ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0380/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 March 1999)

Subject: Operation of detoxification unit in Greece

At a time when drug use is snowballing in Greece and the whole of Europe, the detoxification unit of the Attica Psychiatric Hospital, one of the very few rehabilitation units in Greece, is under threat of closure and having to end its programmes for the treatment of substance dependency, as well as its prevention programmes, because redundancies among the medical staff are affecting the treatment of patients, which relies on the bonds which develop between them and the staff.

1. What are the Commission's views on the frequent changes of medical staff in this kind of establishment?

2. If the Commission agrees that the changes in medical staff have a damaging effect, will it intercede with the Greek government to persuade it to exempt this type of establishment from the law on public sector recruitment?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 1999)

1. It is generally accepted that an abrupt disruption in the relationship between therapist and patient, especially an addict, may have adverse consequences on the latter. Remedies to such problems are, however, a matter for the Member States.

2. The Commission trusts that the Greek authorities are taking the necessary steps to address the situation and they have its full support in doing so. It should be noted in this context that the Commission is examining a proposal by the Greek authorities for a special action of the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica to improve patients' living conditions and to promote the de-institutionalisation of the greatest possible number of patients.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0056/99

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 January 1999)

Subject: Acidic water spillage into the River Tinto marshes in Huelva (Spain) caused by a rupture in a storage pond

A rupture in a phosphogypsum pond has caused 50 000 cubic metres of acidic water to spill into the Huelva estuary. The 70-hectare pond, which lies in Rincón Marsh on the outskirts of the provincial capital, Huelva, burst during the storm which battered the city last December. The phosphogypsum ponds, situated in the River Tinto marshes some eight kilometres from Huelva's urban area, together provide storage for more than 80 million tonnes of waste held in by 14-metre walls. This highly acidic waste contains fluorides and arsenic, and there is speculation that radioactive emissions may exceed the legal limit.

Written Question E-3984/96(1) on the dumping of phosphogypsum waste previously expressed concern about the health implications of the dumped waste. In its answer, the Commission indicated that it had already instituted infringement proceedings against Spain for improper application in the River Tinto of Directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community.

1. Is the Commission aware of this situation?

2. What steps does it intend to take with a view to ensuring that the Spanish authorities implement Community environment legislation, and in particular Directive 76/464/EEC(2) on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community, Directive 92/43/EEC(3) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, and Directive 91/689/EEC(4) on hazardous waste?

3. Will it provide comprehensive information on how this situation is being monitored?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1999)

1. The Commission had read in the press of the burst storage lagoon in the Rincón Marshes, Huelva, mentioned by the Honourable Members.

2. The Commission contacted the Spanish authorities and asked for detailed information on this incident. The Spanish authorities' reply has still not reached the Commission. Once that information has been examined the Commission will ensure that the Community law applying in this instance is obeyed.

3. The Commission will not fail to inform the Honourable Members of any developments taking place as regards this matter.

(1) OJ C 186, 18.6.1997, p. 151.

(2) OJ L 129, 18.5.1976, p. 23.

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

(4) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991, p. 20.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0819/99

by Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 April 1999)

Subject: Illegal activities financed from the Structural Funds in Llançà (Gerona, Spain)

In its answer of 26 February 1998 to Written Question No P-0194/98 of 28 January 1998(1), which brought the illegal activities undertaken with Community funding on the Grifeu promenade in the municipality of Llançà to its attention, the Commission undertook to obtain information from the Spanish authorities on the irregularities concerned and suggested the measures to be taken should the judgment which declared the activities illegal (No 247/97 of 12 December 1997) prove final.

Can the Commission provide information on the result of its contacts with the Spanish authorities?

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

(7 May 1999)

The Commission has been informed of a court decision declaring illegal work carried out in the municipality of Llança (Catalonia) by the Directorate-General for Ports and Coastal Areas of the Department of Regional Policy and Public Works of the Catalan Autonomous Government and part-financed by the Community under the Interreg II A programme for Spain and France. The Commission notes that the judge ordered the demolition of the structure, compensation for people whose property had been expropriated and the return of the land to its original owners.

Should this decision be made final, the Commission has suggested that the Spanish authorities cancel the part-financing and reallocate it to another project at the next meeting of the Monitoring Committee. The Commission therefore awaits new proposals from the Spanish authorities.

(1) OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 49.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0957/99

by Willy De Clercq (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 April 1999)

Subject: Free movement of workers

Is the Commission aware that a number of Italian universities still do not respect free movement of workers as required by the Treaty establishing the European Community?

Is the Commission aware that since 1989 EU citizens have been complaining about the discriminatory practices at Italian universities, whereby foreign teachers are offered only one-year contracts, which is not the case for Italian teachers?

Is the Commission aware of the Allué and Coonan judgment of 2 August 1993 in which the Court of Justice ruled that such practices contravened Article 48(2) of the Treaty?

Is the Commission aware that these violations of a general principle laid down in the EC Treaty have still not ceased?

Will the Commission remedy the situation? If so, how? If not, why not?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0253/99

by Riccardo Nencini (PSE) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: Redundancies at the Nuovo Pignone company (Florence)

The Nuovo Pignone company which is based in Florence and is controlled by the General Electric company has stated its intention of making 400 of its 3 100 staff redundant on the basis of the special "mobilità" procedure.

The company has had a profit margin of between 14 % and 20 % over the past few years (ITL 800 billion over a four-year period) and the orders it has taken recently will enable it to maintain a dominant position in large sectors of the market.

Florence City Council made an extremely substantial contribution - in the region of several billion lire - towards the training centre set up for the company's staff.

Furthermore, Nuovo Pignone has also received various Community grants for staff training.

Given the above, does the Commission intend to take action to prevent Nuovo Pignone's management from making such a large number of the company's staff redundant?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1999)

Decisions to lay off staff must comply with the provisions of Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies(1).

The main purpose of the Community instrument is to reinforce the protection of workers in the event of collective redundancies, by seeking to reduce the existing differences between national legislations as regards the "practical arrangements and procedures" and through measures designed to alleviate the consequences of these redundancies for the workers.

Hence, Article 2 of the Directive provides that employers contemplating collective redundancies must begin consultations with the workers' representatives in good time with a view to reaching an agreement. These consultations must cover ways and means of avoiding collecting redundancies or reducing the number of workers affected and of mitigating the consequences by recourse to accompanying social measures aimed, inter alia, at aid for redeploying or retraining workers made redundant.

There is nothing to indicate that the Community provisions and the associated national rules have been infringed. At any rate, it is primarily for the national courts and administration to address the legal consequences arising from this case.

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0357/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: Privatisation of the Rome milk marketing board

What information can the Commission provide to Parliament on the infringement proceedings initiated against Italy on the privatisation of the Rome milk marketing board?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 1999)

On 25 March 1998 the Commission opened the procedure indicated in Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty concerning aid granted by the Commune of Rome in connection with operation and privatisation of the Centrale del Latte di Roma. Its decision to do so was notified in the Official Journal.(1)

The Commission is analysing the observations and comments received under the procedure. On completion of this examination it will take a final decision on the aid in question.

(1) OJ C 206, 2.7.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1032/99

by Luigi Florio (PPE) to the Commission

(7 April 1999)

Subject: Safety in road and rail tunnels

The tragedy which occurred in the Mont Blanc tunnel last week starkly highlighted the lack of safety provisions in all of Europe's road and rail tunnels.

Does the Commission not consider that:

(a) European legislation should be drawn up without delay to guarantee uniform safety standards for all tunnels?

(b) temporary rules should be introduced governing safety provisions to be observed until such time as existing structures can be adapted to new standards?

What other measures does the Commission think should be adopted to prevent similar tragedies recurring elsewhere in the Union?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1999)

The Commission has noted the resolution adopted by the Parliament on 15 April 1999 on the accident in the Mont Blanc tunnel.

In particular it shares the belief of the Parliament that it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions before the report of the enquiry is published.

It also welcomes the Parliament's wish to see both a speedy adoption of the proposed directive concerning the roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of vehicles(1).

(1) OJ C 190, 18.6.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0531/99

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

(8 March 1999)

Subject: Fish product canning industry and aquaculture in the European Union

At its June 1998 part-session the European Parliament debated and adopted the own-initiative report on the fish product canning industry and aquaculture in the European Union (A4-0137/98)(1), in the conclusions to which, inter alia, it urged the Commission "to encourage promotion campaigns for Community fish product preserves, advertising their origin, quality, production safeguards and high nutritional value, to enable consumers to appreciate the excellence of Community products".

Can the Commission say what measures have been taken to comply with Parliament's request?

(1) OJ C 210, 6.7.1998, p. 295.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0323/99

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(23 February 1999)

Subject: Price of lamb and sheepmeat

Will the Commission provide statistics on the average prices paid for sheepmeat and lamb in each Member State for the most recent period for which the information is available?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 1999)

The average price in Euro per 100 kilogrammes paid in each Member State(1) to farmers for lamb carcasses in January 1999(2) was:

>TABLE>

(1) Luxembourg: data not available.

(2) Average for the first four weeks of the agricultural marketing year 1999-2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1060/99

by Carlos Bru Purón (PSE) to the Commission

(20 April 1999)

Subject: Commission fees in exchange transactions

As a future precaution, this year certain banks in the euro zone have begun taking the opportunity to charge commission fees on exchange transactions in European currencies which exceed 25 % in some cases. Moreover, they are operating a regressive system, since it is the high rates which are applied to exchange transactions involving small sums.

Does the Commission intend to warn banks and banking associations in the Member States participating in economic and monetary union of the harmful effects which this eleventh-hour dash for profits will have on their future business?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1999)

The Commission wishes to inform the Honourable Member that it has indeed already contacted banks and banking associations concerning charges levied by banks for euro area banknote exchange. In a letter to the main European banking federations in January 1999, the Commission emphasised that it is of paramount importance that public confidence in the introduction of the euro and the credibility of the banking system as a whole should not be undermined by financial institutions drawing unfair benefit from increases in charges for transactions between former national currencies within the euro zone. Again on 5 February 1999, in a press statement(1) the Commission called on banks to further increase transparency by making publicly available information showing changes in the total level of charges (before and after the introduction of the euro) for exchanging euro zone banknotes and cross border cheques, transfers and card payments. The Commission has also recently made publicly available an analysis of complaints received through its specially created e-mail and fax service announced in IP/99/90. The banking associations have also been asked to react to the information contained in this analysis.

The Honourable Member may also refer to the Commission's answers to Written Questions E-3825/98 by Mr Caudron(2) and P-52/99 by Mr Tamino(3) and to the answer to Oral Questions O-29/99 byMr Hendrick and Mrs Randzio-Plath, O-31/99 by Mr Gasòliba i Böh, O-32/99 by Mr de Lassus Saint Geniés, O-33/99 by Mr Wolf, and O-34/99 by Mr Gallagher during question time at Parliament's March part-session(4).

(1) IP/99/90.

(2) OJ C 348, 3.12.1999, p. 3.

(3) OJ C 325, 12.11.1999.

(4) Debates of Parliament (March 1999).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0554/99

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Subject: Public health and the urban environment

Has the Commission given any thought to the need to create an EU-wide network of city health departments for the purpose of exchanging best practice on the social and urban aspects of health policy?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 1999)

The Commission does indeed pursue a broad approach to health policy, involving social and urban aspects. Under the current set of public health programmes developed in the context of the Commission's 1993 framework for action in the field of public health(1), the Commission is already providing support to a number of city networks, including a European network for public health in capital cities and regions.

Within the framework of the European sustainable cities & towns campaign, the Commission is also supporting activities by the World health organisation (WHO) healthy cities project, a long-term international development project that aims to place health high on the agenda of decision-makers in the cities of Europe. Approximately 1 100 cities and towns are linked with 26 national and several regional and thematic healthy cities networks in Europe. Activities include the preparation and dissemination of case studies and the development of multi-city action plans.

One of the main priorities of the Commission's new public health policy outlined by the Commission's communication on the development of public health policy in the Community(2) will be to create a comprehensive health information system, covering developments in health status and health systems. This will link the relevant authorities in the Member States and enable them to exchange information on best practice in many areas of health policy. Whilst it would be up to the Member States to designate the relevant partners for the various parts of the system, it is expected, nevertheless, that regions and cities will be closely associated and involved in this effort.

Finally, the Commission database on good practice in urban management and sustainability(3), which includes health as a topic area, provides a useful vehicle for disseminating case studies focusing on the social and urban aspects of health policy.

(1) COM(93) 559 final.

(2) COM(98) 230 final.

(3) http://europa.eu.int/comm/urban/.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0595/99

by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Subject: Transport of live animals

France, Greece, Italy and Portugal are reported in the RSPCA Magazine "Animal Issues" as having failed to implement EU Directive (95/29/EC)(1)on the transport of live animals. What is the position and what action is the Commission taking to ensure that there is strict compliance with European Union law?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1999)

Greece, Italy and Portugal have notified national measures implementing Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during transport.

France has not fully implemented this Directive. This being the case, the Commission has not discontinued the infringement proceedings instituted pursuant to Article 169 of the EC Treaty against France for failure to notify the necessary measures to implement the Directive.

(1) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0847/99

by Glyn Ford (PSE) and Alan Donnelly (PSE) to the Commission

(7 April 1999)

Subject: Ombudsman

Does not the President of the Commission feel that, in the current situation, it might be appropriate for the three institutions, Council, Commission and Parliament, to have an Ombudsman responsible for ensuring that standards in public life and codes of conduct and rules are respected by the Members and staff of the three institutions and that full transparency and openness are maintained?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 1999)

In order to generate consultation between the three institutions, the Commission has sent the Presidents of the Council and Parliament the three codes of conduct applying, respectively, to Members of the Commission, to relations between Members and Commission departments, and to Commission officials.

The code of conduct for officials sets out in easy-to-read fashion the ethical and professional rules of behaviour arising from the Staff Regulations, which are common to the three institutions.

It is for each institution to ensure that all the rules which govern the behaviour of their officials are applied both within their institution and in their relations with the outside world.

As regards relations with the outside world, the European Ombudsman has authority to deal with complaints made by citizens of the Union or by natural or legal persons residing in a Member State regarding cases of maladministration, particularly in the three institutions referred to. If the concept of maladministration is interpreted broadly, the Ombudsman's authority can also extend to all complaints which challenge administrative decisions.

The Ombudsman is thus already competent to deal with all cases covered by part 5. ("Serving the Public") of the Commission's code of conduct for officials.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0137/99

by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Community policy on promoting energy crops

The set-aside of land formerly devoted to growing food crops means that such land can either lie fallow or it can be used for alternative non-food crops such as energy crops without losing its right to the appropriate EU subsidy.

So-called energy-crops, mainly for the production of bio-fuels, therefore constitute an alternative of the greatest importance for those who own land which has been withdrawn from food production.

Can the Commission tell me what Community initiatives have been taken to create an EU policy on promoting energy crops, what information campaigns have been undertaken in connection with these initiatives, and how it intends to promote energy crops amongst owners of set-aside land?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 1999)

In its White Paper on energy establishing a strategy and an action plan for renewable energies(1), the Commission predicts a substantial increase in the proportion of energy produced from biomass in the Community's overall energy consumption, from the current 45 million tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) to 135 million by 2010. Such a development will require additional agricultural and forestry land to be made available for non-food crops, and especially energy crops.

In addition, following a request by the "Agriculture" Council of 22-26 June 1998, the Commission drafted a working document on non-food crops in the context of Agenda 2000(2). Presenting the paper to the "Agriculture" Council of 15 December 1998, the Commission emphasised that this was an initial approach to the problem of support measures for non-food crops.

While not proposing practical solutions at this stage, the document opens the debate and invites Member States to give their points of view.

The Commission will give these its fullest attention in the negotiations on Agenda 2000.

(1) COM(97) 599 final.

(2) SEC(98) 2169.