ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1984/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Council

(29 June 1998)

Subject: Destruction of the Parthenon ("Elgin") Marbles

On 7 June 1998 The Mail on Sunday carried an article stating that the Parthenon Marbles on display in the British Museum had been vandalized. In particular, the newspaper stated that the historian and classical Greek specialist, William St Clair, alleged in his book "Lord Elgin and The Marbles" that in 1938 the Marbles had been vandalized in an unprecedented fashion during work to remove surface colouring. Chemical substances and metal scrapers were used during this work to remove the colouring which was the result of over two thousand years of exposure to the elements while the Marbles were still in the sanctuary of the Acropolis before being seized by Lord Elgin. The misguided use of chemical substances and metal tools resulted in the destruction of 80 % of the surface of the Parthenon Marbles: the "conservationists" were endeavouring to "make them white", but in doing so damaged them beyond repair.

This destruction was kept secret all these years until the publication of the above article which shows the spurious nature of British claims that the Parthenon Marbles are being protected in the British Museum.

Will the Council give its official views on this whole affair, and say what action it intends to take to ensure the effective protection of the Parthenon Marbles which were illegally removed from their natural setting and which the British authorities are refusing - completely without justification - to return to Greece, even though the dangers to which they are exposed due to the irresponsible behaviour of the British Museum are very serious and well-documented?

Reply

(19 October 1998)

The specific question raised by the Honourable Member concerning the Parthenon Marbles does not fall within the Community's sphere of competence. Rather, it is a matter that could be addressed bilaterally by the Greek and United Kingdom authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2827/98

by Marie-Noëlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 1998)

Subject: Reduction of working time for European road haulage drivers

How much longer will it be before the Commission submits an amendment to Directive 93/104/EC(1) (the working time Directive) to improve the organization of working time for road haulage drivers in Europe, given that there is at present no European legislation to harmonise their working time and conditions at a more favourable level?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 1998)

The Commission is committed to making proposals on working time in respect of the sectors and activities excluded from Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time. These proposals will consist of horizontal and sectoral measures. Under the horizontal measures, the full provisions of the working time directive will be extended to all non-mobile workers and certain basic provisions in respect of working time will be made applicable to mobile workers. In addition, sector specific measures in respect of working time and rest periods will be introduced or modified.

This approach was clearly identified by the Commission's white paper on the excluded sectors(2) and confirmed in the second consultation document addressed to the social partners on 31 March 1998. In this regard, the Commission has always considered that the social partners should, if possible, jointly find acceptable solutions in matters which directly concern them, especially in respect of sector specific measures. In response to the Commission's initiative, social partners in several of the excluded sectors stepped up their efforts to reach agreement on working time.

While agreements have been signed by the European social partners in the maritime and rail sectors, the social partners in the road transport sector were regrettably unable to reach agreement before the extended deadline of 30 September, set by the Commission for social partners to present their negotiated proposals.

Therefore, in line with its clearly identified strategy, and as part of a package of proposals on working time in the excluded sectors, the Commission will now bring forward its own proposals for a single directive covering the working time of all mobile workers in road transport, that is the hire and reward and the own account sectors as well as independents. Where possible this proposal will draw on the points of convergence identified by the social partners during their negotiations.

(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993, p. 18.

(2) COM(97) 234.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2683/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Entry into force of the Europol Convention

The Presidency-in-Office is looking to Europol, once it has commenced its operations, to give a substantial fillip to the suppression of organised crime in particular. Europol is to play a central role in fighting cross-border crime. However, numerous questions have still to be answered before the Convention enters into force.

When is the Convention expected to enter into force?

When will the Europol organs finally be set up and able to start work?

What steps have been taken to date to meet the obligations to adopt the implementing measures referred to in Article 45(4) of the Europol Convention, and within what time-frame will further action be undertaken?

Reply

(22 October 1998)

The Convention on the establishment of a European Police Office (Europol Convention) has entered into force on 1 October 1998. The constituent meeting of the Europol Management Board was also held on that date. The other necessary appointments to its bodies (director, deputy director, financial controller, members of the budget committee) need to be made as rapidly as possible by the Management Board or by the Member States. The inaugural session of the Joint Supervisory Body is also planned for October.

To take decisions as fast as possible on the nine measures referred to in Article 45(4) of the Europol Convention and thus to ensure the earliest possible launch of Europol's activities is one of the Austrian Presidency's central priorities.

Regarding these nine measures, most of which have already been agreed provisionnally by the Council and then "frozen", the following may be stated:

- the procedures for taking decisions on the draft texts of the statute governing the rights and duties of liaison officers in relation to Europol, of the implementing provisions for analysis files, of the Europol Staff Regulations, of the security classification rules, of the financial regulation and of the headquarters agreement were initiated at the constituent meeting of the Management Board on 1 October 1998;

- the national ratification process for the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of Europol, the members of its organs, the deputy directors and employees of Europol, as well as the procedure for concluding the agreements between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the other Member States on the Privileges and Immunities of the liaison officers and their family members, are under way;

- the rules of procedure of the Europol Joint Supervisory Body is to be decided upon unanimously by the Joint Supervisory Body and subsequently approved by the Council.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2388/98

by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Religious freedom in Pakistan

Given the recent death sentence pronounced on Ayub Masih, is the Commission satisfied that religious freedom is adequately protected in Pakistan, and are steps being taken to monitor the situation of minority religious groups?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 1998)

Through its delegation in Islamabad, the Commission has followed the case of Ayub Masih very closely, and has expressed grave concern over the death of the bishop of Faisalabad.

The Commission participated in a fact-finding mission in Faisalabad and Sahiwal and met diocesan staff, the parents of Ayub Masih and local Christians.

On 14 May 1998, the Union Troika delivered a démarche on the blasphemy laws to the Pakistani minister of Law and expressed great disquiet over the existence of the death penalty for blasphemy, stressing the need to take appropriate measures to avoid abuses.

In conceptual terms, protection of religious freedom can coexist with a blasphemy law in the legislation. The problem resides in the way it is applied, possible abuses and the level of punishment foreseen in the legislation.

Although religious freedom is, at the moment guaranteed by the constitution in Pakistan, the minority religious groups fear that an Islamisation of the State could further restrict this freedom. Moreover, the existence of the death penalty for blasphemy can be used to threaten and intimidate minority groups.

The Commission attaches great importance to all aspects of human rights in Pakistan, and therefore to the protection of religious freedom. It will therefore continue to monitor closely the situation and participate in all actions aimed at improving human rights conditions in the country.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2104/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Exclusion of Ansaldo Acque from the construction of a sewage treatment plant in Athens

I have learnt that in May 1997 the Greek Ministry for environmental planning and public works (EYDE/AELMP) concluded in form and substance an international tender for the construction of a sewage treatment plant in Athens - stage 2 - for a budget of about ECU 150 000 000.

The first, feasibility, stage had already received Community funding in the form of a grant of a few million ecus.

I understand that various Italian groups that competed for the tender were excluded as early as the first round for purely formal reasons. Apparently at least one of the groups - Ansaldo Acque - has fully demonstrated that the reasons given were baseless and merely a pretext.

Now, one year later, EYDE has still not awarded the contract since appeals have been lodged with the competent Greek authorities about the technical assessment of the bids received and, as I understand it, the Community bodies responsible for the funding have not yet been involved.

1. Has what I have said changed in any way by the date of my question and, if so, how?

2. If there has been no change in procedure in the interim, are there not grounds for asking EYDE to call for tenders again with the assistance of Community organizations for reasons of competence and transparency?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 September 1998)

The Greek Ministry of Public Works put this public works contract, for the design and construction of a sewage treatment plant in Athens, up for competition in 1995 by restricted procedure, announcing that the contract would be awarded to the most economically advantageous tender.

The preselection phase for candidates having been completed on time, six preselected consortia submitted bids on 14 May 1997. According to the information in the Commission's possession, the technical aspects of the bids were evaluated by an assessment committee, which completed that task in June 1998. Some of the bidders lodged objections to the assessment, and these are currently being investigated by the national authorities.

The Commission has also received a complaint concerning the assessment, which it is in the process of investigating. At this stage in its examination of the case, the Commission considers that it is not in a position to ask the contracting authority to start a new call for tenders on the grounds mentioned by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2176/98

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Report on quality control of 2nd CSF projects

The report drawn up following the quality control of projects carried out under the second CSF concludes that nearly half of the regional development projects jointly funded by the EU are technically deficient and will have to be rectified or even redone because they were carried out on the basis of faulty studies or using sub-standard materials or do not comply with the stipulations of the contract.

The report states that sample quality controls of materials revealed that about 50 % of contractors had not complied with specifications. This applied to all materials except asphalt, for which the figure rose to around 70 %.

Is this information correct and what does the Commission intend to do to ensure that measures are taken at government level to compel the contractors responsible to carry out the necessary alterations or the entire project again in order to comply with their contractual obligations, wherever these have been breached?

Supplementary answer

given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question No P-2120/98 by Mr Trakatellis(1).

(1) OJ C 354, 19.11.1998, p. 131.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2224/98

by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Council

(16 July 1998)

Subject: Situation in Tibet; EU policy on Tibet

Tibet's political and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, visited Finland on 19 June, eliciting assessments as to what the EU might be able and willing to do to adopt a common policy on Tibet. This would be desirable, as it would make it possible to intervene effectively in the human rights situation in Tibet and for the EU, in common with others, to exert pressure on the negotiations between China and Tibet.

Does the Council have any plans for adopting a common EU policy on Tibet, and if so, what would its broad outlines be?

Reply

(22 October 1998)

As the Honourable Member is aware of, a mission to Tibet by the EU Troika Ambassadors to Peking took place between 1 and 10 May 1998. The report from the mission was published on 19 June.

At present, the Council is considering what steps to take as a result of the mission.

It will continue to make known to China its concerns relating to ethnic minorities, including in Tibet, within the bilateral dialogue on human rights.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2995/98

by Roberto Mezzaroma (PPE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Reform of the law on representation in the armed forces in Italy

On 21 July 1998, the defence committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved the text of a law aimed at reforming the system of representation in the armed forces.

The substance of the law reveals the lack of a political will to undertake an innovative reform of the system of representation in the armed forces so as to improve the conditions of military personnel.

The law has been met with complete indifference and has failed to prompt any critical reaction on the part of military personnel, indicating a serious and alarming lack of concern about the law's content.

For many years the fundamental rights of military personnel in the armed forces of European countries have been enjoyed wide-ranging and comprehensive protection under the law. In view of the fact that in 1985 and 1997 the European Parliament adopted a recommendation stating that military personnel should be allowed proper and effective representation, does the Commission not consider it necessary to make a specific recommendation, without encroaching on the autonomy of the Italian Parliament, that the new law, which is set to be approved by the Senate, should incorporate the constitutional right to the protection of the fundamental and inalienable rights of association and be brought into line with similar laws in other European countries as part of a unified defence policy in the WEU?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1998)

The right of association falls outside of the scope of Article 2 of the Agreement on social policy (Article 137 of the new Treaty). The issue of the right of association of the members of the armed forces falls exclusively within the competence of the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2415/98

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Leaking of a document concerning Turkey

On 9 July a "report" by the Commission representative in Ankara was leaked to the press. The contents of this report - which have not been denied - raise many questions about the policy the Commission should be pursuing and its objectivity in this instance. In this report Michael Lake who has already been transferred to Budapest underestimates and justifies Turkish aggressiveness towards a Member State, Greece, turns a blind eye to human rights violations in Turkey, seeks to persuade the Commission of the marginalization of Cyprus, inveighs against the European Parliament and boasts that he co-authored a speech given by the Turkish President Demirel.

Will the Commission give its views about the above (beyond the fact that the document has been leaked) and say how it intends to rein in the exaggerated and partisan zeal of its official?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 1998)

It is not unusual for departing heads of delegation to express their personal views in an informal report upon departure from a posting.

Mr Lake's report falls into this category and its contents do, therefore, not necessarily have to conform in all aspects with the positions of the Community.

These positions on the issues addressed in the report are well-known and there is no need to make further comment.

The responsible member of the Commission called recently the Greek Foreign minister Pangalos in order to ensure that there was no misunderstanding about the nature of the report.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2221/98

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission

(16 July 1998)

Subject: Employment plan for Spain

Having studied Spain's action plan for jobs, what does the Commission regard as its most innovative aspects with a view to creating jobs, increasing the activity rate or lowering the current rate of unemployment in Spain?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 1998)

In its communication to the Cardiff European Council(1), the Commission carried out a preliminary examination of the national action plans for employment (NAPs), in terms of their suitability as programming documents for implementing the strategy inspired by the 1998 employment guidelines(2).

From this point of view, the Commission concluded that the action plans submitted by Spain and France were "closest to the standards of transparency and articulation required in this exercise in terms of identification of the problem, quantification of the effort, resourcing and specification of the priorities, in particular as far as the EU-wide operational targets are concerned". The Commission added that "the NAPs of Member States such as Luxembourg, Ireland, Finland, Belgium and the UK, although less quantified, also reflect a considerable effort towards specificity".

A more in-depth examination of the respective national strategies introduced will be the subject of a joint report, to be submitted to the European Council in Vienna in December. In this joint report, the Commission and the Member States will examine in greater depth the details of each NAP and the translation of the commitments announced into specific measures.

At the Vienna European Council in December, therefore, it will be possible to draw up a more specific and better-founded opinion on the quality of Spain's action plan and the innovative measures it contains.

(1) COM(98) 316 final.

(2) Council Resolution of 15 December 1997 - OJ C 30, 28.1.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2556/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: The deteriorating situation in West Papua (now Indonesian province of Irian Jaya)

Is the Council fully informed about the situation in Irian Jaya (Indonesia), where seven persons have been killed by Indonesian forces since 1 July 1998 and scores of seriously wounded people taken to local hospitals in Biak and Sorong in particular, for no other reason than having demonstrated in favour of more autonomy and greater independence for their region?

Will the Commission ask the Indonesian government to clarify these acts of violence and report to the European Parliament?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 1998)

The Commission is, through reports from the Commission delegation to Indonesia, well aware of the unrest in Irian Jaya, which has resulted in the tragic loss of lives and many injuries.

Within the limits of its competences, the Commission will continue to raise the issues of human rights with the Indonesian government, in bilateral contacts as well as in international fora.

In addition, the Commission has recently taken the decision to support, together with the United Kingdom, a human rights workshop, scheduled to take place in Jakarta at the end of October 1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2503/98

by Yvan Blot (NI) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: The situation in Kosovo and protection of the cultural heritage

Members of the European Parliament recently received letters alerting them to the dangers of Kosovo's architectural and cultural heritage being destroyed in the event of conflict.

The writer of the letter, who also wrote to the Director-General of Unesco on behalf of the association he heads, believes that giving Kosovo's buildings, both Orthodox and Muslim, world heritage status could play an important part in preventing the situation from degenerating.

1. What is the Council's position on the granting of world heritage status to Kosovo's monuments?

2. If it is in favour of the granting of such status, does the Council intend making representations of any kind to Unesco?

Reply

(3 November 1998)

1. Article 128 of the Treaty establishing the European Community stipulates, inter alia, that:

"The Community and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of culture [...]."

Implementation of this provision requires submission of a proposal from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Since no such proposal concerning the question raised by the Honourable Member has been put to the Parliament and the Council, they cannot act officially in this context.

2. The Council is, however, aware of the threats to the architectural and cultural heritage in Kosovo. The question of the protection of sights and monuments of great cultural and/or religious value has been tackled on several occasions by the European Union in its proposals on the future status of Kosovo, in particular in the context of the Contact Group. The Council hopes that these representations will help towards a resolution of the present crisis and the safeguarding of Kosovo's architectural and cultural heritage.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2796/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Subject: Freedom of movement for journalists in Kosovo

The belligerents in Kosovo regularly hamper the work of journalists. Some have been struck, others shot at. A German TV crew was recently deported by the authorities. It was impossible for Yugoslav journalists to report on the recent visit by Commissioner Bonino to the area controlled by the Kosovo Liberation Army, UCK, because no one was able to guarantee their safety. During the Commissioner's visit, foreign journalists were kept away by the UCK, and two TV crews had their tapes seized.

Two days later, Djuro Slavuj, a reporter working for Radio Pristina, and his chauffeur, Ranko Perinic, were abducted in the same area. There is so far no trace of them. Djuro Slavuj, who used to work for Radio Dvor na Uni in Croatia, has lived in Kosovo as a refugee since 1995.

Will the Commission urge the parties to the conflict to make it possible for journalists to do their job without interference and develop instruments for monitoring this?

Will the Commission urge the Albanian leaders to arrange for the immediate release of Djuro Slavuj and his chauffeur Perinic, or for their bodies to be returned to their families immediately?