ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2130/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (24 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Requirements for authorization

What exactly are the test criteria, in accordance with which applications for authorization for products under the novel food regulation ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1. )) have to be assessed to see whether permission is required or whether simple registration will be deemed to be sufficient if the manufacturer has not applied for permission?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2126/97, E-2128/97 and E-2130/97 (20 October 1997)

Article 3 (4) of Regulation No 258/97 on novel foods and novel food ingredients provides for a derogation form the authorization procedure laid down in that Regulation, where foods or food ingredients, on the basis of the scientific evidence available and generally recognized or on the basis of an opinion delivered by one of the competent bodies, are substantially equivalent to existing foods and food ingredients as regards their composition, nutritional value, etc.

Where necessary, it may be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of the Regulation whether a type of food or food ingredient falls under the derogation in question. The arrangements for notification of these products are laid down in Article 5 of the Regulation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1746/97 by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) and Sérgio Ribeiro (GUE/NGL) to the Council (22 May 1997)

Subject: Imports of textiles and clothing from Indonesia

In the wake of the amendments to Regulation 3030/93 ((OJ L 275, 8.11.1993, p. 1. )) adopted in January 1997 and ratified by the Council on 29 April 1997, the Commission has adopted a specific regulation intended to allow additional quantities of textiles products and clothing to be imported from Indonesia.

Does the Council believe that its decision of 29 April 1997 is compatible with Indonesia's failure to respect the decisions of the UN, and with the positions of the European Parliament and the EU requiring trade relations with Indonesia to be conditional on the East Timor issue?

Answer (28 October 1997)

Additional quantities of imports of certain textile products originating in Indonesia were granted by Commission Regulation No 560/97 of 26 March 1997 ((OJ L 85, 27.3.1997. )), whose entry into force preceded the date of adoption of Regulation (EC) No 824/97 ((OJ L 119, 8.5.1997. )) which amends Regulation (EC) No 3030/97 on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries.

The abovementioned Regulation (EC) No 824/97 was adopted without prejudice to the European Union's position on the political questions concerning third countries. The Regulation falls within the sphere of competence of the Commission, assisted by the Textiles Management Committee.

On 25 June 1996 the Council adopted a common position defining the European Union's policy towards East Timor. The common position contains no trade sanction in respect of Indonesia
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2803/97 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Human Rights in Honduras

Is the Commission aware of the current atrocities taking place in Honduras which have resulted in the murder of at least two street children?

What action is the Commission taking to ensure that full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is observed in Honduras in accordance with national laws and international standards?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1997)

The Commission is aware of Honduras's problems with street children and children in custody.

With regard to the imprisonment of children in adult gaols, the Commission believes that the Honduran government is doing what it can to resolve the problem.

The Commission has acceded to a request for help. It did so all the more readily because the government has made clear its intention to take effective action to ensure proper treatment for children in custody and resolve the problems associated with street children.

The project in question, which will soon be under way, involves schemes aimed at gaining a better understanding of the issues involved and finding solutions for street children. Activities include the strengthening of institutions dealing with children, e.g. the National Council for Social Welfare and the Supreme Court, prevention schemes and measures to boost the capacity to help of NGOs working with street children. The project specifically includes measures to disseminate and enforce the recently adopted children's code.

The project is, moreover, wholly consistent with the Honduran government's policy of strengthening the rule of law. The Commission is therefore convinced that it will be providing the Honduran government with valuable help in overcoming these problems.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2170/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Staff required for monitoring

1. Are the staffing requirements for the various monitoring methods available, or will they be created?

2. Are there to be any special training measures for staff?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2168/97, E-2170/97, E-2172/97 and E-2174/97 (28 October 1997)

The Council has not received any information on Member States' arrangements regarding these points.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2663/97 by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission (25 July 1997)

Subject: Rational Planning Techniques in the Electricity and Gas Distribution Sectors

What has happened to the Rational Planning Techniques Directive?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (18 September 1997)

The Commission's initial proposal on rational planning techniques was forwarded to the Council and the Parliament on 14 November 1995. The Commission, on 24 March 1997, submitted an amended proposal ((OJ C 180, 14.6.1997. )), following the opinion of the Parliament adopted on 13 November 1996, which introduced a significant number of amendments proposed by the Parliament.

There was no discussion in the Council on the amended directive under the Dutch presidency. The Luxembourg presidency has, however, included the proposal on the preliminary draft agenda of the Energy Council scheduled for 8 December 1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1984/97 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (9 June 1997)

Subject: Member States' level of debt in terms of pension liabilities and meeting obligations in respect of pension liabilities under the conditions imposed by the single currency

The EU Member States are different, and they have different socio-economic structures. Different countries have different pension systems and there are many places where the public authorities have not provided cover for future pension outgoings.

That being so has the Commission ascertained the level of debt in terms of pension liabilities in the various Member States, and how will it guarantee that each country will be able to meet its own obligations in respect of pension liabilities under the conditions imposed by the single currency?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (4 September 1997)

Social security systems providing for retirement differ between Member States in many respects, including coverage, eligibility, level of contributions and benefits. Moreover, in most Member States there is typically more than one scheme established for different occupational categories (blue and white collar workers, civil servants). Nonetheless, a common feature of public retirement schemes is that most of them operate on a 'pay-as-you go' basis, under which current benefit entitlements of pensioners are financed out of current revenues collected from the working population. There is thus no 'coverage' of future pension liabilities in the form of a capital stock, and the viability of the system rests on inter-generational solidarity - the willingness of each generation of working age to support the previous generation.

The Commission has not itself carried out any estimates of pension liabilities in Member States, but a number of studies have done so in recent years. Typically, the present value of pensions to be paid in the future on the basis of accrued rights exceeds a country's current annual gross domestic product (GDP). However, such calculations are highly sensitive to changes in the underlying assumptions (life expectancy, employment rate, price and wage trends) and have to be interpreted with caution. A high ratio of liabilities to GDP does not necessarily imply an imbalance in pay-as-you-go pension schemes. Any judgement on the sustainability of a scheme depends on the projected resources available to pay for the accrued pensions, and future developments in employment and per capita income (((For further information including quoted results of pension liabilities estimates, see European Commission, 1997 Annual Economic Report, Brussels, 12.2.1997; II/671/96-EN). )).

In any case, it is not the task of the Commission to ensure that Member States will be able to meet their obligations with respect to pension liabilities. This is within the sole responsibility of each Member State. The economic and monetary union and the introduction of the Euro currency has no bearing whatsoever upon this responsibility, nor does it have any direct impact on the sustainability of a pension scheme.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2525/97 by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission (24 July 1997)

Subject: Adoption of measures to reduce energy consumption

A reduction in energy consumption and environmental protection are two of the objectives of the Commissions's JOULE-THERMIE programme. Will the Commission say what supplementary measures - apart from research - it has taken to inform citizens/consumers and industry about the adoption of measures and practices aimed at reducing energy consumption?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1997)

SAVE and Altener are two programmes, complementary to the Joule-Thermie research and development programme, dealing with the promotion of energy efficiency and of the use of renewable energy sources in the Community.

Their main objectives are to facilitate the penetration of energy efficiency concepts and the use of renewable energy sources in the market in order to reduce fossil energy consumption. Both programmes support a large number of information activities in close collaboration with the national authorities and the national energy agencies which play an important role in the dissemination of results of all actions supported by the programmes.

All European citizens and the European industry have free access, through the Internet Cordis database, to the results of 290 SAVE projects concerning energy efficiency in buildings, industry and transport and 109 Altener projects concerning all sectors of renewables.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2864/97 by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission (11 September 1997)

Subject: Live transportation of poultry

Has the Commission considered that Article 39 3 A of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals during Transport (19 December 1968) is unreasonable in setting a 12 hour limit for the transportation of live animals, given that chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys do not eat or drink while roosting?

Will the Commission consider that, given that in the Scottish Highlands and Islands birds will roost for up to 18 hours of winter darkness without food and water, and that birds sitting on eggs may go for much longer periods without sustenance, birds transported in a darkened space for over 12 hours will not be harmed?

Will the Commission consider changing present legislative provision in this area, which uses the 12 hour limit set by the abovementioned European Convention?

What steps has the Commission taken or does it plan to take, in order to consult recognized NGOs when deciding policy in this area?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (8 October 1997)

Article 39(3)(a) of the European Convention for the protection of animals during international transport does not limit the transport of poultry to 12 hours. It requires suitable food and, if necessary, water to be available during transport in adequate quantities, except in the case of a journey lasting less than 12 hours. The Commission has no grounds for considering this to be unreasonable, and has no plans to amend the provisions of Council Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directive 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC ((OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC, (OJ L 148, 30.6.1995). )) based on the Convention. The Commission has no information to indicate that poultry metabolism during transport is the same as that during roosting or brooding.

It should be noted that, in accordance with Article 16 of Directive 91/628/EEC, as amended by Directive 95/29/EC, Member States may derogate from the provisions of the Directive to take account of the remoteness of certain parts of their territories.

The Commission regularly consults non governmental organisations on policy in the area of animal welfare, in particular the European umbrella organisation for animal welfare groups, Eurogroup for Animal Welfare.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1782/97 by Manuel Porto (PPE) to the Council (27 May 1997)

Subject: Unilateral deviation from the Uruguay Round Agreement

International trade must be based on clearly established rules which are complied with. This is the only way that economic operators can safely plan their activities.

In particular, the countries of the European Union made a great effort, during the Uruguay Round, to be open to textile and clothing imports, despite being aware that hundreds of thousands of jobs were at stake. It therefore agreed on a gradual process which would allow for the planning of the necessary restructuring and conversion.

How is it now conceivable to go back on what was agreed?

In particular, how is it conceivable to decide unilaterally whether to comply with an agreement, to the detriment of poorer countries and regions, for the purpose of gaining certain advantages for the exports of richer countries and regions?

Answer (10 November 1997)

The Council would recall the importance it attaches to integrating textile products and clothing into GATT 1994 rules and disciplines under the terms laid down in the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). The Council would draw attention to the fact that the ATC provides inter alia for progressive integration over a ten-year transition period, so as to enable the Community industry to adjust gradually to the new conditions of international competition.

In this connection, the Council has adopted regulations for implementing the undertaking to which the Community subscribed in the framework of the ATC, including those required for the proper management of import quotas from third countries.

In addition, the Council has adopted Regulation (EC) No 825/95 on the grant of Community financial assistance worth ECU 400 million to Portugal for the period 1995-1999 for a specific programme for the modernization of the Portuguese textile and clothing industry, which honours the Council's undertaking towards Portugal and reflects its concern to create the conditions for minimizing the problems to which the Community's poorest regions are exposed.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2116/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (24 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Authorization of varieties

1. Is it true that all plant products which are authorized as varieties will no longer require application or the simplified authorization procedure pursuant to the novel food regulation ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1. ))?

2. If so, will any products processed from such plants require authorization pursuant to the novel food regulation?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2112/97, E-2116/97, E-2124/97 and E-2142/97 (31 October 1997)

The conditions for implementing Directives 70/457/EEC ((OJ L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 1. )) and 70/458/EEC ((OJ L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 7. )) and Regulation No 258/97 ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1. )) concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189b of the Treaty, as regards authorization and labelling procedures are specified in Article 3(2) of that Regulation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3096/97 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 October 1997)

Subject: Olympic Games and the Second CSF

Will the Commission confirm that the decision to hold the Olympic Games in Athens will not result in the diversion of funds provided for under the Second CSF or the following CSF away from projects being undertaken in the Greek provinces?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (28 October 1997)

Under the rules of the Structural Funds, a mid-course review of the Community Support Frameworks (CSFs) is to be carried out on the basis of the outcome of monitoring and evaluation and of any new relevant information.

The review procedure for the CSF for Greece for the 1994-99 period is in progress. There is no reason, in the Commission's view, for the fundamental objectives of the CSF to be called into question as a result of this review.

As for the period after the year 2000, it is clear that Community structural policies, by their very nature, will continue to support the development of less-favoured regions like the outlying Greek provinces.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2880/97 by Eva Kjer Hansen (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Vision requirement for driving licences

On 29 July 1991 the Council passed Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences ((OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, p. 1. )) which lays down a number of requirements regarding physical and mental fitness to drive motor vehicles, including a number of new sight requirements. For a first driving licence or renewal of a driving licence in Group 2, a driver must have a visual acuity of 0.8 in the better eye and 0.5 in the worse eye. Many driving instructors now find that they no longer satisfy the new tighter requirements and are therefore unable to continue exercising a profession they have hitherto exercised without any problem.

Will the Commission ensure that a transitional arrangement is made whereby those people who, when choosing their profession, did not have to take these rules into account, and who probably only have a few years of working life left, can be granted an exemption?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (26 September 1997)

Directive 91/439/EEC ((OJ L 237, 24.8.1991. )) sets the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving a power-driven vehicle. The aim of these standards is to improve road safety, as well as to enhance mutual recognition of driving licences within the Community. The standards of visual acuity for Group 2 drivers for categories C and D (for example lorries and buses) are laid down in point 6.3 of the Annex. These standards were established with the national authorities and endorsed by all Member States in 1991 when the Directive was adopted. A recent review did not put into question the standards of visual acuity (0.8 and 0.5).

The Directive requires all drivers to meet the minimum standards and does not provide for transitional periods or derogations from these standards. However, Member States may fix stricter standards if they so wish.

Although the Commission had proposed to provide a clause giving Member States the possibility of renewing driving licences under the same conditions for medical standards as those which were applicable at the time of the first issue of the licence, such a derogation was not retained by the Council when adopting the Directive. The Commission will, consequently, not come forward with the proposal suggested by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2480/97 by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission (16 July 1997)

Subject: Humane trapping standards between EC, Russia and Canada, and ECO-label

Does the Commission consider that, while humane trapping standards are being developed there could be a case for developing a European-wide label indicating that a product is animal-testing-free?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (24 September 1997)

The Commission points out to the Honourable Member that no direct link can be made between the existence of humane trapping standards stemming from the agreement between the Community, Canada and the Russian Federation, as approved by the Council on 22 July 1997, and the case for a label indicating that a product has not been tested on animals. These are in fact two different problem areas, the first specifically concerned with the trapping of animals and the second relating to scientific experimentation on animals.

As regards the second topic, Community legislation chiefly consists of Directive 86/609/EEC regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes ((OJ L 358, 18.12.1986. )) and, in the cosmetics field, by Directive 76/768/EEC relating to cosmetic products ((OJ L 261, 27.9.1976. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2383/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (10 July 1997)

Subject: Via Ignatia railway line

It is well known that Greece is one of the EU Member States with a very difficult geographical situation, a fact compounded by its remoteness and the absence of common frontiers with other Member States of the Union. As a result, considerable attention needs to be given to transport infrastructures in the country in order to overcome its isolation as far as possible.

How does the Commission view the possibility of promoting the construction of a railway line along the Via Ignatia starting from the port of Igoumenitsa and stretching as far as the Turkish border, which would also allow transport from the Middle East to pass through the port Volus, so as to give fresh impetus to trade in the Balkan region, a development which would undoubtably benefit EU interests in this area?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (23 September 1997)

Investments in rail infrastructure in Greece part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund in the period 1994-99 focus on adding a second track to and electrifying the Athens-Thessaloniki line. Improvements to the Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli line are also being part-financed.

As regards the possible construction of a new link to Igoumenitsa to create a 'Via Ignatia railway line', in principle this should be examined and analysed with the Greek authorities when the dossiers for infrastructure investments to be part-financed in the period 2000-06 are prepared.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2227/97 by Frode Kristoffersen (PPE) to the Council (18 July 1997)

Subject: Sexual harassment in the workplace

Does the Council consider the Commission's announced plans to initiate EU legislation on the degree and scale of sexual harassment in the workplace in individual Member States to be in keeping with the principle of subsidiarity?

Answer (10 November 1997)

On 19 March 1997 the Commission sent the social partners a text on sexual harassment in the workplace for a second stage of consultation. This means that to date the Council has not received any proposal from the Commission.

It is understood that the Council will examine any legislative proposal on the subject in compliance with Article 3b of the EC Treaty concerning the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as well as the provisions of the Social Agreement, in particular Article 2(1) thereof, which mentions, among other fields of competence, equality between men and women regarding job opportunities and treatment at work.

It should also be noted that under the Amsterdam Treaty the Social Agreement is to be incorporated into the Treaty establishing the European Community.