ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3083/01

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 October 2001)

Subject: European safety standards and protective measures for nuclear power stations

What steps has the Commission taken hitherto to draft common European safety standards for nuclear power stations which would apply in all the Member States of the European Union?

Can the Commission imagine that uniform legally binding safety standards might be adopted, despite the fact that the Member States use different technologies?

When will the Commission be in a position to submit a Green Paper which might be used as a basis for a discussion about common European safety standards and protective measures for nuclear power stations?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2001)

The competencies of the Union in the Nuclear field are laid down in the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom Treaty), whose Chapter 3 (Title II) deals with health and safety.

In this context, regulations, directives and guidance related to the area of radiological protection have been developed with the aim of protection against possible health detriments resulting from exposure to ionising radiation.

The responsibility to grant licenses and regulate the siting, design, construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear installations rests with Member States and in particular within their Nuclear Regulatory Authorities, while respecting any requirements resulting from Euratom and other International Convention and Treaties. Member States have different regulatory regimes and legislative framework and as a result regulatory procedures vary from State to State, often as a consequence of the differing reactor technology and administrative framework employed by the Member State.

However, it is important to recall that in June 2001 the Council issued a report(1) on nuclear safety in the context of the enlargement. This report has been drafted by experts of the Nuclear Regulatory Authorities of the Member States, with the participation of the Commission. It develops a European perspective to evaluate nuclear safety in candidate states. As a result of this evaluation, a series of recommendations were addressed to candidate states in order for them to reach a high level of nuclear safety.

Within the context of the Council, a peer review mechanism is to be launched in 2002 to monitor the implementation of these recommendations. The whole process clearly demonstrates that the Community is able to elaborate a common approach on nuclear safety in spite of the different design and technologies used in nuclear industries.

(1) COM(2001) 568 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3127/01

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 November 2001)

Subject: Strength of radio transmissions

Europe has been a pioneer in the field of wireless data communication. However, it has now proved to be the case that the operation of, for example, Internet networks based on wireless radio technology and in particular the maximisation of data transmission distances are being restricted by the European Radiocommunications Committee's (ERC) decision ERC/DEC/(01)07, whereby the highest permitted radio transmission amplitude is considerably lower than for Europe's international competitors. Especially in the EU's sparsely populated areas the amplitude limit is hampering the opportunities to develop wireless data communication.

Why is the maximum transmission amplitude for low frequencies (below 6 MHz) just 100 mW in Europe, whereas the corresponding limit in the United States is 4 W? On what grounds can such a big difference in the permitted maximum amplitude be justified? Why are low frequencies (generally 2,4 MHz and 5 MHz elsewhere in the world) not commercially exploited at all in the EU?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2002)

The Honourable Member addresses wireless data communication applications which operate in so-called licence exempt band.

A decision based on the Commission proposal for a Parliament and Council regulatory framework for radio spectrum policy is precisely about to enter into force after the Parliament's second reading on 12 December 2001. This decision will enable to assess, at Community level, the use of radio spectrum where required for Community policies, to harmonise such use in the Community, in particular through mandates to the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), and to make such harmonisation legally binding upon Member States. The question raised by the Honourable Member shows the urgent need to put in place such type of mechanism.

The situation in the licence exempt bands, which are used by many systems besides data communications systems, is very complex and would require a detailed analysis. Furthermore, comparing regulations applicable in Europe or recommendations by the CEPT with regulations applicable in other countries such as the United States would need to take into account the legacy of usage of these bands which may differ considerably.

A complete assessment of the situation is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3270/01

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 November 2001)

Subject: Nawab Khair Baksh Marri

Will the Commission use its influence with the Government of Pakistan to grant permission for the 80-year-old Nawab Khair Baksh Marri to leave the country in order to receive urgent specialist medical attention, while recognising that the Nawab has been released from solitary confinement?

The Nawab's illness has been exacerbated by his period of confinement, and in the interests of his health and peace in Balochistan this would be a significant gesture.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2002)

Mr Khair Baksh Marri has been active in provincial politics in Balochistan since the 1970s. He was arrested on 11 January 2000 and charged with the murder of a Balochistan High Court judge. He has now been released.

According to information obtained through the Delegation of the Commission in Islamabad, Mr Khair Baksh Marri has been seeking to leave Pakistan for Europe on medical grounds. While the Commission is not aware of the Pakistan government's grounds for refusing Mr Khair Baksh permission to leave Pakistan, its Delegation will raise the case with the Union's Human Rights Working Group in Islamabad.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2725/01

by Niels Busk (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 October 2001)

Subject: Food aid to Russia

According to the Court of Auditors' Special Report(1) large proportions of food aid were paid over to the Russian Federation rather than to those in genuine need as originally planned. This has caused disruption to trade with Russia.

What stage has been reached in the work of assessment and what does the Commission intend to do to avoid similar disturbances of the market in future aid operations?

(1) OJ C 25, 25.1.2001.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

The Commission has given a comprehensive response to the findings detailed in the report referred to by the Honourable Member. This response, which is published as an annex to the European Court of Auditor's Special Report(1), addresses the concerns raised in the Honourable Member's question.

In particular the Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to paragraphs 48, 50, 51 and 52 dealing with trade disruption, paragraph 53 which addresses the issue of programme targeting and to paragraphs 56 to 61 in the Conclusion. There is little evidence of disruption to trade and local markets. Independent evaluators did point out the positive impact of the programme on the food chain. The constitution of the counterpart funds from the sale of the food aid delivery did aid the clearance of Russian pension arrears and contributed to the significant increase in basic pensions. Food aid to Russia has been designed in accordance with international guidelines and has been implemented in close co-operation with Russian authorities and other donor programmes.

In regard to work assessment this Programme is not yet finalised despite the fact that the physical delivery of 1,67 million tonnes of product was completed by end March 2000. The Community-Russia Joint Working Group, set up to oversee implementation, continues to meet monthly until all arrears to the Special Account have been cleared and final disbursements from this account are made. As of 3 October 2001 the arrears total was 576 million Russian Rubles (RUR) representing about 8 % of the total value of Programme product sold. As mandated by Council (Council Regulation (EC) No 2802/98 of 17 December 1998 on a programme to supply agricultural products to the Russian Federation(2), article 4) an independent evaluation has been completed. An independent audit is on going and the final audit report is expected in spring 2002.

In the context of future food aid operations, the Commission will take account of the valuable experience gained with this particular programme and the recommendations detailed in the independent evaluators report. Necessarily, the Commission does take particular care to avoid market disruption, both within the Community and at beneficiary level, with all large-scale food aid operations. In the case of the Russian Federation, the Commission has no plans at present to propose further food aid operations.

(1) OJ C 25, 25.1.2001.

(2) OJ L 349, 24.12.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3445/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(21 December 2001)

Subject: The communal woodlands of Galicia and their reclamation following the destruction caused by stone quarrying

Has the Galician government submitted projects for the reclamation of the communal woodlands of Galicia following the destruction caused by stone quarrying (outstanding parts of the buildings of the Council and the European Parliament in Brussels are made of white or pink Porrinho granite from Galicia), to be granted European Union support for the period 2000-2006? Can these plans be made public?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-3442/01 and E-3445/01given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2002)

In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(1), the selection of individual projects to be co-financed within each programme under the Structural Funds is the exclusive preserve of Member States. The Commission therefore contacted the Spanish authorities to obtain the information requested by the Honourable Member.

In relation to the Natura 2000 network, it is the Member States who are competent for proposing sites to be included in the network. On the basis of the criteria set out in Annex II to Council Directive 92/43/EEC(2) (hereafter Habitats Directive) and relevant scientific information, each Member State must propose a list of sites indicating which natural habitat types in Annex I to the Habitats Directive and which species in Annex II to the Habitats Directive are present in the site.

Spain has so far classified 68 sites as proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCI) within the region of Galicia. This classification is the result of the Xunta of Galicia proposal. This proposal identified 60 sites of Community interest for the Atlantic bio-geographical region (with an area of 301 661,50 hectares) and eight sites of Community interest (with an area of 173 789 hectares) for the Mediterranean bio-geographical region.

The Commission does not have any information on whether all these sites are classified as montes comunales according to the Spanish legislation.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3471/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(4 January 2002)

Subject: Alternative methods of evaluating acute toxicity

The MEIC (Multicenter Evaluation of In Vitro Cytotoxicity) research programme has examined over sixty of the most promising alternative methods of evaluating the acute toxicity of chemical substances and has compared the data obtained from human exposure, by animal testing and by means of alternative methods.

The results appear to demonstrate that a series of three human cell tests can provide a more accurate assessment of the acute toxicity of chemical substances and, consequently, a safer and faster means of protecting public health, than the corresponding animal tests currently practised.

This being so:

1. Is the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods aware of this series of studies?

2. Has the study and validation procedure required for official recognition of the relevant alternative methods begun, or is it due to begin?

3. If not, what does the Commission intend to do to ensure that awareness of these new methods does not continue to be restricted to a few groups of specialists?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2002)

The European Centre for the validation of alternative methods (ECVAM) is fully aware of the Multi-center evaluation of in vitro cytotoxicity (MEIC) research programme. The Head of ECVAM laboratory Unit participated in the programme.

ECVAM was also involved in the international workshop on in vitro methods for assessing acute systemic toxicity, organised by the United States Interagency Co-ordinating Committee on the validation of alternative methods (ICCVAM), and held in Arlington, Virginia, United States, on 16-20 October 2000. The MEIC programme was one of the main focuses of attention at this workshop.

One of the main recommendations of the ICCVAM workshop was that there should be a validation study on the use of in vitro cytotoxicity assays for predicting rodent oral lethal doses and human lethal concentrations, since the MEIC programme was not designed to represent a formal validation study conducted according to currently-accepted international criteria.

This study is now being planned as an ICCVAM/ECVAM collaborative project, which will involve the testing of 60 coded chemicals in two assays, in three or four laboratories in the United States and in Europe. It is expected that the results will be available by the end of 2002.

In vitro methods for predicting basal cytotoxicity have been widely used in many parts of the world for several years, and have already contributed to a reduction in the need for animal experimentation. However, the purpose of the ICCVAM/ECVAM study is to provide independent advice on their formal use for regulatory purposes, initially to predict starting doses for mandatory in vivo testing, in order to reduce animal suffering and to reduce the number of animals required. The longer term aim is to do away with the use of animals.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3182/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: Landfill on the island of Gozo (Malta)

On the island of Gozo, off the major island of Malta, there is a landfill which has not been built according to basic specifications and which is detrimental to the environment and to the health of the people living on the island. This landfill lies in the locality of Xaghra, between the town of Marsalforn and Ramla Bay. The specific name of the area is Il Qortin. The landfill has now grown to the size of approximately one square kilometre and has reached a height of around 40 metres.

In view of the fact that this landfill is only a few metres away from inhabited residences and very close to the sea and also because all types of waste toxic and non-toxic are being dumped in this area, what action is the Commission taking with the authorities in Malta to protect the health of the inhabitants of the island of Gozo?

It must be noted that because of combustion of the waste in the landfill, the fumes are polluting the air and entering residents' homes.

What help does the Commission consider giving the Maltese Government to shut down the landfill, since this practice of depositing waste actually impinges on the fundamental rights of the Gozitan and Maltese residents?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

The Commission has financed in 2000 a study, for a total cost of 92,000, for the design of an overall waste management strategy for Malta. This study was finalized in May 2001 and has been published by the Maltese authorities. Following public discussions, Malta adopted the strategy and is designing a waste management plan for its implementation.

This plan is developed along three lines of actions:

- the management of municipal and toxic waste;

- the management of construction and demolition waste;

- the closure, remediation, restoration, landscaping and after-care of the existing landfill sites including the Qortin landfill in Gozo.

The Maltese government is working, with the help of consultants, on the drafting of technical specifications so as to be able to launch tenders by the end of the year, in order to contract specialized companies to implement the decided actions.

Besides that, the Commission has agreed to finance a pre-accession project in 2002 for the strengthening of the Maltese administrative capacity in environment. This project, for a total cost of 1,4 million, will, among other actions, provide a substantial support to strengthen the newly created Waste Management Services Agency and allow it to attribute the contracts and monitor their implementation in the best possible way.

The Commission is monitoring closely the developments in this area.

Future discussions concerning the implementation of the Community's acquis in the waste field will include examination of how the orientations of the waste strategy are being translated into reality and in particular how and which funds will be secured to ensure closure, remediation, restoration, landscaping and after-care of the existing landfills.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3302/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Lack of support for rape-seed oil

The Community fails to support rape-seed oil but promotes olive oil. Farmers in Spain receive more than double the support received by Swedish rape-seed growers per cultivated hectare. Moreover, Spanish growers receive thousands of pounds in support for the marketing of olive oil whereas rape-seed growers do not receive a single penny for marketing.

Rape-seed growers regard their crop as environment-friendly. In Spain, in Andalusia for instance, olive groves are reportedly destroying the environment. As growers are paid for the finished oil, more and more olive trees are being planted. That in turn puts pressure on ground water resources. Subsidies for olive growing in southern Europe are a significant single item in the EU budget (the Economist puts it at 2,5 % of the budget).

Much needs to be done to resolve numerous problems in this sector. One principle, however, is important on the free internal market now being created equivalent goods must be given equivalent treatment.

What does the Commission intend to do to put rape-seed oil and olive oil on an equal footing on the internal market?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

According to the Honourable Member, subsidy arrangements discriminate against the production of rapeseed oil to the benefit of olive oil.

It can be difficult, and even dangerous, to make comparisons between two products that differ so widely. Rapeseed is an annual crop, with a wide range of substitutes (other oilseeds and arable crops); olive trees, on the other hand, are perennial, producing a crop in alternate years. No income at all is generated for producers in the first four or five years after planting.

One way of comparing support levels for the two crops would be to compare Community aid by area cultivated. While the total area under rapeseed in the Community is 2,8 million hectares, the area planted with olive-trees is 5,7 million hectares. The level of support per hectare can be calculated on the basis of total aid granted for that area. This gives a figure of 415 per hectare paid to olive-growers for the marketing year 1999/2000, and a figure of 567 to 733 per hectare to the producers of oilseeds in the principal rapeseed-producing regions for the same period, with an average of 408 per hectare for Sweden, where the yield is lower.

It should also be borne in mind that olive-growing is mainly located in less-favoured areas where other crops, and in particular arable crops, cannot be grown. The Honourable Member draws attention to the environmental problem in certain olive-growing regions and we should not underestimate this aspect of intensive cropping; the Commission is studying the fundamentals of this matter, with a view to remedying the problem in a forthcoming reform. However, environmentally damaging practices are the exception rather than the rule for the immense majority of producers and regions. Indeed, in most cases olive-growing is beneficial to the environment and to rural development.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3661/01

by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Council

(9 January 2002)

Subject: Derogatory comments made at the Laeken European Council

According to Reuters, the following exchange took place at the Laeken European Council:

Berlusconi: Parma is synonymous with good cuisine. The Finns don't even know what prosciutto is. I cannot accept this.

Schüssel: I am not satisfied. We got nothing.

Persson: This is no easy task. We had the problem during the Swedish presidency at Gothenburg. But it's strange that the IT agency should go to Spain.

Verhofstadt: The gastronomic attraction of a region is no argument for the allocation of an EU agency.

Chirac: How would it be if Sweden got an agency for training models, since you have such pretty women?

Berlusconi: I already accepted the (European arrest) warrant. My final word is (shouts) No!

Schröder: I love Parma, but you'll never get it if you argue like that.

Chirac: Lille is also a candidate. It lies in the heart of the (EU) political landscape.

Schüssel: The (EU) observatory on racism (in Vienna) has only 19 civil servants. Others have thousands.

Verhofstadt: That's it. (Closes summit).

Can the Council confirm that this exchange took place?

According to the Laeken Declaration, the European project also derives its legitimacy from democratic, transparent and efficient institutions. In the light of events at Laeken, does the Council consider the European Council to be such an institution?

Will the Council recommend to the European Council that it should apologise to Europe's citizens for its conduct?

Reply

(18 March 2002)

The Honourable Member will be aware that it is not for the Council to comment on the discussions during, or the outcome of, meetings of the European Council. A fortiori it is not its custom to comment on media reports purporting to give an account of the positions taken by Heads of State or Government on any particular issue under discussion. The Council would finally make the general point that the transparency of the outcome of the European Council's deliberations is ensured through the publication of the Presidency's conclusions from the meeting.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3208/01

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) and Elizabeth Montfort (NI) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Right to life

At the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) congress held in Rome, the former president of FIGO, the Finn Markku Seppälä, said that life begins at conception.

In the light of this statement, does the Commission intend to submit a proposal for a directive seeking to ensure that the national laws of the Member States show due respect for the principle of the right to life?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2002)

The European Union has no legislative powers in the matter and the Commission is accordingly not planning to propose a directive.