ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0184/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Failure of Greece to comply with Community legislation

According to the 1998 annual report on the harmonisation of the national legislation of the Member States with Community legislation, Greece appears to have failed to comply with Community legislation in 241 cases. Will the Commission say, in respect of the situation in 1999, in how many instances Greece failed to comply with Community legislation, what these cases were and what progress Greece has made as regards the 241 cases of non-compliance in 1998?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 2000)

The Commission's annual report on the application of Community law lists all the proceedings initiated by it against Member States under Article 226 (formerly 169) of the EC Treaty, either in reponse to a complaint or on its own initiative, for failure to comply with Community law. As at 31 December 1998, there were 241 infringement proceedings under way against Greece. As at 31 December 1999, the number had risen to 259.

For further information on the nature of the infringements detected in the case of Greece in 1999, the Honourable Member is referred to the 17th annual report, which is currently being drawn up and will be sent to Parliament during the coming weeks.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0005/00

by Nicole Thomas-Mauro (UEN) to the Council

(14 January 2000)

Subject: Situation in Sudan

While the international community, the European Union and its Member States quite rightly express their anger at the difficult circumstances faced by various peoples around the world, amidst widespread indifference the Christian minority in southern Sudan is being subjected to unacceptable persecution by the government authorities.

The latter are implementing a policy of forced Islamisation, causing the Christians to flee en masse. They are misappropriating humanitarian aid and carrying out murder, torture and the abduction of women and children to be sold as slaves or prostitutes.

Could the Council state what measures it has taken or intends to take in response to this intolerable situation? Could it not encourage the Member States to take at the same time strong measures to persuade the Sudanese authorities to respect human dignity, religious freedom and human rights in general?

Reply

(10/11 April 2000)

The Council agrees with the Honourable Member that the human rights situation in Sudan is worrying. The European Union raised the human rights situation in Sudan at the 55th session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and in the Third Committee convened at the 54th session of the UN General Assembly, and has called on the Sudanese Government to improve the situation on the ground and to cooperate fully with the UN mechanisms, while recognising that some progress has been achieved in the course of the year.

In parallel, the EU engaged last year in a dialogue with the Government of Sudan which centres on the peace process, on reforms based on democracy and the rule of law, on the respect of human rights, on policies against terrorism and on Sudan's relations with its neighbours with the aim of improving the

situation in all of these areas. This dialogue has just begun and it is therefore too early to draw conclusions, all the more so in the light of recent developments with regard to Sudan's internal situation (dissolution of the Parliament on 12 December 1999 and formation of a new Government) as well as the positive move to normalisation of its bilateral relations with its neighbours, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Uganda. The Council is, of course, fully aware that positive developments at this stage do not necessarily secure the respect of human rights throughout this largest country on the African continent.

The Council will continue to monitor the situation in Sudan very closely and to contribute, within its possibilities, to an improvement of the human rights situation in this country.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0470/00

by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Programmes, Community projects and European initiatives in the Île-de-France region

Can the Commission draw up an exhaustive list of the various European programmes and projects or Community initiatives of which the Île-de-France region is a beneficiary indicating to what extent by virtue of its associate status?

Can it also give a full list of European programmes and initiatives organised for the various bodies situated in the Île-de-France region, that is to say research centres, associations, universities, municipalities and other bodies organisations, indicating to what extent each of them benefit?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0469/00 and E-0470/00 given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0148/00

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 January 2000)

Subject: Croatia's accession to the WTO

In view of the recent election of a progressive new government in Croatia, could the Commission explain why Croatia's accesison to the WTO has been stalled for several months due to objections from the European Union? What action is being taken to ensure that Croatia accedes to the WTO as soon as possible, in line with the EU's wider policy towards the Balkans?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 2000)

The Commission is committed to a rapid conclusion of the negotiations on the accession of Croatia to the World trade organization (WTO). The political changes that are taking place in Croatia make it possible to follow a new path in bilateral relations. However, as this new path is one of closer integration with the Union this integration should not be made more difficult for both the Community and Croatia by the latter's terms of accession to the WTO. Negotiations with the interested parties continue and will be intensified in the weeks to come to reach soon a satisfactory conclusion.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0177/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Making low-cost health insurance subject to free competition

1. Can the Commission confirm the accuracy of the announcement by the Council for Public Health and Care (RVZ) in the Netherlands to the effect that the Medical Insurance (Access) Act (WTZ) may no longer provide for a low-cost 'standard package policy' for people over the age of 65, which every private insurer is obliged to offer?

2. Can the Commission also confirm that the MOOZ, the solidarity levy paid by all privately insured persons to compensate health insurance funds with a large number of elderly insured persons for their low premiums and high costs, is no longer authorised by the European Union?

3. Does the Commission realise that, if the answers to questions 1 and 2 are yes, hundreds of thousands of individual insured persons on low incomes will find themselves in difficulty?

4. Can the Commission also confirm that it is considering other measures which would, if implemented, lead to a sharp increase in public-sector expenditure on health care, for instance the obligation to conclude contracts with a larger number of health care providers and agreements on health care costs and cover?

5. What action does the Commission intend to take to prevent health care in the Netherlands from becoming subordinate to considerations of free competition, in particular when the result of free competition is to increase individual and public-sector expenditure on the existing health care package unnecessarily?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2000)

It is for each Member State to organise its social security system (including health systems) as it wishes, and to determine the conditions for entitlement to benefits under those systems, providing of course that they do so in accordance with Community law. There are Community provisions on the co-ordination of social security systems removing obstacles to the free movement of people within the Community and provisions on discrimination between men and women in social security.

However, the Commission is not aware of the specific announcement described by the Honourable Member, nor of any Community measures with the characteristics described. The Commission will therefore seek further information from the Dutch authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0456/00

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Answer to Written Question E-1877/99: structural policy labour market

With reference to the answer to Written Question E-1877/99(1) given on 20 December 1999, I would put the following additional questions:

1. On what data was the answer to point 5 based (information on Austria)?

2. Which national authority collects the data on the labour market in connection with the funding provided by the EU Structural Funds?

3. Are the 2 100 new jobs created in Burgenland, a region coming under Objective l, short-term, medium-term or long-term?

4. How many of the 2 100 new jobs are full-time and how many part-time?

5. What criteria or definitions does the Commission use to distinguish between short-term, medium-term and long-term jobs?

6. In which sectors or branches of the economy were these new jobs created?

7. On what studies, statistics or other evidence is the Commission basing its statement that 5 800 jobs have been saved by the use of funding from the Structural Funds in the Objective 1 region of Burgenland?

8. How can the Commission prove that these jobs would have been lost but for the use of funding from the EU Structural Funds?

(1) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 78.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0391/00

by Maurizio Turco (TDI) to the Commission

(8 February 2000)

Subject: Utilisation of Structural Funds in Italy 1994/1999

Recent statements by the Italian Court of Auditors have reopened the vexed question of the proper use of the Structural Funds in Italy.

According to the information available to the Court, Italy is still seriously behind in the implementation of the 1994-1999 programme.

Are reports to that effect accurate?

Could the Commission provide, as soon as possible, the most recent data at its disposal concerning commitments and payments by region and by objective?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 February 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0412/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(9 February 2000)

Subject: Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union

Does the Commission not consider that it should clarify, as a matter of urgency, how and according to what timetable and criteria it applies and will continue to apply Articles 6 and 7 of the TEU, in order to prevent political abuse of the provisions of the Treaty and unwarranted interference in the political life of certain Member States which have nothing to do with actual documented violations of human rights in other Member States?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2000)

Article 6 of the European Union Treaty sets out the principles on which the Union is founded and does not require any implementing measure on the part of the Community.

The criteria for triggering the mechanism provided for in Article 7(1) of the European Union Treaty are laid down in that Article, namely when the existence of a serious and persistent breach by a Member State of principles mentioned in Article 6(1) has been determined.

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that its role in this procedure cannot be compared to its role in the traditional infringement procedure.

Finally, in the Commission's view the nature of the assessment required to trigger the procedure provided for in Article 7 is not compatible with the laying down in advance of precise procedures and criteria.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0647/00

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2000)

Subject: The artificial lake Lago di Lacina in Calabria

Auditors in southern Italy have ascertained that the artificial lake Lago di Lacina, which appears on many maps of Calabria, does not exist. Furthermore, in 1999 it was discovered that there are 120 hospitals in southern Italy on which building work has never been completed and which have never treated any patients. One of these hospitals is even supposed to have been used by the Mafia to hide weapons. There are also roads which end in the middle of nowhere and factories which have never started production.

Have these projects received funding from the European Union? If so, what kind of funding and how much did they receive? Is it possible to demand repayment of the funding?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 2000)

As far as the Commission knows, no Community contribution has ever been paid towards the Lacina reservoir.

As for the other projects cited by the Honourable Member, the details in the question are not sufficient to be able to identify them and confirm whether they have benefited from Community funds or not, or if any irregularities have occurred in their implementation.

The Commission is willing to help the Honourable Member further if he can supply more precise information.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0175/00

by Olivier Duhamel (PSE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: European award

When the recent storms devastated part of Western Europe, hundreds of Europeans, civilians and military personnel, came from their countries to the disaster area to offer their skills and energies in an attempt to repair what could be repaired and help the stricken inhabitants.

In the light of these exemplary acts of solidarity, the European Union and the Commission in particular might think fit to establish a European award in the form of, say, a European order of merit to confer distinction on citizens or groups of citizens who had worked in one way or another to strengthen cohesion among the peoples of the Union countries or embody European public-spiritedness.

Could the Commission, or more specifically its President, say whether it would consider it admissible to institute such an award for courage and solidarity in the service of the Union and, if the award were deemed acceptable, could it swiftly determine how it might be brought into being?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2000)

Although the Commission understands and shares the Honourable Member's concern, it feels that such action does not fall within its jurisdiction.

However, it could be considered when the time comes for the Union to look in depth at the question of civil protection at European level.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0522/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 February 2000)

Subject: Procedure followed by Poste Italiane SpA for the award of contracts for mail delivery services

Does the Commission intend to take steps to check the regularity of the procedures for the award of contracts followed by Poste Italiane SpA, the Italian postal services provider, with particular reference to the priority mail service?

Last year the agreement with the Italian state railways on the distribution of freight by rail was discontinued. Can the Commission state whether the new transport service providers were chosen on the basis of a regular call for tenders in line with the procedures laid down by Community legislation?

The strategy of integrating environmental policies into other Community policies is a priority for the European Union, as established in the Treaty of Amsterdam. The European Union has undertaken to reduce CO2 emissions, as required by the Kyoto Convention.

Does the Commission consider that, wherever possible and providing the same standards of efficiency are assured, preference should be given to rail rather than road transport?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 2000)

The Commission has no knowledge of any alleged infringements of Community procurement law that would allow it to approach the Italian authorities in order to check the regularity of procedures for the award of contracts mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Commission would therefore be particularly grateful if the Honourable Member could forward any information she has on the subject. The Commission will launch an investigation on the basis of this information to assess whether any infringements of Community law on public contracts have occurred, and to take any necessary measures laid down in the EC Treaty in order to ensure that the procedure in question complies with Community law on public contracts.

Current Commission policy in the rail sector aims to give rail transport a competitive position in the transport market by creating a framework which will allow it to compete on equal terms with other modes of transport.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0225/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(28 January 2000)

Subject: European Working Groups

The European Parliament has no power of scrutiny over the European Working Groups. Indeed little is know of them even in national parliaments.

Will the Council supply a list of all Working Groups formed, together with their statement of purpose; designated level and department of national representation; and brief statement of subject matter presently under discussion?

Reply

(8 June 2000)

The Council attaches the greatest importance to openness and transparency in the European Union's decision-making process. It underlines that the European Working Groups to which the Honourable Member refers must not be confused with the committees set up to assist the European Commission within the general framework of the Decision on Committee Procedure of 28 June 1999.

Bearing this in mind, the Council would inform the Honourable Member that, as part of the reforms to ensure an effective Council for an enlarged Union, it has recently streamlined and reduced the number of its preparatory bodies, which are now established in an official list. That list specifies the committees and working parties directly involved in preparing work for Council meetings and will be implemented gradually. It will be updated to take account of any changes. The work of all such preparatory bodies is of course subordinate to, and scrutinised by, the Council.

Subsequent to the procedure for amending the Council's Rules of Procedure, which is still being finalised, the General Secretariat of the Council is responsible for publishing the list of those preparatory bodies. A copy of that list will accordingly be sent to the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0065/00

by Carlo Fatuzzo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Milan airport system: Malpensa Linate Orio al Serio

The European Community has included the Milan airport system in its list of category 1 airports and has specified that the system comprises the airports of Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Bergamo Orio al Serio (shown in the destinations table under the official name Milan-Orio International Airport).

Malpensa airport is one of the priority projects that have been established at European level and financed by 500 billion lire in EIB assistance.

In addition, the development plan for the Milan airport system, which was approved at government level and authorised by the Community some time ago, gave the airport of Bergamo Orio al Serio a prominent role as the east Lombardy pole, and significant sums have been invested in it (100 billion lire by the operating company alone over the last three years).

The ban on the transfer of flights from Linate to Malpensa, which was imposed a few hours before the planned deadline of 15 December 1999, has made the future of the air traffic system in northern Italy totally uncertain, with consequences for the progress of operations for both European border links and the development of connections with the Mediterranean area.

In the light of the above, what measures does the Community intend to take to ensure that the programmes that have been set up are adhered to and to avoid a loss of efficiency and competitiveness in the airport system caused by unsustainable competition between the airports of Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio, in breach of the rules set for operating limits on the airport of Linate, which is only supposed to remain open for the Milan Rome Fiumicino shuttle service?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2000)

The Community has no direct competence as regards the adoption of measures to remedy a loss of efficiency and competitiveness in an airport system. This question, the purpose of which amounts to laying down rules for the distribution of traffic between the airports within an airport system, falls within the authority of the Member States under their national transport policies, as expressly provided under Article 8(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92(1). The Commission's role is confined to verifying whether such rules are consistent with Community law, in particular with the principles of non-discrimination and proportionality.

The Italian authorities decided to suspend the transfers of flights from Linate to Malpensa airport which were originally planned for 15 December 1999 and 15 January 2000 respectively. This decision was taken because of the uncertainty caused by measures introduced at Malpensa airport to reduce its environmental impact. Accordingly it now falls to the Italian authorities to lay down new rules for the distribution of traffic in the Milan airport system (Malpensa, Linate and Orio al Serio) in compliance with Community law.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes, OJ L 240, 24.8.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0470/00

by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Programmes, Community projects and European initiatives in the Île-de-France region

Can the Commission draw up an exhaustive list of the various European programmes and projects or Community initiatives of which the Île-de-France region is a beneficiary indicating to what extent by virtue of its associate status?

Can it also give a full list of European programmes and initiatives organised for the various bodies situated in the Île-de-France region, that is to say research centres, associations, universities, municipalities and other bodies organisations, indicating to what extent each of them benefit?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-0469/00 and E-0470/00 given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 2000)

Because of the length of the answer, which includes a number of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.