ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3547/97 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (12 November 1997)

Subject: Generation of photovoltaic energy using space platforms

Neither the multiannual programme for renewable energy sources nor the new research programme includes plans for producing photovoltaic energy using space platforms.

However, according to scientific literature, the exploitation of solar energy in space has great future potential.

What information has the Commission received on this matter from its scientific advisory committees?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (10 December 1997)

The Commission is aware of numerous articles, especially in popular science journals, about orbiting space stations equipped with gigantic photovoltaic panels to convert solar radiation into electric energy.

As the atmosphere absorbs a significant part of the solar radiation, terrestrial photovoltaic power plants need bigger surfaces for the same power output. They are, however, much cheaper to install than orbiting space stations. Furthermore, the electric current produced can be used directly and does not require conversion to potentially dangerous microwave beams for power transmission to huge antennas on the earth's surface.

The Commission does, however, encourage research on special photovoltaic cells for space applications such as gallium-arsenide semiconductors, because these cells can be usefully employed in terrestrial photovoltaic power plants with concentrating lenses and mirrors.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3620/97 by David Thomas (PSE) to the Commission (10 November 1997)

Subject: Commission proposals on animal welfare

Can the Commission confirm whether they intend to honour their promise to bring forward proposals on the welfare of laying hens, the welfare of animals during slaughter and the welfare of breeding animals during transport in 1997?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1997)

Article 9 of Directive 88/166/EEC laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens kept in battery cages ((OJ L 74, 19.3.1988. )) requires the Commission to submit a report on scientific developments regarding the welfare of hens under various systems of rearing and on the provisions in the Annex, accompanied by any appropriate adjustment proposals. It is the intention of the Commission to present to the Council and the Parliament the report together with the proposals relevant to the report's conclusions at the begining of 1998.

Article 13 of Directive 93/119/EC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing ((OJ L 340, 31.12.1993. )) requires the Commission to submit to the Council a report drawn up on the basis of an opinion from the scientific veterinary committee together with appropriate proposals concerning the use of free bullet pistols or gases or combinations thereof for stunning or killing and other scientifically recognized procedure for stunning or killing. It is the intention of the Commission to present the report together with appropriate proposals to the Council during the course of the first half of 1998.

It is, furthermore, the intention of the Commission to examine the issue of whether or not breeding pigs should be unloaded at staging points and, if appropriate, to present proposals which provide for the animals concerned welfare conditions at least equivalent to those foreseen in Council Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC ((OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, Directive as last amended by Directive 95/29/EC, OJ L 148, 30.6.1995. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3230/97 by Klaus Rehder (PSE) to the Commission (20 October 1997)

Subject: Transport of horses for slaughter in the European Union

Horses and donkeys for slaughter are often transported into or through the European Union under cruel conditions.

1. How many donkeys and horses are exported for slaughter from the Central and Eastern European countries each year?

2. How many horses and donkeys per year come from (a) Poland, (b) Romania?

3. How many horses and donkeys are taken to Italy each year?

4. To which countries, apart from Italy, are horses brought for slaughter from the east?

5. How many horses and donkeys have failed to survive transportation in the last two years?

6. What is the price of a horse for slaughter in Poland and Romania (per kilo live weight)?

7. How much horse meat (on the hoof or chilled) is exported from Italy to Switzerland?

8. How many tonnes of salami, which is largely made from horse and/or donkey meat, is supplied by Italy to the European Union countries?

9. How much deep-frozen horse meat comes from other countries (Canada, Argentina, the US or any other countries) to the EU?

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

Concerning the replies to questions 1 to 4, 7 and 9, the Commission is transmitting the required information directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

Concerning questions 5, 6 and 8, the Commission regrets that it does not have sufficient information to give an answer.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3377/97 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (23 October 1997)

Subject: Code of Conduct for European companies operating in third countries

In December 196, the European Parliament adopted resolution A4-0400/96 ((OJ C 20, 20.1.1997, p. 161. )) on human rights throughout the world in 1995/1196 and the Union's human rights policy.

Paragraph 20 calls on the Commission to 'rapidly submit a proposal on a Code of Conduct for European companies operating in third countries which obliges them to respect human rights in all their forms (civil, social, economical, environmental), including mechanisms of control and sanction on the grounds of the existing OECD proposal'.

Can the Commission give a progress report on its work on a draft proposal for a Code of Conduct for European companies operating in third countries?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1997)

The Organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD) provides guidelines for multinational enterprises, which are a joint recommendation by participating governments to multinational enterprises operating within their jurisdiction. The objective of these guidelines is to help multinational enterprises ensure that their operations are in harmony with the national policies of the countries in which they operate. They include recommendations on, in particular, employment, industrial relations, and environmental protection. These guidelines are part of the OECD Declaration on international investment and multinational enterprises of 21 June 1976, as amended.

In the framework of the negotiations on a multilateral agreement on investment (MAI) it is envisaged that the guidelines will be annexed to the MAI. Although these guidelines will continue to be non-binding, their status will thus be enhanced. In addition, a revision of the guidelines is under consideration. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the MAI will be an agreement open to accession by non-OECD countries which will enlarge the number of multinational enterprises covered by the guidelines.

The Commission considers this to be an effective approach. Thus, as the Community as such is expected to become a contracting party to the MAI, there is no need to work on a separate European code of conduct for the time being.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3445/97 by Jean-Antoine Giansily (UPE) to the Commission (27 October 1997)

Subject: Utilization of appropriations for 'Information Outlets'

Article B3-301 'Information Outlets' of the European Union budget contains a substantial appropriation intended to cover, amongst other things, 'the financing of the International Federation of Europe Houses' for an amount of up to ECU 1 700 000 during the 1997 financial year.

Can the Commission state whether it has allocated, and is allocating, appropriations from this budget line to the Europe House in Paris (at 35, rue des Francs Bourgeois - Paris) and, if so, will it indicate the amounts received by the Europe House in Paris during the 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 financial years?

Furthermore, it is stipulated in the remarks accompanying this budget article that 'a Commission communication summarizing the reports of the main beneficiaries of this measure (in financial terms) on the impact of their work of informing and raising the awareness of the public about European issues will be submitted to the budgetary authority.'

In this connection, has the Commission received any specific reports on its activities from the Europe House in Paris and does it consider these reports to be in line with the Community interest of the operations thus financed, such as the information recently supplied to the public about the change- over to the single currency?

Finally, is the Commission in a position to disclose the contents of these reports by the abovementioned body?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1997)

The Europe House in Paris receives no subsidies under heading B3-301 'Information outlets' because it is not a member of the International Federation of Europe Houses.

It is therefore not required to report to the Commission on its activities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3111/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (13 October 1997)

Subject: Structural Funds in Italy

In 1995 the Italian government, faced with the disastrous situation in Italy with regard to the utilization of Structural Funds aid, made definite commitments to the Community institutions concerning the new programming phases.

That being so, could the Commission:

1. publish the state of commitments and payments made by Italy for the 1989-1993 programming period?

2. publish the state of commitments and payments made by Italy for the 1994-1999 programming period?

3. state its views on the current situation?

4. state whether there is still a possibility that some funds will be diverted to other countries whose utilization procedures have proved to be more efficient?

5. state whether, and if so how, the delays on the part of Italy can affect the forthcoming review of the activities of the Funds after 1999?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1997)

On the basis of the latest information from the Italian authorities, the implementation situation for approved structural fund programmes in Italy is summarized in the table below. The figures refer to the percentage of the total expenditure programmed for the period committed or spent on the ground by implementing agencies on 30 June 1997.

Structural fund programmes in Italy commitments and expenditure by implementing agencies

>TABLE>

The Commission draws the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that the same considerations apply to these data as applied to those given in Reply to the Honourable Member's written question 1074/97 ((OJ C 21, 22.1.1998. )).

The figures in the table confirm that, with the extensions granted, the losses for the 1989-1993 period will remain relatively limited. In so far as 1994-1999 is concerned there are signs of a slow recovery resulting from the action taken by the Commission and the Italian authorities under the July 1995 agreement on the improved management of structural fund programmes in Italy. The Commission will continue every effort with the Italian authorities to sustain this recovery in order to ensure the full and correct use of all the available structural fund resources within the current programming period. It is hoped thus to avoid any question of transfers to other Member States.

The Commission reserves the right to take account of poor use of structural funds in any Member State in considering allocations for the post-1999 period. Therefore it is particularly important that improvements in structural fund management in Italy be continued and consolidated.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3135/97 by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission (13 October 1997)

Subject: Drawing up a register of paedophiles Europe-wide

Has the Commission carried out a proper assessment of the positive impact of the decision to establish a register of paedophiles in the United Kingdom, a decision taken in August 1997 as part the new law on the subject, which immediately entered into force. As reported by the Belgian newspaper 'Le Soir' (2 September 1997), under the new provisions, anyone currently serving a sentence for paedophile acts or released on remand or on probation in the United Kingdom must supply the police with his name and address within two weeks and must notify the police of any subsequent change of address.

The new law - which will make it possible to prosecute British paedophiles even in respect of offences committed abroad, with a view to combating 'sex tourism' - concerns some 6 000 people, and it is reckoned that a further 3 500 names will need to be added each year. Anyone convicted under the new law may face a prison sentence of up to six months and a LIT 15 million fine. In certain cases, the police will be entitled to warn schools, youth groups and local clubs that a potentially dangerous man has moved into the neighbourhood.

Given that new laws are being drafted in various European countries, is the Commission prepared, taking its inspiration from the British law, to introduce legislation common to all fifteen Member States, providing for the establishment of a 'European register of paedophiles', which would also record any travels and transfers within any of the countries concerned?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (21 November 1997)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member regarding the unfortunate sexual abuse of children.

The Europol drugs unit (EDU), the forerunner of Europol, could, on the basis of its mandate in the field of the fight against trafficking in human beings, recommend ways of improving the present situation in the Member States on the basis of the experience gained by those countries which have established specific registers of sexual offenders.

Under the 1997 Daphne initiative a feasibility study is being undertaken on the collection, exchange and use of personal data about child sex offenders in order better to protect children from organised abuse within and across Member States.

The Commission is not at present considering a register of the type proposed by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3509/97 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council (14 November 1997)

Subject: Violation of privacy by European local authorities

1. In the Hofkwartier district of The Hague, all traffic on the corner of Molenstraat and Prinsestraat, including pedestrians, is recorded on video cameras by the local authority in connection with the closure of a section of the city to motorized traffic. The video pictures are also monitored by private individuals, namely the staff of the Park Hotel in The Hague, who allow motor vehicles selected by them through the pedestrian zone between 11.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Does the Council not consider that surveillance of the public highway in Europe should never be contracted out by local authorities to private individuals?

2. Is the Council prepared to ask the Commission to draw up guidelines to ensure that private individuals are never given the authority to violate the privacy of citizens on the public highway, irrespective of whether or not they do so by order of the local authorities?

3. Is the Council prepared to ask the Commission to draw up guidelines to ensure that local authorities never allow private individuals, such as the hotel staff referred to above, to control who can use the public highway?

4. Does the Council realize that the proliferation of cameras operated and monitored by private individuals by order of local authorities is a serious violation of the privacy of European citizens and is the Council prepared to take all possible steps to call a halt to such practices by asking the Commission to draft guidelines on the matter?

Answer (20 January 1998)

It should be pointed out to the Honourable Member that the maintenance of law and order in the territory of the Member States of the European Union falls within the exclusive competence of the authorities of each of those States.

The Honourable Member will therefore appreciate that the Council is not empowered to adopt a position on a subject which does not come within the powers allocated to it under the Treaties.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3235/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (20 October 1997)

Subject: Funding for third countries from EU programmes intended for Member States

Although section III ('internal policies') of the financial perspectives is intended to support measures in the EU Member States, regulations are continually being adopted to provide funding for third countries from programmes intended to meet the needs of EU Member States. This is despite the fact that section IV ('third countries') is intended solely for countries outside the EU and is already providing generous funding for them.

Can the Commission give the reasons for this situation and will it consider ways of limiting the diversion of funds towards countries outside the EU from programmes designed to cover the Union's own major needs?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (1 December 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-3737/97 by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission (21 November 1997)

Subject: Méda-Democracy Programme

Would the Commission inform me of the state of progress in setting up the implementing rules for this Community programme.

It would seem that the subsidies for the projects selected during 1997 cannot be paid unless such rules have been determined beforehand.

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (9 December 1997)

As regards the rules for applying the MEDA programme for democracy, the Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's answer to written question E-1808/97 by Mr Titley ((OJ C 45, 10.2.1998, p. 105. )). Under the programme, some 62 measures were adopted for funding in 1996 and 32 others have been adopted so far in 1997.

The Commission has drawn up a proposal for a regulation ((OJ C 282, 18.9.1997. )) concerning financing for democracy and human rights. It is currently being examined by the Council and Parliament. If adopted, the regulation will strengthen the implementation of effective, coherent and visible measures by establishing flexible, transparent and swift procedures for taking financing decisions.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3534/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 November 1997)

Subject: Involvement of the Labour Bank in Social Fund programmes

In its Reply to Written Question P-3140/97 ((OJ C 102, 3.4.1998, p. 166. )), the Commission failed to indicate whether the Labour Bank is involved in Community programmes, in particular Social Fund education and training programmes for its staff. Can the Commission provide the information requested and, if the bank was involved in these programmes, indicate how many men and women participated over the last three years?

Finally, in its Reply the Commission indicated that, even if an infringement had occurred, since it had been committed by a private company, it did not justify direct intervention by the Commission. If this is the case, what are the Commission's procedures for intervention in the private sector (Labour Bank) in response to infringements of Community law in cases where the offender is involved in programmes funded by the European Union? In this case, is the private sector not obliged to respect the rules of the European Union, which is providing funding for its programmes?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (12 December 1997)

The Commission wishes to inform the Honourable Member that, in the framework of European social fund (ESF) programmes, the management of individual projects is under responsibility of the national administration in each Member State.

The Commission has asked the Greek ministry of Labour to supply the relevant information. According to the information transmitted, one training action was financed in 1995 for 28 people of the 'Labour Bank' managing staff, of whom 3 were women. The total cost was 20 400 000 Drs (approximately 60 000 ECU) and the ESF participation amounted 7 650 000 Drs (approximately 25 000 ECU).

There is no evidence of irregularities in the way this action has been implemented, or of infringement of Community law.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3399/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Council (28 October 1997)

Subject: Human rights in North Korea

As many as a million people have apparently starved to death in North Korea. The terrifying figure is thought to appear in a secret North Korean Communist Party document. What is certain in any event is that North Korean agriculture is in such extreme difficulties that children are suffering from severe malnutrition and are even being abandoned by the roadside. Farmers are so weak with hunger that they cannot satisfy their needs by cultivating the land.

According to current estimates, there is a shortage of between one and two million tonnes of food, yet the requests to the United Nations in April of this year spoke of just 200 000 tonnes. The reluctance to ask for sufficient international aid stems from the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's fear that the widespread presence of international agencies necessary to implement a massive food aid programme could undermine his leadership.

Beyond the political manoeuvring, however, North Korea remains trapped in a desperate plight. The country's civilian population has to make do with a daily intake of 750 to 1 000 calories, whereas 2 500 calories are required for a normal diet.

Will the Council therefore furnish an official report and appeal to the North Korean Government to remedy the serious crisis?

Answer (16 February 1998)

The European Union continues to be concerned about the food situation in North Korea. It has been difficult to assess the seriousness of this crisis, not least because the North Korean Government has not been transparent about it. But there are serious grounds to believe that the situation is bad. That is why the European Commission recently decided on an aid package worth 55 mecus (approximately USD 65 million). These funds are mostly distributed in close cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP). The Commission has also dispatched some independent field workers within the framework of the WFP and UNESCO programmes.