ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/660

(2004/C 78 E/0703)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3853/03

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(8 December 2003)

Subject: Funding for Spain's ‘National Water Plan’

Law No 10/2001 of 5 July 2001 introduced the ‘National Water Plan’ for Spain and the Spanish Government requested Community funding for carrying out the Plan.

Can the Commission say for which projects Community funding was requested? For which projects was it granted? What was the proportion of Community funding for the projects? For which projects was funding refused?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2004)

In accordance with the subsidiarity principle, it is the competence of the Member States to select the projects to be co-financed by the Cohesion Fund and the Structural Funds programmes.

As far as those projects to be co-financed by the Structural Funds, Member States are obliged to notify only those projects requesting community co-financing whose cost exceeds the EUR 50 million threshold laid down in Article 25 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (1).

Annex II of Spanish law 10/2001 on the National Hydrological Plan includes a listing of investments consisting of several hundreds of projects. The Spanish authorities have recently informed the Commission of the projects that will be proposed for Community financing by the Cohesion Fund and by the European Regional Development Fund.

As established in Article 14.3. ‘Information and publicity’ of Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 of 16 May 1994 establishing a Cohesion Fund (2), as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1264/1999 of 21 June 1999 (3) and by Council Regulation (EC) No 1265/1999 of 21 June 1999 (3), the Commission publishes yearly in the Official Journal of the European Union the list of Decisions granting financial assistance under the above mentioned Regulation.

The information related to Spanish projects was published in the following Official Journals:

Projects for which financing has been requested under the Cohesion Fund but which are still being processed or that have been approved in 2003 are set out in Annex I to this response. A list of those large projects in the hydrological field, as defined by Article 25 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 on Structural Funds, that have been notified by the Member State are enclosed in Annex II.

These annexes are sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 130, 25.5.1994.

(3) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
2. to 4.

It may be useful to distinguish between the different types of warranty and servicing packages that a car owner may encounter. Manufacturers' warranties, as referred to in paragraph 1 above, form part of the distribution agreement between dealers and manufacturers, and are therefore likely to be covered by Article 81 of the EC Treaty, and to fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002. The Commission does not have any evidence to suggest that car manufacturers are generally reducing the length of the warranty periods that they offer on new cars. Indeed, the Commission has observed a trend towards longer manufacturers' warranties over the past few years. Dealer warranties, on the other hand, are financed and issued by the dealer, and result from a contract between the dealer and the consumer, and thus do not form part of the vertical distribution agreement between the manufacturer and the dealer. Such warranties are in general not covered by Article 81 or Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002. However, as the Office of Fair Trading report mentioned below makes plain, warranties described as ‘dealer-based’ are often financed in the main by the manufacturer rather than the dealer. These warranties should therefore be considered to be manufacturers' warranties for the purposes of Community competition law. The consumer can choose to extend the protection beyond the end of the manufacturer's warranty by buying an extended warranty from the manufacturer or from a third party, and may also choose to buy a servicing package. If the consumer buys an extended warranty from the manufacturer, the reasoning in paragraph 1 applies.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/38

(2004/C 88 E/0041)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1665/03

by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 May 2003)

Subject: Kurdish language teaching in Turkey

About ten months ago the Turkish Parliament adopted new legislation which was supposed to allow private schools to be set up for the teaching of the Kurdish language.

However, the provisions also stipulated that:

— private schools which already teach foreign languages cannot teach Kurdish too, i.e. schools must be set up specifically to teach Kurdish;

— Kurdish may be taught only by teachers with a Kurdish language teaching qualification — which until a year ago did not officially exist, and therefore there could not be any schools to qualify teachers to teach the language!

— Foreign teachers cannot be used to teach Kurdish.

This means that it has not been possible to open a Kurdish language school anywhere in Turkey.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned legislation states that access to Kurdish language courses is restricted to people who already have a full command of the Turkish language after completing their primary education. In practice this means only students over 15 years old, and even then not all of them, since there is a low level of literacy in south-east Turkey.

This is obviously a crude and cynical move designed to fool the Kurds in Turkey and the European Union, which has requested that Turkey behave in a civilised way.

Will the Commission analyse this information and does it not consider that it should be forceful in telling the Turkish Government that its attitude makes it impossible for Turkey to join the European Union.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2003)

The Commission is aware of the situation regarding the provisions for the teaching of languages and dialects (other than Turkish) traditionally used by Turkish citizens, as outlined in the Regulation issued by the Ministry of National Education on 20 September 2002.

The Commission has raised its concerns regarding the limited possibilities for the teaching of languages and dialects other than Turkish in its regular dialogue with the Turkish authorities. The Commission considers that the regulatory requirements might constitute an obstacle to the teaching of languages other than Turkish.

In the recently approved revised Accession Partnership with Turkey, Turkey is asked to ensure cultural diversity and to guarantee cultural rights for all citizens irrespective of their origin. This includes the need to ensure effective access to education, radio and television broadcasting in languages other than Turkish through the implementation of existing measures and the removal of remaining restrictions that impede this access.

As a Union candidate country, Turkey aims to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria, which include respect for and the protection of minorities. In this respect, the Commission will continue to monitor the situation of non-Turkish language teaching in Turkey, which will include an assessment of the regulatory environment in which such courses are permitted.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/590

(2004/C 88 E/0602)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0170/03

by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 January 2003)

Subject: Bangladesh

On 21 November 2002 the European Parliament adopted an urgent resolution on Bangladesh following reports of alleged violations of human rights committed under the Bangladesh military's ‘Operation Clean Heart’ and an apparently deteriorating human rights situation in that country.

In the European Parliament resolution, we call on the Commission to ‘engage with the Government of Bangladesh under the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement to ensure that violations stop (and) human rights are protected’. Can the Commission inform us what action it has taken so far in that respect?

What (other) initiatives is it planning to take in order to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to protect human rights in its country?
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/439

(2004/C 78 E/0460)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2853/03

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(26 September 2003)

Subject: Port Services Directive: attacks on Parliament by Commission official

Is it true that a Commission civil servant, Wolfgang Elsner, speaking at the International Maritime Organisation Congress in Barcelona, attacked the European Parliament decision to exclude pilotage services from the Port Services Directive, describing Parliament as ‘anti-business’?

Did the Commission authorise one of its civil servants to make such a political attack and, if not, what will it do to prevent a re-occurrence of such incidents?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(28 October 2003)

The Honourable Member can be assured that the Commission official he mentioned did not make such comments at the Barcelona International Maritime Organisation Conference.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/88

(2004/C 84 E/0105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3710/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Update concerning the funds for the Altener II programme for the municipality of Massa

With reference to question E-0966/03 (1), in which the Commission was asked whether the municipality of Massa (Italy) had submitted projects and obtained funds under the Altener II programme, the Commission replied to the effect that no proposal had been submitted.

Can the Commission provide information on any projects submitted since the date of its reply (25 April 2003)?

(1) OJ C 268 E, 7.11.2003, p. 169.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/109

(2004/C 84 E/0146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3887/03

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Measures to tackle legionnaires' disease

On 22 October 2003 the Commissioner for Public Health and Consumer Protection, Mr Byrne, replied on behalf of the Commission to my written question on measures to tackle legionnaires' disease (E-2797/03) (1). However, his response failed to answer any of the four questions that I had raised.

1. Is the Commission prepared to re-read carefully written question E-2797/03 and its answer and to provide detailed replies to the issues raised?

2. As the Commission might well imagine, the questioner, along with present and potential victims of legionnaires' disease, are less than happy about being fobbed off with an answer that leaves them none the wiser.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 2004)

The Commission would like to confirm that:

1. There are no compulsory guidelines concerning the matter raised. The European Working Group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI) network and its operating guidelines are entirely voluntary and there are no binding rules on the matter for the Member States or for any organisation in the Union.

2. Of course it is desirable for travel organisations to provide the fullest possible information on any disease that might be of concern to those receiving services from them.

As regards the questions concerning the submission by the Commission of proposals on the matter, these relate to the right of initiative of the Commission and have been fully addressed in the reply given previously to the Honourable Member's written question E-2797/03.

(1) OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004, p. 756.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/246

(2004/C 84 E/0291)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3531/03

by Rijk van Dam (EDD) to the Council

(28 November 2003)

Subject: Statements by the President of the Transport Council after the informal Transport Council in Verona

After the informal ministerial meeting of Transport Ministers in Verona, at which safety on motorways was considered, the President of the Transport Council, Mr Lunardi, suggested that the speed limit on certain motorways in Italy should be raised experimentally to 150 km/h.

1. Is the President of the Transport Council aware of the Commission's plans in the field of road safety, as set out in the White Paper on ‘European transport policy for 2010’?

2. Does the President of the Transport Council agree with the objectives stated in the White Paper regarding the number of people killed on the roads in the period up to 2010, namely that the number should be halved from approximately 40 000 to approximately 20 000?

3. Does the President of the Transport Council consider that the experiment he proposes would contribute to the objectives of the White Paper as regards the number of people killed on the roads? If so, how?

Reply

(9 March 2004)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that it does not comment on public statements of the kind referred to in the question.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/458

(2004/C 84 E/0533)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0496/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(21 February 2003)

Subject: Palestine: hatred spreads to football

The Palestine National Authority's daily newspaper Al Hayat Al Jadida recently reported extensively on a football tournament held in the Palestinian town of Tulkarem (located in the northern part of the West Bank), partly on account of the fact that the seven teams taking part (all made up of Palestinian youths) had adopted the names of seven shahid — the kamikaze Palestinian martyrs who carry out dynamite attacks in Israel.

Such a shameful and disgraceful choice of name is only one indication of the widespread approval enjoyed by the shahid.

Will the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Can it confirm the above report, which appeared in a number of European newspapers?

2. Will it confirm whether or not the sports event in question, which was obviously intended to stir up further trouble by inciting young people to hatred and encouraging them to exalt false and dangerous heroes, received Community funding which should instead be used in order to promote social and other more tangible initiatives intended to facilitate cooperation and possibly bring about a reconciliation between the two peoples concerned?

3. Does it intend to condemn the event and to call upon the Palestinian Authority to ban any further events of a similar nature?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

1. The Commission is aware of press reports about a football tournament in Tulkarem referred to in the question of the Honourable Member.

2. The Commission can confirm that the soccer tournament in question has not received Community funding. The Commission is unaware of any involvement or financial support of the Palestinian Authority in the aforementioned tournament.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/356

(2004/C 88 E/0361)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1576/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject: EU-wide energy taxation

Following the recent agreement in the Council regarding the introduction of minimum energy taxation across the EU, what steps will the Commission now take to secure implementation of the agreement?

When does it plan to propose the necessary measures, and by when does it hope that they will be applied through the EU?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2003)

The Council unanimously reached a political agreement on the draft energy tax Directive on 23 March 2003. Supporting the view of the Commission, the Council decided on 9 April 2003 to reconsult the Parliament. This decision was adopted because the latest compromise is significantly different from the proposal presented by the Commission in 1997 (1). It is, therefore, important that the Parliament has the opportunity to give its opinion on the draft Directive.

The formal Council decision on the adoption of the energy tax Directive will only intervene after the Parliament has delivered its opinion.

The Commission is committed to helping Member States and Applicant Countries in their work for the transposition of the Directive. Technical meetings will be organised at services level to streamline the transposition process and secure a rapid high quality transposition.

The Directive will normally enter into force on 1 January 2004, with the exception of a few articles which apply retrospectively from 1 January 2003.

(1) OJ C 139, 6.5.1997.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/375

(2004/C 88 E/0380)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1806/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Settlement of payments to EU Member States under the second CSF.

Given that procedures have commenced for settlement of payments under the second CSF, can the Commission provide the following information:

— what amounts were finally requested by each Member State?

— what appropriations were not taken up by each of the Member States?

— what percentage of total earmarked appropriations were represented by the amounts not taken up by Member States in each case?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2003)

The Commission asks the Honourable Member to refer to its reply to Oral Question No H-0310/03 by Mr Mastorakis during Question Time at Parliament's June 2003 part-session (1).

(1) Written reply given on 3.6.2003.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/1

(2004/C 84 E/0001)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0021/03

by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 January 2003)

Subject: Appointment of senior staff in the European Commission — medical service

ILO (International Labour Organisation) Recommendation No 112 concerning occupational health services in places of employment establishes, as one of the professional guarantees designed to ensure that there is a relationship of trust between employers, workers and their occupational health service physician, ‘professional and moral independence’ vis-à-vis all those concerned.

In its resolution of 1 July 1960 on safety and hygiene at work the European Parliament recognises that occupational medicine is practised in occupational health services in companies and in the work of occupational physicians.

In its Recommendation of 20 July 1962 on company medical services (1) the Commission calls on the Member States to officially recognise occupational medicine in enterprises, emphasising that these services should preferably be headed, wherever possible, by full-time occupational physicians.

Can the Commission say why it saw fit to ignore the fundamental principles of the ILO recommendation, Parliament's resolution and its own recommendation to the Member States, by appointing an official with no medical knowledge as head of its medical service?

Does the Commission not consider that decisions of this kind may severely harm its credibility in the eyes of the other institutions and European citizens?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2003)

Contrary to what the Honourable Member appears to have been led to believe by the information at his disposal, the Commission does not disregard any of its own recommendations to the Member States on the importance of occupational health services.

After the previous head of the Medical Service in Brussels retired, the Commission decision in 2002 was taken specifically for the purpose of reinforcing its Medical Service in Brussels by giving greater attention to the management of this service through the appointment of two members of staff to lead it. The post of Unit Head was entrusted to an administrator with proven management experience and a new function of Medical Adviser — with full responsibility for the medical aspects of the service — was created. That post was assigned to a medical doctor with well established and recognised expertise in occupational health matters. The Medical Adviser is not inferior in grade or in status to any person in the Medical Service.

The Commission was assisted in coming to the decision by knowledge of the manner in which hospital management is organised in some Member States.

The Commission is sure that the Honourable Member will want to correct the impression inadvertently given by his question that ‘an official with no medical knowledge’ was appointed by the Commission to head its Medical Service, in contravention of ILO recommendations.

(1) OJ B 80, 31.8.1962, p. 2181.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/476

(2004/C 88 E/0488)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3859/03

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Funding of small Tacis Programme projects

Having regard to the fact that the percentage share of funding allocated to small projects under the Tacis programme increased by 15 % in 2002, could the Commission state how many small projects received funding, and what amounts of money were involved? Was the successful outcome of the projects verified?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2004)

The Commission understands that the Honourable Member is referring to the two principal types of ‘small projects’ which exist under Tacis, namely the Tacis Cross-Border Co-operation (CBC) Programme Small Project Facility and the Civil Society component of the Institution-Building Partnership Programme. With reference to the Tacis Cross-Border Co-operation Programme Small Project Facility, an allocation of EUR 6,7 million was made under the Tacis CBC Action Programme 2002. This resulted in a total number of 32 small projects being recommended for funding and contracted. In addition, 12 micro projects (less than EUR 50 000 each) were also contracted. The last evaluation round for the micro-project component has recently been completed. The contracts for the micro-projects selected will be concluded in the coming weeks.

As regards the Institution-Building Partnership Programme, the total amount allocated to the envelope for Support to Civil Society and Local Initiatives under AP 2002 was EUR 11,7 million. A total of 62 projects were recommended for funding and 61 were contracted by December 2003.

In both cases, the first projects began only recently, hence it is too early to assess the outcome at this stage. Projects will be subject to monitoring and supervision by the Delegations.