ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/929

(2004/C 84 E/1026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1011/04

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(1 April 2004)

Subject: Extremely grave human rights situation in Vietnam and Laos

On 10 February 2004, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the rights, priorities and recommendations of the European Union in respect of the 60th sitting of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (P5_TA-PROV(2004)0079). Parliament stressed the gravity of the situation in various countries, and called on the Commission and Council to raise various issues.

What initiatives has the Commission already taken, or will it take, within the framework of the 60th sitting of the UN Human Rights Committee, so as to ensure that the extremely serious situation of basic rights in Vietnam and Laos is adequately dealt with by the United Nations? In particular, has the Commission already submitted a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Laos and Vietnam to the Member States and the candidate countries? Does the Commission intend to coordinate possible EU initiatives concerning Vietnam and Laos with initiatives taken by other countries, particularly the USA, Japan, Australia and Canada?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The EU is one of the most active players in the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and undertakes responsibility for a wide range of country and thematic initiatives. The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) conclusions of 23 March 2004, provided an indication of the initiatives which will be addressed in 2004. Laos and Vietnam are not included in that list and the EU has not agreed to the pursuit of resolutions relating to those countries.

EU deliberations on CHR initiatives took full account of the Parliament's resolution relating to the 60th CHR. However, it is not possible for the EU to put forward draft resolutions on all situations of concern. In order to operate effectively in the CHR, it is crucial that the EU focus on securing support for a limited number of initiatives, not least through intensive lobbying efforts.

As an Observer Organisation at the CHR, the Community itself has delivered a statement under Item 19 relating to technical co-operation activities and is not in a position to table or pursue particular country or thematic resolutions.

Human rights issues of concern in Vietnam and Laos are regularly addressed within the political and human rights dialogues which the EU has established with these countries.
1.

The Commission fully shares the concerns of the Honourable Member on the problems caused by alcohol and especially by sales of ‘alcopops’ to young people. In the Commission's view, the alcohol industry bears a significant responsibility for the development, marketing and selling of their products. This especially concerns industry activities which target children and young people. At its meeting of 5 June 2001 the Council adopted the Council Recommendation 2001/458/EC on the Drinking of Alcohol by young people (2), in particular children and adolescents. As part of the Commission's preparation of its proposal for this document, several inquiries were made on the consumption of alcopops. The inquiries showed that there was a growing problem of drunkenness and binge drinking among teenagers and young adults in the Community. It was obvious that the consumption of alcopops by young people could neither be dealt with completely separately from the consumption of other alcohol beverages, or separately from the problems due to the inappropriate consumption of alcohol in society as a whole. Many studies have shown that the age of first drinking alcohol, and advanced drinking habits at a young age, are associated with increased risk of subsequent problem drinking.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/426

(2004/C 84 E/0496)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0535/04

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject: Recognition of disability status across the European Union

In the interests of promoting the free movement of persons with disabilities such as blindness, can the Commission advise on the current situation regarding the recognition of blindness and other disability certification from one Member State in other parts of the Community?

What steps are being taken towards harmonising criteria, certification and categorisation of disability to allow citizens moving between Member States to qualify for the same health and social welfare status across the EU without undergoing further testing?

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

The decision concerning the definition of disability as well as the modalities for assessment and certification (disability cards) are taken at national level. The situation is complicated by the fact that often several definitions exist at national level, depending in which context the definition is used. There is no general mutual recognition of certification/disability cards or a certain disability status entitling holders to the various concessions available in Member States other than the one that issued the card.

It should nevertheless be mentioned that for individual purposes (access to special services, reductions for travel or entry to cultural sites, etc.) a document issued in another Member State might be recognised. Moreover, through the voluntary system of blue parking cards initiated by the Commission, which gives entitlement to special parking concessions for those entitled under national rules, there is — in this particular case — general mutual recognition of the blue parking cards issued in one Member State and used in another.

The Commission has recently commissioned and published a study, ‘Definitions of Disability in Europe: A comparative Analysis’ (1), that will be presented for discussion to the Member States at one of the next meetings of the High Level Group Disability.

(1) The study can be downloaded from the following Website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/index/7002_en.html
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/506

(2004/C 88 E/0517)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0500/04

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Protecting the dignity of Arab women

The Saudi Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al Sheij's recent condemnation of the country's most powerful businesswoman, Lubna Al Olayan, for daring to make a speech to a male audience, without wearing a veil, has caused a stir in the EU media.

Al Olayan, who was attending an economic forum, was warned by the Grand Mufti of the serious consequences which her outrageous behaviour could entail.

In a world as inter-related as ours, where ceaseless efforts are being made on behalf of securing the acknowledgement of women's basic human dignity, on an absolutely equal footing with males, what is the Commission's reaction to this condemnation by the Grand Mufti?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2004)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's views on the importance of securing basic women's human rights and, in particular, the principle of equality and no discrimination all over the world.

As the Honourable Member is well aware, the situation of women in Saudi Arabia is of a particular nature. As the specific case of Ms Lubna Al Olayan shows, there is an important domestic debate about women's rights and their role in society currently taking place in the country. Press reports have certainly contributed to increasing European awareness of the issue and constituting hence, a positive development. The Commission believes it is important to continue monitoring closely domestic debates and incipient reforms taking place in Saudi Arabia, and some other countries in the area, so as to keep encouraging the universality and indivisibility of human rights, and in particular, women's rights. The Commission will continue doing so through the Delegation it has just opened in Riyadh.

In addition, the Commission is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with the Gulf Co-operation countries (GCC) that will include a human rights clause as an essential element and as a basis to encourage governments to ensure the promotion and respect of human rights. Furthermore, human rights are an essential component of the EU-GCC political dialogue, both at Ministerial and at Directors level. Within this context, EU concerns on the specific situation of women in the area have continually been raised. The Commission will not hesitate to raise this issue again at future occasions.
7.

As provided for in the EC Treaty, the European Court of Justice can be called upon to review the legality, ‘inter alia’, of acts of the Council or of the Commission, including therefore the legal instruments which the Commission is in the process of putting in place. Actions may be brought by a Member State, the Parliament, the Council or the Commission on grounds of lack of competence, infringement of an essential procedural requirement, infringement of the EC Treaty or of any rule of law relating to its application, or misuse of powers.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/877

(2004/C 84 E/0971)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0780/04

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Violation of religious freedom in the United Kingdom

In view of the following:

— Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

— Articles 10 and 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU;

— Article 6 of the EU Treaty;

— the International Religious Freedom Report for 2003 issued by the US Department of State;

and the fact that:

— the Unification Church has tried to have the ban on its leader, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, visiting the United Kingdom lifted;

— on 15 May the Reverend Moon was sent a letter telling him that he should not attempt to enter the country on the grounds that his ‘presence there would not be conducive to the public good for reasons of public order’.

Can the Commission say whether it is aware of these facts?

Whether it considers the actions described as an infringement of the fundamental rights guaranteed in Articles 10 and 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and that they therefore affect the essence of the rights, which are explicitly protected by Article 52 of the Charter?

Whether it also considers that these actions are contrary to Article 6 of the EU Treaty and therefore the principles common to all the Member States regarding respect for human and fundamental rights?

How it intends to dissuade the United Kingdom from carrying out such actions against religious freedom?

If it does not explicitly condemn these actions, on what legal principles it bases its attitude?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2004)

The matters raised by the Honourable Member have not been referred to the Commission.

With regard to the UK authorities' decision to refuse entry to the leader of the Unification Church, Mr Moon, the Commission would point out that, under the EC Treaty, each Member State is responsible for maintaining public order and ensuring internal security and may, on that basis, decide to refuse permission to third-country nationals to enter and stay in the country.

Furthermore, the Commission is empowered to intervene in respect of violations of fundamental rights, including religious freedom, only where such violations take place within the framework of Community law and its implementation, and on condition that Mr Moon is not a citizen of a Member State other than the United Kingdom.

Lastly, if an individual believes that his fundamental rights have been violated, he can institute proceedings in the European Court of Human Rights after exhausting all domestic legal remedies.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/920

(2004/C 78 E/0972)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0040/04

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Size of the Commission

Can the Commission provide information on the number of fonctionnaires employed by the Commission at the various grades (A, B, C, D, etc.)?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2004)

The Commission interprets the question from the Honourable Member as referring to officials in active employment (Staff Regulations Article 36).

The permanent staff employed by the Commission on 1 January 2004 was 18 603 officials. The breakdown of officials per category, as defined in the Staff Regulations, under all budget lines, was as follows:

Category Number A 6891 LA 1 670 Β 3712 C 5 722 D 608 Total 18603

Furthermore, the Commission informs the Honourable Member that, at the same date, the Commission employed 2 409 temporary agents.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/174

(2004/C 88 E/0182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0272/04

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(5 February 2004)

Subject: Timisoara international port

The dark shadow of speculation is beginning to be cast on the construction of Timisoara international port in Romania, a project aimed at making Romania the ‘gateway to the East’.

The choice of location, originally 150 ha of public land to the north of the city, which has already been approved by the EU, has been unexpectedly changed to a site covering only 30 ha, which could potentially be increased to only 70 ha, in an area south of the city, towards Serbia, a direction that would rule out the benefits brought by heavy vehicles. The original choice, which included the constraint that, in the event of the port not being built there, the land would automatically revert to agricultural use, clearly excludes any possibility of property speculation; the same cannot, however, be said of the current choice.

Does not the Commission intend, in view of the possibility that European funds might be granted to help carry out this project, to gain a better insight into the disturbing aspects of the choice of the new location of the Timisoara international port?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2004)

The Commission is aware of the project to build a multi-modal platform in Timisoara, but has not been asked to give its approval to any proposed location. Furthermore, since EU pre-accession funding has not been requested, the Commission does not intend to take a position on the issue of the location of this terminal.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/321

(2004/C 84 E/0369)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0156/04

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Commission's accounting systems

I understand that the Internal Audit Service, in a report entitled ‘IAS Review of the Commission's Accounting Framework — Final Report’ dated 15 April 2003, made a number of recommendations to the Commission regarding the accounting systems.

Has the Commission carried out an independent feasibility study on the re-engineering of the Commission processes and the ‘off-the-shelf’ software solutions available on the market?

Has the Commission made available a project manager and an independent external consultant?

Could the Commission guarantee that there now exists an integrated accounting system fully compliant with the Financial Regulations?
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/549

(2004/C 88 E/0559)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0899/04

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 March 2004)

Subject: Larger Member State representation on the ECB board

Will the Commission comment on recent allegations in the Financial Times (8 March 2004) which claim that Germany, Italy France and Spain are attempting to set a precedent for larger Member States to always have representation on the European Central Bank's six-member board? Could such a situation ever be allowed to occur? And if so, under what circumstances?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

The rules and the procedure for the appointment of the members of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB) are laid down in Article 112(2)(b) EC as well as in Article 11 (2) of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank. The decision is taken by common accord (i.e. unanimity without abstention) of the governments of the Member States at the level of Heads of State or Government. The decision is based on a recommendation from the Council, while both the European Parliament and the Governing Council of the ECB are consulted. It should be noted that only the Member States belonging to the euro area are entitled to take part in the relevant decisions of the Council and the Governments according to Article 122(4) of the EC Treaty.

The EC Treaty imposes two requirements for the selection of the members of the Executive Board. Firstly, they shall be appointed from among persons of recognised standing and professional experience in monetary and banking matters. Secondly, they shall be nationals of participating Member States. The members of the Executive Board moreover act in a personal capacity as opposed to acting as representatives of their country of origin. Any notion of representation of Member States would therefore not be in line with the rules and principles governing the appointment of the members of the Executive Board.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/636

(2004/C 84 E/0716)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0612/04

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 March 2004)

Subject: Support for Portuguese students studying for a master's degree

In Portugal and in other EU countries, the European master's degree in Social Sciences and Education is being developed under the heading of European social inclusion prospects.

This pioneering scheme, which involves seven universities from Portugal, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Hungary and Romania, is supported by the Socrates programme.

The way in which the modules are drawn up requires the mobility of students and teachers between the universities of the different countries, but without including specific subsidies for the students. De facto mobility is only guaranteed for teachers. But the fact is that the different circumstances obtaining in each country make it practically impossible for Portuguese students to take modules at other universities, where the master's degree is even free of charge, unlike Portugal, where it is extremely expensive, despite the difficult economic and social situation of most Portuguese families and indeed of the universities themselves.

Will the Commission inform me as to possible measures and supports for the mobility of students taking this master's degree, with specific reference to the situation in Portugal?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that Erasmus rules on mobility for students and teachers who undertake part of their studies abroad apply not only to degree courses but also to Master's courses.

The Honourable Member refers to the circumstances of Portuguese students studying for a Master's degree organised by several European universities, including a university in Portugal. In this case we need to know whether the university in question is an Erasmus Charter institution, a status conferred on universities which fulfil the conditions for participating in the Socrates/Erasmus programme. If it is, these students should be eligible for an Erasmus grant to undertake part of their studies abroad.

In order to be able to give a more precise answer concerning this case, the Commission would need further information on the universities concerned, and perhaps the title and number of the project.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/195

(2004/C 84 E/0237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0299/04

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 February 2004)

Subject: Compact disc pricing in the EU

It has come to my attention that compact discs ordered for delivery in the UK and Ireland will incur a surcharge as companies will only be able to deliver compact discs manufactured within the EU, thus increasing the production costs.

Could the Commission confirm that all compact discs sold and delivered in the UK and Ireland will have to be manufactured in Europe? If so, what are the regulations governing this change in law?

If this is true, does the Commission agree it is against EU competition rules?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2004)

The Commission is not aware of any provision that would require that all compact discs sold and delivered in the United Kingdom and Ireland would have to be manufactured in Europe. More information is needed to take a position on the applicability of the Community competition rules.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/411

(2004/C 84 E/0479)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0710/04

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 March 2004)

Subject: EU notices of vacancy for English mother-tongue candidates

A number of technical agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private companies, all of them partially or totally financed by the Commission, have published notices of more than 700 vacant posts in Europe, reserved exclusively for candidates who are ‘English mother-tongue’ or ‘native English speakers’ (www.lingvo.org/eo/2/15).

The notices do not state that people with ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ command of English are being sought, but explicitly and exclusively native English speakers.

Can the Commission confirm the existence of such practices and, if so, does it not consider that they constitute an example of discrimination contrary to the provisions of the Treaties?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-0475/04, E-0538/04 and E-0710/04

given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(21 April 2004)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to its joint answer to Written Questions E-0046/04 and E-0086/04 by Mr Dhaene and others (1).

(1) See page 302.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/667

(2004/C 84 E/0753)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0737/04

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Student participation in the Erasmus programme

Has the Commission drawn up any precise statistics concerning the number of European university students who have benefited from the Erasmus programme in the period since it was set up? Has it produced a breakdown by Member State and by region? If so, what are the figures involved?

Has the Commission any specific data relating to the Valencia region which could enable a comparison to be made with other regions?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2004)

The Commission is pleased to inform the Honourable Member that a range of statistics on Erasmus mobility, including a breakdown by Member State, is available on the Web site of the Directorate-General for Education and Culture. The Internet address is as follows: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/erasmus/staten.html).

As far as a breakdown of the statistics by region is concerned, there exists a more detailed database, which is available in all the national Socrates/Erasmus agencies.

Consequently, as far as Valencia is concerned, the Commission suggests that the Honourable Member contact the Spanish national agency at the following address: