ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2438/01

by Kathalijne Buitenweg (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 September 2001)

Subject: Consequences of the opening-up of marriage to same-sex partners in the Netherlands

The law on civil marriage for same-sex partners came into force in the Netherlands on 1 April 2001.

Is the Commission aware that this was not an April fool's joke and can it give an assurance that, since this law came into effect, European officials who marry a person of the same-sex under this law are automatically entitled to the benefits applying to married staff?

Can the Commission say whether it has already made sure that, in all Member States in which European Union bodies are established and where European officials may therefore go and work, those who have married a person of the same sex under Dutch law will be able to obtain the residence permits they require without any problem?

Will it also make sure that this also applies to same-sex partners from a non-EU country?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2001)

The Commission has reflected on how to take account of the law modifying the Netherlands Civil Code to recognise marriage between same sex couples. Following consultations within its services, the Commission has given instructions that the marriage of an official recognised under the amended Dutch Civil Code should be treated in the same way as any other marriage recognised in a Member State.

The Commission has also invited the Parliament and the other Institutions to take similar action in relation to their officials.

The Commission obviously has no power to impose the recognition of such marriages, or related residence permits, on a Member State and that is the reality whether partners originate from a Member State or from elsewhere.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2432/01

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 September 2001)

Subject: Shootings in Algeria

In the light of recent shootings of civilians in Algeria, what steps can the Commission take within the terms of the EU Algeria Association Agreement to ensure that Algeria gives a higher priority to human rights and indeed conforms to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2001)

The negotiations on an Association Agreement between Algeria and the EU are still in progress. Clauses providing that respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, must underpin the parties' domestic and international policies will form an essential element of the agreement. These provisions will be the subject of a regular political dialogue to be instituted at various levels, including the ministerial level, in the framework of the Association Council.

In the meantime, an ad hoc political dialogue is already in progress with Algeria. The next ministerial-level meeting of this dialogue is scheduled to take place in Brussels in mid-November 2001. This dialogue, in which the Commission takes part, will enable the EU to discuss the political situation in Algeria and respect for human rights and civil liberties, with particular reference to the violent treatment of demonstrators in Kabylie and the resurgence of terrorism.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2001/01

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 July 2001)

Subject: Distribution of pharmaceutical products in the Third World

Reports have recently appeared in the media to the effect that almost 50 % of pharmaceutical products sent to the Third World are counterfeit or are in a very poor condition.

The reports mention two studies carried out in Nigeria and South-east Asia and coordinated by Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University. According to the studies' findings, 48 % of the pharmaceutical products intended to combat malaria, bacteria and tuberculosis have levels of active ingredients which are either higher or lower than the recommended levels.

The pharmaceutical products analysed in Nigeria come from 12 different countries.

An earlier report by the World Health Organisation found that the quality of 31 % of pharmaceutical products imported into Burma and Vietnam and 46 % of pharmaceutical products produced locally were substandard.

Has the Commission any information regarding these statistics? If so, what action is being taken in the European Union in order to prevent substandard pharmaceutical products from being exported to third-world countries?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2001)

The Commission is aware that the quality of pharmaceutical products on the market in many countries remains a major public health concern and recognises that even if pharmaceutical products are available, weak regulation may mean that they are substandard or counterfeit. Irrational use of pharmaceutical products and globalisation of the pharmaceutical industry are also bringing other safety issues to the fore.

In this regard, it has to be highlighted that all proprietary medicinal products manufactured and used in the Community or manufactured and imported from third countries are subject to tight regulations before marketing authorisations can be delivered. Provisions are laid down in Community directives(1) and guarantee the quality and safety of products. These regulations also apply to medicines exported to third countries.

The Commission's recent Communication on accelerated action on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), malaria and tuberculosis in the context of poverty reduction(2), also stipulates that the Community will support the development of local production capacity in developing countries and the strengthening of pharmaceutical policy and practice through national and regional co-operation, capacity building and financial and technical assistance. Particular efforts will inter alia be made to improve quality assurance, distribution and optimal use of pharmaceuticals.

The development worldwide of norms, standards and guidelines to promote quality assurance and quality control for the key pharmaceuticals and medicines is an integral part of World Health Organisation's Constitution and mandate.

(1) Second Council Directive 75/319/EEC OJ L 147, 9.6.1975, p. 13.

(2) COM(2001) 96 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1973/01

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 July 2001)

Subject: Kashmir

Given the recent Indian Government offer of talks with Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, what initiatives will the European Union be taking to ensure that this opportunity is fully realised?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2001)

The Union has extensive relations with India. These were further enhanced when both sides met for the first Summit in Lisbon in June 2000, and are expected to receive an additional boost at the second Summit in November 2001 in Delhi. Regular constructive meetings take place at all levels, from expert groups to Foreign Ministers.

Pakistan has been under military rule since 12 October 1999. While the Union does not want to return to business as usual under given circumstances, it would like to engage Pakistan in a constructive dialogue and avoid further isolation. Ad hoc political Troika talks were held in Islamabad on 20-21 November 2000. More recently on 26-27 June 2001, Pakistan and the Commission held working Groups covering development, trade and economic co-operation.

Full use is made of these contacts to raise all issues of common concern, among which Kashmir is high on the agenda. Furthermore, EU Heads of Mission in New Delhi regularly visit Kashmir under an extended Troika format to assess the situation, in particular with regard to respect for human rights. The Union consistently points out the necessity of finding a peaceful solution of the conflict and stresses that dialogue is the only way forward.

The Union thus sincerely welcomes the recent invitation by Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee to General Musharraf to visit India for talks, as well as the positive Pakistani response. On 29 May 2001 a declaration was issued stating the Union support of this encouraging event.

Union involvement in the resolution of the problem is only appropriate and possible if both India and Pakistan request it. This is currently not the case.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2474/01

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 September 2001)

Subject: Aircraft for the Commission

According to rumours published in the press in June this year by the Sun newspaper and taken up by Il Foglio in Italy, the Commission was seeking to hire two luxury jet aircraft.

Can the Commission say whether these reports are true and, if so, what essential operational requirements led it to take this decision and how much it cost the European taxpayer?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2001)

The Commission must regretfully deny the reports referred to by the Honourable Member, despite the fact that these appeared in prestigious European newspapers.

In fact the Commission badly needs more permanent access to aircraft of the sort, size and level of comfort used by ministers of the Member States on a daily basis for their own official duties. This is particularly true given that the duties of many Commissioners and the President of the Commission are often more onerous and involve a higher level of contacts abroad than those of a national minister.

At the start of its term of office the Commission insisted on applying extremely strict rules on the use of private aircraft, responding in a responsible way to the sensitive state of public opinion following the tumultuous events of that period. The rules and the way they are applied were set out in the Commission's reply to written question E-2135/01 by Mr Heaton-Harris(1), to which the Honourable Member is referred.

The Commission will continue to monitor application of these rules to ascertain whether they are still effective and compatible with its role and the tasks it has to perform.

(1) OJ C 40 E, 14.2.2002, p. 196.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1612/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 June 2001)

Subject: Funding of EU campaigns in Malta

What does the Commission plan to do to persuade the citizens of Malta that Malta's membership of the EU is a desirable aim? The Commission has reportedly dispatched staff to Malta to conduct a pro-EU campaign there.

Will the Commission say what financial and human resources have been set aside for this year and future years for EU information in Malta?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1610/01, E-1611/01, E-1612/01 and E-1613/01given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2001)

It is for the Maltese authorities to adopt a position on Maltese becoming an official language; this matter will be dealt with at the end of the negotiations under the institutions chapter. Any candidate country wanting its national language to become an official language of the European Union is under the obligation to translate the acquis communautaire into that language, using its own resources. In that case the Commission can give technical assistance to help these countries set up the framework needed to carry out the work. Without prejudging its final position on the matter, Malta has informed the Commission that it has started translating the acquis communautaire into Maltese.

To date the EU has not given any grants to the European Movement in Malta, nor has it any plans to finance or otherwise back this Movement.

The aim of the Commission is not to try to convince the Maltese people of the advantages of EU membership. The Commission considers that it is for the Maltese people to decide on the issue. To help them do so the Commission adopted in May 2000 a communication strategy on enlargement which includes Malta along with the other applicant countries.

The strategy has three aims:

- to improve the understanding of the EU;

- to explain the implications of membership;

- to explain the link between preparing for accession and making progress in the negotiations.

With this strategy, the Commission aims to give ongoing objective information to the Maltese people and to the citizens of other applicant countries. The Commission is thereby responding to a demand from Maltese civil society and Maltese citizens who want to be correctly informed in order to make the right decision on the question of EU membership. EUR 1 million will be available until 2004, of which EUR 200 000 will be spent this year and EUR 300 000 in 2002.

To date one Local Technical Assistance Staff (ALAT) member has been recruited at the EU delegation in Malta and another is due to be taken on. This extra staff will be mainly concerned with managing the pre-accession aid package (EUR 38 million for 2000-2004) and monitoring Malta's progress in implementing the acquis communautaire.

Negotiations on the environment have just started with Malta and at this stage the Commission is not in a position to prejudge their outcome.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3169/01

by Sergio Berlato (UEN) to the Commission

(19 November 2001)

Subject: Unfair competition in the European aquaculture sector

While production costs in the aquaculture sector are very similar around the European Union (and especially in certain Member States such as France, Spain, Greece and Italy), many companies in Greece are selling their products (in particular, sea bass and bream) at prices which are unquestionably lower than the production costs, thereby placing the sector in serious difficulty in various other EU Member States.

The reasons for this marketing policy, which can surely be defined as unfair competition, would seem to be the following:

- 30 % of medium-sized companies in Greece are apparently heading towards bankruptcy and are therefore marketing their products at any price for the sake of bringing in cash, in the hope of being able to see the crisis out;

- a number of medium-sized companies have apparently laid down the rules for obtaining a listing on the stock market under which they must show that their turnover is on the increase; representatives of the companies quoted on the stock market have themselves admitted that accounts were touched up in recent years to show substantial profits and thus improve their stock market position; however, these measures have now proved counterproductive, with the result that the same companies are having to find ways of increasing their turnover in order to balance their accounts.

In view of the above, will the Commission ascertain whether urgent action is needed to remedy the serious damage which the commercial policies of Greek companies are causing this sector in all EU Member States, and particularly in Italy?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2001)

The Commission is aware that the average market prices for farmed sea bass and sea bream fell appreciably during 2001 in all Member States which are significant producers and consumers of these species.

The Commission held discussions on this topic with representatives of Community aquaculture producers who consider that the price drop was due to a number of factors, including the financial difficulties of certain companies. Strategies that can be regarded, however, as seeking deliberately to distort conditions of competition were not observed.

The Commission notes that many improvements could still be made to Community sea bass and sea bream producers' commercial organisation. In these discussions, therefore, it called upon the producers to establish structures which are better tailored to modern marketing requirements.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2710/01

by Rolf Linkohr (PSE) to the Commission

(3 October 2001)

Subject: Net import requirement for cereals

According to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) estimates, the net import requirement for cereals will rise to almost 200 million tonnes world-wide in 2015, and is even expected to climb to 270 million tonnes in 2030. Consequently, the European Union is likely to increase its net exports fourfold over the next 30 years, to more than 60 million tonnes.

1. Does the Commission agree with these estimates?

2. Can the European Union produce such a quantity of cereals at world market prices?

3. Does this not contradict the policy of growing more renewable raw materials instead of cereals?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2001)

1. The Commission is aware of the FAO projection for production, consumption and trade in agricultural products in the Technical Interim Report entitled Agriculture: Towards 2015-2030 of April 2000.

As the report itself makes clear, it is difficult to express an opinion on the scientific reliability of a projection so far into the future. The figures for net requirements in developing countries in the year 2030 do not seem exaggerated when account is taken of the trends in production and consumption on which those projections are based. The figures were calculated using trade growth rates that are lower than those recorded in the past.

2. The study would not appear to refer directly to the level of net trade of the countries of Europe but confines itself to the overall requirements of developing countries that are met by the traditional exporting industrialised countries. The only figures quoted come from other sources (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the University of Bonn); they do not relate to the Community of Fifteen but factor in an economic recovery in the countries of eastern Europe where production has declined in the wake of the transition from planned to market economies.

3. The policy of growing non-food crops on land withdrawn from cereal production reflects in particular the current balance between production and potential outlets for cereals. The obligation to withdraw land from production depends on the development of production, productivity and the markets.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3253/01

by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission

(16 November 2001)

Subject: Roma activist Rudko Kawczynski

Is the Commission aware of the intention of the German authorities to imprison the Roma activist Rudko Kawczynski on 19 November 2001 for having taken part in a human rights demonstration in 1990?

Is the Commission prepared to urge the German authorities not to proceed with this arrest?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2001)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the Member States have primary responsibility and jurisdiction as regards both enforcement and judicial matters.

Consequently, there is no provision in the Treaties establishing the Union and the European Community which allows the Commission to intervene to prevent a Member State arresting an individual on its territory.

According to the information available, the case raised by the Honourable Member does not fall within the scope of Community law. It is not, therefore, for the Commission to adopt a position on the substance of this case.

However, it should be remembered that, if the person in question considers that his fundamental rights have been infringed, he may bring an action in the national courts and, once he has exhausted his means of redress there, he can lodge an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights if he feels there has been a breach of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2859/01

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: The slaughter of children and young people in Honduras

Is the Commission aware that more than 900 children and young people many of them homeless have been murdered in cold blood in Honduras in the past two and a half years? According to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial and summary executions who was in Honduras in August of this year, invited by Casa Alianza, an outspoken defender of street children in Central America, many of the murders are in fact committed by the police and other State actors. Impunity is considered to be a major factor in the continuance of these killings. What action is the Commission going to take, bearing in mind that a recent project for street children funded by the EU was recently closed?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-2858/01 and E-2859/01given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2001)

The Commission is well aware of the current wave of violence in Honduras affecting all sections of the population, including children and street children, 66 of whom died between January and August this year.

UN Special Rapporteur Asma Jahangir went to Honduras at the Government's request. She found that the security forces were involved in some cases but only as individuals and not acting as a body. One of the Rapporteur's major concerns is the lack of effort on the part of the security forces to resolve these crimes.

The Commission shares her concerns. It is also worried that this violence seems to be getting worse despite the political will displayed by Honduras in seeking to contain it.

The UN Rapporteur puts the wave of violence down to the weakness of the country's institutions, to poverty and to a lack of education, a view shared by the Commission.

The Commission's development strategy towards Honduras takes these problems into account. 42 % of the funds earmarked for technical and financial assistance to Honduras for the period 2000-2006 are for education and strengthening the rule of law, not to mention specific projects such as cofinancing with NGOs.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2781/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: New security measures at airports

The tragic spread of terrorism has prompted the adoption of new measures to ensure security at airports. These include preventing passengers from going through security controls with nail scissors, penknives or any sharp objects and taking them on flights.

1. Is the Commission aware that airport shops in departure lounges display nail scissors, penknives etc., which can be purchased freely and taken on board?

2. Does the Commission intend to take any action on this subject?

3. Does the Commission consider that this omission is due to yet another example of lack of communication on the part of those responsible for security measures?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 2001)

The Commission unreservedly condemns such practices and indeed has recommended that the sale of such dangerous objects should be stopped.

The Commission on 10 October 2001 proposed the adoption and enforcement of common Community security rules for civil aviation by means of a Parliament and Council Regulation(1). The incorporation of these rules into Community law will enable them to be applied in an effective manner and this process will be subject to continuous control.

The common rules will be based on the rules set out in Document 30 of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and will aim at increased control of both international and domestic flights.

They will chiefly be concerned with:

- control of access to sensitive areas of airports and aircraft;

- control of passengers and their hand luggage;

- control and monitoring of hold luggage;

- control of cargo and mail;

- training of ground staff;

- definition of specifications for the equipment for the above controls;

- classification of weapons and other items which it is prohibited to bring on to aircraft or into the sensitive areas of airports.

The issue is currently a matter for national aviation security authorities. The Commission has been informed that national authorities have acted to prohibit the sale of such objects beyond the security control check points.

(1) COM(2001) 575 final.