21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/1

I

(Information)

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER

WRITTEN QUESTION E-404/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2051/95 by Jean-Pierre Raffarin ( PPE ) by Wolfgang Nufibaumer ( NI ) to the Commission to the Commission (15 February 1995) (12 July 1995) ( 96/C 51/01 ) ( 96/C 51/02 )

Subject: Funding of the ' Coupe d'Europe des Saveurs Subject: Funding of trans-European networks régionales' At the Transport Council meeting of 20 June 1995 in The European Parliament voted to include in the budget for Luxemburg, the Council was unable to reach agreement on 1995 an appropriation of ECU 1 million for the ' Coupe the draft formal conclusions on funding the priority projects d'Europe des Saveurs regionales'. of the trans-European networks owing to a dispute concerning the distribution of appropriations . As a result, The aim of this event is to promote regional products of no decision was taken on allocating appropriations for the quality in Europe . 14 priority projects drawn up in Essen for the period 1997—1999 owing to a veto by Italy and Spain . One of the The appropriation was entered under item Bl-381 , 'Quality priority projects affected , for which EU funding from 1997 promotion measures'. to 1999 is now uncertain, is the link between Munich ( Germany ) and Verona ( Italy). What measures does the Commission intend to adopt to ensure that this event is indeed organized with its How does the Commission envisage that the support ? Munich-Verona connection might be funded following Italy's veto of the original proposal ?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Kinnock (10 November 1995) on behalf of the Commission (18 October 1995) On 26 July the Commission took a decision endorsing the payment of a contribution for the 'Coupe d'Europe des Financing of the trans-European transport network is Saveurs regionales'. This contribution , in the form of primarily the responsibility of Member States although the cofinancing for the programme presented by the Community does contribute to their financing, especially Poitou-Charentes region, will cover a maximum of 50 % of through structural assistance and direct support for the total budget, up to the sum of ECU 1 million . trans-European networks . In the case of the Munich-Verona link ( the Brenner axis ), only one Community funding source is available : the trans-European networks ( TEN ) budget line No C 51/2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

( B5-700 ). The contribution from this line is limited . Council branches concerned, with the exception of certain owners, Regulation ( EC ) No 2236/95 ( ! ) regulating the management as the consultation procedure employed by DG XV of this budget line allows in principle contributions of up to involving the relevant professional and political bodies on 50% for feasibility studies together with interest rate the subject of pluralism during the 1993—1995 period subsidies and guarantees within a total of 10 % of the cost of shows . The basis on which such a shift of policy is ' based ' is the whole project . However, the outlook for the TENs the 'competitiveness' of European undertakings and the budget for the years 1995—1999 ( around ECU 1 800 exploitation of the promise of 'employment' offered by the million ) will allow a total contribution to the global new sectors . investment costs of the 14 priority projects ( in the order of ECU 90 billion ) of just 2% up to 1999 . Will the Commission say :

As agreed at the Cannes summit, the Commission will 1 . In which audiovisual sectors is employment increasing, allocate a substantial part of the budget line to the 14 and what data and research findings have been used to projects . The structure of the financing of the reach this conclusion ? In so far as employment is Munich-Verona link remains the responsibility of the three declining, how does it interpret this and what measures Member States concerned, Germany, Austria and Italy . will be taken to combat this trend ? These Member States have launched a joint analysis to review the financing aspects of the link , the results of which will not be available before the end of 1996 . In the meantime 2 . How did the indicator, the increase of which constitutes upgrading work in Austria and Italy continues with the aid one of the strategic objectives of the European Union of the Community TENs budget line . However, work on the according to the 1993 White Paper, fluctuate during the main construction, the Brenner tunnel , cannot be expected 1985—1989 and 1989—1995 periods ? to commence before the year 2000 . 3 . What is the level of employment in the audiovisual sector and in the European audiovisual area , firstly, as a Apart from grant finance , the Community may also total , and, secondly, broken down by country, and what participate in the financing of projects through European conclusions does the Commission draw from current investment bank ( EIB ) loans and European Investment Fund trends ? ( EIF ) guarantees . In the present case the EIB is providing a loan of ECU 362 million for works on the Italian access railway routes to the Brenner tunnel . The possibility of a (') OJ No L 298 , 17 . 10 . 1989 , p . 23 . future involvement of the EIF should not be excluded .

(!) OJ No L 228 , 23 . 9 . 1995 . Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (8 November 1995)

The development of a Community audiovisual policy WRITTEN QUESTION E-2135/95 reflects the need to take into account the specific by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE/NGL ) characteristics of this sector, including its social and cultural to the Commission dimensions . The prospect of a global information society does not undermine those specific concerns which remain (19 July 1995) crucial , but offers new opportunities in terms of growth and ( 96/C 51/03 ) employment within the audiovisual sector .

The 1993 Commission white paper, to which the Subject: Audiovisual sector and employment Honourable Member refers, has given an illustration of this potential growth . It cites a Eurostat estimate for the number of people involved in audiovisual software of 1,8 million . EU policies in the audiovisual sector have foundered either According to further studies , it seems that this figure is because they have been abrogated in practice ( Directive accurate in as far as it relates to the number of individuals, 552/89/EEC (*)), or because of impasses in decision-taking including casual and part-time employees, working in the ( pluralism and concentration in SMUs ). At the same time sector . the focus of policy in this and in the related broader sector of communications is shifting and being determined by the 'information society' promoted by the Commission's The growth prospects for the audiovisual sector are difficult DG XIII . This shift of interest and of the centre of gravity of to predict for at least two reasons . First, it must be policy in this area is taking place in the absence of the recognised that statistics for the audiovisual sector are 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/3 inadequate at Community level . Employment data are WRITTEN QUESTION E-2138/95 hap-hazard and suffer from inconsistency, from year to year by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) and from Member State to Member State . Moreover, as to the Commission stated in the white paper, growth will largely depend on industrial choices that still have to be made in the sector . (19 July 1995) ( 96/C 51/04 )

Nevertheless , figures can be reported from several sources ( 1993 OMSYC report and IDATE 1994—1995 world audiovisual market study). These suggest that over the Subject: Inquiry into fraud by agricultural cooperatives period 1983—1992 , audiovisual turnover in Europe grew by 204 % in nominal terms , and by 9 % as , a percentage of GDP . Between 1985 and 1992 , the rate of growth was 1 . Is the Commission aware that agricultural higher ( 15 % ). As an example , in the television broadcasting cooperatives ( COOP ) in Veneto have gone bankrupt and market average annual growth rates over the period been wound up after collecting large sums of money from 1987—1992 were higher in Europe ( 5,2 % ), than in North the Community ? America ( 2,5% ). 2 . Will the Commission conduct inquiries and checks to According to these studies , it can be also seen that, for the ascertain at least whether, after a brief period as going same period , employment in the television broadcasting concerns, the cooperatives, which were created for the sector doubled , and for cable television the increase was specific purpose of extorting money from Community three-fold . While some traditional areas have remained taxpayers and disappeared without any apparent trace , used bankruptcy as an expedient for transferring some or all of relatively static and others , like cinema , have shrunk , the sums received to the political parties with which they employment growth in the video retail sector is estimated to had connections ? have been 250 % . Generally, recent studies on behalf of the Commission show that employment in this sector represents about 0,7% of community employment, with a 37% 3 . What will the Commission do to prevent similar increase over the period 1983—1992 , which represents an scandalous swindles and the enormous waste of public average annual increase growth rate of 4% . money in the future ?

The development of digital television and of a wide range of new audiovisual services ( specialized channels, pay-per­ view ) will consolidate this growth pattern . Accordingly, demand in the audiovisual software sector in Europe is Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission already growing vigorously . In addition, the nature and structure of employment reveals a remarkable potential for (2 October 1995) job creation in this sector .

The Commission expressed more precisely its views on According to the legislation already in force, the Member those opportunities and challenges in its 1994 green paper States must communicate cases of fraud and irregularity and ' Strategy options to strengthen the European programme their follow-up . To date, the Commission has not received a communication in this matter but it has been informed that industry in the context of the audiovisual policy of the European Union' ( ! ) on which Parliament adopted a proceedings have been opened in Italy concerning the resolution . Moreover, the Commission recently submitted cooperatives mentioned by the Honourable Member . In the to the Parliament and the Council two proposals concerning framework of these proceedings the Commission is a Community programme to support training, development cooperating with the Italian judicial authorities . and distribution in the audiovisual industry ( MEDIA II ) ( 2 ) and a proposal for a directive amending Directive 89/552/EEC 'television without frontiers' ( 3 ). In addition, With regard to the general question raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission would observe that the Commission is preparing a further proposal for a financial instrument aiming at stimulating investments in its 1995 work programme (*) contains a number of specific priorities, such as targetting high risk sectors in ' on the the European programme industry . ground operations', strengthening the partnership between the Commission and Member States as well as improving (') COM(94 ) 96 final . the legislative framework in every sector of activity . ( 2 ) COM(94 ) 523 final . ( 3 ) COM(95 ) 86 final . (') COM(95 ) 23 . No C 51/4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2159/95 aircraft industry : First assessment and possible Community by Markus Ferber (PPE ) actions' ( 1 ). In view of the essential role of the technology base in these industries, the Commission recently to the Commission announced the setting up of a task force on new generation (28 July 1995) aircraft . Its aim will be to encourage the more effective ( 96/C 51/05 ) deployment of the Community's research resources , to foster links between industry and research and thereby promote competitiveness and to reinforce the capacity of the Subject: Future Community initiatives to increase the industries to match the competition and innovate . competitiveness of the European aerospace industry vis-a-vis its counterparts in the USA and (M COM(92 ) 164 final . Asia

Will the Commission state :

1 . What opportunities it sees for future Community initiatives financed through the Structural Funds to help WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 173/95 restructure the European aerospace industry ? by Ursula Schleicher ( PPE ) 2 . Whether it regards Structural Funds resources to the Commission exclusively as an instrument for increasing (28 July 1995) competitiveness within the EU ? ( 96/C 51/06 ) 3 . Whether, given the increasingly fierce global competition within the aerospace industry, the EU should not make more resources available to boost Subject: European water pollution control/Commission remit on international water pollution control European producers' competitiveness vis-a-vis their US commissions and Asian counterparts ? The various international water pollution control conventions, in particular the UN-ECE Convention on the Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies protection and use of trans-boundary watercourses and on behalf of the Commission international lakes, call for agreements which foster (5 October 1995) cooperation on river basins between the neighbouring countries concerned . As a rule, the EU is a party to these conventions . 1 . The Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the fact that the purpose of the Structural Funds is to promote 1 . What is the Commission's role on the international economic and social cohesion in the Community, as set water pollution control commissions ? forth in Articles 130a, b, c and d of the Treaty . This means that the Funds are not there for the restructuring of 2 . Can the Commission play a leading role and provide particular industries but to deal with the effects such assistance ? If not, why not ? restructuring might have on the economies of regions where restructuring industries are established . 3 . Does it see a need for improved cooperation ? If so , what form might it take ? 2 . One of the Structural Funds objectives is , certainly, to 4 . Does its role in such international water pollution strengthen competitiveness, but only insofar as this control commissions not need to be reviewed and its contributes towards economic and social cohesion in the terms of reference made clearer ? Community . On the other hand, under regional policy, the promotion of economic, industrial and technological development in certain less developed parts of the Community by establishing aircraft and aerospace industries there would be encouraged as long as these Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission industries disseminated technological know-how, raised the level of competitiveness and increased the research and (15 November 1995) development potential . In this context the Structural Funds could contribute to the extent allowed by their rules on geographical and other eligibility and in line with usual The Council approved the Convention on the Protection Fund practice regarding the establishment of and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International undertakings . Lakes on behalf of the Community by Decision 95/308/EC of 24 July 1995 ( J ). 3 . Concerning the commercial challenges the European aircraft and aerospace industries are facing, the Commission The Commission, representing the Community, is a driving analysed the problems in its communication 'The European force in the work on international conventions . In 21 . 2 . 96 I EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/5

particular, it provides its experience in formulating targeted 5 . Is it true that the consumer is falling back more on action programmes and supplying all relevant information natural mineral water or bottled water because they are and, if necessary, proposes appropriate measures within the assumed to be better-quality drinking water ? framework or scope of the conventions . At the same time, indirectly, it provides financial support for attaining the objectives of reducing and ending pollution in specific regions ( for example , Phare ). It also ensures that the Member States, as contracting parties to the conventions, comply with the Community legislation . Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (31 October 1995) Under these circumstances, the Commission considers that the cooperation with the Contracting Parties to the conventions is excellent and sees no need to reexamine its position and define a mandate, since it represents the 1 . Water which complies with the parametric values laid Community . down in the proposal for a revision of the drinking water Directive ( J ) will be wholesome and meet all hygienic (!) OJ No L 186, 5 . 8 . 1995 . requirements . However some local conditions may require further checks on particular aspects, and in the proposal for a revised drinking-water Directive , Member States are obliged to set values for additional parameters not included in Annex I , where the protection of human health in their national territory or part of it so requires . They are of course free to set stricter standards than those specified in Annex I, and to set standards for other parameters not included in WRITTEN QUESTION E-2 196/95 Annex I, but they may only do so in a manner which is by Ursula Schleicher ( PPE ) compatible with the EC Treaty and may not use such standards as a barrier to trade . to the Commission (28 July 1995) ( 96/C 51/07 ) 2 . The Member States, where they so choose, are under the EC Treaty at liberty to provide their own national treatment requirements for drinking water . Subject: European water pollution control — drinking water 'cocktail' 3 . The parametric values in the proposal for a revised drinking-water Directive , may be different from those Regardless of all claims to the contrary, the proposed new existing or that might be established in the proposal for a text amending the drinking-water Directive represents a revision of the mineral-waters Directive . This is inter alia retrograde step insofar as it no longer lays down original due to the fact that natural mineral waters are untreated purity of the drinking water as a quality target, but, rather, waters coming from very particular sources protected from only that it be drinkable . The latter, i . e . the level of health pollution, wheras tap and other bottled waters are usually protection provided by that Directive, would have to be treated to render them suitable for consumption . complied with, however . Organoleptic parameters or indicator parameters would no longer be regulated in binding form at European level, though they are very 4 . The proposal for a revised drinking-water Directive is significant in terms of drinking water prophylaxis . not focused only on consumer protection . The central objective of the proposal is the protection of human health . Accordingly, Article 130s of the EC Treaty is the 1 . Is it possible for a Member State to lay down drinking appropriate legal basis . water purity requirements which are stricter in terms of not only epidemic prevention, but also general hygiene , in order to guarantee purity ? 5 . Although the market for bottled waters and in particular natural mineral waters has expanded very much 2 . Can the Member States derive clean-up obligations from in the last few years , it is a matter of conjecture whether this ? consumers are using more natural mineral water and bottled water than tap water in the Community, due to a belief that 3 . In particular, does this provide a level of protection such products are of better quality than drinking water . which is consistent with the requirements of the mineral water Directive ? (M COM(94 ) 612 final . 4 . Does the proposed drinking water directive possibly focus on consumer protection only, and is therefore the proposed legal basis — Article 130s — correct ? No C 51/6 1 EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2220/95 Answer given by Mrs Bonino by Josu Imaz San Miguel ( PPE ) on behalf of the Commission to the Commission (15 September 1995) (28 July 1995) ( 961C 51/08 ) With reference to the incident referred to , Community inspectors deployed on board of the fishery patrol vessels P-68 ' Chilreu' ( Spain ), RHM ' Centaure' ( France ) and 'Northern Horizon' ( Commission ), were present in the Subject: Use of illegal drift nets fishing grounds at the time of the incident . They all witnessed the different versions of the incident reported by the Spanish and French skippers . On the morning of 2 July 1995 the French tuna-fishing vessel 'Fils de l'Ocean' took flight after the Spanish vessel The gear of the driftnetter 'Fils de l'Ocean' and the vessel ' Siempre Maria Yolanda' had become entangled in its drift itself have been inspected by a French national inspector net . After releasing the net from the propellors with the help accompanied by a Community inspector . The length of the of the patrol boat ' Chilreu', the skippers of the vessels net carried on board was in conformity with the Community noticed that the drift net was longer than 5 kilometres, in legislation . breach of Regulation ( EEC ) No 345/92 of 27 January 1992 ( M. The Commission chartered the fishing patrol vessel 'Northern Horizon' for a period of four months in order to serve as an inspection platform in the albacore campaign in This incident offers further evidence of the need to step up international waters of the North-East Atlantic as well as inspection and control measures in the Bay of Biscay in platform for monitoring driftnet fishery in the order to ensure that European legislation is applied . Such Mediterranean . It is the first time that the Commission breaches of the rules may unfortunately lead to a recurrence chartered a vessel for this purpose . of the incidents which occurred in these same waters last summer . In conformity with the common fisheries policy, it is up to each Member State to carry out inspections on all fishing This view was endorsed by the Commission in the statement vessels in the waters under their sovereignty or jurisdiction made to the European Parliament on 29 June 1995 by and beyond on the fishing vessels flying their flag . In the Commissioner Bonino . However, specific controls are albacore campaign and in the Mediterranean, each Member needed and should include the following : proper port State has therefore to inspect the vessels flying its own flag . inspections , a survey of anchored nets together with an Commission inspectors are not authorized to carry out identification system, a ban on fishing vessels carrying spare direct inspections ( take the identity of persons on board and nets , careful checks on the replacement nets provided by reporting the facts on the basis of which prosecution may patrol boats, a ban on nets not fastened to boats and checks take place ). Therefore, on board of the 'Northern Horizon' on the depth of nets , ensuring that their volume can be there are two Commission inspectors and national inspectors of the Member States concerned ( Spain, France , properly measured . Ireland and United Kingdom ).

The implementation of measures of this kind would help In order to ensure coordination between national patrol achieve the objectives set by the Commission in its statement vessels and to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings to Parliament and would reduce the risk of incidents of the between the different fleets operating in the area , regular kind described above . meetings are organized on board the 'Northern Horizon' beween all patrol vessel commanders and inspectors in the area . Furthermore, updated and accurate information on any developments in the fishery is shared through daily What firm measures is the Commission taking in this area to radio contacts . ensure compliance with Community Regulations on the use of drift nets ? The inspection duties carried out from the 'Northern Horizon' concern all Community fishing vessels operating in the Albacore fishery without any discrimination in respect How will the Commission ensure that the proper sanctions to the flag which a vessel is " flying or to the fishing method are taken against the offending vessel , in line with which it uses . Commissioner Bonino's assertion to Parliament that 'those who break the rules will be punished'? In accordance with Article 31 of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2847/93 (*), each Member State shall ensure that (') OJ No L 42 , 18 . 2 . 1992 , p . 15 . appropriate measures are taken against any those 21 . 2 . 96 1 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/7 responsible in cases where the common fisheries policy has From information provided at the last meeting of the not been respected . programme monitoring committee on 27 June , all the above works had been completed and payment made by last year . (') OJ No L 261 , 20 . 10 . 1993 . As a result, the physical and financial take-up rate is 100% .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2239/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2258/95 by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE/NGL ) to the Commission by Erich Schreiner ( NI ) to the Commission (31 July 1995) (31 July 1995) ( 96/C 51/09 ) ( 96/C 51/10 )

Subject: Completion of unfinished projects from the first CSF for western Greece ( ERDF ) Subject: EMU Information campaign

The Multifund Operational Programme ( MOP ) for western According to the proposal of 20 April 1995 by the chairman Greece ( Code VII 2 ) provides for projects amounting to of the Sub-committee on Monetary Affairs , Mrs ECU 1 965 000 to complete three phases of projects aimed Randzio-Plath , at improving irrigation over an area of some 1 100 ha . ' Opinion polls in the EC show differing levels of Given that these projects must have been completed by acceptance of monetary union in the Member States . 31 July 1995 , will the Commission say : Although an overall majority of the population of the 15 EU Member States is in favour of the introduction of a 1 . What was the take-up rate for the programme in single currency , with support being particularly strong in the Benelux and southern European countries, a question ? majority of people in Denmark , the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany are opposed to any 2 . Which of these projects have been completed ? Which such proposal.' . . . are unfinished ? Which constructional phases have yet to be untertaken ? 'The introduction of monetary union is only just over the horizon . Under the terms of the Maastricht Treaty, the preparations for monetary union must be completed in 1996 . Accordingly, the information and lobbying Answer given by Mr Fischler campaigns must start on 1 January 1996 and continue on on behalf of the Commission an annual basis.' (6 November 1995) 1 . Does the Commission intend to grant financial support to these European campaigns on monetary union ? The Commission can confirm that ECU 1 965 million was entered under Code VII . 2 of the EAGGF Multifund 2 . If so , what level of support does the Commission plan to Operational Programme for western Greece to cover the grant in 1996 ? full cost of unfinished projects from the integrated Mediterranean programmes . The money was intended to complete the following operations under three projects . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2259/95 — phase one of the Aroanios water engineering scheme : catchment work, including a main channel, technical by Erich Schreiner ( NI ) work and storage works in the Aroanios river bed, to the Commission completion of roads : residual budget : ECU 1 724 (31 July 1995) million; ( 96/C 51/11 ) — Skepasto water engineering project : work was virtually completed in 1993 and only payments of ECU 0 172 million were outstanding; Subject: EMU Information campaign

— Salmeniko water engineering project : completion of According to the proposal of 20 April 1995 by the chairman water distribution and road networks : residual budget : of the Sub-committee on Monetary Affairs , Mrs ECU 0 069 million . Randzio-Plath, No C 51/8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

'The political guidelines for the campaign must be drawn responsibilities . The details of the campaign will be laid up by the European Parliament, but professionally down in accordance with the timetable of the reference prepared and disseminated. Close cooperation with the scenario for the transition to the single currency . Commission is thus highly desirable . A campaign for a single European currency must clearly state the For the running of this campaign, the Commission would advantages, opportunities and risks involved in order to like to see extensive coordination between the Community increase acceptance of the Euro-currency.' institutions, and in the first place between Parliament and the Commission . The rest of the proposal by the chairman of the Sub-committee on Monetary Affairs, Mrs Randzio-Plath, is , Even though the Community institutions will play an however, concerned only with arguments in favour of important part, the Member States will , as a result of the monetary union . subsidiarity principle and of cultural, historical and especially monetary differences, have a central role in Does the Commission intend to include in its information communicating with their citizens . campaign information on the possible risks of monetary union ? The financial burden will , therefore , be shared between the Community institutions and the Member States and their regional and local authorities .

Joint answer to Written Questions Accordingly, the Commission would like to earmark E-2258/95 and E-2259/95 substantial funds as from 1996 for the launch of the given by Mr de Silguy campaign for the single currency . The exact figure for 1996 on behalf of the Commission will be determined in the course of the current budgetary (8 November 1995) procedure .

The information campaign planned in the Green Paper on the practical arrangements for the introduction of the single currency is an essential prerequisite for the success of economic and monetary union . At its meeting on WRITTEN QUESTION E-2279/95 11 October 1995 , the Commission chose this as one of the by Gerardo Fernández-Albor ( PPE ) three major information campaigns to be launched by it over the next two years . to the Commission (31 July 1995) The decisions taken at the Madrid European Council, ( 96/C 51/12 ) especially those on the scenario for the changeover, will trigger the real countdown to the introduction of the single currency and so will have to be accompanied by the launch Subject: Permanent seat of the Institute for Euro-Latin of a large-scale information campaign . American Relations

Two objectives of equal importance will be pursued by this The Institute for Euro-Latin American relations is doing an information campaign : excellent job in strengthening relations between Europe and Latin America but it suffers from the stresses and strains — winning popular support for the single currency; caused by the constant rumours regarding the establishment of its permanent seat . — stimulating the necessary technical preparations throughout the private sector and in public Can the Commission say whether or not it firmly intends administrations . that the seat of the institute in question should be permanently established in Madrid ( where it is currently This information campaign could usefully take its cue from located ), thus preventing other Community countries from the previous example of currency conversion . distorting the natural logic of having the institute based in what is in effect the capital of the Hispanic world, to which it is vocationally related ? The aim of a communication strategy is to disseminate relevant and verifiable information in support of precise objectives . Such a strategy provides a useful channel for policy . It is not an attempt at manipulation . Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission In this connection, the Commission is organizing a (4 October 1995) symposium to follow on from the Madrid European Council — on 22, 23 and 24 January 1996 — at which all the players involved will be able to discuss objectives and According to the constitution of the Institute for methods, including the organization and allocation of European-Latin American Relations ( IELAR), it is for 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/9

IELAR's General Assembly to decide on any relocation of Which bodies set up under the various EU initiatives and the headquarters of the Institute, whether within the host structural programmes are responsible for the allocation of country or to another country . appropriations referred to above ? The composition of the General Assembly includes members of the European Parliament and Commission officials .

The Commission cannot become involved in decisions which, under IELAR's statute, are exclusively a matter internal to the Institute itself. Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-2300/95 and E-2340/95 given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (31 October 1995) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2300/95 by Michl Ebner ( PPE ) to the Commission Details of ECSC aid and loans granted by the Community (1 September 1995) between 1985 and 1994 to the autonomous provinces of ( 96/C 51/13 ) Bolzano/Bozen and Trento are given in a table that the Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament's Secretariat-General . Certain items of aid Subject: Allocation of EU resources to South Tirol ( Italy ) granted to the Trentino-Alto Adige region cannot be broken Will the Council provide information about the allocation down between the two provinces , and they are given of resources to South Tirol during the 10-year period separately . It should also be noted that the Community between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 1994 , broken co-finances programmes at national level , mainly through down on an annual basis ? the European Social Fund ( ESF ) under Objective 4 and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Will it also specify the authorities of the relevant EU ( EAGGF ) under Objective 5a , for which a regional initiatives and structural programmes responsible for the breakdown is not available . allocation of these resources ?

Regarding Community contributions to research/ development projects, it should be noted that the figures WRITTEN QUESTION E-2340/95 give only a partial impression of the benefits accruing to by Michl Ebner ( PPE ) companies and other bodies in the region from Community to the Commission programmes . The main advantage of these programmes lies in the fact that the partners have access to all research (1 September 1995) findings, irrespective of their own financial contribution ( 96/C 51/14 ) and the Community funding they receive .

Subject: Allocation of EU appropriations to Trentino ( Italy ) The figures given in the aforementioned table concern commitments effected between 1985 and 1994 , which What appropriations from the EU budget ( broken down by covers only the first year of the new Structural Funds year ) were allocated to Trentino over the 10-year period planning period ( 1994—1999 ). Financial forecasts for the from 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1994 ? whole of the 1994—1999 period are as follows :

1994—1999 financial allocation

(in million ECU)

Province Programme ERDF EAGGF ESF

Bolzano/Bozen SPD , Objective 5b 17,93 19,92 5,19 Operational programme,

Objective 3 — — 24,50

Trento SPD, Objective 5b 7,85 9,22 2,83 Operational programme,

Objective 3 — — 28,22 No C 51/10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 12/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 15/95 by Frode Kristoffersen ( PPE ) by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and to the Commission Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) (1 September 1995) to the Commission ( 96/C 51 / 15 ) (1 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/16 )

Subject: Citizens ' access to the information society Subject: Fisheries agreement between the EU and Canada How will the Commission ensure that the information society of the future is not just of advantage to business Why has the fisheries agreement reached between the EU circles , the public sector and the better educated , but also and Canada on 16 April 1995 still not been adopted by the directly accessible for a majority of the Union's citizens NAFO ? through services that are easy to use and provide answers to questions of general interest ? With regard to the above fisheries agreement, what objective difficulties have so far prevented fishing quotas for black halibut from being set for 1996 ?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mrs Bonino (17 October 1995 on behalf of the Commission (30 October 1995)

A number of Commission initiatives are currently under way to ensure that as many people as possible will have Decisions within the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries access to the information society . Organization ( NAFO ) are taken at the annual meeting which is usually held in September each year . At this year's 17th annual meeting held 11 —15 September 1995 NAFO Information infrastructure pilot schemes are being was able to take decisions which effectively multilateralize developed which will enable citizens to have easier and fuller provisions of the fisheries agreement between the access to the range of services on offer in their town or Community and Canada of 16 April 1995 pertaining to region . It is hoped that by making such information readily strengthened enforcement and control measures and to the available via user-friendly communal terminals it will be allocation of Greenland halibut in 1996 . easier to reconcile the supply of services with the demand . The allocation of individual fishing quotas for any particular stock of fish must be based on a total allowable Substantial effort is being put into research and catch ( TAC ) to be established in respect of the same stock . development in human and computer interfaces within the Scientific advice which forms the basis of such a measure for Esprit programme . One of the latest efforts addresses the Greenland halibut fishery in 1 996 only became available precisely the point raised by the Honourable Member and is in the immediate run-up to the annual meeting of a proactive initiative in 'intelligent information interfaces' NAFO . which will aim to open all the opportunities that the information society can offer to all citizens . ' Empowerment of the citizen' is the central theme of this scheme which is expected to involve a Community contribution of about ECU 25 million . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2321/95 A further project ( Bornes informatives ) is being developed by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and to create user-friendly terminals which will provide Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) information about the Community and its policies . This to the Commission facility, available in urban and country areas , will enable (1 September 1995) citizens to obtain answers not only to general questions about the Community but also local information as to what ( 96/C 51 /17 ) the Community has done and is doing in their area . Practical information about whom to contact at regional and European level in order to address individual concerns will Subject: Fisheries agreement with Morocco also be accessible through this facility . At the Cannes European Council a package of measures was adopted to provide financial aid to the Mediterranean countries for the next five years . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/11

To what extent is the allocation of part of this aid fund to WRITTEN QUESTION E-2350/95 Morocco conditional on the conclusion of a new, by Joaquin Siso Cruellas ( PPE ) comprehensive and satisfactory EU fisheries agreement with to the Commission that country ? (1 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/19 ) Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (13 November 1995) Subject: Removal of regulatory barriers to competitiveness for European industry

Financial cooperation and the negotiation of a new fisheries agreement are two very important parts of our relations The Union of Industrial and Employers ' Confederations of generally and are dealt with on their own merits . Europe ( UNICE ) has submitted a preliminary report to Commission President, Jacques Santer, as part of a study on regulation . The President of UNICE , Mr Perigot, points out The allocation of funding for financial cooperation with that regulation imposes serious restrictions on the Morocco is linked to the conclusion of a new EC-Morocco competitiveness of European firms because it hampers Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement and is in no innovation , reduces operating efficiency and acts as a brake way dependent on the outcome of talks on a new fisheries on structural adjustment . Firms are not unhappy with accord . Community legislation as a whole , but rather with regulations in specific areas such as the environment and On the subject of the fisheries agreement, negotiations , as employment . with any other agreement of this type, have to take place in a climate of trust and mutual respect . While both sides should defend their legitimate interests , each should also show a Bearing in mind that the Molitor Group recently submitted genuine willingness to negotiate and to accommodate the a report on behalf of the Commission which seems to other's problems so that a fair result can be achieved . confirm the conclusions reached by UNICE, what are the Commission's views on the possibility of simplifying Community legislation and making it more flexible and will it take any firm measures to achieve this end ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2325/95 by Marie-Paule Kestelijn-Sierens ( ELDR ) to the Commission Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (1 September 1995) (6 November 1995) ( 96/C 51/18 )

Subject: EAGGF support The Commission firmly believes that identifying unjustified legislative and administrative restrictions and reducing their Can the Commission confirm that the agricultural company impact helps to ensure the success of policies designed Floreal of Lochristi ( Stationstraat 71 , B-Lochristi ) received to promote competitiveness and employment . In this Bfrs 700 million in 1994 in the form of a direct subsidy from connection , since the proposals for implementing the single the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee market became law, the number of legislative proposals Fund ? adopted by the Commission as part of its annual work programmes has decreased substantially .

Answer given by Mr Fischler Accordingly, the Commission strives for simplicity in its on behalf of the Commission proposals and the Community legislative process . It has also undertaken to streamline existing legislation while ensuring (30 October 1995) that the acquis communautaire is not undermined . Proposals currently before Parliament and the Council as a result of streamlining, rewriting and consolidation efforts The Commission has no information regarding individual would entail the repeal of some 170 existing legislative payments under the European Agricultural Guidance and texts . Guarantee Fund but is simply informed of aggregate amounts paid out by each Member State . It is therefore not in a position to answer this question . The Commission intends to carry out further work in this field, probably on the basis of the findings of the group of independent experts for legislative and administrative No C 51/12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

simplication ( the 'Molitor' Group ) which it is currently Answer given by Mr Oreja examining . on behalf of the Commission (27 October 1995) The Commission is to publish detailed observations on this group's report before the Madrid European Council and In cooperation with the international movement 'ATD will provide specific information on initiatives taken or Fourth World', the Commission organized a symposium in envisaged with a view to improving the quality and Brussels on 8 and 9 June 1995 on ' Culture and Human effectiveness of Community legislation on competitiveness Activity for Overcoming Poverty'. and jobs . The purpose of the symposium was to deliberate on how the In order to be effective, these measures must be backed by poorest sections of the population can become involved in similar initiatives at national level . The Committee on the cultural activity . Its intention was also to influence Improvement of the Business Environment and the Community thinking as to its future activities in this area . It Promotion of the Development of Enterprises , and in should also be borne in mind that the Commission's work particular Small and Medium-sized Enterprises , set up by programme for 1995 identified social exclusion as one of the the Commission in December 1994 , plays an important priorities for cultural action . Parliament has always been role, in conjunction with the Member States and businesses , keen for future cultural programmes to take account of the in organizing joint actions designed to promote exchanges poorest in society . of good practice and new ideas concerning the regulatory and administrative environment for business in general and As regards the network of cities with problem areas, this is small businesses in particular . an initiative of the European Cultural Foundation , which has initiated a study of various cities' innovative As regards the UNICE report, its main message is the need experiments in combating social exclusion . Once it is for all legislative authorities to carry out rigorous checks complete , this study could be used to devise practical before legislating ( e . g . assessing impact, analysing all measures to be developed , possibly in partnership form, options ) in order to minimize the risk of undermining between the various institutions concerned . competitiveness . But it should also be noted that UNICE's report shows that the three fields which businesses regard There are also various other city networks , a prominent as having the greatest impact on competitiveness example being the ' European Suburbs' network, which ( employment, tax and company law ) are the preserve of the focuses on art as a means of cambating exclusion . Member States .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2365/95 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2351/95 to the Commission by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas ( PPE ) (1 September 1995) to the Commission ( 96/C 51/21 ) (1 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/20 ) Subject: Difficulties in the fishing industry

Is the Commission aware that the Community markets are Subject: ' Culture and social exclusion' programme being flooded with cheap fish , primarily from eastern Europe ?

As part of the 'culture and social exclusion' programme Does it consider this reconcilable with the pricing policy the undertaken by the Commission together with a group of Union pursues under its common fisheries policy ? What associations , it is planned to set up networks of cities with action is the Union taking against these cheap imports ? problem areas in an effort to use cultural initiatives as a means of combating exclusion . An initial network is to include the cities of Manchester, Frankfurt, Toulouse, Lille, Barcelona , Valencia, Amadora, Naples and Antwerp . Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission What plan of action is to be followed in these cities ? (13 November 1995)

Have any other networks been created and, if so, which Information available to the Commission suggests that cities do they involve ? insignificant amounts of fresh cod fillets from central and 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/13 eastern Europe have in recent months been imported fairly the International Labour Organization in areas such as child cheaply into some Community markets . labour and prison labour .

For cod presented in other forms , the Commission has since May this year observed a decline in cheap imports, most of them from Poland and Russia . WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 78/95 It is the responsibility of the national authorities to enforce by José Apolinârio ( PSE ) strict compliance with the relevant health and trade provisions at the time of import . to the Commission (1 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/23 )

Subject: Implementation of the European Union's fisheries WRITTEN QUESTION E-2376/95 agreements with the Seychelles , Angola , The by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler ( V ) Gambia , Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome e Principe, Mauritania , Mauritius , Madagascar, Cape Verde to the Commission and Argentina (1 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/22 ) Could the Commission provide a summary table showing the number of licenses awarded to each Member State under the above agreements , the number of vessels concerned and Subject: EU support for industrial projects in China the actual utilization of each agreement ?

Are industrial development projects in China receiving EU funding ? If so , which projects ? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission What European firms are promoting or partnering these (4 October 1995) projects ?

How many jobs will be created in China as a result of these The Agreement on fisheries with Argentina is a second projects ? generation agreement establishing arrangements for joint enterprises and joint ventures beween Community and Have the environmental impact assessments been carried Argentine shipowners, with no provision for a licensing out in respect of these projects ? system . Under the Agreement twenty-one schemes have been Are the firms involved observing the same standards in approved for joint enterprises and joint ventures . They respect of safety at work and toxic emissions for production in China as for production in the EU Member States ? concern : — 19 Spanish vessels ,

— 2 French vessels , Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission — 1 Italian vessel , (2 October 1995) — 1 Greek vessel .

As part of its overall economic cooperation strategy, the With regard to the fishery Agreements concluded between Commission is financially involved in setting up industrial the Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific development projects in a large number of sectors in China . countries referred to in the question, the Commission is One of the selection criteria is the projects' contribution to sending direct to the Honourable Member and to China's development, assessed in terms of their potential for Parliament's Secretariat the summary tables containing the local job creation ( in a climate which eschews exploitation information requested . of the workforce ), their impact on the environment and their role in improving the status of women , and helping them The Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the fact gain access to the labour market . that some Agreements provide for quarterly or six-monthly licences ( e . g . those with Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau), As for labour protection standards, the Commission, in its and under these a vessel may therefore be allocated up to communication on a long-term policy for relations between four licences each covering three months within a single the Community and China , proposed setting up a social year . policy dialogue to encourage China to espouse internationally recognized standards , including those set by No C 51/14 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-23 79/95 moreover, has applied preferential arrangements to imports by Sergio Ribeiro ( GUE/NGL ) of Moroccan preserved sardines since 1976 . to the Commission The Commission would point out that relations with (1 September 1995) Morocco concern sectors other than fisheries and that even ( 96/C 51/24 ) within this sector, the Community's interests are not confined to the canning industry of a particular Member State .

Subject: Negotiations with Morocco and the sardine (') COM(95 ) 367 final . canning industry

In the difficult negotiations on the fisheries agreement with Morocco it was reportedly proposed by the Commission negotiators that imports of Moroccan tinned sardines WRITTEN QUESTION E-2420/95 should be exempt from duties . by Graham Mather ( PPE ) to the Commission In view of the fact that the industry suffers from high labour (1 September 1995) costs , that competition is distorted by the substantial wage ( 96/C 51/25 ) differences between Morocco and EU producer countries (a clear case of ' dumping'), and that the sardine canning industry is still important in Portugal , combining the Subject: Policing the Directive on live animal transport country's fisheries resources with its industrial tradition , does the Commission not consider that it is effectively At the Agricultural Council of Ministers meeting in June ' bartering' an industry which is important to one of the EU 1995 , a compromise was reached on the implementation of Member States by accepting unfair competition which goes an eight-hour journey time for the transport of livestock . against the principles of fair trade ( which requires This proposal , passed by a majority of Member States , comparable social and wage conditions ), and did it give ensures a fair and equitable scheme at Community level . sufficient consideration to the implications of such a One of the potential problems of the new regime is policing . concession ? Can the Commission reveal what steps it aims to take to ensure compliance with the Directive across the Member States ? How many inspectors will be deployed in each Member State ? What is the Commission's view on the number of inspections which should take place each month ? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (19 October 1995) Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1995) When the 1992 fisheries agreement with Morocco expired, the general arrangements of the 1976 cooperation accord came back into force , notably for imports of preserved The primary responsibility for the enforcement of sardines . Community legislation rests with the Member States while the Commission is responsible for the uniform application of the rules within the Community . In cases where the In the absence of the minimum price agreement provided for Commission becomes aware that a Directive is not being in the cooperation accord , two tariff quotas were opened properly enforced by the authorities of a Member State , the between 1978 and 1988 to comply with the rule — also set Commission intervenes with the Member State concerned out in the accord — that any tariff arrangements must and, if the matter is not satisfactorily resolved , the provide mutually acceptable benefits . Commission normally opens the legal procedure laid down in Article 169 of the EC Treaty which can lead to the Member State concerned being brought before the Court of The current situation is identical to that in 1978 , which is Justice . why the Commission sent the Council a proposal for a Regulation bringing the above quotas back into force ('). The number of inspectors employed in each Member State is the responsibility of the Member State concerned .

In presenting this proposal , the Commission was simply Article 8 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC ( 1 ) concerning complying with an obligation on the Community, which , the protection of animals during transport, as last amended 21 . 2 . 96 FEN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51 /15 by Directive 92/29/EC ( 2 ), states that such inspections must Commission stressed the importance of standardization be carried out on an adequate sample of the animals as a way of classifying products, thus ensuring market transported each year within each Member State, and may transparency and fair trade and eliminating substandard be carried out at the same time as checks for other produce . purposes . Standards also reduce the buying and selling costs of The Member States have to submit an annual report to the produce and mean trade can develop in the absence of the Commission stating the number of inspections carried out, relevant products themselves . including any details of any reported infringements and the action taken by the competent authority . The Commission will closely monitor these reports . The Commission therefore feels it is vital for standards to be mandatory , save in instances such as those listed in the new (') OJ No L 340, 11 . 12 . 1991 . draft Regulation on the common organization of the fruit ( 2 ) OJ No L 148 , 30 . 6 . 1995 . and vegetable markets ( 2 ), which make exception for produce consumed as part of traditional dietary habits .

Standards are no substitute for national civil law but can create market conditions in which the risk of conflict is greatly reduced . WRITTEN QUESTION P-2450/95 (•) COM(94 ) 360 final . by Ivar Virgin ( PPE ) ( 2 ) COMÍ95 ) 434 final . to the Commission (1 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/26 )

Subject: EU classification of fruit and vegetables WRITTEN QUESTION E-2454/95 The European Union currently sets detailed quality and by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke ( ARE ) other standards such as size , colour , etc . for fruit and to the Commission vegetables put on the market in the Community . These (1 September 1995) provisions are of course designed to facilitate the classification of individual lots , and to protect consumers ( 96/C 5 1 /27 ) against low-quality and hazardous produce . What these rules ignore is the market's own ability to regulate itself and . hence to reject low-quality goods . Subject: Closure of Lee Europe in Ypres — implementation of Parliament's resolution of 13 July 1995 A normal business transaction involves two parties, a buyer and a seller . When they have agreed on quality, price , etc . for the product in question they enter into a contractual Paragraphs 9 and 10 of the resolution adopted by relationship . Will the Commission state its criteria for Parliament on 13 July 1995 on the relocation of businesses deciding whether rules on , for example , the quality of fruit in the European Union ( B4-966 , 977, 999 , 1005 and and vegetables are required ? When does the Commission 1038/95 ) call on the Commission to ' refuse assistance from consider there might be justification for de-regulation and Community programmes to businesses which fail to [ inform repealing certain legislation in this field in favour of and consult employees in advance in the event of large-scale contractual relationships under civil law ? Does the redundancies ] or which abuse investment subsidies'. It also Commission not believe that the principle of subsidiarity asked the Commission to provide information on the should apply to legislation establishing quality standards for Structural Fund assistance received by firms . fruit and vegetables , for example ? In the specific case of Lee Europe, can the Commission provide a summary of any European subsidies received by Lee Europe , with its head office in Brussels and businesses in Answer given by Mr Fischler Belgium ( Ypres , Sint-Niklaas ), the UK and the Irish on behalf of the Commission Republic over the past ten years ? If so, what were they ? (20 October 1995) The company also has businesses in Poland . Can the Commission say whether the company has received funds In its communication to the Council on the way ahead for from the support programmes for central and eastern Community policy in the fruit and vegetable sector (*) the Europe ? If so , what were they ? No C 51/16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

Lee Europe is a subsidiary of VF Pennsylvania , which also permanent residents were free to vote but not to travel controls a number of other companies including Wrangler, across the Union ? Riders, Rustler, Marithe & Francois Girbaud, Vanity Fair, Vassarette, Barbizon, Nutmeg, Cutler, Healthex, Jantzen, JanSport and Red Kap , Siltex, Bolero , Variance, Gemma , Intima Cherry, Lou , Carina and Belcor . Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission Has European assistance been granted to any of these businesses ? If so , which ? (10 November 1995)

The Schengen Convention enshrines the principle of mutual recognition of visas and the equivalence of residence permit Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission issued by a Member State is exempted from the visa requirement for entry into the territory of another Member (3 November 1995) State which is a signatory to the Convention; the residence permit is equivalent to a visa . Currently, application of this Convention is limited to seven Member States ( Schengen Group ): Belgium , Germany, Spain , France, Luxembourg, As far as the Commission is aware , Lee Europe has not the Netherlands and Portugal . Thus, only third-country received any Structural Fund subsidies over the past 10 years nationals who hold a residence permit issued by one of those for its production plants in leper ( West Flanders ), Member States no longer need a visa in order to enter the Sint-Niklaas ( East Flanders ) or Northern Ireland . territory of the six other Member States of the Schengen Group . Lee Ireland makes jeans and other garments at its Ardee factory in County Louth . Set up in 1979 , the plant employs At Community level, similar provisions having the same end 320 people . Since 1984 , it has received £ Irl 665 000 in Irish result between all 15 Member States flow from two legal Government subsidies, with up to 50% Community instruments proposed by the Commission and under co-financing . The Irish authorities granted these subsidies discussion by the Council : under the rules on industrial development, officially approved as part of Community arrangements for State aids . — the proposal for a Council Directive on the right of third-country nationals to travel in the Community ( J ), Article 3(1 ) of which states that 'Member States shall Lee Europe has received no aid under programmes for grant the right to travel to third-country nationals who Poland or other central or eastern European countries . hold a valid residence permit issued by another Member State'. This provision aims to make the principles referred to above applicable in all Member States and for all intra-Community travel ;

— the proposal for a Convention on the crossing of the external frontiers of the Member States ( 2 ), presented on 10 December 1993 by the Commission to the Council , WRITTEN QUESTION E-2458/95 Article 8(1 ) of which stipulates that 'a Member State shall not require a visa of a person who wishes to enter its by Phillip Whitehead ( PSE ) territory for a short stay or to transit through it, to the Commission provided that that person [. . .] holds a residence permit (1 September 1995) issued by another Member State permitting him to reside in that State'. ( 96/C 51/28 )

The decision to give third-country nationals the right to vote Subject: Freedom of movement is a national sovereign measure taken by a number of Member States which does not come under Community law . What provisions are there for individuals who have a 'permanent right of residency' in a Member State of the (M COM(95 ) 346 final . European Union to travel freely across the Union ? ( 2 ) OJ No C 11 , 15 . 1 . 1994 .

Would such individuals have to apply for a Schengen visa ? If so , why, since this would imply a Europe in which 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/17

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2469/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2472/95 by Phillip Whitehead ( PSE ) by Werner Langen ( PPE ) to the Commission to the Commission (1 September 1995) (1 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/29 ) ( 96/C 51 /30 )

Subject: Reform of the organization of the market in Subject: Directive concerning product liability bananas

Article 21 of Directive 85/473/EEC ( ! ) adopted in July 1985 1 . Is it true that the Commission interprets the term 'new states that every five years the Commission shall present a operators' in Regulation ( EEC ) No 404/93 (') in the sense of report to the Council on the application of this Directive , 'once a new operator , always a new operator'? and, if necessary, submit the appropriate proposals to amend it . 2 . On what provisions of basic Regulation ( EEC ) No 404/93 does the Commission base this interpretation , and why is the Commission departing in the case of the When will the Commission present this report ? Does the organization of the banana market from the 'new operator' Commission plan to put forward a proposal to amend the provisions of the organization of the market in other existing Directive ? products ?

Can the Commission confirm that Article 7 of the Directive 3 . Is it true that new operators within the meaning of ( concerning defences to liability ) was not adequately Regulation ( EEC ) No 404/93 have hitherto received permits implemented in the UK ? for quantities of between 30 and 70 tonnes per year , and is the Commission aware that, given the structure of the dollar zone banana trade , annual quotas of 30—70 tonnes rule out In the case of inadequate implementation , when would the any genuine follow-up competition ? Commission propose to bring legal action against the British Government ? 4 . Is it true that the Commission sets an annual maximum quota for the import of bananas from the dollar (') OJ No L 210, 7 . 8 . 1985 , p . 29 . zone ?

5 . Is the Commission aware that the dollar zone banana trade is virtually controlled by an international oligopoly , and what reasons are there for effectively protecting this Answer given by Mr Monti oligopoly from any newcomer competition ? on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 1995) (!) OJ No L 47, 25 . 2 . 1993 , p . 1 .

The Commission is finalising its report under Article 21 of the Directive . As soon as the report is adopted by the Answer given by Mr Fischler Commission it will be submitted to the Council and on behalf of the Commission Parliament . Under Article 21 of the Directive the (20 October 1995) Commission is obliged to report and if necessary submit proposals for amendment to the Directive . Accordingly, the report will also consider the need for legislation . 1 and 2 . Article 18(1 ) of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 404/93 on common organization of the banana market defines a newcomer as a Community-based operator who It is the opinion of the Commission that the United started to market bananas from non-member or Kingdom has failed to implement correctly Article 7(e ) of non-traditional ACP countries in or after 1992 . There are no the Directive and the so-called development risks defence . uniform Community rules governing newcomers' access The Commission has brought the matter before the Court of to the tariff quotas for the various common market Justice ('). organizations . Each set of sectoral rules includes specific provisions which take account of the nature of the tariff (') Case C 300/95 . quotas and the structure of the markets .

3 . This is a result of the share of the tariff quota allocated to newcomers , the number of applications and the fact that No C 51/18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 each newcomer makes a request for the full quantity for that Answer given by Mr Fischler category of operators . However , Community rules do allow on behalf of the Commission for import certificates to be transferred from one operator in (19 October 1995) category C ( newcomers ) to another and from category A or B operators to one in category C. In this way, a newcomer may market more bananas than his annual allocation 1 . There is indeed strong pressure from the meat industry covers . in the United States on the administration to convene a panel under the World Trade Organization in relation to the hormones issue . Nevertheless , the Commission has 4 . The size of the tariff quota for imports from third explained to the United States the Commission's initiative to countries (' dollar' bananas ) and non-traditional ACP convene a scientific conference on this subject before the end countries is set by the Council . The Commission can adjust of the year . The conference should provide guidance on the this figure if Community consumption increases . Bananas scientific aspects of this issue . The Commission will then be may be imported outside the tariff quota at the full common in a position to decide the best course of action to follow for customs tariff rate . the future .

2 . Council Directive 81 /502/EEC (') and Council 5 . When the tariff quota system was brought in, the aim Directive 88/146/EEC ( 2 ) prohibit the administering for was to avoid distorting existing trade links while enabling fattening purposes to a farm animal of substances having a market structures to evolve . These considerations are thyreostatic action or substances having an oestrogenic, reflected in the share-out of the quota between 'dollar' androgenic or gestagenic action . The placing on the market banana importers and operators marketing Community or or slaughtering of farm animals to which these substances ACP bananas on the one hand , and between traditional have been administered and the placing on the market of operators and newcomers on the other . their meat are equally prohibited . It is the responsibility of Member States to ensure that export refunds are only paid on wholesome meat fit for human consumption which has been produced in conformity with Community legislation .

3 . The above Council Directives also prohibit the importation from third countries of animals and meat from animals to which have been administered substances with a WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 04/95 thyreostatic , oestrogenic , androgenic or gestagenic action by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) for fattening purposes . The rules of production for putting meat on the market in the Community are the same for to the Commission Community producers as for suppliers from third countries. (15 September 1995) The Commission does not consider that Community beef ( 96/C 51 /31 ) producers having regard to the Community market organization for beef are put at an economic disadvantage compared to third country producers . The only revision of Community legislation envisaged at present is the proposal Subject: Hormones administered to farm animals ( cattle ) sent to the Parliament and the Council in October 1993 ( 3 ) concerning mainly the reinforcement of the control measures, which is still under discussion at Council level . Unless a solution is found before the end of 1995 , the Americans have threatened to lodge a complaint with the (!) OJ No L 222 , 7 . 8 . 1981 . WTO about the European legislation which prohibits ( 2 ) OJ No L 70, 16 . 3 . 1988 . ( 3 ) COM(93 ) 441 final, modified by COM(94 ) 293 and 294 final growth hormones from being administered to cattle . — OJ No C 222, 10 . 8 . 1994 .

New health measures relating to the use of hormones in stockbreeding were supposed to have entered into force in July 1995 . WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 16/95 by Kenneth Stewart ( PSE ) 1 . What is the current subject of dispute ? to the Commission

2 . What attitude will the Commission take in future to (15 September 1995) Member States which continue to export meat ( 96/C 51/32 ) containing hormones ? Subject: Merseyside — Objective 1 3 . What steps will it take to compensate European producers for the losses they have sustained on account Is the Commission aware that in certain cases applications of unfair US competition ? for funding have been submitted by the same people who sit 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/19 on the committee which decides on the applications and that selected for grant aid . When a project is rejected the there is no appeals procedure if an application satisfies the applicant can request feedback from the secretariat and the criteria but is turned down ? Who are the decision-makers , sector co-ordinators . The Commission has pressed for a and why is all information kept at secret ( all decisions are more formal appeal system , so that any project sponsor or taken behind closed doors )? third party who felt that a project had been incorrectly scored would be able to have it re-examined . This is now being considered by the partnership . Twelve Merseyside MPs have written to me complaining of being unable to obtain information from the various committees including the main Monitoring Committee . On the question of access to information , the Commission understands that information would normally flow via the sector representatives on the different committees . Thus , the There are only 10 elected members on the Monitoring local authorities obtain information through their Committee ; the others are from government Quangos . I representatives and so on . However, there is no reason in principle why all non-confidential papers should not be would dispute that this can be deemed a partnership with available from the secretariat on demand . Merseyside people .

The Policy on Training is far to exaggerated . There are no To widen debate about the Objective 1 programme , the real jobs at the end of the training period and it is partnership held a one day conference in July and a second is questionable whether this is not being used by the British planned for late 1995 . These meetings enable a wider cross Government in order to preserve its own credibility . section of Merseyside organizations to debate key policy issues than is possible within the committee structure . An Objective 1 newsletter is also being considered . It is imperative that you carry out a full inquiry into the whole operation of Merseyside Objective 1 and institute new conditions on a proper democratic basis . The programme as a whole aims to create 49 000 jobs . The idea is to maximise linkages between projects supported by the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) and the European Social Fund ( ESF ). In this way the opportunities created by physical and intangible investment can be captured by people who have been excluded from the labour market — particularly the large number of long-term Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies unemployed in Merseyside . This is a particular focus of the on behalf of the Commission measure called 'pathway to integration' which concentrates (23 October 1995) support from the ESF and the ERDF on the 38 most deprived areas in Merseyside .

The monitoring committee and the two technical panels for The findings of the Merseyside economic assessment carried the Merseyside Objective 1 programme are made up of the out this year have strengthened the resolve of the principal regional partners including local authorities , partnership to ensure that support from the ESF should training and enterprise councils, statutory bodies , voluntary contribute to sustainable economic regeneration . This will sector, private sector, government and the Commission . be achieved through a stronger concentration in growth These , with the exception of the Commission, are also the clusters , growth poles, growth sectors and growth principal project sponsors . The balance of representation is occupations . An emphasis on these factors is being built into decided by the regional director of the government office for the scoring system for ESF projects for 1996 . This focus on Merseyside, although it should be noted that the Merseyside growth areas is the best guarantee that trainees will be able monitoring committee has the largest representation of to find jobs at the end of their training . elected members of any of these committees in the United Kingdom . The Commission is taking a close interest in the implementation of the Objective 1 programme in On the basis of criteria agreed by the programme Merseyside and will continue to monitor the situation monitoring committee , projects are scored by the closely . programme secretariat . There was full discussion about these criteria within the partnership . Because there are more projects than resources , only the highest scoring projects are accepted for Structural Fund support . It is therefore possible for a project to meet the programme objectives but not be No C 51/20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2523/95 certificates of specific character has met several times to by Carles-Alfred Gasoliba i Bohm ( ELDR ) consider various technical matters . to the Commission (15 September 1995) This autumn a preliminary draft Commission Regulation containing an initial list of names for registration as ( 96/C 51/33 ) protected designations of origin or protected geographical indications was put to the regulatory committee . Subject: Geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs Decisions on the registration of names reported under Article 17 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2081/92 will be taken by the Commission according to the procedure laid down in The Council approved Regulations ( EEC ) No 2081/92 ( J ) Article 15 of that Regulation, namely after the Member and ( EEC ) No 2082/92 ( 2 ) on geographical indications and States have voted in the regulatory committee . designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs , and on certificates of specific character for foodstuffs . The adoption of these two regulations was considered a very positive step towards a policy of promoting quality in the food sector .

However, the implementing measures to put the provisions WRITTEN QUESTION E-2535/95 of these Regulations into practice have never been carried out, by the Commission or the Council . by José Valverde Lôpez ( PPE ) to the Commission

What action does the Commission intend to ensure that (20 September 1995) these Regulations, which at the time aroused great hopes { 961C 51/34 ) among those working in the sector , will not be mere empty words ? Does the Commission not think that a policy of promoting quality in agricultural products and foodstuffs is essential in the current international situation of wide open Subject: Transposition into Spanish law of the Directive on markets, so that the value of quality local and regional the killing of wild game and the placing on the products , produced specifically by traditional methods , can market of wild-game meat be properly appreciated ? Is it true that the Spanish Government has failed to (') OJ No L 208 , 24 . 7 . 1992 , p . 1 . transpose into Spanish law Directive 92/45/EEC (') on the ( 2 ) OJ No L 208 , 24 . 7 . 1992 , p. 9 . killing of wild game and the placing on the market of wild-game meat ?

(') OJ No L 268 , 14 . 9 . 1992 , p . 35 . Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (26 October 1995) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2536/95 by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) Since the entry into force of Regulation ( EEC ) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and to the Commission designations of origin for agricultural products and (20 September 1995) foodstuffs , the Member States, including Austria , Finland ( 96/C 51/35 ) and Sweden , have sought to register 1 400 geographical names .

Subject: Transposition into Spanish law of the Directive on The Commission has examined the admissibility of the production and placing on the market of raw applications and has , since July 1994 , in many cases asked milk , heat-treated milk and milk-based products for further details in order to obtain the information considered necessary for registration , notably regarding the definition of the geographical area , evidence of the product's Is it true that the Spanish Government has failed to links with that area and product descriptions . transpose into Spanish law Directive 92/46/EEC (') on the production and placing on the market of raw milk, Much of the information has only reached the Commission heat-treated milk and milk-based products ? in the course of this year . The scientific committee for designations of origin , geographical indications and (!) OJ No L 268 , 14 . 9 . 1992 , p . 1 . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/21

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2537/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2540/95 by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) to the Commission to the Commission (20 September 1995) (20 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/36 ) ( 96/C 51/39 )

Subject: Transposition into Spanish law of the Directive Subject: Transposition into Spanish law of the Directive on establishing Community methods of analysis for maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on the official control of feedingstuffs cereals and foodstuffs of animal origin

Is it true that the Spanish Government has failed to Is it true that the Spanish Government has failed to transpose into Spanish law Directive 93/57/EEC ( 1 ) on transpose into Spanish law Directive 92/89/EEC ( 1 ) maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on cereals and establishing Community methods of analysis for the official foodstuffs of animal origin ? control of feedingstuffs ? ( 1 ) OJ No L 211 , 23 . 8 . 1993 , p . 1 . (') OJ No L 344, 26 . 11 . 1992 , p . 35 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2541/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2538/95 by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) to the Commission to the Commission (20 September 1995) (20 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/40 ) ( 96/C 51/37 ) Subject: Transposition into Spanish law of the Directive on conditions to be met by vegetable propagating and Subject: Transposition into Spanish law of the Directive planting material establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs Is it true that the Spanish Government has failed to transpose into Spanish law Directive 93/61/EEC ( ] ) on Is it true that the Spanish Government has failed to conditions to be met by vegetable propagating and planting transpose into Spanish law Directive 92/95/EEC ( ! ) material ? establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs ? ( ] ) OJ No L 250, 7 . 10 . 1993 , p . 19 .

(') OJ No L 327, 13 . 11 . 1992 , p . 54 .

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2535/95 to E-2541/95 given by Mr Fischler WRITTEN QUESTION E-2539/95 on behalf of the Commission by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) (3 November 1995) to the Commission (20 September 1995) All the farming Directives cited — 92/45/EEC , 92/46/EEC, ( 96/C 51/38 ) 92/89/EEC , 92/95/EEC, 92/116/EEC, 93/57/EEC and 93/61/EEC — have been transposed into Spanish law . The Commission has been notified of the relevant measures . Subject: Transposition into Spanish law of the Directive on health problems affecting trade in fresh The Commission would also point out that the performance poultrymeat of the Member States in transposing all relevant Community Directives is given in Annex 4 to its annual report on Is it true that the Spanish Government has failed to monitoring the application of Community law ( 1 ). transpose into Spanish law Directive 92/116/EEC ( J ) on health problems affecting trade in fresh poultrymeat ? (') OJ No C 254 , 29 . 9 . 1995 .

( J ) OJ No L 62 , 15 . 3 . 1993 , p . 1 . No C 51/22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2552/95 As a result, the October moratorium on all except tuna by Carmen Fraga Estevez ( PPE ) fishing cannot be contested by the Community, especially as it applies to all fleets operating in Mauritanian waters . to the Commission (20 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/41 )

Subject: Request by the Mauritanian authorities for a fishing moratorium for biological reasons ( Fisheries Agreement between the European Union WRITTEN QUESTION E-2563/95 and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ) by Richard Howitt ( PSE ) to the Commission For the month of October, the Islamic Republic of Mauretania has declared a compulsory fisheries (22 September 1995) moratorium for biological reasons within its fishing ( 96/C 51/42 ) grounds , applying to all fleets and all species caught there .

Subject: Konver However, this fisheries moratorium is not based on objective and scientific criteria ( as required by Article 3 of the Agreement ) since in the ' Guide de l'Armateur' When does the Commission expect to reach agreement with ( Shipowners ' Guide ) the Mauritanian authorities , basing the British Government concerning final areas of eligibility their figures on the findings of the National Centre of for the Konver Programme for 1995 ? Oceanographic and Fisheries Research ( CNROP ), estimate the annual production of black hake at 133 000 tonnes , compared to an annual catch of around 18 000 tonnes by Will the Commission ensure that no money is lost to projects the Community fleet . in the Southend travel-to-work area in my constituency which are due to be eligible for the first time ? Does the Commission not consider that this proposal by the Mauritanian authorities should be rejected ? What is the reason for the delay in reaching agreement ?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies (8 November 1995) on behalf of the Commission (19 October 1995)

The Commission heard Mauritania's reasons for closing its fisheries area to all deep-sea fishing during October at a consultation meeting on the matter in Nouakchott on The list of areas eligible for Konver was agreed by the 11 September . Commission and the Member States in December last year and published in the Official Journal ( ! ). On numerous occasions , Mauritania has pointed to the problems it has conserving stocks , particularly of young Under Article 5.2 of the Commission notice laying down fish . Community shipowners have been trying out new guidelines relating to this Community defence-conversion catch techniques as part of the fisheries agreement in a bid to initiative ( 2 ), the UK authorities were able to propose a solve these problems but so far the matter has not been number of other areas particularly affected by the decline in settled . Furthermore , under the Stabex system , the Community has asked Mauritania to take strict measures to defence activities ( bases and industries ). They proposed twelve such areas in March, among them the 'Southend conserve cephalopods . travel-to-work area'. The Commission gave its approval on 31 July in an official letter to the United Kingdom . Mauritania has also highlighted the particular difficulties it has in undertaking a thorough analysis of stock levels, especially for the categories of fish referred to by the (') OJ No C 402 , 31 . 12 . 1994 . Honourable Member , since many masters fail to send in ( 2 ) OJ No C 180 , 1 . 7 . 1994 . their logbooks as required by the agreement . This fact was again mentioned to the Community at the joint committee meeting on 8 and 9 July and in a letter sent last August . 21 . 2 . 96 I EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/23

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2569/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2578/95 by Glyn Ford ( PSE ) by James Provan ( PPE ) to the Commission to the Commission (22 September 1995) (27 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/43 ) ( 96/C 51/44 )

Subject: Import tax on fuel in heavy goods vehicles entering Subject: Electro-magnetic compatibility regulations and France supply of kits for amateur radio users

Would the Commission comment upon the practice of French customs and excise who are charging a duty on all The UK has several firms suppyling electronic kits for . fuel within fuel tanks above 200 litres while the same charge amateur radio uses . Most of these firms are small part-time is not applied by other European Union countries, businesses and Britain has a hobby sector that is more particularly in view of the fact that this substantially developed than elsewhere in Europe . However, the impact increases costs for road haulage companies shipping goods of EMC regulations governing all electronic products comes into France in contrast to those shipping goods out from into effect on 1 January 1996 and the bureaucratic burden France who do not suffer the same charges ? that will be placed on this amateur sector will be intolerable .

Has the Commission taken this up with the French authorities yet, or if not, will it consider doing so ? Most of the kits involved probably meet the technical requirements or could easily be made to do so . The burden of complying, even by the simplest self-certification procedure , will be greater than most businesses will be prepared to tolerate . Most kits have a short life of about two Answer given by Mr Monti or three years and sell in relatively small numbers . They on behalf of the Commission seldom remain unchanged for long and new developments always overtake existing equipment . The effort involved in (19 October 1995) getting a product registered adds much time and cost to their development, which will make the sector uncompetitive compared to mass-produced gear . There is also a potential The Commission has taken note of the Honourable problem with publishing designs in technical magazines if the equipment has not been registered . Member's concerns about the tax arrangements applicable to the fuel contained in the tanks of lorries . Will the Commission consider the general exemption In this connection , Member States are prohibited from scheme for small quantity production runs , say up to 200 applying excise duty to fuel contained in the ' standard units . This should not be seen as an opportunity to flout tanks' of lorries where the fuel has been purchased at a price technical provisions, but allow amateurs to develop new inclusive of all taxes in another Member State . 'Standard techniques and small electronic firms to get established in tanks' means start-up business schemes . Will the Commission do something to alleviate the difficulties that are to face this hobby sector ? 'the tanks permanently fixed by the manufacturer to all motor vehicles of the same type of the vehicle in question and whose permanent fitting enables fuel to be used directly, both for the purpose of propulsion and , where appropriate , for the operation , during transport, of refrigeration systems and other systems'. Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission These provisions , which were laid down in Directive (22 November 1995) 94/74/EC of 22 December 1994 ( ! ) came into force on 1 July 1995 . The Commission would intervene if any Member State failed to respect them . Directive 89/336/EEC on electromagnetic compatibility ( EMC ) forms part of the legal and technical harmonization (') OJ No L 365 , 31 . 12 . 1994 . measures proposed by the Commission and adopted by the Council to assure the free movement of goods and thus progress towards establishing the internal market . In this specific area , harmonization measures have been adopted by No C 51 /24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 the Member States aimed at protecting radio obtain the lignite needed to fire the power station, for communications equipment and electrical appliances which instance , large areas will given up to open-cast mining could be affected by electromagnetic interference . without any comprehensive assessment having been made of the ecological impact of these plans . The Commission has The EMC Directive was drawn up for this purpose . It lays already initiated proceedings against Germany on this down the general interest protection requirements to be met matter . by manufacturers and covers all equipment containing electrical or electronic components . It therefore covers 1 . On what specific grounds has the Commission based its amateur radio equipment where it is commercialized and proceedings against Germany ? placed on the Community market . 2 . What stage has been reached in these proceedings ? However , radio equipment used by amateur radio enthusiasts within the meaning of definition No 53 of Article 1 of the Radio Regulation forming part of the Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard International Telecommunication Convention is excluded on behalf of the Commission from the scope of the EMC Directive . (13 November 1995 )

It should moreover be borne in mind that the EMC Directive entered into force on 1 January 1992 with a transitional 1 . As the Honourable Member rightly indicates and as period running until 31 December 1995 , when its the Commission states in its answer to Written Question application by the Member States will become compulsory . P-2070/95 by Mrs Schroedter f 1 ), the Commission has This four-year transitional period was adopted in order to opened an infringement procedure pursuant to Article 169 give all manufacturers , including those of amateur radio of the EC Treaty in relation to the open-cast mining in the equipment , sufficient time to adapt to the requirements of new German Lander . the new European legislation . According to Directive 85/337/EEC ( 2 ), an impact The Commission attaches particular importance to assessment for open-cast mining has to be carried out prior maintaining and improving European industrial to the authorization of such a project, if the Member State competitiveness . In this connection, compliance by all considers that the characteristics so require . In exercising manufacturers of electrical equipment with the essential the discretion under the Directive , Germany has , by way of requirements of the EMC Directive is a vital factor in an ordinance, submitted all open-cast mining to an impact making them more competitive , since it enables them to assessment . Thus , an impact assessment pursuant to benefit from freedom of movement and market their Directive 85/337/EEC is mandatory prior to the products in any Member State . authorization of open-cast mining in Germany .

Consequently , the burden that complying with the However , the German treaty on unification provides for a requirements of the EMC Directive represents for small and transition period as regards the assessment of projects medium-size enterprises , in this particular case located in the new German Lander . The relevant transition manufacturers of amateur radio equipment, should be clause is interpreted in such a way that it excludes the regarded as a sound investment, given the undoubted necessity of an impact assessment in almost all cases where benefits that manufacturers derive from it . development consents are given to projects related to former mining . The Commission therefore concluded that this transition clause was not compatible with Directive 85/337/EEC and that Germany had moreover failed to apply the Directive when authorizing new open-cast mining at Janschwalde , Brandenburg . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2582/95 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V ) The lignite extracted at Janschwalde is not delivered to the power station ' Schwarze Pumpe' to which the Honourable to the Commission Member refers . This plant, for which the European (27 September 1995) investment bank has , after consultation with the ( 96/C 51/45 ) Commission , granted a loan , has been subject to an impact assessment in accordance with Directive 85/337/EEC .

Subject: Schwarze Pumpe lignite-fired power station 2 . The Commission will decide on the infringement procedure in the light of the answer of the German Construction of the new Schwarze Pumpe lignite-fired government to the letter of formal notice . power station is to receive more than DM 1 billion in funding from the European Investment Bank . However, (!) OJ No C 273 , 18 . 10 . 1995 . there is some doubt as to whether the Federal German ( 2 ) OJ No L 175 , 5 . 7 . 1985 . Government complied with all the environmental impact assessment guidelines when granting planning consent . To 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/25

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2584/95 are not environmentally and economically sound will by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V ) continue to be refused . to the Commission 2 . Environmental impact assessments are routinely (27 September 1995) carried out for each project when the application for ( 96/C 51 /46 ) funding is made .

3 . Funding applications from Cohesion Fund countries Subject: Cohesion Fund and environmental impact have been turned down for a number of reasons including assessments the failure of projects to comply with Community Directives . Only approved projects are monitored administratively and so the Commission has no list of those Only 38,6 per cent of the funds available for environmental projects turned down with the reasons for their rejection . projects through the Cohesion Fund last year were actually taken up . In the case of the resources earmarked for (') OJ No L 130 , 25 . 5 . 1994 . infrastructure improvements , the take-up rate was 60,2 per cent .

1 . Will the Commission take steps to increase the take-up rate for environmental projects in the four recipient countries , and if so, how ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-2585/95 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V ) 2 . Were environmental impact assessments carried out for to the Commission all infrastructure projects supported by the Cohesion (27 September 1995) Fund ? ( 96/C 5 1 /47 ) 3 . Were any applications for funding from the four recipient countries turned down because the projects did Subject: Financial support for North Korea's nuclear not satisfy European environmental protection industry standards ? If so , which ? The European Commission is to provide North Korea's nuclear industry with financial support of approximately DM 25 million under an agreement on the conversion of Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies Korea's nuclear programme . The graphite reactors are on behalf of the Commission evidently to be replaced with light-water reactors . (31 October 1995) 1 . Has the Commission's proposal already been examined by the Council of Ministers , and if so , what was the outcome ? 1 . The Commission has sought to achieve a better balance between environment and transport projects . It sent 2 . What are the precise aims of the Commission's a letter to those Member States which benefit from the proposal ? Cohesion Fund , asking them to ensure an even spread between the two sectors , as stipulated in Regulation ( EC ) 3 . From which budgetary headings is the funding to come ? No 1 1 64/94 ( 1 ) . The balance was already redressed by 1 994 Will it be provided through Euratom loans ? and commitments for the environment are now at the same level as those for transport . 4 . Have European firms already tendered for the projects in Korea and , if so , for which projects and what is the extent of their involvement ? As regards the implementation of equality between the sectors , the Commission will adopt a flexible approach , in particular concerning timing, taking into account the characteristics of each individual case . According to the Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan different needs of the cohesion Member States , e.g. in on behalf of the Commission relation to water management, water treatment and waste (20 November 1995) disposal , the Commission will ensure , in partnership with the Member States , the highest environmental quality of Cohesion fund projects . Transport projects , for example 1 . In July 1995 the Commission proposed to study with investment in public transport , can be the answer to an the Member States a possible Community contribution to environmental problem . The Commission will intensify KEDO , the Korean peninsula energy development safeguards in relation to the environmental quality of organisation . Such a contribution is currently under projects funded by the Cohesion Fund , in particular by consideration in the Council working groups . It is not yet improved use of objective eligibility criteria . Projects which possible to know what will be the outcome . No C 51/26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

2 . The question has to be assessed in the light of the country of the fraudster), by activity ( fraudulent trading, traditional Community contribution to international slaughterhouse, etc ) and country of destination . nuclear non-proliferation efforts . In March 1995 the United States , Japan and South Korea established KEDO , an international organization , with the main objective of Answer given by Mrs Gradin supplying North Korea with light-water reactors as well as on behalf of the Commission energy alternatives ( oil ) in the intervening years . KEDO will be operating in the context of the agreed framework (8 November 1995) concluded between the United States and North Korea in October 1994 , under which North Korea has undertaken to end its threat to withdraw from the Nuclear In 1994 ( the last year for which the Commission has complete up to date information ), the Member States non-proliferation treaty, to freeze its graphite-moderated communicated the following cases of fraud or irregularities reactors and to engage in North-South dialogue . In in the area of export refunds for beef, pigmeat and accordance with the agreed framework the United States and North Korea will also move towards full normalization poultrymeat : of political and economic relations . — 70 cases of unduly paid refunds for an amount of some ECU 53 million involved beef. All Member States are Some Member States already contribute to KEDO and one concerned ( especially Italy with some ECU 33 million Member State is a member of KEDO . The objective of the and Germany with some ECU 11 million ) with the proposed European contribution would be to help preserve exception of Portugal ; the nuclear non-proliferation regime and to promote both reconciliation on the Korean peninsula and peace and — 32 cases of unduly paid refunds for an amount of security in East Asia . The initiative would therefore be ECU 360 000 involved pigmeat . Belgium, Denmark , consistent with the joint action on the indefinite extension of Germany, France , the Netherlands , Portugal and United the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty . It would also be in line Kingdom are concerned ; with the Community 1994 Asia strategy . — 11 cases of unduly paid refunds for an amount of ECU 151 000 involved poultrymeat . Belgium, France , the 3 . No decision has yet been taken on either the amount of Netherlands and United Kingdom are concerned . a Community contribution to KEDO nor the budgetary headings affected , nor have the possible conditions for such In comparison, the total amount of refunds was , in 1994 , a contribution been determined . For the moment, however, ECU 1 708 million for beef, ECU 259 million for pigmeat, there is no plan to use Euratom loans . and ECU 213 million for poultrymeat .

4 . The Commission is not aware of any tenders for The Commission would moreover point out that : KEDO projects made at this stage by European firms . — these 113 cases concerned a number of different third countries of destination ; — in the majority of cases, the perpetrator of the fraud or irregularity was an exporter belonging to the Member State which communicated the case to the Commission . Most frauds were carried out by means of falsifying WRITTEN QUESTION E-25 94/95 documents . by Marianne Thyssen ( PPE ) to the Commission (27 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/48 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2602/95 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and Subject: Fraud involving meat export subsidies Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) to the Commission There are reports of widespread fraud involving meat (27 September 1995) export subsidies , particularly for pigmeat, beef and ( 96/C 51/49 ) poultrymeat . Subject: The Urban programme Has the Commission any idea of the extent of this fraud ? How great is the fraud in comparison with the total amount Which parts of Spain are to benefit from the European of export refunds for pigmeat, beef and poultrymeat ? Union's Urban programme ?

Can the Commission give figures for each type of meat What are the priority objectives which such aid is intended ( pigmeat, beef and poultrymeat), by country of origin ( i.e. to achieve ? 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51 /27

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies Emergency aid is granted to help victims of a natural disaster on behalf of the Commission and in each of the last few years the Commission has made (25 October 1995) an average seven to eight such grants after earthquakes , floods or storms .

With decision C(95 ) 1659 of 19 July 1995 , the Commission Where State aid is concerned, Member States may grant approved the Urban programme concerning the following national aid after a natural disaster and encourage farmers Spanish towns : Badajoz, Badalona , Baracaldo , Cadiz , to take out insurance policies against certain risks by paying Cartagena , Huelva , La Coruna , Langreo , Madrid , Malaga , part of the premium . But they are required to communicate Sabadell , Salamanca , Sevilla , Toledo , Valencia , Valladolid all instances of such aid to the Commission, which has the and Vigo . duty of ensuring compliance with the principles laid down in the Treaty . The Community's Urban scheme seeks to address urban issues , particularly those of problem areas, using an When a Member State notifies the Commission of its integrated approach aimed at fostering business start-ups , improving infrastructure and the environment, offering intention to grant aid under this heading, the Commission suitable training opportunities , and setting up projects ascertains whether the situation really is a natural disaster, guaranteeing equal opportunities and social amenities . i.e. whether production will not exceed 30 % of average production for the previous three years ( or 20 % in less-favoured regions ). It also ascertains that the damage It will assist the efforts of the authorities to provide the suffered and the sum under consideration are in proportion . facilities needed to attract economic activity and create a As for state aid towards insurance premiums, this may cover climate of confidence and security for the people of the up to 80 % of the premium due, but the farmer has to find regions concerned while integrating them into normal the remaining 20% . Where insurance of this kind covers economic and social life . risks other than natural disasters or epizootic or plant diseases , the maximum permitted subsidy is 50% .

Finally, under the Structural Funds , Member States may set priorities or introduce specific structural measures of a kind that will enable farmers to cope with particular climatic WRITTEN QUESTION E-2603/95 hazards and are in line with the activities of the Structural by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and Funds . Examples are irrigation and drainage measures , Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) getting agricultural and forestry production on stream again to the Commission and the setting up of appropriate preventive instruments . The Commission is also looking into the possibility of using (27 September 1995) the part of the Structural Funds reserve set aside for ( 96/C 51/50 ) Community measures to support structural programmes in the Member States at present affected by the aftermath of natural disasters . Subject: The notion of 'disaster' and the CAP

Does the Commission intend to adopt any measures aimed at providing an objective definition of the notion of 'disaster' in order to assess disaster risks and the effects on agricultural production in the European Union ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-2604/95 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) Answer given by Mr Fischler to the Commission on behalf of the Commission (27 September 1995) (30 October 1995) ( 961C 51/51 )

The Commission does not intend proposing any amendment of the legal framework relating to natural Subject: The effects of drought on arable farming and disasters . The underlying principle is that of subsidiarity stockfarming in accordance with which any measures to relieve the consequences of such disasters are the responsibility of the Member States . Fiowever , the Commission may contribute Has the Commission carried out any study into the effects of at three different levels, namely by granting emergency aid, and the damage caused by drought in several southern by monitoring State aid and by making grants from the countries in the European Union in the sectors of arable Structural Funds . farming, stockfarming and the agri-food industry ? No C 51/28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

Answer given by Mr Fischler The most important thing to note is that the aid per hectare on behalf of the Commission introduced by the reform of the CAP is independent of (30 October 1995 ) actual production and is therefore guaranteed even if production is drastically reduced as a result of poor weather . In this way, the aid gives producers partial earnings protection against any accidental drop in yield . It is all too The Commission is aware of the serious consequences of the easy to picture the straits Spanish regions like Andalucia and drought affecting several Member States . It has information Castilla-La Mancha would have been in had there been no on : reform or compensation to offset four years of drought .

— the water situation; Commission measures can also help tackle the critical — the drop in agricultural production ascribed to the situations brought about by drought . Examples are : drought; and — a relaxation of the penalties for exceeding base areas — the resulting supply problems faced by cattle feed in Spain during the 1994—95 farm year to allow for producers . the drought-influenced switch from water-intensive cropping ( rice and cotton ) to arable farming; But it has not yet initiated a study specifically on the drought . — Council Regulation ( EC ) No 1460/95 , proposed by the Commission, authorizing Spain and Portugal to advance 50 % of aids for cereals, peas, and broad and field beans before 16 October for the 1995/96 year;

— a transfer of cereals from other Member States to Spain to supply the market and curb the adverse effects of WRITTEN QUESTION E-2605/95 excessive prices on livestock farmers . by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) to the Commission In addition, the Commission is now looking into the possibility of using part of the Structural Fund reserve for (27 September 1995) Community initiatives to support structural programmes in ( 96/C 51/52 ) Member States currently dealing with natural disasters ( including drought). However, current rules mean it cannot use EAGGF funds to compensate the resulting loss in farm earnings . Subject: The effects of drought on agricultural incomes

Although the CAP provides aid calculated in terms of areas under cultivation and number of animals , does the Commission intend to take any measures to alleviate the effects of drought on the incomes of arable farmers and stockfarmers ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2608/95 How could the EAGGF Funds be applied in order to offset by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) the income losses suffered by those arable farmers and stockfarmers most seriously affected by drought in several to the Commission European Union countries ? (27 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/53 )

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission Subject: Structural aid and the application of Directive 91 /493/EEC (31 October 1995)

Some undertakings in the European Union Member States , Payments to farmers to compensate for drought or any other through no fault of the managers or workers, have been natural disaster are in principle a matter for the Member unable to apply fully Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July State concerned . However, Community policies and 1991 ( J ) laying down the health conditions for the Commission measures can to some extent help offset the production and the placing on the market of fishery adverse effects of such disasters on farm incomes . products . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/29

Some of these undertakings have applied for aid from the — applied to the relevant national authorities for an FIFG and the Structural Funds in order to adapt their extension before 1 July 1992 , i.e. two and a half years businesses to comply with the abovementioned Directive . before the deadline laid down by the Directive .

How can these undertakings be sure that they will not lose The end of Article 7 stipulates that applications for financial their entitlement to such aid even if they finish adapting their support from the Community will only be accepted if the production systems after the dates provided for in the projects comply with the Directive . Directive ?

(') OJ No L 268 , 24 . 9 . 1991 , p . 15 . The Commission will not be applying the 31 December deadline to financial awards for the renovation of existing establishments or the building of new ones . Undertakings which have requested aid but which have not completed WRITTEN QUESTION E-2609/95 upgrading work to comply with standards by this date will by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) not therefore lose their entitlement to support . However, from 1 January, they will not be included in the list of to the Commission licensed firms until all the requirements of the Directive have (27 September 1995) been met . ( 96/C 51/54 ) From what the Commission has learnt, it would appear that Subject: Application of Directive 91/493/EEC the Community fisheries industry has made or is making great efforts to comply with the new standards . A postponement of the deadline in the Directive would be seen Does the Commission have any information on the degree to in a very dim light by firms which have made the necessary which Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 , laying down investment and would continue to distort competition from the health conditions for the production and the placing on firms which have not made the same effort . As no Member the market of fishery products , is being applied in the State or professional body has made such a request, the various Member States ? Commission does not intend proposing an extension beyond 31 . December to the Council and Parliament . Has any Member State asked that the deadline for applying Similarly, an extension for one Member State would prevent this Directive be extended ? the single market from operating properly and so could not be granted . How would the Commission react if a Member State were to request that the deadline for applying the Directive be postponed, citing valid reasons ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2608/95 and E-2609/95 WRITTEN QUESTION P-2610/95 given by Fischler by Eryl McNally ( PSE ) on behalf of the Commission to the Commission (3 November 1995) (19 September 1995) ( 96/C 51/55 ) Directive 91/493/EEC on the health rules for the production and marketing of fisheries products was adopted by the Council on 22 July 1991 . The deadline for incorporating the Subject: Telematics Application Programme Directive into national law was 1 January 1993 , to coincide with the start of the single market . I am informed that some 1 400 proposals were received by Article 7 makes provision for national authorities to license the deadline ( 15 March 1995 ) for the Telematics establishments once they are satisfied that they comply with Application Programme and that there have been many the Directive . complaints from experts and applicants about the results of this call for proposals . Nevertheless , point 2 of Article 7 states that Member States may extend the deadline to 31 December this year to enable I understand that the Commission has already analyzed establishments to comply with some of the structural and its own handling of this call within the Working equipment requirements needed to obtain a licence . For this Group/Management Committee structure set up in the to happen, however, the establishment must have : Telematics Application Programme and that some reports have been sent out, for example , in the health sector, — been in operation on or before 31 December 1991 ; indicating that the proposal selection process is satisfactory No C 51/30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 and transparent . However, these reports do not compare unanimous positive opinion . The Commission Decision was with the complaints received . taken on 26 July . Of course , due to the overwhelming response to the call , with an over-subscription ratio of 12 for the whole programme ( 15 for its health sector ) certain What were the scientific , technical and ethical methods used excellent proposals had to be rejected . Furthermore, certain in performing the analysis which led to applicants and technically good proposals had also to be rejected since they others being informed that the overall process is satisfactory did not comply with the new user orientation of the and transparent ? Will the Commission describe fully what programme . data was assembled ; how the results of the analysis were interpreted ; against what benchmarks ; by whom the analysis results and interpretations were performed and Finally, in July, a group composed of ten of the external in what way they support the conclusions of the evaluators involved in the process , three programme Commission ? committee members and three Commission officials was set up to improve the evaluation procedures used . Their report was presented on 27 July and its recommendations are now being carefully examined by the Commission . Whenever appropriate , these recommendations will be taken into Answer given by Mr Bangemann account for the next evaluations . This independent expert on behalf of the Commission group report is of course at the disposal of the Honourable (25 October 1995) Member .

The Honourable Member's question is concerned with the scientific, technical and ethical methods used in 1995 for the evaluation of the first call for proposals of the telematics applications programme , especially for the sector 'telematics applications for health'. WRITTEN QUESTION E-26 14/95 by Michl Ebner ( PPE ) The scientific methodology used for all sectors was the to the Commission classical one . Independent external experts were chosen by (27 September 1995) the Commission from its extensive list of contacts ( as ( 96/C 51/56 ) suggested by national representatives of the programme committee and by scientific and professional bodies ). The Commission then set up different teams of experts for examining the 1 375 proposals ( 260 for the health sector ). Subject: New initiatives in the spirit of the Madrid Each was examined by a team of three experts . A final Convention consensus was then adopted for each proposal at the team level , and it was based on standardized evaluation criteria The European Outline Convention on Transfrontier ( scientific and technical excellence , conformity with the Cooperation between Territorial Communities or scope and the objectives of the programme , European added Authorities ( Madrid , 21 May 1980 ) was undoubtedly a value , high quality project management, commitment significant step towards European integration . to exploiting the results , scientific credibility of the partnership, consideration of the social and economic potential impacts of the project, etc .). In addition to regulation from above , it is particularly important to do everything possible to facilitate the natural development of ties among peoples . In this way, national From a technical point of view , the Commission had to use a prejudices can be eliminated and the tendency for people to paper procedure for the reception and handling of proposals identify themselves as Europeans can be encouraged . since a large number of proposers ( small - and medium-sized enterprises , users , academic partners ) were not able to introduce their proposals in electronic form . In the future , Transfrontier cooperation between local authorities , which however, diskettes , electronic mail and other electronic has led to various valuable and succcessful projects, was supports are likely to be used more often . therefore an extremely praiseworthy initiative .

The ethical Regulations followed were those commonly With this in mind, I would draw the Commission's attention used . Each expert had to sign a declaration avoiding conflict to the fact that new initiatives of this kind add to the of interest and guaranteeing confidentiality . The names of momentum of European integration and could increase the experts were not disclosed to the proposers . public acceptance of the EU .

On the basis of this evaluation , the Commission established What will the Commission do , therefore , to renew the its proposal for the list of retained and reserve listed abovementioned Convention and eliminate the senseless proposals . On 21 June the programme committee gave a 25-kilometre limit for transfrontier contacts ? 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/31

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek WRITTEN QUESTION E-2628/95 on behalf of the Commission b christof Tannert ( PSE ) (20 November 1995) to ^ Commission (2 October 1995) All the Member States except Greece and the UK are parties ( 96/C 51/58 ) to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Cooperation between Territorial Communities or Authorities , which was signed on 25 May 1980 and came into force on 20 December 1981 ( 1 ). Subject: Application of the common transit procedure

The Community as such is not party to this agreement, which provides only for Member State participation . It is It is intended that the common transit procedure should in not therefore allowed to propose amendments to the future also apply to Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic text . and the Slovak Republic . It has been recommended that this be conditional upon these countries ' applying the procedure independently, if possible for at least one year before their ( l ) European Treaties Series No 106 . scheduled accession to the transit procedure . The Czech Republic did so on 1 April 1994 , Slovakia on 1 September 1994 and Hungary on 1 January 1995 . Poland has already failed to meet the recommended deadline for independent adoption of the procedure — i.e. ( if possible ) at least one year before the planned accession to the transit scheme , WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/95 scheduled for 1 July 1996 — since it adopted the procedure by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) only on 1 September 1995 . to the Commission (2 October 1995) Is the date of 1 July to be retained as deadline for accession ( 96/C 51/57 ) to the transit procedure ? Are there plans to include any other third countries ? How will this be regulated ? Subject: American wines

The United States apparently wants customs compensation from the European Union for damage suffered as a result of Answer given by Mr Monti the accession of Austria , Finland and Sweden . on behalf of the Commission (23 November 1995) It appears that the US also would like a reduction in the duty on Californian wine imported into Europe from ECU 12 to ECU 4,5 per hectolitre . This would naturally have a serious negative effect on European wine producers , who are The EEC/EFTA Joint Committee on Common Transit already in difficulty because of the excise duties of recent decided at a meeting in Interlaken on 26 October to extend years . the common transit procedure to Poland , Hungary , the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic . Is the above information true ? If so , what stand does the Commission intend to take ? In the light of the information available to the Commission with regard inter alia to the state of preparedness of the four countries, there are no plans to put back the date of Answer given by Mr Fischler accession to the Common Transit Convention , currently set on behalf of the Commission at 1 July 1996 . (7 November 1995)

Other countries including Slovenia , Romania , Bulgaria , the Following the accession of Austria , Finland and Sweden on Baltic States and Turkey have expressed interest, verbally or 1 January 1995 , the Community has entered into in writing, in early accession to the Convention . negotiations under Article XXIV . 6 of GATT with certain third countries . It is reasonable to assume that the conditions set for the As these negotiations are still at a preliminary stage , it is accession of the four Visegrad countries will also be applied impossible to predict the final outcome for individual mutatis mutandis to these new applicants . products such as wine . No C 51/32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2629/95 Answer given by Mr Fischler by Karl Schweitzer ( NI ) on behalf of the Commission to the Commission (19 October 1995) (2 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/59 ) Although specific Directives cover the welfare of transported animals, rearing conditions on farms and welfare conditions at slaugherhouses, no general Community legislation on cruelty to animals is in force or Subject: Trans-European water network proposed . The conditions under which sterilization operation is may be performed on female animals are Does Article 130s of the Accession Treaty means that the therefore a matter primarily for the law of the Member Member States may be compelled to participate in the State . establishment of a trans-European water network ? However, in the present case as it is alleged that the animals were at a market at the time of the incident, it is possible that Will the individual Member States consequently be obliged they could be considered still to be in course of transport to contribute to this trans-European water network from and therefore subject to the rules of Council Directive their own resources ? 91/628/EEC (') on the protection of animals during transport, which inter alia prohibit causing unnecessary suffering to a transported animal . The Commission will therefore make contact with the French authorities on this Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard matter . on behalf of the Commission 0 ) OJ No L 340 , 11 . 12 . 1991 . (13 November 1995)

The Honourable Member apparently refers to Article 130s of the EC Treaty rather than to the Accession Treaty . Trans-European water networks are not mentioned in WRITTEN QUESTION E-2636/95 Article 129b of the EC Treaty . They would be classified as a by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE ) measure of water-management . As stipulated in Article 130s , paragraph 2 , these measures can only be to the Commission adopted by the Council acting unanimously . Accordingly no (2 October 1995) obligations as regards the establishment of trans-European ( 96/C 51/61 ) water networks can be imposed on Member States .

Subject: European legislation on the drought

The prolonged drought which the Mediterranean countries are currently suffering is a serious threat to their agriculture , tourism and other economically vital sectors . A recent WRITTEN QUESTION E-2632/95 report by the Committee of the Regions considered this matter and proposed various initiatives . by Caroline Jackson ( PPE ) to the Commission Does the Commission intend to adopt specific , (2 October 1995) European-level legislation on the drought ? ( 96/C 51/60 )

Answer given by Mr Fischler Subject: Welfare of pigs in France on behalf of the Commission (7 November 1995) Is the Commission aware of the documentary film recently released by Compassion in World Farming which shows The Commission shares the Honourable Member's young female pigs being neutered — an extremely painful concerns about the damage caused to some Member States operation — without anaesthetic and little concern for by prolonged drought . hygiene in an open market in Trie sur Baise , France ? Under the Community's Structural Fund operations , If so , what is the Commission doing to outlaw such a Member States can already use the support available to barbaric practice ? finance activities to combat the effects of bad weather . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/33

Article 5 of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 2085/93 Answer given by Mr Bangemann of 20 July 1993 (*) amending Regulation ( EEC ) on behalf of the Commission No 4256/88 ( 2 ) stipulates that the Guidance Section of the (15 November 1995) EAGGF may provide financing to :

— restore irrigation and drainage ; The Commission does not have details of the case raised in the Honourable Members' question and is therefore unable — restore farm and forestry output capacity damaged by to provide a satisfactory answer at this time . natural disasters and put in place appropriate prevention mechanisms . A letter requesting additional information will shortly be sent to the German authorities . The Commission will not In some cases , the ERDF and Cohesion Fund may also pay fail to reply to the Honourable Members' questions as soon for investment activities such as the building of as possible . reservoirs .

Similarly, support in connection with the reform of the CAP may include measures to reduce water consumption or to protect water resources . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2643/95 The Commission has also proposed using part of the credit by Spalato Belleré ( NI ) reserve for Community initiatives to set up a new Interreg to the Commission mechanism for the financing of activities to prevent and (2 October 1995) combat drought in certain Objective 1 regions in southern Europe . ( 96/C 51/63 )

(') OJ No L 193 , 31 . 7 . 1993 . ( 2 ) OJ No L 374, 31 . 12 . 1988 . Subject: Near-miss of two aircraft

In view of the recent near-miss of two aircraft over Lombardy ( Italy), which was probably due to human error as the air-traffic controller did not pick up the situation in time , does the Commission agree that guidelines should be issued so that each Member State can have the necessary number of technical staff, given that air safety in Europe and WRITTEN QUESTION E-2638/95 the world as a whole is mainly dependent on these 'radar by Niels Sindal ( PSE ) and Kirsten Jensen ( PSE ) men'? to the Commission (2 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/62 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2733/95 by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) and Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) to the Commission Subject: Labelling of liver sausage (6 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/64 The labelling of foodstuffs is sometimes very unclear, which can cause inconvenience to consumers in the EU . In the case in question, a consumer bought a calf's liver sausage only to Subject: Air transport find that it contained not veal , but pork .

The Italian air service is in a state of chaos , as dramatically In view of this , will the Commission state whether the illustrated by the near-miss of two aircraft near Linate German rules on meat and meat products No 2.11 permit airport . Unfortunately, the many delays and cancellations of veal/beef to be replaced by pork, so that a sausage sold as a departures are also reflected at Community level . As well as calf's liver sausage contains no veal whatsoever ? endangering passenger safety, which is increasingly coming under threat, it highlights the air-traffic problems facing the European Union as a whole . Will the Commission also state whether the above state of affairs is compatible with EU legislation and, if so, what it intends to do about this problem so as to prevent consumers Eurocontrol does not appear to be meeting the increasing from being misled in such a way in future ? requirements of ever-reduced air space, and de-regulation, No C 51/34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 as urged by the Commission , has resulted in greater which is currently being discussed by Parliament . Still on emphasis being placed on profits to the detriment of the this matter, it is preparing the White Paper on air traffic necessary controls and increase in the number of staff management that it announced for the end of this year . The responsible for flight safety . White Paper will set out a number of measures to be taken , which will concern both Regulations and the introduction of new equipment and institutional reform . Can the Commission adopt a Directive establishing the number of air-traffic controllers required in each Community airport ? Can it adopt a Directive making it Initiatives such as those suggested by the Honourable compulsory to install the TACS ( anti-collision system ) in Members will be examined in connection with this work . aircraft already in operation and those under construction ? Can it adopt a recommendation , in line with the principle of free competition , to prevent the iniquitous system of (.') COM(95 ) 318 final . imposing quotas for flights in Italian airports ?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2643/95 and E-2733/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2646/95 given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission by Maartje van Putten ( PSE ) (26 October 1995) to the Commission (2 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/65 )

The Commission was informed of the regrettable incident to which the Honourable Members refer but at this stage it does not have the details which would enable it to draw Subject: Regulation 404/93 — banana production in ACP conclusions . It would merely point out on the basis of the States available statistics that over the last ten years the risk of a collision in European airspace has fallen slightly in spite of a more than 50% increase in air traffic . 1 . Is the Commission aware of assessments which reveal the extent to which Regulation ( EEC ) No 404/93 (') protects the interests of banana growers in various ACP From a more general point of view, the Commission is well States ? aware of the difficulties associated with air traffic in Europe since the end of the 1980s . It is also monitoring closely current developments in Italy . It cannot however subscribe 2 . If so , what does it consider the most important to the view that these malfunctions are due to the process of conclusions of such assessments to be , and does it agree with liberalization , not de-regulation, of intra-Community air them ? transport decided on by the Community in accordance with its institutional mechanisms . Nor can it accept that either this development or staff shortages in air traffic control can 3 . To what extent does it agree with the conclusion affect the safety level of this form of transport insofar as all reached by European development organizations that the relevant indicators available point instead to an banana-growing in ACP States and European territories is improvement . frequently associated with better social conditions than those found in regions producing dollar bananas , and that, from an ecological viewpoint, the production of bananas for This should not however obscure the serious economic export is , with one exception , extremely alarming ? losses that this situation entails both for our economies and our citizens and carriers . This is why the Commission , in line with a number of Parliament resolutions , feels that it is now 4 . Is it prepared to investigate the extent to which export necessary to finally use Community mechanisms to find opportunities for ACP banana growers would ( now and rapid and effective solutions in cooperation with the after 2002 ) be increased by establishing an import quota for Member States and other international organizations with fair trade bananas which would give preference to imports responsibility in this area , such as Eurocontrol . of bananas produced under conditions which conform to internationally recognized basic social and environmental standards ?

With this in mind , it adopted on 5 July 1995 a communication on congestion and crisis in air traffic ('), (>) OJ No L 47, 25 . 2 . 1993 , p . 1 . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/35

Answer given by Mr Fischler stop the European consumer from buying them in increasing on behalf of the Commission preference to other bananas . The Commission is willing to (7 November 1995) examine any possible way of developing such initiatives .

As for ACP bananas , both traditional and non-traditional supplies are already exempted from customs duty under the 1 . Regulation ( EEC ) No 404/93 contains measures for tariff quota . bananas from African, Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) countries which were laid down in a bid to comply with the terms of the preferential arrangements in the Lome Convention .

As regards access to the Community market for traditional WRITTEN QUESTION E-2652/95 supplies , tonnages were set on the basis of the highest output by Luciano Vecchi ( PSE ) levels of each ACP country involved and may be imported duty free . And 90 000 tonnes of the zero-rated tariff quota to the Commission has been reserved for non-traditional ACP bananas . (2 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/66 ) Inclusion of ACP producers in the tariff quota under the import certificates scheme allows them overall to market a sufficient quantity of bananas at a fair price . In addition , the Subject: Access to the Commission's central library Community has adopted an earnings support and technical assistance scheme for these producers . Many citizens have pointed out that the closure of the Commission's central library in August means that some people ( for example , teachers ) are denied access to an However, the Commission has not yet undertaken a important documentation centre . What are the reasons thorough assessment of the various measures to help ACP behind this decision and does the Commission intend to producers maintain their position on the Community allow the library to remain open in future during the month market . It expects to do so soon . of August ?

2 . The Commission feels that the various parts of the organization of the banana market should be retained with Answer given by Mr Oreja any technical modifications that may prove necessary . A on behalf of the Commission proposed amendment to cover force majeur and the possibility of transferring the quantities granted to each ( 14 November 1995) ACP State is now being discussed by the Council .

The Commission's central library in Brussels is not a public 3 . It is doubtless true that the conditions in which library , but serves primarily the needs of the Commission Community and ACP bananas are produced and marketed and its staff. As far as library staff and reader space permit, is very different from those seen in dollar banana countries , the library's collection is also made available to outside with the environmental consequences mentioned . However , researchers , including teachers and post-graduate students . it should be remembered that the soil and weather Like most libraries, the Commission's central library closes conditions mean that bananas in certain production areas each year for inventory , reorganization , cleaning and staff have to be treated more intensely and regularly . holidays . The month of August is regarded as the best period to close and is likely to remain so . Most researchers are aware of the August closure and understand the need 4 . The issue of ' fair-trade' bananas certainly deserves for it . close attention, particularly when it comes to compliance with social and environmental conditions . The problem has already been raised — first in a general way during the All aspects of the library's accessibility are kept under Uruguay Round and second by the Community during its regular review . 1995 is , for example , the first year in which ten-year review of the generalized scheme of preferences . the library has been open continuously to readers on each day of outside access , namely Mondays , Tuesdays and Thursdays lOhOO to 17h00 and Fridays lOhOO to 16h30 . The Commission's aim is to extend as far as possible public Appropriate procedures — especially inspection measures access to the central library . — should be drawn up to tackle the problem .

When the central library receives an advance written request As things stand, though , it is not possible to have a separate from a researcher for access to material difficult to obtain tariff quota for ' fair-trade' bananas , although this does not elsewhere — and when it is clear that the researcher faces No C 51/36 | EN | Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 particular constraints of travel and availability — every The Council has asked the Commission to put in hand a reasonable effort is made to help on an ad hoc basis . rapid study of the effect of a possible amendment of the rules to allow Member States to apply a single national base area while making it possible to concentrate penalties for exceeding part or all of this area on those Member State regions which are guilty of going over the limit . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2665/95 The Commission study will take account of the effect of any by Miguel Arias Canete ( PPE ) such amendment on the equal treatment of producers, to the Commission the actual implementation of the base area system, and (2 October 1995) the consequences for controlled management of the Community's production , budget and international ( 96/C 51/67 ) undertakings .

Subject: Exceeding of regional base areas for dry farming in Spain

The base area for dry farming will not be exceeded in Spain during the current marketing year, since aid has been WRITTEN QUESTION E-2666/95 requested for only 7 817 ha . by Miguel Arias Canete ( PPE ) to the Commission When the base area is regionalized, however, five of the 17 autonomous communities will exceed the areas allocated to (2 October 1995) them . ( 96/C 51/69 )

In these circumstances, does the Commission not consider it inappropriate to apply the penalties provided for under Subject: Exceeding of regional base areas for irrigation in Community law during the current marketing year ? If so , Spain does it intend to amend Community legislation so as to ensure that regional excesses do not in future lead to the The base irrigation area for crops other than maize will be imposition of penalties where the overall national area is not exceeded in Spain during the current marketing year by exceeded ? more than 280 000 ha , even though the base area for maize has not been covered .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2667/95 In these circumstances , and given the extensive drought by Miguel Arias Canete ( PPE ) affecting Spain, which has made maize cultivation impossible , does the Commission not consider that there to the Commission should be internal compensation within Spain between the (2 October 1995) two base areas for irrigation during the current marketing ( 96/C 51/68 ) year and , if so , does it not intend to amend Community legislation in the future by combining the two base areas for irrigation in Spain ? Subject: Penalties for exceeding base areas

Does the Commission intend to make the necessary changes to Community legislation to make it possible , where the Answer given by Mr Fischler national base area is exceeded in Spain , for penalties to be on behalf of the Commission applied only in those autonomous communities which have (25 October 1995) exceeded their regional base area and thus caused the overall excess ? Regulations on compensatory payments for producers of cereals , oil grains and high-protein products provide that Member States, in calculating by how much the base area for Joint answer to Written Questions 'crops other than maize' is exceeded , may reallocate the E-2665/95 and E-2667/95 balance for 'maize' to the base area for 'crops other than given by Mr Fischler maize.' on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 1995) Spain used this option in 1993/94 and 1994/95 to alleviate the effects of measures provided for in the event of the base Responsibility for subdividing Spanish land into base areas area being exceeded . under the regionalization plan is a matter entirely for the Spanish authorities . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/37

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2668/95 the list of registered establishments at considerable cost by Gérard Deprez ( PPE ) without improving the efficiency of tracing meat . to the Commission (2 October 1995) The Commission is not in favour of adding a second stamp ( 96/C 51/70 ) to show the origin of the slaughtered animal . The Court of Justice has ruled that national marks of origin infringe Article 30 of the EC Treaty, and the Commission sees no place for such marks in a single market . Subject: Directive 64/43 3/EEC and possible confusion about the origin of slaughtered animals — Reply to my Written Question E- 1620/95

I should like to thank the Commission for its answer to my Written Question E-1620/95 ('). WRITTEN QUESTION E-2672/95 However, in its reply the Commission does not suggest any by Susan Waddington ( PSE ) solution to the problem of the confusion which may arise in the minds of customers between the health mark — to the Commission identifying the place of production of the meat — and a (4 October 1995) mark indicating the animal's place of origin . ( 96/C 51/71 )

However, as I pointed out in Written Question No 1620/95 , this confusion can cause problems : a French wholesale Subject: VAT harmonization on tourism services butcher is threatening to leave an abattoir situated in Mouscron, Belgium , because his customers refuse to buy meat which, although French , is stamped 'Belgium — 129 — The UK Government's failure to take full advantage of EU EEC'. tax agreements allowing Member States to levy VAT at a reduced rate on many tourism services , places the UK tourist industry at a competitive disadvantage . A recent report Would it not be possible to consider placing a second mark estimates that an 8 % reduction in VAT on accommodation indicating the origin of the meat or the fact that it is of foreign origin alongside the mark indicating the place of alone would in four years result in the creation of 38 000 slaughter ? Could the Commission propose that the current jobs , reduce the UK balance of payments deficit on travel provisions on this matter be amended ? If not, why not ? and tourism by nearly £3 billion, and generate an extra £419 million in treasury revenue .

(M OJ No C 273 , 18 . 10 . 1995 , p . 27 . What action , if any, is the Commission taking to encourage the UK Government to take full advanage of these provisions ? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1995) Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission As stated in the reply to the Honourable Member's previous (3 November 1995) Written Question E-1620/95 on the same subject , the health mark on fresh meat indicates that the meat has been produced in a registered establishment, under hygienic conditions and has been inspected and found to be fit for The Commission has already aknowledged the need to human consumption . This mark gives no indication of the favour the European tourist industry by means of taxation . geographical origin of the animal from which the meat was At the time of the preparation of the transitional VAT obtained . arrangements this was done by including categories such as ' accommodation provided by hotels and similar establishments including the provision of holiday The health mark gives an indication of the Member State in accommodation and the letting of camping sites and which the establishment is situated in order to enable the caravan parks ' as well as certain other activities which are establishment to be identified rapidly, should the need arise . linked to tourism, such as 'admissions to shows , theatres, The Commission has in the past discussed with the circuses , fairs , amusement parks, concerts , museums , zoos , authorities of the Member States the possibility of replacing cinemas , exhibitions and similar cultural events and this indication with a Community mark . However, this facilities', in the scope of the reduced VAT rate which would entail the centralized maintenance and updating of Member States have the option of applying . Nevertheless, as No C 51/38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 is now well known , it is the responsibility of each Member Despite a detailed analysis of the facts , the Commission was State to decide whether or not it wishes to make use of this unable to find a legal basis to justify any action on its option . In the past , the United Kingdom has been reluctant part . to make use of any reduced VAT rate . The Parliament's Committee on Petitions examined the petition in September 1992 and decided to ask the Parliament's Legal Service for its opinion , which was delivered in July 1993 . This opinion states that the bank in question is a private undertaking and that Directive WRITTEN QUESTION E-2676/95 76/207/EEC has been properly transposed into Portuguese by Sérgio Ribeiro ( GUE/NGL ) law by means of Decree-law No 329/79 . Nevertheless , it to the Commission concludes that the Commission's only possibility for action at Community level would be the infringement procedure (4 October 1995) under Article 169.of the EC Treaty , in that the passiveness ( 96/C 51/72 of the Portuguese authorities with regard to the non-observance of the Community Directive would constitute a failure to comply with Community law . Subject: Discrimination against women in recruitment procedures At the meeting of the Committee on Petitions on 22 November 1993 , the Commission rejected this On 1 1 May 1991 , the 'Sul e Ilhas ' Union of Banking Staff of argument, stating that it can require a Member State to Lisbon submitted a petition to the European Parliament comply with its Community obligations through the ( No 598/91 ) on discrimination against women by the procedure set out in Article 169 of the EC Treaty only when Commercial Bank of Portugal . The staff recruited by the the infringement is committed by the Member State . In the bank were almost exclusively men : of its 2 946 employees, case in point, the infringement has not been established , as only 22 were women ( 0,7% , as compared with a sectoral this would at least require the number of female candidates average of 30% ). rejected for jobs offered by the bank to be known . Furthermore , even if it were established , it would still have As stated in the opinion delivered by the European been committed by a private undertaking . Consequently, Parliament's Legal Service on 22 July 1993 , by virtue of its the Commission feels that Portugal cannot be held duties under Article 155 of the EEC Treaty and in view of responsible for discriminatory behaviour by its private the Portuguese authorities' failure to take action against this undertakings and that the Portuguese authorities' decision blatant violation of a Community Directive , the to take no action does not constitute failure to comply with Commission should have , notwithstanding the opinion Community law . Rather , it is the responsibility of the delivered by its own advisory bodies , initiated proceedings Portuguese citizens who believe that they have been for failure to act , pursuant to Article 169 of the EEC wronged to take legal action to enforce their rights under Treaty . Directive 76/207/EEC , given that the Directive has been properly transposed into national law . Will the Commission explain its position which conflicts with Parliament's own position and allows the continued Following adoption of this clear and definitive position , the violation of Community Directives implementing the Commission has concluded that the petition in question is principle of equal treatment for men and women as unfounded . regards employment opportunities , professional training, promotion and working conditions ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn WRITTEN QUESTION E-2692/95 on behalf of the Commission by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) (6 December 1995) to the Commission (4 October 1995) The petitioner claims that the Banco Commercial Portugues 96/C 51/73 ) has recruited only 22 women compared with 2 946 males employees and that these figures constitute evidence of discrimination on grounds of sex, within the meaning of Subject: Incorporation into Spanish law of the Directive on Directive 76/207/EEC . the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and The Commission contacted the Portuguese authorities in products August 1991 and asked for their reactions . In their reply of January 1992 the authorities informed the Commission that Could the Commission say whether or not the Spanish they were not in a position to take any action , as there was Government has complied with Directive 91/67/EEC ( ! ) no proof that discrimination had been practised . concerning the animal health conditions governing the 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51 /39 placing on the market of aquaculture animals and Answer given by Mr Fischler products ? on behalf of the Commission (16 November 1995) (') OJ No L 46 , 19 . 2 . 1991 , p . 1 .

Spain notified the Commission in June of the national measures taken to implement Commission Directive WRITTEN QUESTION E-2694/95 93/48/EEC , which sets out the schedule of conditions to be met by fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) intended for fruit plant production , pursuant to Article 4 of to the Commission Council Directive 92/34/EEC ( M. (4 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/74 ) (') OJ No L 157, 10 . 6 . 1992 .

Subject: Incorporation into Spanish law of the Directive concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market WRITTEN QUESTION E-2702/95 Could the Commission say whether or not the Spanish by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE/NGL ) Government has complied with Directive 91/414/EEC ( J ) to the Commission concerning the placing of plant protection products on the (4 October 1995) market ? ( 96/C 51/76 )

(') OJ No L 230 , 19 . 8 . 1991 , p . 1 . Subject: Marina at Ayios Haralambos in Mykonos

There are plans to build a marina at Ayios Haralambos in Joint answer to Written Questions the village of Hora on the island of Mykonos , in the E-2692/95 and E-2694/95 Cyclades . Over 800 inhabitants have complained that given by Mr Fischler the marina will place further strains on the already on behalf of the Commission over-crowded area , which contains listed buildings , and will (6 November 1995) have repercussions for the environment ( such as effluent, the transport of fuel and provisions , etc .) and for local planning ( changes in the natural landscape and in the appearance of Directives 91 /67/EEC and 91/414/EEC have been the town and the sea ). The marina at Ayios Haralambos is to incorporated into Spanish national law and the Commission receive funding from the second Community Support has been notified . Framework , and an invitation for tenders has already been issued .

1 . Has an environmental impact assessment been carried out in accordance with the particularly strict conditions which apply to internationally famous tourist resorts , such as Mykonos , the beauty of whose buildings is its WRITTEN QUESTION E-2697/95 chief attraction , bearing in mind that the old town is by José Valverde Lopez ( PPE ) already over-crowded ? to the Commission 2 . Have alternative solutions been studied and, if so, why (4 October 1995) was the Ayios Haralambos scheme selected and others ( 96/C 51/75 ) rejected ?

3 . Does the Commission intend , in cooperation with the Subject: Incorporation into Spanish law of the Directive on Greek authorities , to look into the possibility of building the conditions to be met by fruit plant propagating a marina for the over-wintering , provisioning and repair material of vessels in the new port in Turlos ( as envisaged in the Avgoustinos study, ETVA 1993 ) to ensure that Mykonos has a large , modern, operational marina with Could the Commission say whether or not the Spanish long-term prospects , which will serve the requirements Government has complied with Directive 93/48/EEC (') of wealthy tourists and at the same time be in keeping concerning the conditions to be met by fruit plant with the traditional spirit of the place , so that the island propagating material ? does not suffer the fate of many areas of Spain and instead remains a unique island resort with international (') OJ No L 250 , 7 . 10 . 1993 , p . 1 . appeal ? No C 51/40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2703/95 approved to build a marina at Turlos , which is, moreover, by Mihail Papayannakis ( GUE/NGL ) being funded from the same programme ? to the Commission (6 October 1995) ( 1 ) OJ No L 175 , 5 . 7 . 1985 , p . 40 . ( 96/C 51/77 )

Joint answer to Written Questions Subject: The building of a marina at Ayios Haralambos, E-2702/95 and E-2703/95 Mykonos given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1995) The inhabitants of Mykonos are protesting ( in a petition signed by 845 citizens ) at the building of a marina at Ayios Haralambos in the village of Hora on the island of There is at present no agreed Community co-financing for Mykonos, which is to be the subject of an invitation to either the Tourlos project or the Ai-Charalambis project . tender on 24 October 1995 .

The Tourlos project has been proposed , as a port only , in the Given that : framework of the operational programme for transport 1994—1999 ( part of the Community support framework for Greece 1994—1999 ). The Commission is examining — the building of the marina at Ayios Haralambos will put the priorities concerning the ports to be included in further strain on the already over-crowded village the abovementioned programme or in the operational which, it should be pointed out, contains listed programme for the South Aegean 1994—1999 . For this buildings , and will have various repercussions for the purpose it has co-financed a study, and a letter requesting environment ( effluent, fuelling and provisioning details about the Tourlos project has been sent to the Greek transport, etc .) and for local planning ( radical changes in authorities . the natural landscape and the appearance of the town ); The Greek authorities have not made a formal demand for co-financing the Ai-Charalambis marina project . If they — the choice of Ayios Haralambos as the site is indicative do so , the Commission will examine the matter . No of the piecemeal , ad hoc and ineffectual approach of the co-financing can be agreed without a detailed examination Greek tourist industry; of the project, including its feasibility and the impact on the environment of the island . — plans have already been drawn up and approved for the construction of a large marina for the over-wintering and repair of vessels in Turlos , Mykonos ;

— the inhabitants of Mykonos and environmental organizations have protested strongly at the building of the marina at Ayios Haralambos ; WRITTEN QUESTION E-2708/95 by Stephen Hughes ( PSE ) to the Commission — doctoral theses and studies by specialists from the University of the Aegean are totally opposed in theory (6 October 1995) and in practice to such a development model; ( 96/C 51/78 )

— the building of the marina , which would have 240 berths, is being funded by the South Aegean Regional Subject: Community initiatives — Urban Operational Programme ( Second CSF ) to the tune of Dr 2,5 billion, Further to Question E-593/95 ( ), how many submissions have been made under the Urban initiative from the United Does the Commission know whether an environmental Kingdom, what progress has been made in adopting these initiatives and when will the Commission publicize the impact assessment of the project has been duly carried out results of its negotiations with the United Kingdom and published as required by Directive 85/337/EEC ( ! )? authorities ? What action does it intend to take, under the powers vested in it, to prevent the marina from being built at Ayios Haralambos and promote the alternative project already ( ! ) OJ No C 196 , 31 . 7 . 1995 , p . 39 . 21 . 2 . 96 I EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities ■ No C 51/41

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission on behalf of the Commission (3 November 1995) (3 November 1995)

The Commission has no knowledge as yet of the project in The Urban programme for Northern Ireland was adopted question , which has not been submitted for co-financing on 27 February 1995 . from the European Regional Development Fund .

For England, Scotland and Wales , following a request by the Commission, the United Kingdom authorities reduced the number of programmes to 14 urban areas . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2720/95 Considerable progress has been made towards adopting by Mathias Reichhold ( NI ) these programmes . Meetings have been held with partners in to the Commission each area with the national authorities . The Commission is (6 October 1995) still waiting for a final proposal from the United Kingdom authorities for the allocation of Structural Fund finance ( 96/C 51/80 ) among the 14 areas . It is also waiting for the programme revisions that take account of the discussions that have been held and hopes to be in a position to approve the Urban Subject: Double tolls in Austria as an infringement of EU competition law programmes before the end of the year . Mr Ditz, the Astrian Transport Minister, is planning to introduce a general toll disc in addition to the existing tunnel tolls .

Is this action , which will impose a disproportionate ! high burden particularly on small and medium-sized enterprises WRITTEN QUESTION E-2714/95 in Carinthia , Tirol , Bavaria and Northern Italy, in contravention of EU rules on competition ? by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna ( PPE ) to the Commission (6 October 1995) Answer given by Mr Kinnock ( 96/C 51/79 on behalf of the Commission (9 November 1995)

Subject: Halting of a planned rail link between Ferrol and As Pontes de Garcia Rodriguez Given that the Austrian Government has not yet approved the project and that all the details are not yet known, it would be premature to comment on the compatibility of the According to press reports , the Commission was informed proposed measures with Community law . about and gave its support to a plan by the Spanish Government for the ERDF to subsidize 62,5 % of the construction costs of a rail link between the port of Ferrol and the locality of As Pontes de Garcia Rodriguez, in the province of La Coruna , Galicia , Spain , for the transport of coal to the Endesa power plant . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2727/95 by Christoph Konrad ( PPE ) The project has been halted but needs to be implemented as to the Commission a matter of urgency . We would therefore ask the (6 October 1995) Commission : ( 96/C 51/81 )

Has it been informed about the plan ? Subject: Implementation of the agreement of 9 February 1994 on charging for the use of certain roads by Has it delivered a report in favour of granting a subsidy and , heavy vehicles and Directive 93/89/EEC on taxation and tolls if so, what amount did it recommend ? 1 . Is the Commission aware of the evidence to suggest Can it say why the plan has been halted ? that the agreement of 9 February 1992 on charging for the No C 51/42 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

use of certain roads by heavy vehicles and Directive forms part of the broader analysis of the conformity of the 93/89/EEC (*) on the application by Member States of taxes national measures . on certain vehicles used for the carriage of goods by road and tolls and charges for the use of certain infrastructures A reduction in vehicle tax is not, in itself, an infringement of are not being properly implemented ? Community law, provided the minimum rates set in the Directive are observed . 2 . In particular, does the Commission know whether it is true that these rules did not in some cases enter into force on 1 January 1995 as they should have done , but at a later date or even not at all ?

3 . Does the Commission have any evidence that, WRITTEN QUESTION E-2734/95 contrary to the provisions of Article 92 of the EEC by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) Treaty , the Member States have paid direct or indirect to the Commission compensation for the charges imposed on their nationals ( e.g. by reducing vehicle tax on the vehicles affected by the (6 October 1995) charges )? ( 96/C 51 /82 )

(>) OJ No L 279 , 12 . 11 . 1993 , p . 32 . Subject: Restructuring of Olivetti's computer industries

State-funded schemes over recent years to support the Olivetti group and associated companies have singularly Answer given by Mr Kinnock failed to protect the jobs of thousands of employees; indeed , on behalf of the Commission the Ivrea group , which employed 53 000 workers in 1990 (15 November 1995) ( 27 000 in Italy ) employed only 41 000 ( 20 000 in Italy ) in 1992 . Many workers became surplus to requirements — in Italy alone , 2 500 were dismissed in 1992 , leading to a budget loss of Lit 650 billion . Given that deficits 1 . To date Denmark , Germany, Greece , Spain, attributable to management shortcomings , as in the case of Luxembourg, Portugal and the United Kingdom have Olivetti, cannot be covered by siphoning off State funding informed the Commission of the national measures which for measures which are insubstantial , to say the very last, they have taken to implement Directive 93/89/EEC . Belgium can the Commission : has sent notification of some measures but these are not yet complete . The Commission is currently examining whether 1 . adopt a Directive reviewing the continental information these texts comply with the Directive . It is too early to technology market and identifying the reasons for the prejudge the results . crisis ?

2 . draw up a study of the IT market in Italy in order to The agreement of 9 February 1994 is an international ascertain how it can be effectively developed ? convention between five Member States , to which the Community is not a party . The Commission is therefore unable to guarantee correct application of the rules of this 3 . carry out a detailed study to identify whether the convention, as if they were Community rules . Nevertheless , financing obtained both in Italy and in Europe by the De it examines whether the national measures are in line with Benedetti group has been actually used for the purposes for which it was intended ? the Directive . Moreover, the Commission has no knowledge of any cases where the agreement has not been applied in line with the rules , although there have been differences of 4 . adopt a Directive to protect the jobs of thousands of interpretation between Member States . Olivetti workers that are now in jeopardy, partly because of management shortcomings ?

2 . As mentioned , some Member States have yet to inform the Commission of the measures adopted to comply with the Directive . It therefore follows that the Commission does not Answer given by Mr Van Miert know whether they had brought the relevant rules into on behalf of the Commission force , fully or in part, by 1 January 1995 . The Commission has urged the Member States concerned to let it know . If (23 November 1995) necessary, it will bring proceedings , as provided for by Article 169 of the EC Treaty . The Commission views the information technology industry not just as an important part of Europe's industrial 3 . Appraisal of the compatibility with the Treaty of the structure , but also as a key factor in the development of the direct or indirect compensation granted by Member States information society . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/43

The economic crisis and the fall in investments at the and public authority granting it, date of payment, planned beginning of the 1990s , together with a steep drop in prices use and actual use ). and fierce competition , caused losses in many IT firms and forced them into painful restructuring . Analysis of the Initiatives designed to safeguard jobs threatened as a result market shows that after reaching its lowest point in 1993 , of a firm's difficulties are generally national in origin and the sector picked up again in 1994 and this upturn apply to individual firms . These initiatives are made within continued in 1995 , though it was slower in Europe than the the framework of restructuring plans, which frequently United States . include aid . If this is the case , the Commission must be notified in advance so that it can assess their compatibility with the Treaty . To date , the Commission has not received Several initiatives , including an overall action plan ( Europe's any restructuring plan for a firm within the Olivetti way to the information society ) were implemented by the Commission to prepare the necessary legal and market group . framework for evolving towards the information society, and to promote the development of new applications . Regarding collective redundancies of workers, may we refer the Honourable Member to Council Directive 92/56/EEC of 24 June 1992 amending Directive 75/129/EEC on the The main strands of Community industrial policy have as approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to their goal the creation of an environment that is favourable collective redundancies . to all economic activities and the encouragement of private investment, while avoiding sectoral intervention .

The statistics for the sector indicate that the IT industry is not developing at the same rate in all Member States : growth WRITTEN QUESTION E-2743/95 is faster in the Nordic countries and the United Kingdom, by Florus Wiisenbeek ( ELDR ) while it is below average in the southern Member States , to the Commission including Italy . The Commission believes that no effort should be spared , particularly in Italy, to open up markets as (12 October 1995) widely as possible and accelerate the liberalization of ( 96/C 51/83 ) telecommunications services and infrastructures , in order to stimulate market forces and encourage private investment . Subject: TIR licence

Is the Commission aware that the TIR zone system has some Apart from the immediately identifiable public aid which serious shortcomings as a result of which the organization the Olivetti group has enjoyed , the Commission is not aware responsible for its administration ( IRU — International of all the support which the company has received in Italy or Road Union ) finds itself in serious difficulties ? other Member States . This is due to the fact that the firm has been able to take advantage of general measures , open to all Is the Commission aware that the system is seriously open to the companies in a Member State , but also aid provided fraud since the bond that must be paid by the hauliers bears under horizontal or regional schemes approved by the no relation to the cost of clearance of excisable goods in Commission , in accordance with which the Member States particular ? are free to grant aid without having to notify the Commission . Does the Commission consider that it should take any action to find a solution to this problem, for instance by As far as monitoring the way companies use the financing introducing compulsory controls at the external borders they have obtained is concerned, the Commission is helped and re-sealing loads for transport outside the Union ? in this by the Member States . Generally, whether national or Community assistance is involved , the recipient companies Could the Commission put forward a proposal to draw up a are required to present a periodic report on completion of system for excisable goods to make it no longer worth it not the project for which they received financing. The cases to declare such goods ? If so, how does the Commission mentioned above involved research and development intend to present and/or implement these measures ? If not, programmes for which the payment of grants is conditional why does the Commission not consider that it should take on monitoring of the project's progress by the competent some action in this regard ? minister or , in the case of Community programmes , by the Commission .

Answer given by Mr Monti The Commission is not so far aware of any infringements on behalf of the Commission with regard to the use of public finances , in terms of these (22 November 1995) being used for ends other than those which were approved , but if the Honourable Member has precise details , it is prepared to conduct an inquiry on the basis of the facts The Commission is aware of the serious problems currently involved ( name of the firm concerned , amount of financing facing the TIR system , particularly as regards fraud in the No C 51/44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

transport of high-excise goods . In view of the increase in 4 . What does the Commission intend to do about this ? If tobacco and alcohol fraud , these products have now had nothing — why ? their carnet suspended so excluding them from the system .

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies In order to protect the system, the Community accepted on behalf of the Commission with immediate effect resolution No 49 of 3 March by the EEC's working party on transport customs questions . The (10 November 1995) resolution sets out short-term measures to ensure the TIR arrangements run smoothly and securely ( 1 ). More especially, it insist that use be made of Article 38 of the TIR The Commission is seeking from the relevant authorities the Convention, which excludes anyone guilty of a serious information necessary in order to answer the questions put breach of customs regulations . by the Honourable Member and will notify her of its findings .

It should also be pointed out that the sealing of vehicles at the start of a TIR operation is vital to the system as a whole .

In close conjunction with the Member States and WRITTEN QUESTION E-2748/95 international bodies responsible for the TIR system , the by Mark Watts ( PSE ) Commission intends to continue work on a wide-ranging to the Commission review of the Convention, with the emphasis on greater (12 October 1995) security and improvements to the way the international guarantee for sensitive goods works . ( 96/C 51/85 )

(') OJ No L 181 , 1 . 8 . 1995 . Subject: Transport telematics

In the view of the fact that safety is one of the main objectives of transport telematics work , and following the evaluation that has been carried out on the proposals for the first round of DG XIII Transport Sector of the Fourth Framework Programme, could the Commission indicate :

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2745/95 1 . How many projects were awarded ; the main aim of by Jannis Sakellariou ( PSE ) which is to reduce road traffic casualities ? to the Commission (12 October 1995) 2 . Which safety problems do these projects address ? ( 96/C 51/84 ) 3 . What percentage of the overall budget of the transport telematics sector is to be spent on these safety projects ? Subject: Relocation of industrial firms using EU funds

1 . Is the Commission aware of the fact that firms who — Answer given by Mr Bangemann motivated by the possibility of aid from EU Structural Funds on behalf of the Commission — plan and make investments in Ireland, often subsequently (15 November 1995) ( probably due to lower production and unit wage costs in Ireland ) 'wind up' their original location in Germany ? Eight telematics proposals dealing mainly with road 2 . Is the Commission aware that this occurred in the case transport safety-related activities were awarded funding as a result of the first call for proposals . It is expected that the of American Home Productions Corporation or Wyeth in resulting project will start at the end of 1995 or the Wolfratshausen, Bavaria ? beginning of 1996 .

3 . Does the Commission regard such practices as being in A significant number of other projects will deal with line with the spirit of Structural Funds assistance or the aim increasing mobility and the use of public transport, and will of encouraging investments in accordance with Objective 1 ? therefore have an important impact on reducing the number Does the Commission agree that this practice constitutes of road traffic casualties . Further projects will consider misuse of EU funds ? public transport security and safety aspects . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/45

The eight projects address the following issues : Regulation ) would make it possible to obtain on objective assessment with regard to the allocation of these rights . — driver assistance and warning, dealing with vehicle control for distance and lane keeping, driving speed Will the Commission submit proposals to Parliament with a recommendation and enforcement, and the view to resolving these problems by making Regulation human-machine interface for in-car devices , ( EEC ) No 3567/92 more flexible ? — driver state monitoring and warning to detect (') OJ No L 362 , 11 . 12 . 1992 , p . 41 . potentially dangerous situations like sleepiness , fatigue and health problems ,

— vehicle control in case of emergency including safe Answer given by Mr Fischler automatic control and stopping of the car, on behalf of the Commission — automatic and manual calls for help and warnings to the (24 October 1995) surrounding traffic in case of an emergency ,

— special needs of elderly and disabled people , The Commission is aware that under the Community rules governing premium rights for sheep and goats it is inevitable — automatic incident detection . that some rights will remain under-used or may not be used at all . The reason for this is that premium rights are allotted to farmers on certain terms but without any requirement The funding to be committed to these projects represents that they be used in full , so as to allow for the needs of 21 % of total amount for the road transport telematics managing flocks in accordance with fluctuations in natural sector . This figure does not include the contribution of and economic conditions . safety-related activities in other projects . The Commission has nevertheless made provision for unused rights . Save in duly substantiated exceptional cases , a farmer who fails to use at least 50 % of his rights in two successive marketing years is obliged to turn over to the WRITTEN QUESTION P-2762/95 national reserve the portion unused in the last marketing year . This provision ensures that rights which would by Edouard des Places ( EDN ) otherwise be 'dead ' can be transferred or temporarily leased to the Commission to other producers . (3 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/86 ) In order to enhance the ability to make use of otherwise 'dead' rights , however, the Commission recently decided that from the 1996 marketing year onwards producers will Subject: European rules on sheepmeat and goatmeat have to use not less than 70 % of rights each year , with the premium rights unused portion being returned to the national reserve .

The breeding of sheep and goats is of great importance for The thresholds referred to by the Honourable Member were the maintenance of rual areas in the least favoured regions of adopted for practical reasons , in order to avoid an undue the European Union . burden of work falling on the national administrative authorities as a result of large numbers of applications for transfers of premium rights involving excessively small Premium rights in this sector are currently governed by numbers of livestock . Regulation ( EEC ) No 3567/92 ( ! ).

However, the strict application of the limits set out in Articles 6 and 7 of the Regulation has been shown in practice to restrict the possibilities for the temporary leasing or transfer of unused or partly-used premium rights , WRITTEN QUESTION P-2763/95 resulting in 'dead' quotas , which could otherwise be used temporarily and to good effect by neighbouring breeders . by Vassilis Ephremidis ( GUE/NGL ) to the Commission In addition, the transfer or leasing of rights via the national (3 October 1995) reserve is subject to restrictions under Article 11 of the ( 96/C 51/87 ) Regulation .

Harmonization of notification procedures and deadlines for Subject: Abolition of the milk quota for Greece 'compensatory premiums' in the sheep-breeding sector and of supply and demand with regard to the transfer and/or The EU has set the milk quota for Greece at 625 000 tonnes . temporary leasing of rights ( Articles 7 and 9 of the This does not match the country's production capacity, No C 51/46 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 which is much higher, and leads to Greek stockfarmers to propose any changes to the relevant rules to the being fined and huge quantities of fresh milk being imported Council . into Greece . The drastic reduction in producer prices for milk and the stark rise in production costs combined with the adverse effects of the GATT agreement are having a (') COM(95 ) 147 final and COM(94 ) 64 final . disastrous impact on Greek stockfarmers ' incomes and standard of living .

Will the Commission abolish this discriminatory quota since there is an enormous shortage of fresh milk in Greece where only 60 % of demand is met, or will it at least increase the WRITTEN QUESTION P-2764/95 quota to match the country's production capacity ? Will it by Blaise Aldo ( UPE ) also revoke its decisions to fine stockfarmers by imposing the co-responsibility levy and take measures to support, to the Commission modernize and develop this sector instead ? (3 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/88 )

Subject: Effects of hurricane Luis in the Caribbean

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission The Commission is doubtless aware of the effects of (7 November 1995) hurricane Luis , which devastated Guadeloupe and Martinique in September , resulting in nine deaths on the archipelago of Guadeloupe .

According to the prefectural authorities, the entire banana The reference quantities for each Member State were based crop was destroyed in Guadeloupe and Martinique and on traditional production levels of cow's milk . Other between 17 and 30 % of the sugar-cane crop in Guadeloupe . factors, such as national production capacity or the degree On St Martin, the hurricane demolished 70 % of homes and of self-sufficiency were not taken into account . However, it almost as many on St Barthelemy . The marinas and almost should be pointed out that sheep- and goat-rearing are of all of the fishing ports in the entire area were totally enormous importance for Greek dairy production : milk destroyed , as was Basse-Terre harbour . output from these two animals is 70 % higher than that from cows and is not subject to any production quota . The road network has been severely damaged and the harm sustained by the environment, which cannot be easily The special circumstances of the Greek market, including calculated is , in any case , considerable and should be taken the difficulties in supplying liquid milk, have been looked at into account by the Commission . by the Commission on a number of occasions , and reports have been sent to the Council ( ! ). For 1995/96 , the Council In view of this , what steps will the Commission take to assist made the increase of 100 000 tonnes in the Greek quota these regions , which are frequently afflicted by hurricanes definitive . This increase had been granted on a provisional and are , in any case , less developed than their European basis since 1993/94 . Milk deliveries in Greece have as a counterparts ? Will the Commission take account of these result gone from 549 000 tonnes in 1992 to 562 800 tonnes exceptional circumstances with regard to the common in 1993 , 601 500 tonnes in 1994 and 633 300 tonnes this organization of the market in bananas , so as to avoid further year . It is therefore possible that the increase in milk penalizing the French Antilles and, in particular , its sugar production has led to a slight drop in the milk price paid to banana production ? producers but this price is still the highest in the Community . Moreover, the resulting increase in dairy herd cheese production has been held partly to blame for the problems in supplying milk for consumption and meant that the request for an extra quota of 125 000 tonnes was turned down by the Commission and the Council during talks on Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies the price package for 1995/96 . on behalf of the Commission (23 October 1995)

As a result, and with reference to the extra levy Greek producers will have to pay for exceeding the overall quantity In a short space of time the Commission put together guaranteed for 1994/95 , the Commission is not in a position Community emergency aid by deciding to afford , as of 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/47

13 September, assistance to the tune of ECU 700 000 to the not, for the most part, registered as unemployed , because victims among the population of Guadeluope . After they are not entitled to unemployment benefit; nor are they hurricane Iris had wreaked damage in Martinique , the covered by health care insurance and many of them do not Commission decided to grant emergency aid of ECU earn enough to qualify for pension rights . The long-term 500 000 for the victims . This humanitarian and symbolic unemployed and their families are confronted with the assistance is aimed at providing immediate and tangible harsh reality of social isolation after one year's evidence of Community solidarity towards EU citizens unemployment at the latest . living in one of its remotest regions in the form of emergency relief in kind or essential requirements . It is not designed for repairs or compensations for material damage caused to Can the Commission say how many long-term unemployed private or public property . there are in Greece ( even as a rough estimate ), whether co-funding programmes have been submitted to it by Greek Pursuant to the Regulation on the common organization of bodies aimed at improving their living conditions , and the market in bananas , producers may make use of the above all , ensuring that they receive allowances , medical quota allocated to them by importing from third care and pension rights and , more generally, what measures countries . it intends to take to address the acute problems facing this category of unemployed who have to struggle to survive ?

Under Objective 1 , the Community has earmarked Structural Funds assistance to Guadeloupe amounting to ECU 345 million and to Martinique amounting to ECU 330 million over the period 1994—1999 . These amounts have helped build up infrastructure and modernize farms , in Answer given by Mr Flynn particular in the banana sector . As for Guadeloupe , the on behalf of the Commission programme adopted in 1994 is being reviewed to take (22 November 1995) account of the damage caused by the two hurricanes . Measures to prevent the risks inherent in hurricanes ( strengthening equipment, weather forecasts , establishing a guarantee fund to deal with inclement weather affecting the banana sector ) may be financed under the Community Greece was one of only three Member States ( along with REGIS initiative , under which aid amounting to ECU 63,8 Italy and the Netherlands ) where the proportion of million is shortly to be allocated to each of the two long-term unemployment increased in the period from 1987 to 1990 , even though total unemployment was falling . In the regions . period from 1990 to 1994 , in common with most other Member States , this share increased again . The data in the The Community programme on structural operations in the labour force survey are considered to represent an accurate Guadeloupe fisheries sector for 1994—1999 also provides and comparable measure of both unemployment and for measures relating to fishing port facilities . The priorities long-term unemployment . This is because they are derived in this area , and for the sector as a whole , may be reviewed in from household surveys , and are thus independent of a partnerschip arrangement with national and regional administrative rules relating to registration as unemployed authorities in order to make a contribution to an investment or to qualification for benefit . that has been made more urgent in the light of the damage caused by these exceptional weather conditions . According to Eurostat's data , long-term unemployment in Greece reached very high levels in 1994 , affecting some 50 % of all unemployed persons . In this category , over 40 % have been out of work for more than two years .

Within the second Community Support Framework , and WRITTEN QUESTION P-2766/95 more particularly the operational programme for by Ioannis Theonas ( GUE/NGL ) continuing training and employment promotion, provision to the Commission is made for action to be taken , covered by a total budget of ECU 141,2 million , aimed exclusively at reintegrating the (3 October 1995) long-term unemployed by means of training in new skills . ( 96/C 51/89 ) Moreover, recruitment aid is available for companies which take on people from this category for a minimum period of seven months . Subject: Plight of the long-term unemployed in Greece It should be borne in mind that, as regards the question of The plight of the long-term umemployed in Greece , whose entitlement to unemployment benefit and the granting of numbers have been increasing very rapidly over the last ten allowances , Member States are at liberty to organize their years , is a particularly serious problem in Greece . They are unemployment insurance systems , subject to compliance No C 51/48 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 with Community law ( in particular, Directive should not therefore be judged solely in terms of the number 79/7/EEC ( 1 )), governing equal treatment for men and of Article 171 applications to the Court or rulings that are women . made by the Court .

(M OJ No L 6 , 10 . 1 . 1979 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2768/95 by Stanislaw Tillich ( PPE ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2767/95 to the Commission by Lilli Gyldenkilde ( GUE/NGL ) (12 October 1995) to the Commission ( 96/C 51/91 ) (3 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/90 ) Subject: Allocation of Synergy programme resources in 1995 Subject: Rulings on the environment Can the Commission tell Parliament how much use has been In July 1994 the Commission stated that in view of the made of the Synergy programme in 1995 ? Can it also say failure to comply in full with the rulings of the Court of which countries/groups of countries have benefited from Justice in respect of the environment it felt it necessary to this programme ? make systematic use of Article 171 of the Treaty . What initiatives has the Commission taken in this respect since July 1994 , and when will it take steps to submit cases to the Court of Justice for penalty payments in respect of the environment ? Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (15 November 1995)

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission By 11 October 1995 a total of ECU 6 550 215 had been (9 November 1995) committed under the Synergy programme . On the same date proposals costing a further ECU 4 412 000 were awaiting approval or under evalutation .

The Commission invokes Article 171 of the EC Treaty by way of a step-by-step procedure , involving a letter of formal The breakdown by region is as follows : notice , a reasoned opinion and an application to the Court of Justice . Each of these steps involves a Commission (in ECU Decision . A penalty can only be imposed by a judgment of the Court after the Commission has brought the matter Projects Projects before it . started planned

Africa 45 700 — Since 1994 , continued use has been made of Article 171 procedures for environmental cases , but none has yet been Latin America 1 139 654 80 000 brought before the Court . The Commission will consider Asia 909 902 400 000 making Court applications and seeking penalties in those cases where prior procedural steps have been taken and Commonwealth of Independent compliance has not been achieved . States, central and eastern Europe Black Sea 2 096 591 2 200 000

Mediterranean rim 1 571 330 1 442 000 It should be noted that, in practice , Member States will often comply with the relevant Court judgment following receipt General avtivities 787 038 290 000 of an Article 171 letter of formal notice or reasoned opinion and before the Commission brings the matter before the Court once more . The success of the Article 171 procedure Total 6 550 215 4 412 000 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/49

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2772/95 WRITTEN QUESTION P-2783/95 by Anne Mcintosh ( PPE ) by Honor Funk ( PPE ) to the Commission to the Commission (12 October 1995) (5 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/92 ) ( 96/C 51/93 )

Subject: Promotion of the rights of the citizens of the European Union

While it is understood that the trade in live animals is a legal one , the Commission must surely recognize that citizens have rights to go about their business and their daily lives in Subject: Value added tax ( VAT ) and input tax rates on a normal way . agricultural products in the various Member States of the EU

The trade in live animals is severely disrupting the lives of the people of Brightlingsea , passing closely past their front windows and very close to the school .

On 13 December 1994 the Commission submitted a What action will the Commission take to protect and enforce these rights ? Are not these rights enforceable in the proposal for the amendment of Directive 77/3 8 8/EEC ( 1 ) on European Court of Justice ? the taxation of agricultural products ( 2 ) and on 12 July 1995 a proposal for a regulation establishing the possibility of national aid being granted in compensation for losses of agricultural income caused by monetary movements in other Member States ( 3 ). The latter proposal provides for Answer given by Mr Fischler certain Member States to grant national aid for a fixed on behalf of the Commission period . One means of granting national aid would be to raise the imput tax lump sum . I would therefore appreciate the (14 November 1995) following information from the Commission :

The Commission agress that the transport of live animals from the United Kingdom through the port of Birmingham to other Member States is a lawful trade if carried out in 1 . What is the current VAT rate on agricultural products in accordance with Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of the various Member States of the EU ? animals during transport ( J ), last amended by Directive 95/29/EC ( 2 ).

The Commission does not take the view that the presence of 2 . In which Member States is input tax, or the imput tax livestock vehicles on the roads approaching the port should system, applied ? be inherently more disruptive to the lives of local residents than the presence of vehicles carrying other products .

The Commission is, of course , aware that some disruption 3 . To what extent do VAT arrangements and any input tax has been caused by demonstrators opposed to the transport arrangements for agricultural products have a direct of animals to other Member States who have apparently, on impact on farmers' incomes ? occasion, exceeded their legal right of peaceful protest . The public order aspects of these incidents are primarily matters to be dealt with by the local police and judicial authorities . 4 . In the case of which agricultural and horticultural products do the current VAT arrangements lead to In the circumstances, the Commission does not believe that distortions of the market and competition between two it would have any legal basis for intervening on behalf of the or more Member States of the EU ? residents of Brightlingsea .

0 ) OJ No L 340, 11 . 12 . 1991 . ( 2 ) OJ No L 148 , 30 . 6 . 1995 . (!) OJ No L 145 , 13 . 6 . 1977, p . 1 . ( 2 ) COM(94 ) 584 — OJ No C 389, 31 . 12 . 1994, p . 14 . ( 3 ) COM(95 ) 343 — OJ No C 252, 28 . 9 . 1995 , p . 7 . No C 51/50 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1995)

1 . According to the information supplied by the Member States the VAT rates presently applied to agricultural outputs are as follows :

B DK D GR E F IRL . I L NL A P FI S UK

C ) 6 25 7 8 4 5,5 0 4 3 6 10 5 12 21 0 12 15 7 20,6 2,5 10 17 20,5 12,5 16 21

( 2 ) 6 25 7 8 7 5,5 12,5 10 3 6 10 5 12 12 17,5

( 3 ) 20,5 25 15 18 16 20,6 21 16 12 17,5 20 5 22 25 17,5 12

( 4 ) 20,5 25 7 8 7 5,5 21 19 3 6 10 17 " 22 25 17,5

( 5 ) 6 25 7 4 7 5,5 0 16 3 6 10 5 22 25 0 12 8

( 6 ) 20,5 25 15 18 16 20,6 21 19 15 17,5 20 17 22 25 17,5

(') = Foodstuff ( covered by Article 12 ( 3 ) ( a ) and Annex H of the Sixth VAT Directive ( 77/388/EEQ ). ( 2 ) = Agricultural inputs ( covered by Article 12 ( 3 ) ( a ) and Annex H of the Sixth VAT Directive ( 77/388/EEC )). C ) = Wine . ( 4 ) = Cut flowers and plants for decorative use . ( 5 ) = Cut flowers and plants for food production . C ) = Standard rate ( for camparison ). 0 = Zero rate ( exemption with refund of tax paid at preceding stage ).

2 . All Member States, except for Denmark , Sweden and Flat-rate farmers may opt for application of the normal Finland , apply a flat rate scheme for farmers . The flat-rate VAT scheme . compensation percentages are fixed by the Member States on the basis of macro-economic statistics only for flat-rate farmers . 4 . According to a study prepared for the Commission in 1994 on the changes in cross-border purchasing patterns following the abolition of fiscal frontiers on 1 January 1993 , 3 . The flat-rate scheme can affect the income of flat-rate no major distortions of competition have been ascertained . farmers in two ways : One key finding concerning agricultural outputs was that cross-border shopping for foodstuffs actually takes place . However, the study concludes that this has always existed — Member States applying a flat-rate scheme for farmers and it is, therefore , not due to the introduction of the single have the option of reducing the flat rate compensation to market provisions . The only problem of distortion of nil . To the extent that Member States make use of this competition due to VAT differentials in the agricultural and option , flat-rate farmers are not, or are not fully, horticultural sectors , of which the Commission is aware , compensated for the input VAT charge . relates to cut flowers and plants . In this industry cases of fraud have been reported . In accordance with — The flat-rate compensation percentage is meant to offset Article 12.3 ( d ) of the Sixth Directive the Commission has the input VAT charged to the flat-rate farming sector as tabled a proposal for a Council Directive ( j ) which has a whole . In general terms, the system of flat-rate recently been discussed in Council and in the Parliament . No compensation may not be used by Member States to decision has yet been taken . grant a reimbursement to flat-rate farmers which is , globally, higher than the total VAT charged on their 0 ) COM(94 ) 584 . inputs . However on a case by case basis , it may well be that flat-rate farmers receive compensation which is lower or higher than the real amount of input VAT charged to them . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/51

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2784/95 The Rijswijk Research Centre in the Netherlands referred to by Susan Waddington ( PSE ) in the article and mentioned by the Honourable Member is involved in a research project on the development of to the Commission vaccines and Aids treatment as part of the Biomed (5 October 1995) programme . ( 96/C 51/94 ) Like all of the projects in the programme this project was assessed by independent experts during the research-project Subject: EVA programme and the use of chimpanzees for selection stage in terms of both their scientific and ethical research aspects , of the justification for using animal experiments , and of animal welfare .

Recent press attention has highlighted the plight of An annual assessment would allow the progress made by the chimpanzees used in laboratory tests under the EVA research to be monitored , together with the conditions ( European Vaccine against Aids ) programme at a research under which animal experiments are carried out, and thus to establishment in the Netherlands ('). Given that the aim of check whether the allegations of cruel treatment are the Fifth Environmental Action Programme is to reduce the justified . Continued funding depends on the result of that use of animals in experimentation by 50% by the year annual assessment . 2000 , and conflicting scientific evidence that the use of chimpanzees for this type of research is beneficial, what steps did the Commission take to utilize and develop substitute methods , such as computer-aided simulation models , before initiating the use of chimpanzees ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-2791/95 by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE/NGL ) Following the alleged mistreatment of chimpanzees by the establishment concerned , will the Commission guarantee to the Commission that these allegations will be thoroughtly investigated , and (16 October 1995) that if proven will withdraw funding from this particular ( 96/C 51/95 project and ensure that such an incident is not allowed to recur ? Subject: Decision by the management committee for cotton (') The Sunday Times, 6 . 8 . 1995 . The decisions taken by the European Union's management committee for cotton will have devastating consequences for Greek producers . Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission Will the Commission say : (14 November 1995) 1 . Why has the quota been fixed at 1 031 000 tonnes , whereas a quota of 1 120 000 tonnes had previously been mooted , with the result that the co-responsibility The Fourth Framework Programme for research and levy has increased to Drs 66 ? technological development specifically mentions the importance of developing alternative methods to replace 2 . Why has the minimum production price been fixed at animal experiments . The specific research programmes Drs 244 , i.e. Drs 10 lower than last years price ? known as Biomed and Biotech have all included that aim in their work schedule such as , in the field of 3 . Why has the advance payment been reduced from 40 % pharmacotoxicology, the development of in vitro methods to 27,5% of the target price ? using families of cells in cooperation with the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods 4 . Does the Commission intend, after this comprehensive ( ECVAM ). The search for alternative methods is, moreover, attack on cotton producers, to re-examine and revise the one of the JRC , Ispra priorities . decisions taken by the management committee for cotton, taking into account the just demands of cotton producers ? Where the use of animal experiments is inevitable the research must be carried out under conditions such that the maximum amount of useful information may be obtained from the minimum number of animals and that the rearing Answer given by Mr Fischler and keeping conditions are compatible with the needs of the on behalf of the Commission animals . As regards primates , the network receiving (10 November 1995) Community financial support ( European Primate Resources Network and Primate Vaccine Evaluation Network ) are intended to improve the coordination between the primate In accordance with the Council Decisions reforming the research centres in order to achieve these aims . system of aid , the Commission set the advance aid payable No C 51/52 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 for cotton in the light of production estimates and the WRITTEN QUESTION E-2807/95 foreseeable amount of aid . Nevertheless , the advance by Jesús Cabezón Alonso ( PSE ) and payment may never exceed 40 % of the guide price , i.e. a Juan Colino Salamanca ( PSE ) maximum of ECU 42,5 per 100 kg . to the Commission (16 October 1995) Applying these criteria means that the maximum advance of ECU 42,50 per 100 kg may not be granted for the 1995/96 ( 96/C 51 /97 ) season in Greece . Production there is such that an advance in excess of ECU 29,21 per 100 kg would be very close to the actual aid that would be payable there if the rise in the world Subject: Methods for measuring unemployment price continues or accelerates and the production estimate is exceeded by a large amount — as has regularly been the case In its reply to questions E-1948/95 and E-1949/95 ( ] ), the in the past . Commission states that it does not plan any further initiatives in this area ( to harmonize the methods used for The Commission therefore considers that the decisions on measuring unemployment ). advance payments comply fully with the letter and spirit of the recent changes to the system of aid made by the Council . If no measures are taken to make some advances in this The new rules should also make the system more effective regard , how can a homogenous approach be adopted to from the producers' point of view . evaluate the recommendations , actions and results of the European Union in the fight against unemployment ?

(') OJ No C 300 , 13 . 11 . 1995 , p . 31 .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2798/95 by Imelda Read ( PSE ) Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission to the Commission (8 December 1995) (16 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/96 ) In its answer to Written Questions E-1948/95 and E-1949/95 , the Commission explained that it had no plans Subject: Space and advertising for initiatives aimed at harmonizing the unemployment rates used by the Member States , since the Member States Has the Commission any plans to control advertising on were responsible for choosing these indicators, in keeping space probes ? The recent proposals for the Maxus space with the principle of subsidiarity . probe to be launched from Sweden give grave cause for concern ? On the other hand , the Commission makes every effort to harmonize the unemployment rates it compiles on the basis of the result of the Community labour force surcey . This survey is published each month and is used for the Answer given by Mr Monti management and assessment of Community actions . on behalf of the Commission (29 October 1995)

The Commission has no plans to control advertising on space probes . It considers that advertisements on space WRITTEN QUESTION E-2823/95 probes would fall under the jurisdiction of the Member State where the rocket is to be launched since the advertisement by Giis de Vries ( ELDR ) would clearly be targeted at and seen by spectators at the to the Commission launch site or watching televised coverage of the launch . (16 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/98 ) In the particular example cited by the Honourable Member, since the launch site is in Sweden, it would be for the Swedish authorities to decide whether the advertisement on Subject: Infringement of European legislation on public the space rockets met that Member State's national works tendering advertising Regulations . According to NRC Handelsblad ( 18 September 1995 ) the city of Rotterdam has knowingly failed to comply with 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/53

European legislation on public works tendering by WRITTEN QUESTION E-2847/95 awarding a contract to replace a computerized system worth by Johanna Maij-Weggen ( PPE ) almost Fl 5 million ( more than 10 times the threshold value to the Commission in the EU's rules ). (18 October 1995) 1 . Is this information correct ? ( 96/C 51/99 )

2 . Has the Commission decided to institute the Article 169 procedure against the city of Rotterdam ? Subject: Forthcoming elections on 12 November 1995 in Guatemala

Elections are due to be held in Guatemala on 12 November Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission 1 995 . The recent murder of Manuel Saquie, chairman of the Ecclesiastical Human Rights Committee, has caused great (4 December 1995) public disquiet and given rise to fears of further intimidation when the elections are held .

Council Directive 93/36/EEC of 14 June 1993 coordinating Various NGOs accordingly wish international observers to procedures for the award of public supply contracts applies be sent . to contracts with an estimated value net of VAT of not less than ECU 200 000 . Under Article 9 ( 2 ), such contracts must be awarded by an award procedure after being put out to tender by publication of a contract notice in the Official Is the Commission prepared to consider this request and, Journal of the European Communities . In general , the open together with the Member States, ensure that the elections or restricted procedure must be used , and the negotiated are monitored by a suitable team of observers ? procedure may be used only in circumstances that are strictly defined by the Directive .

By decision of 31 August 1995 , acting on a proposal from Answer given by Mr Marin the mayor and his deputies dated 22 August 1995 , on behalf of the Commission Rotterdam city council earmarked Fl 4 843 350 ( ECU 2 152 384 ) for the purchase of computer equipment for its (20 November 1995) social affairs and employment department . This proposal shows that the Council had started negotiations and had concluded a prior agreement with a supplier, 'L&T'. It also reveals that the Council regarded the supply of this The Commission is perfectly aware of the importance to equipment as urgent in view of the entry into force on Guatemala of the elections of 12 November and therefore 1 January 1996 of a new law on social assistance , which believes it most desirable that international observers be sent necessitated changes to its computer system . to see that they are properly conducted .

The Commission's position is that the urgency of the matter With this in mind , a decision has been taken to send a cannot justify recourse to the negotiated procedure without delegation of Community observers drawn from the prior publication of a contract notice unless the conditions Member States ( members of national parliaments , experts , for using the procedure are met . The procedure can be used members of NGOs etc .), Parliament and the only where it results from unforeseeable events for the Commission . awarding authority . The entry into force of a new law , which was known in advance, does not fall into that category . The Commission and the Member States' ambassadors to Guatemala will provide the Community delegation with logistical support and guarantee coordination with the Accordingly, the City of Rotterdam should have awarded international observer mission organized by the the contract for the supply of computer equipment using the Organization of American States . open or restricted procedure after publishing a contract notice . In the absence of such a procedure , the contract was awarded in breach of Directive 93/36/EEC and, accordingly, National NGOs interested in taking part in the mission the Commission will certainly institute proceedings under should contact their national authorities . Article 169 of the ( EC ) Treaty . No C 51/54 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2854/95 nuclear accidents ( two have already taken place and the by Nikitas Kaklamanis ( UPE ) third is scheduled for December 1995 ). This training is also for Bulgarian nationals . to the Commission (11 October 1 995) ( 96/C 51/100 )

Subject: Kozloduy WRITTEN QUESTION E-2860/95 by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas ( PPE ) to the Commission In the light of Commissioner Van den Broek's letter to the Bulgarian Government expressing his concern at the (21 October 1995) renewed operation of unit 1 at Kozloduy without the ( 96/C 51/101 ) requisite safeguards , can the Commission confirm that the money so far provided for the modernization of the nuclear plant has been wasted on other activities for which it was Subject: Urban initiative in Spain not intended ?

During the period 1994—1999 Spain will receive around Is it true that, instead of closing down the plant by the year 26 400 million pesetas from the Structural Funds to 2000 , the Bulgarian Government has decided to keep it in co-finance 17 projects targeting social and economic operation until 2020 ? problems in depressed districts and urban areas of Cadiz , Malaga , Huelva , Seville , Badajoz, Cartagena , Valencia , Toledo , Valladolid , Salamanca , Langreo , La Coruna , Vigo , In the event of an accident such as occurred at Chernobyl , Sabadell , Badalona , Baracaldo and Madrid . The approved what precautions will the EU take to protect Greece , a projects contain plans aimed at boosting economic and Member State sharing a border with Bulgaria ? social revival , renovating buildings and making environmental and structural improvements , and the total investment envisaged in the programme amounts to around Pta 40 430 million .

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek Can the Commission provide a list of the projects submitted on behalf of the Commission by Spain with a view to benefiting from the Urban initiative (5 December 1995) and a description of the 17 specific projects which were finally approved ?

In compliance with the G7 mandate, Phare funds granted to What criteria did the Commission take into account when Bulgaria to improve safety at the Kozloduy nuclear power approving the 17 projects ? station have been used to :

— make the plant safer, both operationally and through changes to the design , notably by means of studies to Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies assess the state of the plant and identify the changes on behalf of the Commission required ; (28 November 1995)

— purchase certain equipment needed for safety ; The Commission has not received from the Spanish authorities any project other than those relating to the 17 — assist the Bulgarian authorities responsible for nuclear cities and towns mentioned by the Honourable Member . safety through the transfer of safety technology, methods and 'culture'. The criteria considered by the Commission for adoption of the Spanish Urban Operational Programme are those set out The Commission has contacted the Bulgarian authorities to in the notice to the Member States laying down guidelines protest against the restarting of Unit I before the tests for operational programmes which Member States are considered necessary by European experts have been carried invited to establish as part of the Community initiative out and to insist that the unit be shut down to permit these concerning urban areas ( Urban ) ( ! ). tests to be carried out . ( 1 ) OJ No C 180 , 1 . 7 . 1994 . The Commission has backed three training courses in Greece on off-site emergency measures in the event of 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/55

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2865/95 Musculoskeletal system diseases , however, have not been by Cristiana Muscardini ( NI ) retained as a priority in the Commission communication on the framework for action in the field of public health (') to the Commission which sets out the areas of action by the Community for the (21 October 1995) medium term against a background of scarce financial ( 961C 51/102 ) ' resources available in the field of public health .

However, since they are associated with certain health Subject: Rheumatic diseases determinants such as nutrition, physical exercise , and the living and working environment, they may be the object of activities undertaken in the context of the future programme Because they are so widespread and entail direct and indirect on health promotion, information , education and costs , rheumatic diseases constitute one of the most training ( 2 ). important but probably least-known and most ignored medico-social problems . Moreover , data related to such diseases may well At present there are acknowledged to be more than 120 feature in the future Community programme on health rheumatic diseases . Exact knowledge of all the forms they monitoring ( 3 ). This programme is pertinent to the three take is essential not only from a purely theoretical point of initiatives mentioned in the question . view but also because of their immense clinical importance . From studies carried out it is possible to estimate the annual cost of rheumatic diseases : some 16 thousand billion lire in Under the Biomedical and health research programme — Italy alone in 1991 . Then there are the indirect costs ; in the Biomed I — ( 1990—1994 ), area 115 'the ageing process and USA for instance they are far higher than the direct costs ( $9 age-related health problems and handicaps', a project on billion compared to $4 billion ). immunotherapy of chronic arthritis : experimental basis is supported . Furthermore the field of rheumatic diseases is explicitely covered by the Biomed 2 Programme In view of this situation, will the Commission take steps ( 1994—1998 ), under area 4.4 ' Chronic diseases , ageing and to : age-related diseases'. Several European networks of researchers in this field will therefore be supported by this 1 . systematically monitor the various rheumatic diseases at programme . Community level ; (•) COM(93 ) 559 . 2 . draw up a programme for the reintegration of sufferers ( 2 ) OJ No C 216 , 21 . 8 . 1995 . into the production network in order to reduce the ( 3 ) COM(95 ) 449 final . highest items of expenditure ;

3 . ensure that those suffering from rheumatic diseases are recognized as being in the potentially handicapped category ?

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2866/95 Answer given by Mr Flynn by Gijs de Vries ( ELDR) on behalf of the Commission to the Commission (12 December 1995) (21 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/103 )

The Commission is well aware of the importance of rheumatism, arthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including the diffuse connective Subject: Delays in dealing with a complaint tissue diseases , which can give rise to great problems for the individuals affected , health services and society as a whole . On 1 September 1 994 1 put a question to the Commission on the treatment of a Netherlands national by the British tax authorities ( question E-1680/94 ( ] )). On 13 October 1994 Indeed these conditions comprise the most common cause the Commission replied that it had registered the of disability in the adult population, and are the leading information appended to the question as a complaint cause of mobility-limitation and the second cause of pursuant to Article 169 of the EC Treaty . To date the activity-limitation among adults aged 18 and above . These Commission has not informed either the EU citizen diseases require the allocation of considerable resources, concerned — Mrs B. Crutch-van der Linden — or . myself in both in terms of personnel and funds . any way of the progress of the proceedings . No C 51/56 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

What steps has the Commission taken in dealing with this Answer given by Mr Kinnock complaint, and when ? on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1995) What steps will the Commission take to ensure that priority is given in future to action in response to parliamentary The Commission has launched a study on the application of questions ? summertime , in particular its economic and non-economic benefits, in line with the undertaking given on the adoption (') OJ No C 30, 6 . 2 . 1995 , p . 5 . of Directive 94/2 1 /EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 May 1994 on summer arrangements ( J ). The findings of this study should be available by the beginning of January 1996 . These findings together with the conclusions Answer given by Mr Santer of the hearing on 25 September 1995 of the sectors and on behalf of the Commission organizations affected by summertime will be included in (29 November 1995) the report which the Commission has undertaken to submit to Parliament and the Council by 1 January 1996 .

(>) OJ No L 164, 30 . 6 . 1994 . After registering the information appended to the Honourable Member's previous question as a complaint, the Commission had various dealings with the British authorities , who dispute the fact that the provisions of the Treaty apply to the tax treatment of the British pension of the complainant, who was residing in Japan . Before the end WRITTEN QUESTION E-2893/95 of the year, the Commission will adopt a position on the by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE ) complaint and decide whether or not to commence proceedings under Article 169 of the EC Treaty . to the Commission (31 October 1995) The previous question had given rise to the registration of a ( 96/C 51/105 ) complaint and since the Commission had informed the Honourable Member to this effect, it is difficult to see what further action the Commission could have taken on Subject: Complaint against Japan Question No 1680/94 . The Commission issues full and reliable answers to parliamentary questions as rapidly as The Commission recently addressed a formal complaint to possible . According to Parliament's own figures, the average the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in protest against time taken by the Commission to answer Written Questions discriminatory practices suffered by European ships in in the first nine months of 1995 was four weeks and four Japanese ports . days for priority questions and six weeks and three days for other questions . Could the Commission give further information on the nature of these practices and say whether it has received a reply from the Japanese Government ?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION E-2871/95 (23 November 1995) by Winifred Ewing ( ARE ) to the Commission On 14 September 1995 , the Commission presented, on (21 October 1995) behalf of the Community and its Member States, a note ( 96/C 51/104 verbale to the Japanese Ministry of foreign affairs regarding problems in Japan's ports . These problems are caused by requirements of the Japan harbour transportation Subject: Study on effects of summertime association (a body operating under the guidance of the Japanese Government), relating in particular to fees charged for weighing and measuring containers on export, and to As the time of the adoption of the seventh Directive on prior consultation for any changes in the services of shipping summertime arrangements , the Commission gave an companies serving Japanese ports . undertaking to both Parliament and the Council to produce a study on the implementation of the summertime The Commission stated that it considered that these arrangements , which is due out this year . requirements represented obstacles to trade which may be incompatible with GATT and that they were also relevant to Will the Commission be publishing the results of this study the GATS objective of preventing unnecessary barriers to shortly ? trade in services . These requirements furthermore appeared 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/57 to be contrary to Japanese competition law . The The list of organizations which the Commission considers as Commission asked the Japanese authorities to take currently complying with the criteria set out in paragraph 24 measures to rectify the situation . It reserved the right to has already been made public ( Annex 2 to the pursue the issue further in the World Trade Organization or abovementioned communication ). otherwise . The Commission has already indicated its willingness The Commission has not so far received a response from the to review these criteria during preparation of the Japanese Government regarding this demarche . The issue communications envisaged by the medium-term social will be pursued on the occasion of further bilateral action programme ( 1995—1997 ) ( 2 ), and in particular the contacts . criterion concerning the development of the social dialogue ( 9.1.1 ).

3 . The Commission confirms its willingness, already announced during the discussion of the reports presented by WRITTEN QUESTION E-2896/95 Mrs Reding, to negotiate an interinstitutional agreement by Bartho Pronk ( PPE ) with the Parliament and the Council on the application of to the Commission the Agreement on Social Policy . (26 October 1995) 0 ) COM(93 ) 600 final, paragraph 24 . ( 96/C 51/106 ) ( 2 ) Social Europe, No 1 /95 , Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg 1995 . Subject: Social dialogue with small and medium-sized enterprises : supplementary question

On 19 September 1995 Commissioner Flynn answered my question E-20 19/95 (*) on behalf of the Commission . The Commission rightly says that there is no 'formal system WRITTEN QUESTION E-2897/95 for recognizing the representatives of social partner by Christian Rovsing ( PPE ) organizations'. The Commission also states that its to the Commission obligations only extend to promoting consultation of management and labour at Community level and facilitating (26 January 1995) dialogue between them, pursuant to Article 3 ( 1 ) of the ( 96/C 51/107 ) Agreement on Social Policy .

1 . What interpretation should be given in this context to Subject: Incorrect statistical data Article 3 ( 2)? It obliges the Commission to 'consult management and labour', which implies a need for Commission officials responsible for the periodic reports on criteria for recognizing representatives, as otherwise the State aid in the Community admitted in the Danish Commission would not know whom to consult . newspaper B0rsen of 21 September 1995 that the figures in 2 . Is the Commission therefore prepared to draw up the latest annual report on State aid to for instance the criteria, as soon as possible , for application of shipbuilding industry could be misunderstood and were Article 3 ( 2 )? vitiated by errors that would have to be corrected in the annual report to be published in 1996 . Does the 3 . Is the Commission prepared to do this in the form of an Commission consider it acceptable to have to wait a whole interinstitutional agreement, in accordance with year to obtain correct data on a matter that is of such vital commitments made by Commissioner Flynn at the time importance to many Member States, and how will it ensure of adoption of the Reding report ? that the statistical data it records and publishes ( whether communicated by the Member States or compiled by itself) (!) OJ No C 300 , 13 . 11 . 1995 , p . 36 . are precise and reliable enough for a political stance to be taken immediately ?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission Answer given by Mr Van Miert (7 December 1995) on behalf of the Commission (24 November 1995) 1 . and 2 . In order to implement Article 3 ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) of the Agreement on Social Policy, the Commission established criteria enabling it to identify the social partners whom it The Commission has taken cognizance of the discussion in needed to consult before presenting proposals in the field of the Danish press on State aid and, in particular, aid to social policy ( Commission communication to the Council shipbuilding in Denmark, which has compared aid intensity and the European Parliament concerning the application of figures expressed in terms of the ratio aid-to-value added in the Agreement on Social Policy ) ('). the shipbuilding sector, with the strict limits imposed by the No C 51/58 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96 seventh Directive for shipbuilding for aid ( ), as modified by Furthermore, the health and safety of workers employed in Directive 94/73/EC ( 2 ), linked to shipbuilding contracts . public and private swimming pools are covered by Directive 89/391/EEC ( 3 ) and its individual Directives . The aid data used by the Commission are provided and checked by the Member States concerned . Figures on value The Commission is not considering any further action in this added in the shipbuilding sector are provided by field . Eurostat . (!) OJ No L 40, 11 . 2 . 1989 . The fourth report presents the abovementioned intensity ( 2 ) OJ No C 62 , 28 . 2 . 1994 . and moreover explains that it should not be compared with ( 3 ) OJ No L 183 , 29 . 6 . 1989 . limits imposed by the Directive .

The Commission will reflect how the chapter on aid to shipbuilding may be redrafted for the next survey on State aid to emphasize the above point . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2919/95 ( 1 ) OJ No L 380 , 31 . 12 . 1990 . by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz ( V ) ( 2 ) OJ No L 351 , 31 . 12 . 1994 . to the Commission (26 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/109 )

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2905/95 Subject: Garching research reactor — highly enriched by Peter Crampton ( PSE ) uranium to the Commission 400 kg of highly enriched uranium ( HEU ) are said to be (26 October 1995) available as fuel for the German Garching research reactor . ( 96/C 51/108 ) An offer to that effect is said to have been made by the Euratom Supply Agency . Subject: Harmonization of safety standards at swimming 1 . Has the Euratom Supply Agency in fact made such an pools offer ? If so, when was the offer submitted and what are its terms ? Does the Commission have any plans to introduce common safety standards in public and private swimming pools in the 2 . If the supply agency has made such an offer, from what EU ? stocks has the HEU to be used in Garching been drawn ?

3 . What is the Commission's opinion on the American Answer given by Mrs Bonino position no longer to authorize highly enriched uranium on behalf of the Commission for use in research reactors ? (7 December 1995) 4 . What position does the Commission take on the possibility of using HEU from stocks belonging to Swimming pools are construction works and as such are the former Soviet Union in European research covered by Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December establishments , and have talks aimed at securing such an 1988 on the approximation of the laws , regulations and arrangement already been held ? administrative provisions of the Member States relating to construction products ( 1 ).

Products used in the construction of swimming pools must Answer given by Mr Papoutsis be such that the requirements of safety, use , hygiene , health on behalf of the Commission protection and environmental protection are fulfilled . (4 December 1995) The communication of the Commission with regard to the interpretative documents of Council Directive 89/106/EEC ( 2 ) specifies what these essential requirements 1 and 2 . Under Article 52 of the Treaty establishing the are . European Atomic Energy Community ( Euratom ), the Euratom Supply Agency has an exclusive right to conclude Effective implementation of this Directive depends on the contracts relating to the supply of ores, source materials adoption of standards , and these are now being drawn up . and special fissile materials from within or outside the According to the Directive, pending the adoption of such Community . standards it is the responsibility of the Member States to take all necessary measures to ensure that swimming pools The operators negotiate their own supply contracts and satisfy the above essential requirements . submit them before conclusion to the Agency, which checks 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/59 that they comply with the Euratom Treaty, secondary In addition, the Commission has recently received a legislation or other relevant provisions . complaint concerning the incidents taking place on the island of Chios and will contact the Hellenic authorities on this matter . The Agency has not made an offer of supplies to the Garching reactor . (M OJ No L 103 , 25 . 4 . 1979 . 3 . The Commission is in favour of the use of slightly enriched uranium in research reactors . However, at present for technical reasons certain reactors can only operate with highly enriched uranium . It should be noted that in the United States several research reactors also use highly enriched uranium .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2932/95 4 . At present the countries of the former Soviet Union by Mary Banotti ( PPE ) may be regarded as reliable sources of nuclear fuel . They could therefore be considered as a possible source of supply to the Commission for the Garching reactor . (27 October 1995) ( 96/C 51/111 )

Subject: Tomato and horticulture producers

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2931/95 Is the Commission aware of the considerable difficulties by Caroline Jackson ( PPE ) being encountered by northern producers of tomatoes to the Commission and horticulture because of national aid to tomato and (21 October 1995) horticultural production in Spain ? ( 96/C 51/110 ) What particular or extra subsidies are available to tomato and horticulture producers in the southern Member Subject: Contraventions of the birds Directive on Chios States ?

BBC 'Wildlife Magazine' reported in October 1995 that 'around five million migrating birds are caught or slaughtered every year' on the south-east coast of Chios . Apparently in 1992 the Greek authorities told the Answer given by Mr Fischler Commission that the birds Directive was being strictly on behalf of the Commission applied , but the Commission began infringement (28 November 1995) proceedings against Greece .

What has happened to this case ? Why is the Commission not The Commission is not aware of any national aid under acting more expeditiously ? Articles 92—93 of the EC Treaty to tomato and horticulture production in Spain or other southern Member States .

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard In conformity with Regulation ( EEC ) No 2328/91 (*), the Commission co-finances aid for investments on farms . on behalf of the Commission These aids are not linked to a particular production and are (15 November 1995) applicable on a common basis in all Member States .

In the past the Commission did bring an action against The Commission in the context of operational programmes Greece, whose legislation concerning hunting did not for Objective 1 areas has refused the Spanish request to comply with the relevant Community law by authorizing the co-finance a programme for restructuring the tomato sector hunting of certain protected species under Directive in Spain . 79/409/EEC ( ! ) without meeting the conditions attached to exemption by the Directive . (') OJ No L 218 , 6 . 8 . 1991 .

Greece then changed its laws in line with the Directive, thus causing the Commission to shelve the action in question . No C 51/60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2935/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-2947/95 by Bernie Malone ( PSE ) by Christine Crawley ( PSE ) to the Commission to the Commission (27 October 1995) (9 November 1995) ( 96/C 51/112 ) ( 96/C 51/113 )

Subject: Female infanticide in the Bihar region of India Subject: Sarah Balabagan In light of recent reports in the British media regarding the murder of baby girls by midwives for fees of as little as 50 rupees ( £1 ) in the Bihar region of India , and given the Is the Commission aware that a 15-year-old Filipino investigations carried out by Adithi (a Unicef-funded domestic worker, Sarah Balabagan has recently been organization ) indicating that over 85 midwives are carrying sentenced to be executed by a United Arab Emirates Court out this practice, could the Commission indicate if this for killing her employer after he had brutally raped her ? region is benefiting from any European Union funds and In a previous trial, a UAE court had awarded Sarah would it agree that the reports are shocking and deserve compensation for the rape but had also sentenced her to close scrutiny and immediate action on behalf of the seven years in prison for manslaughter : the second court's European Union to ensure such practices are death sentence is thus a reversal of the rape evidence of the discontinued ? first trial . What action can the Commission take to stop the UAE from carrying out this inhumane sentence ?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1995) Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1995) The reports in the media on inhuman practices in India against girl children are indeed extremely serious and have to be seen separately from justified attempts to promote family planning and child spacing . The Commission has been following closely the case of the The Government of India played a very positive role in the Filipino citizen Sarah Balabagan in the United Arab fourth world conference on women which took place Emirates ( UAE). in Beijing from the 4—15 September 1995 . The final declaration of Beijing confirms the readiness of governments to 'take all possible actions to eliminate all types of discrimination against women and girl children'. Referring As the Honourable Member is aware, on 30 October 1995 a to the abovementioned reports, the Commission has UAE appeal court sentenced her to one year in jail, requested the government of India for details on precise deportation after payment of US $ 41 000 and to 100 lashes . actions which it is undertaking to stop such practices . This sentence revokes the previous ruling issued on October 1995 , in which she was sentenced to death after being found guilty of pre-meditated murder . Bihar is with 174 000 square kilometres the ninth largest State in India in area , and with over 86 million people the second largest in population . Bihar is one of the The Commission hopes that the appeals for mercy from least-developed States with a literacy rate of only 39 % . The Sarah Balabagan, her family, the family of the victim and the Community financed a rural storage project in 1986 for government of the Philippines will spare her a further year ECU 21 million, to help poor farmers in agricultural in prison and the corporal punishment of 100 lashes . production and marketing . The backward rural districts The Commission finds that corporal punishment is benefit both from the Community funded primary unacceptable, in particular on a 16-year-old girl, and hopes education programme ( ECU 150 million ) with special it will not be carried out. attention given to education of girls, as well as from non-governmental organization co-financed projects . 21 . 2 . 96 HEN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/61

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2952/95 Does the Commission intend to involve specialized by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler ( V ) non-governmental organizations, such as the European womens' lobby, in the decision making process ? to the Commission (9 November 1995) ( 96/C 51/114 ) Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission Subject: EU support for industrial projects in China (7 December 1995)

In his reply of 2 October 1995 to my earlier question on this subject ( E-2376/95 (*)), Sir Leon Brittan omitted — The Commission has always adopted a very favourable inadvertently, I am sure — to answer my question about attitude towards positive action for women and it had which European firms were promoting or partnering these thought that Article 2(4 ) of Directive 76/207/EEC (*) aimed projects . I should be grateful if you would remedy the to give Member States a wide margin of manoeuvre as omission . regards the action they chose to take , going beyond strict legal equality of treatment, in order to achieve real equality 0 ) See page 13 of this Official Journal . in practice .

Therefore, its view expressed before the Court of Justice when the Kalanke case was discussed, was that a Member Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan State or region was entitled to operate a positive action on behalf of the Commission system in order to achieve the objective of promoting (28 November 1995) women's participation in particular grades or sectors and especially in higher-level jobs .

The principal information relating to firms participating in While agreeing that existing legal norms are insufficient to industrial development projects in China is contained in a eliminate all forms of inequality in practice if other actions report drawn up annually and sent to Parliament pursuant are not undertaken, the Court has clearly condemned the to Article 9 of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 319/92 ( J ). principle of automaticity applied by the Land of Bremen as incompatible with Article 2(4 ) of Directive 76/207/EEC . (M OJ No L 35 , 12 . 2 . 1992 . As a result the Commission is exploring the possible ways of clarifying the norms applying to positive action schemes, including quotas, in the light of the Court's judgment in the Kalanke case .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2961/95 The non-governmental organizations active in the field of equal opportunities will be able to express their views on the by Martina Gredler ( ELDR ) subject within the framework of the advisory committee in to the Commission which they participate as observers . (9 November 1995) ( 96/C 51/115 ) (!) OJ No L 39, 14 . 2 . 1976 .

Subject: Decision by European Court of Justice necessitates review of equal treatment Directive

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the WRITTEN QUESTION E-2975/95 introduction of quotas to promote the recruitment of by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) women constitutes a violation of the equal treatment Directive currently in force . After Commissioner Flynn's to the Commission initial adverse reaction to this judgment, the following (9 November 1995) questions arise : ( 96/C 51/116 )

When will the Commission introduce a review of the equal treatment Directive ? Subject: The Aral Sea

Does it intend to amend the Directive so as to allow a In the Uzbek city of Nukus recently the Presidents of the 'positive discrimination' in favour of women ? Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and No C 51/62 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

Uzbekistan signed a declaration on the Aral Sea which , as is WRITTEN QUESTION E-2976/95 well known, has deteriorated to a serious extent . The by Carlos Robles Piquer ( PPE ) declaration is also concerned with sustainable development in the basin around this inland sea , which has more than to the Commission 30 million inhabitants . (9 November 1995) ( 96/C 51/117 ) The meeting was held under the auspices of the United Nations , to which participants expressed their gratitude . Can the Commission say how much aid, and of what kind, it Subject: Possible agreement on the Spratly Islands grants to improve the ecological , economic and social conditions of this region in central Asia ? It seems that progress is being made towards an agreement on the Spratly Islands , if the report by Mr Valencia, Mr Van Dyke and Mr Ludwig in the 'International Herald Tribune' Answer given by Mr Van den Broek of 10 October 1995 is accurate . on behalf of the Commission (5 December 1995) Further to my previous questions on this subject, can the Commission say if it has taken any action — or proposed any action to the Council — to ensure European Union In order to overcome the difficult situation in the central participation in finding a peaceful solution to the Council — Asian Republics the Tacis programme focuses on different to ensure European Union participation in finding a economic sectors . As an example Tacis has implemented 29 peaceful solution to this problem, as our ships and seafarers projects with a total budget of ECU 51 million in the food also have an interest in the free and " safe movement of and agricultural sector . shipping mentioned in the above press article .

Concerning the specific region of the Aral Sea , the five central Asian Republics approached the Community in 1992 for assistance to improve the management of water Answer given by Mr Marin resources and integrated crop production systems . After on behalf of the Commission having concluded, like other bilateral and multilateral donors , that the environmental disaster of the Aral Sea and (4 December 1995) the adjoining wetlands and deltas are manifestations of basin-wide problems, the Community prepared a regional project focusing on the improvement of land and water management in the basin . Benefiting from a grant of ECU The Commission attaches great importance to the dispute 4,5 million provided through the Tacis programme and with over the Spratly Islands ; it is a maritime area of crucial a duration of two years from 1 February 1995 , the water importance for international shipping . Any enclosure of the resources management and agricultural production in the area would seriously affect the Community's substantial central Asian Republics project aims to mitigate the trade with eastern Asia . problems of the Aral Sea crisis . The Commission is convinced of the need for a peaceful The general objectives of the project, which are regional in negotiated settlement of the dispute , and has closely scope , are to : monitored recent moves to foster dialogue . It was therefore heartened by the Manila declaration adopted by the — provide the administrative and technical framework for Association of South-East Asian Nations ( Asean ) in July development of policies , strategies and development 1992 and endorsed by China . Clashes between China and programmes for utilization, allocation and management the Philippines in February, which raised tension in the of the water resources of the Aral Sea basin ; region , were swiftly followed by a European declaration urging all sides to pursue dialogue and expressing continued — assist with the establishment of the institutional support for the Manila declaration . structure required to prepare and execute policies and strategies concerning the allocation and management of As to the Honourable Member's concern that Europe is not the water resources . playing a sufficiently active role in the resolution of the conflict, we would remind him of the European response to With a view to continuing and fostering its involvement in recent developments in the Spratly affair . When tensions the Aral Sea basin, the Community has set aside an rose in the region in February, a European declaration additional ECU 1 million under the 1995 Tacis interstate swiftly followed in early March , urging all sides to pursue action programme . dialogue and expressing continued support for the 1992 Manila declaration . Since the Spratly Islands are a major security issue for the region and a key international shipping area , the Union has been, and will continue to be, actively 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/63 involved in security developments via appropriate regional matter in order to ensure that the provisions of Article 138 forums , such as the Asean Regional Forum ( ARF). The issue of the Accession Act as well as those of Articles 91 —94 of has also been discussed in bilateral forums such as the the Rome Treaty are complied with ? EU-Asean ministerial meeting, in which the EU pressed for a wider regional debate based on the Manila declaration and international law . It is vital that disputes are settled through (») OJ No L 1 , 1 . 1 . 1995 , p . 1 . peaceful negotiations .

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3032/95 by Jörn Svensson ( GUE/NGL ) to the Commission WRITTEN QUESTION E-2978/95 (9 November 1995) by Karl Olsson ( ELDR ) ( 96/C 51/119 ) to the Commission (9 November 1995) ( 96/C 51/118 ) Subject: Egg production

Subject: Egg market situation in Sweden During its membership negotiations Finland obtained permission to grant a national subsidy for egg production . Finland and Sweden form a relevant market for shell eggs Sweden , which was negotiating at the same time , did not due to veterinary rules ( salmonella ). This practically request such authorization . Finnish eggs are now being sold excludes for the moment imports from other Member on the Swedish market at subsidized prices , which are States . moreover lower than retail prices in Finland . I would add that the minimum living space per bird is 600 cm2 in Sweden as against 480 cm2 in Finland . During 1994, production in Finland was over the self-sufficiency level, while in Sweden it was below that . In 1994 , the production of Finnish eggs increased by 3 % to Is this state of affairs compatible with Union policy on 71,7 million kilos from the preceding year . In 1995 the competition on equal terms and animal welfare ? surplus is estimated to about 20 000 tonnes a year . This represents an increase of about 5—10 % in production . The product price of Finnish eggs was increased in August 1995 from FIM 2,00 to FIM 3,50 . The estimated amount of national aid to Finnish egg producers is SKR 4,00 . Joint answer to Written Questions E-2978/95 and P-3032/95 given by Mr Fischler Domestic eggs sold within the Finnish market cost SKR on behalf of the Commission 14,50 while the corresponding price of Finnish eggs in Sweden amounts to SKR 9,25 ( week 35/95 ). During the (21 November 1995) same period , wholesale egg prices in Sweden were considerably above those of the EU average . In 1995 , exports of eggs to Sweden from Finland (1 793 tonnes The Commission is aware of the situation to which the between January and August ) have represented less than Flonourable Members refer . In collaboration with the 2,5 % of the Swedish market. authorities of the Member States concerned, it is continuously examining the market situation and in In accordance with the Accession Act of Finland to the particular the level of prices and trade in eggs . European Union ( Decision of the Council of the European Union of 1 January 1995 adjusting the instruments concerning the accession of new Member States to the Regarding national aid for egg producers in Finland and European Union ( ] )) Finland may grant, during the larger minimum cage size for hens in Sweden than in transitional period, national aids to producers of basic Finland, it is to be noted that both are in conformity with agricultural products subject to the common agricultural Community legislation , i.e. Article 138 of the Act of policy . The level of aid to Finnish egg producers was Accession of Austria , Sweden and Finland and Council authorized by the Commission in line with the Directive 88/166/EEC laying down minimum standards for abovementioned provisions governing national aids , in the protection of laying hens kept in battery cages ( J ), particular with Article 138 thereof. respectively .

In view of the market distortions that have occurred in (') OJ No L 74, 19 . 3 . 1988 . Sweden due to the low prices of Finnish eggs , a situation which is accentuated by the granting of national aid to Finnish egg producers , will the Commission investigate the No C 51/64 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2987/95 and in no way constitutive . The Court ofJustice continues to by Irene Crepaz ( PSE ) emphasise the fact that the term 'benefit' within the meaning of the Regulation refers to benefits provided in association to the Commission with the risk referred to in the title of the relevant (9 November 1995) chapter . ( 96/C 51/120 ) The Commission is of the opinion that the benefit in question, 'Karenzgeld', can be regarded as a family benefit Subject: Receiving the right to maternity leave and within the meaning of the Regulation . From the reactions of maternity allowance legally obtained in one the Austrian Government, it seems that this interpretation is Member State in another Member State of the shared . European Union The conditions of eligibility for a specific family benefit, 1 . Can the Commission confirm the following where the person concerned does not reside in the Member information received from the competent Austrian State concerned , are clearly defined in the Regulation . In authorities ? accordance with these rules , any person who is not resident in Austria but is subject to the Austrian social security — Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408/71 (*) regulates family system, e.g. a frontier worker, is entitled to receive family benefits , which however are geared towards family benefits provided that he or she fulfils all the other allowances . conditions . These Community provisions take precedence over national law . If a person is no longer subject to — It is up to the relevant Member State to decide whether Austrian legislation, having left the Member State without or not to include maternity allowance and maternity engaging in occupational activity there, Community law leave in the above . does not require the family benefit to be transferred to another country . In such cases only national law applies . The Austrian regulation states : The information provided by the Honourable Member For Austrian women to be able to claim maternity leave and suggests she is referring to situations in which the persons maternity allowances in other Member States of the EU, concerned are no longer subject to Austrian legislation . In they must have a place of residence in Austria . They may such circumstances, application of Austrian national law is continue to draw benefits for two months, after which not contrary to Community law . special permission, issued by the competent employment exchange, is required . The father of the child must reside in another Member State and his wife must wish to join him there . WRITTEN QUESTION E-2991/95 2 . Does this comply with EC law ? Or is it contrary to the free movement of workers and the agreement on social by Glyn Ford ( PSE ) policy, in which 'adequate social protection' was laid down to the Commission as an objective ? (13 November 1995) 96/C 51/121 ) 3 . Is an amendment of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408/71 in progress ? If so, how is it to be amended ? Subject: Qualifying age for widow's pension 0 ) OJ No L 149, 5 . 7 . 1971 , p . 2 . What is the Commission's opinion on the position of UK widows under the age of 45 upon the death of their husband who are deemed too young to qualify at all for a widow's Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission pension, regardless of length of married life ? (7 December 1995) Does the Commission have comparative data for other Member States ? The Honourable Member is referring to a specific Austrian family benefit known as 'Karenzgeld' and the conditions under which it can be transferred to another country . Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408/71 on the coordination of social (8 December 1995) security systems with reference to persons moving within the Community covers family benefits including family allowances . In accordance with Article 5 , it is up to the The Commission has no say in the matter raised by the Member States to specify the legislation and schemes Honourable Member, since the conditions governing referred to in the notified declarations . According to Court eligibility for surviving spouse's pension fall within the of Justice case law, these declarations are merely indicative exclusive competence of the Member States . 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/65

As regards comparative data for the various Member States, programme to support the closure of the Chernobyl nuclear data relating to 1 July 1995 can be found in Chapter VIII, power plant by the year 2000 . ' Survivors' benefits', of the latest edition of the Missoc . This edition is being sent direct to the Honourable Member, as well as to Parliament's General Secretariat .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3013/95 by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) to the Commission (13 November 1995) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2993/95 by Glyn Ford ( PSE ) ( 96/C 51/123 to the Commission Subject: Legal profession (13 November 1995) ( 96/C 51 /122 ) The proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive to facilitate practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a Member State other than that in Subject: Chernobyl which the qualification was obtained (*), whereby lawyers will initially be entitled, for a period of not more that five What is the Commission's view of the current safety of the years, to practise on the strength of their original remains of the reactor at Chernobyl ? In the light of recent qualifications , stipulates that within a transitional period reports, is it satisfied with the situation at present ? If not, not exceeding five years, a migrant lawyer must join the what plans does it have to make financial assistance profession in the host Member State and undertake to abide available to ensure future environmental safety ? by the rules of conduct and the system of organization governing it in that State . On completion of the transitional period , his status as a full member of the profession will be recognized and confirmed . Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission Lawyers who have moved to another country must accordingly apply to be registered with the appropriate (6 December 1995) authority in the host Member State .

Although the approach underlying the Directive can be After the Chernobyl accident ( 26 April 1986 ), in order to supported, does not the Commission believe that the prevent further releases of radioactive materials, the ex five-year time limit is illogical and unjustified ? Soviet Union authorities incorporated the debris of the exploded Unit 4 into a shelter, also known as the (M OJ No C 128 , 24 . 5 . 1995 , p . 6 . sarcophagus or Ukritye . Concerns exist about the stability of this shelter . It cannot be considered as a safe containment for the longer term . Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission In August 1993 , the government of Ukraine issued a decree (1 December 1995) with a view to carrying out a feasibility study to define a concept for an environmentally safe system . The Commission allocated ECU 3 million under its Tacis The five-year time limit provided for in the proposal for a programme for the financing of this study . The European Parliament and Council Directive to facilitate corresponding contract was awarded to Alliance , a practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in consortium formed by Campenon Bernard, Bouygues and a Member State other than that in which the qualification SGN of France , AEA Technology and Taywood Engineering was obtained and designed to permit a lawyer to practise on of the United Kingdom and Walter Bau of Germany . the strength of the original qualification is not a maximum but a minimum period . In other words , Member States may Taking the results of this study into account, the stipulate a longer period or even refrain from imposing any Commission and the Ukrainian authorities agreed upon a time limit whatsoever . In any event, they will have to ensure follow-up programme including another evaluation of short that the rights acquired by already established lawyers are and long term measures needed . respected . If adopted as it stands , the proposal would represent a step The results of these actions will provide supplementary in the right direction in those Member States that do not elements for a final decision by the authorities of Ukraine for allow lawyers to practice under their original qualification . the future handling of the Chernobyl Unit 4 issue . In the absence of a decision by the Court of Justice in this matter , it would also constitute a guarantee against The Tacis assistance is in line with the overall discussions divergent interpretations concerning Article 52 of the EC going on between the G7 and Ukraine on the comprehensive Treaty . No C 51/66 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

The Commission will examine in the light of Parliament's injured by imports at dumped prices from a third country opinion on the proposal whether this time-limit ought not to and will implement, following WTO rules , whatever be deleted in the amended proposal it will adopt . measures are considered necessary to restore the conditions of fair trade where such injury is confirmed .

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3022/95 by Inigo Méndez de Vigo ( PPE ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3039/95 to the Commission by Anita Pollack ( PSE ) (13 November 1995) to the Commission ( 96/C 51/124 ) (IS November 1995) ( 96/C 51 /125 )

Subject: Anti-dumping levy in respect of imports of bags and textiles from Turkey Subject: Directive on works councils

The European bag and textile industry is under threat as a Why are there no provisions for special representational result of the 'dumping' of imports of such products from measures for women in the European Works Councils Turkey . Directive ?

Owing to the loss of market share and the significant fall in prices as a result of such imports , many companies have been required to reduce their workforce and , in certain Answer given by Mr Flynn cases , have even gone out of business . on behalf of the Commission (22 December 1995) Is the Commission planning to take any kind of action to ensure the survival of Community bag and textile manufacturers by imposing an anti-dumping levy on imports of such products from Turkey ? Article 2(1 ) ( d ) of Directive 94/45/EC ( ) states that "'employees ' representatives' means the employees' representatives provided for by national law and/or practice ". This translates the Commission's idea , accepted by the Council , that the harmonization of national systems Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan of employees ' representation would not be justified . on behalf of the Commission (13 December 1995) The only ( implicit ) reference in the Directive to the question raised by the Honourable Member is in the 16th recital , which reads : With regard to bags , an anti-dumping proceeding relating to imports of sacks and bags made of polyethylene or 'Whereas , in accordance with the principle of polypropylene originating in India , Indonesia and Thailand subsidiarity , it is for the Member States to determine was opened by the Commission on 13 April 1995 following who the employees' representatives are and in particular the receipt of a complaint from the Community industry . to provide , if they consider appropriate , for a balanced The complaint did not make any reference to imports of this representation of different categories of employees'. product from Turkey and consequently such imports are not currently under investigation . It is therefore the responsibility of the Member States, when transposing the Directive , to determine who will be the In respect of fabrics , two proceedings are currently in employees' representatives . Similarly , they must also define progress . In the first, concerning synthetic fabrics , imports the procedures for establishing the special negotiating body from Turkey were not cited by the Community industry . and European works council, with no constraints other than The second refers to cotton fabrics originating in China , that arising from application of the criteria of geographical India , Indonesia , Pakistan and Turkey . Due to technical distribution and proportionality with regard to the number difficulties , the Commission has not yet been able to of workers employed in each Member State . conclude whether the conditions for the introduction of any type of measure are met . (') OJ No L 254, 30 . 9 . 1994 . The Commission will examine a complaint from any sector of die Community industry which considers that it is being 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/67

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3040/95 WRITTEN QUESTION P-3054/95 by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor ( PPE ) by Ivar Virgin ( PPE ) to the Commission to the Commission (15 November 1995) (9 November 1995) ( 96/C 51 /126 ) ( 96/C 51/127 )

Subject: Pooling of ideas to reduce the level of Subject: Analysis of the environmental impact of nuclear unemployment in the Member States tests

The main cause for concern for the whole socio-economic sphere in our society is still , undoubtedly, unemployment, The nuclear tests on Mururoa could put a considerable which affects so many families and causes so many difficult strain on the environment . The greatest danger is that of the situations from both the human and the social points of possible long-term effects of geological changes . Cracks view . caused by repeated test explosions are destabilizing the atoll's bedrock and could pose a considerable threat to the environment . Water could seep in and , if the worst came to For this reason it would be particularly interesting to know the worst, carry radioactive material into the sea . the opinions , ideas and suggestions which every individual citizen of the Union has to offer to solve this problem . If that were to happen we would need to be prepared to cope Does the Commission consider that it would be appropriate with the situation . Environmental impact analyses should be and useful to call for a pooling of ideas from both the general compiled , based both on a worst-case scenario and on a public and socio-economic organizations of every kind to normal course of events . There is a great need for such see what solutions , suggestions and remedies people have to analyses in view of the fact that the French authorities are offer to help to solve , in a spirit of solidarity, this grave classifying information about movements in the geological problem which affects millions of citizens in the European structures under the atolls . Union ? Does the Commission intend to draw up environmental impact assessments of this kind ? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (8 December 1995) Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission The Commission welcomes all ideas and suggestions for (28 November 1995) dealing with the employment situation including wide consultations with European citizens . As stated by the Commission President on 24 October to the Indeed , the Commission, for its part, has already consulted Parliament, a worst-case scenario submitted by the French extensively . For example , following the call for authorities and taken into consideration by the Commission contributions contained in the white paper on European supposes that 10% of the radioactivity contained in the social policy ( ] ), a huge number of replies were received . waters within the atoll is released in a single event into Many addressed the issue of employment and job creation . the lagoon . It was concluded that the consequent The Commission received contributions from organizations contamination of the lagoon water would not represent a and associations at European , national , regional and significant risk from the point of view of health . local level , from social partners' organizations , non-governmental organizations , religious bodies , universities and research organizations as well as from A ' normal evolution ' would in fact suppose a much slower individual citizens ( 2 ). rate of loss to the lagoon and hence even lower levels of lagoon contamination . The Commission intends to continue , through different social fora , to involve and consult European citizens on all Dilution in the ocean subsequent to either normal evolution issues which concern them . In particular, the European or the worst-case scenario would only serve to produce social policy forum , which is planned for March 1996 , contamination of ocean waters substantially below those in should be a major opportunity for discussions with various the lagoon . bodies on the issue of employment . It is , therefore , concluded that neither the worst-case (') COM(94 ) 333 . scenario nor a normal evolution of the situation represents a ( 2 ) A summary of responses was published in 'Social Europe' significant risk from the point of view of health . 2/94 . No C 51/68 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 2 . 96

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3209/95 WRITTEN QUESTION E-3276/95 by James Fitzsimons ( UPE ) by Spalato Belleré ( NI ) to the Commission to the Commission (29 November 1995) (6 December 1995) ( 96/C 51/128 ) ( 96/C 51/130 )

Subject: Repatriation of the bodies of the Italian royal Subject: EU aid to universities in Ireland family

Could the Commission provide details of the amount of On the eve of the year 2000 , and 50 years after the money received by each university in Ireland under the EU's referendum which established the Republic in Italy, it is R&D budgets and the Structural Funds over each of the last simply inconceivable that the bodies of King Victor five years ( 1990 to 1994 inclusive )? Emmanuel III, Queen Elena of Montenegro-Savoy, and King Umberto II , who all died and are buried in exile , cannot be returned to Italy .

Answer given by Mrs Cresson The whole affair is a mystery . It is also unclear whether, on behalf of the Commission from a legal and institutional point of view, Italy, a Member (9 January 1996) State of the European Union , is entitled indefinitely to observe the 'transitory' provision of the Constitution debarring repatriation . The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question . It will communicate its findings as Can the Commission take practical steps to uphold human soon as possible . rights , without making the excuse that the issue raised in this question is entirely a matter for the Member State concerned and nothing to do with the Commission ? In short, will it express an opinion couched in general terms and — should it think fit to go further — make representations to the particular Member State to ensure that human rights are respected in accordance with accepted standards ? WRITTEN QUESTION E-3253/95 by Amedeo Amadeo ( NI ) to the Commission Joint answer to Written Questions (1 December 1995) E-3253/95 and E-3276/95 given by Mr Santer ( 96/C 51/129 ) on behalf of the Commission (9 January 1996) Subject: Human rights — repatriation of the remains of the Savoy kings The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the national The question whether the bodies of the Savoy rulers ( Victor authorities concerned . Emmanuel III, Elena, und Umberto II ) should be repatriated has for years been a subject of debate in Italy . However, the Italian Government now appears to be particularly anxious to resolve the matter . WRITTEN QUESTION E-3433/95 It will be necessary to repeal 'transitory provision XIII' of by Erhard Meier ( PSE ) the Constitution whereby the remains of members of the to the Commission House of Savoy may not be returned to Italy . (18 December 1995) The institutional referendum took place nearly half a 96/C 51/131 ) century ago, and it is inconceivable that the mere act of moving the bodies of the long-dead Savoy kings could pose a Subject: EU subsidies for Austria danger to republican institutions . The continued existence of the abovementioned provision confers legitimacy on an What is the total amount of EU subsidies earmarked for attitude of absurd ostracism in relation to persons who Austria for this year and for the period 1995—1999 under should be equal before the Constitution and the law . the various Community initiatives ( Rechar, Interreg, etc.), the Structural Funds ( Objectives 1 to 5b ), Will the Commission use its good offices to ensure that action programmes ( Leonardo , Raphael , etc .) and for respect for human rights is upheld ? agriculture ? 21 . 2 . 96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 51/69

What proportion of the funds earmarked for 1995 are likely Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies to be paid out this year ? Are subsidies which are earmarked on behalf of the Commission for 1995 but not paid out, forfeited ? (10 January 1996)

What is the Commission's assessment of the Austrian The Commission is collecting the information it needs to projects submitted for subsidies so far, in terms of both answer the question . It will communicate its findings as quality and quantity ? soon as possible .