ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0960/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (18 March 1998)

Subject: Incorporation into Greek law of directive on the protection of cultural objects

The Commission has sent Greece a reasoned opinion for failing to incorporate into national law in due time Community Directive 93/7, as amended by Directive 96/100 ((OJ L 60, 1.3.1997, p. 59. )), laying down the terms and conditions for the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State of the EU.

1. What grounds has Greece cited for not having implemented the Directive?

2. Could failure to incorporate the Directive into national law entail adverse repercussions and, possibly, risks for the cultural objects belonging to Greece and, if so, what are they?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (23 April 1998)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0560/98 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (4 March 1998)

Subject: Incorporation of Community social law into domestic law

Which Member States have not incorporated Community social law into their own domestic law in the following areas:

- protection of young people at work;

- European works councils;

- arrangement of working hours;

- equality between men and women in employment-related social security schemes?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1998)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that the measures needed to implement Directive 94/33/EC on the protection of young people at work ((OJ L 216, 20.8.1994. )) have not been adopted in France, Italy, Luxembourg or, in part, the United Kingdom.

Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European works council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees ((OJ L 254, 30.9.1994. )) has not yet been transposed in Luxembourg and Portugal.

Greece, France, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom have not yet transposed into national legislation Council Directive 93/104/EEC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time ((OJ L 307, 13.12.1993. )).

Finally, national measures transposing Directive 96/97/EC ((OJ L 46, 17.2.1997. )) amending Directive 86/378/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes ((OJ L 225, 12.8.1986. )) have not been officially communicated by Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg or the Netherlands.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0424/98 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (24 February 1998)

Subject: The Millenium Bug

What studies has the Commission made of the impact of the millenium bug on preparations for Economic and Monetary Union, both by the EU institutions and Member States?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (8 May 1998)

The Commission has adopted a communication on the year 2000 computer problem ((COM(1998) 102. )), in which the relationships between the millennium bug and the preparations for the changeover to the single European currency are identified. In addition, the Commission has followed and, in some cases, partially supported a number of surveys aimed at monitoring the state of readiness of business in various Member States and sectors on both issues. In parallel, the Commission has organised meetings with different parties to discuss more closely the technical preparations as well as ways in which experiences and good practices could be shared between Member States and sectors.

Within the Commission itself, the impact on internal systems of both the year 2000 and the changeover to the Euro is handled by the Informatics directorate for the central aspects and by each Directorate general for their information systems. An inter-service task force has been established by the Commission to support analysis and solutions to identified problems, and work is in progress. Given the importance of the issue, the task force will be steered by a working group chaired at the highest level in the Commission. Both projects are following the phased approach, applied widely in the private and public sectors including risk management measures.

As regards co-operation at an inter-institutional level, a contact group between the informatics services of the different institutions was initiated at the end of 1997. This group follows the same approach as that followed within the Commission itself and the timing of the different steps is planned to enable an adequate resolution of these problems for all institutions. The situation is regularly reviewed within the inter-institutional informatics committee and appropriate measures will be taken, if and when necessary, to cope with specific problems.

Furthermore, the Commission maintains a world wide web site on the year 2000 computer problem and the information technology impact of the Euro (http://www.ispo.cec.be/y2keuro). This site provides access to information about activities in different economic sectors and Member States, points to sources of advice on specific aspects of the problem, and links to other sites as well as to all documents and reports produced by the Commission on the subject.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0887/98 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (26 March 1998)

Subject: Dominant market position with regard to Formula 1 motor racing on television

It would appear that Mr Bernie Ecclestone and his company are in a monopoly position with regard to the right to organize and televise Formula 1 motor races.

What will the Commission do to enable his dominant market position to be limited on the basis of the same principles as are applied in order to promote free competition in Europe in other fields?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (5 May 1998)

A number of commercial agreements relating to Formula One were notified to the Commission, in September 1997, by the Fédération internationale de l'automobile and Formula One administration. The Commission received views on the agreements from a number of interested third parties. It is also considering two formal complaints and a number of informal complaints, which include allegations of an abuse of a dominant position with respect to broadcasting rights marketed by companies in which Mr Ecclestone has an interest, and matters relating to how Formula One is organised. The Commission is assessing the extent to which the agreements infringe Article 85 of the EC Treaty, which deals with agreements which may restrict competition, and whether there is an infringement of Article 86 of the EC Treaty, which is concerned with abuse of a dominant position.

It is too early to state what the outcome of the Commission's assessment will be. However, the Commission hopes to reach its conclusions in the coming months.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0680/98 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (10 March 1998)

Subject: Funding for consumer associations

A number of articles have appeared in the Italian press concerning alleged funding from the European Union for certain consumer associations, including ACU, FEDERCONSUMATORI and CODACONS.

Can the Commission say:

1. whether the alleged funding has actually been granted and, if so, on the basis of which programmes;

2. whether there are Community programmes which specifically envisage the granting of funding to consumer associations?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (1 April 1998)

The Commission's initiatives in the field of defending consumer interests and protecting consumer health are based on the 1996-1998 Action Plan 'Priorities for consumer policy' ((COM(95) 519 final. )).

The Commission helps fund the activities of consumer associations in the Community. For example, the three Italian associations mentioned by the Honourable Member have participated in an information campaign designed to help consumers make the most of the single market. The campaign was mounted in parallel and in coordination with the Citizens First - Citoyens d'Europe campaign, notably its second phase, one of whose themes was 'Purchasing goods and services in the European market'. This campaign, specifically devoted to unfair terms in consumer contracts, was mounted in five Member States (Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Portugal). The partners were the national consumer organisations that had requested to be involved in the campaign and helped organise it. A contract was signed with each organisation in the amount of ECU 5 750.

In the context of the Euroguichets (consumer information and advice centres) network, the Commission also funds the organisations or associations that operate these centres (financing up to 50% of their outgoings). Following an evaluation in 1997 and a radical review currently in progress, this network now consists of ten centres in seven Member States.

Each year the Commission publishes in the Official Journal ((OJ C 277, 12.9.1997. )) a 'Call for submission of projects designed to promote and protect consumer interests'. Projects are selected on the basis of their compatibility with the Commission's priority themes and the criteria published in the Official Journal.

The Commission has endorsed a proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers ((COM(97) 684 final. )). This is a project with a legal basis which covers, over a period of five years, a large part of the Commission's actions to defend consumers' interests and protect their health.

Asummary list of the subsidies granted to Italian beneficiaries in 1996 and 1997 is being forwarded directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of the Parliament.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1073/98 by Bernard Castagnède (ARE) to the Commission (6 April 1998)

Subject: Animal feedingstuffs - French Guiana

The overseas department of French Guiana benefits from a supply system for animal feedingstuffs where the level of aid is calculated on the basis of the refund for the various cereals involved, with a premium of ECU 20 per tonne.

For the last two years the refund has dropped sharply or has disappeared. Does the Commission envisage altering its method of calculating the aid in favour of Guiana, along the lines of the Community aid for supplying the most remote regions with cereals?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (22 April 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question No 327/98 by Mr Souchet ((OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 78. ))
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0664/98 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission (10 March 1998)

Subject: Germany's failure to implement EU legislation on the protection of species

Since 1 June 1997 the trade in species of fauna and flora protected by the Washington Convention on the protection of species has been regulated in the EU exclusively by Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 ((OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1. )). Germany has so far failed to honour its commitment as a Member State to implement this legislation. In particular, no penalties or confiscatory measures (as called for in Article 16 of the regulation) have yet been introduced. There are still no penalties for the import and export, purchase, offer to purchase, acquisition for commercial purposes, display to the public and use for commercial gain and for the sale, offering for sale or transporting of the species listed in Annexes A and B to the regulation. Application of ordinary customs and public order legislation is not enough. On the contrary. The responsible prosecution services are currently dropping proceedings for breaches of the legislation on the protection of species. Implementation of the EU regulation is not at present imminent in Germany. A complaint on these lines from the Committee Against the Murder of Birds is pending at the Commission under File No 97/4604SG(97) A/11682/2.

1. How does the Commission view the behaviour of the Federal Republic of Germany?

2. What steps has it so far taken to induce Germany to implement the above regulation and what steps will it be taking to ensure in particular that the obligations arising from Article 16 thereof are at long last also applied in Germany?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1998)

At present the Commission is following the implementation, application and enforcement in all Member States including Germany of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein. The Commission seeks to ensure correct implementation through bilateral and multilateral contacts and, where necessary, legal proceedings.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0188/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (5 February 1998)

Subject: Taxi licences

The principle of free competition embodied by the large-scale single market threatens to penalize a whole range of professional activities whose specific characteristics are not being safeguarded. One example is taxi drivers, especially in countries which, like Luxembourg, do not have big cities.

The city of Luxembourg has introduced a Grand-Ducal law which has practically doubled the number of licences granted, creating a series of obstacles to the exercise of the profession, especially for independent taxi-drivers, who are penalized by the measures adopted, which favour large firms.

Can the Commission therefore draw up a directive establishing the number of licences permitted on the basis of the actual number of inhabitants and laying down the selection criteria for the granting of licences?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (1 April 1998)

The Commission does not envisage any Community measures which establish the number of taxi licences according to the number of inhabitants, or lay down the selection criteria for the granting of licences.

National, regional and local taxi services are almost completely under the legal competence of Member State authorities which are in the best position to organise and survey the local taxi cab market.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/98 by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission (5 February 1998)

Subject: Controls on imported foods

At present all foods of animal origin imported from third countries into the European Union are subject to strict controls. They can only enter the EU at a designated border inspection post; the importer is required to give 24 hours notice of arrival; the consignment must undergo the veterinary checks procedure, which includes certified levels of inspection; and the importer must pay the costs of the veterinary inspection before the consignment can obtain customs clearance. However, for foods of non-animal origin, there is no requirement for prior notification of import, with no certificated system of control and the costs of inspection fall on the enforcing authority.

Given that many foods of non-animal origin can pose a considerable risk to public health, for example many of them can contain mycotoxins, does the Commission intend to harmonize EU levels of inspection for foodstuffs of non-animal origin to the same level as that for foodstuffs of animal origin? If not, why not?

Supplementary answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (12 june 1998)

Foodstuffs of non-animal origin are subject to the provisions of framework Directives 89/397/EEC ((OJ L 186, 30.6.1989. )) and 93/99/EEC ((OJ L 290, 24.11.1993. )) on the official control of foodstuffs. These provisions apply to foodstuffs imported into the Community.

Directive 93/43/EEC on the hygiene of foodstuffs ((OJ L 175, 19.7.1993. )) also requires Member States to take the necessary measures to submit foodstuffs imported into the Community to official controls in order to ensure observance of the same hygiene principles as are applicable to the production of foodstuffs in the Community.

The Commission believes that, in general, proper implementation of these rules together with standing expert practice and the experience of national authorities offer appropriate health protection to Community consumers.

Nevertheless, in connection with the simplification of hygiene law, and pursuant to the Green Paper on food law ((COM(97) 176 final. )), the Commission is currently giving thought to an assessment of the need for more detailed rules on foodstuffs of non-animal origin. This assessment will be based on a series of aspects, including the results of the Commission's current investigations in the Member States into how controls are carried out on imported foodstuffs of non-animal origin.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0549/98 by Lyndon Harrison (PSE) to the Commission (19 February 1998)

Subject: Ill-treatment of children in Greek care centres

A documentary recently broadcast on the British Channel 4 has revealed appalling and unworthy living conditions for children in a number of Greek care centres.

According to this documentary, dozens of young children in the Government-funded centres in Karditsa and Serres are not lifted from their cots for years and they never see natural daylight or receive any kind of treatment. Furthermore, the documentary shows children tied by their arms and legs to their cots and children padlocked in cages.

1. Could the Commission confirm that none of the abovementioned institutions or other centres where children live under similar conditions have been funded by the EU?

2. What does the Commission intend to do in order to encourage the Greek authorities to abandon these archaic and distasteful practices?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 April 1998)

No such centres have been financed through budget line B3-4108, measures in favour of the family and children since no money is allocated directly to local institutions for running costs. It enables governments, researchers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to exchange information or carry out studies.

The Commission has been co-financing a number of seminars to promote the rights of the child and child protection in several Member States. Representatives from Greece have participated in these. Furthermore a large conference will be organised in Greece under the patronage of the Commission in May 1998, which will also promote the well being of the child.

The Commission also finances the Daphne initiative which assists NGOs and voluntary organisations in the action against violence against women, young people and children. NGOs active in this field may submit proposals aimed at preventing violence (which includes ill-treatment), and protecting or rehabilitating victims of violence.

The care centres mentioned by the Honourable Member have not received any financing in the context of the 1994-1999 Community support framework for Greece.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1125/98 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE) to the Commission (8 April 1998)

Subject: Charges to Erasmus programme exchange students

The basic idea of the Erasmus programme, which is funded by the European Union, is reciprocal free movement of students in the Member States without their being charged separate tuition fees. However, I have heard of cases in Britain, for instance, where Finnish exchange students were charged tuition fees or required to make comparable payments under various pretexts.

What will the Commission do to ascertain how widespread such infringements of the principles underlying the exchange programme are, and what will the Commission do to ensure that all educational establishments participating in exchange programmes abide by the same rules?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (20 May 1998)

An essential condition for participation in the student mobility action of the Erasmus Chapter of Socrates is that the student must not be charged a university fee by the host institution for the study period abroad. The student's home institution is, however, permitted to continue to charge such fees during this study period.

'University fees' include payments for tuition, registration, examinations, access to laboratory or library facilities. Small fees may, however, be charged to incoming Erasmus students on an equal basis with local students for costs such as insurance, student unions, and the use of miscellaneous material such as photocopiers, laboratory products.

The Commission pursues all cases brought to its attention in which Erasmus students claim to have been charged university fees by their host institution. It investigates the circumstances of each case, in consultation with the relevant Socrates or Erasmus national agency as appropriate, to determine whether an infringement of the programme rules has taken place.

If the Honourable Member were able to furnish the Commission with the names and circumstances of Finnish Erasmus students required to pay tuition fees at British universities, the Commission would examine the matter.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0405/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (24 February 1998)

Subject: Use of radioactive iron for the construction of the Athens underground railway

According to reports in the Greek press, iron from Chernobyl containing the carcinogenic radioactive substances caesium and strontium is being used in the construction of the Athens underground railway. The same reports indicate that no checks have been carried out to establish the levels of caesium 137 and strontium contained in the iron used for the construction of the Athens underground railway and that it is being imported through many different companies making it difficult to ascertain its origin.

What are the Commission's official views on this and what measures will it take to establish whether the iron being used is in fact radioactive since this is certain to affect the health of the millions of Athenians using the underground line?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (14 April 1998)

The Commission is aware that scrap metals containing radioactive substances are occasionally detected either at the border posts of entry into the Community or at the gates of the industries dealing with scrap metals. In the vast majority of the cases detected, the levels of radioactivity did not require particular radiation protection measures to be taken.

In July 1996 the Commission organised a meeting with representatives of Member States to consider the subject. It concluded that although the possibility of the presence in the scrap metals of an important radiation source cannot be completely ruled out, the existing radiation protection measures in place in the Member States ensure an adequate level of safety, reached through the system of control of the sources established in the Member States in compliance with the Council Directive No 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 ((OJ L 159, 29.6.1996. )) laying down basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation.

This directive, whose requirements shall be brought into force before 13 May 2000, repeals previous directives. The Commission continues to monitor the situation, particularly to ensure that scrap metals contaminated with radioactive substances are not imported from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe or from the former Soviet Union.

The Commission has no information on the specific case mentioned by the Honourable Member.