ISSN 0378-6986 Official Journal C 91
Volume 40 of the European Communities 20 March 1997
English edition Information and Notices
Notice No Contents Page
I Information
European Parliament
Written Questions with answer
(97/C 91 /01 ) E- 1765/96 by Yannos Kranidiotis to the Council Subject : Sale of a church in the Occupied part of Cyprus 1 (97/C 91 /02 ) E- 1842/96 by David Bowe to the Commission Subject : Demeton-S . Methyl 2 (97/C 91 /03 ) E-2050/96 by Nuala Ahern to the Council Subject : The importance of transparency in the management of highly enriched uranium and plutonium 2 ( 97/C 91 /04 ) E-2051 /96 by Nuala Ahern to the Council Subject : Moscow Nuclear Safety and Security Summit 2 Joint answer to Written Questions E-2050/96 and E-2051 /96 2 ( 97/C 91 /05 ) E-22 18/96 by Roberta Angelilli to the Commission Subject : Legislation to safeguard the image of women in advertising 3 ( 97/C 91 /06) E-2279/96 by Joan Vallvé to the Commission Subject : Tristeza disease 4 ( 97/C 91 /07 ) E-2409/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen to the Commission Subject : The public health situation in the Netherlands Antilles 4 ( 97/C 91 /08 ) E-2439/96 by Magda Aelvoet to the Commission Subject : Tourism operational programme 5 (97/C 91 /09 ) E-2468/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen to the Commission Subject : Support for the ILO ' s IPEC 6 ( 97/C 91 / 10) E-2483/96 by Ursula Schleicher to the Commission Subject : Requirement to indicate the region where foodstuffs originated or were produced 7 (97/C 91 / 11 ) P-2502/96 by John Iversen to the Commission Subject : BSE pronouncement 8 ( 97/C 91 / 12 ) E-25 13/96 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission Subject : VAT and air transport 8 EN Price : ECU 19.50 ( Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) Page
( 97/C 91 / 13 ) E-25 15/96 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission Subject : Subsidies for air transport 9 ( 97/C 91 / 14) E-2525/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : Establishment plan of DG I , Directorate B 10 (97/C 91 / 15 ) E-2529/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : ' Cloned ' mobile telephones 10 (97/C 91 / 16) E-2531 /96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : State aids in the air transport sector 11 ( 97/C 91 / 17 ) E-2538/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : The environment and sustainable development 12 ( 97/C 91 / 18 ) E-2544/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : Flower growing 13 (97/C 91 / 19 ) E-2571 /96 by Antonio Tajani and Riccardo Garosci to the Commission Subject : GSM agreement , Omnitel — Italian Government 14 (97/C 91 /20) P-2582/96 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna to the Commission Subject : Regional impact ot the inadequate dairy quota tor Spain 14 ( 97/C 91 /21 ) E-25 84/96 by Yves Verwaerde to the Commission Subject : Action taken pursuant to ECJ judgment of 18 June 1991 ( ERT Elliniki Radiophonia Tileorassi ) 15 (97/C 91 /22 ) E-2585/96 by Francesco Baldarelli to the Commission Subject : Funding for European young farmers ' organizations 16 (97/C 91 /23 ) E-2598/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen and Karla Peijs to the Commission Subject : ESF funding 17 ( 97/C 91 /24 ) E-26 13/96 by Paul Rübig to the Commission Subject : Reduction of pesticides , herbicides and other residues through the use of biotechnology and genetic engineering 17 (97/C 91 /25 ) E-2624/96 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission Subject : Proposal by the United Kingdom aimed at shipowners using fishery licences of a country other than their own 18
(97/C 91 /26) E-2649/96 by Nuala Ahern to the Council Subject : Present Council policy on Sellafield 19 (97/C 91 /27 ) E-2650/96 by Nuala Ahern to the Council Subject : Return to sender ot radioactive waste from Sellafield 19 (97/C 91 /28 ) E-2651 /96 by Nuala Ahern to the Council Subject : Implications of MOX plutonium fuel fabrication at Sellafield 20 (97/C 91 /29 ) E-2667/96 by Amedeo Amadeo , Spalato Belleré and Gastone Parigi to the Commission Subject : Oilseeds 20
(97/C 91 /30) P-2674/96 by Alexandras Alavanos to the Commission Subject : Psychiatric care and driving licences 21
(97/C 91 /31 ) E-2684/96 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission Subject : Reform of the COM for olive oil 22
(97/C 91 /32) E-2685/96 by Jose Valverde Lopez to the Commission Subject : Expansion of olive-growing in Spain 22
( 97/C 91 /33 ) P-2946/96 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission Subject : Revision of the rules governing the common organization of the market in olive oil 22
Joint answer to Written Questions E-2684/96 , E-2685/96 and P-2946/96 23
(97/C 91 /34) P-2691 /96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis to the Commission Subject : Terrorist attack against the Ecumenical Patriarchate 23 (97/C 91 /35 ) E-2703/96 by Gianni Tamino and Carlo Ripa di Meana to the Commission Subject : Inadequate notice of Union initiatives 24 EN Notice No Contents (continued) Page
(97/C 91 /36) P-2708/96 by Patricia McKenna to the Commission Subject : Light rail system in Dublin 24 { 91IC 91 /37) E-27 18/96 by Annemarie Kuhn to the Commission Subject : The bovine growth hormone rBST 25 (97/C 91 /38 ) E-2724/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : Guarantee fund for the audiovisual sector 26 (97/C 91 /39 ) E-2735/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : Planning techniques in the electricity and gas distribution sectors 26 (97/C 91 /40) E-2757/96 by Caroline Jackson to the Commission Subject : EU Fishing agreements with the Gambia 27 (97/C 91 /41 ) E-2758/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : The COM in bananas 28 (97/C 91 /42 ) E-2759/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : An inappropriate appointment 28 ( 97/C 91 /43 ) E-2760/96 by Gianni Tamino to the Commission Subject : Italy 's failure to comply with the directive on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes 29 (97/C 91 /44) E-2765/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : monitoring application of the subsidiarity principle 29 (97/C 91 /45 ) E-2766/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : Article 235 30 (97/C 91 /46) E-2767/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN ) to the Council Subject : IGC : environmental protection 30 ( 97/C 91 /47 ) E-2768/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN ) to the Council Subject : IGC : reform of the third pillar 30 (97/C 91 /48 ) E-2769/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : reform of the third pillar and monopolistic right of initiative for the Commission 31 (97/C 91 /49) E-2770/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : Community powers in the employment sphere 31 (97/C 91 /50) E-277I /96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN ) to the Council Subject : IGC : utilization of the Community's powers in the trade field 31 (97/C 91 /51 ) E-2772/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : multi-speed monetary system 31 (97/C 91 /52 ) E-2773/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : CFSP operational 32 (97/C 91 /53 ) E-2774/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : external representation of the Union 32 (97/C 91 /54) E-2775/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : a ' political umbrella ' for monetary union 32 (97/C 91 /55 ) E-2776/96 by Georges Berthu ( I-EDN) to the Council Subject : IGC : the role of the national parliaments 33 Joint answer to Written Questions E-2765/96 , E-2766/96 , E-2767/96 , E-2768/96 , E-2769/96 , E-2770/96 , E-2771 /96 , E-2772/96 , E-2773/96 , E-2774/96 , E-2775/96 and E-2776/96 33 (97/C 91 /56) E-2783/96 by Shaun Spiers to the Commission Subject : ESF Objective 3 Single Programming Document ( UK ) 33 (97/C 91 /57 ) E-2789/96 by Antonio Tajani and Riccardo Garosci to the Commission Subject : The introduction by the Italian Government of a tax for Europe 34 (97/C 91 /58 ) P-2793/96 by Phillip Whitehead to the Commission Subject : EU funding for the wildlife habitat at the Aposselemis Estuary in Greece 34 (97/C 91 /59) E-2795/96 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission Subject : Small and medium-sized firms strangled in red tape 35 EN
( Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) Page
( 97/C 91 /60) E-2797/96 by Cristiana Muscardini to the Commission Subject : Torturing horses to make equestrian competitions more exciting 36
( 97/C 91 /61 ) E-2803/96 by Armelle Guinebertière to the Commission Subject : Application of the Basle Convention 37
(97/C 91 /62 ) E-2805/96 by Barbara Dührkop Dührkop to the Commission Subject : Protection of the European architectural heritage and promotion of railway stations of artistic interest . 38
(97/C 91 /63 ) E-2809/96 by Johannes Blokland (I-EDN ) to the Commission Subject : Transaction between France Telecom and the French State 39
( 97/C 91 /64) P-28 13/96 by Philippe- Armand Martin to the Commission Subject : Checks on the movement of goods subject to excise duty 39
( 97/C 91 /65 ) E-2820/96 by Maria Sornosa Martinez to the Commission Subject : Elections in Kuwait — denial of women 's right to vote 41
( 97/C 91 /66 ) P-2828/96 by Honor Funk to the Commission Subject : Trend in producer prices for milk and the trade in milk quota 41
( 97/C 91 /67 ) P-2829/96 by Lutz Goepel to the Commission Subject : Trend in producer prices for milk and the trade in milk quota 42
Joint answer to Written Questions P-2828/96 and P-2829/96 42
(97/C 91 /68 ) E-2836/96 by Vincenzo Viola, Livio Filippi and Danilo Poggiolini to the Commission Subject : EU ' refunds'in respect of ' Pecorino Romano ' cheese 43
(97/C 91 /69 ) E-2856/96 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission Subject : Water supply and sewage disposal projects 44
( 97/C 91 /70 ) P-2861 /96 by Paul Lannoye to the Commission Subject : Radiological consequences of plutonium shipments 45
( 97/C 91 /71 ) E-2867/96 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission Subject : Thermie 1993 46
(97/C 91 /72 ) E-2869/96 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission Subject : Thermie 1993 46
(97/C 91 /73 ) JE-2875/96 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission Subject : Thermie 1993 47
(97/C 91 /74 ) E-2883/96 by Maartje van Putten and Philippe De Coene to the Commission Subject : Alternatives to tests on animals 47
( 97/C 91 /75 ) E-2897/96 by Juan Colino Salamanca and Jesus Cabezón Alonso to the Commission Subject : Cohesion Fund and Castile and Leon ( Spain ) 48
( 97/C 91 /76) E-2898/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso to the Commission Subject : Cohesion Fund and Cantabria ( Spain ) 48
(97/C 91 /77 ) E-2965/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso and Juan Izquierdo Collado to the Commission Subject : Cohesion Fund and Castile-La Mancha ( Spain ) 48
Joint answer to Written Questions E-2897/96 , E-2898/96 and E-2965/96 49
( 97/C 91 /78 ) E-29 12/96 by Salvador Garriga Polledo to the Commission Subject : Integrated system of aid 49
( 97/C 91 /79 ) E-2923/96 by Alex Smith to the Commission Subject : New plutonium air transport guidelines 50
(97/C 91 /80) E-2929/96 by Marianne Thyssen to the Commission Subject : Decision-making procedure in the Codex Alimentarius 50 EN Notice No Contents f continued) Page
( 97/C 91 /81 ) E-2933/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen to the Commission Subject : Call for tender for a method to determine the content of vegetable fats in chocolate products 51
( 97/C 91 /82 ) E-2936/96 by Claudia Roth to the Commission Subject : Links between EC observers in Bosnia and western European secret services 52
( 97/C 91 /83 ) E-2941 /96 by Mary Banotti to the Commission Subject : Regulation of conditional access and related technical services 52
( 97/C 91 /84) E-2945/96 by Mary Banotti to the Commission Subject : Application of the directive on the use of standards for the transmission of television signals 54
(97/C 91 /85 ) E-2953/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Consumption aid for olive oil 54
( 97/C 91 /86) E-2954/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : COM for olive oil 54
(97/C 91 /87 ) E-2955/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Reform of the COM for olive oil 55
(97/C 91 /88 ) E-2956/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Production aid under the COM for olive oil 55
( 97/C 91 /89 ) E-2957/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Implementation of the COM for olive oil 55
(97/C 91 /90) E-2958/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Reform of the current COM for olive oil 55
(97/C 91 /91 ) E-2959/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Abolition of the intervention price in the COM for olive oil 55
(97/C 91 /92 ) E-2960/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Environment and olive-growing 55
(97/C 91 /93 ) E-2961 /96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Employment and olive-growing 56
(97/C 91 /94) E-2962/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : COM for olive oil and employment 56
( 97/C 91 /95 ) E-2964/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject : Impact of olive-growing in certain regions 56
Joint answer to Written Questions E-2953/96 , E-2954/96 , E-2955/96 , E-2956/96 , E-2957/96 , E-2958/96 , E-2959/96 , E-2960/96 , E-2961 /96 , E-2962/96 and E-2964/96 ... 56
( 97/C 91 /96 ) E-2968/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso to the Commission Subject : Aid for the conversion of shipyards 56
( 97/C 91 /97 ) E-2975/96 by Thomas Mann to the Commission Subject : Call for tenders for a knowledge accreditation system in accordance with the first objective of the White Paper ' Teaching and Learning : Towards the Learning Society ' 57
(97/C 91 /98 ) E-2977/96 by Honório Novo to the Commission Subject : EU financial participation in controlling the spread of Pseudomonas Solanacearum 58
(97/C 91 /99) E-2994/96 by Luciano Vecchi to the Commission Subject : Eligibility for Phare and Tacis programmes 59
(97/C 91 / 100) E-3005/96 by Anita Pollack to the Commission Subject : HCFCs and the refrigeration industry 60 EN
( Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) Page
( 97/C 91 / 101 ) E-3006/96 by Anita Pollack to the Commission Subject : Dioxins in soil 60 ( 97/C 91 / 102 ) E-30 13/96 by Joan Vallvé to the Commission Subject : Reform of the OCM in olive oil 61 (97/C 91 / 103) E-3029/96 by Arthur Newens to the Commission Subject : Labelling of food products 61 ( 97/C 91 / 104 ) E-3032/96 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor to the Commission Subject : Increase in the dairy quota allocated to Spain 61 ( 97/C 91 / 105 ) P-3036/96 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel to the Commission Subject : ' Cheap ' British labour on the Netherlands continental shelf 62 (97/C 91 / 106) P-3037/96 by Barbara Dührkop Dührkop to the Commission Subject : Protecting the health of UK consumers against bovine spongiform encephalopathy 63 ( 97/C 91 / 107 ) P-3039/96 by Bernd Lange to the Commission Subject : Protective clothing for motorcyclists — test procedure for protectors 64 (97/C 91 / 108 ) E-3041 /96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis to the Commission Subject : Paedophiles ' ring on the Internet 64 ( 97/C 91 / 109 ) E-3050/96 by Francisco Lucas Pires to the Commission Subject : Dismissal of the Commission's Director-General for Fisheries 65 ( 97/C 91 / 110) E-3058/96 by Amedeo Amadeo to the Commission Subject : Raising awareness of asthma 65 (97/C 91 / 111 ) E-3082/96 by Mary Banotti to the Commission Subject : Phare democracy programme ref No 95/0453 and 95/3262 66 (97/C 91 / 112 ) E-3087/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso to the Commission Subject : Effects of the disappearance of the Antwerp Pool of sailors 66 ( 97/C 91 / 113 ) P-3092/96 by Joaquim Miranda to the Commission Subject : Support for crop growers 67 ( 97/C 91 / 114 ) P-3096/96 by Inger Schörling to the Commission Subject : Banana imports 67 (97/C 91 / 115 ) E-3097/96 by Christoph Konrad to the Commission Subject : The Commission's approval of the payment of subsidies to SKET by BvS , successor to the Treuhand 68 (97/C 91 / 116 ) E-3 103/96 by Joaquin Sisó Cruellas to the Commission Subject : Regulation of advertising aimed at children 69 (97/C 91 / 117 ) E-3 1 1 8/96 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission Subject : EU assistance for the ' chicken map' project at the University of Edinburgh 70 (97/C 91 / 118 ) E-3 125/96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis to the Commission Subject : Piracy at sea 70 (97/C 91 / 119 ) E-3 136/96 by Gianni Tamino to the Commission Subject : Proposed introduction of a ' bit tax ' : 71 (97/C 91 / 120) E-3 152/96 by Laura González Alvarez to the Commission Subject : Outbreak of pneumonia in Alcala de Henares ( Spain ) 72 ( 97/C 91 / 121 ) P-3 1 57/96 by David Thomas to the Commission Subject : Welfare of calves 72 (97/C 91 / 122 ) E-3 160/96 by Mary Banotti to the Commission Subject : Red press card 73 (97/C 91 / 123 ) P-3 180/96 by Paul Rübig to the Commission Subject : Standing Committee on Employment 73 (97/C 91 / 124) E-3 186/96 by Bryan Cassidy to the Commission Subject : Competitions for A — Grades in the European Commission 74 (97/C 91 / 125 ) E-32 17/96 by Luciano Vecchi to the Commission Subject : Information about decentralized cooperation as referred to in the Lomé Convention 74 EN Notice No Contents (continued) Page ( 97/C 91 / 126 ) E-32 18/96 by Doeke Eisma to the Commission Subject : Mining and logging in Venezuela 75 (97/C 91 / 127 ) E-3259/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Calculation of the interim RPI 76 (97/C 91 / 128 ) E-3260/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 76 (97/C 91 / 129 ) E-3261 /96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 76 (97/C 91 / 130) E-3262/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 76 ( 97/C 91 / 131 ) E-3263/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 76 ( 97/C 91 / 132 ) E-3264/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 77 ( 97/C 91 / 133 ) E-3265/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 77 (97/C 91 / 134) E-3266/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 77 (97/C . 91 / 135 ) E-3267/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 77 ( 97/C 91 / 136) E-3268/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 77 ( 97/C 91 / 137 ) E-3269/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 78 (97/C 91 / 138 ) E-3270/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 78 ( 97/C 91 / 139 ) E-327 1 /96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 78 (97/C 91 / 140 ) E-3272/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 78 (97/C 91 / 141 ) E-3273/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 78 (97/C 91 / 142 ) E-3274/96 by Jose García-Margallo y Marfil to the Commission Subject : Interim RPI 79 Joint answer to Written Questions E-3259/96 , E-3260/96 , E-3261 /96 , E-3262/96 , E-3263/96 , E-3264/96 , E-3265/96 , E-3266/96 , E-3267/96 , E-3268/96 , E-3269/96 , E-3270/96 , E-3271 /96 , E-3272/96 , E-3273/96 and E-3274/96 79
(97/C 91 / 143 ) E-3387/96 by Salvador Jove Peres to the Commission Subject : Operation of the aid regime for olive oil 79 ( 97/C 91 / 144 ) P-3398/96 by Alexandras Alavanos to the Commission Subject : Reduction in the number of languages in which CEDEFOP's vocational training magazine is published 81 ( 97/C 91 / 145 ) P-34 17/96 by Jutta Haug to the Commission Subject : Revision of the Basic Regulation of the Medicines Evaluation Agency 81 ( 97/C 91 / 146) E-3429/96 by Iñigo Mendez de Vigo to the Commission Subject : Non-tariff barriers to exports 82 ( 97/C 91 / 147 ) E-3434/96 by Umberto Bossi to the Commission Subject : Proposal by the ' High-level Group of Experts on Social and Societal Aspects of the Information Society ' for the introduction of a generalized ' bit tax ' on the Internet 83 (97/C 91 / 148 ) P-3435/96 by Per Gahrton to the Commission Subject : Environment-friendly cars 84 EN
( Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) Page
( 97/C 91 / 149 ) P-3436/96 by David Hallam to the Commission Subject : Greenham Common nuclear accident in the 1950s 84 ( 97/C 91 / 150 ) E-3448/96 by Hiltrud Breyer to the Commission Subject : Cross-border consumer protection between the Saarland ( Germany ) and Lorraine ( France ) 85 (97/C 91 / 151 ) E-3454/96 by Bernie Malone to the Commission Subject : Leonardo programme 85 ( 97/C 91 / 152 ) P-3490/96 by Ursula Schleicher to the Commission Subject : Platinum pollution of the soil 86 ( 97/C 91 / 153 ) E-3498/96 by Hugh McMahon to the Commission Subject : Court of Auditor's report 1995 — ESF in the UK 86 (97/C 91 / 154 ) E-3559/96 by Joaquin Sisó Cruellas to the Commission Subject : Non-tariff barriers to trade 87 ( 97/C 91 / 155 ) E-3560/96 by Joaquin Sisó Cruellas to the Commission Subject : 1996 : European Year of Education and Lifelong Learning 87 ( 97/C 91 / 156 ) P-3753/96 by Pierre Moscovici to the Commission Subject : Pension rights for migrant workers within the European Union 88
EN 20 . 3 . 97 PEN Official Journal of the European Communities NoC9l / l
I
(Information )
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER
( 97/C 91 /01 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1765/96 by Yannos Kranidiotis (PSE) to the Council (5 July 1996) Subject: Sale of a church in the Occupied part of Cyprus On 6 April 1996 the English language Turkish-Cypriot newspaper, Cyprus Today , carried an advertisement by ' Kestin and Smith Estate Agents ' offering for sale the church of Panagic Chrisotrimithiotisa in the village of Trimithi in the Occupied part of Cyprus . This church was built in the middle Byzantine period and would have been declared a listed monument . Between 1 1 and 17 May 1996 the same newspaper quoted that the monastery of Panagic of Eleousa-Sina in Karpesie had been converted by the occupying regime into an inn which was opened by the self-styled Prime Minster ( Hakki Atun). This church has been declared a listed natural monument in 1965 . These are not isolated incidents but a part of a broader Turkish policy aimed at destroying the cultural heritage in the Occupied part of Cyprus . Will the Council say : What measures in intends to take to protect the heritage in the Occupied part of Cyprus which constitutes part of a general European heritage ( the European Parliament has adopted a resolution on this matter (')), and to what extent does it intend to raise the matter with the Turkish Government and will it call on the latter to comply with the rules of international law ?
(') OJ C 1 17 . 22.4.1996 . page 15 .
Answer (30 January 1997) The Council has taken due note of the Resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 27 March 1996 which" concerns , inter alia, the principle of safeguarding the cultural and religious heritage of the occupied part of Cyprus . As part of its more general interest in the question of Cyprus , the Council is in favour of an overall settlement based on the concept of a bi-community and bi-zonal Cypriot Federation , in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions . Finally , the matter to which the Honourable Member refers has not been brought to the Council's notice and does not in any case fall within its purview . No C 91 /2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 /02 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1842/96 by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission (5 July 1996) Subject: Demeton-S . Methyl Is the Commission aware of the harmful effects of the chemical Demeton-S . Methyl used as a pesticide in crop sprays ? Because of the danger posed to public health this pesticide has been banned in the United States of America . Will the Commission propose limitations on the use of Demeton-S . Methyl to avoid the airborne drift of this dangerous substance ?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission ( 17 September 1996) The Commission is making contact with the United States authorities in order to collect the information it needs to answer the question . It will communicate its findings as soon as possible .
(97/C 91 /03 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2050/96 by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Council (22 July 1996) Subject: The importance of transparency in the management of highly enriched uranium and plutonium The declaration of the Moscow Nuclear Safety and Security Summit of 20 April 1996 states at paragraph 30 that the parties to the agreement recognise the importance of ensuring transparency in the management of highly enriched uranium and plutonium . As the conclusions of the Presidency at the Florence Council in June specifically called on the Irish Presidency to bring the Union closer to its citizens by , inter alia, providing transparency and openness in the Union's work , what steps does the Council intend to take to ensure that the nuclear materials management decisions at the Sellafield — and La Hague — reprocessing plants are made openly and communicated to the public in timely fashion , rather than taken secretly as has hitherto happened?
(97/C 91 /04) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2051/96 by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Council (22 July 1996) Subject: Moscow Nuclear Safety and Security Summit At the Moscow Nuclear Safety and Security Summit of 20 April 1996 agreement was reached , as set out in paragraph 29 of the declaration , that the partner to the agreement , the G-7 stated that Russia would cooperate internationally in developing a strategy for the conversion into MOX ( mixed plutonium oxide ) fuel of surplus military plutonium from dismantled warheads and defence stockpiles . What involvement does the Council plan to have in this strategy ; and what information does the Council possess as to the likelihood that such MOX manufacture would expand the plutonium activities at Sellafield , incurring additional safety , security and environmental risks ?
Joint answer to Written Questions E-2050/96 and 2051/96 (30 January 1997) 1 . The Council shares the concern for institutional transparency expressed at various European Councils and referred to by the Honourable Member . It would stress in this context that paragraph 30 of the Declaration made at the Moscow Nuclear Safety and Security Summit of 20 April 1996 ("we recognize the the importance of ensuring transparency in the management of highly enriched uranium and plutonium designated as no longer required for defence purposes ") bears witness to the political will in this area . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /3
2 . The Council would point out that the objective of reducing the large stocks of fissile materials resulting from the dismantling of nuclear weapons is an issue of major importance for non-proliferation . All options in this area must be carefully considered on their respective merits , taking into account their consequences for safety and security issues . 3 . The Council would point out that the reprocessing plants situated in the territory of the Member States of the European Union are subject to current Community legislation on security controls , which provides for the Commission to be kept informed of movements and inventories of nuclear materials . It should however be noted that Article 194 of the Euratom Treaty governing the confidentiality of such data , particularly in relation to the public , specifies that the classification and secrecy of such information is a matter for the Member States .
4 . As regards the question concerning MOX , the Council would point out to the Honourable Member that conversion into MOX fuel is only one of the options envisaged in paragraph 29 of the Moscow Summit Declaration , and was amongst those considered by the international experts meeting in Paris last October under the aegis of the G7 + Russia . The Counci wishes to point out that control and safeguards measures on the manufacture of MOX and at reprocessing facilities are applied at national , Community and international level .
(97/C 91 /05 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2218/96 by Roberta Angelilh (NI) to the Commission (9 August 1996)
Subject: Legislation to safeguard the image of women in advertising In Italy , as in the rest of Europe , women are used to advertise commercial products . However, they are depicted all too often in such contexts as if they were objects loaded with increasingly explicit sexual connotations .
Can the Commission say whether there are Europe-wide recommendations to define , and hence safeguard , the image and dignity of women and give details of the legislation on the subject , if any , in force in the Member States ?
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1996)
The Commission is aware of the necessity to safeguard the image of women in advertising and the media .
Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law , regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (') stipulates that television advertising should not jeopardize respect for human dignity or include any discrimination on grounds of sex .
The Commission in its third medium-term action programme on equal opportunities for women and men ( 1991-1995 ) ( 2 ) has defined actions to promote a positive image of women , emphasizing in particular the promotion of a better representation of women in the media industry as well as in the institutional and professional environment of media organisations , the development of innovating programmes which challenge traditional images and the production of recommendations concerning the representation of women in the media industry . There is a recent resolution of the Council of 5 October 1995 on the image of women and men portrayed in advertising and the media ( 3 ). It calls on the Member States and other bodies to provide for appropriate measures to ensure respect for human dignity and an absence of discrimination on grounds of sex . This Resolution also requires the Member States and other bodies to encourage advertising agencies and the media to promote the development and implementation of voluntary self-regulating codes .
(') OJ L 298 , 17.10.1989 . ( : ) CC)M(90 ) 449 . (') OJ C 296 , 10.11.1995 . No C 91 /4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 /06 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2279/96 by Joan Vallve (ELDR) to the Commission (27 August 1996)
Subject: Tristeza disease
The tristeza citrus disease is causing serious damage to agriculture in the Community of Valencia . Some 19 million trees ( mainly orange and mandarin), which had been grafted onto Seville orange trees , have died in the Community of Valencia , Murcia and the Ebro delta region . The speed with which the disease is spreading has increased alarmingly in recent years .
Between 50 and 60% of the orange trees in the Community of Valencia are affected by the disease and within two or three years the incidence of the disease will be much greater. This has led to a substantial decline in agriculture in the region as a result of the grubbing up of trees , which has also caused serious economic damage to farmers . Modernization of production structures and farms is needed in order to tackle this situation .
Is the Commission aware of the existence of the tristeza disease and its devastating effects and is it doing anything to resolve this serious problem ?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission ( 11 November 1996)
The Commission is aware of the occurrence of citrus tristeza closterovirus in Spain , and has been very concerned for many years with these outbreaks . Indeed , plant health Directive 77/93/EEC (') on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community , as last amended by Directive 96/ 14/EC ( 2 ) contains provisions to prevent the introduction of this pest into the Community and against its spread within the Community .
These provisions include agronomic measures such as the removal of leaves and peduncles as well as measures regarding the movement of host plants of the virus , into and within the Community . Host plants originating in third countries may not be imported into the Community whilst plants of Community origin are subjected to strict quarantine measures including inspection and testing under an official certification programme .
The Commission considers that these provisions will protect the Community from the entry and spread of the virus .
(') OJ L 26 . 31 . 1 . 1977 . C-) OJ L 68 , 19.3.1996 .
( 97/C 91 /07 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2409/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission ( 11 September 1996)
Subject: The public health situation in the Netherlands Antilles
Has the Commission received reports that nine kidney patients and four infants died shortly after one another in a Curasao hospital in the Netherlands Antilles ?
Is the Commission aware that the deaths of the nine kidney patients can probably be ascribed to the lack of an efficient water supply in the hospital concerned ?
How much money has the Commission allocated since 1990 to the development of the Netherlands Antilles , and on what projects was the money spent ?
Is the Commission prepared , together with the Antilles Government , to ascertain whether a greater share of the European Development Fund resources earmarked for the Antilles might be used , where necessary , for public health projects , partly in order to bring supplies in Antilles hospitals up to the required standard ? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /5
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (8 November 1996)
The Commission is aware of the events to which the Honourable Member refers . According to the information available , a distinction has to be drawn in this unfortunate occurrence between the kidney patients and the neonates . The kidney patients who died in Cura9ao were in a private clinic and their death was due to the use of water with an excessive aluminium content . The deaths could have been prevented if, as is the case in Europe, the water had been correctly filtered before being used for dialysis . However, the death of the four premature babies was not due to the quality of the water. Dutch experts who conducted an inquiry into the circumstances ascribe three of these deaths to the neonates having ingested special food for premature infants which , as it turned out, was contaminated . '
It is incorrect to say that the water supply to the Curasao hospital is inefficient . For some years this hospital has been connected up to the water supply system managed by two parastatal bodies , the KAE , which is responsible for water production, and Kolea, which is responsible for distribution . But it is agreed that the aluminium content of the water is excessive . Similarly , Cura£ao has problems regarding the 'drinkability ' of the water that is distributed .
Since 1990 the Netherlands Antilles have received no less than ECU 33 million from the various instruments drawn on by the Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB ), some in the form of grants (ECU 23 million), some in loans (ECU 9.5 million ) and some in emergency aid (ECU 0.5 million). In addition it should be pointed out that the KAE has received a loan of ECU 8.7 million from the EIB .
By custom , health in the Netherlands Antilles is a sector in which the islands, the Netherlands and the Pan American health organisation cooperate . As with the Lome Convention , the Decision governing the association between the Community and the Overseas Countries and Territories specifically states that it is for countries wishing to receive aid to take the initiative by presenting projects and programmes . So far the Netherlands Antilles have not asked the Commission for any aid for the health sector . Cooperation in this sector in the future , in close coordination with the other partners involved , is entirely possible if the Government wishes .
(97/C 91 /08) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2439/96 by Magda Aelvoet (V) to the Commission (18 September 1996)
Subject: Tourism operational programme
The Commission's Tourism operational programme is said to have granted the Irish Western Fisheries Board £Irl 3 m for a five-year period , for the development of the Western Lakes (Loughs Mask , Corrib and Carra). Following a survey , the quality of which is doubted by experts , pike are said to have been removed wholesale from the lake (using nets), supposedly to protect trout stocks . However, measures to improve water quality and re-establish spawning grounds would seem to be a more effective means of protecting trout stocks . A big question mark therefore hangs over the Irish Western Fisheries Board's approach . Moreover, a considerable amount of money is said to have been spent on new vehicles and flights over the lakes .
Will the Commission state : 1 . Why this amount was granted specifically to the Irish Western Fisheries Board? 2 . What the programme's aims are ? 3 . To what extent the ecological impact of the activities is being assessed? 4 . What research there has been to support the view that the wholesale removal of pike would benefit the trout population? 5 . Whether the use to which the money is being put has already been monitored and , if so , what the results were ?
Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (25 October 1996)
1 . Under the tourism operational programme (OP) for Ireland , a total of IR£ 1 . 036 million has been awarded , to date , to the Western regional fisheries board for the development and promotion of the lakes mentioned No C 91 /6 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
by the Honourable Member as part of Ireland's strategy to attract foreign tourists to the region . The European regional development fund contribution to this project is IR£ 777,000 , or 75% of the cost . The sum allocated has been awarded for the following purposes : — IR£ 36,000 for a cost benefit analysis and marketing survey . — IR£ 1 million to address the significant decline in wild brown trout stocks . The Corrib is one of only 1 3 significant wild brown trout fisheries left in Europe .
2 . The aim of the project is to increase the tourism revenue from game angling in the West of Ireland . The execution of the project will give rise to an extra 20 jobs over the period of its implementation , while the additional benefit of the completed project should lead to the creation of approximately 200 jobs in the tourism sector .
3 . It is a key objective of the project to ensure that the proposed development is sustainable from an environmental and ecological perspective . All developments under the tourism OP are required to comply with the best environmental standards . Furthermore , due account must be taken of the nature conservation objectives of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna ('), as well as the commitments of the Community and Member States to safeguarding species and avoiding or minimising any deterioration of important natural habitats intended to be protected by the Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats . Wild brown trout are a native species while pike are not .
4 . There is substantial biological evidence to support the thesis that pike prey on brown trout . Surveys carried out as part of the Western lakes project demonstrate that trout are the principal prey of pike over a certain size . No decision to carry out a pike cull has yet been taken .
5 . The Central fisheries board , which is responsible for the day-to-day financial management of the tourism angling measure of the tourism OP, has carefully examined all elements of the proposed budget for the project. Drawdown of funding is only made on the basis of fully vouched expenditure receipts and compliance with the objectives of the project .
(') OJ L 206. 22.7.1992 .
( 97/C 91 /09 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2468/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (23 September 1996)
Subject: Support for the ILO ' s IPEC
Is the Commission supporting the ILO's very positive ' International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour' ( IPEC ) and , if so , how much money is involved ?
Which of the EU Member States support the IPEC , and how much money is involved ?
Is the Commission supporting any other projects aimed at outlawing child labour? If so , what projects , in what countries and how much money is involved in each project ?
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (21 November 1996)
In its Communication on the link between the trading system and internationally recognised labour standards ('), the Commission , with the aim of encouraging respect of fundamental social rights , including the elimination of child labour, advocates a strengthening of the role played by the International Labour Organisation ( ILO) in monitoring the implementation of the international labour conventions and expresses its support for the ILO's technical assistance programmes and , in particular , the IPEC ( International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour). 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /7
In the framework of bilateral cooperation , the Commission , in collaboration with the ILO , is currently preparing a pilot project which will be co-financed under the IPEC in Pakistan and will aim to eliminate child labour in that country .
On the question of the Member States ' support for the IPEC , the report presenting the 1996-1997 schedule and budget , published by the ILO in October 1995 , indicates that several Member States , including Belgium , Germany , Spain and France , have given financial support (p. 38).
(') COM(96 ) 402 final .
( 97/C 91 / 10) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2483/96 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission (25 September 1996)
Subject: Requirement to indicate the region where foodstuffs originated or were produced
A requirement to specify the origin of foodstuffs is a political measure that would do much to dispel the widespread bewilderment and uncertainty among consumers . Such action seems more necessary than ever , since the crisis in confidence relates to food safety in general and not just to beef and beef products .
Given the consequences of BSE in terms of health and the agricultural sector, does the Commission agree that a labelling system for meat and meat products needs to be introduced as a matter of urgency ? What steps will it take to ensure that the origin of all foodstuffs is specified in future ?
Does the Commission believe that Article 3(1 ) of Directive 79/ 1 12/EEC (') should be amended to the effect that the region of origin or production would have to be specified and that this identification requirement would apply both to packaged goods and to those sold loose ?
(') OJ L 33 , 8.2.1979 , p . 1 .
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission ( 14 November 1996)
The decline in consumer confidence in the beef market resulting from the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis has highlighted deficiencies in the provisions relating to the presentation for sale of beef and beef products as well as the traceability of animals . The'Commission has adopted proposals for Council regulations on the identification and registration of bovine animals and the labelling of beef and beef products ('). These regulations will ensure the traceability of meat and animals , thus creating a sound basis for the presentation of beef and beef products in which the consumer can have confidence . With regard to labelling of beef and beef products it is proposed to introduce a regulation setting out clearly the requirements necessary for a coherent and reliable labelling system .
Article 3(1 )(7 ) of Directive 79/ 1 12/CEE on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling , presentation and advertising of foodstuffs requires foodstuff labels to include particulars of the place of origin or provenance in cases where failure to do so might mislead the consumer as to the true origin or provenance of the foodstuff. The Commission has no intention for the moment of amending the provision along the lines suggested by the Honourable Member. The current wording of Article 3 strikes a balance between the need to inform consumers and the principle of the free movement of foodstuffs .
In terms of the single market , a requirement to indicate routinely the origin of a foodstuff could result in new barriers to trade through , for example , a campaign maligning products from certain Member States , while , in many cases , doing nothing to provide consumers with significant information . No C 91 /8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Moreover, Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081 /92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin (2 ), aims at protecting certain geographical denominations . There are two kinds of denominations ; designations of origin and geographical indication . When a name is registered it is reserved for producers from a geographical area . This guarantees to the consumer that the product comes from a certain area and is made according to a certain method .
(') COM(96 ) 460 . (: ) OJ L 208 , 24.7.1992 .
(97/C 91 / 11 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2502/96 by John Iversen (PSE) to the Commission (23 September 1996)
Subject: BSE pronouncement
What consequences does the Commission think should be drawn about Director-General Guy Legras for having said about BSE :
— ' we should avoid a debate in the scientific committees as any discussion of BSE will inevitably create problems for the market in meat'? Does the Commission agree that, in saying that, he was placing greater importance on stable meat markets than on consumer health?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf or the Commission (11 November 1996)
The matter to which the Honourable Member refers is presumably a letter from Mr Legras, Director General for agriculture to Mr Perissich , Director General for the internal market, dated 1 March 1993 . At that time France had recently introduced a ban on the use of certain tissues of cattle and sheep in baby food, going beyond the advice of the scientific veterinary committee . The matter had been raised in a meeting of the heads of services of the Member States dealing with food safety . Delegates requested that the matter be referred to the scientific committee for food .
The context of the letter was that the scientific veterinary committee had been giving advice consistently to the Commission on bovine spongiform encephalopathy matters since 1989 and , therefore, was the scientific committee with the greatest expertise . In fact the scientific committee for food had created a working party on the matter because the proposal for a directive on babyfood specifically referred to the use of offals . In the event, a joint working group of the two committees examined the matter and the scientific committee for food, at its meeting of 16 and 17 September 1993 , confirmed the previous advice of the scientific veterinary committee to the effect that the measures currently in place gave sufficient protection to public health .
While giving priority to the protection for public health , the Commission has at the same time a responsibility to manage the beef market . It must, therefore, ensure that measures are appropriate and necessary . It would be irresponsible if the Commission reacted to every new concern or information in a manner which created unnecessary public anxiety and caused serious repercussions for the market .
( 97/C 91 / 12) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2513/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (25 September 1996)
Subject: VAT and air transport
1 . How and when does the Commission intend to bring air tickets into line with the VAT (Value Added Tax) provisions for the different modes of transport (railways and roads) in the different Member States ? 20 . 3 . 97 I EN I Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /9
2 . How high ( in percentage terms) could the VAT be ?
3 . What will be the cost (in absolute figures ) of introducing VAT on air tickets ?
Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (29 November 1996)
The transport of passengers for consideration , according to the sixth VAT Directive ('), is a taxable supply of services provided that the transport takes place on the tax territory of the Member States . This rule covers all modes of transport including air transport . With regard to the applicable tax rates , the Directive gives the opportunity to the Member States either to apply the standard rate or to opt for a reduced rate . In addition , the Member States can continue the application of already existing zero-rates or tax exemptions .
Despite the existing differences in the tax rates applied by the Member States , the different means of transport are , in general , treated on equal terms . Only on the taxation of cross border transportation of passengers are different tax rates applied to rail , road , sea and air transport . In this respect air transport , as opposed to land based transport , benefits from the uniform application of a zero rate .
The Commission is examining at present to what extent the rules of the sixth VAT Directive applicable to passenger transport have to be revised . This examination will analyse in particular the need also to tax cross-border air transport and the need for further harmonisation of tax rates .
The Commission at the end of 1995 put in hand a study of the economic consequences of the different tax options . Since the results are not yet available , the Commission is not in a position to reply to the Honourable Member's questions . The Commission will however, after the study is completed , within the framework of any proposal for a directive , make the requested information available to the Parliament and to the Council .
(') Directive 77/388/EEC — OJ L 145 , 13.6.1977 recently modified by Directive 96/42/EG , AB1 L 170 vom 9.7.1996 .
(97/C 91 / 13 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2515/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (25 September 1996)
Subject: Subsidies for air transport
The EU Commission has published a Green Paper on ' Internalizing the external costs of transport in the European Union ' (COM(95)0691 final ). 1 . What is the position of the Commission with regard to the fact that, in Germany alone , exemption from oil tax and support for aviation technology amounts to DM 3.5 billion in annual subsidies (German Bundestag , 13th electoral period , Circular 13/4108 )?
2 . What figures can the Commission put on the amounts paid in the other Member States , listed for each individual EU Member State , in subsidies in the form of oil-tax exemption and support for aviation technology ?
3 . What figure can the Commission put on the revenue accruing from the taxation of kerosine in the EU : ( a) on the basis of the current rates of oil tax , harmonized at EU level , and (b ) when the internalizing of the external costs of air transport is incorporated in the rates of the tax ?
4 . When does the Commission intend to introduce measures to end tax exemption for kerosine?
Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1996)
1 . Fuel used in commercial aviation is exempt from excise duty under the provisions of Article 8(1 )(b ) of Council Directive 92/81 /EEC (')■ This provision exists largelybecause of international commitments under No C 91 / 10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
which all contracting parties to the International civil aviation organisation (ICAO) have entered into reciprocal agreements to supply aircraft fuel free of all taxes . All Community Member States are members of ICAO , while the Community has had observer status since 1989 .
2 . Support for aviation technology is given in a variety of ways including development and procurement of defence goods which provide civil spin-offs , loans for product development and generic as well as specific funding for research . The Commission does not have detailed information on each of these items . However, a Commission staff working paper ' The European aerospace industry — trading position and figures ' contains a limited amount of aggregated data based on company and industry association surveys .
3 . a) The revenue accruing from the taxtion of kerosine is difficult to quantify as the harmonisation of excise duty rates on mineral oils is restricted to agreed minimum rates with Member States being free to charge whatever level of duty they wish provided it exceeds that minimum . If aviation kerosene were to be taxed at the same rate as that agreed ( but waived) for national carriers in the United States (4.3 cents per US gallon ) the revenue accruing would be in excess of 250 MECU . If duty was levied at the current Community minimum rate for kerosene used as a propellant ( 245 ECU per 1000 litres), the revenue accruing would exceed 8 000 MECU .
3 . b ) This information is not yet available .
4 . The Commission is reviewing the operation of Article 8(1 )(b ) of Directive 92/81 /EEC and will submit its conclusions to the Council and Parliament in the near future .
(') Council Directive 92/81 /EEC of 19.10.1992 on the harmonisation of the structures ot excise duty on mineral oils ( OJ L 316 , 31.10.1992 ).
(97/C 91 / 14 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2525/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (8 October 1996)
Subject: Establishment plan of DG I , Directorate B
Given the controversy regarding the recruitment of staff to Directorate B in DG I (relations with the countries of Latin America) and the establishment plan of that directorate , would the Commission make known the number of people responsible for managing the development aid programme for Latin American countries and specify the number of officials of Italian nationality working in Directorate B and the percentage of its overall staff that they represent ?
Answer given by Mr Mann on behalf of the Commission (4 November J 996)
I would inform the Honourable Member that there are at present 36 A-grade officials working at the Latin America directorate in Brussels .
Of these A-grade officials , ten are Italian nationals .
( 97/C 91 / 15 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2529/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (8 October 1996)
Subject: 'Cloned ' mobile telephones
Since mid-February 1996 , mobile phones and other types of mobile communications equipment have been subject to free competition . This has opened the way to a wider choice for consumers and lower prices . Cellular phones have now become an extremely common means of communication . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 / 11
The very large number of cases of 'cloning' and fraud currently being brought to light in Italy and other Community Member States highlight the need for the Commission to take new steps to impose proper standards of quality .
Would the Commission agree that it should, in conjunction with the leading firms in this sector, look into the technical feasibility of introducing security mechanisms which make it impossible , or at least extremely difficult, to clone mobile telephones? Fraud of this kind obviously has an impact on the whole of the Community and undermines the confidentiality of this new and extremely useful means of communication .
Would it also take immediate steps to ensure that adequate protection is provided for GSM telephones , which are not yet a target, given that they are more difficult to copy?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission ( 13 November 1996)
The Commission , through its contacts with the mobile communications industry , is well aware of the problems related to fraudulent use of mobile phones . It considers that the prime responsibility for fraud control , like in other commercial sectors , must lie with the market players , in this case the mobile network operators and service providers .
With regard to the pan-European digital mobile cellular system (GSM), it is the objective of the GSM operator community joined together in the GSM memorandum of understanding Association to make GSM as secure as the fixed telephone network . For that purpose , the Association has set up a security group which produces guidance in the area of security and fraud control .
Moreover, in order to counter the potential threats associated with the use of radio transmission , GSM was technically designed with the potential weaknesses of the older analog cellular systems in mind (for instance cloning is a typical problem for these older systems). Counter measures to prevent the services being compromised include a high level encryption on the radio path which implies anonymity and confidentiality to protect against eavesdropping , a strong authentication to protect against billing fraud , and measures to protect operators from compromising each others ' security whether inadvertently or because of competitive pressures .
Despite the procedure set in place and measures taken , fraudulent use can never be fully excluded . Operators must keep abreast of the security procedures in place and the cost and effectiveness of the security measures taken .
(97/C 91 / 16) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2531/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (8 October 1996)
Subject: State aids in the air transport sector
Given that airlines are obliged to fight in order to gain and retain a sufficiently large share of a low-growth , highly competitive market , there is always a risk that the operators currently on the market will use unfair methods in order to protect their own interests . Stringent application of the competition rules — particularly those governing state aids and the prevention of unfair business practices — is therefore absolutely vital . State aids are considered to be counter-productive in that they tend to protect inefficient companies against those that are efficient and thus delay necessary restructuring processes .
What steps does the Commission intend to take with a view to ensuring that the current high level of concentration does not produce new barriers to access to routes and time slots to replace those removed by legislative means ?
Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1996)
The Commission is being careful to ensure that liberalization of air transport in the Community is not called into question by practices running counter to the competition rules . No C 91 / 12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
It is in particular the increasing internationalization of air transport markets and heightened competition which are causing more and more airlines to have recourse to very broad cooperation agreements or to taking substantial capital holdings in a competing airline . The Commission is thus obliged to use its decision-making procedure to ensure that effective competition is maintained . The Commission does not wish to oppose this restructuring but it will be vigilant in seeing that this does not entail any unjustified restrictions on competition and that it does not prevent newcomers from competing effectively on the most important routes . Ensuring that third-country airlines have guaranteed access to airport time slots in order to ensure effective competition is therefore an essential part of Commission policy on the authorization of cooperation agreements between competing airlines . The following examples are proof of the great importance which the Commission attaches to the allocation of time slots .
On 20 July 1995 the Commission approved Swissair's acquisition of 49.5% of Sabena's capital , but only after these two companies and the Swiss and Belgian governments had given assurances that the necessary traffic rights and time slots for providing flights between Belgium and Switzerland would also be granted to other companies .
On 6 January 1996 the Commission took a second decision on the general cooperation agreement signed by Lufthansa and SAS . It established that this agreement restricted competition substantially , especially on routes between Scandinavia and Germany , but by imposing certain conditions , in particular that Lufthansa and SAS should relinquish certain time slots at high-traffic-density airports , it guaranteed market access to newcomers and thus ensured that an adequate level of competition would also be maintained in the future .
As far as State aids are concerned , the Commission has pursued a policy of authorizing aid for the restructuring of airlines , to help them to become viable in a more competitive environment , provided that strict conditions are met . In so doing , the Commission applies the provisions of the Treaty scrupulously ; indeed the Commission has established guidelines (') which explain its policy in more detail , to which the Honourable Member is referred .
(') Application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty and Article 61 of the EEA Agreement to State aids in the aviation sector ( OJ C 350, 10.12.1994 ).
( 97/C 91 / 17 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2538/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI ) to the Commission (8 October 1996)
Subject: The environment and sustainable development
The programme outlined by the Commission in the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision on the review of the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development 'Towards Sustainability ' (COM(95)0647 ) (') provides a comprehensive list of measures at Community level . Both the proposal as a whole and the Commission's choice of priorities are to be commended .
Would the Commission not agree , however , that it should expand on the programme as far as possible by establishing clear deadlines and objectives for its main points , both because of the need to give all participants greater certainty with regard to the programming arrangements and for reasons relating to the political structure of the proposal itself?
(') OJ C 140 , 11.5.1996 , p . 5 .
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission ( 13 November 1996)
The fifth action programme (') is essentially targeted towards the year 2000 , but provision was made for a comprehensive review of its strategy to be carried out before the end of 1995 . In the resolutions of the Parliament and the Council a review was explicitly requested . This review was carried out during 1995 and resulted in a progress report , an updated state of the environment report published by the European environment agency , and the proposal for a decision by Parliament and Council on the review , which the Honourable Member cites . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 / 13
The prime objective of the proposal for a decision is to give a renewed political impulse to the implementation of the fifth action programme and to progress on sustainable development by refocussing priority actions within the existing programme towards key areas where the Community should take the initiative to overcome obstacles to implementation as identified in the progress report . It is however recognized that the success of the programme also depends on the active participation of public authorities , public and private enterprise , and the general public , both citizens and consumers .
It was not the intention half way into the lifetime of the programme to revise it or to propose a new programme . As far as the Commission is concerned , the objectives , the targets for 2000 and the deadlines included in the original programme are still valid . In putting forward a proposal for a decision , the Commission intended that its adoption by Council and Parliament under the co-decision procedure would ensure firstly a new commitment to the strategy set out in the original programme and secondly agreement on priorities on how to achieve this . In line with Article 130s . 3 of the EC Treaty the Council ( and where applicable the Parliament) will decide on the specific measures to implement the programme . The Commission will put these proposals forward in due course .
(') COM(94 ) 453 final .
( 97/C 91 / 18 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2544/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (8 October 1996 )
Subject: Flower growing
The Italian flower growing sector, which is worth over Lit 4 500 billion and whose products are mainly for domestic consumption , comprises approximately 22 000 undertakings covering approximately 23 000 hectares ( including 7 000 under glass ) and employs 50 000 people .
Liguria is Italy's largest flower growing area, accounting for 25% of national output in the sector .
The situation is becoming increasingly difficult for Ligurian and Italian producers owing to competition from the Netherlands and Denmark , whose governments provide incentives for national producers , and to the yet to be solved problems regarding fuel oil and the reduction of taxation .
Reduced rates of VAT on flower products are therefore a topical issue at European level .
The Council has adopted the Commission proposal amending Directive 77/338 ( (')on a common VAT system in the sector . Pursuant to the new text , Member States may apply a reduced rate until a definitive VAT system is adopted .
Would the Commission not agree that the VAT system for flower products should be harmonized as soon as possible , and that, in view of the crisis in Italy , representations should be made to the relevant authorities with a view to suggesting that a reduced rate be applied ?
(') OJ L 145 . 13.6.1977 . p . I.
Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (3 December 1996)
On 25 June 1996 the Council adopted the Directive (') on the taxation of agricultural outputs others than those falling within category 1 of Annex H of the sixth VAT Directive (77/388/EEC ) on the common system of value added tax . Thus Member States may apply a reduced VAT rate to living plants and other products from the floricultural sector ( including bulbs , roots and the like , cut flowers and ornamental foliage ) and wood for use as firewood for the duration of the transitional VAT arrangements of intra-Community trade referred to in Article 28(1 ) of the sixth VAT Directive . It is up to Member States to make use of this option or not .
(') OJ L 170 . 9.7.1996 . No C 91 / 14 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
( 97/C 91 / 19 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571/96 by Antonio Tajani (UPE) and Riccardo Garosci (UPE) to the Commission ( 11 October 1996)
Subject: GSM agreement , Omnitel — Italian Government
At a meeting with Antonio Maccanico , the Italian Minister for Post , held in Rome on 1 1 September 1996 , the Commissioner responsible for competition , Karel Van Miert, stated that, with a view to closing the infringement proceedings which the Commission had brought against the Italy , Omnitel might receive compensation of approximately Lit 60 billion from the Italian Government . Mr Van Miert confirmed that the proceedings instituted against the Italian Government in October 1995 would be closed , that transitional licences would be issued , and that the amount agreed would be returned and paid as compensation by Omnitel .
In requiring Italy to favour Omnitel , which has anyway received numerous state subsidies , over other operators , the Commissioner does not appear to have acted in an impartial manner .
Can the Commission explain , therefore , how it is possible for one Commissioner, acting on his own , to judge and sentence Italy , agree the price to be paid and demand that payment be made , without ever having consulted anyone ? It must also be said that his behaviour is totally unprecedented and that , despite being in the same situation , no other Member States have experienced similar interference in their affairs by the Commission .
Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (5 November 1996)
Following Commission Decision 95/489/EC (') of 4 October 1995 concerning the conditions imposed on the second operator of GSM (global system for mobile communications) radiotelephony services in Italy , the Italian Government notified the Commission of a series of corrective measures it intended to adopt in order to put an end to the distortion of competition resulting from the initial payment of Lit 750 billion imposed on Omnitel Pronto Italia (OPI) in respect of its GSM licence , in breach of Article 86 of the EC Treaty .
The Commission confirmed on 7 February 1 996 that these corrective measures could ensure equal conditions for GSM operators on the Italian market once the measures were actually implemented as part of the liberalization process under way .
One of the measures consists in reducing the fee for interconnecting OPI's GSM network with Telecom Italia' s switched telephone network by 25% in 1996 and 1997 (i.e. Lit 150 instead of Lit 200 a minute), up to an amount of Lit 60 billion at current prices .
The Commission has taken similar action in respect of other Member States which imposed an initial payment on the second operator alone . As a result , Belgium and Ireland decided to impose a similar payment on the public GSM operator and have since confirmed that this payment has been made .
The question of provisional licences is more general . Italy is in the process of transposing a number of liberalization directives in the telecommunications sector which should already have been implemented . The Commission has requested the Italian Government to grant provisional licences to interested firms at the same time in order to enable them to supply the services covered by those directives , particularly satellite communications , until such time as the transposal measures are formally adopted .
(') OJ L 280 , 23.11.1995 .
(97/C 91 /20) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2582/96 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (24 September 1996)
Subject: Regional impact of the inadequate dairy quota for Spain
Article 130a of the TEU calls for overall harmonious development of the Community , including the strengthening of economic and social cohesion by reducing disparities between the levels of development 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No G 91 / 15
of the various regions and the backwardness of the least-favoured regions , including rural areas . Article 130b states that the formulation and implementation of the Community's policies and actions shall take into account the objectives set out in Article 130a .
The current agricultural policy of dairy production quotas does not take into account their impact on cohesion and thereby restricts the economic and social development of extremely poor Spanish regions which are included in regional policy under Objective 1 . To take the case of Galicia , a less-favoured rural region with natural conditions which are clearly conducive to cattle-farming and with no major agricultural alternatives , the current authorized dairy quotas are far less than its real production potential . The authorized quota for Spain does not even cover its own internal consumption needs . It is therefore essential for the present quota to be urgently reviewed and increased , to bring to an end this incongruous , indeed disastrous , situation .
Is the Commission aware of the serious consequences of this situation and the adverse impact on cohesion in Spain , in particular in certain regions such as Galicia (Objective 1 ), where the dairy sector plays a key role in economic and social development ?
What measures does it plan to take to eliminate the adverse impact on cohesion caused by the inadequate dairy quota authorized to Spain and thereby comply with the provisions of the TEU ?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission ( 14 November 1996)
Reference quantities were allocated to the Member States on the basis of past output . In this way , the Council reached a compromise without having to reach any conclusions about other aspects of the economics of dairy farming in each Member State , and in particular about the level of consumption . However, this method meant that quotas are lower than consumption needs in several Member States : not only Spain , but also Italy , Greece and the United Kingdom .
As to the specific regional problems , there are provisions enabling the Member States to maintain milk production in regions such as Galicia , where it is a key factor in agricultural land use and employment . The provisions also give priority to certain types of producers (young people , recent investors or newcomers to production) for the allocation of additional quota from the national reserve , which ensures that their production will be profitable .
The Commission has also taken specific measures for agricultural structures in Galicia . In particular, it has adopted an operational programme for Galicia under Objective 1 to contribute to rural development . One of the measures in this programme is particularly relevant to the Honourable Member's question : the 'plan de adecuacion de exportaciones lecheras de Galicia', which is intended to contribute to the modernization of dairy farms by improving their productivity . The measure provides incentives to cease production on the least profitable holdings so that the other holdings may expand , thus enhancing their viability and competitiveness without overshooting the volume of output allocated . The Commission hopes that this measure will help milk producers to adapt to the conditions created by the common organization of the market for milk . The expected cost is PTA 1 970 million , including part-financing of 72.5 % from the Guidance section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund .
The Commission is now giving thought to the changes needed to ensure that dairy policy is better adapted to future needs .
(97/C 91 /21 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2584/96 by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission ( 11 October 1996)
Subject: Action taken pursuant to ECJ judgment of 18 June 1991 (ERT Elliniki Radiophonia Tileorassi )
Will the Commission state what action has been taken following the judgment given by the Court of Justice of the European Communities on 18 June 1991 in the ERT Elliniki Radiophonia Tileorassi case? No C 91 / 16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission ( 13 December 1996)
In April 1989 the Thessaloniki regional court referred to the Court of justice for a preliminary ruling under Article 177 of the EC Treaty several questions on the interpretation of the EC Treaty . The questions forwarded were raised in proceedings between Elliniki Radiophonia Tileorassi Anonimi Etairia ('ERT'), a Greek radio and television undertaking to which Greece had granted exclusive rights for carrying out its activities , and a local information company , which was in the process of setting up a television station .
The Court ofjustice examined the questions in the light of Community law and gave its ruling on 18 June 1991 . It is up to the national court to decide whether ERT activities are compatible with the ruling given by the Court of justice .
The Honourable Member may inform himself at national level in Greece as to what action has been taken following the judgment of the Court . The Commission is not a party to the proceedings .
( 97IC 91 /22 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2585/96 by Francesco Baldarelli ( PSE ) to the Commission ( 11 October 1996 )
Subject: Funding for European young farmers ' organizations
Public information about the activities of the European Union is central to the process of building the common European home , especially where certain traditional economic sectors such as agriculture are concerned . Youth organizations have a vital role to play in this connection , since it is essential that the young generations should be firmly and solidly committed to Europe .
The EU currently provides approximately ECU 1 m under Article B2-5 14 of the budget to finance the work of the CEJA — European Council of Young Farmers — and the PEJA .
The Commission , however, has proposed to do away with funding under Article B2-514 in the 1997 budget . Instead , two new headings have been created , namely Items B2-5121 (' Surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings'), the appropriation for which is ECU 7.5 m , and B2-5 121 (' Enhancing public awareness of the common agricultural policy '), the appropriation for which is ECU 2 m .
Given that the activities of the CEJA/PEJA and other organizations scarcely fit in with Item B2-5121 (' Surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings'), it is obvious that funding for these organizations will be substantially and drastically cut , with the result that many of the ventures undertaken to date will have to be abandoned .
How will the Commission provide effective safeguards to preserve the laudable work of the European young farmers ' organizations that receive European funding and focus their efforts on information and public events involving thousands of young farmers from the EU countries ?
Even allowing for the need for economy , does the Commission not consider that the funds earmarked for these organizations amount to very modest sums which , moreover , without wasting resources , are used for activities in the public interest designed to further aims that can be endorsed unreservedly ?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission ( 13 November 1996)
Each year the Commission uses money from budget heading B2-5I4 to fund the activities of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA). CEJA has been regularly informed of any potential risks to the scale and timing of its activities . On occasions in the past its grant has had to be appreciably reduced because of a lack of resources , and CEJA has accordingly had to reduce or postpone its meetings .
As regards 1997 , general budget discipline explains the level at which heading B2-5122 has been set in the preliminary draft budget . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 / 17
( 97/C 91 /23 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2598/96 by Johanna Man-Weggen ( PPE) and Karla Pens (PPE) to the Commission ( 11 October 1996 )
Subject: ESF funding
Can the Commission confirm that the Netherlands did not submit its programme for regional development in less-favoured regions in time and that it has asked the Commission for an extension ?
Is the Commission aware that this postponement bears no relation to the excellent quality of the programmes but has been caused chiefly by discord in the Netherlands government as regards which ministry should take responsibility for the co-financing ?
Is the Commission aware that because of the unwillingness/inability of the Netherlands Ministry for Economic Affairs concerning the co-financing of projects for the development of small and medium-sized businesses these projects have had to be replaced by projects for the long-term unemployed so that the Netherlands Ministry for Social Affairs , which does have enough funds , can act as co-financier?
Does the Commission know that the six regions concerned have sent a letter of protest on this subject to the Netherlands Government since , as a result of the internal conflict in the Netherlands government the balance in the regional programmes between economic and social policy has been completely destroyed ?
Does the Commission have the experience that in the regions there are more high-quality ERDF projects than comparable projects involving ESF funding ?
Is the Commission willing to support the six Netherlands regions in their protest and to ask the Netherlands Government to adjust its budget (for example by transferring funds from the Ministry of Social Affairs to the Ministry for Economic Affairs ) such that the programmes concerned can be operated normally?
Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission ( 14 November 1996)
The Commission can confirm that the Dutch authorities requested an extension of the deadline for presenting their proposals for objective 2 programmes for the programming period 1997-1999 . This request was accepted by the Commission . The Dutch proposals for the programmes were presented on 23 September 1996 and are being examined by the Commission .
The Commission communicated to the Member States on 30 April 1996 the guidelines for operations in the declining industrial areas ( objective 2 ) for the period 1997-1999 . The priorities include special attention for job creation , research and technology , innovation and a labour force qualified in future technology , environment and sustainable development and equal opportunities . The proposals presented by the Member States will be assessed on the basis of these guidelines and discussed with the national authorities in line with the partnership rules .
The Commission is aware of certain differences of opinion between the Dutch national administration and the regions concerned and has received copies of the letters sent by the regions to the government . The State secretary for regional policy has explained the situation to the Commission and has stressed the importance of job creation to his government .
The Commission cannot confirm any difference of quality between the European regional development fund and the European social fund projects in preparation in the Dutch objective 2 regions .
(97/C 91 /24) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2613/96 by Paul Rubig (PPE) to the Commission ( 14 October 1996)
Subject: Reduction of pesticides , herbicides and other residues through the use of biotechnology and genetic engineering Can pesticides, herbicides and other residues be reduced through the use of biotechnology and genetic engineering , and if so , to what extent ? No C 91 / 18 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1996)
It is not possible to give a general statement on the impact of biotechnology on the use of plant protection products and every case has to be evaluated on its own merits . This issue is one of the objectives of the Commission's research programme Fair ( agriculture and fisheries). There certainly is an opportunity to reduce the use of plant protection products in cases where the plants have been made pest or disease resistant through genetic engineering , and hence to decrease the plant protection product's residues in plants . In cases where a plant has been made tolerant to a herbicide , this would lead to a change in the pattern of the use of plant protection products . The use of the herbicide to which the plant has been made tolerant would displace that of other herbicides hitherto used in the crop to control the weed populations concerned . The precise impact could be different in each case .
(97/C 91 /25 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624/96 by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission ( 15 October 1996)
Subject: Proposal by the United Kingdom aimed at shipowners using fishery licences of a country other than their own
The proposal by the United Kingdom for the introduction of a protocol , when the EU Treaties are revised , to enable each Member State to impose conditions on shipowners using fishery licences of a country other than their own has been viewed by some Community States as an outright attack on the principle of the common market .
This proposal is unacceptable , from the point of view of both the common fisheries policy and the single market, since , if special cases were agreed to exist in any sector, this would open the door to the break-up of the Community and run counter to the principle of the single market , with its well-known four basic freedoms : the freedom of establishment , the free movement of goods and capital and the freedom to provide services .
Does the Commission consider this proposal by Britain to be acceptable , given that it would lead to the erection of barriers to the common fisheries policy and , by extension , would entail a frontal attack on the Treaties as a whole ?
Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission ( 11 November 1996)
The Commission , as guardian of the Treaties , sees to it that the Member States respect the principles and provisions of the EC Treaty , in particular those relating to non-discrimination and the free movement of persons , services , goods and capital in the context of the single market and the common fisheries policy . The Court of Justice has confirmed these fundamental principles of the EC Treaty in respect to the fisheries sector and further clarified them in its case law .
Against this background , the Commission is opposed to initiatives which aim to restrict the present scope of the Treaty 's basic rules in any sector, including the fisheries sector . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 / 19
( 97/C 91 /26) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2649/96 by Nuala Ahern (Y) to the Council ( 10 October 1996 )
Subject: Present Council policy on Sellafield Does the answer to Question No 20 ( H- 1292/92 ) (') by Mr Fitzsimons , MEP , in the sitting of 20 January 1993 on Council policy towards Sellafield and THORP remain Council policy today ? Does the Council remain satisfied by the data provided by BNFL to the Commission on THORP radioactive discharges under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty that justifies the favourable conclusions on THORP's environmental safety delivered on 30 April 1992 ? Has the Council been provided with the details of the subsequent proposals made in August this year by BNFL to increase radioactive discharges from THORP at Sellafield ?
(') Debates of the European Parliament No 3-426 ( January 1993 ).
Answer (30 January 1996) 1 . The Council has no new information , at this juncture , concerning the THORP plant at Sellafield which would cause it to change its position as described in its reply to Question No 20 ( H- 1292/92 ) at the sitting on 20 January 1992 , to which the Honourable Member refers in his question . 2 . The Council would remind the Honourable Member that , under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty , it is for the Commission to give its opinion on the data communicated by the Member States under that Article , and that on 7 December 1990 the Commission adopted a Recommendation on the application of that provision ('). Point 6 of that Recommendation stipulates " that , if a plan for the disposal of radioactive waste , on which an opinion has already been given under the terms of Article 37 , is modified such that this could cause an appreciable increase of the exposure of the population of another Member State , the relevant " general data " be submitted to the Commission whenever possible one year but not less than six months before any new authorization for the disposal of radioactive waste is granted by the competent authorities ".
(') OJ L 6 . 9.1.1991 , p . 16 .
( 97/C 91 /27 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2650/96 by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Council ( 10 October 1996)
Subject: Return to sender of radioactive waste from Sellafield In an interview with the Financial Times , published on 28 June 1996 , Mr Neville Chamberlain , deputy chairman of British Nuclear Fuels , indicated that despite a British Government commitment made in 1976 to return to sender radioactive waste arising from the reprocessing of foreign spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield , BNFL was now considering the permanent on-site storage at Sellafield of high level waste from the THORP plant , rather than returning the waste to foreign customers in Japan and Germany . As the European Union , through Euratom , is about to negotiate a new peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan , can the Council ensure that until such time as reprocessing at Sellafield is halted completely , any new nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan includes a clear stipulation that Japan cannot in perpetuity dump its unwanted radioactive waste at Sellafield and La Hague but must be committed to accepting the entire radioactive burden back ?
Answer (30 January 1996) The Council would refer the Honourable Member to the reply given by the Council to her Question No H-629/96 on the same subject during question time at the September 1996 part-session . No C 91 /20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 /28 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2651/96 by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Council ( 10 October 1996)
Subject: Implications of MOX plutonium fuel fabrication at Sellafield
The British Parliament was informed in a Ministerial written reply on 2 July 1996 ( official report column 398 ) that the Department of the Environment was preparing a submission under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty covering the environmental implications of the new MOX plutonium fuel fabrication plant at Sellafield . "
Considering the Union-wide and international implications of increasing the global trade in nuclear explosive materials such as plutonium , has the Council considered the planned expansion in the plutonium trade?
Answer
(30 January 1996)
1 . The Council confirms that , as required by Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty , the United Kingdom has provided the Commission with the general data relating to the plant to which the Honourable Member refers . The Commission has not yet given its opinion .
2 . The Council would like to stress the importance of the current Community legislation on nuclear materials .
Chapter 3 of the Euratom Treaty provides for the implementation of the relevant health and safety measures . In that context the Council adopted , on 13 May 1996 , Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM (') laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation , safety standards which strengthen those currently in force .
In addition , Chapter 7 of the Euratom Treaty guarantees the application of safeguards , which are an important factor in the trade in nuclear materials .
3 . The Council would also draw attention to the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency recently approved stricter standards for the transport of nuclear materials , standards which every State is to incorporate into its national law .
(') OJ L 159 , 29.6.1996, p . 1 .
(97/C 91 /29) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2667/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI), Spalato Bellere (NI) and Gastone Parigi (NI ) to the Commission ( 15 October 1996 )
Subject: Oilseeds
The reduction in compensatory payments for arable crops will exacerbate the increasing imbalance between the various products in this sector, to the detriment of oilseeds and rion-food commodities as a whole .
While recognizing that the EC must bring the Community budget back into balance to ensure that the costs arising from the crisis in the beef sector can be met and the need to draw on the solidarity of the agricultural sector, it is not fair that the main arable sector should be singled out to bear the financial burden . The oilseed sector has already sustained a loss of competitiveness compared to cereals , because the aid allocated to it is adjusted to take account of trends in market prices , while aid to the cereal sector is not .
Would the Commission reconsider its proposal , reviewing the various levels of aid and extend to the cereal sector this system of adjusting them ? 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal ot the European Communities No C 91 /21
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1996)
The proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation ( EEC ) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (') provides for a balanced reduction in compensatory payments for the arable crops concerned . The gross receipts from oilseeds and cereals are reduced by the same amount expressed in ecus per hectare . The Council at its meeting on 28 to 30 October 1996 rejected the proposal . The different natures of the two markets make it inappropriate to transfer the mechanism applied to oilseeds to cereals ; unlike cereals , oilseeds do not benefit from protection at borders or intervention prices .
(') COM(96 ) 422 final .
( 97/C 91 /30 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2674/96 by Alexandros Alavanos ( GUE/NGL) to the Commission (9 October 1996 )
Subject: Psychiatric care and driving licences By Presidential Decree No 30 (Official Gazette 22/3-2-95 ) the Greek Government aligned Greek legislation with Directives 80/ 1263/EEC (') and 76/914/EEC ( 2 ) on driving licences . The presidential decree provides that a stay on whatever grounds in a mental hospital or a psychiatric clinic will result in the withdrawal of the driving licence and that ' mental hospitals , psychiatric clinics and State hospitals where it is ascertained that a driver is suffering from psychosis , personality disorder or epilepsy shall inform the Ministry of Transport and Communications of this fact in writing'. This provision withdrawing driving licences in the event of treatment in mental hospitals :- 1 . Is contained in neither directive 80/ 1263/EEC nor Directive 91 /439/EEC which lays down specific circumstances in which driving licences should not be granted , while a stay in a mental hospital can cover all kinds of mental illness .
2 . Notifying the Ministry of Transport every time a person is given care in a mental hospital would be a grave breach of medical secrecy . 3 . It ignores the fact that incapacity to drive cannot be presumed in the case of every psychiatric illness , most of which are curable and are not inevitably incompatible with the ability to drive . 4 . It would lead to the stigmatization and official registration of anyone who spent even the shortest period in psychiatric institutions , make attendance at a mental hospital the equivalent of a prison sentence , and marginalize those suffering from mental illness . In view of these disastrous consequences of the Presidential Decree and the fact that it breaches the spirit and letter of EEC Directives 91 /439 (') and 80/ 1263 and the European Union concept of making mental hospitals open to the public , what immediate action does the Commission intend to take to bring Greek legislation into line with Community directives ?
(') OJ L 375 . 31.12.1980 . p . I. (-) OJ L 357 . 29.12.1976 . p . 36 . ( ! ) OJ L 237 . 24.8.1991 . p . I.
Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission ( 13 November 1996) Minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving a power-driven vehicle are laid down in Annex III . 13 of Council Directive 91 /439/EEC on driving licences as follows : Group 1 (category A or B vehicles ) 13.1 . Driving licences shall not be issued to , or renewed for, applicants or drivers who suffer from : — severe mental disturbance , whether congenital or due to disease , trauma or neurosurgical operations , No C 91 /22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
— severe mental retardation , — severe behavioural problems due to ageing ; or personality defects leading to seriously impaired judgment , behaviour or adaptibility , unless their application is supported by authorized medical opinion and , if necessary , subject to regular medical check-ups . Group 2 (category CI , C , Dl , D vehicles ) 13.2 . The competent medical authority shall give due consideration to the additional risks and dangers involved in the driving of vehicles covered by the definition of this group . These are minimum standards and leave to the national medical authority the ways and means to implement and enforce the standards . Furthermore , Member States may set more severe criteria if they so wish .
(97/C 91 /31 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2684/96 by Jose Valverde Lopez (PPE) to the Commission ( 15 October 1996 ) Subject: Reform of the COM for olive oil The olive-oil producing sector in Spain is concerned at the reform of the COM . Commissioner Fischler's proposals to introduce aid per tree make it necessary for the Commission to verify first of all that there are indeed 215 million trees in Spain , as claimed by professional circles , and not 166 million as quoted in some quarters . Furthermore , such a measures is not considered realistic within the sector . The current system is more appropriate , and the sector fails to comprehend the reasons behind the Commission 's proposals . What data does the Commission have , and what studies are being made to determine the actual scale of olive-growing in Spain and the consequences of a possible change in the system ?
(97/C 91 /32 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2685/96 by Jose Valverde Lopez (PPE) to the Commission ( 15 October 1996)
Subject: Expansion of olive-growing in Spain In the light of a forthcoming reform of the COM for oils and fats , the olive-oil producing sector generally favours maintaining the status quo as regards prices , aid and reductions . However, one aspect of great importance for some regions such as Andalusia , with serious economic problems , is the fact that the Commission is preparing to increase the production quota for olive oil , given that olive-growing is particularly suited to the dry conditions to be found in many areas which are not sufficiently fertile for arable crops . In the light of the current situation and the future outlook, it would be important for the sector to know how many hectares of new olive-groves might be included in the new quota to be established , and at the same time it would be advantageous if the new olive groves could be integrated into the afforestation scheme . What ideas can the Commission put forward on these points ?
(97/C 91 /33 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2946/96 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (25 October 1996)
Subject: Revision of the rules governing the common organization of the market in olive oil
In view of the fact that :
a) the Commission is due to adopt — probably on 13 November 1996 — a plan for revising the rules governing the common organization of the market in olive oil in the European Union , introducing far-reaching changes to the form of support and replacing aid for producers by a flat-rate aid by tree ; 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /23
b ) this radical restructuring is being undertaken in a sector which has no need for such measures and is motivated apparently by reasons unconnected with the operation of the market ; and c ) these radical measures will seriously jeopardize the future of the sector and the quality of the product which is an important factor in the olive oil market ; Will the Commission say : 1 . Whether it intends to submit to the European Parliament a text containing the relevant proposals and , if so , when ? 2 . What form will such a document take ? 3 . Whether it intends to accompany its proposals — whatever form they take -by a study of the consequences of its proposals both for producers and the natural environment and for the future development of the olive oil market ?
Joint answer to Written Questions E-2684/96, E-2685/96 and P-2946/96 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1996) The Commission will be discussing the different possible options for a reform of the olive oil common market organisation in the very near future . A document will be transmitted to the Parliament and the Council for discussion before any concrete proposals are finalised . The Commission cannot pre-empt the outcome of its deliberations by answering specific questions on the options but will certainly take the Honourable Member's questions and remarks into account . It must be clear that the new olive oil common market organisation should be simple , more transparent and easier to control than the existing regime . Quality should be at a premium and producers should be targeted as directly as possible . Differences of a regional , social and environmental kind should be taken into account .
(97/C 91 /34 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2691/96 by Nikitas Kaklamams (UPE) to the Commission (9 October 1996) Subject: Terrorist attack against the Ecumenical Patriarchate The Ecumenical Patriarchate has once again been the target of a terrorist attack by a fanatical Islamist organisation in Istanbul ( 29.9.1996). This fresh terrorist attack has caused disquiet throughout the Christian World , a disquiet aggravated by the practically non-existant measures taken to protect the Ecumenical Patriarchate , despite the many respresenta tions made in this connection . Will the Commission say : 1 . What representations it intends to make to the Government in Ankara ; and 2 . Whether it intends to provide the Patriarchate with financial assistance to enable it to repair the damage?
Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission ( 12 November 1996) The Commission notes that the official inquiry into the attack on the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul on 29 September 1996 has not yet concluded . The attack was claimed by IBDA-C , an Islamic terrorist group , but this has still to be confirmed by the inquiry . There is no specific heading in the Community budget that would allow it to fund the repairs . No C 91 /24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
( 97/C 91 /35 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2703/96 by Gianni Tamino (V) and Carlo Ripa di Meana (Y) to the Commission ( 15 October 1996 )
Subject: Inadequate notice of Union initiatives
Reading through the summer 1996 issues of the Official Journal of the European Communities — particularly those published in August — one is struck by a long series of interesting initiatives taken by the Commission , including calls for tenders in connection with measures relating to environmental protection , consumer policy , culture and social exclusion .
It must be said , however , that the deadlines for the submission of bids by interested organizations are in many cases extremely tight . How can one publish a call for tenders in the Official Journal in mid-August — which , in most of the Member States of the Union , is right in the middle of the summer holiday period — and expect interested organizations to be able to make adequate preparations for the submission of a bid by early September?
Why , given the evident lack of any degree of urgency , could the deadlines not be extended by at least one month , so as to give all interested organizations within the EU an opportunity to take part in such initiatives ?
Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
The deadlines given in Commission initiatives are set in compliance with the legal provisions applicable to them .
Each year, the Commission publishes the list of public holidays communicated by the Member States , together with the public holidays of Community institutions , in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
The Commission is fully prepared to look closely into any specific problem relating to deadlines which the Honourable Member might care to raise .
( 97/C 91 /36) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2708/96 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (9 October 1996)
Subject: Light rail system in Dublin
Earlier this year spokespeople for Commissioner Wulf Mathies were quoted in Irish newspapers on the exclusion of Dublin's northside from the first'phase of the Luas light rail project , which is being co-financed by the EU . The spokespeople said that the Commissioner had requested that the Irish authorities conduct a socioeconomic study to assess whether the need for the light rail is as acute on the northside of the city as it is on the southside and to ascertain if it is justifiable to exclude the northside from the project's first phase .
Can the Commission give details of whatever contacts it has had with the Irish authorities on this matter? Have the Irish authorities conducted or agreed to conduct any socioeconomic evaluation such as that suggested by the Commission ? What reasons have the Irish authorities given the Commission for the exclusion of the northside from the project's first phase ?
Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (15 November 1996)
The Commission has maintained close contact with the Irish authorities ever since this project was announced . It is represented on a steering group which has been created to oversee the project . One of the first tasks of the steering group has been to undertake a full socio-economic cost-benefit analysis of the three routes currently under consideration . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /25
This study was undertaken jointly by the Commission and the Irish authorities and carried out by an independent external consultancy firm . Work commenced in June 1996 and a final report was prepared during October . Following the production of this report an agreement was reached with the Irish authorities to go ahead with the southern and western routes as the first phase of LRT for Dublin as these were deemed to be the best solutions both from a technical and transport economic point of view . However, it was also agreed to construct the northern route as soon as possible and at the latest immediately after the completion of the other two routes . This agreement will bring forward the construction of the northern route by at least two years .
The reason that one route will have to be excluded from this first phase of LRT is set out in the Transport operational programme ('), agreed between the Commission and the Irish authorities in July 1994 , as follows : 'The core LRT system would cost approximately 371 MECU . This system cannot be fully constructed within the 247 MECU proposed for LRT under this programme . A longer time frame than that of this Programme ( 1994-1999 ) will be needed to physically complete the core LRT network . Detailed work is urgently in hands to determine the optimum combination of LRT links , which could be constructed over the 1994-1999 period'.
(') Operational Programme for Transport 1994-1999 , p. 47/8 ( ISBN — 7076 0462 1 / 1994 ).
( 97/C 91 /37 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2718/96 by Annemarie Kuhn (PSE) to the Commission ( 16 October 1996)
Subject: The bovine growth hormone rBST
In the EU the use and sale of rBST is prohibited until 31 December 1999 . The use of rBST is permitted in a number of non-EU countries .
1 . Is the Commission aware of instances of milk and dairy products being imported into the EU from countries where rBST is permitted ?
2 . If so , from which countries are milk and dairy products imported?
3 . What quantities of milk and dairy products are to the Commission's knowledge being imported into the EU from countries where rBST is permitted , and in which Member States are they marketed ?
Under the terms of decision 90/218/EEC ('), Member States are permitted to carry out limited field tests with rBST .
4 . To what extent are field tests carried out in the Member States with recombinant growth hormones ? Is the marketing of food suffs rules out after each test prohibited ? If not , what foodstuffs are permitted to be marketed following these tests ?
(>) OJ L 1 16 . 8.5.1990 . p . 27 .
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission ( 11 November 1996)
1 . Council Decision 94/936/EC (') concerning the placing on the market and administration of Bovine Somatotrophin ( BST) does not prohibit the import of milk products from non-member countries where the administration of rBST to cattle is authorized .
2 . Since non-member countries are not required to officially declare whether they authorize the use of BST in cattle , the Commission does not have information indicating all the countries which do so . To its knowledge , the following non-member countries authorize the use of BST : the United States of America , Mexico , South Africa, Zimbabwe , Namibia , Algeria , Brazil , Costa Rica , Honduras , Jamaica, the Czech Republic , Slovakia, Romania , Bulgaria , India and Pakistan .
3 . All Member States import milk products from some of the abovementioned countries . In 1995 , the Community imported 5 283 tonnes of milk products from the United States , 5 636 tonnes from the Czech No C 91 /26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Republic , 2 264 tonnes from Slovakia and 1 810 tonnes from Bulgaria . Imports from the other non-member countries listed in paragraph 2 are non-existent or insignificant .
4 . To date , no Member State has decided to carry out the limited practical tests on the use of BST provided for in Article 2 of Council Decision 24/936/EC .
(') OJ L 366 . 31.12.1994 .
( 97/C 91 /38 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2724/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (21 October 1996)
Subject: Guarantee fund for the audiovisual sector
In connection with the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a 'European Guarantee Fund to promote cinema and television production ' ( COM(95 ) 546 ) ('), will the Commission clarify the type of producer which is to receive funding and say whether it intends to promote major productions which can compete on world markets against American products , or whether it will favour independent producers and screenwriters , which are the best representatives of European culture and have established their position on the world market in recent decades with masterpieces of unlimited value ?
Will the Commission favour small and medium-sized production companies by assisting projects which to produce more films , so that any failures can be balanced by successes and the risks can be reduced ?
(') OJ C 41 , 13.2.1996 , p . 8 .
Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1996)
In principle the European Investment Fund will be open to all types of productions provided they are likely to be commercially viable and have a potential for cross-border distribution ( i.e. in at least two Member States).
As requested by the Council and Parliament , the Commission is examining a mechanism for consideration of projects with limited financial scope , which most often originate in Member States with a limited audiovisual capacity . This mechanism would make it possible for a certain portion of the Fund's finances to be earmarked for this type of project .
The Fund is clearly intended to support producers presenting catalogues containing several production projects as well as firms presenting individual projects .
( 97/C 91 /39 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2735/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (21 October 1996 )
Subject: Planning techniques in the electricity and gas distribution sectors
The aim of the proposal for a Council Directive to introduce rational planning techniques in the electricity and gas distribution sectors (doc . COM(95)369 (')) is to increase energy efficiency in the gas and electricity distribution sectors by introducing rational planning techniques which will assess the possibility of investment in the fields of energy supply and reduction in energy demand . The aim is also to help to achieve the Community objective of stabilizing C0 2 emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000 . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /27
We consider it necessary to go beyond the Community objective of stabilizing C02 emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000 . It is also important to improve energy efficiency for the end consumer by using planning techniques . Integrated resource planning was introduced in the United States to control the management of demand . Does the Commission not consider that it would be appropriate to apply integrated resource planning in the EU too ?
(') OJ C 1 , 4.1.1996 , p . 6 .
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1996)
The Commission 's draft directive to introduce rational planning techniques in the electricity and gas distribution sectors is indeed a measure intended to contribute to the Community 's C0 2 objective for the year 2000 . The measure will also create a culture within the utility distribution sector whereby demand side management (energy efficiency services) will be offered to customers on the same basis as energy supply . Although the title of the measure does not specifically mention integrated resource planning , there is no doubt that compliance with the draft directive would involve the application of the integrated resource planning concept throughout the Community . This would have long-term positive effects for the environment (beyond 2000) and energy policy in general and would act as the perfect complementary action to the Community's proposals for an internal energy market .
(97/C 91 /40) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2757/96 by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission (21 October 1996)
Subject: EU Fishing agreements with the Gambia Could the Commission state what steps it has taken to ensure that EU vessels , fishing under fisheries agreements concluded with the Gambian authorities, do not undermine the sustainable development of local communities who depend on fish resources in their coastal waters ?
Answer given by Mrs Bomno on behalf of the Commission (29 November 1996)
The last protocol to the fisheries agreement with Gambia expired on 30th June 1996 . No other protocol has been ratified since . The Gambian authorities cancelled at the last minute their arrival in Brussels and their participation in the formal negotiation which was scheduled on 25th June 1996 . From that date there has been no request from Gambia to recommence a negotiation with the Community .
In annex to the last protocol paragraph G says that 'Community vessels may carry out fishing activities in the following zones : — beyond 7 miles from the coast for trawlers equal or less than 250 gross registered tons (GRT); — beyond 12 miles from the coast for trawlers more than 250 gross registered tons (GRT)'
With these fishing zones , Community vessels do not undermine the sustainable development of local communities . Furthermore , in the last protocol , fishing possibilities have been utilised less than 7% . With such a low rate , no harm could have been done to the local communities . No C 91 /28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 /41 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2758/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (21 October 1996)
Subject: The COM in bananas With reference to the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation No 404/93 on the common organization of the market in bananas (COM(96) 82 (')), does the Commission not consider it appropriate to adopt specific provisions to take account of the particular situation in Somalia and to review the increase in the tariff quota of 353 000 tonnes intended to take into account consumption in the three new Member States? Does it not also consider that the reduction in the portion of the tariff quota assigned to Category B operators is unjustified ?
(') OJ C 121 , 25.4.1996 , p . 15 .
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 November 1996)
The quota for traditional imports of bananas from Somalia was set at their highest historical level , i.e. 60 000 tonnes . Unfortunately , the country has never been able to take advantage of this opportunity for want of a national administration .
The proposed increase in the tariff quota of 353 000 tonnes is a fair reflection of the Community market situation following the accession of the three new Member States , since it represents their previous average consumption . There has been no reduction in the tariff quota assigned to Category B operators in real terms . In absolute terms the volume of the quota is unchanged following the accession of the three new Member States , which formerly imported only 'dollar' bananas .
( 97/C 91 /42 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2759/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (21 October 1996)
Subject: An inappropriate appointment The Commission is obviously not aware of events in Italy and does not read the Italian newspapers . Otherwise it would have heard about the recent sentence on appeal ( second degree) passed against Carlo De Benedetti and the fact that he has numerous interests in the telecommunications sector. On 22 July he had another problem — he was called for trial on charges of corruption . The reason for this was the payment of bribes amounting to tens of billions of lire for the awarding of contracts which would otherwise never have been obtained by his companies . Furthermore , another case being brought in Pordenone concerns 'divided stripping', a sum of billions of lire diverted away from the Italian tax authorities . There is also the inquiry into supplies to the Italian State Railways , the one concerning the OMINITEL funding and , finally , the Consob inquiry about insider trading in Olivetti shares .
If the Commission had known all this it would probably not have assisted in the surprising appointment of the Chairman of Olivetti , the same Carlo De Benedetti, as chairman of the working group on setting up a European telecommunications authority . Since Mr De Benedetti did not refuse the appointment , as would have been correct, can the Commission say whether it knows the facts outlined above and whether it does not consider, in the light of such facts , that it should review Mr De Benedetti ' s appointment, since to confirm it or, worse still , to behave as if nothing had happened as regards both the conflict of interests and lack of transparency , would entail a great loss of credibility for the European institutions?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1996) The high level industry advisory group on the information society supports the Commission in identifying future priorities for its actions to facilitate the application of the information society in Europe . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /29
Three working groups were created to address a number of key topics related to the information society . In this context working group 3 , chaired by Mr De Benedetti , has been asked to discuss certain questions on the telecommunications regulatory framework . The Commission is perfectly aware of the circumstances mentioned by the Honourable Member, as it follows attentively current events in all Member States . The appointment of Mr De Benedetti as chairman of working group 3 was agreed , taking into account his long-established commitment on European matters , when no legal proceedings were pending involving him , and no judicial decision had been taken concerning him .
(97/C 91 /43 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2760/96 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (21 October 1996 ) Subject: Italy 's failure to comply with the directive on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes In its answers to questions 2455/92 (') and 1747/93 ( 2) the Commission said that Italian legislative decree No 1 16/ 1992 , in which Directive 86/609/EEC ( 3 ) was transposed ' fails to comply with Article 17 of the Directive ' and that it would ' communicate this to the Italian authorities'. As result of this communication the Italian Minister of Health drafted a ministerial decree to remedy the shortcoming on 22 December 1993 on the basis of Article 24 of the Directive . Unfortunately this decree never came into force , despite the confirmation given in the Commission 's answer to Written Question 1541 /95 (4) that it had 'immediately contacted the Italian authorities in order to learn their position on this matter'. Three years have now passed and Italian legislation continues to fail to comply with the directive . Can the Commission say : 1 . what explanations the Italian authorities had to offer on this subject? 2 . whether it intends to initiate infringement proceedings against Italy ?
(') OJ C 141 , 19.5.1993 , p . 32 . ( 2 ) OJ C 46 , 14.2.1994 , p . 34 . ( ? ) OJ L 358 , 18.12.1986 , p . 1 . ( 4 ) OJ C 230 , 4.9.1995 , p . 49 .
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission ( 11 December 1996) . 1 . The Commission formally drew the attention of the Italian authorities to this matter by letter in 1995 . The matter was further raised at a meeting with the national authorities under Directive 86/609/EEC on 4 and 5 September 1996 . At this meeting , the Italian authorities confirmed their commitment to ensuring that the Directive was fully respected , and their intention to resolve any difficulties of implementation in Italy . Another meeting is planned for April 1997 , and this will provide an additional opportunity to check and discuss what progress has been made . 2 . The Commission does not rule out the possibility of infringement proceedings against Italy if this matter cannot be otherwise resolved .
(97/C 91 /44) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2765/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996) Subject: IGC : monitoring application of the subsidiarity principle During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , said that within the IGC there was substantial opposition to the creation of new bodies or institutions designed to enable the national parliaments to play a collective role , particularly in connection with monitoring application of the subsidiarity principle . No C 91 /30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Given the above , should not the Presidency propose that the role of the national parliaments be strengthened, with each being given a right of veto over questions of subsidiarity? Such a reform would appear logical in that it is the people of each country that is in the best position to judge exactly what powers it intended to delegate to the Community when it ratified the Treaty .
( 97/C 91 /45 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2766/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN ) to the Council ( 17 October 1996) Subject: IGC : Article 235 During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , said that the IGC was discussing the question of whether Article 235 should in future only be used subject to the assent of the European Parliament . Although this new-found desire to improve scrutiny of the use of Article 235 , which is all too often misused , is to be welcomed , one may well wonder whether , in this case , the European Parliament , which is generally the first to encourage its improper use , is the best judge of the matter . Would the Presidency not agree that it should propose to the IGC either that Article 235 be deleted altogether — in which case the normal rules for revision of the Treaties would apply — or that provision should indeed be made for an assent procedure , but that such assent should be given by the national parliaments?
(97/C 91 /46) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2767/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council (77 October 1996)
Subject: IGC : environmental protection During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , indicated that the Presidency felt it important that , at the IGC , the Union should undertake to incorporate environmental protection requirements into all its policies . With this in mind , does the Presidency not feel that it should propose to the IGC that clear confirmation be given of the all too often disputed applicability of Articles 36 and 100a(3 ), which provide that each Member State has the right to protect its environment more effectively than its neighbours by adopting national standards which meet the expectations of its people ?
(97/C 91 /47 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2768/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996) Subject: IGC : reform of the third pillar During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , said that the Council Secretariat had submitted to the IGC a proposal setting out the specific areas which it felt should be transferred from the third to the first pillar of the Treaty . Does the Presidency believe it realistic to expect that decisions on vitally important matters directly affecting national sovereignty , such as immigration rules , can be taken by a qualified majority under the first pillar? If it does not , is it prepared to put forward new procedures which will preserve unanimity ? 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /31
( 97/C 91 /48 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2769/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996)
Subject: IGC : reform of the third pillar and monopolistic right of initiative for the Commission
During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , indicated that the Council Secretariat had submitted to the IGC a proposal providing for the transfer from the third to the first pillar of the Treaty of matters of such importance as asylum , immigration and visa policy . Does the Presidency find it acceptable that , as an upshot of such a reform , the Commission should be given a monopolistic right of initiative over matters so closely bound up with national sovereignty ?
(97/C 91 /49 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2770/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996)
Subject: IGC : Community powers in the employment sphere
During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , said that the Presidency had submitted to the IGC a draft text including in the Treaty a new title (or a new chapter) on the Community's powers in the employment sphere . Is the Presidency not concerned that this might lead to a further duplication of responsibility between the European institutions and the Member States , which would make the actual responsibilities of each still more difficult to pin down , lead to still more frequent violations of the subsidiarity principle , and further undermine the overall effectiveness of any measures taken ?
( 97/C 91 /50) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2771/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996)
Subject: IGC : utilization of the Community's powers in the trade field
During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , said that the Presidency had submitted to the IGC a draft text conferring on the Community powers in the employment field and emphasizing the importance of the employment objective in European policies .
Before doing so , did the Presidency consider whether the Community always uses its existing powers to boost employment , particularly in connection with international trade negotiations ? Should it not take advantage of this opportunity to ensure that greater efforts are made on the employment front during such negotiations , by proposing that the IGC remove the ambiguities existing in Articles 1 13 and 228 with regard to the Commission's degree of autonomy in this area? Would it , furthermore , put forward proposals with a view to enhancing the transparency of preparatory negotiations on international trade agreements and ensuring that the Commission has no power to act on behalf of the Community , either de jure or de facto , before receiving the Council 's formal approval ?
( 97/C 91 /51 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2772/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996)
Subject: IGC : multi-speed monetary system During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , failed to mention the single currency , adhering to the firmly-held position of all parties at the IGC that the matter has already been settled and anyway has no bearing on the conference , which is to deal solely with institutional matters . No C 91 /32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Despite this , new developments in the process of establishing monetary union have highlighted the need for a multi-speed system , something which was not officially envisaged when the Treaty on European Union was ratified . The new system raises sensitive institutional questions — to which as yet no answer has been found — such as the respective powers within the Council of the various sub-groups of countries , determined on the basis of their degree of involvement in monetary union .
Would the Presidency not agree that the IGC should tackle this institutional problem , which is fundamental to the very way in which we perceive the Union ? Is it prepared to submit the matter to its partners ?
(97/C 91 /52) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2773/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996)
Subject: IGC : CFSP operational
During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , said that the Presidency had submitted to the IGC a draft revision of Article J.l 1(2 ) which provided that, in future , CFSP operational expenditure would , as a general rule , be charged to the budget of the European Communities , except where military operations were involved or the Council decided otherwise .
Would the Presidency state what impact this reform would have on the powers which the Commission , the European Parliament and the Court of Justice have in these areas? Furthermore , under the proposed system , would the intergovernmental nature of such expenditure remain intact ?
(97/C 91 /53 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2774796 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996)
Subject: IGC : external representation of the Union
During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , indicated that the Presidency had submitted to the IGC a proposal which would make it compulsory for the Member States to adopt a common stance within the international organizations on all matters connected with external economic relations , even those for which the Community does not have exclusive responsibility .
It should be remembered that many people were shocked to find that , during the dispute between Canada and the Member States over fishing rights , the European Union , represented by the Commission , had only one vote within the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization — exactly the same number as Cuba — despite the fact that several Member States have long-standing rights in this region , which could have been brought to bear collectively . Despite claims that coordination is thus improved , this situation in fact actually undermines the Union 's structural and organizational strength and is repeated within many other international forums .
What steps does the Presidency intend to take to ensure that the above proposal does not make this situation even worse ?
(91/C 91 /54) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2775/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996)
Subject: IGC : a 'political umbrella' for monetary union
During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , failed to mention the single currency, adhering to the firmly-held position of all parties to the IGC that the matter has already been settled and anyway has no bearing on the conference , which is to deal solely with institutional matters . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /33
Since the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty , however, several European and national leaders have stated that the form of monetary union agreed upon could not function without accompanying institutional changes . For example , speaking before the Council of Europe on 28 September 1995 , Chancellor Kohl maintained that monetary union could not work without a ' political umbrella' and that it was unrealistic to think otherwise . Does the Presidency intend to propose that the IGC consider the implications of such statements ?
(97/C 91 /55 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2776/96 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council ( 17 October 1996) Subject: IGC : the role of the national parliaments During the statement which he made to the European Parliament's Committee on Institutional Affairs on 25 September 1996 Mr Gay Mitchell , Irish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council , maintained that the role of the national parliaments should be restricted to that which they traditionally played at national level , and that this issue clearly remained within the bounds of the constitutional law of the individual Member States .
Would the Presidency not agree , however, that the extension of qualified majority voting under the first pillar, which was also referred to during the above statement , will prevent the parliaments of Member States which find themselves in a minority opposed to any given measure from playing any role whatsoever? Might this not be seen as one of the causes of the current feeling of unease and , should this way of thinking prevail , might it not lead to an increase in the democratic deficit? Does the Presidency intend to put an end to this unhealthy trend by proposing at the IGC that the national parliaments be given a direct right of veto in European decision-making procedures ?
Joint answer to Written Questions 2765/96, 2766/96, 2767/96, 2769/96, 2770/96, 2771/96, 2772/96, 2773/96, 2774/96, 2775/96 and 2776/96 (30 January 1997) The Council cannot comment on the various proposals under discussion in the Intergovernmental Conference .
(97/C 91 /56) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2783/96 by Shaun Spiers (PSE) to the Commission (21 October 1996) Subject: ESF Objective 3 Single Programming Document (UK) Is the Commission aware of the considerable concern among social economy organizations in the United Kingdom that delays in signing the Single Programming Document may lead to delay in the approval of, start of and payments to projects to assist the unemployed ? What are the reasons for this delay and when does the Commission expect agreement to be reached with the British Government on this matter?
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission ( 14 January 1997) The single programming document for objective 3 Great Britain for 1997-1999 was agreed by the Commission and the British authorities on 4 November 1996 . It received approval from the European social fund advisory committee on 13 December 1996 and was adopted by the Commission on 16 December 1996 . No C 91 /34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 /57 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2789/96 by Antonio Taiani (UPE) and Riccardo Garosci (UPE) to the Commission (21 October 1996)
Subject: The introduction by the Italian Government of a tax for Europe
As part of its new budgetary measures , the Italian Government has decided to introduce a tax for Europe .
This heavy new tax , which the Prime Minister, Mr Prodi , has judged necessary to enable Italy to take part in the first stage of monetary union , has no equivalent in the other European countries .
The new tax will have an adverse impact on the Italian economy as will the whole of the budget, which is based on higher taxation rather than cuts in public spending and thus takes the opposite approach to that adopted by the other Member States with a view to meeting the Maastricht targets .
Has the Commission in any way hinted at or proposed such a tax , or even imposed it on the Italian Government ?
Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (7 November 1996)
The Commission has recently indicated the need for Italy to make additional progress in the area of fiscal consolidation . It has not, however, introduced any specific proposal or requested any particular intervention . Therefore , it is quite impossible that the decision to introduce a 'tax for Europe' could have been suggested or even less imposed by the Commission .
The Commission would in addition recall that it has always sought in the broad guideline of economic policy to reduce expenditure rather than to increase taxation , to improve Member States ' budgetary situations .
(97/C 91 /58 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2793/96 by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission ( 14 October 1996)
Subject: EU funding for the wildlife habitat at the Aposselemis Estuary in Greece
The Envireg Community Initiative in Greece ( 1990-1993 ) funded a study into the Aposselemis Estuary region in order to evaluate its ecological value as a precondition to any economic investment in this area . This study never took place and the funds were transferred to other projects .
Why was there an absence of substantial action by the Greek authorities leading to the protection of the wetlands when EU money had already been appropriated ?
Why did the ecological project fail to take place ?
Does the abandonment of the study and the transfer of the EU appropriations to other projects , leaving only limited funds which were then used to clear domestic refuse from this area, not represent a misappropriation of EU finances?
In addition it seems that even though no study was carried out , the Greek Government nevertheless allowed the construction of a football pitch on this site ,
What action will the Commission take to avoid such a failure again ?
Can the Commission also investigate how the funds earmarked for this project were actually spent? Having done so could it state whether these alternative projects fulfilled the criteria for the Envireg Initiative ? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /35
Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Matthies on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1996)
The Member States ' authorities are free to decide on priorities , timetabling and the degree of protection afforded to biotopes not covered by Community or international law . The project to protect Crete's Aposselemis estuary was not carried out in full , primarily because delays in its implementation led the monitoring committee to modify its content and funding . In an operational programme or Community initiative , the timely scaling-down or cancellation of a project or measure and the transfer of the funds available to activities needing more funding or offering better results testifies to good management rather than a misuse of Community resources . In the case in point, the funds saved by scaling down this scheme have been used to strengthen other 'biotope ' schemes under the Community's ENVIREG initiative in Greece . The Commission believes that the measure in question has achieved most of its objectives ; the projects carried out include some significant successes . For ENVIREG-Greece , decisions of this type were taken by the monitoring committee set up for the initiative : the decision to modify the scheme in question was taken at its fourth meeting , which was held in Athens on 8 November 1993 .
The Honourable Member refers to the subsequent construction of a football ground in this region : since only Greek funds were involved , the Commission feels that the matter is one for the national authorities .
In order to improve the management of current schemes , the Greek authorities have , in partnership with the Commission , adopted additional measures for the 1994-99 Community support framework aimed at monitoring projects more effectively . The eligibility of spending on the projects covered by this measure has been supervised by Greece's Ministry for Economic Affairs , its Ministry for the Environment and the monitoring committee . The implementation of most 'biotope ' projects has been largely supervised by the Goulandris Natural History Museum, a foundation recognized throughout Europe for its technical competence .
(97/C 91 /59 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2795/96 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (21 October 1996)
Subject: Small and medium-sized firms strangled in red tape Small and medium-sized firms are the backbone of the Italian economy , as in other countries of the European Union , but in Italy at least they are in danger of being crushed beneath the weight of bureaucratic procedures . A study by the Confartigianato ( Italian General Confederation of Craft Trades) reported in the Italian press illustrates the problems encountered by a small firm wishing to take part in a public invitation to tender . The small contractor needs to submit to the public authority in question 25 documents , 23 of which are subject to stamp duty , and a certificate indicating that he is a member of the national association representing the relevant sector . Obtaining these documents can cost over a million lire and often involves an even more costly waste of time .
The simple fact that the contractor is registered with the relevant national association , which has at its disposal all the documents which he is required to produce , should be enough to guarantee that the firm is eligible to take part in the competition . XXXWould the Commission , therefore , if a similar situation obtains in the other Member States , propose a Community directive aimed at speeding up the bureaucratic formalities or, at least , take appropriate steps to ensure that the situation is harmonized in whatever way is most favourable for the firms involved?
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1996)
The Commission fully shares the concern of the Honourable Member regarding the administrative burden imposed on business . In fact, this burden is higher for small businesses than for larger enterprises because they do not have the human and financial resources to cope with their administrative obligations . No C 91 /36 | en Official Journal of the European Communities 20. 3 . 97
Improving and simplifying the regulatory and administrative business environment is therefore one of the priority objectives as set up in the Commission's report on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs ) to the European Council of Madrid (') and in the third multiannual programme for SMEs ( 2 ).
Because the application of legislation and the administrative procedures that stem from it are primarily the responsibility of national and local public administrations, the Commission's actions in this field relate mainly to the exchange of information and best practice between Member States . This enables each of the Member States to assess its own performance with respect to improving their administrative systems and the way they conduct their relationship with business . A first action was launched by the Commission on measures developed in the Member States with a view to simplifying the start-up phase of a business . A number of concrete measures were identified such as the setting-up of a single contact point and a single application form for business registration . The Commission is considering the most appropriate means to follow-up this work .
As regards the registration of contractors and eligibility to take part in competitions for the award of public contracts , it should be noted that the public procurement Directives covering public works , supplies and services provide as follows ; a) that certified registration on official lists by the competent body should , for the purposes of the contracting authorities of other Member States , constitute a presumption of suitability corresponding to the contractor's classification as regards certain requirements for participation in public procurement , which include enrolment in a professional register, and b) information that can be deduced from registration on official lists cannot be questioned . However, contracting authorities have the right to ask for further documentation on matters not covered by the presumption or which cannot be deduced from the registration .
If the Honourable Member has information indicating infringement of these provisions , she is welcome to submit it to the Commission , which will take the appropriate action .
The Commission is generally concerned about how the participation of small and medium-sized firms in public procurement can be made more effective , and the remaining barriers to the opening up of public procurement removed . The Commission is preparing a green paper on public procurement, which could be issued shortly and which should allow the Commission to obtain valuable contributions as to possible solutions to some of the problems raised by the Honourable Member .
(') CSE ( 95 ) 2087 . 0 OJ C 156, 31.3.1996 .
(97/C 91 /60) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2797/96 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (21 October 1996)
Subject: Torturing horses to make equestrian competitions more exciting
The Italian press reports that in the US , in some equestrian competitions , horses are tortured with nails and barbed riding whips to make them jump higher.
Would the Commission check that similar tortures are not inflicted on animals competing in such events in the countries of the European Union?
Would it also ascertain whether Europeans taking part in competitions in America are forced to accept these cruel practices?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (29 November 1996)
The Commission deplores all cruel treatment of animals . In its legislative proposals on the protection of animals , the Commission has always sought to achieve the highest possible level of protection . However, methods of training for competitions are not covered by Community law . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /37
Furthermore , in relation to horses , Directives 90/426/EEC ('), 90/427/EEC 1 and 90/428/EEC ' have laid down Community rules in relation to animal health conditions for trade and import, zootechnical requirements and conditions of participation in competitions .
(') OJ L 224, 18.8.1990 .
(97/C 91 /61 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2803/96 by Armelle Guinebertière (UPE) to the Commission (25 October 1996)
Subject: Application of the Basle Convention
The recycling industry processes ordinary industrial waste such as scrap metal , non-ferrous metals , cardboard, glass , plastic , textiles , pallets , office consumables , leather and various other materials .
Processing gives rise to a product that : — fulfils technical conditions and specifications , — is subject to a contract on quality and quantity , — corresponds to market requirements , — has a use value , and — has a descriptive list of its intrinsic qualities .
One objective of this process is to minimize final waste .
Products that fulfil these conditions are called secondary raw materials .
There is however a problem with this classification in that the Basle Convention of 22 March 1989 , which bans trans-frontier shipments of waste from 1 January 1998 , considers secondary raw materials to be waste .
This recycling , which operates on a largely international scale , will cease and the industry will have to confine itself to what the domestic market can consume and dispose of the remainder, which is the larger part . This is contrary to the objective of zero waste disposal by 2002 .
Is it possible for secondary raw materials to be separated from waste in the Basle Convention , so that world stocks of raw materials will be conserved and the developing countries will continue to receive the secondary raw materials that they need ?
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
The Commission is aware that secondary raw materials may come under Community waste legislation, and under the Basel Convention on transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal . However, the Basel Convention applies to hazardous waste only .
In connection with the prohibition from 1 January 1998 of exports of hazardous waste for recovery to non-OECD countries (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), the conference of the Parties, at its third meeting in September 1995 , asked the Convention's technical working party to produce more detailed lists of what does and does not constitute hazardous waste under the terms of the Convention ; in other words, what would be covered by the export ban and what would not .
The technical working party has made substantial progress and expects to complete its work in April 1997 , for presentation at the fourth conference of the Parties to the Convention , scheduled for October 1997 . No C 91 /38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
At this stage , the provisional list of waste not regarded as hazardous contains a number of substances sometimes referred to as ' secondary raw materials ' such as precious and non-ferrous metal waste and debris , other metal-containing waste , glass waste , ceramic waste , paper and cardboard waste , textile waste , rubber waste , cork and untreated wood waste , waste from the food and agri-food industries and solid plastic waste . The most comprehensive , up-to-date information on the subject may be obtained on request from the Basel Convention secretariat .
Once the fourth conference of the Parties to the Convention has taken a decision regarding the lists compiled by the technical working party , the Community , as a Party to the Basel Convention , will have to abide by these lists and , where necessary , amend Community law accordingly . Consequently , waste considered non-hazardous under the Basel Convention will not , in principle , be covered by the prohibition , from 1 January 1998 , of transboundary shipments of waste for recovery to non-OECD countries , which will be incorporated into Council Regulation (EEC ) 259/93 on shipments of waste within , into and out of the Community . (')
(') Common position ( EC ) No . 30/96 — OJ C 219 , 27.7.1996 .
( 97/C 91 /62 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2805/96 by Barbara Duhrkop Diihrkop (PSE) to the Commission (25 October 1996)
Subject: Protection of the European architectural heritage and promotion of railway stations of artistic interest
Since 1984 the Commission has been stimulating the protection of our architectural heritage through a highly popular measure ( support for pilot projects to conserve the European architectural heritage), which has since 1989 been devoted to a specific theme for each phase of the programme : religious monuments , theatres , historic gardens , farm , craft and industrial buildings , etc . This measure is also supported by national , regional and local administrations and enjoys public backing , as it makes it possible to identify the shared roots of our peoples ' culture .
What ideas does the Commission have for themes which might be the subject of future phases ?
In this context , the transformation of the rail system in Europe ( introduction of high-speed trains , closing of branch lines , etc .) is leading to railway stations of great artistic interest being used for other purposes or closed down . The example of the old Orleans station in Paris , now the Orsay museum , might provide inspiration for other old stations under threat , which are often the most characteristic buildings in many cities and towns . In other cases , such as Lisbon 's Rossio station , these buildings are still being used for their original purpose . New stations worthy of admiration such as Lyons station and London 's Waterloo are also being built . Railway stations have a vocation to unite European cities and towns and many of them are highly interesting examples of avant-garde architecture .
Does the Commission consider that a future phase of the programme to protect the European architectural heritage might be devoted to Europe's train stations?
Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission ( 16 December 1996)
The Commission shares fully the Honourable Member's concern and conviction as to the importance of the preservation of Europe's architectural heritage in general and of the nature , character and purpose of railway stations of architectural importance in particular. It is in this context that , since 1984 , the Commission has implemented its pilot actions in favour of the protection of architectural heritage by concentrating , each year, on a specific theme of interest .
Railway stations have indeed been restored with the Community help in the past , like the Temple Mead station in Bristol , United Kingdom ( 1985 ), the Railway museum in Kalamata, Greece ( 1991 ) and the reception building of Dresden station in Germany ( 1992 ). 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /39
Any future action in the field of cultural heritage protection and preservation will be considered in the framework of the Raphael programme , which it is hoped will be adopted and implemented in the next few months . It is in this context that themes will be decided for the next few years .
Given the importance of the theme proposed by the Honourable Member, the Commission will gladly take it into consideration in due course and when it is time to formulate its proposals for future themes within the framework of the Raphael programme .
(97/C 91 /63 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2809/96 by Johannes Blokland (I-EDN ) to the Commission (25 October 1996)
Subject: Transaction between France Telecom and the French State 1 . The Financieel Dagblad of 20 September 1996 reported that the pension funds of the privatized France Telecom amounting to FF 37.5 billion were being transferred to the State and that a number of claims on funds were being collected prematurely . According to the report , this accounting jiggery-pokery is taking place to make France ready for EMU next year . Is this report true? 2 . Are the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty so flexible that a country can help itself to meet the convergence criterion concerning budget deficits by resorting to a transaction of this nature ?
3 . To what extent does this accounting exercise contribute to real convergence , given that it entails an increase in government commitments ?
Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1996)
The French civil servants retirement scheme for civil servants employed by France Telecom works on a pay-as-you-go basis , therefore the exceptional payment by France Telecom to the French government involves no financial asset or liability and should be treated as a capital transfer . This exceptional payment of 37 500 million FF will reduce the net borrowing of the general government sector by approximately 0.5% in 1997 . The accounting treatment of this exceptional payment as a capital transfer is in conformity with the EC Treaty, the protocol on the Excessive deficit procedure and Regulation 3605/93 which refers to the European system of integrated economic accounts ( 2nd edition) and which has to be applied for the statistics of the budgetary convergence .
The decision on the accounting treatment underlined the exceptional character of this payment . The Commission , when adopting its annual forecast for 1997 , stressed this exceptional character in the corresponding footnote . The Commission recalls that the EC Treaty insists on the durability of the convergence required for entry into the third stage of Economic and monetary union .
(97/C 91 /64 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2813/96 by Philippe-Armand Martin (UPE) to the Commission ( 16 October 1996)
Subject: Checks on the movement of goods subject to excise duty
Articles 2 and 3 of Regulation 2238/93 (') lay down the administrative procedure for the validation of accompanying documents .
Certain Member States , in applying this regulation , have interpreted it in different ways . 1 . Is it justifiable that one Member State ( Spain ) should recognize 17 different control bodies? No C 91 /40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
2 . In DOCM No 8 , p. 580 , of 16 February 1996, Section 5(1 ), Spanish legislation states that 'the documents will be validated by the consignors themselves by means of the stamp reproduced in Annex III to this text'. Does the Commission consider that this is a correct interpretation ?
3 . The annex to the text gives a model ' validation stamp' which does not state the name and address of the 'competent authority'. Does the commission consider that this is a correct interpretation?
4 . Does not the Commission think that this procedure entails a risk of fraud and may render checks on the movement of goods subject to excise duty more difficult?
5 . Where checks are carried out, does not an operator from another Member State who buys a Spanish wine risk being accused by his or her own national administration of failure to comply with Regulation 2238/93 ?
(') OJ L 200 , 10.8.1993 , p . 10 .
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (12 November 1996)
Following the completion of the single market, the rules on documents accompanying the carriage of wine products and the relevant records to be kept in the wine sector were thoroughly revised to adapt them to the new tax rules on the movement of products subject to excise duty .
Regulation (EEC ) No 2238/93 of 26 July 1993 on the accompanying documents for the carriage of wine products and the relevant records to be kept in the wine sector entered into force on 1 September 1993 .
Over the past three years there have been certain instances in which the Member States have not always applied the Regulation properly (e.g. too many different documents , overlapping control bodies , incomplete descriptions of the product, etc .). The Commission , in cooperation with the Member States , has commenced a critical review of the Regulation in order to eliminate anything which might impede the proper execution and effectiveness of the measures introduced under it .
The Commission would like to give the following answers to the questions put by the Honourable Member : 1 . Article 20 ( 1 ) of the Regulation provides that each Member State is to notify the Commission of the name and address of the authority or authorities competent for implementation of the Regulation , thus expressly providing that the Member State may recognize more than one control body ; 2 . The original of the accompanying document and a copy of it may be validated beforehand and for each consignment by the consignor by means of the prescribed stamp or the mark of a stamping machine approved by the competent authority (Article 3 (4)); 3 . According to the information available to the Commission , the ' validation stamp' referred to in Annex III to the Spanish law to which the Honourable Member refers must , in accordance with this legislation , be used in conjunction with section 4 of the accompanying document which appears as a specimen in Annex III of the Regulation . 4 . The Commission is aware of one case of misinterpretation of the Regulation by an operator , involving movement within the Community of a product subject to excise duty . The consignor was obliged to use a document created in accordance with Council Directive 92/ 12/EEC of 25 February 1992 on general arrangements for products subject to excise duty and on the holding , movement and monitoring of such products (')• The Commission contacted the national authorities concerned in order to avoid other similar cases . 5 . Article 3 ( 1 ) of the Regulation provides that the document accompanying the carriage of a wine product must be completed under the responsibility of those who carry out the carriage operation or cause it to be carried out .
Where it is found that a document contains false , erroneous or incomplete particulars (Article 6 (5 ) of the Regulation), the competent authority of the Member State where this is discovered is to take the necessary measures ; in the event of serious or repeated irregularities the competent local or regional authority at the place of unloading is to inform the competent local or regional authority at the place of loading , in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC ) No 2048/89 laying down general arrangements on controls in the wine sector ( 2 ).
(') OJ L 76 , 23.3.1992 . ( 2 ) OJ L 202 , 24.7.1989 . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /41
(97/C 91 /65 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2820/96 by María Sornosa Martínez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (25 October 1996)
Subject: Elections in Kuwait — denial of women's right to vote
On 9 October 1996 , parliamentary elections were held in Kuwait . Women were not allowed to vote or to stand as candidates . Despite the campaign conducted by Kuwaiti feminist organizations with a view to securing an amendment to the electoral law in order to ensure equality between men and women , women were unable to cast their vote .
Is the Commission considering any action which may help to lift the ban on political activity imposed on women in countries such as Kuwait?
Is the Commission thinking of taking any action to support organizations and associations calling for equality between men and women, particularly in countries where such differences lead to the political , educational and social exclusion of women?
Does the Commission believe that a public-awareness campaign to highlight the particular situation of women in countries such as Kuwait would help to improve their living conditions ?
Answer given by Mr Mann on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1996)
The Commission closely follows the human rights record and attaches the utmost importance to the development of democracy and the reinforcement of democratic institutions in all countries .
The Commission welcomes the holding of the second legislative elections in Kuwait after the Gulf war which is an important step toward the full democratisation of the country but regrets that only 16% of the Kuwaiti population were able to vote and to be elected . In particular, the Commission is disappointed by the fact that women and naturalised citizens could not vote in the recent elections held on 7 October 1996 which limits the degree of representativeness of the Kuwait parliament . The Commission hopes that all Kuwaiti citizens will be able to vote and to be elected during the next parliamentary elections .
The Commission is very active in actions in support of women in third countries . The Commission was a full participant in the fourth world conference on women held in Beijing in September 1995 and is supporting specific programmes and projects in the post Beijing follow-up operations in the West Asia region , including several Arab countries . In addition , in the framework of the Meda-Democracy programme , several actions in favour of the full political participation of women have been initiated in a number of Mediterranean third countries .
The Union and the Gulf co-operation council (GCC) have repeatedly reaffirmed their determination to strengthen their relations by reinforcing , inter alia , their political dialogue including questions of human rights and democracy . In this respect , the Commission in its communication on improving relations between the European Union and the GCC countries ('), emphasised the importance of political dialogue ' to enable the two sides to discuss questions of human rights and democracy which are important for both at international level and at the level of the relations between the EU and the GCC'.
(') COM(95 ) 541 final .
(97/C 91 /66) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2828/96 by Honor Funk (PPE) to the Commission ( 16 October 1996)
Subject: Trend in producer prices for milk and the trade in milk quota
The milk quota provisions apply until the year 2000 . The Commissioner responsible has announced that proposals for the reform of the milk sector will be made at the beginning of 1997 . In order to assess future measures it is necessary to assess the effects of the 1992 reform on the milk sector . The Commission is therefore asked : No C 91 /42 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
1 . What has been the trend in producer prices for milk in the Member States since the 1 992 agricultural reform ? 2 . How much milk quota has been sold or leased each year since the marketing year 1 992/ 1 993 in the individual Member States and what percentage does it represent in terms of the total quota of the Member State concerned ?
3 . Since the 1992/ 1993 financial year, in the individual Member States , what has been the price trend for the sale or leasing of milk quota?
(97/C 91 /67 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2829/96
by Lutz Goepel (PPE) to the Commission
( 16 October 1996)
Subject: Trend in producer prices for milk and the trade in milk quota
The milk quota provisions apply until the year 2000 . The Commissioner responsible has announced that proposals for the reform of the milk sector will be made at the beginning of 1997 . In order to assess future measures it is necessary to assess the effects of the 1992 reform on the milk sector . The Commission is therefore asked :
1 . What has been the trend in producer prices for milk in the Member States since the 1 992 agricultural reform ? 2 . How much milk quota has been sold or leased each year since the marketing year 1 992/ 1 993 in the individual Member States and what percentage does it represent in terms of the total quota of the Member State concerned?
3 . Since the 1992/ 1993 financial year, in the individual Member States , what has been the price trend for the sale or leasing of milk quota?
Joint answer to Written Questions P-2828/96 and P-2829/96 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission
(31 October 1996)
1 . The producer price for milk with a 3.7% fat content paid in each Member State since 1992 (in national currency per 100 kg) is as follows :
1992 1993 1994 1995
B 1081,00 1098,00 1099,00 1113,00 DK 246,94 237,98 234,14 227,23 D 60,63 57,93 55,95 55,83 EL 7 843,00 8 478,00 9 699,00 10 365,00 E 3 557,00 3 828,00 4 324,00 4 413,00 F 184,90 187,10 186,50 186,80 IRL 19,88 21,42 21,34 22,63 I 60 036,00 61 610,00 64 759,00 67 687,00 L 1 220,00 1 200,00 1 166,00 1 163,00 NL 70,66 69,18 66,53 64,92 A 466,00 462,00 563,00 363,00 P 5 238,00 5 561,00 5 970,00 5 804,00 FIN 188,70 S 256,70 298,60 297,80 UK 19,53 20,49 20,96 23,91 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /43
2 . The Community rules state that , where a farm is sold or let , the reference quantity for that farm has to be transferred with the farm to the purchaser or tenant. Exceptionally , and subject to certain conditions , Member States may authorize reference quantities to be transferred without the corresponding land changing hands . Member States do not inform the Commission of such transfers , with or without land , and the Commission therefore does not have the figures requested by the Honourable Member . For temporary transfers the figures are as follows ( in tonnes):
1993/94 1994/95 1995/96
tonnes % tonnes % tonnes %
Belgium 80 894 2.6 70 473 2.3 81 266 2.6 Germany 1 255 057 4.5 994 258 3.6 1 305 234 4.7 Greece 5 903 0.9 4 087 0.7 17 418 2.8 Spain 172 684 3.3 137 119 2.6 46 054 1.0 Ireland 326 389 6.2 400 721 7.6 327 731 6.3
Italy - - 170 423 1.8 95 000 1.0 Holland 472 165 4.2 579 894 5.2 576 713 5.2
Austria - - - - 31 827 1.3
Portugal 316 0.02 1 674 0.1 - United Kingdom 1 012 367 7.1 1 069 534 7.5 I 167 824 8.2
Member States not shown in this list do not allow the temporary leasing of milk quotas .
3 . As Member States do not pass this information on to the Commission , it cannot answer the Honourable Member's question .
(97/C 91 /68 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2836/96 by Vincenzo Viola (PPE), Livio Filippi (PPE) and Danilo Poggiolini (PPE) to the Commission (25 October 1996)
Subject: EU ' refunds'in respect of 'Pecorino Romano' cheese
On the basis of the last GATT agricultural agreements regulating cheese exports , the Commission has made provision for a 36% reduction in overall expenditure and a 2 1 % reduction in the volume of cheese covered by the EU 'refund' scheme .
No other cheese with a high added value is as dependent on these refunds as Pecorino Romano , 85% of which is produced in a region of Italy — Sardinia — which, unlike all the other EU regions which produce cheeses covered by the GATT agreements, is , according to the Commission itself, characterized by extremely critical economic and social conditions caused by underdevelopment .
Reductions in refunds resulting from the GATT Agreement should be effected fairly and should not be concentrated on certain products .
However, reductions made to date do not seem to be aimed at supporting products with a high added value , exports of which ought to be afforded greater protection in the interest of the Community economy .
Will the Commission therefore reconsider the provision adopted and put forward anew proposal based on a more balanced and gradual approach , taking due account of the demands of all the Member States and distributing the burden of the measure fairly among all Community producers?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
Following the restrictions on subsidized exports imposed as a result of the GATT Agreement (the general agreement on customs tariffs and trade), applications for export licences for cheese have risen to an extent which No C 91 /44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
risks the Community exceeding the limits imposed . As a result , refunds for cheeses have been generally reduced on a number of occasions without achieving the required reduction in applications for licences . Other measures have been imposed, including an increase in securities , a reduction in the period of validity of licences , an increase in the minimum price of cheeses eligible for refunds and finally the abolition of refunds for certain destinations or their differentiation . The basic aim of all these measures , particularly the last, is to preserve the Community's share of international trade as far as possible .
Although the choice of destinations to be deleted from the list of refunds or to be treated on a differentiated basis was not easy , the decision was taken as objectively as possible in the light of the criteria adopted : competition at these destinations from exports from outside the Union , the capacity of these markets to absorb the price rises which could result and the balanced distribution to the various producer Member States of the burden imposed by restrictions on subsidized exports . In these circumstances , it is not possible to exempt pecorino romano , for which refunds had to be reduced for the United States in the same way as hard cheeses grouped as ' other' in the nomenclature and headed for that destination .
By following these criteria, the Commission seeks both to achieve fair treatment of all producers and to replace subsidized exports by exports on which refunds are not paid to the greatest extent possible .
(97/C 91 /69) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2856/96 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (25 October 1996)
Subject: Water supply and sewage disposal projects
In response to my Question E-0393/95 (') concerning the water supply and sewage disposal problems facing the island of Symi , Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission stated ( 17.03.1995 ) that 'The Commission . .. in tends to draw the attention of the Greek authorities to it ( i.e. the situation on Symi) at a forthcoming meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the Multifund Operational Programme for the Southern Aegean.'
One and a half years later Symi faces the same problems . Although the MOP for the Southern Aegean is progressing normally and three meetings of the Monitoring Committee have already taken place , the Symi water supply and sewage disposal projects are not being promoted , even though they are ready : the definitive technical study , the budget tables and the technical projects report are all complete .
Given that the state pays up to Drs.100 million to ship water from Rhodes while 80% of the inhabitants have water for only two hours a week , given that the septic tanks are next to the water tanks which poses an obvious risk of infectious disease and , finally , given that water supply and sewage projects are sometimes funded by INTERREG , sometimes by the EZES and sometimes by the EIB , will the Commission say whether it intends to draw the attention of the Greek authorities once more to the need to promote the projects on Symi and to recommend that the Greek Government enter them specifically in a given programme?
(') OJ C 202 , 7.8.1995 , p . 17 .
Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission ( 18 December 1996)
The Commission has already drawn the attention of the Greek authorities to the environmental problems of the island of Symi , principally at the technical meetings which precede those of the Monitoring Committee for the multifund operational programme for the Southern Aegean .
Under that programme , work to improve port facilities on Symi and to build 5.7 km of road and a study to plan general development are already in progress .
As regards the supply of drinking water, a preparatory study on the construction of a 160 000 cu . m . reservoir of the artificial lake type to collect surface water will be part-financed from the budget for the Interreg II Community Initiative . The Commission believes that this offers the prospect of a lasting solution to part of the problem to which the Honourable Member refers . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /45
In exercising its responsibilities with due regard to subsidiarity , the Commission will continue to draw the attention of the Greek authorities to environmental problems on Symi and elsewhere in the Aegean .
(97/C 91 /70) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2861/96 by Paul Lannoye (V) to the Commission (18 October 1996)
Subject: Radiological consequences of plutonium shipments
The increase in the number of shipments of plutonium , either pure or in mixtures (fresh MOX fuel), and of irradiated fuels could have significant radiological consequences for the population , nuclear workers and hauliers .. The IAEA Regulation on the safe transport of radioactive materials , which has been transposed into the legal systems of the different Member States , lays down a maximum level of radiation at the surface of containers and outer packaging of 2mSv/h , and of O.lmSv/h at 2m from the same surface . Given that the new annual limits for the public and workers laid down by Directive 96/29/Euratom (') are lmSv and 20mSv respectively , the exposure of the increasing numbers of people involved in the transportation of nuclear materials or spent fuels is clearly a potential cause for concern .
Has the Commission assessed the radiological impact , under normal circumstances , on the public and workers of the totality of shipments in the nuclear sector and the long-term trend in view of the expansion of the plutonium sector?
Has there been any assessment of the risk of an accident during a shipment of plutonium or of fresh combustible MOX with a release of plutonium , in particular in a disaster scenario?
(') OJ L 159. 29.6.1996, p . 1 .
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (12 November 1996)
The International atomic energy agency (IAEA) regulations on the safe transport of radioactive material (') require that specific radiation levels at the surfaces of packages and in their proximity are not exceeded . The IAEA transport regulations are incorporated into the main international agreement on the various modes of transport . They are also enforced in Community legislation on transport of dangerous goods . The dose limits for the exposure to ionizing radiation of workers and of members of the public in the Community are established by Council Directive 96/29/Euratom ( 2 ) laying down the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation . This Directive is to be implemented in the Member States before May 2000 . It replaces Directive 80/836/Euratom ( 3 ) and reduces considerably the dose limits laid down by the latter.
There is no direct relationship between the specific radiation levels from the transport packages of radioactive material and the dose limits . The national authorities ensure that the operating procedures of the undertaking effecting the transport do not allow the relevant dose limits to be breached . They also ensure that all transport activities are conducted in compliance with the optimization principle set out by Directives 80/836/Euratom and 96/29/Euratom .
The IAEA regulations require transport packages to be approved by the national authorities . The procedure for approval includes a programme of tests to ensure an adequate level of protection in case of accident .
The Commission approved in April 1996 a communication on the transport of radioactive substances (4). This annexed the third report to the Commission of the permanent working group on the safety on the transport of radioactive substances in the Community .
(') IAEA Safety Series No 7 . ( ; ) OJ L 159 , 29.6.1996 . (') OJ L 246 , 17.9.1996 . ( 4 ) COM(96 ) 1 1 final . No C 91 /46 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
( 97/C 91 /71 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2867/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (31 October 1996)
Subject: Thermie 1993
Follow-up question on point 2 of the answer of 29 April 1996 to Question E-0627/96 (')•
According to point 2 , a total of ECU 174 m was made available , including ECU 31.6 m for associated measures under Article 5 , Annex V and ECU 4.3 m for implementation measures under Article 1 1 of Regulation 2008/90 , giving a total of ECU 35.9 m for associated measures . According to Annex V of Regulation (EEC ) No 2008/90 0 , an indicative amount of 10-15% of the total appropriation is estimated for associated measures , i.e. between ECU 17.4 and 26.1 m giving an overspend of between ECU 5.5 and 14.2 m above the indicative amount . There is no set indicative amount for implementation measures , so there may have been an overspend of up to ECU 18.5 m on associated measures .
1 . How have these costs come about ?
2 . What is the legal basis for this overspend ?
(') OJ C 217 , 26.7.1996 , p . 81 . ( : ) OJ L 185 , 17.7.1990, p . 1 .
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (7 January 1997)
1 . Annex VI to Regulation ( EEC ) No 2008/90 (Thermie programme) (') gives a percentage range of the total budget appropriation for associated measures for the full duration of the programme , and not for each year as the Honourable Member's question would seem to suggest .
The appropriations used each year have fluctuated depending on the needs in each financial year . Table 1.4.1 in the report on the application of the Thermie programme ( 2 ) shows that ECU 106 million has been spent on associated measures over the duration of the programme out of total available appropriations of ECU 707 mil lion , i.e. 15% .
2 . The legal basis which allows the Commission to exceed these limits is Article 18(2 ) of the above Regulation , which stipulates that the indicative breakdown in the Regulation may be modified by decision of the Commission , once the committee has delivered a favourable opinion . The Commission has regularly informed and consulted the Member States on all aspects related to the application of the programme , in accordance with the procedures defined in Articles 9 and 10 of the Regulation . In view of the above overall results , it has not needed to make use of the possibility provided for in Article 18 .
(') OJ L 185 , 17.7.1990 . O COM(95 ) 665 final .
(97/C 91 /72 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2869/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (31 October 1996)
Subject: Thermie 1993
Follow-up question on point 5 of the answer of 29 April 1996 to E-0627/96 (').
1 . When will the Court of Auditors be verifying the 1993 Thermie operations ?
2 . Who is entitled to request an immediate audit ?
(') OJ C 217 , 26.7.1996 , p . 81 . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /47
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (7 January 1997) The Commission is not in a position to answer the Honourable Member s question , since the matter is not within its field of competence but that of the Court of Auditors , which itself decides when it wishes to carry out audits .
( 97/C 91 /73 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2875/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (31 October 1996)
Subject: Thermie 1993 Follow-up question on the answer of 29 April 1996 to E-0627/96 (')• Do projects on the reserve list have priority over new projects previously not classed as eligible for support or which have received support even though they were not on the reserve list?
(') OJ C 217 , 26.7.1996 , p . 81 .
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (7 January 1997) The projects on a priority list have priority over those on a reserve list under the same or any previous Decision .
(97/C 91 /74) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2883/96 by Maartje van Putten (PSE) and Philippe De Coene (PSE) to the Commission (31 October 1996)
Subject: Alternatives to tests on animals In its reply to Written Questions E-2 174/96 and E-2243/96 ('), the Commission refers to a comprehensive strategy concerning the use of primates as laboratory animals . The Commission also mentions 'a much stronger justification for the use of primates in laboratories'. 1 . Is the Commission aware of the recent report by the Species Survival Commission of the World Conservation Union ( IUCN) which concluded that the most endangered species are the anthropoid apes and apes ? 2 . Can the Commission clarify whether there are any factors at all which are sufficient to justify the use of primates , in view of the IUCN's research findings ? 3 . Where alternatives to tests on animals exist , would it not be true to say that there are no grounds whatsoever for performing tests on primates ( animals which are both exotic and specially reared)? 4 . Is it not, therefore , of the first importance to press on with the further development and validation of those alternatives ?
5 . What extra resources and methods will the Commission use to improve the performance of the European Communities Validation of Alternative Methods Centre?
(') OJ C 11 , 13.1.1997 , p . 58 . No C 91 /48 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission ( 19 December 1996)
1.-2 . The Commission has not been informed of the report by the Species survival commission of the World conservation union (IUCN) and therefore cannot take position on its conclusions .
3 . The Commission agrees that tests should not be performed on primates where alternatives exist . However, in spite of considerable efforts which have been put into the development of alternative methods to animal testing , few satisfactory results have been obtained . As a result , when substantial scientific justification is given , tests on primates can be performed . -
4 . The Commission considers it important to press on with the development and validation of alternative methods and will make every effort in this direction .
5 . The Commission is committed to the support of the European centre for the validation of alternative methods (ECVAM). This is a new activity and it should be given time to develop . Furthermore , it should be stressed that validation is a very advanced discipline , in the forefront of the scientific field , and the expertise available around the world is very limited . Therefore , it is taking some time for ECVAM to reach its full scientific capacity .
(97/C 91 /75 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2897/96 by Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) and Jesus Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (31 October 1996)
Subject: Cohesion Fund and Castile and Leon ( Spain ) What projects have been financed under the Cohesion Fund in the region of Castile and Leon ( Spain)? In which projects , including those involving more than one region , has the Autonomous Community of Castile and Leon been included ?
What are the sums involved in the cofinancing of each individual project?
(97/C 91 /76) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2898/96 by Jesus Cabezon Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (31 October 1996)
Subject: Cohesion Fund and Cantabria (Spain)
What projects have been financed under the Cohesion Fund in the region of Cantabria (Spain)?
In which projects , including those involving more than one region , has the Autonomous Community of Cantabria been included as a beneficiary of investment?
What are the sums involved in the cofinancing of each individual project?
(97/C 91 /77) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2965/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Izquierdo Collado (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Cohesion Fund and Castile-La Mancha (Spain)
What projects have been financed under the Cohesion Fund in the region of Castile-La Mancha? What projects , including those of a multi-regional nature , have included the Autonomous Community of Castile-La Mancha ( Spain)?
What sum did the co-financing of these projects amount to? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /49
Joint answer to Written Questions E-2897/96, E-2898/96 and E-2965/96 given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (28 November 1996) Applications for finance submitted to the Commission are managed by Member State , with the result that there are no regional data on projects financed by the Cohesion Fund . The Commission would ask the Honourable Members to refer to the annual reports of the Cohesion Fund which are sent direct to them and to Parliament's General Secretariat. Annex I to these Reports contains the main points of projects financed by the Cohesion Fund under Regulation (EC ) No 1 164/94 (') and a description of the project and its objectives , its location and the amounts financed . Data on the projects approved in 1996 will be available at the end of this year.
(') OJ L 130 , 25.5.1994 .
(97/C 91 /78 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2912/96 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE) to the Commission (31 October 1996) Subject: Integrated system of aid The Commission's report (CC)M(96)0174) on the application of the integrated system of aid refers to a number of different systems for identifying live animals (especially bovines). The Commission provides for three types of identification , of which the most efficient is also the most expensive . The possible consequences at the present moment , in the midst of the ' mad cow ' crisis , of an inadequate system of identification of bovine animals and controls over their movements , would be disastrous .
Does the Commission intend to recommend to the Member States that they adopt the most efficient ( although most expensive) system of identification? Has the additional cost of adopting this system been estimated ? Would any recommendation or requirement in this sense be advisory or binding?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1996) The Commission has submitted to the Council a proposal for a regulation obliging Member States to establish a comprehensive identification and registration system for bovine animals (')• The proposed system provides for double tagging of animals , a central computerized data base in each Member State which records details of the animals as well as their movements , a passport for each animal and registers of animals kept on each holding . Whilst the type of system proposed in the regulation may be the most costly option identified in its report ( 2 ) the Commission considers that such a complete system is necessary for the effective monitoring of premium payments , the control of diseases and the rapid tracing of animals in the event of an outbreak of diseases and for fraud prevention . Community co-cinancing of expenditure incurred in putting such systems into place is not foreseen .
(') Doc . COM(96 ) 460 final . Ç-) Doc . COM(96) 174 . No C 91 /50 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 /79) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2923/96 by Alex Smith (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: New plutonium air transport guidelines
Does the Commission intend to produce proposals to incorporate into legislation the new air transport guidelines for the containers used to ship plutonium agreed by the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency in September? What plans does the Commission have to consult with interested non-governmental groups who have expressed concern over the danger posed by these new standards ?
Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission ( 17 December 1996)
The International atomic energy agency ( IAEA ) board of governors adopted in September 1996 the revised regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material . These regulations will be presented to the relevant organisations for their incorporation into the different international transport agreements (road , rail , sea and air). The common objective of the transport organisations is to implement simultaneously the revised IAEA regulations . This means that in practice all Community Member States (and an important number of candidate Member States) have to comply fully with the new provisions at the same date of the year 2001 .
With regard to the transport of radioactive materials by road and rail , Council Directives 94/55/EC (') and 96/49/EC ( 2 ) after their implementation by 1 January 1997 , will guarantee that within the Community the same rules are applied both for domestic and international transport operations .
The concerns of non-governmental organisations on air transport of plutonium were put forward during the revision process in the IAEA and , more directly , to the international transport organisations at which they have an observer's statute .
The present revised regulations are based on the latest recommendations of the ICRP ( 3 ) and are fully compatible with Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down the basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation (4). The IAEA regulations will continue to evolve in the future in order to take into account the results of coordinated research programmes and the feedback of transport experiences . The Commission is fully associated with the revision process .
(') OJ L 319 , 12.12.1994 . ( : ) OJ L 235 , 17.9.1996 . ( ) International commission of radiological protection — publication 60 . ( 4 ) OJ L 159 , 29.6.1996 .
(97/C 91 /80) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2929/96 by Marianne Thyssen (PPE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Decision-making procedure in the Codex Alimentarius
Since the start of the World Trade Organization (WTO) the degree of enforceability of certain standards adopted in the framework of the Codex Alimentarius has increased .
As the Commission is aware , in the Codex Alimentarius decisions are taken by a simple majority of votes cast .
As these standards have an indirect influence on the content of European legislation , it would seem appropriate for the Commission to recommend the Member States to press in the Codex Alimentarius for a change in the decision-making procedure so that it would relate to the actual impact which the Codex standards will have in future .
Does the Commission intend to take steps in this direction ? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /51
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1996)
The standards and other instruments adopted under the Codex Alimentarius are not, strictly speaking , mandatory , but serve as reference works if there is a dispute concerning the justification of any measure preventing or hampering the international trade in a foodstuff. Indeed , two agreements drawn up under the World Trade Organization , of which one concerns technical barriers to trade and the other health and plant-health measures , assign that role to the Codex instruments .
The Commission fully shares the view of the Honourable Member whereby certain of the voting rules currently applying within the Codex are no longer appropriate , given the importance now assumed by the standards and other instruments deriving from the Codex . It hopes that this problem may be examined and settled in a satisfactory manner during a subsequent session of the Codex committee dealing with general principles .
(97/C 91 /81 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2933/96 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Call for tender for a method to determine the content of vegetable fats in chocolate products
Can the Commission confirm that DG III has published a call for tender for research into a method to determine the content of vegetable fats in chocolate products?
How does the Commission explain the fact that recently in a proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption it proposed raising the content of vegetable fats in chocolate products from 0 to 5% although the content of vegetable fats cannot be determined at 5% accuracy ?
What percentage of vegetable fats in chocolate products can in fact be determined precisely ?
Does the Commission not think it would be better to draw up such a Directive once its implementation can be monitored properly and accurately?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (6 December 1996)
The Commission published an invitation to tender for the development and comparison of reference analysis methods for determining cocoa butter and other vegetable oils and fats in chocolate products . (') This followed on from an earlier invitation to tender for the evaluation of analytical methods used for chocolate . ( 2) The contract was awarded to the Joint Research Centre in Ispra .
It should be made clear that the lack of analysis methods for chocolate poses the same problems whether 0% or 5% of vegetable fats other than cocoa butter are used , as currently laid down for certain Member States by Directive 73/241 /EEC on chocolate . ( 3 )
The analysis methods currently used to determine vegetable fats other than cocoa butter date from the 1980s . Where 5% of such vegetable fats are used in chocolate products these methods give results ranging from 3% to 7% in absolute terms . The degree of accuracy depends very much on the type of vegetable fats used and on the other ingredients . Use of certain types of vegetable fat results in greater accuracy ; on the other hand, analysis is more difficult where the chocolate is mixed with other ingredients , e.g. hazelnuts , which already contain fats .
The interim evaluation report by the Joint Research Centre in Ispra shows that analysis methods could be made more accurate by using more up-to-date analysis techniques and modern techniques for evaluating statistical data . That is why the Commission sent out a new invitation to tender for the development of reliable methods for detecting and determining the components of cocoa butter and other vegetable fats . No C 91 /52 | EN 1 Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
The Commission would point out that checks are already carried out pursuant to Directive 89/397/EEC on the official control of foodstuffs , (4 ) notably at the production stage , including checks on raw materials , on the basis of both visual inspection and written and documentary material . It is on this basis that national control authorities check on compliance with the current legislation on chocolate .
(') OJ C 227 , 6.8.1996 . (: ) OJ C 195 , 29.7.1995 . (<) OJ L 228 , 16.8.1973 . ( 4 ) OJ L 186 , 30.6.1989 .
( 97/C 91 /82 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2936/96 by Claudia Roth (V) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Links between EC observers in Bosnia and western European secret services
A report by the ARD programme 'Monitor' has revealed that the German BND (Federal Information Service) official Christoph von Betzold has been working in Zagreb since 1993 as an EC observer . According to the report , Mr von Betzold , who despite being a member of the German foreign secret service BND is acting head of the German delegation , has knowingly allowed the onward transportation of weapons within Bosnia .
1 . Is the Commission aware of these facts , and what is its attitude to them?
2 . Have other members of secret services , including those of other EU countries , acted as Union observers in Bosnia ?
3 . Have there been other cases of members of secret services being involved in illicit weapons transport?
Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission ( 17 December 1996)
The Commission is aware of the content of the ARD programme ' Monitor'. The Member States appoint members to the observer mission , which is headed by the country holding the Presidency , on their own responsibility . It is not, therefore , the Commission's place to comment on the facts that gave rise to the programme or on the identity and professions of other observers .
( 97/C 91 /83 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2941/96 by Mary Banotti (PPE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Regulation of conditional access and related technical services
On 30 May 1996 , DG IV took the view that the SIMLock feature operated by GSM/DC21800 network operators , which effectively ties the customer to one GSM operator or service provider, was potentially anti-competitive . DG IV said that the handset could be unlocked upon demand by the consumer , to prevent anti-competitive effects of the feature vis-a-vis existing or new operators and to avoid a reinforcement of the division of the mobile phone market along national lines .
Is it not the case that there is a parallel between this case and the situation emerging for digital pay-TV , where vertically-integrated operators of conditional access systems are likely to be linked to one pay-TV broadcaster which also operates a subscriber management and authorization system , and which other broadcasters will have to use ? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /53
What measures has the Commission taken to ensure that its Directive 95/47/EC (') has been implemented fully and in similar fashion throughout the Member States ?
Does the Commission intend to take action to ensure that other broadcasters may , if they wish issue and authorize their own cards to a decoder box with an embedded proprietary CA system ?
Since it is evident that consumers will be reluctant to buy more than one decoder box , what steps is the Commission taking to ensure that , in cases where there is an embedded proprietary CA system in the decoder box , it can receive all available services , whether in the clear or pay ? Will that apply also in cases where a pay-TV broadcaster wants to authorize its subscribers to the smart card independently ?
(') OJ L 281 , 23.1 1.1995 , p . 51 .
Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission ( 11 December 1996)
The use of technological devices which tie users is a common feature of both GSM/DCS 1 800 mobile telephone handsets and subscriber management and authorization systems for digital pay-television . It is not clear, at this stage , the extent to which the effect of such devices on competition and consumers in the mobile telephone markets can be said to be similar to the likely effect on the digital pay-television markets .
GSM/DCS 1800 mobile technology is used throughout the European economic area (EEA). Some companies providing GSM/DCS 1800 services in Europe subsidise the sale of mobile handsets as a means of increasing sales . This subsidisation leads to an increased risk of handset fraud , and the SIM lock feature can be used to help reduce such fraud . To the extent that companies use the SIM lock for this purpose , there is no competition concern . However, the feature also has the effect of foreclosing competition in the market for the provision of mobile services . If a customer can only use a particular handset on a particular network , then the customer will not be able to choose freely the service provider after the end of any minimum contract period . Generally , therefore , the Commission accepts that the SIM lock can be used as a means of recouping monies used to subsidise the sale of handsets , but , beyond that , cannot be used in order to tie customers to a particular network , thus limiting competition . This would be particularly acute where the SIM locking practice was being used by a dominant mobile operator .
GSM/DCS 1 800 is an European telecommunications standards institute (ETSI) standard and the SIMJock feature is a proposed ETSI standard . The Directive on the use of standards for the transmission of television signals 95/47/EC (') does not insist on a common ( ie standard) interface , in order to encourage innovation and risk-taking in introducing the new technology for digital broadcasting services . While a common interface would enable third party broadcasters to issue and authorise their own cards to a decoder box , nevertheless most pay-television providers will insist on having a proprietary element in the decoder box to deal with conditional access in addition to the standardised decoder . This will be done as a protection against piracy and as a protection of investment against 'free-riders '. Thus , whereas with the SIM lock , the problem related to a practice of limiting the interoperability of a handset and the conditions under which full functionality should be restored , the potential problem with set-top boxes would appear to be more possible use of intellectual property rights to deny access to a facility which may be necessary for the provision of a service . Treatment of the problem would depend therefore on the facts of the particular case .
Another more significant difference between the two situations is the Commission's concern that the SIM lock should not prevent users from taking out subscriptions simultaneously in other Member States in order to benefit from any lower call rates which may be available there . By contrast , television markets are still naturally partitioned on a national or regional level , due to language or cultural changes . The issue of consumers switching to broadcasting service providers in other Member States in order to obtain better value for the same product does not therefore arise . The services provided in each Member State , whether through or without conditional access , cannot be said to be at present substitutes for the purposes of consumers . This situation may of course change in the future .
With regard to the implementation of the Directive , to date the Commission has not received official notification from any Member State of the transposition of this Directive into national law . As is normal in such circumstances , the Commission is opening infringement proceedings for non-communication under Article 169 of the EC Treaty . Once Member States ' notifications have been received , the Commission will check the transposition for conformity with the Directive . No C 91 /54 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Although the Directive does not require the use of any particular technology for conditional access , it does forbid the abuse of proprietary technology for anti-competitive purposes and requires fair, reasonable and non discriminatory terms for commercial relations between conditional access providers and broadcasters . It also requires Member States to set up appropriate dispute resolution procedures to resolve difficulties . Digital broadcasting services are about to start in the EEA . In the interest of consumers , the Directive facilitates a one box solution by , for example , enforcing common scrambling and common decoding , and it bans anti-competitive behaviour. As it is too early for specific examples to emerge of competitors or consumers disadvantaged by a pay-television operator in a dominant position in relation to the monopoly supply of digital conditional access systems , it is not possible to give precise answers at this stage as to how the Community competition rules or any other powers available to the Commission will be used in such a situation .
(') OJ L 281 , 23.11.1995 .
(97/C 91 /84) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2945/96 by Mary Banotti (PPE) to the Commission (8 November 1996) Subject: Application of the directive on the use of standards for the transmission of television signals The Commission will be aware of the concern expressed by Parliament in July 1995 during the second reading of Directive 95/47/EC (') about the dangers of abuse of a dominant position by ' gatekeepers ' (the providers of conditional access and subscriber management systems ) and that Articles 4 and 6 of the directive were amended accordingly . What measures has the Commission taken to ensure that this directive has been implemented fully and in similar fashion throughout the Member States?
(') OJL 281 , 23.11.1995 , p . 51 .
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (28 November 1996) To date the Commission has not received official communication from any Member State of the national measures implementing this Directive which were due at the latest by 23 August 1996 . As is normal in such circumstances , the Commission is opening infringement procedure for non-communication under Article 1 69 of the EC Treaty . Once Member States ' communications have been received the Commission will check the transposition for conformity with the Directive .
(97/C 91 /85 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2953/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996) Subject: Consumption aid for olive oil Does the Commission intend to modify , reduce , increase or abolish consumption aid for olive oil , which has made it possible for olive oil to compete against other substitute oils ?
(97/C 91 /86) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2954/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996) Subject: COM for olive oil Why did the Commission not submit a discussion paper prior to the proposal for reforming the COM for.olive oil as has previously been done in the case of wine and fruit and vegetables? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /55
(97/C 91 /87 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2955/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Reform of the COM for olive oil
In view of the fairly broad consensus that the current COM for olive oil has functioned adequately , why has the Commission raised the issue of reforming the COM rather than merely rectifying the shortcomings found in its operation ?
(97/C 91 /88 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2956/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE ) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Production aid under the COM for olive oil Is the Commission aware that, should the reform of the COM for olive oil involve aid not linked to production , this would give rise to a passive attitude on the part of producers , the neglect of cultivation techniques and a decline in product quality ?
( 97/C 91 /89 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2957/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Implementation of the COM for olive oil
Is the Commission aware of the significant progress brought about in the sector in Spain through the implementation of the current COM for olive oil ?
(97/C 91 /90) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2958/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Reform of the current COM for olive oil
Why has the Commission proposed the simplification method (aid per tree) with a view to reforming the current COM for olive oil rather than the existing shortcomings in the actual assessment of production ?
(97/C 91 /91 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2959/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colmo Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Abolition of the intervention price in the COM for olive oil Has the Commission proposed abolishing the intervention price as part of the reform of the COM for olive oil ?
Is the Commission aware that such a decision would have a serious direct impact on farmers ' incomes ?
( 97/C 91 /92 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2960/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Environment and olive-growing Is the Commission aware of the impact on the environment which would arise from a crisis in olive-growing , which is of fundamental importance for some regions in the south of the European Union? No C 91 /56 PEN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 /93 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2961/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996 ) Subject: Employment and olive-growing Does the Commission know how many jobs are linked to olive-growing and the production of olive oil ?
( 97/C 91 /94) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2962/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: COM for olive oil and employment Is the Commission aware of the possible impact on employment of a reform of the COM for olive oil of the kind proposed by the Commission ?
(97/C 91 /95 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2964/96 by Jesus Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996) Subject: Impact of olive-growing in certain regions Is the Commission fully aware that olive-growing figures among the sectors with the greatest social impact owing to the employment which it generates in depressed areas of the European Union with extremely high rates of unemployment?
Joint answer to Written Questions E-2953/96, E-2954/96, E-2955/96, E-2956/96, E-2957/96, E-2958/96, E-2959/96, E-2960/96, E-2961/96, E-2962/96 and E-2964/96 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1996) The Commission will be discussing the different options for the reform of the olive oil common market organization (CMO) in the very near future . A document will then be transmitted speedily to the Parliament and the Council for discussion before any concrete proposals are finalised . The Commission will certainly take into account the Honourable Members ' remarks and questions concerning employment, intervention aid to real production , aid per tree , consumption aid , quality , impact on the environment and the specific problems of Spain and some of its producer regions . It would not be correct to comment in detail at this stage on the various options for reforms except to repeat that the new common market organisation should be transparent , simple , easy to control and should target producers efficiently . The Commission attaches great importance to quality and believes that , whatever option is chosen , there will be an important role for Member States and regions .
(97/C 91 /96) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2968/96 by Jesus Cabezon Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Aid for the conversion of shipyards Can the Commission confirm that the granting of state aid for the conversion of Spanish shipyards has not yet been approved , despite the amount of time which has elapsed since the application was submitted ? What has hindered the granting of this aid for the conversion of publicly owned shipyards in Spain ? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /57
Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (29 November 1996)
In November 1995 the Spanish authorities notified the Commission of plans to undertake a further restructuring of the Spanish public yards . These proposals included aids amounting to 180 000 million pesetas to be paid during the period 1995-1998 in accordance with the special derogation for Spain in the Organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD) agreement respecting normal competitive conditions in commercial shipbuiding and repair . It is the Commission's duty to ensure that the proposed measures are compatible not only with the agreement but also with the seventh Council Directive on aid to shipbuilding (90/684/EEC ('), as amended by Directive 94/73/EC ( 2 )).
Contrary to the Honourable Member's impression , the Commission has in fact already approved a substantial part of the proposed aid package . In December 1995 the Commission decided not to raise any objections to the payment of 89 104 million pesetas in the form of previously approved but unpaid loss compensation aid (capital plus interest) since this aid was in compliance with Article 5a of the shipbuilding aid Directive .
No decisions have yet been taken by the Commission on the remaining aids proposed ( 80 000 million pesetas social aids and 10 000 million pesetas investment aids). Together with past interest payments made on unpaid aid and proposed future tax credits to the yards , which could constitute additional aids , these elements are still under examination in order that the Commission can ensure that the nature and extent of the restructuring measures in the beneficiary yards render the aids compatible with the OECD agreement and the relevant provisions of the shipbuilding aid Directive . This requires particularly close attention given the difficult market situation and the fact that certain yards in other Member States facing similar problems to the Spanish yards have been forced to close .
The Commission's examination process was necessarily interrupted for some time by the change of government in Spain , but discussions have since resumed and are continuing .
(') OJ L 380 , 31.12.1990 . ( 2 ) OJ L 351 , 31.12.1994 .
(97/C 91 /97 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2975/96 by Thomas Mann (PPE) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Call for tenders for a knowledge accreditation system in accordance with the first objective of the White Paper 'Teaching and Learning : Towards the Learning Society '
In accordance with the intentions announced in the White Paper 'Teaching and Learning : Towards the Learning Society', the Commission has taken the first steps towards introducing an electronic system of accreditation of knowledge and skills (objective 1 of the White Paper). To this end the Commission has launched a call for tenders to find an adviser to assist it in designing and implementing such an accreditation system (DG 22/ 16/96). This gives rise to the following questions :
1 . What is DG 22 ' s exact aim in launching the call for tenders ? Does it intend to carry out a study , or to take the first steps in developing an electronic system of accreditation of knowledge and skills ?
2 . What is the cost of an advisory contract of this kind , and which budgetary resources are to be used to pay for it?
3 . Which budgetary resources are to be used to fund the plan to develop a system of accreditation of knowledge and skills envisaged by the Commission ? No C 91 /58 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission ( 19 December 1996)
1 . On 27 November 1995 , the Commission adopted its White Paper on education and training , entitled 'Teaching and learning : towards the learning society ' (')• For each of the five general objectives identified , a proposal is put forward for a meaningful , experimental project which could be launched as a pilot and demonstration initiative at Community level .
The purpose of the experimental project designated as 'opening up new avenues for validating skills ' is to look into the possibility of developing a flexible , permanent system for accreditation of knowledge and skills .
Implementation of this experimental project entails various activities which must be conducted coherently . To this end , the Commission has decided to engage the services of an external consultant to assist it in designing and developing the project , and to help to direct and coordinate initiatives taken under the appropriate Community instruments . The contract to be awarded is not concerned with the carrying out of a study . The chosen consultant will be required to assist the Commission in the performance of various tasks , including fine-tuning of the project, identification of the relevant fields and methods of experimentation , and coordination of the different activities involved .
2 . The procedure for awarding the contract is based on competitive tendering , with the successful tenderer being the one submitting the economically most advantageous bid on the basis of specific criteria, one of which is the price . The cost of the contract concluded with the successful bidder cannot therefore be known until the award procedure is completed . Since the work takes the form of a consultancy service , the cost of the contract will be charged to the Commission's administrative appropriations (part A of the budget).
3 . As the European skills accreditation project is experimental , the validity and feasibility of the proposed approach will be tested within the framework of existing Community programmes and instruments .
The Commission has accordingly distributed a great deal of information on the content of the project and is encouraging interested parties to put forward proposals which might in some way contribute towards its implementation , under the appropriate programmes (Leonardo da Vinci , Socrates , etc .), without prejudice to the procedures and priorities applying to each programme . Assistance may therefore be given for pilot schemes for the accreditation of skills , subject to their suitability and quality , from the overall budgets allocated to the respective programmes .
(') Doc . COM ( 95 ) 590 final .
(97/C 91 /98 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2977/96 by Honorio Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: EU financial participation in controlling the spread of Pseudomonas Solanacearum
The disease caused by the Pseudomonas Solanacearum bacterium in seed potatoes and potatoes for human consumption produced in the Netherlands is causing serious problems for agriculture in various Member States , particularly Portugal .
Following Commission Decision 95/506/EC of 24 November 1995 ('), which adopted specific measures to be followed by the Netherlands and authorized the introduction of additional measures by other individual Member States , Portugal not only implemented all the measures recommended in the Decision but also went a step further, in the form of an additional national plant-health protection programme .
All this huge set of measures designed to limit the spread of, and ultimately eradicate , the disease is still in force at a great financial cost which is being exclusively borne by Portugal .
This is a problem stemming from agricultural products recognized and proved to have originated in one Member State (the Netherlands). As in other, similar cases it is clearly a matter to be resolved by means ofjoint financial solidarity mechanisms . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /59
Would the Commission say whether or not it is envisaged that the EU will provide full or partial financial support for the expenditure which Portugal ( and other member States ) are having to shoulder in order to control and eradicate the disease caused by the Pseudomonas Solancearum bacterium ? If such a financial solidarity mechanism has not yet been decided upon , does the Commission intend to submit an appropriate proposal ?
(') OJ L 291 . 6.12.1995 . p . 48 .
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1996 )
The Commission is aware of outbreaks in Portugal of potato brownrot , caused by pseudomonas solanacearum , as well as of the measures taken to control the disease .
The current Community plant health regime as established by Directive 77/93/EEC (') on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products or against their spread within the Community , as last amended by Directive 96/ 14/EC (: ) does indeed not include provisions for a financial contribution from the Community for expenses incurred by those facing such outbreaks .
However , it should be noted that in this respect the Commission presented in 1989 a proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 77/93/EEC ( 3 ). It consists essentially of two elements , financial solidarity under which a Community fund would be created to provide a contribution to Member States ' expenses in combatting an outbreak of a harmful organism spread by contaminated consignments , and financial liability under which this contribution would have to be reimbursed to the solidarity fund in the event a Member State did not comply with obligations under the Community plant health regime . The proposal is still under discussion in the Council .
( ! ) OJ L 26 . 31.1.1977 . ( : ) OJ L 68 . 19.3.1996 . O OJ C 31 . 9.2.1990 and OJ C 205 . 6.8.1991 .
( 97/C 91 /99 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2994/96 by Luciano Vecchi (PSE ) to the Commission (8 November 1996 )
Subject: Eligibility for Phare and Tacis programmes
In recent years a large number of NGOs , associations and non-profit making bodies have complained that they are finding it increasingly difficult to take part in the various schemes under the Phare and Tacis programmes , particularly in the area of contracts .
Do these complaints reflect the true situation ?
Can the Commission indicate what percentage of participants in the Phare and Tacis programmes such bodies represent ?
Will the Commission take steps to make it easier for all interested parties to participate in these programmes ?
Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1996)
Phare and Tacis tenders are in general open to every kind of organisation . In order to ensure that only the economically most advantageous offer is finally selected , however , the contracting authority applies criteria designed to guarantee that each company selected has the qualifications , experience and independence required by the project .
Most Phare and Tacis programmes focus on industrial development , policy advice and privatisation projects in partner countries , so non-governmental organisations usually do not meet these criteria . No C 91 /60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
On the other hand several Phare and Tacis programmes are designed for the participation of non-governmental organisations , such as the Phare and Tacis democracy programme , the Phare and Tacis lien programme and the Phare partnership and cooperation programme .
(97/C 91 / 100) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3005/96 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission ( 11 November 1996) Subject: HCFCs and the refrigeration industry Has the Commission considered a ban on the use of HCFCs in new refrigeration systems from early in the next century and what progress is being made ?
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission ( 16 December 1996) Council Regulation (EC ) No 3093/94 (') on substances that deplete the ozone layer, in its present form , already provides for a ban on the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons ( HCFC): — since 1 January 1996 , as refrigerant in new domestic refrigerators and freezers ; — from 1 January 2000 , as refrigerant in new public and distribution cold stores and warehouses , and as refrigerant in new equipment of 150 kw and over . In addition , the Commission is at present considering possible measures in relation to other refrigeration applications .
(') OJ L 333 , 22.12.1994 .
(97/C 91 / 101 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3006/96 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission ( 11 November 1996 ) Subject: Dioxins in soil Does the Commission have any comparative information about the growth of dioxin concentrations in soil in Member States and is any action being taken to tackle the problem ?
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission ( 17 December 1996) Comparative information concerning the growth of dioxin concentration in soil within the Community is currently very scarce , although the Commission is aware of data concerning parts of Germany , Austria and the United Kingdom . It is widely assumed that the presence of dioxins in the environment , including soil , is largely due to emissions to air . There are a number of Community legislative measures on dioxin emissions to air and water, which can be considered as a tool for implementation of the objective to reduce by 90% dioxin emissions by the year 2005 on the basis of 1985 levels .
There has been a considerable reduction in dioxin emissions from Member States in recent years , especially as a result of waste incineration techniques adopted in compliance with Community directives on municipal and hazardous waste incineration . The Commission is currently developing a strategy to investigate possible ways of reducing emissions from other sources , taking into account the need to protect all the environmental media in an integrated manner in accordance with the recent Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (96/61 /EC ) (')•
r 1 ) OJ L 257 , 10.10.1996 . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /61
( 97/C 91 / 102 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3013/96 by Joan Vallve (ELDR) to the Commission ( 11 November 1996)
Subject: Reform ot the OCM in olive oil
Olive growing is particularly important in certain areas of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Region of Valencia . Olive oil is gaining in appreciation as a basic component of the Mediterranean diet . In view of the fact that the proposal for the modification of the OCM in olive oil provides for the elimination of the intervention price and of aid to production and consumption , is the Commission aware that this will act as a disincentive to production , hinder improvements in the quality of the product and fail to guarantee a suitable income for olive "rowers ?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (29 November 1996)
The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its joint answer to Written Questions E-2946/96 by Mr Papayannakis and E-2684/96 and E-2685/96 by Mr Valverde Lopez (')•
(') See page 22 .
( 97/C 91 / 103 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3029/96 by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission ( 11 November 1996)
Subject: Labelling of food products
Could the Commission indicate which meat products for human consumption include horsemeat as an ingredient , with product and brand names , and which labelling requirements apply in the EU ?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1996)
The Commission has no particulars of products intended for human consumption which have horsemeat as an ingredient or of their brand names .
These products are subject to Directive 79/ 1 12/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling , presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer . (') Pursuant to the Directive the labelling of foodstuffs must include a list of ingredients to inform the consumer of the composition of what has been purchased and , in this case , whether it contains horsemeat .
(') OJ L 33 , 8.2.1979 .
(97/C 9 1 / 1 04 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3032/96 by Gerardo Fernandez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission ( 11 November 1996)
Subject: Increase in the dairy quota allocated to Spain
The various trade unions in the dairy sector in Galicia ( Spain) find it incomprehensible that a country such as Spain which only produces 76% of the milk consumed there should be penalized . No C 91 /62 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
It is for this reason in particular, and not only to avoid any penalty which the sector might incur in the event that the quota set is exceeded , that the sector would like to see an increase in the quota allocated to Spain .
It seems evident that there must be some justification which could shed light on the conundrum constituted for the dairy sector in Galicia ( Spain ) by the fact that Spain , which produces less milk than it consumes , should be penalized for producing too much .
Can the Commission explain the situation and say whether, in the light of the above , it considers that there should be a significant increase in the production quota allocated to Spain ?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1996 )
Reference quantities tor milk production were allocated to each Member State on the basis ot historic reference production . This method enabled the Council to reach a compromise without having to take a position on other factors in the economy of the milk industry in each Member State , in particular the level of consumption .
The legislation states that the additional levy is due on production which exceeds the total guaranteed quantity . In the 1995/96 marketing year, eleven Member States , including Spain , exceeded that quantity .
At present , obligations arising from the GATT Agreement , the possible enlargement of the Community and the trend of world production have led the Commission to propose to the Council a policy of prudence as regards prices on the Community market and the control of quantities marketed . The Commission has also begun to consider the changes required to adapt milk policy to meet future needs .
( 97/C 91 / 105 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3036/96 by Elly Plooii-van Gorsel ( ELDR) to the Commission (31 October 1996 )
Subject: ' Cheap' British labour on the Netherlands continental shelf
1 . Is the Commission aware that the Netherlands continental shelf is being flooded with British labour because wages and the level of social security provisions are lower in Britain than in the Netherlands ?
2 . Does the Commission consider it undesirable that there is competition as regards social aspects in the internal market ?
3 . Does it consider that this problem will disappear with the implementation of the directive on the availability of workers with a view to the performance of services ?
4 . Does it anticipate problems in the implementation of this directive in the United Kingdom , in view of the fact that this Member State voted against it? If so , what action does the Commission intend to take ?
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission ( 12 December 1996)
1 . According to the information at the Commissions disposal , and taking all forms of employment into account , around 5 000 workers are employed in Netherlands offshore operations . However, the Commission has not received any information to suggest that a large number of workers from the United Kingdom are involved in such activities or that such workers are covered by social security provisions that are less favourable than those in force in the Netherlands .
2 . As far as social security provisions are concerned , Regulation ( EEC ) No 1408/71 (') is applicable in the case in point .
3 . As far as the provisions of labour law are concerned , reference is made to the European Parliament and Council Directive , adopted on 16 December 1996 , concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services (-). 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /63
In general terms , this Directive states that a worker who is posted in connection with the transnational provision of services may not be deprived of a 'hard core ' of labour law rights , especially in respect of the minimum wage , in force in the Member State in which the services are being provided . The Directive applies in particular to situations in which workers are posted to oil rigs or drilling platforms situated , for example , in waters under the jurisdiction of a Member State , such as the continental shelf. 4 . The Directive applies without exception to all Member States , which have three years from the date of its adoption to introduce appropriate implementing measures . The Commission will ensure that the Directive is properly transposed .
(') OJ L 149. 5.7.1971 . most recently amended by Regulation ( EC ) No 3096/95 ( OJ L 335 , 30.12.1995 ). < : ) OJ L 18 . 21.1.1997 . p. I.
( 97/C 91 / 106) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3037/96 by Barbara Diihrkop Duhrkop (PSE) to the Commission (31 October 1996)
Subject: Protecting the health of UK consumers against bovine spongiform encephalopathy Using its powers relating to the protection of consumers ' health , pursuant to Article 129a of the Treaty , the EU has adopted prophylactic measures to prevent irreparable damage caused by the marketing of products derived from UK cattle . However , these measures — basically , a ban on exports of such products to third countries — protect all EU consumers but not UK ones . Why is the Commission not providing equivalent protection for UK consumers ? Does the Commission consider that the measures adopted by the UK Government are enough to protect UK consumers from the risks of consuming meat from UK cattle?
Does the Commission know what the measures adopted by the UK authorities are ?
Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission ( 13 January 1997)
As regards British consumers , the United Kingdom , by way of precaution , took measures at a very early stage to protect the public against the possible risks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). These measures were progressively tightened up . Thus in 1989 the UK banned the use of specified bovine offals in human food . In 1995 it extended the list of specified offals to include the whole skull . Moreover, in order to reduce the risks of contamination of meat via the spinal cord , it banned the mechanical recovery of meat from the vertebral column . Finally , in 1996 it banned the marketing of meat from cattle aged over 30 months slaughtered in the United Kingdom and its use in food or for cosmetic or pharmaceutical purposes . At the same time the United Kingdom took measures to combat BSE with the objective of eradicating it completely , this being the best way of protecting the British consumer .
The Commission has closely monitored the measures taken by the United Kingdom and has encouraged the efforts that have been made . Moreover , in the field of research the Commission has been promoting cooperation between Community institutes and financed a programme for monitoring Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease ( CJD ), which led to the identification of a new variant of this disease that has been linked to BSE . The new dialogue between the Commission and the consumer organisations , the measures taken to improve information , the research programmes adopted and the proposals currently being drafted or under discussion to ban the inclusion of specified offals from bovine , ovine and caprine animals in human and animal food and in the manufacture of cosmetic products , and to make provision for detailed and genuinely informative labelling concerning the source of meat and derived products , also concern British consumers and will help to restore their confidence in bovine products . No C 91 /64 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
( 97/C 91 / 107 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3039/96 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission (31 October 1996 )
Subject: Protective clothing for motorcyclists — test procedure for protectors
As a means of improving protective clothing for motorcyclists , what are known as protectors are increasingly being incorporated into such clothing . In accordance with the EC 1995 standard , these protectors undergo testing .
1 . Is such a static test , entailing the impact of metal on metal , a suitable way of simulating possible accident scenarios ?
2 . Does the sole criterion for protectors ( hardness ) not also give rise to injury risks for the wearer?
3 . Should a test and a standard not cover a body-related impact absorption area and be based on a more comprehensive simulation of possible accident scenarios ?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (28 November 1996 )
When protectors are incorporated into clothing to protect certain parts ot the body (elbows , shoulders , knees , etc .), they must be regarded as personal protective equipment and must therefore conform to the amended Directive 89/686/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to such equipment . (')
1 . Protectors are generally made of plastic and are intended to disperse impact over the body . To the Commission 's knowledge they are not made of metal . They are subject to EC-type examination , conducted by a notified body . Appropriate tests are carried out taking account of possible accident scenarios to verify that they conform to the relevant provisions of Directive 89/686/EEC . If it is shown that they meet the essential requirements of this Directive , then they bear the CE marking .
2 . Protectors have rounded edges and are designed to minimise risks of injury . Furthermore , they are made of materials which disperse impact or absorb energy so as to mitigate the consequences of accidents .
3 . It is extremely difficult to predict which areas of the body will absorb kinetic energy resulting from accident impact . Together with the parties concerned , in particular the manufacturers and the notified bodies , the Commission will consider the possibility of simulating accidents with a view to improving protectors .
(') Directive 89/686/EEC ( OJ L 399 , 30.12.1989 ), as amended by Directives 93/68/EEC ( OJ L 220 . 30.8.1993 ). 93/95/EEC ( OJ L 276 , 9.11.1993 ) and 96/58/EC ( OJ L 236 , 18.9.1996 ).
( 97/C 91 / 108 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3041/96 by Nikitas Kaklamams (UPE) to the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
Subject: Paedophiles ' ring on the Internet
The public uproar over the existence of a paedophiles ' network on the Internet has drawn attention to the misuse of the Internet by subhuman monsters to achieve their ends . It is reported that there are frequent advertisements on the Internet crudely offering children from all over the world to a clientele which has access to the Internet .
Since the Commission should demonstrate its social sensitivity towards the victims and potential victims of this abhorrent ring , can it say : 1 . Does it intend to take measures — and , if so , which measures — to break up such rings and impose exemplary punishments on those who prey on the misfortunes of others ? 2 . Does it consider that a pan-European bureau for tracing missing children should be set up with EU aid ? 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /65
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (7 January 1997)
The Commission shares the Honourable Member's abhorrence of sexual mistreatment of children , and agrees that action needs to be taken to combat use of the Internet to promote such activities .
It must however be said that normal uses of the Internet far outweigh atypical uses related to paedophilia and that the Internet is not the only or indeed the main way criminals indulge in activities such as paedophilia .
As far as specific action related to Internet is concerned , the Commission has recently approved two documents which are complementary and provide considerable detailed information relevant to the Honourable Member's question , namely a communication on illegal and harmful content on the Internet (') and a green paper on the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services ( 2 ).
The report of the working party on illegal and harmful content on the Internet, composed of representatives of the Member States , industry and users , to the Council of 28 November 1996 makes a number of proposals including measures of police and judicial co-operation . As part of its examination of the possibility of other steps against paedophilia and sexual abuse of children , the Commission is also examining with Member States how to improve ways of co-operating at the European level in the search for missing children , The Commission must however point out that it has no competence in the area of police co-operation .
(') COM(96 ) 487 final . ( : ) COM(96 ) 483 final .
(97/C 91 / 109 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3050/96 by Francisco Lucas Pires (PPE ) to the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
Subject: Dismissal of the Commission 's Director-General for Fisheries
As the very widely publicized but mysterious dismissal of the Commission's Director-General for Fisheries has raised doubts as to both the reasons behind it and the involvement of national governments in such appointments and dismissals , can the Commission inform me of the rules governing such actions and the reasons for the dismissal in question ?
Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission ( 13 December 1996)
The Commission , in its role as appointing authority , decided to terminate the service of the Director-General for Fisheries under Article 50 of the Staff Regulations . This Article provides that an official holding a post in Grades A 1 or A 2 may be retired in the interests of the service by appointing authority which , on the basis of the rulings by the Court of Justice , enjoys a wide discretionary power with regard to the objective needs of the service .
( 97/C 91 / 110) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3058/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI ) to the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
Subject: Raising awareness of asthma
Asthma is on the increase all around the world , particularly among children and as a result of contact with certain substances at the workplace . It is a disease which is often not properly diagnosed or only diagnosed when already at an advanced stage ; in many cases , its seriousness is underestimated and inadequate treatment is provided . No C 91 /66 EN Official Journal ot the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Given that asthma has a major social impact , would the Commission not agree that it should make provision for a ' National Breathe Freely Day ' to be held in 1997 , with the involvement of pneumology institutes and departments and voluntary organizations throughout the Community ?
Such an event would provide the Commission with an ideal opportunity to raise awareness among the general public and those working in this area .
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission ( 17 January 1997)
The Commission is aware of the rising prevalence of asthma , and is currently examining the possibilities for a Community action programme on pollution-related diseases in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health ( 1998-2002 ) which could include actions on the prevention of respiratory diseases .
The Commission agrees that events like a national respiratory health day would contribute to the public awareness of this topic and its social impact . Events of this kind may be eligible for support under a future programme on pollution related diseases .
( 97/C 91 / 111 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3082/96 by Mary Banotti (PPE) to the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
Subject: t Phare democracy programme ref No 95/0453 and 95/3262
Can the Commission explain the reason for the failure to implement Programme 95/3062 within the PHARE Democracy Programme ?
Is the Commission satisfied that the principles of natural justice were applied when responding to the numerous complaints and representations of Mr Sean Hillen ?
Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1996 )
With reference to the implementation of programme n" 95/3062 within the Phare democracy programme , the Commission underlines that the application was unsuccessful because it did not satisfy one of the basic conditions of the programme , namely that projects must involve both local and Community based organisations acting in partnership .
The Commission is satisfied that the principles of natural justice were applied when responding to the numerous complaints and representations cited by the Honourable Member .
( 97/C 91 / 112 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3087/96 by Jesus Cabezon Alonso (PSE) to the Commission ( 18 November 1996 )
Subject: Effects of the disappearance of the Antwerp Pool of sailors
Is the Commission aware of the possible social and employment implications for Spanish sailors working on Belgian or Luxembourg-registered ships if the Antwerp Pool of sailors is abolished ?
What steps can the Commission take to avoid the unfortunate situation which could result from its abolition ? 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /67
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission ( 10 January 1997)
The Commission has not been informed of any move to abolish the Antwerp Pool of sailors . Responsibility for dealing with associated problems lies entirely with the Belgian authorities and the social partners involved .
(97/C 91 / 113 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3092/96 by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (6 November 1996)
Subject: Support for crop growers
The Portuguese Government has submitted a plan to regionalize subsidies for crops as part of the reform of the CAP .
The Commission has not approved the plan . Can it give me details of its reasons for not doing so , and of the requirements to be met in terms of Community guidelines before the plan can be approved ?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 November 1996)
The drawing up of plans for the regionalization of compensatory payments for arable crops is a matter for the Member States . The Commission does not have to give formal approval to the plans but has to ensure that they are drawn up on the basis of objective criteria which are appropriate for the Member State concerned and that , on the basis of the information available , they respect the historic average yield .
In May 1996 Portugal presented a new regionalization plan which did not permit the Commission to verify compliance with the historic average yield . At the Commission's request, in September 1996 Portugal submitted a new regionalization plan and information on the basis of which the Commission raised no objections to application of the plan to the 1997- harvest . The Commission informed Portugal accordingly by letter dated 31 October 1996 .
(97/C 91 / 1 14) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3096/96 by Inger Schorling (V) to the Commission (8 November 1996)
Subject: Banana imports
Bananas are wholesome but the methods of growing them are obnoxious . Where bananas are cultivated the ground is soaked with chemicals to prevent the plant's roots from being attacked . Banana plantations are sprayed both manually and from aircraft . While growing , the stem of each banana plant is wrapped in a plastic bag filled with pesticides . The toxins pollute the ground water and this ultimately disrupts the ecosystem . The people who work the plantations are constantly exposed to toxic chemicals and suffer cancer, sterility , poisoning and other damage .
There are bananas which are grown toxin-free , though the supply is still small . EU rules impede imports of these banainas . What steps will the Commission take to facilitate the import of organically grown produce and, especially , bananas? No C 91 /68 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 November 1996)
The arrangements for import of bananas into the Community do not discriminate in any way according to the method of production . Producers , shippers or marketers of environmentally friendly bananas enjoy exactly the same conditions as traders of bananas produced according to conventional agricultural practice .
Organic bananas are currently available to consumers within the Community , although they are imported in small quantities since the market for organic produce is limited . In addition , in fulfilment of the undertaking to both the Parliament and the Council , the Commission is currently investigating the means of support which could be offered to support the marketing of fair trade bananas on the Community market . Fair trade products are goods produced according to specified criteria concerning the social and environmental conditions of production and trade .
( 97/C 91 / 115 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3097/96 by Christoph Konrad (PPE) to the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
Subject: The Commission's approval of the payment of subsidies to SKET by BvS , successor to the Treuhand
1 . Is the Commission aware that BvS , successor to the Treuhand , has disbursed DM 180 million of the DM 352 million for which the Magdeburg company SKET Schwermaschinenbau GmbH has already applied ?
2 . Is the Commission aware that most of this DM 180 million is being used solely to pay the wages of the employees , who number over 2000 ?
3 . Will this knowledge prompt the Commission to reconsider the possible official approval of the application for DM 352 million ?
4 . Will the Commission accelerate its official decision-making in view of the fact that a petition for SKET's bankruptcy has been filed?
5 . When is the Commission likely to take its decision ?
Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission ( 13 December 1996)
1 . By letter of 23 April 1996 the German government notified a new restructuring plan in favour of SKET Schwermaschinenbau Magdeburg GmbH ( SMM ) and its subsidiairies Drahtziehmaschinenfabrik Grüna (DZM) and Entstaubungstechnik Magdeburg (ETM) for the period of 1996 to 1998 , which amounted to DM 352 million . These measures included preliminary measures of DM 90 million , which had been awarded for the period of January until April 1996 in order to avoid bankruptcy until the new restructuring concept had been decided upon by the supervisory board of the company . The further amount of DM 262 million was to be awarded until 31 December 1998 .
By letter of 12 September 1996, following the decision of 30 August 1996 to extend Article 93(2) proceedings to the new restructuring concept , the Commission reminded the German government of the suspensory effect of Article 93(3 ) EC Treaty . Further, it drew attention to the communication to the Member States ('), in which it was stipulated that any aid granted unlawfully , ie without prior notification or without awaiting the Commission's final decision under the procedure , may have to be recovered from the beneficiary .
In October the German government notified the Commission that the new restructuring concept could not be put into effect . After press reports that SKET had filed for bankruptcy , the Commission called on to the German government to notify the amount of the financial obligation of SKET towards the BvS . The Commission has not yet received official confirmation by the German government of the bankruptcy . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /69
2 . According to information available to the Commission , SKET employed approximately 2,080 people at the end of 1995 , of whom approximately 380 at the subsidiairies . SMM alone had planned personnel costs for 1996 of DM 122 million . Even though there are no data on precise utilisation of the funds it would seem logical that most of the funds are used to pay salaries .
3 . The Commission based its decision of 30 August 1996 ( 2 ) to extend Article 93(2 ) proceedings to the measures to be taken in favour of SKET under the restructuring concept of 23 April 1996 , on the doubts as to the long-term viability of the undertaking and as to the proportionality of the aid . Meanwhile the German government has declared it cannot pursue the notified restructuring concept .
The Article 93(2 ) proceedings are not yet terminated . The Commission has received observations by interested parties on which the German government will be given the opportunity to voice its opinion . Only after the completion of the procedure will the Commission be able to decide on the merits of the case .
4 . The Article 93(2 ) proceedings concerning SKET ( state aid No C 16/95 ) concern all measures taken by BvS in favour of the company since the intended privatization of Oestmann & Borchert Industriebeteiligungen in 1994 . The extension of proceedings refers also to those measures which have been taken instead of privatization during the years 1994 and 1995 , and differ from the opening decision ( 3 ). Other Member States and interested parties have to be heard on all the notified measures (for the details the Commission refers to its answer under 3 ). The decision will be taken following the normal calendar for handling such a case . Community rules do not provide for quicker decision taking in case of bankruptcy .
5 . The Commission will take its final decision concerning the notified aid in favour of SKET after the formal proceedings mentioned above have reached their conclusion . It aims to take the decision early in 1997 .
(>) OJ C 318 , 24.11.1983 . ( : ) OJ C 289 , 9.10.1996 . ( ! ) OJ C 215 , 19.8.1995 .
(97/C 91 / 116) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3103/96 by Joaquin Siso Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
Subject: Regulation of advertising aimed at children
A study on children aged 6-12 and advertising , carried out in the 15 Member States by the European Bureau of Consumers ' Unions ( BEUC ) and Consumentenbond (CB ), a Dutch consumers ' organization , with financial support from the Commission , found an unprecedented diversification in techniques of advertising aimed at children , which made such advertisements increasingly difficult to identify . According to the study , children are subject to enormous commercial pressure , exacerbated by their own vulnerability ; they are a prime advertising target in three ways : as a 'primary market', spending money on their own account ; as a ' determining market', influencing their parents ' purchasing decisions ; and as a 'future market ' as future consumers .
In view of this situation , BEUC and CB consider there is a need to establish safeguards to protect minors , and urges the Commission to put in place a stricter legislative framework which would be better suited to new marketing techniques .
Will the Commission therefore take action to regulate advertising aimed at children , in line with the concerns expressed by the BEUC and CB ?
Answer given by Mrs Bomno on behalf of the Commission (8 January 1997)
The Commission can confirm that it has helped to finance a study aimed at analysing the characteristics and impact of the increasing advertising pressure to which children and adolescents are subjected , with a view to finding possible solutions . The study was carried out jointly by the European Bureau of Consumers ' Unions ( BEUC ) and Consumentenbond . More recently , Consumers ' International published a report entitled 'A spoonful of sugar', concerning the advertising on television of food products both in Europe and in other continents . No C 91 /70 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
The Commission takes a keen interest in the methods whereby advertising seeks to influence people , including the three ways in which children and adolescents are targeted . Appropriate action may be taken on a number of fronts , not just through the introduction of legislation . The reports draw attention to other approaches , such as the establishment of codes of professional conduct for the advertising industry , in-depth study of what exactly is meant by a child , more effective monitoring of media activities and , of course , the fundamental role of education . The Commission will , however, continue to examine the need for, and extent of, any legislative measures in this field .
(97/C 91 / 117 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-31 18/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (22 November 1996)
Subject: EU assistance for the ' chicken map ' project at the University of Edinburgh Genetic engineering is currently being carried out on chickens at the University of Edinburgh with the support of EU resources .
1 . Since when has the 'chicken map ' project been directly or indirectly assisted by the EU , and how long will such assistance continue ?
2 . How much assistance in all has been provided ?
3 . Under what headings has the assistance been provided ?
4 . What is the aim of the 'chicken map ' project ? 5 . What groups of researchers are involved in this project ?
6 . Are there any direct or indirect links with other research projects being assisted with EU resources ?
Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission ( 19 December 1996)
Contrary to the assumption of the Honourable Member, the ' chicken map' research project does not involve genetic manipulations but is aimed at improving the knowledge of the chicken genome which will provide new methods for selecting chicken for quality traits such as identification of genetic mechanisms that prevent the infection of chickens and thus the spread of pathogens (e.g. salmonella).
The project is funded under the Biotech II programme for 1.6 MECU , started on 1 December 1995 and will run for 3 years . The project is coordinated by the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh . The participating laboratories are the Department of animal breeding , Wageningen agricultural university , Netherlands ; the Division of molecular biology , Institute for animal health , Campton , UK ; the Department of zoology , University of Leicester, UK ; the Laboratoire de génétique cellulaire , INRA , Castanet-Tolosan , France ; the Laboratoire de génétique factorielle , INRA , Jouy en Josas , France ; the Lehrstuhl fuer Tierzucht , Technische Universitaet Muenchen , Germany .
The project is interacting with the Farm animal industrial platform .
(97/C 91 / 118 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3125/96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (22 November 1996)
Subject: Piracy at sea
The Greek press reports that there has been an increase in cases of piracy over the last two years . 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /71
A report by the International Maritime Bureau and its Regional Piracy Centre refers to the Far East , Central and South America , S.E. Asia and Somalia as the regions with the highest incidence with Brazil showing a ten-fold increase in the number of cases over 1994 .
Most acts of piracy involve bulk carrier vessels , followed by general cargo vessels , tankers , container ships and ro-ro vessels .
The damage caused is not only economic , in a considerable number of cases crew members are injured or even killed .
In view of the gravity of this matter, will the Commission say whether it has addressed the issue and what measures it intends to take to stamp out this practice which is so damaging to Community shipping , a fundamental component of which is the particularly hard-hit Greek fleet ?
Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission ( 19 December 1996)
It is true that , on the basis of the information which the Commission has received from the International Maritime Bureau , the number of cases of piracy , which dropped appreciably in 1994 , seems to have increased again in 1995 and in the first half of 1996 . The regions most affected are South-East Asia and recently , to a lesser degree , Latin America , in particular, Brazil . These matters are mainly the responsibility of the States in whose territorial waters the incidents occur . The Commission is keeping a close watch on developments and together with the Member States takes every opportunity to alert the States in question and urges them to take the appropriate measures . However , it would remind the Honourable Member that it does not have a right of initiative in the fight against maritime piracy , this being a matter relating to police cooperation .
( 97/C 91 / 1 19) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3136/96 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (22 November 1996) Subject: Proposed introduction of a 'bit tax In an interview in the Italian newspaper ' L'Unita' of 28 October 1996 , Professor Luc Soete , chairman of the group of experts on the information society appointed by the Commission , relaunched his proposal for a ' bit tax ', i.e a tax on the bits used for computer communications , particularly on the Internet . Is the Commission aware of this proposal ? Does it intend to endorse it , and in what way ? If so , does it agree that it would be useful to arrange an opportunity for public discussion with Parliament on a matter with such sensitive implications for liberty and democracy ?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission ( 19 December 1996) The question of a 'bit tax ' is mentioned in the first interim report of January 1996 of the high level expert group on the social and societal aspects of the information society called ' Building the European information society for us all'. The Commission is also aware of the document 'The bit and tax : the case for further research ' which was sent out on 12 August 1996 by the chairman of the group for further comments and reactions . The Commission is currently analysing the issue , considering the advantages and disadvantages of such a tax . No C 91 /72 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 / 120) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3152/96 by Laura Gonzalez Alvarez (GUE/NGL ) to the Commission (22 November 1996 )
Subject: Outbreak ol pneumonia in Alcala de Henares ( Spain )
The outbreak of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria in Alcala de Henares last August has so far claimed 16 lives and infected over 240 people , most of them elderly and suffering from lung problems .
Given the panic arising from lack of information as to the real cause of the illness , and the fact that Alcala de Henares was one of the towns most affected in the 1980s by the 'colza syndrome', with many cases of ' atypical pneumonia', is the Commission planning to ask the Spanish health authorities to study the origin , transmission mechanisms and effects on the population of this outbreak?
What steps does the Commission intend to take to provide the town with all the requisite human and technical means required to eradicate the underlying cause of this illness?
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission ( 14 January 1997)
The Commission has specific information concerning an epidemic of Legionnaire's disease that has been affecting the town of Alcala de Henares since the end of September 1 996 . By 1 8 October a total of 260 suspected cases had been recorded , including 197 hospitalisations and 11 deaths . Serological confirmations have been obtained from 49 patients , with the sero-group 1 of Legionella pneumophila ( Pontiac ) being isolated in six cases . In the environment , the same sero-group has been found in cooling towers and water tanks located at the places of residence . An epidemiological investigation is under way , with the support of the Instituto Carlos III in Madrid .
The health authorities for the Madrid region have already set in place preventive measures , namely the shutdown of the cooling systems in the region affected by this epidemic and chlorination of the entire water supply system and cleaning and disinfection of the cooling towers and water tanks in this zone .
The Commission has not received any request from the Spanish health authorities to reinforce the technical means and human resources already deployed in controlling this epidemic .
( 97/C 91 / 121 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3157/96 by David Thomas (PSE) to the Commission ( 14 November 1996)
Subject: Welfare of calves
Do the current rules on the transportation of live animals lay down a minimum age under which animals may not be transported , or have the Scientific Veterinary Committee recommended an age limit below which a calf should not be separated from its mother?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (3 December 1996)
Directive 91 /628/EC on the protection of animals during transport (') chapter 1 , A , item 1 deals with the categories of domestic solipeds and domestic animals of the bovine, ovine , caprine and porcine species which 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /73
may not be transported . This provides that pregnant animals of these species likely to give birth during carriage or animals having given birth during the preceding 48 hours , and new-born animals ( including calves ) in which the navel has not completely healed , shall not be considered fit for transport . There are no more specific rules concerning separation of calves from their mothers .
( 1 ) OJ L 340 , 1 1.12.1991 .
( 97/C 91 / 122 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3160/96 by Mary Banotti (PPE) to the Commission (22 November 1996)
Subject: Red press card
Can the Commission please explain why the head of the Commission's Press Service has taken the serious step of prohibiting access to the Commission's daily press briefing to journalists carrying the International Federation of Journalists ' (IFJ ) red press card , when the IFJ is simultaneously recognized by the Commission as being competent and representative of journalists through the award of Phare and other contracts and through participation in the Commission's own working and steering groups ?
Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission ( 12 December 1996)
All professional journalists have access to the Commission press room .
The Commission press room is accessible each day to professional journalists accredited to the Commission , Parliament and the Council . There are a number of criteria for the issuance of an accreditation card , one of them being possession of a national press card for countries where such a card exists . For other countries , the card of the International Federation of Journalists is taken into consideration . Access by visiting journalists to the press room is allowed on similar terms .
(97/C 91 / 123 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3180/96 by Paul Riibig (PPE) to the Commission ( 18 November 1996)
Subject: Standing Committee on Employment
The Standing Committee on Employment is the only official forum for contact between the Commission , governments and the two sides of industry in this sphere .
Does the Commission believe that the Intergovernmental Conference on the reform of the European institutions will have an effect on the Standing Committee on Employment, which has existed since 1975 ?
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission ( 16 December 1996)
Various proposals are currently being discussed by the Intergovernmental Conference , with a view to incorporating into the Treaty measures to promote employment at Community level , in particular the creation of an employment committee . However, in this as in other matters , the Commission is unable to anticipate the outcome of the Conference . No C 91 /74 I EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 / 124) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3186/96 by Bryan Cassidy (PPE) to the Commission (22 November 1996)
Subject: Competitions for A — Grades in the European Commission
Will the Commission list, for the whole of 1995 and the first 6 months of 1996 if possible : 1 . The number of competitions for A Grades 2 . The number of actual posts and reserve list posts for each competition 3 . The number of applicants for each competition 4 . A breakdown by country of origin of the applications for each competition .
Answer given by Mr Lukanen on behalf of the Commission ( 18 December 1996)
. 60 .
2 . - 4 . These are shown in tables which are sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat general . Most of these competitions concerned specific head of unit or adviser posts , reserved for nationals of one of the three new Member States , under Council Regulation ( EC) No 626/95 . Other category A general competitions were also organised to establish a reserve of citizens from Austria, Finland and Sweden . No category A general competitions were organised for citizens from all the Member States during this period .
(97/C 91 / 125 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3217/96 by Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission (22 November 1996)
Subject: Information about decentralized cooperation as referred to in the Lome Convention
The Fourth Lome Convention introduced new arrangements for cooperation between EU Member States and ACP countries .
Among them , 'decentralized cooperation ' is of particular importance and aroused great expectations .
However, in recent years it has proved very difficult for decentralized agencies (whether European or ACP) to find out about the operating procedures and to make practical use of them .
How any by what means will the Commission improve the information provided to local agencies , NGOs and associations on the general and detailed planning and management of decentralized cooperation programmes backed by the European Development Fund?
Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission ( 19 December 1996)
The Commission has put considerable efforts into mobilizing and informing the decentralized agencies from Europe , African , Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and other developing countries (LDC ) about the goals , scope and mechanisms of decentralized cooperation , as well as specific opportunities . This was done through Commission-financed information seminars held in Community and ACP countries , numerous contacts with individual decentralized agencies or their networks , joint sessions between these agencies and ACP and Community officials in conjunction with European Development Fund (EDF) programming work and the distribution of brochures on that subject .
The Commission has also awarded- or plans to award- contracts to decentralized agencies or their networks aimed at improving information distribution and contributing to specific projects being set up . 20 . 3 . 97 ΓΕΝ Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /75
As a result of such activities , Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), both European and ACP, have been able to publish and distribute a practical information brochure , and the Commission will be able to shortly produce and distribute a new , detailed and user-friendly handbook on decentralized cooperation . Among the decentralized agencies , there have recently been marked improvements in the perception towards the decentralized cooperation approach and the understanding of its specific conditions . Work will continue to focus on this .
(97/C 91 / 126) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3218/96 by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission (22 November 1996)
Subject: Mining and logging in Venezuela Further to the Commission's participation in the debate on mining and logging in Venezuela on 24 October 1996 :
1 . Is the Commission aware of the current situation as regards the Venezuelan Government's intention of repealing the two laws (269 and 2552 ) which prohibit mining and logging in Amazonas State ? What was the outcome of the meeting in Venezuela on 24 October 1996 on this subject?
2 . How has the Commission taken account of the European Parliament's resolution of 24 October 1996 on Venezuela? What specific steps has the Commission taken against the Venezuelan Government's plan to permit mining and logging in Amazonas State ?
3 . What will the consequences be for the Commission's ECU 6.4 million environmental project in the Upper Orinoco-Casiquaire region if the Venezuelan Government does indeed permit mining and logging in Amazonas State? What position would the Commission adopt in response to such a move ?
4 . Has the Commission already received and approved an overall annual plan for the project in the Upper Orinoco-Casiquaire region ? Has the Commission already provided funds to the Venezuelan Government for this project? If so , how much ?
Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission ( 17 December 1996)
1.-2 . According to the information passed on from Caracas , the proposal to repeal the two laws (269 and 2552) which prohibit mining and logging in Amazonas State was drawn up by its Government . At the joint ministerial meeting on 24 October 1996 , the Venezuelan Government refused to grant such a waiver. 3 . Extending 88 000 square kilometres , the Upper Orinoco-Casiquiare biosphere reserve covers the south-eastern half of Amazonas State . Seeing that through the financing agreement relative to the environmental project , the Venezuelan Government undertook to preserve the state of conservation of the area, the revocation of laws 269 and 2552 would not automatically mean that mining and logging would be carried out in the project area . Therefore , one would have to study the actual impact of such a measure on the project . Should the provisions of the financing agreement regarding conservation not be respected by the Venezuelan parties , the Commission could take measures as severe as suspending or terminating the project . 4 . The Commission-financed project in the Upper Orinoco-Casiquiare region is currently in its start-up stage . On 18 March 1996 , the Commission approved a start-up plan proffered by the project's co-directors . An initial instalment of ECU 280 000 has been paid . No C 91/76 TEN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 / 127) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3259/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Calculation of the interim RPI
It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . How is this index calculated ?
(97/C 91 / 128 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3260/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Germany ?
(97/C 9 1 / 1 29) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3261/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI
It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Austria?
(97/C 91 / 130) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3262/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Belgium?
(97/C 91 / 131 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3263/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Denmark? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /77
(97/C 91 / 132 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3264/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996 )
Subject: Interim RPI
It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Spain?
(97/C 91 / 133 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3265/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Finland ?
(97/C 91 / 134) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3266/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by France?
(97/C 91 / 135 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3267/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI
It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Greece?
(97/C 91 / 136) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3268/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Ireland? No C 91 /78 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 9 1 / 1 37 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3269/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Italy?
(97/C 91 / 138 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3270/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996 )
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Luxembourg ?
(97/C 91 / 139) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3271/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by the Netherlands?
(97/C 9 1 / 1 40) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3272/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Portugal ?
(97/C 91 / 141 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3273/96 by Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by the United Kingdom? 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /79
(97/C 91 / 142) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3274/96 by Jose Garda-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Interim RPI
It is increasingly clear from the media that there are real difficulties in finding universally accepted statistical measurements .
The Commission evaluates the convergence of prices on the basis of the interim retail price index . Does this index coincide with or diverge from the retail price index used by Sweden?
Joint answer to Written Questions E-3259/96, E-3260/96, E-3261/96, E-3262/96, E-3263/96, E-3264/96, E-3265/96, E-3266/96, E-3267/96, E-3268/96, E-3269/96, E-3270/96, E-3271/96, E-3272/96, E-3273/96 and E-3274/96 given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1997)
Under Protocol No 6 on the convergence criteria referred to in Article 109j of the EC Treaty 'Inflation shall be measured by means of the consumer price index on a comparable basis , taking into account national differences.' This requirement is currently met through a process of harmonization based on the national consumer price indices (CPIs).
According to Council Regulation No 2494/95 on harmonized indices of consumer prices (HICPs ) ('), harmonization should be considered as a stepwise approach in two stages . Stage I established in February 1996 a set of interim indices of consumer prices ( IICPs). The IICPs are in fact the national CPIs with the coverage of goods and services adjusted to reduce non-comparability , particularly by excluding certain non-market services , such as health , education and owner occupied housing .
National CPIs can thus be seen as coincident with the corresponding IICPs regarding methods , concepts and definitions, apart from the coverage of goods and services . Numerically , the indices differ as a result of these differences in the coverage (2 ). For most of the Member States , the differences in the inflation rates measured as a twelve month change , whether on an annual or monthly basis , are small , ranging from 0,0 to ±0,2 percentage points . For some Member States ( Ireland , the Netherlands, Finland , Sweden and the United Kingdom) the differences are bigger, mainly because of housing costs , particularly where interest payments are used in the national CPIs .
Though not strictly comparable , IICPs provide for the time being the most comparable basis for the assessment of inflation convergence among Member States . The Commission will , however, assess inflation convergence during the period before the start of stage three of economic and monetary union, as required by the Treaty , on the basis of comparable HICPs . These will be launched with Stage II of the harmonization of CPIs in February 1997 and will be based on appropriately designed definitions , concepts and methods .
(') OJ L 257 , 27.10.1995 . (-) COM(96 ) 560 .
(97/C 91 / 143 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3387/96 by Salvador Jove Peres (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (5 December 1996)
Subject: Operation of the aid regime for olive oil
Under Council Regulation (EC ) 2261 /84 ('), the Commission was required to submit, by 1 January 1995 , a report on the operation of the aid regime in the olive oil sector. This has not been done . On 25 October 1996 Parliament adopted a resolution (B4-1 180/96) calling on the Commission to submit a report . No c 91 /80 ΓΕΝ Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
1 . Does the Commission intend to submit this report? If so , when ? Before or after submitting the proposal for reform of the common organization of the market?
In recent statements concerning the future reform of the COM in olive oil , Commissioner Fischler referred to the existence of fraud .
2 . In what countries is fraud occurring , what form does it take and what sums are involved? Does the Commission not consider that the report on the operation of the aid regime in the olive oil sector would allow any fraud constituting a major problem to be accurately assessed?
It appears that the Commission intends , in its proposal for reform , to set the future support levels for the sector in proportion to the economic support received in the past .
3 . Does the Commission not consider that this approach could end up legitimizing fraud where it has existed in the past?
A large number ofjobs depend on olive oil in regions heavily affected by unemployment , and certain changes to the aid system could remove cultivation incentives and thus reduce the number of people employed .
4 . Does the Commission consider that it has sufficient assessment and research evidence for embarking on a proposal for reform which could have an adverse impact on employment?
(') OJ L 208 , 3.8.1984, p . 3 .
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 December 1996)
As indicated in its answer to written questions E-2684/96 , E-2685/96 and P-2946/96 ('), by Mr Valverde Lopez and Mr Papayannakis, the Commission will soon be presenting a document on the olive oil sector, including an analysis of the weaknesses of the current common market organization and options for its reform . This will be followed , after a three month reflection period , by a proposal for reforms .
In accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EEC ) No 595/9 1 ( 2 ) concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums wrongly paid in connection with the financing of the common agricultural policy and the organization of an information system in this field , 10 Member States ( 3 ) communicated , from mid 1991 to mid 1996 , 1 377 cases of irregularities in the olive oil sector for a total amount of 181 MECU . Italy represents 49% of these cases but 85% of the amounts involved . Greece represents 10% of the amounts involved and Spain and Portugal less than 2% each . 90% of these amounts involve irregularities concerning consumption aid and 6.5% involve export refunds . Inquiries carried out by the Commission have resulted in the discovery of further fraud cases ( 30 MECU), particularly fraud on traditional own resources (in addition to communications from the Member States on the basis of Regulation ( EEC , EURATOM No 1552/89 on the system of Communities own resources (4)). Control measures have not properly ensured the protection of the financial interests of the Community , in particular in the case of production aid . Fraud against consumers also occurs when , for example , mixtures of olive oil and seed oil are traded as olive oil ( without necessarily applying for cohsumption aid).
The Commission cannot comment at this stage on the nature or content of the reform proposal as this would prejudice the discussion on the options document which , of course , will be available to the Community institutions and other interested parties . However, the Commission would re-affirm that the new regime should be simple and therefore easier to control .
(') See page 22 . ( : ) OJ L 67 , 14.3.1991 . C ) Belgium, Denmark , Germany , Greece , Spain , France , Italy , the Netherlands , Portugal , United Kingdom . O OJ L 155 , 7.6.1989 . 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /81
(97/C 91 / 144) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3398/96 by Alexandres Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (20 November 1996)
Subject: Reduction in the number of languages in which CEDEFOP's vocational training magazine is published
The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) is ceasing publication of its vocational training magazine in 7 of the 1 1 languages used so far .
Since the general task of this Centre is to disseminate relevant documents and information , to exchange information and to compare the experiences of Member States and bodies working in this sector, will the Commission say : 1 . Will it not be difficult for the Centre to fulfil its task , if it ceases to publish its magazine in all the official languages of the European Union ? 2 . Why has publication ceased in 7 of the 1 1 languages? 3 . On what criteria were the 4 languages selected? Is it true that CEDEFOP is being cut off, linguistically , from its social environment?
Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission ( 10 January 1997)
1 . Yes , it is likely that, to some extent, it will be more difficult for the Centre to fulfil its task . However, since many readers of the European journal on vocational training (the journal) are researchers , policy-makers and practitioners involved in transnational cooperation , it is probable that they will be accustomed to working in at least one of the languages used .
2 . Publication of the journal in all Community languages has for some time presented considerable technical , timing and financial difficulties for the Centre . To continue this policy after the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden , would require the journal to be published in eleven languages , as opposed to the previous nine . In the light of this , and considering the Cedefop budget for 1997 , the Centre felt obliged to take the decision to reduce the languages in which the journal was published from nine to four .
3 . The decision to publish the journal in English , French , German and Spanish was taken because these are the languages in which it is most widely read and which it is most cost-effective to produce . It should be noted that these four linguistic versions account for 68% of the journal 's total subscriptions but only 43% of its publication costs .
The management board of the Centre is aware of the importance of making the journal accessible to as many policy makers , researchers and practitioners as possible in all the Member States and that linguistic barriers may reduce the readership in several Member States . It has proposed therefore to examine the linguistic policy of the publications of the Centre in 1997 , and to consider alternative more cost-effective ways of increasing readership . The management board has no grounds for believing that the Centre is being cut off linguistically from its social environment .
( 97/C 91 / 145 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3417/96 by Jutta Haug (PSE) to the Commission (22 November 1996)
Subject: Revision of the Basic Regulation of the Medicines Evaluation Agency
In the debate on the Regulation on the fees payable to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency , held on 18 January 1995 in Strasbourg ('), Commissioner Martin Bangemann replied as follows to the assertion by the rapporteur of the Committee on Budgets that the Basic Regulation disregarded the budgetary rights of the European Parliament : No C 91 /82 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
'...The basic regulation provides for a review in 1997 . In 1996 , i.e. next year, we will make a proposal on the matter. Then , in the light of any changes or the decision of principle on how such revenue is to be treated , we will be able to draw up a completely new regulation with all the proposals and possibilities to which the rapporteur has referred , as also with a quite different comitology...' At the end of the debate the rapporteur asked for clarification : '...but you are agreeing that the basic regulation will be revised.'; to which Commissioner Bangemann replied : ' In 1997 , to be quite precise . To ensure that this can be done on time , we will be submitting a proposal in 1996.'
We are now approaching the end of 1996 , and the Commission has not yet fulfilled its promise . 1 . When does the Commission now propose to submit its proposal for a revision to Parliament ? 2 . Will the Commission make a special effort to ensure that this is done before the end of 1 996 , as promised by Commissioner Bangemann ?
(') Debates of the European Parliament no . 4-456 (January 1995 ).
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission ( 16 December 1996) Council Regulation (EC) No 297/95 of 10 February 1995 on fees payable to the European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products (') is based on Article 235 of the EC Treaty and entered into force on 15 February 1995 . Under Article 10 , the Commission will submit, within two years at the latest of the entry into force of this Regulation , a report on its implementation and, in the light of that experience , propose a definitive regulation to the Council . The Council , acting by a qualified majority after consulting the Parliament, will adopt provisions on the amounts of the fees and the conditions governing them , to apply as from 1 January 1998 . When drafting this proposal , the Commission has to take account in particular of the practical experiences of the European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products . The Comrtiission has therefore asked the Agency to provide it with the necessary information and a report of the Agency to the Commission is expected for December 1996 . Based on this report , the Commission will finalise its proposal and forward it to the Council in February 1997 .
(') OJ L 35 , 15.2.1995 .
(97/C 91 / 146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3429/96 by Inigo Mendez de Vigo (PPE) to the Commission (9 December 1996) Subject: Non-tariff barriers to exports The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres ) has just published a study on the non-tariff barriers which European undertakings face when trading with third countries . One of their major difficulties is the lack of adequate information on how to comply with the administrative regulations and customs procedures in force in those countries . The study also proposes possible solutions to problems in this area , namely worldwide harmonization of standards , approximation of tariff nomenclature , the setting up of ' standardized information desks ' for the use of firms seeking to export to these countries , etc . Has the Commission put any of these or similar measures into practice in order to help European undertakings with their exports to third countries ?
Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission ( 10 January 1997) On 13 November 1996 the Commission made available on the internet the market access database (direct address http://mkaccdb.eu.int.) freely accessible for organisations , companies and individuals located within 20.3.97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /83
the Community . This database contains a wealth of information on obstacles to trade , including information on applied tariffs , World trade organisation (WTO) bound tariff rates , WTO services schedules as well as sectoral and trade barrier reports , which include analysis of non tariff barriers (NTBs) in the Community's major export markets .
The Commission's new market access strategy (as described in its communication entitled ' The global challenge of international trade : a market access strategy for the European Union ' (')) calls for a sharper European trade policy . The information on NTBs in the database serves as a basis for the Commission to undertake multilateral or bilateral action in order to eliminate obstacles to trade .
Apart from providing information to exporters and undertaking action to remove barriers , the Commission also has an increasingly active policy in the field of harmonisation of standards and norms with third countries . The Commission is currently negotiating mutual recognition agreements (MRAs ) with several important third countries . The Commission's policy in this area is described in much greater detail in its communication on the Community's external trade policy in the field of standards and conformity assessment ( 2 ), which was adopted by the Commission on 13 November 1996 and which has been made available to the Parliament .
(') COM(96 ) 53 final . ( 2 ) COM(96 ) 564 final .
(97/C 9 1 / 1 47 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3434/96 by Umberto Bossi (NI) to the Commission (9 December 1996)
Subject: Proposal by the ' High-level Group of Experts on Social and Societal Aspects of the Information Society ' for the introduction of a generalized 'bit tax ' on the Internet
On 25 April 1995 the Commission set up a study group called the ' High-level Group of Experts on Social and Societal Aspects of the Information Society ' to analyse the social impact , the organization of work , relations between the European regions and all the problems linked to the introduction of the new communication and information technologies .
This group's first practical achievement was the report of 12 August 1996 in which it moots the idea of a 'bit tax ' i.e. a tax to be levied on the basis of the amount of data sent or received , as a replacement for telephone charges . This would mean charging all users of the Internet a generalized tax to compensate for the impossibility of taxing the use of the Internet for the supply of services . The Internet system has shown itself to be a powerful instrument for freedom , since it distributes news and information directly , but it has also become a new means of providing services such a teleconferences , sales and long-distance learning and consultancy activities . These services are only a small part of the use made of the telematic network .
It is common knowledge that because of its reasonable costs the Internet is used mainly by young people and university students .
Does the Commission not consider that the high-level group's proposal may lead to a dangerous restriction on freedom of information , an undesirable form of censorship and be generally detrimental to freedom of thought and democracy ?
Does it not consider that such a tax might impose unfair restrictions on those of limited financial means ?
What steps does the Commission intend to take to guarantee unrestricted access to the Internet free of charge?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission ( 14 January 1997)
The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-3 136/96 by Mr Tamino (').
(') See page 71 . No C 91 /84 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
(97/C 91 / 148 ) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3435/96 by Per Gahrton (V) to the Commission (27 November 1996 )
Subject: Environment-friendly cars
The Swedish environmental authorities are planning to introduce a new tax system designed to promote the use of environment-friendly cars . However, according to the persons responsible , EU rules do not permit tax breaks for motor vehicles which are more environment-friendly in the case of ' voluntary environmental requirements ' (Dagens Nyheter, 20 November 1996).
Is it true that EU rules stand in the way of the- planned Swedish environmental classification system for cars ? Does the Commission intend to take steps to prevent EU rules from blocking planned environmental improvements in a Member State ?
Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission ( 19 December 1996 )
Community policy towards the granting of fiscal incentives by Member States to encourage the early marketing of clean vehicles has been set down in successive directives on vehicle emissions , the latest of which is Directive 94/ 12/EC relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and amending Directive 70/220/EEC ('). The framework provided therein balances the environmental benefits resulting from a faster renewal of vehicles against the need to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market .
The Swedish system of environmental classification of vehicles used to determine the fiscal incentives applicable in the Member States is based in part on American and not Community emission standards . For this reason the Commission considers that the current environmental classification system in Sweden is not consistent with Community rules . Discussions are continuing with the Swedish authorities with a view to amending the current system in order to ensure its compatibility with Community rules .
(') OJ L 100 . 19.4.1994 .
(97/C 91 / 149) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3436/96 by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission (27 November 1996)
Subject: Greenham Common nuclear accident in the 1950s
Is the Commission aware that a higher incidence of childhood leukaemia and clusters of cancer incidences have been reported to have been recorded by the United Kingdom Defence and Radiological Protection Service and the Nuclear Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston , UK , around the area of the Greenham Common nuclear base in the United Kingdom ?
Is the Commission aware that these readings are understood to have not been released to the public?
Can the Commission authorize an inquiry under the terms of the EURATOM Treaty which will establish whether information has been suppressed by HM Government , will give public access to all documents and monitoring relating to the Greenham Common nuclear base , and provide free health checks for any person who , by visiting or inhabiting the area , may have cause to fear a health rise due to exposure to leaked radiation , or by biological descent of persons visiting or inhabiting the area around Greenham Common ?
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1996)
The allegations to which reference have been made relate to events which occurred before the United Kingdom became a signatory to the Euratom Treaty . However , to the extent that the alleged events may have led to 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /85
continuing contamination of the environment, the Commission requested information from the United Kingdom authorities to request information . The reply confirmed that there was an accident, involving a United States B47 aircraft , at the Greenham common airbase in 1958 . However, no nuclear weapons were involved . The United States authorities confirmed this to be the case in a statement issued , with the authority of the United States defence secretary , as recently as 23 July 1996 .
Moreover , environmental surveys carried out in the vicinity of the airbase in 1961 showed slightly higher than normal levels of uranium-235 . The radiological impact of those levels of radioactivity has been shown to be insignificant . Subsequent surveys , in 1986 and in 1994 , used more advanced and sensitive techniques than those which were available at the time of the 1961 study . Those later studies revealed no evidence of contamination , either on or around the base .
The Commission has no reason to believe that the United Kingdom authorities are withholding information in respect of radiation hazards to the public associated with Greenham common airbase , and has no grounds , therefore , to pursue this matter further . Health checks of the type proposed are a matter for the United Kingdom authorities .
(97/C 91 / 150) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3448/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (9 December 1996 )
Subject: Cross-border consumer protection between the Saarland (Germany) and Lorraine (France)
1 . Does the Commission consider that cross-border projects such as that planned between the Saarland and Lorraine are worth supporting ? 2 . Why has no support from the Commission yet been forthcoming for the Saarland-Lorraine project , in spite of its importance for this border region ?
Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (20 January 1997)
1 . Budgetary limitations oblige the Commission to give priority to projects involving Member States which do not yet have any information centres for cross-border consumers .
2 . The Commission has informed the Verbraucherstelle des Saarlander of the reasons why it was unable to support its project .
(97/C 9 1 / 1 5 1 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3454/96 by Bernie Malone (PSE) to the Commission (9 December 1996)
Subject: Leonardo programme
Could the Commission indicate what action has been taken or is being planned in order to improve the operation of the Leonardo programme , namely to reduce the amount of 'red tape', to speed up the financial procedures , specifically payments for student placements , and to increase the ECU 200 placement allocation ?
Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission ( 13 January 1997)
The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern about reducing the administrative burden associated with the Leonardo programme , and has already introduced a number of improvements with this in mind . No C 91 /86 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
As regards the improvement of financial procedures , particularly in connection with student grants , the Commission's policy is now to pay 65% of the total amount due for the placement programme on signature of the contract , followed by a second advance payment of 25% on presentation of the interim report . 90% of the grant is thus available to the promoter at the end of the first year of a placement programme which runs for two years .
Concerning the question of the organisational costs authorised in the context of the management of placement programmes ( the present ceilings being ECU 200 per beneficiary and ECU 15 000 per promoter per year), the Commission is in the process of considering new administrative arrangements for the 1996-97 financial year which would make it possible to make a greater contribution to the organisational costs , with a view to improving the quality of placement and exchange programmes .
( 97/C 91 / 152) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3490/96 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE ) to the Commission (29 November 1996 )
Subject: Platinum pollution of the soil
According to recent press reports — e.g. in the Bonn General Anzeiger of 9/ 10 November 1996 — platinum pollution of the soil has risen drastically since the introduction of catalytic converters in cars in the Federal Republic . Calculations from the GSF research centre for the environment and health in Munich indicate that concentrations of platinum have increased from 12 micrograms per kilogram of street dust in 1990 to peak levels of up to 250 micrograms per kilogram of street dust today . Although scientists consider that there is as yet no cause for concern :
1 . Is the Commission aware of these figures ?
2 . Are there comparable findings from other Member States ?
3 . Are there studies which indicate the levels at which there is a danger for health and the environment?
Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1996 )
Existing Community legislation on the environment in general and soil pollution in particular does not give the Commission the means to monitor the figures mentioned by the Honourable Member . The Commission cannot , therefore , provide any information on comparable findings in other Member States .
At the moment , very little information is available on levels of exposure to platinum compounds . According to information currently available , the levels of platinum in the air are at least three orders of magnitude lower than those which have been shown to have any harmful effect . It should also be noted that the World Health Organization ( WHO) has not recommended a guideline value for platinum in ambient air .
(97/C 91 / 153 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3498/96 by Hugh McMahon (PSE) to the Commission (9 December 1996)
Subject: Court of Auditor's report 1995 — ESF in the UK
The Commission and the UK Government are criticized in the current Court of Auditor's report for reopening eight files for 1993 despite the fact that there was no legal base for this expenditure which breaches the financial regulations .
Can the Commission give exact details of the eight projects mentioned in the Court of Auditors ' report? Did they involve national training schemes , local authorities , higher education or the voluntary sector, and will the Commission give the geographical location of the above projects ? 20 . 3 . 97 EN Official Journal of the European Communities No C 91 /87
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1997)
As the Commission explained in the Court of auditors ' report cited by the Honourable Member , the decision to use 1994-1999 credits allocated to the United Kingdom to cover eligible expenditure incurred in the previous programming period was based upon Article 14(3 ) of Council Regulation (EEC ) No 4253/88 (') regarding coordination of the different structural funds between themselves and other instruments .
With regard to the exact details the Honourable Member is aware that the Commission does not track payments at the level of individual projects . Should information on specific project details be required , this information can be requested from the department for education and employment in London .
C ) OJ L 374 , 31.12.1988 as amended OJ L 193 , 31.7.1993 .
( 97/C 9 1 / 1 54) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3559/96 by Joaquin Siso Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission ( 12 December 1996)
Subject: Non-tariff barriers to trade As the Commission is aware , Eurochambers (the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry ) has just published a study in collaboration with the Commission on the non-tariff barriers to trade with third countries encountered by European undertakings . The study shows that one of the main obstacles consists of a lack of sufficient information on how to cope with the administrative regulations and customs procedures in force in those countries . To improve the situation , European undertakings are calling for ' one-stop shops ' to be set up to provide information and help for European businesses wishing to export to third countries , and they are also calling for improved transparency and information regarding the rules and regulations in force in third countries .
Does the Commission intend to take any steps in this respect ?
Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1997)
The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-3429/96 by Mr Mendez de Vigo (').
(') See page 82 .
( 97/C 91 / 155 ) WRITTEN QUESTION E 3560/96 by Joaquin Siso Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission (12 December 1996)
Subject: 1996 : European Year of Education and Lifelong Learning There are just two months left before the end of the European Year of Education and Lifelong Learning , which has passed by unnoticed by most European citizens who have been virtually unaware of its existence . However, it has been well received by those members of the public who had the chance to learn about it . In view of the great importance of education and lifelong learning in today's Europe ,
Can the Commission report on the main activities which have taken place this year to make European citizens aware of this issue ?
What aspects deserve most attention and what lines of action does the Commission suggest should be taken as a follow-up ? No C 91 /88 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 20 . 3 . 97
Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission ( 13 January 1997) Despite there being limited funds available , the European Year of Lifelong Learning has proved to be the springboard for a vast range of activities . Proposals were put forward for more than 5 000 projects , of which some 550 have received Community funding from the resources allocated for the European Year. Around 2 500 events have been organised , including those financed by other Community programmes or by bodies in the Member States . The impact of the Year can be measured by the fact that some 4 000 press articles are known to have been published throughout the participating countries (including member countries of the European Economic Area). The Internet site created specifically for the Year by the Commission has been visited on more than 80 000 occasions . Events have mainly taken the form of conferences and exhibitions , open days , television broadcasts , brochures , newsletters , the Internet site and competitions . The jointly financed projects are listed in a compendium which is being forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat . A report on the implementation of the European Year will be presented to Parliament in 1997 . The Commission has not yet formulated guidelines for subsequent action to promote lifelong learning . Approaches which are currently being studied include the idea of anchoring the principle more firmly within programmes such as Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci , renewal of the competition on the subject of educational multimedia software as part of the action plan for 'Learning in the information society ' (') and maintenance of the European Year's Internet site beyond the end of the year as a means of encouraging the formation of networks among interested individuals and institutions . A further point to note is that the Council , at its meeting on 21 November 1996 , outlined a strategy for lifelong learning .
(') Doc . COM(96 ) 471 .
(97/C 91 / 156) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3753/96 by Pierre Moscovici (PSE) to the Commission ( 11 December 1996) Subject: Pension rights for migrant workers within the European Union Many European citizens who have moved from one European Union country to another in the course of their working lives encounter problems with pensions agencies regarding the payment of pensions to which they have accrued entitlements in their country of origin , despite having evidence of their employment and of their pension contributions .
What is the legislative basis which should be used to assent such pension rights ? What legal basis should be used to bring an action against an agency — or State — which refuses to respect such rights ? Does the Court of Justice of the European Communities have jurisdiction to rule in such cases ?
Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission ( 10 January 1997) The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the provisions of Articles 35 et seq . of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 ('), which have to do with the submission and investigation of claims for invalidity , old-age and death benefits where the person concerned has been insured in more than one Member State . As far as old-age benefit is concerned , Article 36 of the said Regulation makes it possible for the person concerned to submit a claim either to the institution of the place of residence or to the institution of another Member State involved ( in this connection , see the Court of Justice's judgment of 24 October 1996 in the Picard case , C-335/95 ). It is up to the institution with which the claim is lodged to inform the institutions of the other Member States concerned , with a view to investigating the claim . If the person concerned considers that the Community rules in question have not been complied with , he or she may bring an action before the national courts in accordance with national procedures . Where appropriate , the competent court may , pursuant to Article 177 of the EC Treaty , refer the matter to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of the said provisions .
(') OJ L 74 , 27.3.1972 ; consolidated version - OJ C 325 , 10.12.1992 .