ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0100/00

by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Social security arrangements for sportsmen and women

Can the Commission provide information regarding the social security arrangements introduced in the various European Union countries for the benefit of sportsmen and women who are regarded as amateurs but who nonetheless engage in sport at Olympic and/or some other high level?

1. What cover is provided during and after any sporting activity?

2. What are the entitlements in the event of temporary or permanent disablement?

3. Is there any relevant EU legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 2000)

The legislation applicable to amateur sportspersons is the same as that applicable to employed or self-employed persons, and their contributions are paid into the national social security systems in accordance with the laws of the Member States in which they are insured. For information on social protection systems in the Member States, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its MISSOC (Mutual Information System on Social Protection in the European Union) Report which can be found on the Europa website at the following address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/soc-prot/missoc98

Where amateur sportspersons move within the Member States their rights are coordinated by Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of 2 December 1996 amending and updating Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community, and Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71(1), which also covers, among other things, the risk of disablement.

(1) OJ L 28, 30.1.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0868/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Subject: Boycott of Austrian travellers by taxi drivers in Brussels

The Union des Taxis de Bruxelles has stated that as from today, Wednesday, 8 March 2000, Austrian nationals will no longer be transported. This boycott affects mainly staff and customers of the Austrian embassy, the EU representation and the offices of the federal regions. The reason given is that the majority of taxi drivers are immigrants.

This attitude is contrary to every principle of tolerance and equality between all human beings irrespective of their race, nationality, sex and religious principles. Clearly, Austria's rights are being infringed here when citizens are denied access to goods and services.

In view of the urgency of the matter, will the Commission state what measures it intends to take to counteract this anti-EU discrimination against Austrian nationals and hence citizens of the Union?

Answer by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2000)

The freedom to provide services, a fundamental principle based on non-discrimination with regard to nationality, is required of the national authorities of the Member States and of organisations responsible for governing occupational sectors.

According to the information available to the Commission, the situation described by the honourable Member stems from an initiative of an economic operator and not from an order issued in respect of taxi drivers by the Belgian authorities.

In this context, the Commission has no legal means allowing it to take action to put an end to the discriminatory measures referred to.

Private behaviour which discriminates against customers on the basis of nationality is, however, a matter for national jurisdiction. Victims could respond to such behaviour either by initiating criminal proceedings (with a claim for damages at the court in Brussels) or civil proceedings for exemplary damages.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1212/00

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(14 April 2000)

Subject: Fire resistance standards for furniture in the single market

Is the Commission aware that at present furniture in the single market meets two different standards of fire resistance? In the UK and Eire furniture meets a higher flammability resistance than the rest of Europe. Since the introduction of legislation in the UK there has been a 50 % reduction in fire deaths.

Work done by the European standardisation body (CEN) has produced agreement on test methods for cigarettes and match ignition sources, but has failed to deliver progress on post ignition fire tests using larger ignition sources, which are essential for upholstered furniture safety, principally in the home but also in places of public assembly. This lack of progress is despite considerable expenditure by the Commission.

Is the Commission satisfied with this lack of progress and what pressure will it bring to bear to ensure rapid progress on agreeing post ignition fire tests standards and that the tests are applied in regulation at the earliest opportunity?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2000)

The Commission follows safety issues closely, including those relating to fire. It is aware that effective fire safety depends on national or local authorities taking measures on all factors affecting fire risk, such as building regulations, fire-reaction and fire-resistance requirements, evacuation arrangements, the presence of fire-fighting devices (sprinklers), and public information. A comprehensive policy can therefore be implemented only at the appropriate national level.

Furniture's resistance to the spread of flames is one such factor, and in the absence of specific Community harmonisation on furniture it is up to the Member States, within the framework of Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on general product safety(1), to protect the health and safety of people and goods by means of appropriate national regulations and standards.

However, the Commission's proposal of 29 March 2000(2) to amend the General Product Safety Directive introduces provisions to ensure that products which meet European standards drawn up by the European standardisation institutes in response to mandates from the Commission be deemed to comply with the safety criteria laid down by the Directive.

In the light of these proposed new provisions, the Commission intends to check whether new standards are needed, or whether existing standards need to be modified, in various areas of interest for consumer safety. This will include the various aspects of fire safety. Should a particular aspect prove to require a standardisation mandate, and assuming there is sufficient agreement among the parties concerned, the Commission might consider drawing up such a mandate.

(1) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.

(2) COM(2000) 140 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0678/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2000)

Subject: Discrepancies in the levels of heart disease among EU Member States and the need for further preventive action

Bearing in mind Article 152 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community and given the discrepancies in the levels of heart disease throughout the EU (with Ireland having almost five times the rate of that in France) and the fact that Irish women now account for one in two deaths in Ireland from cardiac arrest and that many cases of heart disease are easily preventable, can the Commission comment on these discrepancies and outline what, if anything, it intends to do to tackle heart disease further across the EU (and in particular in countries such as Ireland) to ensure that such high death rates are brought down?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2000)

The Commission is aware of the problem raised by the Honourable Member.

This issue is currently being discussed in the context of the European heart health initiative, which is a Community-wide project aiming at increasing awareness in all the Member States among policy makers, health professionals, and in the longer term the general public, of the importance of fighting cardio-vascular disease and of ways of making prevention possible.

It is expected that the project will propose guidelines on how cardio-vascular disease should be tackled and on what actions and policies for a healthier Europe should be developed and implemented in this respect.

The new public health strategy and action programme will offer a solid basis for continuing efforts to combat cardio-vascular disease in the Community.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0226/00

by José Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Council

(28 January 2000)

Subject: Arrest of moderate dissidents in Cuba

Osvaldo Paya Sardiñas and Héctor Palacios, two moderate dissidents, were recently arrested in Cuba, and taken away to an unknown destination. According to the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, more than 300 dissidents and human rights activists have been arrested since November 1999.

Is the Council aware of these circumstances?

What is its position on these arrests?

Does it intend to take any action on the matter?

Reply

(2 May 2000)

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the Council pays close attention to the situation of human rights in Cuba in general and the situation of dissidents in particular.

On the specific question of the arrest of Mr Osvaldo Paya Sardiñas of the Movimiento Cristiano de Liberación and Héctor Palacios, founder member of the Partido de Solidaridad Democrática, who were detained on 25 January, the Council was kept informed of their situation and was pleased to hear that they had been released the day after their arrest.

In the field of human rights, the EU has always made its position clear whenever necessary through both public declarations and representations to the Cuban authorities. Moreover, the EU missions in Havana consult one another regularly on human rights issues and maintain a useful dialogue with Cuban dissidents and other groups of Cuban society. In March 1999 the Council issued a statement expressing the EU's regrets concerning the outcome of the trial of four members of the Internal Dissidence Working Group and repeating its calls for the prompt release of the four.

The EU's objective with regard to Cuba, as stated in the Common Position on Cuba adopted by the Council on 2 December 1996, continues to be to encourage a process of transition towards a pluralistic democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as sustainable economic recovery and improved living standards for the Cuban people. The EU considers that result-oriented dialogue and humanitarian aid are the best instruments for attaining that objective.

When carrying out its sixth evaluation of the Common Position in November 1999, the Council concluded that there had been no changes in the situation in Cuba that would justify a change in the EU's approach.

The Council will continue to raise these and other issues relating to human rights with the Cuban authorities at every opportunity.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1019/00

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(6 April 2000)

Subject: Five cases of torture and violation of human rights in Turkey

In the past week, several newspapers, non-governmental organisations and sources from the International Red Cross and the UN have brought to Parliament's attention the serious case of five Turkish professionals, engineers and entrepreneurs Halil Muftuoglu, Emre Nil, Ferhat Terkoglu, Hasan Basri Guner and Timur Ayan who, after prolonged and excruciating torture, were forced to sign false confessions to crimes against the state. According to the victims' declarations and evidence gathered from several sources, but not reported by the Turkish press, the torture comprised electric shocks to the testicles, jets of freezing water and beatings with clubs wrapped in towels to avoid bruising. The torture was inflicted by officers and officials of the Istanbul directorate for organised crime, a body which is part of the Turkish government's criminal investigation department. All five are now being detained in Bayrampasa prison while awaiting trial.

1. Does the Council not consider that these continuing grave violations of human rights provide a startling contradiction to the statements made by the Prime Minister, Mr Ecevit, and the entire Turkish government to the effect that the reform of the judicial system, which should facilitate Turkey's accession to the EU, is already under way?

2. Does the Council not consider that the essentially positive opinion expressed by the Commissioner for enlargement, Mr Verheugen, after his recent visit to Istanbul, on the progress achieved by Turkey in this regard is largely unjustifiable, or at the very least, premature?

3. Should the Council not ask the Turkish government to provide immediate explanations for the inhuman treatment of the five aforementioned prisoners before starting negotiations on the accession of Turkey to the European Union?

Reply

(10 July 2000)

The European Union has raised, and will continue to do so, the issue of human rights with the Turkish Government, most recently in connection with the EC-Turkey Association Council on 11 April 2000. The EU is concerned about reports of human rights violations and will continue to closely monitor the human rights situation in Turkey and, if necessary, raise individual cases with Turkish authorities.

Turkey has embarked on a process of reform in this area. The EU welcomes Turkey's intention to improve the human rights situation and will continue to support and encourage the Turkish efforts in this regard. The EU looks forward to further progress in this area.

In this context, the EU recalls that compliance with the Copenhagen political criteria, which include guaranteeing human rights, is a prerequisite for the opening of accession negotiations. Consequently, no such negotiations have yet started with Turkey.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1302/00

by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 April 2000)

Subject: Statement by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Council

Does the President of the Commission, in his capacity as a member of the European Council, agree with the statement made to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on 3 April by Mr Philippe de Boissieu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council, that the European Council never read the Presidency's Conclusions and could not explain them?

Does he share Mr de Boissieu's view that the European Council is not able to play an effective role in coordinating the general affairs of the Council?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2000)

It is Commission policy not to comment on the internal affairs of the other Community institutions.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0812/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 March 2000)

Subject: Remarks by the Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel on the Austrian Government

At last, on 27 February, the Belgian Foreign Minster Louis Michel described his outspoken remarks on the Austrian Government as foolish and withdrew them. The international press agencies reported that he had described his call on Belgian tourists not to travel to Austria because of the new government coalition as incredible and verging on bad taste. But anybody looking for a Belgian reappraisal of its strategy of isolating Austria had their hopes dashed two days later.

In the interview in the Belgian weekly Le Journal du Mardi published on 29 February Michel expressed his hope that the sanctions imposed on Austria by the 14 Member States would topple the Vienna Government. Asked the goal of his strategy towards Austria, he answered: I should like to bring down the present Austrian Government. Haider is undoubtedly a neo-Nazi, but Wolfgang Schlüssel is his accomplice out of pure personal ambition. Louis Michel, with his contradictory pronouncements, in blatant contrast with the European ideal of dealings between the Member States on the basis of partnership and responsibility, has set a precedent for relations between the countries in the European Union. The European project for peace and stability based on responsible economic, political and social cooperation on the basis of trust is being jeopardised by reckless and insensitive remarks such as Mr Michel's.

What does the Council intend to do to halt the process of disintegration in the Union since the strategy of isolating Austria began?

Reply

(25 May 2000)

The Council has not taken a view on this subject, and cannot therefore comment on the issues raised in the Honourable Member's question.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0367/00

by Marie-Noëlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Reduced VAT rates for district heating systems' customers

To date, the supply of gas and electricity appears in the Community list of projects to which the Member States of the European Union may apply a reduced VAT rate. On the other hand, this is not the case for customers of district heating networks.

However, these urban networks often help in a reprocessing of domestic waste and in energy diversification, which is a European Union objective; finally, with regard to the social requirements which determine the reduced rate, whether the consumer uses gas, electricity or a district heating system, the tax burden should be the same, especially since the consumer often hardly has any choice (people living in blocks of flats, etc.).

Can the Commission please explain what could have justified such an imbalance between the different types of energy supply? Does it intend to correct this imbalance by proposing the inclusion of agreements concluded with district heating networks in the list of projects which may benefit from reduced VAT rates?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Current Community legislation does not allow Member States to apply a reduced VAT rate to district heating systems' customers.

The current rules were adopted after negotiations within the Council which led to the amendment of the Commission's original proposal(1) dropping the possibility of applying a reduced VAT rate to natural gas and electricity.

In its proposal on the harmonisation of rates the Commission stated that the obligatory reduced rate should apply to energy products for heating and lighting in order to avoid distortions.

The Commission will examine this matter at the next meeting on the contents of Annex H to the Sixth VAT Directive (77/388/EEC)(2) to which the reduced rate applies. It cannot, however, at this stage predict the outcome of the Council's discussions on any new proposals.

(1) OJ C 250, 18.9.1987, amended by OJ C 44, 19.2.1992.

(2) OJ L 262, 15.10.1977.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0630/00

by María Ayuso González (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 March 2000)

Subject: Companies in receipt of export refunds

Export refunds have played an important role in stimulating agricultural exports and have been applied for, and paid to, EU exporting companies, most of which are involved in processing and marketing.

Would the Commission state which companies have received export refunds exceeding 100 000 euros/ecus per year and provide the following information: (a) the total amount received for each of the years from 1986 to 1999; (b) the country to which the companies belong or to which the amount was assigned; (c) the crops or products exported; (d) whether the companies involved are engaged solely in marketing (processing and/or export) or also in production (agricultural or livestock)?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2000)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that much of the work is delegated to the Member States' paying agencies, under the statutory provisions governing the treatment of Community agricultural aid, including export refunds, in the Community budget, and in particular the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy(1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 296/96 of 16 February 1996(2) on data to be transmitted by the Member States and the monthly booking of expenditure financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), and laying down certain detailed rules of application for Council Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy(3)). Consequently, as applications for aid are managed by these paying agencies (approved by the Member States in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1663/95 of 7 July 1995 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 regarding the procedure for the clearance of the accounts of the EAGGF Guarantee Section(4)), they have all the data concerning the recipients.

The Commission does not possess the information requested by the Honourable Member. For purposes of control, the Member States notify the Commission of the accounting data specified in the Regulation; it would be possible to process those data to reveal the identity of aid recipients, but Community provisions on personal data protection, which are binding on Community institutions by virtue of Article 286 (ex-article 213b) of the EC Treaty, would prevent the Commission from divulging this information.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 39, 17.2.1996.

(3) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(4) OJ L 158, 8.7.1995.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0040/00

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: Cuts in the Poseima budget

In its letter of amendment No 4 to the PDB for 2000, the Commission increases the appropriations for other programmes to the detriment of Poseima, claiming that budgetary requirements for the latter are declining. However, according to the report on the outermost regions which it adopted on 22 December 1999, spending on Poseima in 1999 exceeded the initial budget. What are the Commission's grounds for cutting this budget?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2000)

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the Commission's answers to his Written Question E-0038/00(1) and to Written Question E-2403/99 by Mrs Fiqueiredo(2).

(1) OJ C 303 E, 24.10.2000.

(2) OJ C 225 E, 8.8.2000, p. 125.