ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3299/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(10 November 1998)

Subject: Construction of a golf course in wetlands in Greece

Environmental organisations in Greece, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), local government authorities and other bodies have put forward substantiated objections to the Greek Tourist Board's plans to build a golf course at Mesonisi in the Stavronikita or Nea Fokaia wetlands in Chalkidiki in Greece. These wetlands are the among the most important in Greece, since they harbour a wealth of bird life: 123 species of birds have been identified there, including the white-eyed pochard (aythia nyroca), the black-winged stilt (himantopus himantopus), the Mediterranean gull (larus melanocephalus), the black stork (ciconia nigra) and the Dalmatian pelecan (pelecanus crispus). The wetlands are also home to three species of tortoise (testudo hermanni, testudo graeca and testudo marginata ) which are covered by Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC(1) as "animal and plant species of Community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation".

It should be pointed out that the wetlands of Chalkidiki which used to be very extensive have shrunk owing to drainage. The few remaining wetlands (including those mentioned above) represent the last hope for the survival of wildlife in the region: their destruction would completely upset the balance of nature.

Will the Commission say whether it is aware of the above state of affairs, what action it intends to take and whether it is possible to include the above region in the European network Natura 2000, a move which would make a vital contribution towards protecting these valuable wetlands from plans to convert them into a golf course?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to Oral Question H-1164/98 by Mr Tamino during question time at Parliament's December 1998 part-session(2).

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

(2) Debates of the Parliament (December 1998).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2746/98

by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission

(3 September 1998)

Subject: EU attitude to Trinidad and human rights

It is reported that Trinidad and Tobago have withdrawn from the American Convention on Human Rights. Can the Commission say whether this is likely to have any impact on the status of Trinidad and Tobago as one of the ACP States currently in receipt of EU aid?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1998)

The Commission understands that Trinidad and Tobago has recently deposited a legal instrument of which the effect will be to withdraw from the American Convention on human rights as from 26th May 1999. The purpose seems to be to reduce the possibility of potentially time-consuming appeals procedures blocking the ability of the Trinidad and Tobago authorities from carrying out the death penalty. This is part of the authorities' strategy for taking a hard line on criminal offences.

The Commission is concerned by this development and has participated in Union demarches to persuade the authorities not to take such measures. At the present time however, the Commission does not consider the actions by Trinidad and Tobago should have an impact on its status as one of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States nor on the current development aid programme.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2461/98

by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Construction of quays at the mouth of the river Douro

It was recently reported in the Portuguese media that the Commission had rejected co-financing under the Cohesion Fund for the construction of quays at the mouth of the river Douro. It was also revealed that the Commission had rejected such co-funding because the project did not comply with the priorities defined by the Cohesion Fund. Can the Commission provide information on the following:

1. When did the Portuguese Government submit an application to the Cohesion Fund for the project to construct quays at the mouth of the river Douro?

2. Given that an international river would be made navigable through this project, what is the Commission's justification for considering that the project does not comply with the priorities of the Cohesion Fund?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(29 September 1998)

The request for aid concerning the project covering work in the estuary of the Douro river was submitted to the Commission on 5 November 1996.

The project in question, which was analysed carefully by the Commission, was not considered as a priority because the impact on the activities of the port of Leixões was marginal and its economic justification was insufficiently established. The Douro river does not form part of the trans-European transport network and projects connected with its navigability are not therefore eligible under the Cohesion Fund.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2452/98

by Paul Lannoye (V) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: ECVAM

The appointment of Mr Balls, the director of ECVAM (the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods), a body set up by the EU, has been extended by two years.

Since the director is normally appointed for a period of five years, the associations working for the protection of laboratory animals are concerned for the future of the institution.

As ECVAM is one of the rare organisations bringing together experts in the validation of alternative methods, it would be regrettable if its existence were to be placed in jeopardy.

Can the Commission tell me what the future prospects of ECVAM are?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-1979/98, E-2033/98, E-2064/98,E-2079/98, E-2134/98 and E-2452/98 given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 1998)

The extension of the contract of the head of the Centre for the validation of alternative methods (ECVAM) at the Joint research centre of Ispra, for a two-year period has been decided on the basis of technical and managerial considerations. In the meantime, the Commission will do its best to maintain its commitments and priorities to ECVAM.

The Commission remains fully committed to the validation of alternative methods as provided under Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes(1). Furthermore it is continuing to pursue its efforts to end animal tests in compliance with the requirements of Directive 76/768/EC(2) as last modified by Directive 93/35/EC(3) relating to cosmetic products at the earliest possible opportunity.

(1) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986.

(2) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.

(3) OJ L 151, 23.6.1993.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2667/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: High-tech crime

The programme of the current presidency makes reference to preparatory work on a resolution on high-tech crime.

1. What exactly is planned for this topic?

2. What exactly is meant by this term?

3. How does the Council assess the legal status of such a "resolution"?

4. What is this resolution supposed to achieve in the opinion of the Council?

Reply

(7 December 1998)

1. The Austrian Presidency of the Council has undertaken a number of activities in relation to the implementation of the Action Plan on Organized Crime(1), approved by the European Council at Amsterdam. Recommendation No 5 of the Action Plan deals with high-technology crime, that is the misuse of advanced technologies for illegal practices - ie. their use by criminal organisations to facilitate their activities - or the inclusion of illegal contents - such as child pornography.

2. As part of the implementation of this recommendation, the Presidency originally intended to prepare a resolution for the Council (Justice and Home Affairs), which should underline the coherence and the coordinated approach of these questions. Generally, a Resolution is not a binding instrument on the Member States but is rather designed to give political impetus for the further development of cooperation.

3. However, in view of the conclusions of the Council (General Affairs) on 5 October 1998 the Presidency refrained from this plan. The essential parts of these conclusions read as follows: "In particular, a better prevention and fight against child pornography on the Internet does require coordinated measures with regard to technical, economical, audiovisual, social, police and judicial aspects. In the interest of coherence, the Presidency and the Members of the Council, when discussing matters relating to telecommunications, justice and home affairs, culture and audiovisual questions shall take into account those aspects which have been discussed within other specialized Council bodies and ensure a concerted approach to this matter."

4. In the field of High-Tech crime in general, the Presidency took stock of the activities of other international fora (OECD, G8, Council of Europe, Interpol) and had consultations with transatlantic partners. On the basis of the results of these consultations the Presidency defined elements of a strategy of the European Union on High-Tech crime. These strategic considerations are based on the assessment that further activities of the European Union should adequately take into account other international activities and avoid duplication of effort, and also take advantage of the opportunities for integration within the EU. These considerations are currently examined by the Council.

5. The Council recalls that working groups are currently discussing the fight against child pornography on the Internet and that the Council (General Affairs) on 5 October 1998 decided to complete, as soon as possible, its work on a draft Joint Action on the subject.

(1) OJ C 251, 15.8.97.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2097/98

by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: EU resources for the trade sector

1. How large a proportion of EU resources in the following areas is assigned to the trade sector:

(a) Budget line B3-4000, industrial relations and social dialogue

(b) Budget line B3-4002, information and training measures for workers' organizations

(c) Budget line B3-4003, information, consultation and participation of representatives of undertakings

(d) Resources administered by DG XXIII for trade and support for small and medium-sized undertakings

(e) The Leonardo programme.

2. How and to what extent are the European social partners in trade financed by EU resources?

Answer by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 1998)

The Commission's efforts to foster the social dialogue cover the creation of the political and logistical conditions permitting dialogue and the provision of prior and subsequent technical and scientific support to the various organisations involved in the social dialogue. To achieve this, the Commission has a number of financial instruments in the form of budget headings B3-4000, B3-4002 and B3-4003. It supports initiatives by the social partners at European and national levels by endeavouring to give a European slant to their actions. This covers preliminary awareness-raising (conferences, studies, preparatory meetings, working parties, training on European affairs) and support for follow-up measures resulting from the social dialogue (dissemination, monitoring and appraisal of agreements, European action, for example, on youth employment, and the setting up of an industrial relations training centre).

The recipients of subsidies that can be granted under the budget headings mentioned above include professional associations representing either employers or workers. The aid is intended to provide funding for actions and not for the structures or internal operation of the social partners.

The social partners in the distributive trades sector receive support matching their commitment to the Community social dialogue. By way of example, Euro-Fiet and EuroCommerce recently received funding under budget heading B3-4000 to arrange a joint seminar on the impact of Internet trading on jobs in the sector and to organise a big conference on the distributive trades and the social dialogue in the sector, which is scheduled to take place in Brussels shortly.

As for the amounts that have been provided to the social partners in the distributive trades sector under the budget headings referred to by the honourable Member, it seemed useful to look at the last five years (1994 to August 1998) for headings B3-4000 and B3-4002 and the period from 1996 to August 1998 for heading B3-4003 (since the latter heading was introduced only in 1996).

The honourable Member and the Secretariat-General of Parliament will receive directly from the Commission a table showing the amounts disbursed under each heading.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3007/98

by Umberto Bossi (NI) to the Council

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Italian proposal to promote job creation in the South by means of social security contribution exemptions

The Italian Government recently submitted a proposal to promote job creation in Southern Italy by exempting businesses in the region from the payment of social security contributions, without first checking the legality of such a move with the Community authorities, as already happened in 1995 when the job training scheme ('contratti di formazione lavoro') was set up. Owing to the Italian Government's failure to make the necessary enquiries, infringement proceedings were initiated against Italy on the grounds of violation of Community rules against anti-competitive behaviour, and the companies were asked to pay back all the profits earned since 1995.

Would the Commission not agree that this measure aimed at Southern Italy discriminates against companies in other parts of the country which would like to take on new workers but are not eligible for any form of help in doing so?

How does it intend to ensure that Italy does not in future "forget" to notify national measures?

Lastly, would it not agree that Italian SMEs should be better protected, so as to ensure that they are not penalised by the mistakes made by their own government?

Reply

(7 December 1998)

The Council would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that it is not part of its remit to give an opinion on the compliance with Community law of measures taken by the Member States.

Under Article 155 of the EC Treaty, the task of ensuring that the Treaty and secondary legislation are applied is the responsibility of the Commission.

The Council is therefore unable to adopt a position on the various points in the question put by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2794/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Subject: Health systems in the EU

A ministerial conference on the quality of health-care systems was held in Bad Tatzmannsdorf (Austria) on 24 July 1998, on the initiative of the Austrian Presidency-in-Office of the EU Council and in the presence of the European Commissioner Mr Padreig Flynn.

Commissioner Flynn declared that the amount of data available amongst the EU Member States was poorly coordinated, which was a matter for regret as the quality of health-care systems affected 380 million Europeans in their daily lives.

In the light of the above, does the Commission not consider it advisable to compile an up-to-date comparative study of the different health-care systems and does it not, above all, consider it essential to devise a rational model for health-care systems to which all the Member States can refer in view of the major demographic changes which have occurred and the new technologies used in health-care?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 1998)

In its recent communication on the development of public health policy(1), the Commission pointed to the need to create a structured and comprehensive system for collecting, analysing and disseminating information on health status, health determinants, and health systems involving all the Member States. The Community's action programme on health monitoring is expected to make a significant contribution towards this goal.

A study on "Health care systems in the EU - a comparative study" was recently published by the Parliament (SACO 101 EN). This study comprises information on health-care systems of the Member States.

The organisation of health care systems is a matter for the Member States.

(1) COM(98) 230 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2926/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 October 1998)

Subject: Restoration of a historical building in Arcadia

The "Sanatorio tis Manas" maternity clinic situated in Magouliana in the Pelopponese (Arcadia), which is a typical example of pre-war hospital architecture and has particular historical associations concerning the outbreak of tuberculosis in the years following the Anatolian disaster, has been left in a state of disrepair since 1938. All plans put forward by the regional and local authorities for the improvement, conservation and restoration of the building have encountered financial problems.

Could EU funding be provided to carry out the necessary conservation and restoration works if a suitable recommendation were made by the Greek authorities?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 1998)

Following an application by the Greek authorities, the European Regional Development Fund part-financed a study under the operational programme for the Pelopponese region to examine the feasibility and viability of creating a multi-purpose tourist centre on the site of the former clinic.

The study's findings offer little encouragement for committing public funds to restore, maintain and use the abandoned building, or to build the new roads needed in order to facilitate access to the site.

Clearly, part-financing of such works by Community funds could be approved only if the building, once restored, were to be run for purposes compatible with the objectives of the operational programme.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2775/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(14 September 1998)

Subject: Creation of the world's largest nature reserve in Surinam

Is the Commission aware that Surinam, an ACP country, has created a nature reserve - the "Central Surinam Wilderness Nature Reserve" - with a total area of 16 million ha, which makes it the largest tropical rain forest reserve in the world?

Does the Commission know the costs of this welcome project, and is the Commission involved in the conservation of these rain forests?

Would the Commission be prepared to make a contribution from its budget towards the conservation of this reserve?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 1998)

The Central Surinam nature reserve was established in 1997 by the Surinam government with financial assistance from the United States-based Conservation International. This reserve links three important protected areas in central Surinam. The Commission is not involved in this project, nor has it received any request for financial or technical support.

To date in Surinam, the Commission has financed a forest sector study, the co-financing for the National environment council and a study looking at the possibility of creating a forest institute.

In the framework of the national indicative programme, which is always based on strategies and priorities identified jointly with the government of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) state concerned, Surinam did not identify support for the protection of the tropical rainforest as a priority for the 8th European development fund (EDF). The Commission remains open to examine any request for support to the conservation of the global environment of the region, as it is one of its priority actions towards sustainable development of the area.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3166/98

by Raimo Ilaskivi (PPE) and Jyrki Otila (PPE) to the Council

(22 October 1998)

Subject: Council official's attitude towards the European Parliament

On 3 October 1998, a report by Mikko Numminen appeared on pages 22-23 of the weekend supplement to the Ilta-Sanomat, a Finnish newspaper, under the headline "Lost in the house of Europe". Among other things, the article quotes the views of Council officials concerning the position of the European Parliament. According to the article, Director-General Sixten Korkman is scathing about the European Parliament, which he describes as being primarily a nuisance.

This statement displays lack of judgment, as well as deep contempt for the EU's only democratically elected institution. What is worse, it does nothing to dispel the prejudices against the EU in the minds of many citizens in various Member States.

Are Mr Korkman's views widely shared within the Council? Should he have failed to reflect the Council's position accurately, what action will the Council take in response to this statement and with regard to Mr Korkman?

Reply

(18/19 January 1999)

It is not the practice of the Council to comment on newspaper reports such as that referred to by the Honourable Members. The Council wishes however to emphasise that the remarks of officials of the General Secretariat of the Council, whatever their nature, are in no way attributable to the Council.

The Council, as well as its General Secretariat, attaches the utmost importance to the role of the European Parliament and to good relations between the European Parliament and the Council.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3812/98

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Programmes and projects in the field of telecommunications, information technologies and the audiovisual media in Catalonia

Bearing in mind the policy of transparency pursued by the Commission in relation to its spending, can the Commission say what projects implemented in Catalonia benefitted from each type of aid available in the area of telecommunications, information technology and the audiovisual media for the period 1994-1999?

Can the Commission further specify what amounts were finally allocated to each of the above projects?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 1999)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3323/98

by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission

(10 November 1998)

Subject: Effects of the Russian crisis on Estonia

The deepening economic and political crisis in Russia has brought about greater economic problems than predicted in Estonia, which may have long-term effects, inter alia, on the country's EU membership negotiations. One of Estonia's largest banks has been placed under supervision by the central bank owing to a risk of bankruptcy, and the sectors in Russia which are most dependent on exports, such as agriculture and the foodstuffs industry, are in particularly serious difficulties.

In the light of the most recent information, how serious does the Commission consider the economic effects of the Russian crisis will be on the Estonian economy? What effect does the Commission consider the deepening crisis will have on Estonia's negotiations for EU membership?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1998)

The Commission believes that the impact of the Russian crisis on the Estonian economy will be limited and rather short-lived. The lower expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth for Estonia in 1998 may help diminish the external imbalances which had resulted from high growth rates in the past. The Commission is confident that the long-term economic prospects remain good, provided that prudent macro-economic policies are maintained.

The Commission does not consider that the current economic crisis in Russia will have an effect on the process of Estonia's negotiations for Community membership.