ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0344/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Reorganisation of the DG for Energy and Transport

In view of the merging of the Directorates-General for Transport and Energy into a single DG and the reduced importance of the energy sector, in particular the new energy technologies repeatedly supported by Parliament, can the Commission say what proportion of the staff of the new Directorate-General will deal specifically with energy, and of these how many will be devoted to renewable energy?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2000)

Following the merger of the Directorates general for energy and transport 142 officials of categories A, B and C deal specifically with energy (of whom 26 officials deal specifically and exclusively with renewable energy sources) and 189 officials of categories A, B and C deal specifically with transport.

Moreover, approximately 200 officials are dealing with important horizontal tasks on energy and transport, including internal market issues, international co-operation, environmental protection, information, communication and dissemination of technologies, as well as Trans-European networks. Because of the integrated approach to energy and transport issues, it is not possible to specify the exact breakdown between energy and transport for these officials.

It should be noted however, that a significant number of officials working in horizontal directorates have important tasks related to renewable energy policy and technology promotion, for example with regard to environmental protection and dissemination of innovative technologies. In total, therefore, promotion of renewable energy has been strengthened in the new organisation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1135/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority

The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety.

The field of activities of the Authority covers the entire food chain, including both food safety and food-related matters. The Authority will be given its own budget in urgent cases and will maintain contacts with the scientific committees and the Commission (section 45 ff).

Increasing the size of the scientific secretariat to support scientific advisory activities is needed to improved both the quality and the rapidity of scientific advice. A separate budget for ad hoc research will make for greater flexibility. Furthermore, the composition of the Authority's staff is crucial.

1. What budget does the Commission propose for the Food Authority?

2. What are the criteria for the recruitment of staff? How many staff will the Food Authority have (at all levels)?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1121/00, E-1124/00, E-1126/00, E-1129/00, E-1130/00, E-1131/00, E-1132/00, E-1135/00, E-1136/00, E-1137/00, E-1138/00 and E-1139/00 given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2000)

In the White Paper on Food Safety(1), the Commission set out the general guidelines it intends to adopt concerning the future establishment of the European Food Authority and invited all the parties concerned to respond and contribute to the discussion during the consultation period. Regarding many of the points raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission is unable to finalise its proposals or fix the details of operational mechanisms until it has had an opportunity to consider the opinions expressed during the consultation procedure.

However, with regard to the question of responsibilities, the White Paper states that risk assessment, the gathering of data and providing information to consumers in areas for which the Authority is responsible should be a matter for that Authority. For legal reasons and reasons of democratic responsibility, the Commission believes that, under the current framework, the transfer of regulatory powers to an independent authority cannot be justified. However, any future extension of the Authority's powers would have to be considered in the light of the Commission's assessment of the Authority's performance and the degree of confidence that it has generated without ruling out a possible need to amend the Treaty.

(1) COM(1999) 719 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0573/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council. Council staff.



Official Journal 330 E , 21/11/2000 P. 0188 - 0188



WRITTEN QUESTION E-0573/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council (2 March 2000) Subject: Council staff Will the Council please indicate the number of its staff in post, including all services such as interpretation and translation, in each of the last five years? Reply (2 May 2000) The Honourable Member will find attached a table showing the number of staff in post in the Council General Secretariat over the last five years. >TABLE>
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0829/00

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 March 2000)

Subject: Field margin regulations leading to environmental damage

More than 50 % of the field margins in my constituency (the South West of England) are over two metres. The Commission and the Court of Auditors have recently instructed MAFF

to reduce the amount of subsidies given to farmers whose field margins are over two metres. If farmers in the south-west do not wish to lose an average of £ 969 per year, they will have to plough right up to, and possibly cut back, their hedges. This will damage wildlife and remove land vital for preventing soil erosion on steep fields. It will run counter to the environmental goals adopted by the EU.

The UK has asked the Commission to increase the set-aside margin to three metres for the UK. In the interests of promoting environmental conservation, will the Commission agree to rethink its approach, at least in the case of farmers who have traditionally maintained wide field margins?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2000)

The situation to which the Honourable Member refers is not new. The recommendations concerning the maximum width of field borders have existed since 1994 and have since been applied throughout the Community.

The Commission is of the opinion that the question of whether and to what extent areas planted with hedgerows can be considered as part of agricultural parcels eligible for arable areas support, needs to be clarified by means of a regulation. Obviously, such an amendment to Community legislation will not enter into force sufficiently early to apply to support for the 2000 harvest. Therefore, for this year, the Commission has suggested to the authorities of United Kingdom, that the practice concerning the rules on area measurement employed in previous years be maintained, as laid down in paragraph 2 of the Commission Working Document VI/8388/94 a copy of which is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0688/00

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Council

(13 March 2000)

Subject: Possible amendment of Article 105(6) of the EC Treaty

Article 105(6) of the EC Treaty stipulates that the Council may confer upon the ECB specific tasks concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions and other financial institutions with the exception of insurance undertakings.

However, the large European market in financial services being established calls for global prudential supervision, particularly following the countless mergers or acquisitions, not to mention the acquisition of cross holdings, among banks, insurance undertakings, investment funds and other professionals in the financial sector. Several EU Member States have already introduced single national prudential supervision for the financial sector as a whole, including insurance undertakings, or are in the process of doing so.

Would it not be wise to take the opportunity offered by the intergovernmental conference to propose that Article 105(6) be amended so as to provide the legal basis necessary to enable the Council to confer upon the ECB certain specific tasks, including those relating to prudential supervision of insurance undertakings?

Reply

(18 May 2000)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that, in accordance with Article 48 (former Article N) of the Treaty on European Union, it is for the participants in the Intergovernmental Conference, that is to say the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, to adopt by common accord the amendments to be made to the those Treaties. In the case of institutional amendments in the monetary area, the Council of the European Central Bank is also consulted.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1349/00

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Compulsory metrication of British weights and measures (loose goods)

On 1 January 2000, the UK government introduced legislation purporting to make it illegal for British traders to sell to British customers in traditional, imperial, weights and measures, such as pounds, ounces, feet, inches, pints and gallons.

While it appears that the British Government specifically allowed British traders to sell in British weights and measures under the Weights and Measures Act 1985, the government now insists that it must obey the European Union by implementing a 1989 directive that all sales in the United Kingdom should be carried out in metric units.

Recent public opinion surveys in Britain have shown opposition to compulsory metrication, with over 90 % of British customers strongly opposing the purchase of loose items in kilograms, metres etc.

The European Union frequently boasts that it is in favour of cultural diversity in its publications.

There is a huge resistance campaign in Britain to these measures with tens of thousands of traders openly defying the government's metrication regulations. The reason for the resistance is that British people see no good reason to give up their traditional weights and measures which have many advantages over the metric system.

The Commission is asked:

1. What are the procedures for reversing the 1989 directive, or any other directives dealing with compulsory metrication, in the light of the manifest wish of the majority of people not to go metric?

2. Does the European Union in fact insist that the British Government should completely metrify the sales of loose goods, or does the British Government have any option, according to the European Union, to delay the implementation of these measures?

3. Does the European Union approve of criminal penalties for those British traders selling in British, imperial measures, in order to achieve compulsory metrication?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2000)

1. Amendment of Council Directive 89/617/EEC of 27 November 1989 amending Directive 80/181/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement(1) would require a new directive.

2. The Commission has received no representations from the British Government proposing any reversal of metrication policy.

3. The enforcement mechanisms to ensure implementation of the United Kingdom legislation putting the Directive into effect are of course a matter for the British authorities.

(1) OJ L 357, 7.12.1989.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/00

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

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Request that the ECB change the system of weekly auctions

Some Spanish banks have called for changes to be made to the mechanisms of the ECB's monetary policy, such as the weekly repo auctions, because they penalise Spanish financial institutions.

The banks would also like to see the weekly fixed-rate auctions replaced by variable-rate auctions, so as to eliminate the incentive for over-bidding.

Does the Commission feel it should propose that account be taken of the request of the Spanish banking institutions by satisfying their wish for official announcements to be made concerning bids submitted previously?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2000)

The question of the Honourable Member concerns the way in which the European system of central banks (ESCB) implements the monetary policy of the euro zone. This is one of the basic tasks of the ESCB listed in Article 105 of the EC Treaty. The Commission is not competent in the matter.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1364/00

by Marielle De Sarnez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Lifelong training

Given that continuing training and access to new technologies have been declared a priority so as to enable every citizen to work in the information and knowledge society, does the Commission intend to introduce a Community programme to promote lifelong training?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

Lifelong learning is already being promoted through a number of Community programmes and actions. Following the European Year of Lifelong Learning in 1996, lifelong learning has become a more articulated aspect in the new phase of the Community programmes for education (Socrates), vocational training (Leonardo da Vinci) and youth policy (Youth).

The Commission is currently preparing two new initiatives directly linked to lifelong learning, namely a communication on e-learning in order to provide digital literacy and wide access to learning for all citizens, and a communication on Lifelong learning for active citizenship in a Europe of Knowledge. The latter aims to provide impetus to the European process for implementing lifelong learning, particularly following the Lisbon conclusions, to summarise achievements made in developing lifelong learning at Member States and Community level to develop a conceptual framework identifying challenges and points for action and to propose recommendations for action in terms of objectives, benchmarks or guidelines underpinned by indicators and information.

In addition lifelong learning is funded by the European Social Fund, objective 3. Innovative approaches to lifelong learning are also funded under the Community initiative EQUAL. Lifelong learning is also being promoted through the European employment guidelines (the Luxembourg process) according to which the Member States, in partnership with the social partners, will develop lifelong learning based on a broad definition and followed up by concrete targets.

Promoting lifelong learning is also considered through the 3rd, 4th and 5th framework programme research programmes, notably under the DELTA Research and technological development (RTD) programme on learning technologies, the telematics applications for education and training and within the Information society technologies (IST) programme area

addressing education and training applications. The call for proposals in February 2000 specifically addressed the learning citizen and associated new technologies, approaches, methods and services to facilitate motivation for and access to lifelong learning to the population at large.

Following the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council on 23-24 March 2000, the Commission's proposed action plan for the eEurope initiative includes two explicit objectives to address Preparing youth for the Digital Age and Working in the knowledge-based economy.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0895/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Subject: Assessment of the dioxin crisis in Belgium

The dioxin crisis in Belgium once again demonstrated how vulnerable the food chain, and checks on it, are. An assessment such as that made by the Dioxin Committee of the Chamber of Representatives can help to eliminate problems. Both the European Union and the fifteen Member States have an important role to play in this.

The Members of Parliament repeatedly call for clear, complete guidelines on the responsible use of animal waste.

Are the existing guidelines clear and complete enough to ensure that animal waste is used responsibly?

(a) If so, on what grounds does the Commission unlike the Dioxin Committee consider that the guidelines on the responsible use of animal waste are clear and complete?

(b) If not, will the Commission draft proposals for establishing a clear and complete system for the responsible use of animal waste?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 2000)

The Commission shares the view of the dioxin committee of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives on the issue of animal waste.

The possible exclusion of certain animal waste from the feed chain has been discussed for some time at political, technical and scientific level. In the light of these discussions, it is considered appropriate to prohibit the recycling of high-risk animal waste into the feed chain.

To this end, a proposal for a Council and Parliament regulation establishing new rules for the disposal and the processing of animal waste is in preparation. Its submission to the Council and to the Parliament is scheduled for June 2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0303/00

by Hartmut Nassauer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 February 2000)

Subject: European Union accession negotiations with the Czech Republic

At the 1993 Copenhagen Summit the European Council confirmed its determination to ensure that all people are protected against infringements of fundamental rights and freedoms. The European Council referred amongst other things to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention contains a requirement to abolish discriminatory laws and regulations.

How does the Commission view the fact that, in spite of the above, the Benesch decrees (dating from 1945 and 1946) and the amnesty law (1946) are still valid in the Czech Republic, although they are explicitly directed against individual ethnic groups?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0293/00, E-0294/00, E-0295/00, E-0296/00, E-0297/00, E-0298/00, E-0299/00, E-0300/00, E-0301/00, E-0302/00, E-0303/00 and E-0398/00 given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2000)

The accession negotiations with the Czech Republic concern principally its acceptance of and alignment with the acquis of the European Union and its ability to satisfy the conditions for membership established by the European Council. As a Member State, the Czech Republic will have to adopt and implement all areas of Community legislation and policy, including the principles of free movement of people and freedom of establishment. The issue raised by the Honourable Member has to be seen foremost in that context, but obviously also the political criteria of Copenhagen play a role given the fact that they contain the protection of the human rights and the protection of the rights of minorities. The Commission is closely monitoring developments on these matters in all the candidate countries.

It is, however, important to notice that the issue put forward in these questions relates to events which took place before the entry into force of the EC Treaty. The so-called Benesch decrees will therefore play no role in the accession negotiations. Moreover, Article 295 (ex-Article 222) EC Treaty states that the Treaty shall in no way prejudice the rules in the Member States governing the system of property ownership. The Commission is thus not in a position to intervene in questions relating to restitution of property in a current or future Member State.

However, the Czech Republic has been a party to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights (ECHR) since 1992. The implementation of the ECHR is the responsibility of the Council of Europe. Questions concerning issues arising under this convention should therefore be best addressed to the Council of Europe.

The Commission would furthermore refer the Honourable Member to the relevant provisions of the Czech-German declaration adopted on 21 January 1997 on mutual relations.

It is for the several reasons mentioned above, that the Commission finds it difficult to take a position on the specific cases raised by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1087/00

by Carmen Fraga Estévez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 April 2000)

Subject: Problems peculiar to the Italian canning industry

According to the findings of the recent study of needs as regards supplies of tuna loins from Community industry, the difficulties encountered by the industry in being competitive are confined to structural problems relating to cost structure in certain Italian undertakings.

In view of these facts, what led the Commission to believe that the answer to a structural problem affecting certain undertakings might lie in the indiscriminate trade measures it advocated in its proposal for a regulation on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, which would reduce the competitiveness of the remainder of Community industry?

Does it agree with the findings of the study?

Does it intend to take any structural action to assist in the restructuring of the aforementioned undertakings and enhance their competitiveness?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2000)

The Commission does not agree with the Honourable Member's assertion that the Community tuna industry is uncompetitive solely because a number of Italian firms face structural difficulties. The Honourable Member is invited to reread closely the study which the Commission asked to be drawn up on this matter and which highlights the fact that all Community firms in this sector are, or may potentially be, structurally weak.

It is clear that the firms themselves are primarily responsible for taking structural measures, which constitute the only means of restoring their long-term competitiveness. For its part, the Commission is prepared to support such measures as fall within Member States' structural programmes for fisheries. In the meantime, short-term measures such as the Council's annual opening, since 1997, of a tariff quota for tuna loins can go some way towards helping the Community's canned tuna industry. In 1997, for example, Spain and Italy respectively used up 56 % and 44 % of the tuna loin quota.

As already indicated in its answer to Written Questions E-756/00 to E-761/00 by Mr Varela Suanzes-Carpegna(1), the Commission is largely able to endorse the study's content as a sound analysis of the circumstances, challenges and strategic options facing the sector as a whole.

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, p.104.