is the Commission convinced that the restricted resources opinion polls have, however, been carried out in connection available are at all times being used in the most appropriate with individual operations, such as the European Yacht Race manner? and the pilot campaign on the island of Fiinen, Denmark. Documentation explaining the Commission's approach to information policy is being sent direct to the Honourable Is the Commission satisfied that, within the limits of the Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. present budget, all means of further publicizing the Community have been explored?
Will the Commission provide details in the form of a cost-benefit analysis?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2384/85 Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana on behalf of the Commission by Mrs Barbara Castle (S—GB) (2 April 1986) to the Commission of the European Communities (16 January 1986) (86/C 182/47) The Commission's information budget, which totalled 12 million ECU in 1984, was cut by a substantial 2 million ECU in 1985. The allocation under the 1986 budget is 15,726 Subject: Textile industry in North-West England million ECU, which — albeit relatively high in comparison with previous years — has to cover a larger population (320 In answering my Written Question No 1432/85 (*) on the million people, including Spain and Portugal). Expenditure textile industry in North-West England, the Commission has on public information is therefore running at 0,049 ECU misinterpreted point 3 in which I asked what other measures (£ Irl 0,035) per capita. were being taken to prevent further decline of the threatened textile industry. The Commission has outlined the measures, The Commission is of the opinion that the best possible use which are well-know under the ERDF non-quota section, to has been made of these funds, given the amount available, the help develop new jobs after restructuring of the textile and circumstances and the objectives to be achieved; obviously, clothing industry has taken effect. These steps are welcome, the choices it has had to make have often been very but will the Commission please outline what is going to be difficult. done to stop further decline and to save the 56 000 jobs which still exist in this important traditional industry in this The methods used to increase public awareness and region. understanding of the Community are constantly being analyzed and adapted to requirements. To this end, there is (M OJNoC48, 3. 3. 1986, p. 16. now closer cooperation with the relevant Parliament Directorate-General. The Commission is also looking into the prospects for further sponsoring operations and action to introduce a Community dimension into the most popular sports; the European Yacht Race is one example of this. Answer given by Lord Cockfield on behalf of the Commission The Commission also intends to make a practical (25 April 1986) contribution to the creation of a European television broadcasting area both as part of its action to bring about the single internal market and with an eye to the increasingly The Community has pursued, and the Commission has important role of television in the development of society on proposed that it continues to pursue, a textile trade policy the information and communications front. which takes full account of the economic importance of the textile and clothing industry in the Community and deals The Commission consequently feels it has acquitted itself with the risk of market disruption, in its preparation for the well. However, it cannot claim to be satisfied, given its renewal of the MFA and its associated bilateral increasing awareness of the growing need for further action agreements. commensurate with the scale of its task. In its view, such action must be undertaken in conjunction with all the groups With reference to its reply to Written Question No 1432/85, and movements working for European integration, the Commission states that it spares no efforts with a view to especially Parliament. seeking solutions to the problems arising from the modernization of the sectors in decline, including the textile No detailed cost-benefit analysis has been produced; it would sector, as well as the aim of revitalizing the regions affected be extremely difficult to define the concept of 'benefit' when by the restructuring of industry. NoC 182/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
In this way, over and above the specific action put in hand by — an increase in revenue from taxes on profits if lower costs the 'non-quota' section of the FEDER (J) as already indicated led to higher taxable profits; and in the reply referred to above, all the structural financial — an increase in excise duty revenue if those Member States instruments and in particular the FEDER, the Social Fund, as applying a wort taxation system based on average losses well as the loans available from the EIB, NIC and CECA, are were to adjust their loss allowances to take account of the currently in a position to provide assistance within the limits continuous fermentation process. Where the beer excise of their specific objectives and the procedures laid down for duty is based on the finished product beer or on the real them, in order to attain the aim of arresting the industrial quantity of wort, excise revenue should not be decline. affected. These combined efforts will also be pursued so as to make a contribution to the solutions of the problems linked to the The Commission is of course aware that many small and restructuring of the textile sector. The Commission would medium-sized breweries continue to be competitive in not, in general, feel able to propose measures which go producing high-quality beer by traditional methods. In any further than the possibilities indicated above. action it may take in this sector, the Commission will naturally ensure that no discrimination against such 0) Council Regulation (EEC) No 219/84 (OJ No L 277, breweries occurs. 31. 1. 1984).
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2405/85 WRITTEN QUESTION No 2406/85 by Mr Thomas Raftery (PPE—IRL) by Mr Thomas Raftery (PPE—IRL) to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities (16 January 1986) (16 January 1986) (86/C 182/48) (86/C 182/49) Subject: Implications for the brewing industry of technological innovation Subject: Production of ethanol
Will the Commission undertake to study the implications of Is the Commission aware that technological developments in technological innovation, which allows a continuous Japan have made it possible to raise productivity up to fermentation process instead of the usual batch 15 times in the production of ethanol? fermentation?
What effects would this have on: Will the Commission now reconsider the possibilities for ethanol production as a means of reducing surpluses, — industry costs, particularly sugar beet and grain? Will they undertake to — beer prices, inform Parliament as rapidly as possible of the results of their investigation? — taxation revenues?
Answer given by Lord Cockfield Answer given by Mr Andriessen on behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1986) (4 March 1986)
Continuous fermentation in the brewing sector is one of a The Fermentation Research Institute of the Agency of number of problems connected with the application of this Industrial Science and Technology in Japan has used a process in the agri-food industries. coagulating yeast in ethanol fermentations. This choice of The application of the process should enable a product of yeast does allow increases of productivity, in the suitable quality to be obtained more consistently with lower fermentation step, of at least 150 %. Cane sugar solution production costs. was used, in one-litre vessels. The Commission is not aware of any improvements which can increase fermentation The Commission is aware of the importance of these points productivity by 15 times. The term productivity means and is currently examining the possibility of setting up a fermentation rate rather than yield, so that an increase in research programme in this sector. productivity of 150 % means that the fermentation liquid will stay in the fermentation vat for a correspondingly shorter Continuous fermentation reduces certain costs, including time, but the yield, that is the amount of alcohol obtainable beer losses. The effects on tax revenues could therefore from one tonne of starch or sugar, will not alter include: significantly. 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/31
Improvements could also be made to starch hydrolysis and As the latter amended certain points in the proposal for a ethanol distillation, but all the improvements in process Directive, particularly the dates, the version adopted by the technology can make only marginal reductions in ethanol Council differs from that proposed by the Commission, manufacturing costs since raw material costs are the major hence the apparent contradiction. element and the fermentation yield is close to the theoretical maximum.
In its 'A future for Community agriculture — Commission guidelines following the consultations in connection with the Green Paper' (*), the Commission again commented on the problem of the use of certain Community products for the manufacture of bio-ethanol. As the problem is particularly complex, having both strategic and budgetary implications, WRITTEN QUESTION No 2427/85 the Commission is planning further study with a view to by Mr Francois Roelants du Vivier (ARC—B) achieving an objective view of the various factors. It has to the Commission of the European Communities decided to invite an independent consultant to make a study. (16 January 1986) (86/C 182/51) The Commission will also continue promoting research, development and demonstration programmes in this field. Subject: Pact on world food security (>) COM(85) 750 final. The 23rd general conference of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has adopted a pact on world food security.
Could the Commission state: 1. to what extent it participated in drawing up and adopting WRITTEN QUESTION No 2417/85 this pact? by Mr Terence Pitt (S—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities 2. what the main moral undertakings affecting the (16 January 1986) Community as such are under this pact? (86/C 182/50) 3. what action it proposes to take following the adoption of this pact? Subject: Use of PCBs and PCTs
In his answer to Written Question No 541/85 (*) by Mr Beyer de Ryke on 29 July 1985, Lord Cockfield stated that the Council Directive on the use of PCBs and PCTs Answer given by Mr Andriessen prohibited the use of plant or equipment containing PCBs or on behalf of the Commission PCTs after 31 December 1995. (5 March 1986) Council Directive 85/467/EEC (2) states, however, that equipment, plant and fluids containing PCBs and PCTs 1. The Commission and the Member States played an 'which are in service on 30 June 1986 shall continue to be active part in drawing up the pact on world food security. authorized until they are disposed of or reach the end of their Speaking on behalf of the Community and the Member States service life'. in the preliminary work in the FAO's Committee on world food security (April 1985) and in the FAO Council (June Could the Commission please clarify this apparent 1985), and also when the pact was adopted at the FAO contradiction? Conference (November 1985), the Commission put forward (») OJ No C 259, 10. 10. 1985, p. 32. proposals for improving the text and drew attention to the (2) OJ No L 269, 11. 10. 1985, p. 56. need to give greater attention to population questions in the specific economic and social context of each country. At the time of the pact's adoption, the position taken by the Commission and the Member States was that it was important to concentrate on the essential aspect, namely the Answer given by Lord Cockfield purpose of the pact, which established a moral undertaking. on behalf of the Commission For this reason they approved the pact as representing an (3 April 1986) expression of moral will and as a step towards world food security. The answer to Written Question No 541 / 85 by Mr Beyer de Ryke was based on the Commission's original proposal on 2. The pact establishes the duties and responsibilities of PCBs and PCTs, which was then before the Council. all the parties concerned, i.e. governments, international NoC 182/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 organizations, non-governmental organizations and private not been enacted into Community law, Member States will individuals. It is designed to help bring about a general continue to apply value-added tax and other national taxes heightening of awareness among all concerned in the that are applicable at importation, to goods sent from other eradication of hunger. Member States. Non-commercial consignments worth not more than 100 ECU sent inside the Community by one 3. The Commission supported the world food security private individual to another for his personal or family use pact in the hope that it will lead to a general harnessing of may, however, be received without payment of taxes. Under energies and the establishment of a broad measure of the terms of the Universal Postal Convention, the sender of a agreement. parcel intended for dispatch to another country is required to complete a green label indicating the contents and value of The Commission would point out that even before the pact the parcel, thus enabling the authorities at destination to was adopted the Community had taken measures which were charge tax or grant relief as appropriate. in line with its aims. These measures include the campaign against hunger in the world adopted in October 1981, the In the absence of full details of the present case the implementation of food strategies in four African countries, Commission cannot be certain that the packets addressed to the proposals contained in the document on food aid for the Honourable Member were indeed eligible for tax relief, development (April 1983), the exceptional food aid plan and, if so, whether this fact was readily apparent to the adopted by the Community at the Dublin European Council authorities in Bolzano. The Commission has therefore asked in December 1984 and the current rehabilitation and the Italian authorities to comment on the circumstances in recovery plan for the African countries most seriously which the packets were detained. affected by the drought.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2428/85 WRITTEN QUESTION No 2463 / 85 by Mr Joachim Dalsass (PPE—I) by Mr Mario Di Bartolomei (L—I) to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities (16 January 1986) (16 January 1986) (86/C182/52) (86/C 182/53)
Subject: Unnecessary and unacceptable customs checks Subject: Standardization of currency abbreviations Private citizens in the Community rightly aspire to freer access across internal borders and the elimination of all The European institutions use different abbreviations to border checks. Unfortunately, the national authorities often denote the same currencies in the case of both European and seem to be moving in the opposite direction. other currencies (ACP countries etc.).
Thus, for example, three parcels of notepaper from the For example, the pound sterling is written as £st by the EIB European Parliament have been promptly seized by the and as UKL or simply £ by the Commission depending on the customs authorities at Bolzano. In order to have the parcels publication concerned; the US dollar is written as $ or USD cleared, the customs authorities are demanding the original and so on. Some of these symbols (which are published bill from me and, if possible, a declaration of the packages' regularly in the 'S' series of the Official Journal of the value. European Communities) are different from those used by the international banking system. Does the Commission know whether such nonsensical checks are likewise carried out elsewhere? Given that the ISO in Geneva has published uniform standards for this sector, what steps will the Commission Could the Commission take steps to ensure that the three take to standardize currency abbreviations? parcels from the European Parliament are forwarded to me from the customs office in Bolzano without delay and with no nonsensical conditions attached and that such unacceptable and absurd checks are not carried out in future? Answer given by Mr Mosar on behalf of the Commission (29 April 1986) Answer given by Lord Cockfield on behalf of the Commission The Commission fully shares the concern of the Honourable (12 May 1986) Member.
So long as the Commission's programme of fiscal Already in the seventies (1976/77) the Commission services harmonization leading to the elimination fo tax frontiers has took the initiative to harmonize the abbreviations of 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/33 currencies in all the official languages of the European Answer given by Mr Andriessen Community. For this purpose, the central banks concerned on behalf of the Commission were consulted and certain criteria to be employed were laid (3 March 1986) down. These were:
(a) neutrality — in principle, the abbreviation was to be The 1983 and 1984 harvests of dried grapes in Greece were derived from the currency's name in the official language of sufficient quality to allow normal disposal of the crops of the country concerned. Exceptions had to be made for either on the Community market, for the most part, or on the countries having several official languages and the markets of non-member countries. solution adopted was to use an existing code (IATA) which was relatively close to the abbreviations used in However, the Commission is anxious to improve the quality the country concerned and which was at the same time of agricultural products, including that of dried grapes, and the abbreviation in a third 'neutral' language, in this case in 1984 it tightened up the minimum quality requirements English: example Belgian franc (Bfr), Luxembourg franc with which dried grapes qualifying for the aid scheme (Lfr), Swiss franc (Sfr); provided for by the regulations must comply. (b) universality — the abbreviations were to be easily used in all fields of daily life and by all printing machines; It is also now preparing, as provided for in Regulation (EEC) therefore symbols like dollar and pound had to be No 516/77 (*), proposals to the Council for quality changed into letters and the print-out changed into standards for all dried grapes released to consumption in the capital letters; Community. During this preparatory work, discussions will be held with the representatives both of the consumers and of (c) acceptability — currency codes (or country codes) the growers, as was done when the present minimum quality should remain as close as possible to the forms already requirements were being worked out. widely used at the national or regional level. Imports from non-member countries traditionally account On the basis of these criteria and in collaboration with the for about 50 % of the Community's supplies of dried grapes central banks, an EC inter-institutional working group other than currants (currants being produced and consumed recommended in 1977 the use of a single abbreviation for almost exclusively in the Community). member countries' currencies in all official languages. The Commission therefore does not take the view that the The Office for Official Publications, the Commission and the arrangements under the regulations for this product Statistical Office of the EC have given close attention to constitute discrimination against imports from non-member following the EC codes in their official publications. The countries and accordingly it has no plans to alter the present Commission will contact the other Community institutions import rules. and the European Investment Bank in order to remind them (') OJ No L 73, 21. 3. 1977. of the recommendations of the EC inter-institutional working group, particularly concerning currencies of Member States, and to eventually reach a common solution for cases which have not yet been solved, especially for third currencies.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2482/85 by Mr Hans-Jurgen Zahorka (PPE—D) to the Commission of the European Communities (21 January 1986) WRITTEN QUESTION No 2468/85 (86/C 182/55) by Mr Andrew Pearce (ED—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities Subject: Levying of customs duties on touring bicycles belonging to foreign tourists on leaving Greece (16 January 1986) (86/C 182/54) Two students interested in Greece from the University of Tubingen, Mr Klaus Rottger and Mr Gottfried Schmid, both from Tubingen, wanted to send their bicycles back by train to Subject: Dried vine fruits Germany in early September 1985 after a journey through Greece by bicycle. At the luggage registration office at Larissa What steps is the Commission taking to improve the very low station they were referred to a customs office. As the customs standard of dried vine fruits from Greece; will the offices in Larissa, as in Salonica, were open only from Commission propose the ending of Community 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. they had to take a later train which meant discrimination against imports of these products from that they arrived home only 18 hours and hence one day outside the Community until Greek products attain sufficient later. Beforehand they had to pay customs duties equivalent quality? to approximately 2 ECU. No C 182/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
These facts were notified in early October by the two Is the Commission aware of any disadvantage to the students to the Greek Consulate in Stuttgart but no answer international competitive position of the European aircraft has yet been provided. I would therefore ask the industry arising from differing levels of duty between Japan, Commission: USA and Member States on products intended for the construction, maintenance and repair of aircraft? Is there a legal basis requiring the two students to pay customs duties on departure on their own, used, bicycles which they had themselves imported and, if so, are such provisions compatible with Community law? Answer given by Mr De Clercq As the formalities in the customs office were completed in a on behalf of the Commission few minutes and no examination was made of the bicycles, (13 May 1986) do these customs provisions constitute deliberate harassment of cyclists? Under the terms of the 1979 GATT Agreement on Trade in Do the two cyclists have a chance of this fee being refunded in Civil Aircraft, signatory governments agreed to eliminate all the event of it having been levied unlawfully? customs duties and any similar charges of any kind levied on civil aircraft parts and repairs on civil aircraft.
The US, Japan and the Community (and its Member States) are signatories to this agreement and accordingly do not levy Answer given by Lord Cockfield duty on such products. It follows, therefore, that differences on behalf of the Commission in customs duty in these countries are not a factor affecting (3 April 1986) the international competitive situation of the European civil aircraft industry. The Commission is unable to determine, on the basis of the information provided, whether the formalities carried out and the charges made by the Greek Customs authorities were compatible with Community law. If, therefore, the Honourable Member will arrange for the Commission to receive full details of the case, including copies of any WRITTEN QUESTION No 2498/85 documents received by Mr Rottger and Mr Schmid at the by Mr John Iversen (COM—DK) time of the incident, the case will be taken up with the Greek authorities. to the Commission of the European Communities (21 January 1986) (86/C 182/57)
Subject: Development aid and conservation of the environment
According to the Danish Minister for the Environment, Mr WRITTEN QUESTION No 2488/85 Christensen, only 1 per cent of Denmark's aid to the Third by Sir Peter Vanneck (ED—GB) World goes to conservation of the environment. Can the to the Commission of the European Communities Commission say what proportion of Community aid goes to (21 January 1986) conservation of the environment? (86/C 182/56)
Subject: Duties applicable to certain products intended for Answer given by Mr Natali use in the construction, maintenance and repair of on behalf of the Commission aircraft (4 April 1986)
What is the level of duty or value-added tax levied on Consideration of the environment aspect forms an integral products intended for use in the construction, maintenance part of development operations carried out by the and repair of aircraft in: Commission. Hence it is difficult to give an overall estimate 1. Japan, of the share of financial aid that goes to conservation of the environment, as this would call for detailed research — the 2. USA, results of which would be of dubious reliability — given the wide variety of fields of cooperation with developing for use in aircraft manufactured in each of those countries for countries and the range of instruments involved in that export? cooperation.
What is the level of duty for similar products and services in Projects and programmes geared more specifically to the each Member State of the Community for aircraft exported environment, i.e. those concerned mainly with conservation from the territory of each? or improvement of the environment, still account for only a 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/35 limited proportion of Community aid at present, although Answer given by Mr Andriessen their number is rising. Taking as a basis the data contained in on behalf of the Commission the first half of the indicative programmes for Lome III (the (14 March 1986) programming for which is under way), it can be anticipated that the resources allocated to protection of the environment will be very considerably higher than the current figures and 1, 2 and 3. Fears were expressed about the new rules that the attention given to the environment aspect will before they even came into force, especially by certain increase appreciably. packing stations in certain Member States.
After the rules came into force, the egg marketing organizations in certain member countries, notably the Federal Republic of Germany, claimed they had caused a drop in retail sales and prices. But it must be borne in mind that summer holiday departures were early in the Federal Republic in 1985 and egg sales had already begun to fall off in the month preceding the date of application of the new rules on egg packing. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2503/85 The unsatisfactory market situation in the autumn may be by Mr Werner Munch (PPE—D) attributed largely to an unexpected increase in supplies and to the Commission of the European Communities the consequences of a distinct drop in exports to third (21 January 1986) countries. (86/C182/58) It therefore seems somewhat rash to attribute market problems to the fact that the packing date is now clearly indicated. Subject: Organization of the market in eggs — indication of the packing date 4 and 5. The new rules on egg marketing are in line with the wishes of the various parties concerned, especially Since 1 July 1985, the packing week number or the packing consumers who are anxious to have the same information period has no longer been indicated on egg packs. Pursuant about eggs as they have about other foods, in particular a to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2772/75 (l) on marketing clear indication of the packing date and recommended sell-by standards for eggs, as amended by Regulation (EEC) No date. 1831/84 (2), the packing period or the packing date shall be clearly indicated on egg packs. The Commission therefore feels it would be doing consumers a disservice if it deprived them of the information that their 1. Has the Commission received information since 1 July own organizations asked for. 1985 that consumers do not properly understand the packing date and mistake it for the shelf-life expiry date The Commission is very anxious to ensure maximum market usually indicated on other products? stability for egg producers but, after thoroughly examining this particular case, it does not feel it appropriate to add to 2. Has the Commission received information that egg packs the present range of market-support measures by amending indicating the packing date are considered too old and the new rules as suggested by the Honourable Member. are therefore not bought?
3. Has this brought about a fall in retail sales and lower egg prices for producers?
4. Does the Commission not feel that it would be advisable to amend the date rules as soon as possible to the effect WRITTEN QUESTION No 2505/85 that the recommended sell-by date should be the only date indicated, and not to insist on indication of extra by Mr Christopher Jackson (ED—GB) information such as the 'packing period' or 'packing to the Commission of the European Communities date', which confuses consumers? (21 January 1986) (86/C 182/59) 5. Under the circumstances, does the Commission not consider early amendment of the relevant provisions appropriate, with a view to preventing losses, or the risk Subject: Costs of translation of losses, for producers whose position is difficult enough as it is? Using data for 1979 based on the Court of Auditors Report of 31 December 1982, it has been shown that in 1979 the t1) OJ No L 282, 1. 11. 1975, p. 56. European Community had 925 000 pages (277,5 million (2) OJ No L 172, 30. 6. 1984, p. 2. words) translated at a cost of 96,42 million ECU. NoC 182/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
Using the rates current in 1979, the European Association of In addition there are considerations of confidentiality in the Translation Companies has calculated that at the average case of papers produced internally and speed, which can be price charged by them the cost would have been guaranteed only by an in-house service. 14,83 million ECU. This shows that a theoretical saving of 81,58 million ECU would have been possible. Finally there are a number of other constraints which means that translations should as a rule be done in-house: Of course, for reasons of security and sometimes speed, external translation is not always desirable, but many — the need for close contact with the author, in the case of documents do not come in the top security classification. technical or politically sensitive texts, Now that electronic mail facilities are becoming available, — the need for consistency in the terminology used in texts effectively making possible instantaneous transmission of dealing with the same subject, documents, is the Commission in principle willing to contract to outside companies a proportion of its translation — the need for conformity between the different language work in order that a proper assessment may be made of the versions in the case of texts to be discussed in the savings and benefits of this compared with the large fixed Community institutions. costs of an in-house translation service?
However, the Commission is not against contracting out translation work whenever appropriate and is prepared to consider making more use of outside agencies for certain texts where this is justified by considerations of sound management of resources, overall quality and speed. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2549/85 by Mr Andrew Pearce (ED—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities (21 January 1986) (86/C 182/60)
Subject: Translation work of the Commission
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2506/85 What steps has the Commission taken in the last 12 months by Mr Hugh McMahon (S—GB) to consider placing a far greater proportion of its translation work with outside agencies in the light of claims that the to the Commission of the European Communities European Community is paying six times the commercial (21 January 1986) rate by having its translation done 'in house', at an additional (86/C182/61) cost (in 1979) of about 80 million ECU?
Subject: Euratom Treaty: Safety aspects in the United Kingdom
Joint answer given by Mr Christophersen Following upon a recent television programme on national on behalf of the Commission television in the UK which illustrated abnormally high rates of leukemia surrounding nuclear establishments in the UK, (10 April 1986) and in the light of the answer by Commissioner Mosar to Written Question No 504/85 (*) by Mrs Phili Viehoff, can the Commission please: The Commission can only speak for itself on this question. 1. Give the exact geographical details of the 19 sites in the European Community which handle nuclear material for military and civil functions? The total figure quoted by the Honourable Members covers not only translation per se but also infrastructure and especially reproduction costs. 2. Whilst the Commission in their previous reply stated that progress was being made but this varied from installation to installation, can the Commission please specify what In its reply to the Court of Auditors' report, the Commission is meant by 'the pace varies in different installations' (No emphasized 'the difficulties of measuring an activity such as 5), does this mean that certain installations are not so translation in purely quantitative terms' and the need to be thoroughly inspected as others and if so what steps is the aware 'that the documents in question vary widely, both in Commission going to take to ensure that adequate safety complexity and the required quality of the finished and preventative measures are taken on each of the 19 product'. sites; 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/37
3. Furthermore, will the Commission consider initiating a heading of these publications as 'the other European study on the rates of leukemia and cancer related diseases Assembly'? In addition, the Economic and Social Committee surrounding these 19 sites? is presented in a diagram as enjoying the same rights as the European Parliament, as a Commission consultative (») OJNoC 317, 9. 12. 1985, p. 3. body?
Is it correct that the Commission does not recognize Parliament as an independent political force, as President Delors said in a television interview on 13 September 1985 at Answer given by Mr Mosar the Frankfurt Motor Show: 'The Community has two major on behalf of the Commission pillars: the Council of Ministers and the Commission'. (29 April 1986) What action does the Commission propose to take with regard to further publications by the Economic and Social 1. The Commission is unable to disclose the geographical Committee? details of these sites. The confidentiality of this information is a matter for the Member States concerned.
2. The pace at which the problems of the application of safeguards in mixed civil/military installations in the Answer given by Mr Delors Nuclear Weapon States are resolved varies between different on behalf of the Commission installations as a function both of the underlying severity of (7 April 1986) the technical problems, which differ according to the installations, and of the progress made in discussions between the Commission and the relevant authorities in the 1 and 3. The booklet referred to by the Honourable Member State concerned. The application of safeguards Member, like all Economic and Social Committee under the Treaty is to ensure that nuclear materials are not publications, is the sole responsibility of the Committee. diverted from their intended uses as declared by the users, and that the provisions relating to supply and any particular 2. The Commission is sending the text of Mr Delors' safeguarding obligations assumed by the Community under statement, which dealt with relations between the an agreement concluded with a third country or an Commission and the Council and the overimportant role of international organization are complied with. This activity Council working parties, direct to the Honourable Member does not touch on the aspects of nuclear safety, and to Parliament's Secretariat. The position of the environmental protection and public health which appear to Commission, and its President in particular, regarding be in part the subject of the question. Parliament and its role in the Community institutional system is well-known to Parliament and should not be open to question. 3. The Commission does not intend to initiate a study of the type mentioned in the question, responsibility for which would be primarily that of the Member States involved. Should a Member State request assistance, the Commission would be pleased to assist in any way possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2523/85 by Mr Gijs de Vries (L—NL) to the Commission of the European Communities (21 January 1986) WRITTEN QUESTION No 2508/85 (86/C182/63) by Mrs Ursula Braun-Moser (PPE—D) to the Commission of the European Communities Subject: Scope of European Council Agreement (21 January 1986) In Luxembourg (2 and 3 December 1985), the European (86/C 182/62) Council decided that the consultation procedure with Parliament should among other things refer to Article 7 of the Subject: Series of publications by the Economic and Social EEC Treaty. Can the Commission state: Committee entitled 'The Other European 1. What Council decisions over the last five years were Assembly' based on this Article?
What is the Commission's position with regard to the 2. What Commission proposals submitted during the last Community-financed publications of the Economic and five years on the basis of this Article are still awaiting a Social Committee, which describes itself in the overall Council decision? NoC 182/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
3. What proposals based on this Article it intends to submit WRITTEN QUESTION No 2525/85 to the Council in 1986? by Mr Jef Ulburghs (NI—B) to the Commission of the European Communities (21 January 1986) (86/C 182/64) Answer given by Mr Delors on behalf of the Commission Subject: Aid to Tamil refugees (10 April 1986) The Commission announced on 4 December 1985 that it was making 150 000 ECU available for aid to the Tamil refugees in Sri Lanka and that it would have the money administered 1. Since 1980 the Council has not adopted any binding by aid organizations which were already in action on the legal instruments based solely on Article 7 of the EEC Treaty. island. (Development Telex No 295/5. 12. 1985.) It has, however, adopted the following three Regulations based on Article 7 and other legal bases: Which aid organizations are involved? (a) Council Regulation (EEC) No 1390/81 of 12 May 1981 Can the Commission guarantee that these aid organizations extending to self-employed persons and members of can operate independently of the Sri Lankan authorities? their families Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed Could the Commission supply information on all the aid it persons and their families moving within the has already given to Tamil refugees, both in India and in Sri Community ('); Lanka? (b) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3795/81 of 8 December 1981 extending Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 to Answer given by Mr Cheysson self-employed persons and members of their on behalf of the Commission families (2); (14 April 1986) (c) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2001/83 of 2 June 1983 amending and updating Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 The aid to which the Honourable Member refers has been on the application of social security schemes to granted in support of a resettlement and rehabilitation employed persons, to self-employed persons and to project directed at two groups of displaced Tamil families, members of their families moving within the respectively 500 families in the Batticaloa district on the east Community and also amending and updating coast of Sri Lanka and 60 families in the north of the island. Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 laying down the Responsibility for the implementation of the programmes in procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No the field has been assumed by two Sri Lankan non 3 1408/71 ( ). governmental organisations (NGOs) namely the Eastern Human and Economics Development Centre (EHED) in the 2. The following two proposals sent to the Council since Batticaloa district and the Human Development Centre 1980 and based on Article 7 and other articles of the EEC (HUDEL) in the North. Treaty are currently pending before the Council: The two NGOs concerned are independent organizations (a) Proposal for a Council Regulation amending, for the which have been actively involved in relief and rehabilitation benefit of unemployed workers, Regulation (EEC) No programmes since 1977 and work in close cooperation with 1408 / 71 on the application of social security schemes to the local administration and authorities. employed persons and their families moving withing the Community (4); In December 1985, aid for resettlement of displaced Tamils in the Vinobajipuram district of Sevapurh in Southern India (b) Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation has also been granted through two Belgian (NGOs) for the (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security amount of 714 000 ECU. schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community (5).
3. In 1986, as in every other year, the Commission will WRITTEN QUESTION No 2527/85 probably make a number of proposals based on Article 7 and other articles. by Mr Horst Seefeld (S—D) to the Commission of the European Communities i1) OJ NoL 143, 29. 5. 1981, p. 1. 2) OJ No L 378, 31. 12. 1981, p. 1. (21 January 1986) 3) OJ No L 230, 22. 8. 1983, p. 6. (86/C 182/65) 4) OJ No C 169, 9. 7. 1980, p. 22. 5 ) OJ No C 240, 21. 9. 1985, p. 6. Subject: Adherence to social provisions in road transport The documents accompanying this question create the strong suspicion that the tour company 'Cosmos-Tourama' and 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/39 many of the companies based in the Community under batteries that they should be replaced within four years by contract to it are systematically infringing the social zinc-air batteries. The firms in question are Haagtechno BV, legislation relating to road transport because national Nederlandse Philips Bedrijven BV, Duracell Nederland BV, inspectorates are not exercising sufficiently strict Union Carbide NV and Varta BV. supervision. 1. Have similar agreements been reached in other EEC 1. Which agencies in the various Member States are Member States with these and other firms concerned? responsible for supervising (a) road haulage companies; 2. Now that the Netherlands Government has taken a step in the right direction, should not this be extended (b) passenger transport companies; throughout the Community so that the environmental and which are entitled to demand presentation of the benefits are increased and there is no distortion of completed control books to be kept by these companies competition? pursuant to Article 14 (9) of Regulation (EEC) No 543/69 (*)? 2. Will the Commission, particularly in view of the Council's decision of 14 November 1985 to step up inspections in this area, urge the appropriate national Answer given by Mr Clinton Davis supervisory authorities to carry out special checks when, on behalf of the Commission as in the present case, it receives information concerning (8 April 1986) suspected serious violations by individual companies? (>) OJ NoL 77, 29. 3. 1969, p. 49. The Commission has not been informed of any other agreements on the production or importation of zinc /air batteries to replace mercury batteries. Answer given by Mr Clinton Davis on behalf of the Commission The Commission is aware of the problems arising from the (3 April 1986) pollution of the environment by mercury. It welcomes any specific initiative intended to reduce emissions and takes such moves into account as part of a general effort to control 1. Responsibility for enforcing Council Regulations mercury pollution. (EEC) No 543/69 and (EEC) No 1463/70 (>) in each Member State varies in accordance with their administrative system and their central or federal structures. In general, the Should it be informed of moves by the Member States' responsibility lies principally with the Transport and/or authorities affecting the regulation of the use of mercury Social Affairs Ministries and regional officials. In all Member batteries, the Commission intends to consult the relevant States the police and corresponding interior ministries are authorities in order to provide any coordination which may also involved. prove necessary in this field.
2. The Commission will, as in the past, use all the means at its disposal to obtain a proper application of these Regulations. In particular it asked Member States, on various occasions, to carry out special checks, e.g. of passenger transport during the holiday season. It also requested the Swiss authorities to investigate the specific case raised by the Honourable Member. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2560/85 (') OJ No L 164, 27. 7. 1970, p. 1. by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC—B) to the Commission of the European Communities (21 January 1986) (86/C 182/67)
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2542/85 Subject: Directive on maximum permitted noise levels in the by Mrs Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE—NL) workplace to the Commission of the European Communities (21 January 1986) The Dutch Minister of Social Affairs, Jan de Koning, recently (86/C 182/66) stated in connection with the drafting of a European Directive on the maximum permitted noise level in the Subject: Replacement of mercury batteries by zinc-air workplace that the employer is obliged to reduce the noise batteries in the Netherlands once it reaches the level of 90 decibels.
The Dutch Minister for the Environment has concluded an In the Netherlands a noise level of 80 decibels is apparently agreement with five firms that produce or import mercury considered harmful. Above this level an employer has to No C 182/40 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 provide means of protecting the hearing and above 85 WRITTEN QUESTION No 2564/85 decibels he must take effective measures to reduce the by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC—B) noise. to the Commission of the European Communities (21 January 1986) Dutch standards are therefore stricter than European standards. What is the situation in the other Member (86/C 182/68) States? Subject: Public works contracts
I have been informed by the Commission in answer to earlier written questions that it is preparing proposals to amend Directive 71/305/EEC (*) concerning the coordination of Answer given by Mr Marin procedures for the award of public works contracts. on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1986) What progress has been made on these proposals, which are of exceptional importance for our firms and the market for public works contracts in general? The information at the Commission's disposal concerning (») OJ No L 185, 16. 8. 1971, p. 5. measures on the protection of workers against noise taken by Member States, which to a large extent is contained in the explanatory memorandum accompanying the relevant proposal for a Directive ('), has been communicated directly Answer given by Lord Cockfield to the Honourable Member. on behalf of the Commission (4 April 1986) The Directive which is in the process of being adopted by the Council seeks to reduce as far as is reasonably practicable the The Commission is actively pursuing work on amendments risks to hearing from noise. Above 85 dB(A), workers must to Directive 71/305/EEC concerning the coordination of be informed of the risk they are running and be provided with procedures for the award of public works contracts with a protectors, and they have the right to hearing checks. With view in particular to observing the timetable set out in the noise levels above 90 dB(A), employers must take all White Paper on completing the internal market (*), which reasonable technical and organizational measures and provides for submission of proposals to the Council before workers must wear protectors. These provisions are to be the end of 1987. implemented in the Member States from 1 January 1990 (one year later in the case of Greece and Portugal) and the levels As the Commission previously pointed out in its answer will be re-examined for 1994. to the Honourable Member's Written Question No 2353/84 (2), the situation in this area is highly complex; it A comparison of the regulations in force in a number of requires study and detailed consultation with all the Member States may be misleading because of the diversity of government and trade bodies concerned on the numerous their legislative and administrative systems and the use of solutions and alternatives envisaged. Several series of talks different concepts as a basis for their health protection are now in progress. measures. (») Doc. COM(85) 310 final. (2) OJ No C 214, 26. 8. 1985, p. 20. It may, however, be said that the Council Directive, which represents a compromise between different positions, will require practically every Member State to tighten up its protective regulations. For example, as scientific research has shown that there is a risk to hearing above an average noise level of 75 dB(A) (although the risk is very small at such a level), the Directive lays down that, above that level, WRITTEN QUESTION No 2581/85 preventive measures must be taken if they are technically and by Mrs Simone Martin (L—F) economically feasible for the undertaking in question; above 90 dB(A), employers must give priority to technical and to the Commission of the European Communities organizational controls. (24 January 1986) (86/C 182/69) The Community standards differ from some national standards but the Commission considers that, overall, they Subject: Restructuring the common organization of the are not lower. market in cereals
(>) Doc. COM(84) 426 final. In its memorandum on the restructuring of the common organization of the market in cereals, the Commission announces its intention of encouraging the consumption of cereals on the farm. 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/41
By taking such measures, is it not afraid of shifting reference, in its proposals for a common air transport policy, production in other sectors, such as beef and veal, pigmeat to the concept of a European air space. and poultry towards cereal-growing areas with all the dangers which may thus arise for the frequently less-favoured Various experts, including Mr Jacques Naveau, assistant stock-breeding areas? lecturer at the ULB (Brussels) who also represents the Belgian national airline Sabena, advocate cooperation between the national operators of the Member States on a much broader basis than the mere reduction of air tariffs. Answer given by Mr Andriessen on behalf of the Commission In this context, they point to the danger of airlines being over-cautious and too anxious to protect national interests. (12 March 1986) They call for joint bargaining powers concerning access to air space, the granting of transport rights and the adoption of The Commission would like to stress to the Honourable coordinated positions by the Member States. Member that the main purpose of the policy outlined in the memorandum on the adjustment of the market organization What is the Commission's response to these observations and ! for cereals ( ) is (page 4): what fresh proposals can it make concerning the 'gradually to curb production and to reduce the cost to the 'Europeanization' of transport rights, as, moreover, budget'. recommended by the ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference)? The co-responsibility levy represents the principal measure in a coherent set of several initiatives; while reducing the cost of cereals to the Community budget, the levy is designed 'to make farmers more aware of the realities of the market' (page 4). The Commission thinks that limiting the Answer given by Mr Clinton Davis application of the levy to 'the share of production which is on behalf of the Commission marketed' (page 5) should promote more on-farm use of the (25 March 1986) cereals produced. The main thrust of the Commission's proposals on civil Unlike the Honourable Member, the Commission does not aviation is the liberalization of tariff-setting procedures and fear that these market instruments will have the effect of capacity controls within the Community as set out in its Civil modifying farming systems so radically that livestock Aviation Memorandum No 2 (1). Other measures, however, production will be transferred from the traditional such as a review of the Directive on interregional air services, stockfarming areas to the crop-farming areas. The a proposal on mutual acceptance of licences and a proposal Commission's intention is not to create social and economic on airport charges are under active consideration. upheaval in agriculture. In any case, the traditional stock-farming regions hold undoubted competitive advantages, both in the technico-economic knowhow of the The Commission sees these measures as important first steps producers and in the organization of production and in developing a Community air transport policy. When marketing. These could not be cancelled out by the mere results have been obtained on these priority issues the application of the co-responsibility levy. Commission will, of course, consider what further action is needed to progress and complete that policy. In the Commission's opinion, the likelihood is that the levy H OJ No C 182, 9. 7. 1984. will encourage farmers running mixed crop and livestock enterprises to increase the volume of cereals consumed on the farm. I1) COM(85) 700, 21. 11. 1985.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2605/85 by Mr Gerard Deprez (PPE—B) to the Commission of the European Communities WRITTEN QUESTION No 2585/85 (24 January 1986) by Mr Luc Beyer de Ryke (L—B) (86/C 182/71) to the Commission of the European Communities (24 January 1986) Subject: The situation in Nicaragua in relation to the (86/C 182/70) forthcoming EEC — Central America Cooperation Agreement Subject: European air space On 11 November 1985 the Cooperation Agreement between At the European Summit held in Luxembourg at the the European Economic Community and Central America beginning of December 1985, the Commission made no was to be signed. No C 182/42 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
Several countries will benefit by it, notably Nicaragua. contains a terse announcement that this would be the last issue owing to budgetary constraints. This new agreement is obviously of prime importance both 1. Could the Commission amplify this statement? for Europe and Latin America, since it not only opens the way for preferential links on both sides of the Atlantic but 2. Could the Commission indicate what proportion of the also provides Central America with an alternative to the London Office budget was taken up by Europe '85 military and revolutionary 'solutions'. magazine and the amount that will be saved as a result of ceasing to publish? As it happens, on 15 October 1985 the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, suspended by decree a number of 3. What plans do the Commission have to keep the general fundamental public freedoms: freedom of expression and public informed of its activities and explain the impact of information, the free movement of individuals throughout the European Community in a positive way? the country as well as the right to strike. 4. In which other Member States is the publication of In view of this, would it not be appropriate to make similar magazines being discontinued? European aid to Nicaragua — and to the other States concerned — conditional on respect for human rights and 5. Does the Commission intend to continue the publication fundamental freedoms? of Europe Magazine in the United States?
6. Will the Commission publish a review of its current information policy and activities?
Answer given by Mr Cheysson on behalf of the Commission (11 April 1986) Answer given by Mr Ripa di Meana on behalf of the Commission (3 April 1986) The Community and the countries of Central America did sign a framework Cooperation Agreement in Luxembourg on 12 November 1985. In the preamble to this Agreement, 1. Publication of the monthly Europe '85 magazine by the the Contracting Parties affirmed their support 'with regard to London Information Office was discontinued in February for observance of fundamental human rights and the dignity and budgetary reasons. value of the person'. 2. Europe '85 was in fact a very expensive, four-colour The Community hopes that, following the Guatemala and publication, which alone accounted for nearly 39% of the Caraballeda declarations made in mid-January, the London Office's total budget and around 64% of its Contadora initiative will be revived, so bringing about a publications budget in 1984. Final figures showing the cost in stabilization of the situation in Central America which will 1985 are not yet available. In any event, the situation this ensure democratic pluralism and observance of human year cannot be compared with that in previous years on rights. account of the severe budget cutbacks.
The Commission takes the opportunity to reaffirm the full The savings the Commission hopes to make by discontinuing support the Community has given since the beginning to the the magazine will be used more rationally and more Contadora peace initiative, given that the initiative comes effectively elsewhere in the London Office's budget. from the region itself and is aimed at finding a solution by political means and negotiation. 3. The Commission plans to implement its information programme with maximum efficiency in order to make a more direct impact on a larger number of Community WRITTEN QUESTION No 2607/85 citizens. It hopes, with Parliament's support, to obtain the by Mr Michael Welsh (ED—GB) funds needed for the purpose. to the Commission of the European Communities (24 January 1986) 4. The problem facing the London Office is shared by the other Information Offices which publish high-cost (86/C 182/72) magazines, such as Bonn, Madrid, Paris and Rome and, to a lesser extent, by the other Offices.
Subject: Publication of the Europe '85 magazine The Commission is looking into possible alternatives for all the Offices, including London; its aim is to reach a wider The November-December issue of Europe '85 magazine public and to ensure that the funds used are not out of which is published by the Commission's London Office proportion to the objectives. 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/43
5. The Commission has no plans to discontinue 1986 food-aid requirements. In line with the report's publication of the magazine by the Washington Office for the recommendations, the Commission has therefore allocated time being. for 1986 45 000 tonnes of cereals, 1 000 tonnes of butteroil and 2 000 tonnes of sugar, for a total value of 12,03 million 6. The activities of the Directorate-General for ECU, which is an increase on the 1985 quantities. Information, Communications and Culture are described in a special section of the Commission's annual report presented Furthermore, it should be noted than vegetable oil is more to Parliament at its February part-session. suited to the refugees' needs that butteroil, but owing to the limited quantities of vegetable oil available under the annual EEC food-aid programmes, no substantial allocation can be made of this product.
3. Under Article 936 (aid towards self-sufficiency for refugees and displaced persons), the Commission financed health and hygiene programmes in 1984 for 250 000 people WRITTEN QUESTION No 2616/85 (mostly women and children), living in the camps of Piralizai and Surkhab in Baluchistan. by Mr Ernest Miihlen (PPE—L) and Mr Hans-Jiirgen Zahorka (PPE—D) to the Commission of the European Communities Since this programme is to expire at the end of June 1986, the Commission is expecting other projects relating to training (24 January 1986) and medical assistance to be submitted. {86/C 182/73) Likewise in 1984, a project in support of the vocational Subject: Food aid for Afghan refugees in Pakistan training of young Afghan women who have taken refuge in Peshawar was the object of a Community financing operation (Article 941) involving 229 530 ECU, co-financed 1. Is it true that shipments of dried milk to Afghan with Caritas Danmark, a Danish NGO. refugees in Pakistan were suspended about five months ago? Can the Commission state its reasons for their suspension? In general it should be borne in mind that the Community and its Member States are among the chief donors of aid, 2. Is it prepared to intervene to ensure that shipments of whether it be food aid (85 000 tonnes of cereal out of a total dried milk and butteroil are resumed since Pakistan has the of 350 000 tonnes) or humanitarian aid. greatest need of those foodstuffs because of the extreme misery in which the three million refugees are living? Does it not think that such shipments should be drawn as a priority measure from the substantial Community surpluses?
3. Still in connection with improvements to the precarious situation in which the refugees are living, is the Commission aware that particular efforts are required in the field of medical training and assistance? Is it prepared to make a Community contribution in addition to the one made WRITTEN QUESTION No 2617/85 in the past? by Mr Ben Visser (S—NL) to the Commission of the European Communities (24 January 1986) (86/C 182/74) Answer given by Mr Natali on behalf of the Commission (5 May 1986) Subject: Ban on imports into the USA of high strength aramid fibres
1. Under the Community's 1985 food-aid programme, According to reports in the Dutch press, on 25 November the most recent delivery of 700 tonnes of dried skimmed-milk 1985, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) powder (SMP) for the Afghan refugees took place in considered a complaint lodged by the Dupont Company and November 1985 via the UNHCR. ruled that the Dutch AKZO Company had infringed Dupont's patent on high strength aramid fibres and 2. The Commission has not included SMP in its recent consequently prohibited imports of the AKZO product into 1986 allocation to UNHCR for the refugees. This product the United States. The ITC does not admit any complaints was not requested since it is not one of the essential staple from non-American companies. That leads not only to products (cereals, edible oil and sugar) recommended by a inequality before the law but also to a form of trade recent mission of the WFP/UNHCR to assess the refugees' protectionism. No C 182/44 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
1. Is the Commission aware of the situation described investigation on 5 February 1986 (2) to assess the factual and above, and what is its view of the matter? legal issues involved and to determine what further steps might be appropriate. 2. Does it take the view that the procedure obtaining in the (') OJ No L 252, 20. 9. 1984, p. 1. 2 USA, whereby American companies may lodge ( ) OJNo C 25, 5. 2. 1986, p. 2. complaints about foreign competitors infringing their patent rights, although similar complaints lodged by foreign companies are not admitted, leads to inequality before the law? What does the Commission contemplate doing, or has it already done, to put an end to this biased and, hence, unfair procedure and to replace it by a more WRITTEN QUESTION No 2637/85 even-handed system? Has the US Administration already by Mrs Vera Squarcialupi (COM—I) been approached? to the Commission of the European Communities (31 January 1986) 3. What measures have been taken by the Commission to (86/C 182/75) have the ban on imports into the USA of AKZO aramid fibres lifted? Subject: An unnecessary road, posing a threat to the environment, financed by the Community in the 4. Should the USA unfortunately not be prepared to repeal commune of Pisticci (Matera) the ban referred to above, what countermeasures could the Community contemplate taking? Is it true that The branch of Italia Nostra (Our Italy) in Pisticci, Matera AKZO, supported by the Netherlands Government, has province, the historic centre of which is listed as one of Italy's instituted proceedings at Community level to have 100 most important heritage sites, has publicly condemned Dupont products boycotted in Europe? What does the the plan to build a road 18 metres wide and 3 kilometres long Commission think of that? to link the beach resorts of San Basilio and San Teodoro on the Ionian coast.
This project, which was approved by the former Fund for the Mezzogiorno, is pointless because there is a trunk road nearby, and also poses a threat in terms of both the increased fire risk for the nearby pine forests and the property Answer given by Mr De Clercq speculation which could swamp the coast between the two on behalf of the Commission resorts. (24 April 1986) Since the road project concerned is co-financed by the European Community, will the Commission state the reasons for granting this financial assistance? The Commission is aware that the US International Trade Commission (ITC) issued an exclusion order on 25 November 1985 against aramid fibres produced by AKZO. The US President did not disapprove the exclusion Answer given by Mr Pfeiffer order which became final on 25 January 1986. on behalf of the Commission (4 April 1986) This ITC exclusion order was taken pursuant to the procedures of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The The ERDF has not helped to finance the road to which the Commission has pointed out to the US Government on Honourable Member refers, for the competent Italian numerous occasions that certain elements of these authorities have not submitted an application for this procedures constitute a discrimination against, and a project. harassement of, foreign exporters. In the Commission's view these procedures do not guarantee national treatment and they were consequently notified to GATT in 1982 to be included in the list of non-tariff barriers to trade. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2640/85 On 9 December 1985 AKZO filed a complaint with the by Mr Dieter Rogalla (S—D) Commission under the New Commercial Trade Policy Instrument of the EC, (Council) Regulation (EEC) No to the Commission of the European Communities 2641/84 of 17 September 1984 (!), on the strengthening of (31 January 1986) the common commercial policy with regard in particular to (86/C 182/76) protection against illicit commercial practices. In substance the complainant's principal claim is that the implementation Subject: Imports of medicaments of Section 337 in the aramid case is in breach of the United States international obligations under GATT Article III 1. Is the Commission aware of the case of Mrs Terpstra, (national treatment clause). The Commission opened who a few weeks ago wished to import a number of bottles of 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/45 homeopathic medicaments from Belgium into Luxembourg in Luxembourg to act as it is alleged they did. In principle, a and in doing so was impeded by Luxembourg customs private person importing medicines properly prescribed and officials? dispensed in another Member State for that person's individual use should not be subject to restrictions. The aplication of this principle has to date caused no problems 2. If necessary, is the Commission prepared to take up that have come to the attention of the Commission. this case, concerning six bottles each of Salvia-A, Ruta and Accordingly, the Commission has not taken any measures in Polygonum-S, and to indicate the requirements within the this area. European Community for the movement of such simple sedatives between Member States?
3. Is the Commission also prepared to take up the issue with the Luxembourg customs authorities, in particular the responsible officials at the Ministry of Health, Mrs Lontsch, Mrs Lux (Customs Inspector) and Mrs Kummer (Counter No 7 at the Luxembourg customs office) and to request these officials, via the Luxembourg Government, to handle the WRITTEN QUESTION No 2647/85 clearance of medically prescribed medicaments in a by Mr Arthur Newens (S—GB) sympathetic manner? to the Commission of the European Communities (31 January 1986) 4. What Community and national rules stand in the way (86/C 182/77) of someone who purchases homeopathic medicaments, prescribed in Belgium by a Belgian doctor, in the Netherlands and brings them to Luxembourg where he/she lives? Does Subject: European Community action on worker co-ops the Commission share my view that regulations permitting citizens to take with them such medically prescribed In that the report on the Co-operative Movement (Doc. medicaments for their personal use are overdue, and how 1-849/82) has been adopted, can the Commission state what does it explain the fact that the present state of affairs still sets actions and initiatives have been taken following its up obstacles to the transport of such personal effects? adoption?
5. Has the Commission already taken measures, on its own initiative, to ensure that such medically prescribed medicaments for personal use may be carried as luggage and if so, what measures? Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (4 April 1986)
For details concerning action and measures initiated in response to the report by Parliament on the cooperative Answer given by Lord Cockfield movement and the subsequent resolution of 13 April on behalf of the Commission 1983 (*), the Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the Commission's reply to Written Question No 81/85 by (3 April 1986) Mr Bersani (2). Additional information on Commission activities with regard to worker co-operatives and the wider area of local employment initiatives was given in the joint 1. The Commission was not aware of the facts contained answer to Written Questions Nos 2367/84 by Mr 3 in the question. Vandemeulebroucke and 30/85 by Mr Huckfield ( ), in the joint answer to Written Questions Nos 1823/85, 1824/85 and 1825/85 by Mr Pitt (4), and in the answer to Written 2 and 3. The Commission is always prepared to Question No 2017/85 by Mrs Lenz (5). investigate problems encountered at the Community's internal borders, whether by commercial traders or private The Commission is currently studying the findings of recent citizens, in the light of Community law and particularly seminars, consultations and studies with a view to further Articles 30 and following of the EEC Treaty, and if necessary action. to ask Member States to remove such difficulties. However, to be able to investigate the Commission would have to be (>) OJNoC 128, 16. 5. 1983. fully cognizant with the circumstances of the case raised by (2) OJNoC228, 9. 9. 1985. the Honourable Member. (3) OJ No C 255, 7. 10. 1985. (4) OJ No C 130, 28. 5. 1986. (s) See page 8 of this Official Journal. 4 and 5. The Commission is unable to comment on the case at issue without full knowledge of the details of the case and especially the reasons which led the customs authorities No C 182/46 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2649/85 Community as a whole. This is why it launched an initiative, by Mr Gijs de Vries (L—NL) one that it is still pursuing, in favour of the ECU, stressing in particular the inportance that, in its opinion, attaches to to the Commission of the European Communities international use of this currency unit; since it is based on (31 January 1986) persuasion, this initiative is being conducted without (86/C 182/78) unnecessary fuss but with tact and determination. With particular regard to use of the ECU on the oil market, Subject: Use of the ECU in international trade the Commission is seeking every favourable opportunity to move in this direction without awaiting the conclusion of a The following supplementary questions arise from the cooperation agreement with certain producer countries. Commission's answer to may Written Question No 1270/85 (»): 2. The Commission would simply reaffirm the content of its previous answer concerning the fixing of oil prices in 1. The Commission reserves the right to submit proposals ECU: because of the present features of the oil market, where to the Council designed to encourage the use of the ECU prices are expressed in dollars, a company could not at the in the oil market, for example as part of a possible moment do business in ECU without incurring some risk cooperation agreement between the Community and since it would be acting differently from the rest of the some producer countries. What likelihood does it see of industry. In any event, it should be emphasized that traders such an agreement being achieved in 1986? If it considers are free to choose the currency in which they transact that there is only a small chance, will it indicate what business and that they could not be required to use the other conditions must be met if it is to take the steps ECU. referred to above this year? Does it not consider that up to now its action has been too tentative in this area? The question as to the savings that could be made by using the ECU would be meaningful only if the bulk of supplies 2. The Commission states that if crude oil prices were fixed were governed by long-term contracts. Even so, it is worth in ECU, this would have important financial noting that, if supplies had been effected on the basis of consequences for Europe. In its view, what savings contracts denominated in ECU, the Community's oil bill would have been possible if oil prices had been fixed in would have been much lower in 1984, higher in 1985 and ECU rather than dollars in 1984? What is the estimate probably higher still in 1986, mainly because of the dollar's for 1985? performance on the foreign exchange market.
3. The Commission takes the view that there could be a case 3 and 4. The raw materials and commodities whose for using the ECU rather than the dollar for the prices of prices could, bearing in mind the relevant market products of which the Community is a major importer or characteristics, be expressed in ECU are very few; they where the producers have particularly close links with include cocoa, milk products and possibly unprocessed the Community (Written Question No 1579/84) (2), as jute. the reference prices expressed in the currencies of the parties to the agreement would be less sensitive to The Commission is closely following this matter, which has exchange rate fluctuations. What products does it become actuely important because of the magnitude of consider comply with this description? exchange-rate fluctuations. When the proper circumstances present themselves, it will be certain to draw attention in the 4. On 14 February 1985 the Commission said it was appropriate forums to the contribution that more or less looking into the possibility of encouraging the use of the direct use of the ECU could make to alleviating these ECU as a reference currency in setting the prices of problems. products covered by international agreements. From the answer to my question I infer that this investigation has still not been completed.
What is the reason for this disappointingly slow progress? Is it prepared to publish the results during the Netherlands Presidency, i.e. before 1 July 1986? WRITTEN QUESTION No 2656/85 by Mr Roberto Costanzo (PP—I) (*) OJ No C 78, 7. 4. 1986, p. 12. (2) OJNoC 111, 6. 5. 1985, p. 31. to the Commission of the European Communities (10 April 1986) (86/C 182/79)
Answer given by Mr Delors Subject: Rural infrastructure and forestry projects in regions on behalf of the Commission covered by the Integrated Mediterranean (24 April 1986) Programmes (IMPs) Regulations (EEC) No 1760/78 0) and (EEC) No 1. As it has stated repeatedly, the Commission takes the 269/79 (2) concerning rural infrastructure and forestry view that developing the use of the ECU benefits the respectively expired on 31 December 1985. 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/47
In this context, the Commission has put forward a proposal arising from the application of Article 12 (1) of this for a Regulation providing for Community action which is Regulation and there is, therefore, no legal obstacle to the restricted to certain disadvantaged areas of Northern granting of additional assistance to such common Italy. measures. 1. Can the Commission indicate the reasons why it has not (•) OJ No L 197, 17. 7. 1985, p. 1. extended the validity of Regulations (EEC) No 1760/78 (2) COM(85) 759, 18. 12. 1985. and (EEC) No 269/79 in the case of all the areas to which they applied?
2. Does the Commission not consider that aid under the Regulations in question cannot be replaced by action under the IMPs since the latter are only partly concerned with intervention in rural infrastructure and on the basis of criteria which appear to exclude minor projects which WRITTEN QUESTION No 2658/85 are of more strictly agricultural interest? by Mrs Barbara Castle (S—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities 3. Finally, does the Commission not consider that if the above Regulations are not extended, the IMPs would be (31 January 1986) deprived of any basis on which to make additional (86/C 182/80) intervention?
(!) OJ No L 204, 28. 7. 1978, p. 1. Subject: Battery hen cage sizes (2) OJ NoL 38, 14.2. 1979, p. 1. What was the cage size for battery hens recommended by the Commission to the Council?
Is the Commission satisfied with the Council's decision of 450cm2 of cage space per bird given that evidence shows that Answer given by Mr Varfis 2 on behalf of the Commission to ruffle their feathers birds would need 497cm , to stretch their bodies 528cm2, for restricted wing stretching 538cm2 (10 April 1986) and to turn around 1,681cm2?
1. With the exception of certain areas in the north of Italy, What steps does the Commission now intend to take in order the IMP's cover all the regions concerned by Regulations to alleviate continuing cruelty to battery hens caused by (EEC) No 1760/78 and (EEC) No 269/79. The extension of inadequate cage sizes? the validity of Regulations (EEC) No 1760/78 and (EEC)- No 269/79 is not necessary in areas covered by the IMP's since the measures concerned can be financed in the framework of the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes by virtue of Article 12 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2088/85 (»), Answer given by Mr Andriessen provided that they are accepted after examination of the on behalf of the Commission various IMP's. (19 March 1986)
Most of the remaining regions are covered by the 1. The Commission made a proposal for a Council Commission's proposal for a Regulation instituting a Directive laying down minimum standards for the protection common measure for the promotion of agriculture in certain 2 of hens kept in battery cages (*). This proposal included the less-favoured areas of northern Italy ( ). provision that 'At least 500cm2 cage area, measured in a horizontal plane, which may be used without restriction shall 2. The fact that the IMP's are only partly concerned with be provided for each laying hen. In all cases the minimum rural infrastructure does not detract from their effectiveness cage size shall not be less than 1 600cm2. as a replacement for these Regulations. Indeed, Regulation (EEC) No 2088/85 makes it possible, where appropriate, 2 and 3. Despite extensive study and the submission of and in the framework of an integrated approach, to grant aid supplementary reports by the Commission, the Council has for rural infrastructure projects on more favourable terms. not yet made a decision on the Commission's proposal. The The restrictive conditions mentioned by the Honourable Commission considers that the adoption of minimum Member do not appear in the Regulation. standards will be a step forward and improve the conditions under which birds are kept in a number of Member 3. Under Article 12 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No States. 2088/85, additional Community assistance from the special budget heading may be granted over and above the limits laid The Commission is already devoting resources to seek to down by the provisions governing the Funds. The term further improve the conditions for keeping laying hens. It is 'provisions governing the Funds' includes common measures actively supporting under its research programme pilot NoC 182/48 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 studies to find alternative systems which are acceptable and Is the Commission aware that Buitoni, a subsidiary of IBP viable, both economically and from the point of view of Industrie Buitoni Perugina SpA Italy, whose UK operation is health and animal protection. Princes Buitoni Foods at Huyton and Southport, intends to close down operations at Huyton and relocate at Southport, (>) OJNoC 208, 18. 8. 1981, p. 5. with a loss of 55 jobs at Huyton and 26 at Southport.
Will the Commission state if this company has received any EEC grants? If so, what amounts and to what purpose?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2659/85 Would the Commission agree that there could be a real danger that Buitoni may eventually close down its by Mrs Barbara Castle (S—GB) Merseyside operations completely and move them to the to the Commission of the European Communities mainland of Europe, and that they would then import back (6 February 1986) to the UK the products that should be made by local workers in a deprived area? (86/C 182/81) Would the Commission contact the company, stressing the Subject: Cereal prices need to maintain regular jobs within the Merseyside area? Given that agreement in Council was never reached on the 1,8 % reduction in cereal prices proposed by the Commission in 1985, what measures has the Commission since taken and what price is being paid for cereals and rapeseed for the 1985/86 crop year and on what legal basis has the Answer given by Mr Marin calculation been made? on behalf of the Commission (11 April 1986)
Answer given by Mr Andriessen The Commission has made no grants to Princes Buitoni on behalf of the Commission Foods, a subsidiary of IBP Industrie Buitoni Perugina SpA. It (4 April 1986) is not for the Commission to interfere in a company's economic and social strategy; it can only intervene directly The President of the Council and the Commission concluded with a firm to preserve jobs. However, the firm in question that a majority of the Council endorsed the Commission may apply to the United Kingdom Government for assistance proposals to reduce the common intervention price for from the Social Fund, which is responsible for granting cereals and rapeseed by 1,8%. Given the failure of the vocational training and employment aid. The Commission, Council to agree the necessary enabling legislation, the being aware of the economic and social situation on Commission discharged its responsibilities under the Merseyside, has included this region on the list of priority Treaties by implementing provisional legislation. The regions for assistance from the European Social Fund. decisions taken by the Commission were presented to the Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament and are For the same reason, this region is also eligible for assistance summarized in a document which will be sent directly to the from the European Regional Development Fund. Honourable Member and the General Secretariat of the Parliament. It is worthy of note that no individuahgroup or government has contested the legality of this procedure.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2664/85 WRITTEN QUESTION No 2682/85 by Mr Kenneth Stewart (S—GB) by Mr Francois Roelants du Vivier (ARC—B) to the Commission of the European Communities to the Commission of the European Communities (6 February 1986) (6 February 1986) (86/C 182/82) (86/C 182/83)
Subject: Factory reorganization, Merseyside West Subject: Obligation to report emergency action plans to the The Commission, being aware of the tragic effects of authorities responsible for overseeing the carriage unemployment within the Liverpool and Merseyside area, of hazardous goods and of the European Parliament's policies for the preservation of jobs and the creation of jobs, must view with A new federal order came into force in Canada on 1 July concern the prospect of further job losses in this area. 1985. This makes it obligatory for any carrier, manufacturer 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/49 or distributor of toxic materials to supply the director of 3. Will the Commission state the deadline for ratification 'Transport Canada - hazardous materials' with an by each individual Member State of the Concil decision of emergency plan of round-the-clock, seven-days-a-week 7 May 1985 on own resources? action in the event of accidental spillage, so that cleaning-up work can be carried out.
Does the Commission not consider that an identical Answer given by Mr Christophersen arrangement should apply at European Community level? on behalf of the Commission (25 April 1986)
1. No deadline for payment was fixed in the Agreement. Answer given by Mr Clinton Davis However, since the purpose of the advances was to finance on behalf of the Commission the 1985 budget, the Member States should have made their (18 April 1986) payments by the end of that year. In the event, three Member States made their payments in 1986.
The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for the 2. The Commission recommended to the Council a information about the Canadian order. method of payment of the advances (!). Under this method the Member States would have made monthly payments in a Directive 78/319/EEC on toxic and dangerous waste (') way very similar to the payments of VAT. However, the provides that Member States shall take all necessary steps to Member States did not accept the Commission ensure that the transport of toxic and dangerous waste does recommendation; in fact, all but one of them made a single not constitute a danger to man or his environment and to lump sum payment. prohibit all uncontrolled movements of such waste. The detailed methods of control are the responsibility of the 3. The Commission regrets that the Agreement was made Member States. outside the framework of the Treaties and that its initial proposal for a Regulation based on Article 235 of the EEC Where transport of dangerous materials over land is Treaty was not accepted. If the Council had adopted a concerned, the Commission is looking into the possibility of Community approach in this matter and thereby treated a Community-level harmonization of national and regional these advances in an orthodox manner, the Community emergency plans. Experience shows that existing plans meet would not have experienced problems in implementing the current needs. Also, the current international conventions on advances, such as those resulting from the need for national overland transport (ADR/RID) in force in Europe require ratifications of the Agreement. that consignments of dangerous goods be accompanied by specific instructions on how to deal with every accident or H Doc. COM(85) 346 final, 26. 6. 1985. incident likely to occur en route.
I1) OJNoL 84, 31. 3. 1978.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2693/85 by Mr Gerhard Schmid (S—D) to the Commission of the European Communities WRITTEN QUESTION No 2686/85 (6 February 1986) by Mr Ove Fich (S—DK) (86/C 182/85) to the Commission of the European Communities (6 February 1986) Subject: Protection of computer programs (86/C 182/84) 1. In which Member States of the European Community are computer programs explicitly granted patent protection Subject: The intergovernmental agreement on the financing by legislation or case law? of the 1985 budget Is it so in these countries, as in the Federal Republic of 1. Will the Commission state the deadline for the Germany, that programs are only protected which are of an payment to be made by each Member State under the exceptionally high standard? intergovernmental agreement on the financing of the 1985 budget pursuant to the decision of 23-24 April 1985? 2. In which Member States of the European Community are integrated circuits protected and by which laws? 2. Will the Commission say if there is any disagreement with individual Member States over their payments under the 3. In which States of the European Community are chips intergovernmental agreement? protected and by which law? No C 182/50 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
4. What steps does the Community intend to take account continue to oppose the adoption of the 14th VAT of the reciprocality requirements of the US Semi to take Directive (J), which the Commission still regards as an conductor Protection Act. important stepping stone in the process of completing the internal market.
The proposal is one of those which the Economic and Answer given by Lord Cockfield Finance Ministers' Council will have to review in on behalf of the Commission considering, on the basis of the proposals in the 2 (25 April 1986) Commission's White Paper ( ), what measures are necessary to complete the internal market by 1992.
New legislation to provide for the explicit protection of (M OJNoC 203, 6. 8. 1982, p. 11. 2 computer programs under the umbrella of copyright law has ( ) Doc. COM(85) 310 final. recently been adopted in France, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom. Case law and learned opinion in other Member States confirm a general trend to assimilate computer programs to literary works protectable under copyright law, but no supreme court decisions to support this thesis have come to the knowledge of the Commission. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2734/85 The notion of literary work may vary in different Member by Mrs Anne-Marie Lizin (S—B) States so that no common standard in this respect exists. to the Commission of the European Communities No Member State of the EEC has yet adopted legislation to (10 February 1986) provide for the explicit protection of the topography, that is (86/C 182/87) the physical configuration of semi-conductor products.
The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the Subject: Pluralism of the press and press mergers in France Commission's proposal for a Council Directive on the legal and Belgium protection of original topographies of semi-conductor products and its explanatory memorandum (*). Is the Commission aware of the rapid changes taking place in press ownership in these two countries? (') Doc. COM(85) 775. Does it consider that this sector should comply with the conditions of competition set out in Article 85 et seq. of the Treaty of Rome?
How does it intend to ensure observance of this principle of free competition and the rules prohibiting cartel agreements WRITTEN QUESTION No 2698/85 and practices? by Mr Dieter Rogalla (S—D) to the Commission of the European Communities Can this principle of compliance with the rules of free (10 February 1986) commercial competition be extended to cover the safeguarding of editorial pluralism? (86/C 182/86) Does the Treaty offer a legal basis for this? Subject: 14th VAT Directive
Does the 14th VAT Directive form one of the Commission proposals which needs to be adopted as a matter of priority by the Council as a step towards completing the internal Answer given by Mr Sutherland market and what is the state of progress reached on on behalf of the Commission deliberations in the Council on this proposal? What position (8 April 1986) does this proposal occupy on the list of priorities of the three presidencies initiating such activities? The Commission has always kept a close watch on developments in the press within the Community, including France and Belgium, as may be seen from the studies on the Answer given by Lord Cockfield evolution of concentration in the press which the on behalf of the Commission Commission has had carried out in past years. (28 April 1986) The press is not excluded from application of the competition rules laid down in the EEC Treaty, as the Commission's Despite the numerous attempts which the Commission has practice and the decisions of the Court on this subject show. made to overcome their opposition, certain Member States With regard more specifically to the evolution of 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/51 concentration, the Commission considers it important that for the Indian Government is responsible for importing and the Council should adopt the Commission's amended accepting the fertilizer. The Ministry of Agriculture is proposal for a Regulation on the control of concentrations responsible for its distribution throughout the country, between undertakings (J). according to the agricultural requirements of the various regions. Both the fertilizer transaction and the development As regards the pluralism of the press, the Commission projects subsequently processed are listed in the considers that, although the competition rules are aimed Community's development programme. The fertilizer essentially at the economic effects of corporate behaviour, it transaction is just a simple technical means of finanzing would not in principle seem that such pluralism can in reality developing projects in India. be dissociated from the notion of effective competition in the sector. The price paid for urea in 1984 was 215 ECU per tonne. The tendering for the year 1985 for a total amount of 45 million (>) OJ No C 51, 23. 2. 1984, p.8. ECU is presently taking place.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2742/85 by Mr Terence Pitt (S—GB) WRITTEN QUESTION No 2746/85 to the Commission of the European Communities by Mr John Marshall (ED—GB) (10 February 1986) to the Commission of the European Communities (86/C 182/88) (17 February 1986) (86/C182/89) Subject: Commercial activity in developing countries
At a recent meeting of the Development and Cooperation Subject: Telecommunications and national protection Committee, Commissioner Cheysson said that the Commission 'sells fertilizer (in India) on the local market, Can the Commission state the size of the market for and uses the proceeds for development projects'. telecommunications in each of the countries of the Community? How many countries follow a policy of Will the Commission expand on this, and say how large is the national protection in acquiring telecommunications scale of operations such as these? Furthermore, can we know equipment? How many countries have, like Britain, where the product sold is obtained, and at what price? liberalized the purchase of telecommunications equipment? Finally, are such transactions entered into the accounts of the What proposals does the Commission have to create a Community, and are the projects resulting listed in the genuine common market in telecommunications? Community's development programmes?
Answer given by Mr Cheysson Answer given by Mr Narjes on behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1986) (21 April 1986)
Assistance to India via sales of fertilizers and the use of the Market estimates for telecommunications equipment vary proceeds to finance development projects has been going on according to the definitions used and are subject to a number since 1979. of uncertainties for statistical reasons. The estimates for the Member States of the Community given here are based on a In total, a quantity of 1 218 000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, definition which is widely used. According to this estimate, mostly urea, has been purchased in the EEC over the years the global telecommunications market in the Community in 1979 to 1984 and was sold in India, with the generated 1984 was worth over US $ 14 billion. counterpart funds of 212 million ECU being used to finance rural development projects. Historically, the purchasing policy of network operators has limited outside procurement of telecommunications Following the signature of a financing agreement establishing equipment in a number of Member States. The Commission the fertilizer transaction and the use of the counterpart funds has undertaken for a number of years substantial efforts to for specific development actions, and subject to international work towards a gradual opening of procurement practices in tendering in accordance with Community procedures, the this sector, excluded from the application of Directive Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) 77/62/EEC (l) on the opening of public supply contracts. NoC 182/52 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
The Commission has made the opening of the procurement safety regulations, and could it state its position on the of the network operators a main priority in its current action matter? programme in the field of telecommunications (2), confirmed by the Council in its conclusions of 17 December 1984. Shortly before, the Council had adopted a recommendation on the gradual opening of tenders in this field (3).
In addition to the progressive application of this Answer given by Lord Cockfield recommendation, the Council is expected to adopt the on behalf of the Commission Directive concerning the first phase of the establishment (24 April 1986) of the mutual recognition of type approval for telecommunications terminal equipment (4). Taking into account these factors combined with the rapid progress on the implementation of the other actions of the Commission's The rules on food additives have up to now been adopted using the Article 100 procedure (i.e. Council Directive agreed programme in telecommunications, as well as the current unanimously). trends in the Community towards liberalization - especially of terminal markets - the Commission is confident of substantial progress towards a genuine common market in Directives adopted in this way exist on colouring matters, telecommunications. preservatives, antioxidants and emulsifiers (and similar substances). Other proposals on flavouring and extraction The markets for telecommunications equipment solvents are being discussed by the Council. in the Community
(estimates for 1984) The Commission is also preparing lists of additives in other categories and shortly expects to have completed its Million Million Member State review. US$ ECU
Belgium 700 890 In drawing up lists of acceptable additives and in order to Denmark 330 410 keep the evaluation of the safety of substances in categories France 3 120 3 950 already the subject of Directives up to date, the Commission relies to a great extent on the opinions of the Scientific Germany 2 850 3 610 Committee for Food, an independent committee of highly Greece 200 260 qualified scientists set up by the Commission to assist it on Ireland 90 110 matters relating to safety of food and its components Italy 1 420 1 800 (including additives). Netherlands 560 710 Portugal 250 320 The opinions of the committee are widely accepted in the Spain 1 330 1 680 Community as the basis for assessing safety of food additives. United Kingdom 3 270 4 150
Total 14 120 17 890 The Commission has recently proposed to the Council (J) that in the future, legislation on additives could be adopted Source: Arthur D. Little. by the Commission, using a simplified procedure of consulting the Member States not involving the unanimous (») OJ NoL 13, 15. 1. 1977, p. 1. agreement in the Council which Article 100 requires. (2) COM(84) 277 final. (3) OJ No L 298, 6. 11. 1984, p. 51. (4) OJ No C 232, 12. 9. 1985, p. 11. The relevant Commission communication has also been submitted to the Parliament for its opinion.
The proposal for the Directive implementing this new approach will also be submitted shortly to the Council and to the Parliament for its opinion. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2748/85 by Mr Ray MacSharry (RDE—IRL) The Commission believes that the new approach will ensure to the Commission of the European Communities that additives used by the food processing industry are safe while at the same time allowing the flexibility necessary to (17 February 1986) ensure that the industry can take advantage of technological (86/C 182/90) changes without undue delay.
J Subject: Additives used in the food processing industry ( ) Doc. COM(85) 603 final.
Is the Commission empowered to take action to ensure that additive^ used in the food processing industry are subject to 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/53
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2749/85 principally operating in their own Member State and (b) in by Mr Ioannis Boutos (RDE—GR) other Member States, distinguishing between cars, lorries, agricultural vehicles and other vehicles? to the Commission of the European Communities (27 January 1986) (86/C 182/91) Answer given by Lord Cockfield Subject: Ecological disaster threatening the lake in the on behalf of the Commission prefecture of Ioannina (21 April 1986)
According to measurements and research carried out by scientific experts at Pamvotis Lake in the prefecture of The Commission regrets that it is not in a position to answer Ioannina (north-west Greece), the lake is losing depth at the the Honourable Member's question. The statistics possessed rate of 1,5 metres every 15 years. This is due to various types by the Commission on public procurement are aggregates of silting and to the material carried in from the surrounding submitted by the covered entities via their respective Member areas, which settles and thereby raises the bottom of the lake States listing the number and value of contracts awarded and by 10 centimetres every year. If this carried on at the same the address of the winning tenderer for each product group. rate, in a few years' time the lake will turn into a marsh and all They do not indicate either the number or the origin of the life in it will be extinguished. product purchased. The Commission does not possess either details of each individual contract or a further disaggregation of the available statistics below the level of vehicles. Since the ecological disaster which is on its way is expected to lead to a withering-away of production, sport-and-tourist-related activities and to have, more generally, adverse effects on the development of the surrounding disadvantaged, mountainous area, how does the Commission propose to aid local efforts to carry out projects designed to protect the lake? WRITTEN QUESTION No 2764/85 by Mr Hans-Gert Poettering (PPE—D) to the Commission of the European Communities Answer given by Mr Clinton Davis (17 February 1986) on behalf of the Commission (86/C 182/93) (7 May 1986)
Subject: Distortion of competition in the horticultural The Commission was not aware of the problem described by industry the Honourable Member, nor does it have evidence that Pamvotis Lake is of special ecological importance. In the areas of Germany near the Dutch frontier, complaints continue to be made about the distortion of competition in Naturally the Commission would be willing to examine any the horticultural sector caused by Dutch gas subsidies. Can request for assistance from the appropriate Community the Commission indicate whether its representations to the instruments which the Greek authorities may care to Netherlands Government with a view to halting the submit. distortion of competition have been successful? What is the Commission's assessment of the current situation?
Answer given by Mr Andriessen on behalf of the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION No 2759/85 (25 April 1986) by Mr Andrew Pearce (ED—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities On 22 February 1985, in accordance with the procedure (17 February 1986) provided for in Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty, the (86/C 182/92) Commission addressed to the Netherlands Government a negative decision stating that the measure in question was incompatible with the common market and requesting that it Subject: Vehicles bought by the Governments of the be discontinued (J). Member States On 24 July 1985 the Commission brought an action against How many motor vehicles were bought in each of the the Netherlands Government before the Court of Justice on Member States by their governments from (a) manufacturers the grounds that the decision had not been complied with. NoC 182/54 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
The Court has not yet given judgment. victims really do receive help, and is it prepared to provide aid through NGOs already in the country? The Commission is not aware of any current complaints in (') See inter alia De Telegraaf (16 January 1986) and Algemeen the Federal Republic of Germany with regard to Dutch gas Dagblad (16 January 1986). prices to horticulturists.
On 1 October 1985 the Netherlands authorities reintroduced the formula which had been agreed jointly with the Commission in 1982, but again reserved the right to impose a maximum price, even though that had been one of the Answer given by Mr Cheysson reasons why the Commission had originally brought the on behalf of the Commission matter before the Court. The trend of prices for heavy fuel (to (8 April 1986) which the gas prices are linked) suggests that the said maximum price will not have to be imposed before the contract between the Netherlands authorities and 1. The Commission confirms that it had learned via the horticulturists expires (on 1 October 1987). Netherlands press of the criticisms expressed by the Secretary-General of the Netherlands Organization for (>) OJ NoL 97, 4. 4. 1985, p. 49. International Development Cooperation (NOVIB) on the question of aid to victims of the volcano disaster at Armero. This criticism - that aid did not reach the real victims - is not accepted by the Commission where its own aid is concerned. According to the information which the Commission has received, it can be said that the repercussions of Community aid have been very significant and that it had undoubted impact, thanks to the speed with which it was set up. An aircraft was sent within 48 hours of WRITTEN QUESTION No 2766/85 the disaster and additional aid the following week. by Mrs Ien van den Heuvel (S—NL) to the Commission of the European Communities 2. The Commission is not aware of the criticisms (17 February 1986) expressed by the American aid organization CARE. (86/C 182/94) 3. The Commission has no information to the effect that a considerable proportion of the aid promised by Community Subject: Aid to Colombia embassies was not distributed because of the reservations entertained in respect of the 'Resurgir' organization. 1. Has the Commission taken note of the statements by the Secretary-General of the Netherlands Organization for 4. The Commission has been kept regularly informed by International Development Cooperation (NOVIB) at a the bodies responsible for administering the Community aid recent press conference (15 January 1986) in The Hague, (League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and following his visit to Latin America, at which he criticized the Medecins sans Frontieres (Netherlands). As regards aid to victims of the volcano disaster at Armero because the utilization of the aid, the Commission can report as aid provided did not reach the real victims at all (*)? follows:
2. Is it aware that the American aid organization CARE — Medecins sans Frontieres (Netherlands) has recently made similar statements? A medical team was flown out with 30 tonnes of aid. This was the first team on the scene and was operational as from 3. Is it aware that a considerable proportion of the Sunday 17 November in the areas of Guayabal, Marequita, monetary aid promised by Community embassies was not Lerida and Chapeton, where an emergency hospital was set provided, because of the reservations entertained in respect up with the help of Colombian medical staff. of the 'Resurgir' committee set up by the Colombian Government? Medical assistance, including care of the seriously handicapped (making of artificial limbs, rehabilitation) will 4. Does it have reports on how aid provided by the continue until the end of March. Community has been spent? Is it prepared to submit these A sum of 450 000 ECU was allocated to this reports to Parliament in the near future? organization.
5. Is it aware that the camps where the victims are housed are under military administration and that the freedom of — League of Red Cross Societies movement of the people is severely restricted? The Community funds have helped finance the League's programme, notably rescue operations, the establishment of 6. Can it undertake to take steps forthwith, in so far as camps by the Colombian Red Cross and the supply of basic such are necessary, to improve the aid provided so that the relief (tents, clothing, generators, mobile kitchens, etc.). At 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/55
the present time, Community funds are being used to reprocessing plant in the Federal Republic of Germany is distribute food rations to victims and this will continue until situated close to the two towns. 15 May. What will be the task of the proposed Amberg technology The amount allocated to the League is 1 200 000 ECU. transfer office?
— The Colombian Government What is the reason for the sudden increase in assistance for both towns? On the Commission's initiative, and using funds provided by the Commission, in December and January the Colombian To what extent are the aid measures under the Regional Fund Government distributed an initial payment (4 500 pesos) to linked with financial measures to increase the acceptability of survivors to enable them to meet the basic needs not covered the proposed reprocessing plant in the area? by the distribution of goods and aid in kind.
The funds provided for this operation (350 000 ECU) were entirely used up. Answer given by Mr Pfeiffer on behalf of the Commission 5. The Commission has been informed that there are (25 April 1986) about 2 700 people in camps run by the military. The measures restricting freedom of movement do not exceed what is necessary to guarantee security and the orderly The task of the technology transfer office in Amberg is to: implementation of relief operations. — answer queries about technological questions and supply information on state-of-the-art technology, 6. The Commission wishes to confirm that right from the — arrange consultancy services to help with the solution of start it has taken every precaution to ensure that the aid technological problems, financed by the Community reaches the needy, namely supervision by the Commission delegation in Latin America — run supporting schemes (information meetings, and financing of operations by reimbursing relief bodies seminars, training measures for consultants and on the strength of supporting documents, including studies). acknowledgement of receipt at final distribution points. Of the total Community aid (2 000 000 ECU) for the Armero The area of the labour market regions of Amberg and victims, 82,5% was allocated to NGOs and humanitarian Schwandorf, as defined in the steel area programme for the organizations and 17,5% to the Colombian Government. joint Federal Government/Lander task of improving regional economic structures, fulfils the criteria for inclusion in Regulation (EEC) No 2616/80 (J), as amended by When implementating emergency aid the Commission calls Regulation (EEC) No 216/84 (2), instituting a specific upon any relief body which might be useful, both local and Community regional development measure contributing to European, provided they offer the necessary guarantees for overcoming constraints on the development of new economic proper implementation. activities in certain zones adversely affected by restructuring of the steel industry.
There is no link between Regional Fund aid in the context of Regulation (EEC) No 216/84 and financial measures to increase the acceptability of the proposed reprocessing plant in the area. (') OJNoL 271, 15. 10. 1980, p. 9. (2) OJNoL 27, 31. 1. 1984, p. 9.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2772/85 by Mrs Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (ARC—B) to the Commission of the European Communities (17 February 1986) (86/C182/95) WRITTEN QUESTION No 2793/85 by Mr James Ford (S—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities Subject: Distribution of appropriations from the European Regional Fund in the Upper Palatinate (Bavaria), in (17 February 1986) particular in Amberg and Schwandorf (86/C 182/96)
According to Commission information of 14 January 1986, Subject: Trade the towns and districts of Amberg und Schwandorf are to be given special assistance under the programme for Bavaria. Has the Commission taken any steps to regulate the sale of Wackersdorf, which is the location for the proposed people's names and addresses to brokers? NoC 182/56 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
Answer given by Lord Cockfield Can it also supply a list of projects for the province of Brabant on behalf of the Commission over the same two-year period, giving the names of the (4 April 1986) beneficiaries and the amount granted for each project?
No. The Commission has seen no need to do so from the point of view of the establishment of the common market. Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (14 April 1986)
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2800/85 The following amounts of European Social Fund assistance by Sir Jack Stewart-Clark (ED—GB) were granted to the provinces in Belgium.
to the Commission of the European Communities (million Bfrs.) (19 February 1986) Provinces 1984 1985 (86/C 182/97) Antwerp 407,65 457,55 Subject: Shooting of birds in Greece Brabant 666,40 839,86 Hainaut 778,51 740,23 Will the Commission state how far it has progressed with the infringement proceedings it has initiated against Member Liege 614,04 605,17 States on the Directive concerning protection of wild birds? Limburg 259,67 322,93 Will it in particular say whether any action will be taken in Luxembourg 167,64 123,33 the relevant Member States in time to stop the annual spring Namur 241,75 264,70 shooting of wild birds this year? East Flanders 447,91 526,98 West Flanders 355,28 392,52
Answer given by Mr Clinton Davis Total 3 938,85 4 273,27 on behalf of the Commission (10 April 1986) • The Commission will forward directly to the Honourable Member and the Parliament Secretariat the list of operations As for the first part of the question, the Honourable Member concerning employment approved for the Province of is asked to refer to the Commission's replies to Written Brabant in the same period. Questions Nos 1196/85 (*) and 2400/85 (2) by Mrs Daly and 2653/85 (3) by Mr Schwalba-Hoth.
With regard to the question of spring shooting, this matter has been raised directly with the Member States concerned. It is to be hoped that these contacts, in addition to the official infringement proceeding, will assure that the practice of illegal spring shooting is brought to an end. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2842/85 0) OJ No C341, 31. 12. 1985. by Mr Michael Welsh (ED—GB) (2) OJ No C 134, 2. 6. 1986. (3) OJNoC 111, 9. 5. 1986. to the Commission of the European Communities (21 February 1986) (86/C 182/99)
Subject: Europrotectionism WRITTEN QUESTION No 2829/85 The following quotations are taken from a speech by US by Mr Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARC—B) Congressman Jack F. Kemp to the Keidanren in Tokyo on to the Commission of the European Communities 23 August 1985: (19 February 1986) 'We need much faster progress on liberalizing access to (86/C182/98) domestic markets. I am thinking here not only of Japan and the United States but more especially of Europe, Subject: Social Fund assistance which is in many ways more protectionist. The US-Japanese trade imbalance is not merely a bilateral Can the Commission indicate how much assistance was problem, because Europe's protectionism forces more received by Belgium in the period 1984 to 1985, giving the competition into relatively open markets like the United amounts for each province? States.' 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/57
'More balanced trade can be restored if other countries Government intervention per se and the prospects for reduce marginal tax rates and — especially in the case of growth. The above report does recognize a need to improve the stagnant economies of Europe — reduce government and encourage the efficient functioning of markets. intervention in the economy. This would also reduce high rates of unemployment in many countries.'
Would the Commission care to comment?
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2843/85 by Mr Alasdair Hutton (ED—GB) to the Commission of the European Communities Answer given by Mr De Clercq (21 February 1986) on behalf of the Commission (86/C 182/100) (8 April 1986) Subject: The use of local project teams in agricultural and integrated programmes The Commission agrees on the desirability of faster progress in liberalizing access to domestic markets. With this in mind, In answer to my Oral Question H-684/85 (*) on the use of a the European Community and some other industrialized local project team in integrated development programmes, it partners have accelerated the Tokyo Round tariff cuts. was stated with regard to the Western Isles Programme that much of the credit for the successful implementation to date must go to the enterprise and commitment of the project Further trade liberalization is one of the main objectives of a team. A similar proposal is made with regard to the other GATT new round of trade negotiations. Through such Scottish islands in your proposal (COM(85) 759 final). negotiations, the balance of rights and obligations of GATT contracting parties which is perceived to be unequal, must be What plans have you to use this experience in other redressed and clarified. In this connection, a particular agricultural programmes and in the Integrated responsibility falls to those countries whose gains from past Mediterranean Programmes? GATT negotiations have not been matched by their contributions. (*) Debates of the European Parliament No 2-334 (January 1986).
The Commission does not know on what basis US Congressman, Jack F. Kemp, could support the affirmation that 'Europe (EC) is in many ways more protectionist (than Answer given by Mr Andriessen Japan and the United States)'. But the Commission can on behalf of the Commission equally demonstrate the opposite. It considers that the (9 April 1986) European Community has respected its international commitments on stand-still and roll-back more effectively x than other industrial partners. The Congressman may be In addition to the proposal for the Scottish islands ( ), the misled by the transparency of the Community's regulatory proposal for a Regulation establishing a common action for instruments (e.g. in agriculture) into believing that the the acceleration of agriculture development in certain Community is more protective than other countries. less-favoured areas of France provides for appropriate Community assistance to encourage participation in the proposed programme. Equally, in the application of The Congressman raises an interesting point in drawing Regulation (EEC) No 2088/85 concerning the Integrated attention to the relationship between the US-Japan trade Mediterranean Programmes (2), appropriate provision has balance and the EC-Japan balance. The inter-dependence of been made for various types of advice and assistance which it world trade is by now a matter of general recognition — and is to be hoped the Member States concerned will use to the there can be no doubt that the diversion of exports from one full. The Integrated Mediterranean Programmes will provide market to another as a consequence of restrictions in the first for close cooperation at local level in the elaboration of the can cause genuine, and sometimes unexpected, difficulties. It programmes and in their application. is also true that the low propensity to import manufactured products in Japan increases pressure on the US and the As for agricultural measures to be provided under Article 18 Community markets, for example in textiles. But it is not true of Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 (3), the Commission will that the United States is necessarily more exposed to propose appropriate assistance in the programmes according competition from third country suppliers. to the complexity of the measure and the ability of existing services to fulfil the apparent needs. In its recent annual economic report, the Commission (») COM(85) 759 final. recognizes that the rate of the European Community's (2) OJ No L 187, 27. 7. 1985, p. 1. 3 economic performance overall may to some extent be ( ) OJNoL 93, 30. 3. 1985, p. 1. influenced by the scale of the public sector. The Commission would not, however, see any inevitable connection between NoC 182/58 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
WRITTEN QUESTION No 2850/85 After informal consultations between the Commission and by Mr Robert Battersby (ED—GB) the Polish authorities, the Polish Government undertook to comply, in 1985, with the reference price for Loligo to the Commission of the European Communities patagonica and to limit exports of the species to the (21 February 1986) Community to 10 000 tonnes over the year. (86/C 182/101) If further signs of disturbance should become apparent, the Commission will investigate the matter without delay in the Subject: The market for Loligo squid light of the Community rules. H OJ No L 379, 31. 12. 1981, p. 1. 2 In recent years there has been a build up of all-squid fishing in ( ) OJ No L 338, 30. 11. 1982, p. 13. the South-West Atlantic, resulting in a high level of squid imports into the enlarged Community. In view of the limited world market for frozen squid, especially Loligo spp., what action is the Commission taking to monitor imports into the Community?
Is the Commission aware that stability on the Community market for Loligo squid is also important for the stability of WRITTEN QUESTION No 2851/85 the Community fishing industry as a whole? by Mr Pol Marck (PPE—B) to the Commission of the European Communities Can the Commission assure the European Parliament that it (21 February 1986) intends to take urgent action to restore balance to the Loligo (86/C 182/102) squid market and can it state when it intends to act and what form its action will take? Subject: Manioc imports from Thailand
Can the Commission say what lessons it has learnt from the first agreement with Thailand? Do they underlie the new proposal to increase the quota? Has the Community aid Answer given by Mr Cardoso e Cunha brought about appreciable production diversification in on behalf of the Commission Thailand? (7 April 1986)
Under the common organization of the market in fishery products, imports into the Community of frozen squid are Answer given by Mr Cheysson subject to the provisions of Article 21 of Council Regulation on behalf of the Commission (EEC) No 3796/81 0) introducing reference prices and (21 April 1986) laying down detailed conditions for the protection of the Community market. To take account of the specific nature of the products in question, the reference prices are fixed In drawing up its negotiating mandate the Commission individually in the Community rules, subject to a favourable stated that, in its view, the objective pursued in concluding an opinion by the Management Committee, according to the agreement on manioc with Thailand (as well as with certain main species and the form in which they are imported. GATT members), that is to stabilize imports of manioc, had been fulfilled. Following the conclusion and implementation of the manioc agreements in 1982, total imports which Imports of frozen squid are also subject to the provisions of amounted to 6 672 000 tonnes in 1981 and 8 084 000 in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3192/82 (2) laying down 1982, fell to 4 504 000 tonnes in 1983 and 5 257 000 in detailed rules for the application of the reference price system 1984. The figure for 1985 is estimated at around for fishery products. This Regulation provides that 5 250 000. information on imports of frozen squid must be communicated without delay, by telex, with details, for each It is in the light of this experience and of the new Member State, of the origin, import date, imported quantity circumstances brought about, amongst others, by and free-at-frontier price for each species. enlargement and Thailand's membership of GATT that the Commission has proposed an extension of the EC-Thai The Commission shares the Honourable Member's view as Agreement with certain modifications, including an increase to the importance of stability on the Community market for in the quota. Loligo squid. When the market showed signs of disturbance in 1984, the Commission adopted safeguard measures in the Diversification of Thai manioc production is excessively last three months of the year against imports of Loligo squid, complex and cannot be achieved in a short period. An early in certain forms of presentation, originating in Poland. evaluation is difficult due to, amongst other things, the time 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 182/59 lag from the time of planting to the bearing of fruit of new It may also be recalled that the aid to certified flax seed is perennial crops most suited for the area. designed to encourage the use of better varieties.
Difficulties such as the agronomic and technical problems associated with a climatically marginal area have had to be faced along with the continually attractive price of manioc for producers. Despite this, the farming community has, through the Community's aid, been made aware of the need WRITTEN QUESTION No 2862/85 to diversify their farming system and has contributed to an by Mr Francois Roelants du Vivier (ARC—B) estimated reduction in the cultivation of manioc of around to the Commission of the European Communities 108 000 hectares in 1985, which should rise to 160 000 hectares in 1986. (21 February 1986) (86/C 182/104)
Subject: Levy on imports of tropical agricultural products and direct aid to small producers in the Third World
The Commission imports a large number of tropical agricultural products and the profits from that trade only WRITTEN QUESTION No 2852/85 rarely go towards helping small producers in the Third by Mr Pol Marck (PPE—B) World to develop. to the Commission of the European Communities This being so, has the Commission already carefully studied (21 February 1986) the possibility of introducing a levy on the abovementioned (86/C 182/103) imports and re-allocating the sums thus collected to development projects set up by small producers in the Third World? Subject: Flax
Demand for low- and medium-quality flax has been falling Answer given by Mr Natali since the beginning of 1985 as a result, it would appear, of on behalf of the Commission production changes in the processing industry, which is demanding higher quality. Since production is on the rise, the (16 April 1986) risk of surpluses is not inconceivable. A quality-orientated policy would seem the best solution. Can the Commission The Commission is not aware that the import of tropical say whether any study has been conducted thus far on quality products into the Community under the existing trading enhancement and on new applications for lower-quality regime is in any way contrary to the interests of small production? producers. In addition, the Commission sees no advantage accruing to developing countries by making aid dependent on revenue raised by taxing trade. Indeed, it believes that the encouragement of a sound international trading system Answer given by Mr Andriessen based on free access to the EEC market is an important on behalf of the Commission means of ensuring the necessary economic and social (7 April 1986) development of the Third World.
The Commission had noted that the situation with regard to the sale of flax had, except for the finer qualities, deteriorated and that there was little prospect of a recovery in the near future. WRITTEN QUESTION No 2907/85 by Mrs Vera Squarcialupi (COM—I) It therefore recently decided to pay a private storage aid for flax fibre to enable the holders of this product to obtain better to the Commission of the European Communities marketing terms. As sowings are expected to decline, it is (S March 1986) probable that equilibrium will be restored again early in the (86/C 182/105) next marketing year. Subject: Export of foreign currency from a Member State by Further to Council decisions, the Commission has also tourists or businessmen decided to take action in 1986 and 1987 to promote the use of flax. The scheme involves measures to promote Can the Commission indicate how the Member States consumption and research into new or improved products regulate exports of their national currency by tourists or and new outlets. businessmen? No C 182/60 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
In the particular case of Greece, money which tourists this cannot be attributed to the existence of exchange happen not to have spent and which has already been controls since banks anywhere may temporarily run out of a changed into drachmas may not be exported unless it has first particular country's banknotes. been changed into other currencies. The same restriction applies even to businessmen or government officials who Any relaxation in restrictions on the import or export of have drawn allowances in drachmas and have the necessary banknotes is, of course, apt to promote the free movement of documents to prove it. persons, and measures along these lines were taken by some Member States in 1984 and 1985. In one instance, a senior Italian official who had been I1) First Council Directive for the implementation of Article 67 of working as an expert for international bodies in Athens could the Treaty (OJ No 43, 12. 7. 1960). not be paid in lire for the amount of expenses reimbursed to (2) For the import and export of banknotes, see in particular the him in drachmas because the bank did not hold sufficient judgment by the Court of Justice in Casati (11 November stocks. He was thus obliged to change the drachmas into US 1981). dollars, which caused him serious inconvenience and delay despite the cooperative attitude of the Greek police authorities.
Does the Commission not feel that the absence of uniform practices in the importation into and export of foreign WRITTEN QUESTION No 2935/85 currency from a Member State — which applies equally to by Mr Ernest Glinne (S—B) Italy — constitutes an obstacle to the free movement of persons and is unlikely to encourage tourism and trade? to the Commission of the European Communities (5 March 1986) (86/C 182/106)
Subject: Observance of the United Nations decision on the Answer given by Mr Delors exploitation of natural resources in Namibia on behalf of the Commission Given that the Community is a member of the International (24 April 1986) Commission for the South-East Atlantic fisheries, what steps has the Commission undertaken to ensure compliance with UN Decision No 1 on the exploitation of natural resources in From the viewpoint of the Community provisions governing Namibia? capital movements, the physical import and export of financial assets (including banknotes) are among the operations specified in List D annexed to Council Directive 60/501/EEC of 11 May 1960 (*), those operations not being subject to any liberalization requirements. Answer given by Mr Cheysson on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1986) Payments connected with the movement of goods or services (including tourism and other forms of travel) are, it is true, liberalized pursuant to Article 106 of the Treaty. However, The Community is not yet a Contracting Party to the that Article, the effect of which is that Member States must Convention for the conservation of the living resources of the permit the payments necessary to the free movement of goods South-East Atlantic, under which the ICSEAF-Commission and services, does not oblige them to authorize just any form was established and is not, therefore, in a position to take of payment (2). initiatives.
At the moment, the export of notes issued by the central bank is free from restrictions in the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom and the Benelux countries. However, limits are imposed elsewhere in the Community although they differ from one country to another (in Greece, the limit is WRITTEN QUESTION No 2987/85 DR 3 000, equivalent to around 23 ECU). by Mr Andrew Pearce (ED—GB) The restrictions serve a dual purpose: (i) to prevent capital to the Commission of the European Communities leaving the country illegally in the shape of exported (13 March 1986) banknotes, and (ii) to ensure that the market in national (86/C182/107) banknotes abroad is not supplied through channels outside the control of the monetary authorities. Subject: Food-aid programmes
It is certainly unfortunate that a tourist or official preparing What steps does the Commission take to obtain the food to leave a host country should be unable to change the local needed for its food-aid programmes from countries which are currency he possesses into his own country's banknotes, but members of the Lome Convention? 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/61
Answer given by Mr Natali 3. In particular will the Commission develop its thinking on on behalf of the Commission the issues raised by Written Question No 313/85 (2)?
(13 March 1986) 0) OJ No C 272, 23. 10. 1985, p. 14. (2) OJ No C 255, 7. 10. 1985, p. 38.
According to Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3331/82 (J), food products for use as Community food aid may be purchased locally in developing countries in the case Answer given by Mr De Clercq of emergencies or otherwise when the products requested are on behalf of the Commission not available on the Community market. Local purchases, (28 April 1986) moreover, are to be made, where possible in the same geographical region as the recipient country. 1. It is expected that the 1985 report will be made to Parliament by the end of April 1986. The extent to which food aid is purchased in ACP countries (or in other developing countries) also depends of course in 2. As mentioned in its first report to the Parliament on the the existance of food surpluses for export for the products Community's anti-dumping and anti-subsidy activities (*), as requested. In the last three years, important quantities of well as in answer to Written Question No 313/85, the maize, millet, beans, cowpeas, etc. have been purchased in Decisions and Regulations which terminate the Malawi, Zimbabwe, Niger, Kenya and Senegal for food aid investigations already set out all the issues of fact and law to other African countries, in addition to purchases made by which are considered to be material and give full reasons for international relief organizations financed by the any action taken. Community. 3. No. As explained to the Honourable Member in Given the recent good harvests in many parts of Africa, the answer to his Written Question No 313/85, the issues raised scope for triangular operations and local purchases of food are at present the subject of cases brought before the Court of products for food aid has increased significantly. The Justice and are therefore sub judice. Commission will continue to do all it can to promote this H Doc. COM(83) 519 final/2. form of food aid, in the spirit of the Council resolution of 15 November 1983 on the importance and role of food aid for development.
(J) OJ No L 352, 14. 12. 1982, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3007/85 by Mr Ernest Miihlen (PPE—L) to the Commission of the European Communities (25 February 1986) (86/C 182/109)
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3006/85 Subject: Clearing operations in ECU by Mr Michael Welsh (ED—GB) 1. The Bank for International Settlements in Basle has just to the Commission of the European Communities announced that an agreement on clearing operations in ECU (13 March 1986) in soon to be signed with a group of private banks (86/C 182/108) specializing in transactions in the European currency. Is it correct that this agreement has come about on the initiative of or through the intervention of the European Subject: Report on the Community's anti-dumping Commission? activities 2. If so, why has the Commission encouraged the choice of a centre outside the Community to undertake clearing In response to Written Question No 689/85 (J) by Mr operations in ECU? Does it not consider that this choice will Bonde, the Commission referred to the Commission's annual have a detrimental effect on attitudes to the unique nature of report to the Parliament on the Community's anti-dumping the European currency? and anti-subsidy activities, the last edition being published on 17 December 1984.
1. Can the Commission say when the 1985 report will become available? Answer given by Mr Delors on behalf of the Commission
2. Can the Commission undertake to give a full explanation (6 May 1986) of its current thinking on commercial defence so that the anti-dumping report has the same scope and authority as 1. The Commission has never slackened in its efforts to the annual report on Competition? encourage the development of the private market in ECU No C 182/62 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 acting in full agreement with Parliament's resolutions. This is 3. Is it aware that the Federal Republic of Germany why it took the initiative in February 1982 of calling a wishes to make the trade in frogs subject to international meeting of banks doing ECU business to explore the control? Does it not believe that it should itself take the possibility of setting up an international and neutral clearing initiative in order to provide for international control over system. the trade in frogs?
The working party set up by the main banks involved — in the work of which both the Commission and the European Investment Bank have played an active part — rapidly agreed Answer given by Mr Cheysson that the future system should be overseen by the Bank for on behalf of the Commission International Settlements (BIS). That system was intended to (IS April 1986) take over from the bilateral arrangement (MESA) set up by a small number of commercial banks. 1. The Commission does not have overall data for international trade in frogs' legs. Following lengthy negotiations between the BIS and the banks, the ECU Banking Association, which was created in As regards imports into the Community (of Ten) of frogs' legs September 1985, finally signed an agreement with the BIS on originating in India and Bangladesh, the Community's 21 March which provides for the BIS to perform the dual role external trade nomenclature does not specify frogs' legs of agent for the clearing banks and banker for the system. separately but includes them under the one heading with whale and seal meat. Nevertheless, in the case of the two countries concerned, the figures for 1984 and 1985 2. As expanding the commercial and financial uses of the (reproduced below) can safely be taken to refer essentially to ECU is a private initiative, it was for the banking industry to the products cited by the Honourable Member. make the decision. It chose the BIS principally because the BIS's role and neutrality in international financial relations ('000 ECU) offered the best possible chance of promoting the expansion of the private market in ECU. The Commission could not Country of origin oppose the choice, particularly as the BIS was already acting Importing Member State India Bangladesh as agent for the EMC for official flows of ECU. EUR 10 1984 5 332 4 857 1985 3 171 4 008 The BIS only carries out the tasks entrusted to it by the ECU Germany 1984 316 335 Banking Association. The European and Community nature 1985 291 of that Association remains assured, especially since its — Articles provide for the European Investment Bank in France 1984 2 500 604 Luxembourg to act as Vice-Chairman of the Association. 1985 968 520 Italy 1984 497 — 1985 239 — Netherlands 1984 598 2 200 1985 179 894 Belgium / Luxembourg 1984 1 333 1 698 1985 1 758 2 291 United Kingdom 1984 88 19 1985 27 12
(W0 ECU) WRITTEN QUESTION No 3033/85 Country of origin by Mr Francois Roelants du Vivier (ARC — B) Impoting Member State India Bangladesh to the Commission of the European Communities (14 March 1986) EUR 10 1984 1 480 1 152 1985 806 792 (86/C 182/110) Germany 1984 76 82 1985 67 France 1984 710 144 Subject: Trade in frogs 1985 274 120 Italy 1984 145 1. Does the Commission have figures on the international 1985 72 z trade in frogs' legs, in particular exports from India and Netherlands 1984 153 516 Bangladesh to the various Member States of the EEC? 1985 42 175 Belgium / Luxembourg 1984 360 405 1985 411 428 2. Is the Commission aware that the frog population is United Kingdom becoming increasingly depleted in certain countries, 1984 36 5 1985 7 2 especially India and Bangladesh? 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/63
2. The Commission has no statistical evidence for or The discussions on the project were conducted responsibly against the reported depletion of the frog population in India and at a good pace, thus enabling the technical and and Bangladesh. However, it has been informed by the contractual conditions to be clearly specified and the work to Bangladesh authorities that they have banned the catching of start without any hold-up. There was no unjustified delay frogs during the breeding season (15 April to 15 July) and caused by the procedures used. have taken measures to develop frog-rearing.
3. Since 1985 trade in the two most important species of The purpose is to develop a prototype high-performance frog (Rana hexadactyla and Sana tigerina) has been subject to flexible multiprocessor computer. A computation rate of 500 international control under the Convention on international million floating point operations per second will be achieved trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), by concurrent operation of a large number of floating point which is applied in the Community through Council processors. The machine will be implemented as a regular Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 ('), as amended. Under the array of 'super-nodes' with each node consisting of 20 terms of this Regulation, all imports of frogs of these species processors. A configurable interconnection strategy in each or of products derived from them are subject to presentation node using a switching network to be developed in the project of an import permit. will provide a flexible prototype architecture suitable for a wide range of scientific and engineering problems. (») OJ No L 384, 31. 12. 1982, p 16.
It is proposed to demonstrate the utility of the configurable architecture both for use as a single-user work station (operating with a single super-node) and as a basis for a large, powerful array of super-nodes, by mounting a range of application software covering CAD (computer-aided design) for VLSI (very large-scale integrated circuits), signal WRITTEN QUESTION No 3078/85 processing, large-scale modelling and simulation. A prototype will be built by the end of 1987 and a machine will by Mr Luc Beyer de Ryke (L—B) exist by the end of 1988. to the Commission of the European Communities (21 March 1986) Partners: (86/C 182/111) Royal Signals and Radar Establishment UK Subject: ESPRIT programme — Franco-British constuction APSIS F of a supercomputer INMOS UK Telemat SA F The objective of the programme being implemented by the Thorn EMI Ltd UK French firm APSIS and the British firm INMOS is to develop, University of Southampton UK with EEC aid, a 'supermode' computer capable of 500 University of Grenoble F. million operations a second.
According to the French press, the Community is taking a long time to reach a decision. What is the position? What are the reasons for this real or alleged 'delay'?
Answer given by Mr Narjes on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1986) WRITTEN QUESTION No 3119/86 by Mr Willy Kuijpers (ARC—B) The project (reference 1085) entitled 'Development and to the Council of the European Communities application of a low-cost high-performance multiprocessor (21 March 1986) machine' went through the evaluation and selection procedure for ESPRIT projects, which was not completed (86/C 182/112) until the end of July 1985.
The highly complex technical Annexes for this project were Subject: European environmental policy — Netherlands discussed and drafted jointly with the partners in the project presidency in September, October and November 1985. The contracts were sent out to the seven partners as soon as the technical Annexes were ready and the Commission received them back 'It is not to be expected that agreement will be reached in on 9 December 1985. That is the official date for the start of 1986 in Community measures to combat sulphur dioxide the work on this project. emissions by industry and electricity generating stations'. No C 182/64 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86
This view was expressed by Mr Winsemius, Minister for the The Commission takes the view that it is the duty of the Environment, in a discussion on the presidency of the Community, as of other development aid donors, to support Council of Ministers. this process with the means at its disposal. It is therefore currently considering a package of specific appropriate Can the Council indicate what the position of the United measures, in the food aid and other sectors. Kingdom is with regard to the draft Directive on large-scale furnaces and also which Member States wish to support this draft and implement it during the first half of this year? As regards Community aid granted to Haiti over the last five years, the Commission is pleased to provide the Honourable Member with the following overall statistical picture:
Answer (13 June 1986) EEC aid
(million ECU) At the Council meeting on 6 March 1986 a very large majority of delegations was in favour of an early decision on 1985 1979 to 1981 1982 1983 1984 the proposal referred to by the Honourable member. 1985
The Council accordingly examined certain solutions with a 1. Financial and view to future discussions aimed, among other things, at technical being in a position in June 1986 to establish a framework for assistance 6,600 2,430 1,000 20,530 the measures to be taken so as to enable the specific detailed 2. Food aid 2,270 4,050 2,690 3,310 3,132 17,802 provisions to be adopted before the end of 1986. 3. Trade promotion 0,140 0,040 0,350 With regard to the positions of individual delegations, the Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the fact that, in 4. Energy 0,020 0,010 accordance with the Council's rules of procedure, Council 5. Training 0,015 0,007 0,022 discussions are covered by the obligation of professional 6. NGO 0,340 1,110 0,740 3,113 secrecy. 7. Emergency aid 0,320 0,293
2,765 11,807 5,460 4,050 4,435 41,917
(l) Provisional.
WRITTEN QUESTION No 3139/85 by Mr Luc Beyer de Ryke (L—B) to the Commission of the European Communities (24 March 1986) (86/C 182/113)
Subject: Situation in Haiti and EEC aid WRITTEN QUESTION No 49/86 by Mr Herman Verbeek (ARC—NL) In view of the new political situation in Haiti, economic and to the Commission of the European Communities food aid should be offered to the people so that every encouragement is given for a return to democracy. (10 April 1986) (86/C 182/114) What aid has the EEC given Haiti in the last five years and what form has it taken?
Does the Commission plan to take any particular action in Subject: Expulsion by the French Government of the MEP the next few months, in cooperation with other countries, to Dorothee Piermont from Polynesian territory achieve the objective mentioned above?
Given that, notwithstanding the privileges and immunities of Answer given by Mr Cheysson members of the European Parliament as provided for in the Treaty of Rome, the French Government obstructed a on behalf of the Commission representative of the peoples of Europe in the exercise of her (28 April 1986) political duties:
The Commission welcomes the process which should enable What steps will the Commission take vis-a-vis the French Haiti to progress towards becoming a pluralist democracy Government, which, by expelling the MEP Dorothee with respect for human rights. Piermont, acted in blatant violation of the Treaty? 21. 7. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 182/65
WRITTEN QUESTION No 50/86 Answer by Mr Alberto Tridente (ARC—I) (13 June 1986) to the Commission of the European Communities (10 April 1986) 1. The Representatives of the Governments of the (86/C 182/115) Member States of the European Communities, meeting within the Council, indicated in the recitals to the resolution of 23 June 1981 the importance which they attached to the Subject: Expulsion by the French Government of Mrs introduction of uniform design (1). Dorothee Piermont from Polynesian territory 2. As the Council indicated on a number of occasions, the Given that the free movement of European citizens on above resolution does not preclude the introduction of Community territory is one of the principles inspiring the passports embodying an automatic reading strip (2). Treaty of Rome: 1. Does the Commission not believe that, by expelling Mrs 3. The possibility of plastic inserts is expressly provided Dorothee Piermont from Polynesian territory, France for in the above resolution and the resolution of 30 June contravened one of the fundamental tenets of the 1982 (3). Treaty? I1) OJ NoC 241, 29. 9. 1981. 2 2. Wh at action will the Commission take against the French ( ) See H-66/81 — Debates of the European Parliament, No 1-271 Government for this indefensible infringement of free (Maj 1981); H-417/81 — Debates of the European Parliament, No 1-275 movement as defined in the Treaty? (October 1981); H-614/81 — Debates of the European Parliament, No 1-278 (January 1982). (3) OJ NoC 179, 16.7. 1982. Joint answer given by Mr Christophersen on behalf of the Commission (6 June 1986)
The Commission is inquiring into the facts referred to by the Honourable Member with the Member State concerned. It will inform him of its findings as soon as possible. WRITTEN QUESTION No 190/86 by Mrs Anne-Marie Lizin (S—B) to the Council of the European Communities (21 April 1986 (86/C182/117) WRITTEN QUESTION No 168/86 by Mr Frank Schwalb-Hoth (ARC—D) Subject: Research Council of 8 April 1986 on the programme on new materials to the Council of the European Communities (21 April 1986) 1. Can the Council indicate the measures it intends to take (86/C 182/116) to bring into effect the multiannual research action programme on materials, in the light of the conciliation with Subject: 'Unforgeable and machine-readable' version of the the European Parliament and following the Research new European passport Council meeting of 8 April 1986?
1. What importance does the Council of Ministers attach 2. Does the Council consider that this programme has a to the production of the new bordeaux-coloured European future and that it must be pursued? passport in: If so, does the Council believe that the current funding is — 'unforgeable', and sufficient to give real substance to the programme? — 'machine-readable' 3. Which Member States already have major national form? programmes on these materials? 2. When was the Council of Ministers informed that individual Member States wished to introduce within their respective areas of jurisdiction an 'unforgeable and machine-readable' version of the European passport? Answer (13 June 1986) 3. What does the Council of Ministers think of the proposal by these countries to ensure that the passport is 'unforgeable and machine-readable' by means of a plastic 1. During the conciliation procedure on 8 April insert? concerning the multiannual research programme on NoC 182/66 Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 7. 86 materials (1986-1989), the President-in-Office of the use of Community funds in view of the constraints of the Council, Mr van Aardenne, clearly stated that the Council present budgetary situation. However, the Council stated intended to adopt the programme as soon as possible. He that in the context of adoption of the next framework also stated that the European Parliament's amendments programme, a re-evaluation of the programme should be which the Council had been able to adopt on 8 April would taken into account with a view to strengthening it, be incorporated into the decision adopting the particularly as regards the subprogrammes on primary raw programme. materials, wood and advanced materials (EURAM).
2. The fact that the Council wishes to adopt this 3. The Council is extremely aware of the need to avoid programme immediately is a sufficient indication of the duplicating research and was therefore able to support the importance it attaches to it. The amount which the Council idea expressed during the conciliation procedure that in considers necessary to carry out the programme is 70 million future the Community subprogramme on advanced ECU. The amount initially proposed by the Commission has materials (EURAM) should be set up in close coordination been reduced because of the desire for strict discipline in the with existing or planned national programmes. COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
THE AGRICULTURAL SITUATION IN THE COMMUNITY
1985 REPORT
Report published in conjunction with the 'Nineteenth General Report on the Activities of the European Communities'
This report is the eleventh published version of the annual Report on the Agricultural Situation in the Community. It contains analyses and statistics on the general situation (economic en vironment and world market), the factors of production, the structures and situation of the markets in the various agricultural products, the obstacles to the common agricultural market, the position of consumers and producers, and the financial aspects. The general prospects and the market outlook for agricultural products are also dealt with.
439 pp., 11 fig.
Published in: Danish, German, Greek, English, French, Italian and Dutch
Catalogue number: CB-44-85-670-EN-C ISBN 92-825-5794-4
Price (excluding VAT) in Luxembourg: ECU 22,28 BFR 1 000 IRL 16 UKL 13.20 USD 19
OFFICE FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES L-2985 Luxembourg
86-47 COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
DOCUMENT
EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
Tenth Annual Report (1984)
The ERDF, one of the Community's structural funds was set up in 1975 to correct the principal regional imbalances within the Community. ERDF aid is accordingly granted in areas and regions suffering from imbalances resulting in particular from the predominance of agri culture, industrial change and structural under-employment. Such regions, which are determined in agreement with the Member States, are generally the areas covered by national regional aid schemes, these areas being approved by the Commission in accordance with Articles 92 and 94 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community. The ERDF provides assistance by making grants which support and supplement national regional development efforts
119 pp. ISBN 92-825-5875-4 CB-45-85-195-EN-C
Published in: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian.
Price (excluding VAT) in Luxembourg:
BFR 450 IRL7.20 UKL 6 USD 9
OFFICE FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES L-2985 Luxembourg