ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0357/00

by Elisa Damião (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Health and safety at work

The drastic fall in the fertility rate of men and women and the problems of pregnant women (miscarriages, premature births, transmission of diseases and increase in disorders which the scientific community attribute to modern-day living and working conditions) are underestimated and are not included in the statistics relating to occupational diseases. Neither are adequate preventive measures taken. This is undermining maternity and paternity rights, with serious implications for the population balance of European societies. Will the Commission provide all the information available on the matter at both European and national levels?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2000)

The Commission is closely monitoring research and information on the problems which certain agents found in workplaces can have on both female and male fertility.

As far as science is concerned, there is neither unanimity nor firm evidence of any possible global decline in human fertility caused by exposure to agents found in the working environment.

In 1998 the Commission asked a recognised scientific institute to carry out a second specific study of infertility and occupational factors. This study includes an analysis of the effects of the agents most commonly encountered in the working environment on fertility and provides a very useful synopsis of the research projects carried out in this field. A copy of the final report is being sent directly to the Honourable Member and the Parliament Secretariat.

Furthermore, in recent years, scientific circles have devoted special attention to the possible effects on human health especially the reproduction aspects of endocrine disrupters, which are chemicals capable of changing or disrupting the endocrine system.

In 1999 an Opinion on human and wildlife health effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals was adopted and published by the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment. One of the Committee's findings is that although there are associations between endocrine disrupting chemicals, so far investigated, and human health disturbances, a causative role of these chemicals in diseases and abnormalities possibly related to an endocrine disturbance has not been verified. Furthermore, the opinion reports that a meta-analysis of 61 studies has reported a general decrease in sperm concentration and semen volume from 1938 to 1990. However, several reanalyses of the same data have indicated possible bias and confounding in the meta-analysis, and have reached different conclusions with respect to sperm quality, depending on the methodology used. A copy of this opinion is being sent directly to the Honourable Member and the Parliament Secretariat.

In any event, the Commission is continuing to monitor these matters systematically with a view to adopting any appropriate Community initiatives on the prevention of fertility problems resulting from occupational exposure to certain agents.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0168/00

by Alejandro Agag Longo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Road blockade by French lorries

In recent years, we have repeatedly witnessed strikes and, lately, blockades of intra-Community frontiers by French lorry drivers, with the inevitable adverse effects this produces on the development of the internal market.

It is no accident that these protests coincide with the period when certain products are exported from the Iberian peninsula, with the result that it is Spanish and Portuguese hauliers who really suffer the effects, as well as the other sectors concerned, since their only point of entry to the rest of the Community market is via France.

What firm measures will the Commission take in future to resolve this problem and prevent actions which recur each year at the same time and whose ultimate effect is losses running into millions for the economies of Spain and Portugal?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2000)

The Honourable Member has drawn the Commission's attention to the considerable economic impact on Community businesses of the border blockades imposed by French hauliers, particularly in recent weeks.

The Commission would like to stress that under Community law it is the responsibility of the Member States to take all necessary and proportionate measures to restore the free movement of goods in their territory when events of this nature take place.

With regard to the measures which the Commission may take, the Honourable Member is referred to Council Regulation (EC) No 2679/98 of 7 December 1998 on the functioning of the internal market in relation to the free movement of goods among the Member States(1), which allows the Commission to take rapid action in this type of situation.

This action can, initially, take the form of a request for information sent to the Member State on whose territory the obstacles occur. Indeed, the Commission used this option when hauliers took action on 10-11 January 2000 and from 31 January 2000 to 1 February 2000. On each occasion, within the given time limit of two days, the Commission received information from the French authorities on the state of the dispute and on the measures taken to avoid blockades.

Subsequent Commission action can take the form of a notification requesting the Member State to take all necessary and proportionate measures to restore the free movement of goods within a given time limit. The Commission has not yet made use of this second option. During the recent disputes, it did not consider it necessary because the border blockades were lifted. However, the Commission reserves the right to use this option where circumstances require it.

The Commission would like to stress that, apart from the intervention provided for by Regulation (EC) No 2679/98, it is not within its remit to intervene in any social problems within the Member States which might result in action giving rise to the obstacles to which the Honourable Member refers.

(1) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0078/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 January 2000)

Subject: European initiatives to celebrate the work of the writer Giovannino Guareschi

The books of the writer, journalist, illustrator and humorist Giovannino Guareschi, which include Favola di Natale (Christmas Story), written while he was held in a Nazi concentration camp in December 1944, and the Don Camillo stories, written after the war, have been translated into almost all of the official languages of the European Union, as well as into Icelandic, Serbo-Croat, Vietnamese, Arabic and Lithuanian.

Guareschi's books, writings, cartoons and other works, all of which seek to uphold individual freedoms and human dignity and to combat totalitarianism in all its forms (from Nazism and Fascism to Stalinist Communism), form a vital part of Europe's cultural heritage.

In recent years, in places such as Roncole Verdi (Parma), Brescello (Reggio Emilia) and Fontanelle (Parma), private citizens and public bodies have set up museums, permanent exhibitions and trails to guide tourists around the Little World the Lower Emilia area of the Po Valley, where Guareschi set his stories.

How does the Commission view the idea of funding cultural projects involving town twinning arrangements and other initiatives between various European countries, aimed at bringing Giovannino Guareschi and his work to the attention of a new audience?

What are its views on the establishment of a Giovannino Guareschi European Prize, sponsored by the European Union and aimed at artists and humorists whose work makes use of Guareschi's traditional tools of humour and satire to promote freedom of thought and uphold human dignity?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2000)

The Commission may grant support for cultural initiatives only within the framework and according to the criteria of its existing programmes.

The Commission wishes to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that, in the course of March 2000, a call for proposals relating to the first Culture 2000 framework programme will be published in the Official Journal, with Internet consultation also possible.

In the context of the Culture 2000 programme, funding earmarked for the field of books, reading and translation will probably account for around 11 % of the annual budget. Cultural operators hoping to obtain financial support will thus have an opportunity to present projects in line with the programme's conditions and criteria.

As far as a prize is concerned, the Honourable Member is advised that, as provided for by the programme, the Commission will give due consideration to this idea and others, in the course of the year, with a view to establishing a coherent policy for European cultural prizes.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0206/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 February 2000)

Subject: Live transport of farm animals

What action does the Commission intend to take in response to the November report by the Food and Veterinary Office which:

- highlighted serious shortcomings at Italian border inspection posts regarding the enforcement of EU rules for journey times, resting periods, watering and feeding of animals,

- recommended that the Italian authorities take immediate action to ensure that animals, who may have undergone long journeys from distant places of departure in third countries, are rested for 24 hours, where applicable, and

- recommended that the Italian authorities should respond within 10 working days to the findings of the report, giving details of actions taken and planned to address the problems?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2000)

The Commission is aware from reports by its veterinary inspectorate and the response from the Italian authorities as well as complaints from various animal welfare organizations, of the problems in relation to the insufficient enforcement of Council Directive 91/628/EC on the protection of animals during transport(1) as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC concerning the protection of animals during transport arriving at some Italian border inspection posts (BIPS).

When animals arrive at the frontier of the Community in a condition where they are clearly not fit for further transport, the Member State concerned is obliged to take the necessary action to protect the welfare of the animals involved by giving them proper care and attention with a sufficient resting period.

Five veterinary inspection missions have been carried out at the Italian border inspection posts of Gorizia and Prosecco-Fernetti in the last five years. Following the most recent mission in July 1999, the Italian authorities have responded to the recommendations concerning animal welfare and have given assurances that steps would be taken to ensure the 24 hour availability of veterinary personnel and that specific instructions would be issued to staff to ensure compliance with animal welfare legislation.

A further mission is foreseen to Italian BIPS, including Gorizia and Prosecco for the second half of this year.

The Commission is reviewing the matter and will not hesitate to open infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty should this prove necessary.

The Commission is also considering closer cooperation with Eastern European countries to improve checks at departure and during transport. Most of the third countries concerned are in the process of accession and could be helped by the technical assistance information exchange office (TAIEX). Contacts have recently been made with TAIEX in order to promote animal welfare in these countries and particularly in relation to the transport of live animals.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0498/00

by Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 February 2000)

Subject: Measures to assist persons suffering from neurodegenerative diseases

As people start to live longer, age-related health problems are generally increasing. Enabling the elderly to retain their independence for as long as possible, through preventive treatment, assistance and structures to provide information on diseases, is one of the priorities for the European Union's social policy.

Alzheimer's disease effects 5 % of persons over the age of 65 in Europe and there is still no treatment able rapidly to halt the neurodegenerative process that occurs.

Will the Commission say what procedure it intends to introduce and what criteria it will adopt for the use of funds under the new budget heading B3-4307N, which is designed to improve the quality of life of those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and related conditions, and of those assisting them in a non-professional capacity?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2000)

The Commission is aware of the implications that demographic factors, and in particular the ageing of the Community population, will have for society as a whole, and for health systems in particular. It underlined these consequences in its communication on the development of public health policy in the Community(1), which it also recognises in its forthcoming communication and proposal for a programme of action in the field of public health. Moreover, under the present Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training, strategies aiming at improving older people's health have been developed as a priority issue.

As a result of the ageing of the population, the number of people afflicted by Alzheimer's disease is bound to increase in the future, and the Commission is very much aware of the great suffering caused by this disease not only for the patients, but also for their families. The fact that neither proven treatments nor effective preventive measures are available for Alzheimer's disease further aggravates the situation, and at the same time limits the scope for action both at national and Community level.

Budget line B3-4307 foresees activities aimed at improving the quality of life of patients suffering from neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, and of people who care for Alzheimer patients in a non-professional capacity. The Commission is presently in the process of examining the implications of implementing this budget line, including the implications for spending on other Community public health activities. Once this examination is completed, the Commission will transmit the result of its examination direct to the Honourable Member.

(1) COM(98) 230 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0135/00

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Progress in setting-up the European Police College

At the Tampere summit, the European Council decided to establish a European Police College, in the form of a network of existing national training institutes.

1. How far have the actual plans for establishing this European Police College progressed?

2. Within what timeframe is setting up of the college being planned and when is it to start work?

3. What will be the precise scope of the College's activities, and what tasks is it to undertake beyond coordinating the national training systems?

4. How large a staff will be required in the Council's view?

5. What expenditure will be involved?

Reply

(28 March 2000)

On 14 December 1999 the Committee referred to in Article 36 of the TEU decided to commission a preliminary study on the future network of European Police Colleges. The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union is currently carrying out that study. It will be examined by the Article 36 Committee on 28 and 29 February 2000.

Once the preliminary study has been examined, the next step will be to determine how the network design that is generally supported by the Member States is to be implemented in detail. The Finnish Presidency set 1 January 2001 as the target for the network to start operating.

A detailed description of the network's activities will be provided at a later stage. The tasks assigned to the network are currently expected to go beyond those now covered by the Association of European Police Colleges (AEPC).

No precise information regarding staff requirements will be available until the preliminary study, or even the second study, has been completed.

Precise information about the network's financial requirements is not yet available.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0145/00

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Failure of Commission to quote references on correspondence

Is the Commission aware that it is still failing to mention references in its replies to enquiries from Members of the European Parliament?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2000)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for drawing to its attention the need to mention references when replying to letters, and would confirm that staff have been reminded to do so.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0038/00

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: New Poseima measures in the field of agriculture in the Autonomous Region of the Azores

The Commission does not make any mention of new measures to assist agriculture in the Autonomous Region of the Azores (as opposed to other very remote regions) in its report on measures to implement Article 299(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the outermost regions of the European Union.

In what form and when will the Commission present details of the proposal concerning new measures in the field of agriculture for the Autonomous Region of the Azores?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0038/00, E-0043/00, E-0044/00, E-0045/00, E-0046/00, E-0047/00, E-0048/00, E-0049/00, E-0050/00, E-0051/00 and E-0052/00 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2000)

The Honourable Member has put a whole series of questions regarding the Poseima Programme for the Azores.

The Commission is currently drafting a report on the measures to implement Article 299(2) (ex Article 227) of the EC Treaty.

At this stage, before the Commission has adopted that report, it is not able to reply to the Honourable Member's questions concerning its content.

Lastly, the Commission's Work Programme for 2000 provides for a report to be presented to the Council and Parliament on the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15 June 1992 concerning specific measures for the Azores and Madeira relating to certain agricultural products(1) (Poseima), together where appropriate with proposals for any adjustments that prove necessary to achieve the programme's goals. The set of measures relating to agriculture in the Azores will be considered in that connection.

(1) OJ L 173, 27.6.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1023/00

by Niels Busk (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 March 2000)

Subject: Payment of co-responsibility levy

Council Regulation (EC) 603/95(1) on the common organisation of the market in dried fodder introduced an EU quota system for the dried fodder industry which sets a

production quota for each Member State. If the production quota is exceeded at EU level, all Member States are liable to pay a common co-responsibility levy of up to 5 %.

Any Member State which has not exceeded its quota (or has not even used it up) is, therefore, financially penalised for other Member States' overruns.

In the Commission's view, is this co-responsibility levy appropriate?

Will the Commission take measures to amend the common organisation of the market in dried fodder?

(1) OJ L 63, 21.3.1995, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2000)

On the occasion of the market reform Member States accepted a compromise whereby one of the fundamental changes was a general reduction in aid in the event of overrun of the maximum guaranteed quantity. The other changes were national guaranteed quantities (NGQs), fixed aid per tonne and application of the integrated administration and control system (IACs).

Under the provision in question the aid rate reduction if the MGQ is exceeded by up to 5 % applies equally in all Member States. This was freely accepted by all Member States as an integral part of the compromise package. In this context the Commission considers it an appropriate provision.

It has been applied only once, at the end of the 1998/1999 marketing year, and a proposal to withdraw it would mean reopening discussion among Member States on the other features of the reformed scheme: NGQs, aid rate, control rules etc. in the absence of any valid reason for major readjustment of the sector to meet the wishes of a majority of Member States the Commission has no plans at present for proposing modification of the market organisation to the Council.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1446/00

by Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission

(3 May 2000)

Subject: Twinning of towns

On 20 March 2000, in an interview given to the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica, Commissioner Kinnock questioned whether the Commission should continue supporting the twinning of towns and cities in Europe, given the staff shortages in the unit concerned.

Will the Commission say whether this is indeed its policy and whether, as the Commissioner responsible maintains, it no longer sees this measure as a priority?

Does the Commission not think that the European Parliament should be properly consulted before it adopts a position on this matter?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1366/00, P-1446/00, E-1467/00 and E-1519/00 given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2000)

In the interview in La Repubblica mentioned by the Honourable Members, Vice President Kinnock was asked about the review of all tasks and resources which was then being proposed in the Commission and has since begun, as publicly announced. The Vice President referred inter alia to the fact that there are some activities undertaken by the Commission which could not formally be regarded as core activities in terms of the Treaty, but which are nevertheless considered to have value for the development of the Union. In response to a request for examples of such activities he referred to town twinning.

The reference was factual and implied no decision or intended decision to withdraw commitment from town twinning.

Support for town twinning activities across the Union has been provided from the Community budget for several years. In the current year, 10 million is provided for that purpose. The finances are administered by two grade A officials in the Directorate general for Education and culture.

The comprehensive review of all tasks and resources is being undertaken as a requirement of responsible management by the Commission and with the intention of improving and increasing the transparency of the relationship between Commission activities and the staff available to provide them efficiently. A report based on the review will be compiled and presented to the Commission and, subsequently, to Parliament and Council, later this year.