ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1991/97 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission (30 May 1997)

Subject: Execution of the Structural Funds 1994-1996

The Commission replied to my written question P-1877/96 ((OJ C 345, 15.11.1996. p. 111. )) with two tables giving a breakdown, by Member State and by fund, of the execution of the Community support frameworks in 1994 and 1995 with respect to programme planning. It also provided a table setting out the state of execution by Member State over those two years.

Could the Commission provide the equivalent information in the same format, to facilitate comparison, for the year 1996 and the three-year period 1994-1996?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (30 June 1997)

The Honourable Member will find the information requested in a table which is being sent directly to him and to Parliament's Secretariat.

The Commission would also point out that a working paper analysing the utilisation of the Structural Funds over the period 1994-1996 is being prepared and will shortly be transmitted to the budgetary authority.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1522/97 by Riccardo Nencini (PSE) to the Commission (5 May 1997)

Subject: Derogation from the ceiling on slaughtering (LAU)

Some time ago the Commune of Borgo San Lorenzo (Florence), which is in a geographically less-favoured region, requested a derogation from the ceiling laid down for slaughtering (200 LAU). The relevant Community institutions have not yet replied to the application for a derogation submitted by the Italian authorities.

Can the Commission state whether such a derogation can be granted?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 June 1997)

In the framework of the internal market the rules of Directive 64/433/EEC ((OJ 121, 29.07.1964. )) (fresh meat Directive), as amended by Council Directives 91/497/EEC ((OJ L 268, 24.9.1991. )) and 95/23/EC ((OJ L 243, 11.10.1995. )) were extended to the national production of fresh meat. In order to avoid difficulties in the implementation of the regulations concerning small artisanal establishments (up to a production volume of 1000 livestock units per year) certain derogations from structural requirements were introduced.

Additionally a derogation was introduced in Directive 64/433/EEC for slaughter establishments which handle not more than 2000 livestock units per year taking specific geographical situations and infrastructure circumstances in Member States into account. The relevant provision says that Member States may, at their request, be authorized to apply the structural requirements for small slaughterhouses (1000 livestock units per year) to these establishments if they are situated in regions suffering from special geographical constraints or affected by supply difficulties.

The Italian authorities have transmitted a list of slaughterhouses to the Commission with a request to make a proposal for derogations to the standing veterinary committee. This list contained several points which have to be clarified before further action can be initiated. Therefore the Italian authorities were asked for clarification. Having received the answer the Commission will examine the request and initiate the necessary action.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2380/97 by Evelyne Gebhardt (PSE) to the Commission (10 July 1997)

Subject: Assistance for the Lake Constance region

Can the Commission say how much assistance the Lake Constance region (Landkreis Konstanz, Landkreis Bodenseekreis, Lindau-Bodensee, Land Vorarlberg) has received from the European Union since 1990?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (7 August 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1671/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Spalato Belleré (NI) to the Commission (20 May 1997)

Subject: Road safety

Given the appalling number of deaths caused each year by road accidents within the European Union (45 000) and the social and economic cost of such accidents, which has been estimated at ECU 162 m per year, there is now an urgent need for an integrated road safety plan.

The Commission is asked to draw up an action plan making provision for binding legislative measures such as the obligation to carry out road safety impact assessments (along the same lines as those carried out on the environment) in connection with all new infrastructure projects, together with improved emergency services, the establishment of a database enabling progress in this area to be monitored, and the launch of pilot projects covering both techniques and equipment likely to help reduce the number of road accidents.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (3 July 1997)

The Commission considers that the annual level of fatalities, injured people and economic damage on Europe's roads imposes an unacceptably high burden on Europe's society and economy. The Commission, therefore, has recently launched an ambitious new strategy entitled 'Promoting road safety in the EU' ((COM(97) 131. )) to accelerate improvements in road safety.

The action plan at Community level comprises more than 60 initiatives, which include the further development of an accident data base, development of guidelines for the systematic assessment of the impact of infrastructure on road safety and several pilot projects as suggested by the Honourable Member.

Furthermore, where the safety of vehicle occupants and other road users is concerned, a high level of protection continues to be a prime consideration of the Commission when establishing harmonised technical requirements in the framework of the Community type-approval procedure for motor vehicles.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1491/97 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission (30 April 1997)

Subject: Alleged crimes of a multinational

Clothing and footwear multinationals have been accused of coldly exploiting the poverty of underdeveloped countries on more than one occasion.

The case of Nike, the well-known manufacturer of trainers, has also been mentioned in this connection on more than one occasion. The New York Times article signed by Bob Herbert (reprinted in the International Herald Tribune, Paris, on 1 April 1997) under the headline 'Making billions on the backs of hungry women' reveals a shocking situation where wages are a pittance, and describes in detail the consequences which can arise from the relocation of certain industries.

Assuming that the information on which the article is based is accurate (and it should be possible to verify it), does the Commission consider that action should be taken on humanitarian grounds to ensure that products manufactured by Nike are boycotted immediately and effectively so as to prevent these slave traders of the twentieth century from profiting from the internal market created by the European Community?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (6 June 1997)

The question from the Honourable Member falls into the more general area of the linkage of trade and labour standards. The Commission has published a communication on this subject in which it explicitly supported the

need to promote fundamental labour standards, such as the prohibition of forced labour, abolition of child exploitation, trade union freedom and absence of sex discrimination. To the Commission, however, the way forward is not that of commercial sanctions, particularly on individual businesses, which would run counter to the desired objective, for this must also rely on economic and social development in the countries concerned.

Hence the Commission's preference for a policy of encouraging compliance with social standards through incentives rather than coercive measures. This is the background to the provisions of the generalized scheme of tariff preferences under which additional preferences may be granted from 1998 onwards to countries which actually apply International Labour Organization conventions relating to certain of the fundamental labour standards referred to above. The Community scheme also provides, however, that tariff preferences may be temporarily withdrawn from countries in which, following a thorough investigation, it has been confirmed that slavery (and forced labour in particular) is actually practised. And this was recently proposed by the Commission and decided upon by the Council (EC/552/97 ((OJ L 85, 27.3.1997. ))) with regard to Myanmar (Burma). Even in these cases, however, the investigative procedure, with all the guarantees that must accompany it, takes place in such a way that its objective is still to encourage the countries concerned to remedy the situation on the ground rather than to punish them.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2014/97 by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission (11 June 1997)

Subject: Benes decrees

Under the mandate conferred on it by the Copenhagen European Council, the Commission is required, inter alia, to review the realization of fundamental democratic rights and the rule of law in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which are implementing reforms and have applied for accession to the EU.

In view of this, what is the Commission's view of the fact that the Benes decrees of 1945, which violate internal law, remain in force in the Czech and Slovak Republics, where they collectively expropriated those states' German and Hungarian citizens and stripped them of their rights?

When drafting its opinions on the initiation of accession negotiations with the reform-minded states of Central and Eastern Europe, what view will the Commission take of the continuing validity of collective expropriations such as those enacted by the Benes decrees?

Is it not the case that only once these decrees have been repealed and compensation paid to their victims will legal peace and the rule of law which is required for accession to the EU have been established in both countries?

Will further measures be required of the applicant countries in this respect?

What is the Commission's view of the German-Czech 'declaration of reconciliation' in this connection?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (14 July 1997)

The Commission is fully aware of the historical context, the political importance and human dimension of the issues addressed by the Honourable Member.

It has repeatedly welcomed the 'German-Czech declaration on mutual relations and their further development' of 21 January 1997, in particular the fact that these relations will be oriented towards, and be included in the process of European integration. Both parliaments approved the declaration in January and February 1997. The presidents of the two countries have officially closed, in their speeches before the parliaments in Bonn and Prague in April 1997, in an unequivocal manner the chapter containing the burdens of the past and underlined their common interest in building a common Europe.

The Commission is currently preparing its opinions on applications by the associated countries in central and eastern Europe for membership of the Union. For the preparation of its opinions the Commission is guided by the criteria defined at the European Council of Copenhagen in 1993. These cover questions concerning democracy and rule of law in the associated countries.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2040/97 by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission (13 June 1997)

Subject: Cigarette lighters

Does the Commission intend to introduce legislation to improve safety standards for cigarette lighters sold in the European Union, in line with measures introduced in other countries such as the USA. If not, why not?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (16 July 1997)

The problem of incidents and accidents involving lighters has been drawn to the attention of the Commission. It is clear that the existing standards for lighters do not give a sufficient level of safety.

The Commission has therefore already started work on a proposal for a mandate to European committee for standardisation (CEN) to improve the safety requirements in the relevant standards. The proposal for a mandate will most likely be submitted to the Member States for approval by the committee under Directive 83/189/EEC ((OJ L 109, 26.4.1983. )), laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations at the first meeting after the summer this year.

If the mandate is approved by Member States and CEN it will provide for the elaboration of a standard containing higher levels of requirements. This standard will be applied by Member States under Directive 92/59/EEC on general product safety ((OJ L 228, 11.8.1992. )). This solution makes it possible to increase the level of safety without new Community legislation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1682/97 by Franz Linser (NI) to the Commission (20 May 1997)

Subject: Training of German pupil barristers by Austrian lawyers

Prior to Austria's accession to the EEA and the EU it used to be the case that foreign pupil barristers could only handle internal documents in lawyer's offices. They were not allowed to represent clients before Austrian authorities and courts because Austrian citizenship was a requirement for practising as a lawyer.

The legal position has not been affected by Austria's accession to the EU.

In order to represent clients before Austrian courts and authorities, lawyers need an authorization issued by the competent bar association. However, the latter only issue authorizations for prospective members of such associations.

Does the failure to admit German pupil barristers to represent parties before authorities and courts in Austria as a result of bar associations not issuing an authorization represent a violation against freedom of movement in the Internal Market?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (2 July 1997)

Council Directive 77/249/EEC to facilitate the effective exercise by lawyers of freedom to provide services ((OJ L 78, 26.3.1977. )) and Council Directive 89/48/EEC on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years' duration ((OJ L 19, 24.1.1989. )) apply exclusively to fully qualified lawyers, i.e. persons who have already been authorized to practise the profession of lawyer in a Member State or who possess all the qualifications necessary in order to do so. Trainee lawyers and trainee judges do not, therefore, belong to this category. The same applies in the case of the amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive to facilitate practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a Member State other than in which the qualification was obtained. ((OJ C 355, 25.11.1996. ))

As regards legal representation, both Directive 77/249/EEC and the above-mentioned proposal for a Directive permit Member States, subject to certain conditions, to allow lawyers from other Member States who are not fully authorized to practise in the host Member State to work together with a lawyer who is authorized to practise there.

The only point to examine in respect of trainee lawyers and trainee judges is whether or not the directly applicable provisions of the Treaty, and in particular the ban on discrimination contained in Article 6, have been infringed. In order to do this, additional information would need to be provided, particularly on the rules governing representation before Austrian courts, on the status of trainee lawyers and trainee judges, on the powers conferred by legitimation and on the training requirements for German trainee judges in Austria. A difference in treatment based solely on the nationality of the persons concerned would undoubtedly constitute an infringement of Community law. The Commission would like to receive additional information on each of these points.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2143/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Applications for authorization already made pursuant to directive 90/220/EC

Is it true that the genetic products currently awaiting marketing, authorization for which has been applied for under the deliberate release directive ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 15. )), do not have to be labelled pursuant to the novel food regulation ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1. )) although the genetic modification in them has been demonstrated (in other words, voluntary labelling by the manufacturer is possible)?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2113/97, E-2115/97, E-2117/97, E-2119/97, E-2121/97, E-2123/97, E-2127/97, E-2129/97, E-2131/97, E-2133/97, E-2135/97, E-2137/97, E-2139/97, E-2141/97, E-2143/97, E-2145/97, E-2147/97, E-2149/97, E-2151/97, E-2153/97, E-2155/97, E-2157/97, E-2159/97, E-2161/97, E-2163/97, E-2165/97, E-2167/97, E-2169/97, E-2171/97, E-2173/97, E-2175/97, E-2177/97, E-2179/97, E-2181/97, E-2183/97, E-2185/97, E-2187/97, E-2189/97, E-2191/97, E-2193/97, E-2195/97, E-2197/97, E-2199/97, E-2201/97, E-2203/97 and E-2205/97 given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (17 September 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1691/97 by María Sornosa Martínez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (20 May 1997)

Subject: Protecting 7El Pouet 7, an area of special historic interest in the city of Valencia

The general urban planning programme for Valencia includes plans for the route of the North Circular, which would destroy an area of special historic interest if they were carried out.

Known as 'El Pouet', the area in the district of Campanar, Valencia is formed by eight medieval farms, a mill dating from 1598, one of the last genuine barracas de huerta (thatched farmhouses) and a street plan defined by the 13th century irrigation network, giving it real historic interest as an example of the medieval settlements of the huerta region.

When the general programme for Valencia was adopted there was no requirement to carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) in urban planning programmes (the requirement took effect in 1989).

Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40. )) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment stipulates that it must be complied with by 3 July 1988 at the latest, although the project concerned falls within the list of instances in Annex II to the Directive, in which compliance by the Member States is optional.

There are reports of EC funding being involved in the work on the North Circular, which is being developed by the Ministry for Urban Planning Development; if so, the European Directive would appear to have been infringed.

1. Have European funds been allocated to the North Circular project?

2. Could the project be halted or reviewed if funding is confirmed?

3. If funds have not been allocated, what paths could be pursued under Community law to request a review of the project?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (27 June 1997)

As the Honourable Member is aware, according to Article 128 of the EC Treaty, the protection of the national historic heritage lies exclusively within the framework of the responsibilities of Member States.

As to the particular questions raised about the destruction of the El Pouet area in the context of the general urban planning programme for Valencia, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that according to information provided during the meeting of the committee responsible for the follow-up of the structural interventions in the region of 'Communidad Valenciana', held on November 1996, the part of the 'Ronda Norte de Valencia' route was not included for co-financing in the framework of the 1994-1999 operational programme for this region.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2147/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Sanctions in the event of failure to comply with the labelling requirements

1. What punitive measures are provided for in the event of failure to comply with the labelling requirements?

2. Is there a list of fixed penalties?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2113/97, E-2115/97, E-2117/97, E-2119/97, E-2121/97, E-2123/97, E-2127/97, E-2129/97, E-2131/97, E-2133/97, E-2135/97, E-2137/97, E-2139/97, E-2141/97, E-2143/97, E-2145/97, E-2147/97, E-2149/97, E-2151/97, E-2153/97, E-2155/97, E-2157/97, E-2159/97, E-2161/97, E-2163/97, E-2165/97, E-2167/97, E-2169/97, E-2171/97, E-2173/97, E-2175/97, E-2177/97, E-2179/97, E-2181/97, E-2183/97, E-2185/97, E-2187/97, E-2189/97, E-2191/97, E-2193/97, E-2195/97, E-2197/97, E-2199/97, E-2201/97, E-2203/97 and E-2205/97 given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (17 September 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2139/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Composition of the Food Committee

1. How will the public be represented on the EU's Food Committee?

2. Will representatives of national consumer and environmental organizations be involved in the Food Committee's deliberative and decision-making procedures?

3. If so, how will the representatives be chosen?

4. Will consumer and environmental organizations be entitled to nominate persons?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2113/97, E-2115/97, E-2117/97, E-2119/97, E-2121/97, E-2123/97, E-2127/97, E-2129/97, E-2131/97, E-2133/97, E-2135/97, E-2137/97, E-2139/97, E-2141/97, E-2143/97, E-2145/97, E-2147/97, E-2149/97, E-2151/97, E-2153/97, E-2155/97, E-2157/97, E-2159/97, E-2161/97, E-2163/97, E-2165/97, E-2167/97, E-2169/97, E-2171/97, E-2173/97, E-2175/97, E-2177/97, E-2179/97, E-2181/97, E-2183/97, E-2185/97, E-2187/97, E-2189/97, E-2191/97, E-2193/97, E-2195/97, E-2197/97, E-2199/97, E-2201/97, E-2203/97 and E-2205/97 given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (17 September 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.