ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1062/96 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission (13 May 1996)

Subject: Architecture in Europe

In January 1996, for the first time in its history, the Architects Council of Europe presented a Joint Declaration on the criteria which, in its opinion, should be followed by the building industry in Union countries in the future. Some measures were as drastic as banning the use of heating which has not been generated using non-renewable sources of energy or proposing a European point of view for the conferences to be held in Berlin ('the ecological city') and Istambul ('Habitat II').

Has the Commission studied the declaration and has it formed an opinion about it?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (13 June 1996)

The Commission welcomes the declaration of the Architects council of Europe contained in its white paper 'Europe and architecture tomorrow' and will take careful account of its recommendations in matters of Community competence. A large number of the recommendations however concern issues of Member State and local competence.

The Commission is also seeking to associate the Architects council with its work and has held several meetings with representatives to discuss the declaration. In addition the Architects council is now represented on the Commission's urban environment expert group where it can influence the Commission actions aiming to improve the environment in urban areas.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0910/96 by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission (11 April 1996)

Subject: Veal crates

What action does the Commission plan to take to bring forward the banning of veal crates from 1 January 2008, in the light of findings set out in its Communication on the Welfare of Calves which states, inter alia, that 'the welfare of calves is very poor when they are kept in small individual pens with insufficient room for comfortable lying, no direct social contact and no bedding or other material to manipulate'?

Does the Commission not feel that, in line with the EU's obligation to improve animal welfare as now set out in the Treaty, steps should be taken before 2008 to make sure that such small individual pens are banned?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1996)

The communication from the Commission to the Council and the Parliament on the welfare of calves was based on an opinion of the scientific veterinary committee. Following receipt of that opinion, the Commission has made a proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 91/629/EEC laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves ((OJ C 85, 22.3.1996. )).

The proposal sent to the Parliament on 9 February 1996 aims to phase out the use of narrow individual boxes for the housing of veal calves over a transitional period extending to the end of 2007. This period was chosen because Directive 91/629/EEC, which has been in force since 1 January 1994, allows the same transitional period for existing farms to adapt to the current rules. Farmers who have planned their investments on this basis may legitimately expect to be able to amortize those investments over the period allowed for at the time they were made.

It should be noted that, in addition to the requirements for the size of pens, the current Directive provides for other measures to be taken to improve the welfare of calves. The Commission is also proposing to refine and update those measures by introducing new requirements, for example concerning inspection and diet, which will be applicable immediately they enter into force.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1606/96 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (24 June 1996)

Subject: Staffing levels in DGI-B

Does the Commission have any statistics on the number of Commission staff managing development aid programmes in Latin America compared with the number of staff managing Member States' aid programmes in the same countries, and compared with the size of the aid programmes concerned? If so, could it publish details in the official answer?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (10 July 1996)

In the interests of better coordination with Member States, the Commission recently had a report prepared on the development operations run by national administrations with a view to identifying the main thrust of bilateral cooperation activities, the aim being to prevent duplication of effort, allow efficient coordination in the field and optimize the use of the available funds.

As the purpose of the report is to improve understanding of the national aid set-up in individual Member States it does deal with methodological and organizational issues, but does not actually give figures for staffing levels.

The Commission would, however, point out that the 9% of Community official development assistance (ODA) going to Latin America, a total of 519 MECU in 1995, is administered by just 101 officials or other staff, split between headquarters and various delegations. Given the scale of the programmes it manages this is far lower than the comparable figure for Member States such as Germany (whose ODA to Latin America totalled 345.6 MECU in 1994), Spain (281.6 MECU), Italy (208 MECU), Netherlands (162.4 MECU) or France (150 MECU), which are major regional donors.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1267/96 by Miguel Arias Cañete (PPE) to the Commission (24 May 1996)

Subject: Distillation of wine for consumption

In April 1995 the European Parliament adopted a series of amendments to the proposal for the reform of the COM in the wine sector, because it felt that the Commission's proposals for voluntary distillation were inadequate. It also called for a different system that would include provisions for adequate supplies of spirits distilled from wine for consumption.

However, in its reply to Written Question E-3255/95 by Mr Amadeo Amadeo ((OJ C 91, 27.3.1996, p. 49.)), the Commission pointed out that Parliament had not taken exception to its proposal for a single voluntary distillation.

In the light of these considerations and bearing in mind the considerable economic and social importance of this sector, will the Commission say:

- whether it is aware of the importance of ensuring that adequate supplies are available - in terms of quality, volume and price - of wine for use in spirits distilled from wine for human consumption, which have to be used for certain products under EU regulations (e.g. brandy, liqueur wines, etc.), so as to avoid the distortion of the market which would otherwise occur?

- whether it intends to include the amendments adopted by Parliament in its reform of the COM in the wine sector?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 June 1996)

As already stated at a Council meeting in December 1994, the Commission is very aware of the need not to lose its share of the market in spirits for human consumption as an outlet for Community wine. At talks on reform of the common organization of the market in wine held at the plenary session of Parliament in April last year, it again said it was willing to take Parliament's line on the matter into consideration and to work out a better way of safeguarding this market outlet. However, it did not at that stage wish to commit itself to any precise steps although it had not ruled out measures on distillation.

In this connection it is also necessary to look at the Commission's position regarding Parliament's amendments on distillation measures. The Commission is still willing to amend its proposal at an appropriate moment to take account of the need both to guarantee Community supplies of spirits for consumption and to accommodate fluctuating harvest levels when taking decisions on distillation. In so doing, it could take on board some specific parts of the Parliament amendments as well as their general tenor.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0986/96 by Magda Aelvoet (V) to the Commission (26 April 1996)

Subject: Aviation fuel pipeline in Huldenberg

The Huldenberg commune recently learned of plans to lay an aviation fuel pipeline. This pipeline forms part of Belgium's NATO obligations and is to run from Melsbroek to Beauvechain. It constitutes a serious threat to the Dijle valley which is covered by the directive on the conservation of wild birds. As the pipeline is to run through this protected area an environmental impact assessment (EIA) would normally be required. Under current environmental legislation in Flanders and Belgium, however, no EIA is required for military installations.

1. Was the Commission aware of the plans to lay this pipeline?

2. Does it consider that on the basis of European provisions on EIAs an assessment is in fact required for this specific project?

3. If so, will the Commission ensure that an EIA is carried out for this project?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (19 June 1996)

1. The Commission is not aware of the plans to lay the pipeline in question.

2. Article 1(4) of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. )) states that it does not cover projects serving national defence purposes.

As Article 223(1)(a) of the EC Treaty states, no Member State is obliged to supply information the disclosure of which it considers contrary to the essential interests of its security.

The obligation under Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC ((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). )) appropriately to assess the implications of any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of a site designated as a special protection area pursuant to Directive 79/409/EEC ((Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 103, 25.4.1979), as last amended by Directive 94/24/EC of 8 June 1994 (OJ L 164, 30.6.1994). )) but likely to affect this site significantly must be interpreted in the light of this provision of the Treaty.

3. The Commission is unable to comment on the specific case referred to by the Honourable Member solely on the basis of the information currently available to it. The Commission therefore asks the Honourable Member to let it have any other information she may have on the pipeline project in question. It must be stressed, however, that it falls first and foremost to the Member State which is in sole possession of all the information on military projects which it intends to undertake, to decide to what extent certain aspects of these projects could be made public.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1344/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 June 1996)

Subject: Administrative appropriations of the European Institutions

Will the Commission state the total amount of appropriations allocated in 1995 under budget heading B7-600 (Aid for economic restructuring of the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe) to expenditure on:

- studies,

- experts' meetings,

- conferences and congresses and

- information and publications?

Can the Commission also say what proportion of the total amount of appropriations allocated to this budget heading is taken up by these four types of expenditure? Does it consider this proportion to be reasonable?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1344/96 and E-1345/96 given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (22 July 1996)

None of the European institutions' running costs are charged either to heading B7-500 (B7-600 in 1995) - aid for economic restructuring in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CCEE) - or B7-520 (B7-620 in 1995) - cooperation with the independent states of the former Soviet Union - since no provision for such is made in the budget remarks.

Funding allocated to these heading goes towards technical assistance schemes to support the transition to market economies (management, energy, transport and financial services).

However, expenditure similar to that referred to by the Honourable Member was charged to this heading last year but as an integral part of operational projects and programmes approved by the Commission for Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States (NIS).

The preparations for, and implementation of, these technical assistance schemes included expert meetings, which were financed from the Phare and Tacis programmes. Conferences and seminars covered activities designed to spread the word about these programmes, especially among those business operators in the Community, the CCEE and the NIS likely to benefit from, or participate in, the two programmes. Similarly, feasibility studies were carried out to help achieve the specific goals of Phare and Tacis. Since such activities are basic components of integrated programmes covering a number of schemes and instruments, it is difficult to treat them in isolation.

The only spending for this type of activity which can easily be isolated is that earmarked for information and publication. Last year, a specific programme approved by the steering committees of both programmes was launched, accounting for 0.9% (Phare) and 1% (Tacis) of the funding for each heading.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0988/96 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (26 April 1996)

Subject: EU support for traffic measures at Lakeside - Essex - UK

What have been the results of the funding provided by the Commission to Essex County Council last year, in order to investigate traffic management problems at the Lakeside out-of-town shopping centre at Thurrock, Essex? Will the Commission ensure that this study is properly publicized, and that priority is given to improved public transport access in any follow-up to the study?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (26 June 1996)

Essex county council is a partner in the consortium that submitted a project proposal under the acronym Tropic (traffic optimisation by the integration of information and control), after the first call for proposals for the Transport element of the Fourth Framework R+D Programme of the Community. The project will examine and develop the use of variable message signs (VMS) in Europe to advance the practical, institutional, organisational and procedural issues relating to the implementation of VMS. The Transport research committee has approved the Commission proposal to fund the Tropic project. The first stage of the project will be a feasibility study to identify and select the test sites. The contract for this stage was signed on 1 May 1996. In subsequent stages VMS systems will be implemented on the selected test sites followed by an evaluation of their use and effects. After the evaluation, conclusions will be drawn to further the harmonised use and deployment of VMS in Europe.

Dissemination of the research results is an integral part of all projects carried out under the transport element of the Fourth Framework Programme. Specific target groups for the Tropic research results are local, regional and national road operators. A number of these are directly involved in the Tropic-project, and special attention will be devoted to disseminating the research findings to the identified target groups.

The results of this and similar studies are taken into account by the Commission in developing its policy on passenger transport, including improvements in public transport. Indeed, the Commission's Green Paper on public passenger transport - The Citizen's Network ((COM(95) 601. )) - refers to many aspects of the Community's transport research which contribute to the promotion of public passenger transport.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1447/96 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission (12 June 1996)

Subject: 'Abolishing employment rights in small firms', a TUC briefing, March 1996

Is the Commission aware that the TUC has recently published the above report which examines the impact of deregulation in small firms and the potentially discriminatory effect that this would have on women? Given the disproportionate effect deregulation in small firms appears to have on women workers, will the Commission undertake not to introduce any modification of legislation which might have a disproportionately adverse effect on women workers?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (1 August 1996)

The Commission has taken note of the TUC report 'Abolishing employment rights in small firms', published in March 1996. The problem of deregulation, which is the main issue of this report, was examined at Community level mainly for the purposes of the Report of the Group of Independent Experts on Legislative and Administrative Simplification, recently published by the Commission ((Doc. COM(95) 288 final. )).

In its comments on this Report, published in 1995 ((Doc. SEC(95) 2121 final. )), the Commission recognises the need to limit the costs and constraints which the current legislation imposes on SMEs.

Although it is aware that the law needs to be changed to improve the situation of small businesses, the Commission does not intend to propose amendments which would be unjustifiably prejudicial to women.

Furthermore, it will continue to implement its equal opportunities policy through the Fourth medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men (1996-2000) ((Council Decision of 22.12.1995 - OJ L 335 of 30.12.1995. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1573/96 by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission (24 June 1996)

Subject: The disabled in the EU

Measures designed to take account of disabled people's needs have concentrated for far too long on social policy. Disability must be integrated into all areas of social life.

Pending a new HELIOS programme there has been discussion of setting up an advisory body and an independent 'disability forum'.

What does the Commission intend to do to take account of disability in all its Directorates-General and what form will the advisory body take?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (18 July 1996)

The Commission has revised its strategy on disabled persons and aims to encourage the needs of disabled persons to be taken into account in all Community programmes and initiatives. The Commission considers that the setting-up of an independent forum of disabled persons associations will definitely favour this dimension being taken into account and stimulate the dialogue between the Commission and these associations. In view of the creation of this independent forum, the Commission believes it would be inopportune to create an advisory body.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1990/96 by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission (17 July 1996)

Subject: Chinese orphanages

With reference to the Commission's response to my question E-1053/96 ((OJ C 297, 8.10.1996, p.78. )), what conclusions has the Commission reached following its examination, with NGOs working on the spot, of the serious deficiencies displayed by orphanages in China, and what measures will it now be taking to address this situation?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1989/96 and E-1990/96 given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (2 August 1996)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will inform her of the outcome as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1259/96 by W.G. van Velzen (PPE) to the Commission (24 May 1996)

Subject: Scaling of the high-flux reactor in Petten

1. Are you aware of the scaling of the high-flux reactor (HFR) in Petten on 26 April 1996 by Greenpeace?

2. In the light of the previous action by Dutch marines at the HFR, has the Commission decided to undertake a thorough overhaul of security? Have these measures now been taken?

3. Do you believe that the Greenpeace demonstration shows that the security at the HFR in inadequate?

4. What action will the Commission take to prevent a repetition?

5. Has an integrated security plan been drawn up for the HFR to cope with all eventualities?

6. How is the Commission going to overcome the shock to public opinion caused by the lax security at the HFR?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (1 July 1996)

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

3. No. The security measures are directed against all possible incidents concerning unauthorized interference with plant processes, materials and equipment. The internal Joint research centre (JRC) Petten security measures are fully in agreement with the measures to be taken by the Dutch police in case of alarm, and the response by the guards or police is dependent on the nature and gravity of the incident.

From the beginning of the Greenpeace incident the security measures worked in accordance with established procedures. There was no question of unauthorized interference with plant processes, materials or equipment, and the response by the police was in accordance with the nature and gravity of the incident.

4. The Commission is reviewing the incident and security measures with the Dutch authorities. If necessary, relevant decisions will be jointly taken but, as the Honourable Member is aware, such decisions have to be kept strictly confidential.

5. Yes.

6. The Commission invites the Honourable Member to take note of its answer to the Written Question P-1169/96 by Mrs Plooij-Van Gorsel ((OJ C 322, 28.10.1996, p.37. )). Furthermore, the Commission is not aware of a decreased confidence in public opinion concerning the security of the high flux reactor (HFR). The Commission continues to promote the HFR together with the other organizations with nuclear facilities in the Petten dunes, in particular in the field of nuclear medical applications.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1836/96 by James Provan (PPE) to the Commission (5 July 1996)

Subject: Convergence between WTO and EU trade law

In the light of the WTO ruling that, while a trade measure does not have to be necessary or essential to the conservation of an exhaustible natural resource, it has to be 'primarily aimed at' such conservation, as most recently upheld in the US-Venezuela Gasoline case, could the Commission state whether such a legal rule exists in the jurisprudence of the EU, and if not, is there any such equivalent rule?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (23 July 1996)

Although there is a certain parallellism between the general exceptions to the General agreement on tariffs and trade as laid down in Article XX of that agreement and the exceptions mentioned in Article 36 of the EC Treaty, there is no direct equivalent in Article 36 for the exception for 'measures relating to the conservation of exhaustible natural resources...' of Article XX (g) of GATT. In addition to the exceptions of Article 36, the Court of justice, beginning with its judgement in case 120/78 (Cassis de Dijon) ((1979 ECR, p. 649. )) has developed a doctrine, according to which Member States in specific circumstances may take measures on the basis of 'mandatory requirements' relating inter alia to the protection of the environment. Such exceptions for 'mandatory requirements' for the protection of the environment probably come closest to the exception of Article XX(g) of GATT.

In general, however, one should be extremely circumspect in drawing parallels between the exceptions to the EC Treaty, whether contained in the treaty or derived from case law of the Court of justice, and the exceptions to the GATT. The exceptions are different in scope. Article 36 relates only to the prohibition of quantitive restrictions and measures of equivalent effect, whereas Article XX relates to the GATT as a whole. The context - a customs union and single market treaty as against a general trade agreement - is wholly different, and obviously the case law of the Court of justice is much more developed than the relatively few rulings and recommendations by GATT panels and the one decision of the appellate body thus far. Moreover, it was certainly not the intention of the negotiatiors of the Marrakesh agreement to create some world-wide internal market by one stroke of the pen. The matter raised in the question for the moment is better left primarily to academic research.