ISSN 0378-6986 Official Journal C 142 Volume 42 of the European Communities 21 May 1999 English edition Information and Notices Notice No Contents Page I Information European Parliament Written Questions with answer (1999/C 142/001) E-0406/98 by Phillip Whitehead to the Commission Subject: Prescribed Quantity systems (Supplementary Answer) ........................... 1 (1999/C 142/002) P-1655/98 by Antonios Trakatellis to the Commission Subject: Pollution of the River Axios by industrial plants in FYROM ....................... 2 (1999/C 142/003) P-1894/98 by Esko Seppänen to the Commission Subject: EU involvement in covert electronic communications interception .................... 3 (1999/C 142/004) E-1986/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis to the Commission Subject: Problems relating to the Food and Veterinary Office in Dublin ...................... 3 (1999/C 142/005) E-2019/98 by Edith Müller to the Commission Subject: Budget expenditure on human rights .................................... 4 (1999/C 142/006) E-2128/98 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo to the Commission Subject: United Kingdom v. Commission, C-106/96 ................................. 5 (1999/C 142/007) E-2338/98 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström to the Commission Subject: Wider implications of the European Court of Justice’s judgment in case C-106/96 ........... 6 Joint answer to Written Questions E-2128/98 and E-2338/98 . .................. 6 (1999/C 142/008) E-2177/98 by María Sornosa Martínez to the Commission Subject: Authorization of hunting by the ‘parany’ (trapping) method in the Valencia region (Spain) ....... 7 (1999/C 142/009) E-2178/98 by Angela Sierra González to the Commission Subject: Sects in the EU ................................................ 8 (1999/C 142/010) E-2200/98 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso to the Commission Subject: Impact of the judgment in Case C-106/96 .................................. 9 EN Price: EUR 34,50 (Continued overleaf) Notice No Contents (continued) Page (1999/C 142/011) E-2268/98 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission Subject: Hunting of migratory birds in France .................................... 10 (1999/C 142/012) E-2282/98 by Raimo Ilaskivi to the Commission Subject: Hunting of bears and the habitats directive ................................. 10 (1999/C 142/013) E-2365/98 by Alexandros Alavanos to the Commission Subject: Project in Stemnitsa (Arkadia) as part of the regional operational programme for the Peloponnese ... 11 (1999/C 142/014) E-2369/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna to the Commission Subject: Outcome of the bilateral meeting between the Director-General for Fisheries at the Commission and the Canadian Deputy Minister for Fisheries ....................................... 11 (1999/C 142/015) E-2370/98 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso and Juan Colino Salamanca to the Commission Subject: Calves eligible for premiums in Spain ................................... 12 (1999/C 142/016) E-2376/98 by Eryl McNally to the Commission Subject: Language learning .............................................. 13 (1999/C 142/017) E-2394/98 by María Sornosa Martínez to the Commission Subject: Unjustified and unfair treatment of flight passengers and fraudulent flight contracts issued by the Iberia airline .......................................................... 13 (1999/C 142/018) E-2400/98 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström to the Commission Subject: Packaging of fish products .......................................... 15 (1999/C 142/019) E-2451/98 by Paul Lannoye to the Commission Subject: Dumping of toxic and hazardous waste near Bilbao airport ........................ 16 (1999/C 142/020) E-2454/98 by Roberta Angelilli to the Commission Subject: Recognition of the locksmith profession .................................. 17 (1999/C 142/021) E-2459/98 by Honório Novo to the Commission Subject: Bad weather and damage to agriculture in Portugal ............................ 18 (1999/C 142/022) E-2496/98 by Graham Watson to the Commission Subject: Article 169 .................................................. 18 (1999/C 142/023) E-2515/98 by Gianni Tamino to the Commission Subject: Pollution from the Ostiglia and Sermide-Carbonara Po electrical power stations (Italy) ......... 19 (1999/C 142/024) P-2520/98 by Hugh McMahon to the Commission Subject: Projects in Tarija, Bolivia (Supplementary Answer) ............................ 20 (1999/C 142/025) E-2531/98 by Graham Mather to the Commission Subject: EU funding for projects designed to benefit orphans in third countries .................. 21 (1999/C 142/026) E-2533/98 by Graham Mather to the Commission Subject: Commission information campaign spending ................................ 22 (1999/C 142/027) E-2550/98 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso to the Commission Subject: Protection against asbestos .......................................... 23 (1999/C 142/028) E-2564/98 by Irene Soltwedel-Schäfer to the Commission Subject: Special category waste incineration plant in Biebesheim, Hesse, Germany ................ 23 (1999/C 142/029) E-2597/98 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis to the Commission Subject: Progress with Greek national land register ................................. 24 (1999/C 142/030) E-2608/98 by Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop to the Commission Subject: Criteria governing budget headings A-3 0 and A-3 1 ............................ 25 (1999/C 142/031) P-2621/98 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission Subject: Threat to the badger (meles meles) in the United Kingdom ........................ 26 (1999/C 142/032) E-2631/98 by Nel van Dijk to the Commission Subject: Threat to the badger (meles meles) in the United Kingdom ........................ 26 Joint answer to Written Questions P-2621/98 and E-2631/98 . .................. 27 EN (1999/C 142/033) E-2639/98 by Mihail Papayannakis to the Commission Subject: Structural Funds and Community law .................................... 28 (1999/C 142/034) E-2649/98 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz to the Commission Subject: Shooting tests using live animals in Spain ................................. 28 (1999/C 142/035) E-2653/98 by Friedhelm Frischenschlager to the Council Subject: EU drugs policy ............................................... 29 (1999/C 142/036) E-2657/98 by Gianni Tamino to the Commission Subject: Plan to extend the airport of San Giuseppe in Treviso ........................... 30 (1999/C 142/037) E-2673/98 by Gerhard Hager to the Council Subject: Assistance to applicant countries as regards external border checks .................... 31 (1999/C 142/038) E-2685/98 by Gerhard Hager to the Council Subject: 1999 drugs strategy .............................................. 32 (1999/C 142/039) E-2689/98 by Doeke Eisma to the Commission Subject: Limitation of citizens’ rights in involvement in the decision-making process surrounding the completion of the Khmelnitsky 2 and Rovno 4 nuclear plants in Ukraine .............. 21.5.1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/1 I (Information) EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER (1999/C 142/001) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0406/98 by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission (24 February 1998) Subject: Prescribed Quantity systems Which Member States have a Prescribed Quantity system which has been investigated, and why did the Commission feel that the existence of a PQ system in the British break market posed a threat to inter- Community trade? Supplementary answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (4 December 1998) In 1993, the Commission, following Parliamentary question H-228/93 by Mrs von Alemann (1) on the difficulties faced by importers of prepacked bread from Germany, raised the question of the compatibility of the United Kingdom regulations on ranges (Weights and Measures (Miscellaneous Foods) Order 1988 SI 1988/2040) with Articles 30 to 36 of the EC Treaty concerning the principle of the free movement of goods. Since bread is not covered by Directive 80/232/EEC relating to the ranges of nominal quantities and nominal capacities permitted for certain prepacked products (2), Articles 30 to 36 apply to national measures likely to obstruct trade in the products concerned. The disputed regulations prescribe for prepacked bread the nominal quantity of 400 grams and multiples thereof, thereby excluding the nominal quantity of 500 grams normally used in other Member States. The Commission regards these regulations as being incompatible with Article 30 of the EC Treaty, since consumer protection and fairness in trading relations can be adequately ensured by a measure which is less obstructing to trade, involving, for example, the indication of the net quantity on the prepacked product. Following a formal notice of complaint in December 1996, the United Kingdom authorities indicated their willingness to amend the regulations in question with a view to including the quantities of 500 grams and 1 kilogram. The procedure to amend the legislation is now under way. (1) OJ Annex 3-429, 10.3.1993. (2) OJ L 51, 25.2.1980. C 142/2 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21.5.1999 (1999/C 142/002) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1655/98 by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE) to the Commission (18 May 1998) Subject: Pollution of the River Axios by industrial plants in FYROM The recent study by the Danish Kruger Institute and reports in the media point out that huge quantities of toxic and chemical waste from industries in the region of Veles in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are being discharged into the River Axios. The quantities of chemicals being poured into the river are 644