ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2052/03

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 June 2003)

Subject: The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products: nationality profile of staff

Will the Commission provide a breakdown by grade of the nationality of staff employed by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA)?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2003)

A detailed breakdown of the staff of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) by grade and nationality as requested by the Honourable Member is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. The table reflects the situation as at 20 June 2003.

A general overview of the EMEA staff is regularly published on the agency's website http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/general/admin/recruit/2697202en.pdf.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0995/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(27 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the decentralised cooperation programme by the municipality of Macerata

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that some local authorities, such as the municipality of Macerata, urgently need to use European funds to support actions and initiatives encouraging sustainable development undertaken by operators in the Community and in developing countries,

can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Macerata has submitted projects for the decentralised cooperation programme?

2. whether the municipality of Macerata has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answerto Written questions E-0831/03, E-0893/03, E-0991/03, E-0992/03,E-0993/03, E-0994/03, E-0995/03, E-0996/03, E-0997/03, E-0998/03,E-0999/03, E-1000/03, E-1001/03, E-1002/03 and E-1003/03given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 2003)

The main decentralised cooperation programmes in the European Union are those part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the single programming documents (SPD) and Interreg programmes.

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to the answers given to Written Question s E-0834/03, E-1118/03, E-1119/03, E-1120/03, E-1121/03, E-1122/03, E-1123/03, E-1124/03 and E-1125/03. Under the Interreg cooperation programmes, the authority responsible for coordination at national level is the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1172/03

by Rolf Linkohr (PSE) to the Commission

(25 March 2003)

Subject: EU citizens advice in the Member States

The Commission has set up the Eurojus network (with citizens advice bureaux in each of the Member States) where the public can obtain advice on their rights under European law. This initiative has been very well received. The European Union's information leaflets refer explicitly to these citizens advice centres. Despite this very positive outcome, the offices in some Member States are not staffed or as in Germany have repeatedly been closed for a period of several months because of administrative problems in the Commission. This has already annoyed many members of the public.

1. Can the Commission confirm this state of affairs?

2. If so, how does it explain these internal administrative problems?

3. What steps does it intend to take to ensure that this service, which has, after all, been publicised, is in future available on a permanent basis?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2003)

On the basis of the Commission communication of 27 June 2001 on the new information and communication strategy(1), the Commission has already signed nine contracts relating to Eurojus legal correspondents in the Member States. These contracts are due to terminate in 2007. The notices concerning the tender procedures for the other five Eurojus contracts were published on 24 and 27 December 2002 in the Official Journal. Of these five procedures, those relating to the contracts for the London and Paris Representations have now been completed and the contracts concerned are to be signed shortly.

The contract relating to the Eurojus correspondent in Germany is to be signed very soon, as the legal doubts regarding the application to these contracts of the new Financial Regulation(2) and the Regulation laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the Financial Regulation(3) the result of a public tender procedure dating from before the entry into force of the two regulations have now been dispelled by the Commission departments concerned.

(1) Commission communication to the Council, Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a new cooperation framework for activities relating to the Union's information and communication policy.

(2) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(3) Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 357, 31.12.2002.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2254/03

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 July 2003)

Subject: Email: EU measures to eliminate spam

Spam has in recent years become an ever-worsening problem on a worldwide scale. It now already accounts for over half of all email traffic, and as many as 9 billion spam messages can flood the Internet in a single day. FiCom, the Finnish telecommunications and information technology umbrella organisation, estimates that European companies lost EUR 2,5 billion last year because of spam. The problem is both economically costly and very irritating for users of wireless communication services in particular.

How will the Commission ensure that the growing spam problem is effectively solved as quickly as possible and hence that the nuisances caused are appreciably reduced? How has it dealt with the huge spam problem in its projected EU information technology and electronic communications legislation? Have, for example, the challenges posed by spam been taken sufficiently into account for the purposes of the forthcoming revision of the European data protection directives? Does the Commission have a programme of measures to eliminate spam? Does it think that the spam problem can be tackled using new technology?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

In response to the question raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission confirms that unsolicited commercial e-mail or spam has reached a point where it creates a major problem for individuals and businesses and, indeed, for the development of e-commerce and e-services.

The answer given on the same issue to Written Questions No E-1997/03 by M. Papayannakis and E-2085/03 by G. Watson(1) will indicate to the Honourable Member what measures have been taken so far, in particular via Directive 2002/58/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector(2), which has to be transposed by the end of October 2003.

The Commission also expects a Communication on spam to be adopted in the Autumn 2003. The Member of the Commission responsible for Enterprise and Information Society has recently outlined what concrete action was planned to combat spam on the legal, technical, awareness, and international fronts(3). The proposed measures will be first discussed with Member States and interested parties through a workshop to be convened in October 2003.

(1) See page 178.

(2) OJ L 201, 31.7.2002.

(3) See IP/03/1015.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1968/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(13 June 2003)

Subject: Treatment of hazardous waste in Ireland

On 19 May 2003, the Commission released its report on the implementation of Community waste legislation for the period 1998-2000(1).

Table 3.2 (p.31) sets out how hazardous waste is treated and handled in each Member State. In the case of Ireland, the Commission notes that the total figure for hazardous waste provided by the Irish Government in 1999 (i.e. 415 632 tonnes) amounts to approximately 97 % of the actual.

Does this mean that the Irish Government did not or was unable to explain what happened to another roughly 12 500 tonnes of hazardous waste in Ireland in 1999? From the information provided by the Irish Government in response to the Commission's questionnaire and used by the Commission to compile its report, does the Commission know how this hazardous waste was dealt with and what it constituted?

(1) COM(2003) 250 final.

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1965/03, E-1966/03, E-1967/03 and E-1968/03given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2003)

All four written questions of the Honourable Member refer to items as presented in the Commission's report on the implementation of Community waste legislation for the period 1998-2000(1) and they are therefore considered together.

As stated in the introduction to the aforementioned report, the latter is drawn up on the basis of the replies of the Member States to questionnaires established to this effect. These replies may reasonably vary in detail from one Member State to another and often contain only an update of the situation as compared to the previous reporting period. When important information is lacking, preventing the Commission from properly fulfilling its reporting duties, this may suggest a breach of the reporting obligations of a Member State. In this context however, the cases pointed out by the Honourable Member cannot be considered as justifying the initiation of infringement proceedings.

Regarding in particular question E-1968/03 on the treatment of hazardous waste in Ireland, the comment stating that the total figure of hazardous waste reported accounts for approximately 97 % of the actual, was made by the Irish authorities in their reply to the questionnaire and only referred to hazardous waste treated outside Ireland. The information provided does not specify how the remaining 3 % was treated.

(1) COM(2003) 250 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1553/03 by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Council. Export of cultural goods.



Official Journal 051 E , 26/02/2004 P. 0108 - 0108



WRITTEN QUESTION P-1553/03 by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Council (2 May 2003) Subject: Export of cultural goods When does the Council intend to review the effectiveness of Council Regulation (EC) No 3911/92(1) on the export of cultural goods? (1) OJ L 395, 31.12.1992, p. 1. Reply (2 October 2003) According to the Regulation (CEE) no 3911/92 the Commission submits a report of the application of the Regulation. The last report of the Commission was submitted in May 2000, thus the following report is due in 2003. The Council will examine the report on the application of the Regulation after having received the next Commission report.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1060/03

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 March 2003)

Subject: Financing of Swedish buffer funds

A debate is under way in Sweden concerning the formation of buffer funds which, in the event of Sweden joining EMU, would be used to make adjustments during periods of economic instability and insecurity by, for example, lowering employers' contributions.

The buffer funds require extensive resources if they are to be able to represent any significant adjustment mechanism in the future. What is the Commission's view of the possibility of financing the funds with the aid of monetary resources from the Swedish Central Bank, Riksbanken?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2003)

Article 108 of the EC Treaty requires that national central banks need to be independent, notably from their national government or from any other body. Financial independence constitutes an important component of a central bank's overall independence, as it should be able to avail itself autonomously of the appropriate economic means to fulfil its mandate.

While financial transfers from a central bank to its national government, for example in the form of profit allocation or distribution of dividends, are not necessarily in contradiction with this principle, financial independence needs to be guaranteed by detailed legislation setting out the rules and conditions for such financial transfers and ensuring, for example through a specific safeguard clause, that the central bank retains the financial means necessary for the implementation of all its ESCB-related tasks.

In relation to certain extraordinary payments made to the Swedish State, the Commission has pointed out in its latest Convergence Report(1) that the Riksbank's independence, and in particular its financial independence, is at present not fully guaranteed. The ultimate destination of these payments (for example, the constitution of buffer funds) is not a relevant consideration in this respect.

(1) COM(2002) 243 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1332/03

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Council

(9 April 2003)

Subject: Transparency in trade policy discussions

In the context of the increasing transparency of trade policy discussions, the decision by the Danish Presidency to publicise the agendas of the 133 Committee on trade was widely welcomed.

The Greek Presidency has so far not followed this example. If this is a specific Presidency decision, what are the reasons for not continuing this excellent precedent?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001(1).

The Council has incorporated the innovations made by Regulation No 1049/2001 in its Rules of Procedure(2).

Consequently, on the basis of Article 11(4) of Annex II to the Council's Rules of Procedure, the General Secretariat may make the provisional agendas of the Council's preparatory bodies, committees and working parties available to the public provided they are clearly not covered by any of the exceptions laid down in Article 4 of Regulation No 1049/2001. This is generally the case for provisional agendas of the Article 133 Committee.

The agendas in question are available to the public on the Council's Internet site (http://ue:eu:int under the heading Transparency, Agendas and timetable of meetings). If necessary they are made available on request.

(1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43.

(2) Council Decision 2002/682/EC, Euratom (OJ L 230, 28.8.2002, p. 7).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2451/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

(23 July 2003)

Subject: Habitats Directive areas and Natura 2000

The Commission has accepted the list of designated areas for the Netherlands, according to a report in the Nederlands Dagblad of 9 July 2003. However, this was only one of the two problems which the Netherlands has with the implementation of the Habitats Directive.

In the case of the Waddenzee it is primarily another problem which is at stake, namely the apparently incorrect implementation of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in the Netherlands' Nature Conservancy Act, the Key Planning Decision on the Waddenzee and hence the procedure for obtaining authorisation of activities in designated areas, including the Waddenzee.

What is the status of this problem between the Netherlands and the Commission? This is very important, as the Netherlands Government policy accord between the coalition parties states that consideration is being given to drilling for gas in the Waddenzee.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

The issue of the implementation of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(1) (the Habitats Directive) in the Netherlands is the subject of an ongoing infringement procedure. The procedure regards, inter alia, the failure of the Netherlands to provide for an adequate protection of Natura 2000 sites.

The Commission decided on 17 December 2002 to take the case to the Court of Justice(2).

For the case relating to the Key Planning Decision on the Wadden Sea, the Commission kindly invites the Honourable Member to refer to the answer given by the Commission to the Written Question No P-2375/03 by Mr Alexander de Roo(3), concerning Eider Ducks threatened by the cockle-fishing industry in the Wadden Sea.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2) see press release IP/02/1923.

(3) OJ C 33 E, 6.2.2004, p. 256.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1819/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 June 2003)

Subject: Sausage meat

Would the Commission briefly describe the regulations that determine the content of sausages? When were they last revised? What new evidence if any was taken into account in the wake of BSE and other health problems? Does the Commission have any plans or proposals to revise the regulations again?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 2003)

There are at present no Community regulations determining the content of sausages and the Commission has no plans to put forward a proposal in this regard. The Commission is aware, however, that certain Member States have national rules governing the content of sausages marketed in their territory. It should be noted, however, that in the framework of the Common Market Organisation for Pigmeat quality criteria for the export of certain sausages for which an export refund is granted are laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2331/97 of 25 November 1997 on special conditions for granting export refunds on certain pigmeat products(1). These criteria concern the animal protein by weight, the extraneous water content by weight and the collagen/protein ratio of the eligible products falling under CN-code 1601.

In relation to hygienic production of sausage meat and sausages, the meat used in sausage meat must fully comply with current Community rules, in particular, with rules on meat hygiene and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Fresh sausage and sausage meat must meet the relevant harmonised rules for minced meat and meat preparations. This includes the carrying out of checks on raw materials entering the establishment to ensure compliance with certain composition (fat content, collagen meat protein ratio)

and microbiological criteria. Member States may, while ensuring that Community health requirements are observed and that such products are sold in their territory, have certain flexibility regarding their production and placing on the market in order to take account of particular habits of consumption. Sausages, which have undergone treatment such that the cut surface shows that the product no longer has the characteristics of fresh meat, must have been produced in accordance with Community rules on meat products. So-called specified BSE risk material, such as skull and spinal cord of bovine, ovine and caprine animals, have not been allowed in any food or feed since 1 October 2000. At the moment, the entire set of Community rules on food hygiene has been recast into a limited number of proposals, which are under review in the Parliament and in the Council (First reading).

(1) OJ L 323, 26.11.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1338/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) and Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council

(9 April 2003)

Subject: Persecution of homosexuals in the Palestinian Authority territories and Israeli expulsions of Palestinian homosexuals

According to the GLBT Israeli association Aguda and the Haaretz newspaper, on 6 March 2003 two gay Palestinians were tried for being in Israel illegally and consequently expelled to the Palestinian Authority. On 16 March 2003, another gay Palestinian was put on trial for the same charge and after serving his sentence he will be expelled to the Gaza Strip. According to information provided by Aguda, homosexuals in the Palestinian Authority suffer persecution, arrest, injury and torture, at times ending in death, and many of them are likely to be executed. Until a month ago the authorities in Israel did not arrest and/or expel these people, but then this policy was changed and the youths were arrested and brought to trial, and the automatic process of expelling them to the Palestinian Authority began. International human rights organisations are acting to prevent these expulsions, and notably pleaded with the Israeli Interior Minister, Mr Avraham Poraz, to use the authority vested in him by Israeli Law to stop the expulsions by granting temporary residency visas, but Mr Poraz has replied negatively.

Can the Council confirm this information? Is the Council monitoring this issue? Will the Council intervene with the Israeli authorities and particularly the Interior Minister to express EU concern at the fact that these expulsions could endanger the lives of gay Palestinians? Will the Council intervene with the Palestinian Authority to ensure that fundamental human rights are respected and that persecution against homosexuals stops?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1338/03 and E-1346/03

(7 October 2003)

The Council cannot confirm the information and has not specifically discussed this matter.

The Council remains concerned to defend the values and principles in particular liberty, democracy, equality, respect for all human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on which the European Union is founded and which govern its relations with its Partners in the Barcelona Process. The Association Agreement concluded with Israel and the Interim Agreement in place with the PLO/Palestinian Authority both state in Article 2 that relations are based on respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights, which constitute an essential element of the Agreements. The Council, in its dialogue with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, always stresses these points and will continue to do so.