ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2043/97 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission (13 June 1997)

Subject: Register of charities

Has the Commission any plans to introduce an EU-wide register for charitable organizations?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2041/97 and E-2043/97 given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (15 July 1997)

The Commission does not intend to promote Community legislation concerning specifically the creation of a Europe wide register of charitable organisations or the establishment of common criteria for the registration of these organisations in the Member States.

Nevertheless, in order to help organisations to operate outside their own national borders, without making a distinction on whether they have a charitable or any other objective of general or special interest, the Commission has submitted to the Council a proposal for a regulation on the statute for a European non-profit volunteer association ((Ammended proposal for a Council regulation (EEC) on the statute for a European association non-profit or voluntary organisation, OJ C 236, 31.8.1993 )). This requires Member States to ensure first that a full legal capacity is granted to all European non-profit organisations incorporated pursuant to the regulation and second that a notice is published in the Official journal stating that a European association has been incorporated in a Member State and giving information on its identity.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1853/97 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (30 May 1997)

Subject: Misuse of EU development aid in Guatemala

Will the Commission urgently investigate allegations of corruption and misuse of EU funds against a 125 MECU health project working in Salacuim in the Altaverapaz Department of Guatemala?

Was the Commission aware that the local NGO Pastoral Sociale had dismissed all nine of its indigenous staff, that its Otarde Section is known for its hostility to indigenous communities, and that the organization had no previous experience of health projects?

What experience has the apparent European partner, Movimundo of Italy, to undertake this work and which other EU projects has this organization participated in?

Will the Commission immediately suspend consideration of increasing assistance of up to 1 MECU for the southern Las Conchas area, until satisfactory answers have been provided to all of the above?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (20 June 1997)

Three Community-funded projects are at present being executed by the Italian non governmental (NGO) Molisv-Movimondo in Guatemala, one of them in the framework of Humanitarian Aid and two in the framework of aid to uprooted populations. Molisv-Movimondo has been the implementing partner of other Community funded projects in Nicaragua, to the entire satisfaction of both the Commission and the beneficiaries.

The local NGO Otarde is in fact a partner in the implementation of the humanitarian project. This organisation enjoys a very good reputation in Guatemala, both with beneficiary populations and international agencies, such as the United Nations High commissioner for refugees(UNHCR), and the Commission was never informed of any accusations of the kind reported by the Honourable Member. On the contrary, its activities have been regularly scrutinised by the Commission's office in Guatemala. No remarks, either concerning a purported hostility to indigenous staff or any other misdemeanours, were made.

The Commission has been informed of a conflict between some workers and the Bishop of Verapaces. However, this labour conflict is entirely alien to the above-mentioned Community-funded project

As part of its effort to assist Guatemala in its pacification process, the Commission is examining at present the possibility of funding another project to be implemented jointly by Molisv-Movimondo and a European NGO in co-operation with Otarde and other local organisations, although for a region different from that mentioned by the Honourable Member.

Should evidence of any misuse of funds be provided or found, the Commission will of course take immediate action. However, at the present stage, the Commission feels that no reproaches whatsoever can be made of the organisations mentioned by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2064/97 by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission (16 June 1997)

Subject: Monitoring of timeshare companies in accordance with the Single Market

There are many firms selling rights in property on a timeshare basis in the European Union. They sell timeshare in properties in the southern parts of the EU to nationals of other countries. In a purchasing situation the customer does not exactly know what kind of service he is paying for.

For example in the Bahia Blanca Holiday Club, a subsidiary of T.S International plc, UK, at Puerto Rico in the Canary Islands, Finnish families had their ownership discontinued before the timeshare period was completed, on very suspicious grounds. They were even threatened with forfeiting their right of ownership without compensation. Similar problems are by no means rare in relations with timeshare forms.

What does the Commission propose to do to protect the rights and property of timeshare purchasers?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (14 July 1997)

The Commission was behind the introduction of Parliament and Council Directive 94/47/EC of 26 October 1994 on the protection of purchasers in respect of certain aspects of contracts relating to the purchase of the right to use immovable properties on a timeshare basis ((OJ L 280, 29.10.1994. )).

This legislation gives the consumer certain rights in connection with contracts concluded for at least three years, and relating to periods of not less than one week per year. These rights have to do with information on the constituent elements of contracts, the arrangements for communicating the information, and the procedures and arrangements for cancellation and withdrawal. The Member States must make provision in their legislation for the consequences of non-compliance with the Directive.

The deadline for incorporation of Directive 94/47/EC expired 30 months after its publication in the Official Journal, i.e. on 29 April 1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1982/97 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (9 June 1997)

Subject: Intergovernmental Conference and EU enlargement

When the Intergovernmental Conference has concluded its work, negotiations will commence on the future enlargement of the EU.

Does this statement mean that negotiations will begin as soon as the IGC is over, or that they will begin once the new Treaty which emerges from the IGC has been ratified by each and every one of the European Union's 15 present Member States?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (28 July 1997)

As confirmed by the Amsterdam European Council (16-17 June 1997), it is the conclusion of the inter governmental conference (IGC) that opens the way for the launching of the enlargement process.

The above European Council also indicated that, with a view to enabling the actual opening of negotiations as soon as possible after December 1997, the European Council in December 1997 will take the necessary decisions on the overall enlargement process including practical arrangements for the initial phase of negotiations and the reinforcement of the Community's pre-accession strategy as well as other possible means to strengthen cooperation between the Community and all applicant countries.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1751/97 by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission (27 May 1997)

Subject: Comparative value of state pensions in European Union countries

Further to the answers given by the Commission to Written Questions Nos 2620/88 ((OJ C 262, 16.10.1989, p. 58. )) and 792/92 ((OJ C 16, 21.1.1993, p. 5. )) on the relative value of state pensions in European Union Member States, which provided a wealth of highly

informative information, will the Commission now provide an up-date, calculated for a single person at his/her legal retirement age after a full contribution career, for as recent a date as available figures permit?

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

An updated version has not yet been published of the 1993 study on 'Old-age income replacement ratios at the time of retirement' (No CA-73-91-481), which was the basis for the Commission's reply to the honourable Member of Parliament's written question E-792/92.

The study is currently being updated and the new publication will be ready at the end of 1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1941/97 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (28 May 1997)

Subject: Inviolability of EU officials

An article headed 'Deutsche Delle' in issue 19/1997 of the German weekly magazine 'Der Spiegel' reported that the German political elite was calling for German EU officials to do more than hitherto to defend Germany's interests. The magazine based this claim, inter alia, on a memorandum by Karl-Heinz Florenz of the CDU/CSU, as well as on the opinions of other politicians.

According to the EU Staff Regulations, officials are not permitted to take instructions from any Member State.

Does the Commission believe that what the magazine says is true, and if so, what will it do to defend EU officials against national pressure brought to bear on them?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (12 June 1997)

Article 11 of the Staff Regulation of Officials of the European Communities stipulates that an official must carry out his duties and conduct himself solely with the interests of the Communities in mind; he must neither seek nor take instructions from any government, authority, organisation or person outside his institution.

Under Article 86 any failure by an official or former official to comply with his obligations under the Staff Regulations, whether intentionally or through negligence on his part, will make him liable to disciplinary action.

The Commission feels that no action need be taken to protect the independence of European officials as the Staff Regulations clearly and unambiguously require them to act impartially.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1474/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (30 April 1997)

Subject: Community initiatives

Having been informed of the questions by Mrs García Arias (Questions E-0493/97, E-0494/97, E-0495/97 and E-0496/97) ((OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 91. )) concerning the Retex, Konver, Resider and Rechar II programmes, can the Commission supply, in addition to the number of projects implemented by Italy since the commencement of these programmes, details of projects implemented in 1996 and 1997?

Answer given by Ms Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (13 June 1997)

The Commission has approved six operational programmes under the Community Initiatives Konver, Resider II, Rechar II and Retex in Italy. The national and regional governments are responsible for implementing these programmes and for choosing which projects to fund.

The following table shows the key financial data relating to these programmes:

(MECU)

>TABLE>

With respect to the number of projects that are being financed, the Commission asks for information on the number and type of projects within the framework of the relevant monitoring committees for programmes. However, it should be noted that Italy has only just started to implement schemes under Konver, Resider II and Rechar II and it is not yet known how many projects are being funded.

Of the projects funded under Retex, 285 involve support for small businesses in Objective 1 regions and 235 in Objective 2 and 5(b) areas.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1739/97 by Riccardo Nencini (PSE) to the Commission (23 May 1997)

Subject: Payment of aid for agriculture at regional level

Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 ((OJ L 93, 30.3.1985, p. 1. )) introduced various incentives for farmers, including a compensatory allowance in respect of 'natural handicaps'. The Region of Umbria (Italy) then issued Regional Law No 11/88 laying down rules for the application of that regulation and delegated to the local authorities in the mountain areas concerned the task of paying the relevant allowances, which they did until 1993. Subsequent annual allowances have not been paid yet, even though farmers have complied with the conditions laid down by the regulations in force; moreover, it should be emphasised that the Community's financial contributions have already been transferred to the Regions.

Could the Commission urge the Region of Umbria to ensure the annual allowances due since 1993 are paid?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 June 1997)

The aid scheme which provides for the payment of compensatory allowances to farmers in less-favoured areas is not compulsory for the Member States. Member States and regions can choose whether or not to introduce such support measures, the cost of which is part-financed by the Community.

However, once a region has introduced such a scheme and the Commission has approved the relevant implementing provisions, the region is required to apply it according to the rules and in a sustained way. Any discontinuation of the aid scheme or suspension of payments must be approved anew by the Commission. Since introducing the system of compensatory allowances, the Umbria Region has never notified the Commission of any intention to suspend the scheme.

According to the Commission's information, payments were not made in 1994 while the annual instalment for 1995 was paid normally. The Commission is contacting the Italian authorities to clarify the situation and will remind them of their obligations under the Community provisions.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2195/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Recording the origins of novel food products

Are manufacturing firms obliged, as part of quality control, to keep a record of the origin of all ingredients used in food production and, where required, to forward such records to the authorities?

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-2141/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Labelling requirements

In accordance with the novel food regulation ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1. )), will labelling of a genetically modified food be required only if there is both a difference in its nutritional characteristics, as compared with a product which has not been genetically modified, and if proof of the genetic modification 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-2115/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (23 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Authorization through entry in the catalogue of species

In future will transgenic plants still require any authorization and approval before being entered in the common catalogue of species?

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-2446/97 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (16 July 1997)

Subject: Meeting Community programme funding commitments

On 15 June 1994 the Commission adopted a pilot rural development programme (LEADER II), Article 20 whereof lays down that the Leader II initiative shall be jointly funded by the Member State concerned and the Community.

If one of the parties fails to meet its financial commitments, is there any protection mechanism guaranteeing the claims of the beneficiaries of the LEADER II programme to the sums stipulated in the agreement signed between them and the central administration of the Member State concerned?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (1 August 1997)

Action under the Community Initiative Leader II, which is based on Article 5(5) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness and ON coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments ((OJ L 185, 15.7.1988. ))? is jointly financed by the Member States and the Community.

Financial assistance from the Community Structural Funds may be provided in one or other of the forms listed in Article 5(2) of that Regulation, notably by part-financing of an operational programme or provision of a global grant, the latter being as a general rule managed by an intermediary designated by the Member State in agreement with the Commission and allocated by the intermediary in the form of individual grants to final recipients (local action groups or other collective bodies).

The Community contribution to Leader II programmes is restricted to the maximum set in Article 13(3) of that Regulation.

Payment of grants to the final recipients running innovative rural programmes under Leader II is conditional on their being implemented in conformity with the national or regional Leader II programme approved by the Commission, under which they fall.

Article 14(4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 laying down provisions for implementing the Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments ((OJ L 374, 31.12.1988. )) states that the respective commitments of the partners, in the framework of an agreement within the partnership, shall be reflected in the Commission's decisions to grant assistance. The individual grants mentioned above are made in line with these decisions.

Should a national financing agency (State, region, local authority) not meet its commitments under the individual grant agreement it signed jointly with the intermediary and the final recipient the legal implications would be a matter of national law and would therefore have to be dealt with in the Member State.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2416/97 by Laura De Esteban Martin (PPE) to the Commission (11 July 1997)

Subject: Safety of children

The safety of children is a matter of concern to the European institutions, as reflected in the communication on family policies (COM(89) 0363 final) and subsequent documents such as the Green Paper on the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services (COM(96) 0483 final) and the communication on combating child sex tourism (COM(96) 0547 final).

However, there is no suitable legislation in the Union on safety measures as regards the location of schools and kindergartens or the equipment provided.

Does the Commission intend to deal with this matter in the way it did for Community legislation on, for example, the safety of toys?

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

The matter to which reference is made does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Community.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2181/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Demonstration of genetic modification

1. How will the criterion of demonstrable genetic modification be applied to seeds if the new protein(s) is/are only formed, and can be demonstrated to exist, in plants?

2. What assessment methods are to be used in future to distinguish between different batches of seeds?

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-2165/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Demonstrability methods

1. Who will be responsible for setting up demonstration methods?

2. By which authorities and/or private institutions will the controls be carried out?

3. By what date is this to be done?

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.