ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0555/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(4 March 1998)

Subject: Regional Operational Programme for Attiki - sub-programme 1 measure 3

Sub-programme 1, measure 3 of the Regional Operational Programme for Attiki concerns flood protection measures, including the consolidation of coastlines, the provision of rainwater ducts and the channelling of watercourses. According to the timetable, ECU 35 222 million of the public funds earmarked for this purpose should have been utilized by the end of 1997.

1. What progress has been made by the projects in question?

2. Which of the projects are presenting the most serious problems concerning the utilization of the funds, where are these problems situated, and what are the principal reasons for the delays?

3. The actions contained in the sub-programme also include the opening of footpaths and parking spaces. What progress has been made with these particular projects?

4. What funds had been utilized by 31 December 1997?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 1998)

According to the financial tables amended on 21 October 1997, public expenditure earmarked for measure 1.3 of the Attica operational programme (flood-prevention, coastline-restoration, etc.) until 1997 totals ECU 42.1 million.

No changes were made to the regional programmes when the Community Support Framework Monitoring Committee last met, on 31 October 1997.

For technical information and a progress report on the work, and the reasons for any delays, the Honourable Member should contact the regional authorities in Attica that are responsible for the implementation of the CSF.

By the end of 1997 a total of ECU 37.9 million in appropriations had been utilised.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1374/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Subject: Integrated control system for EAGGF aid

It is reported that the implementation of the integrated control system for EAGGF aid (Council Regulation (EEC) 3508/92)(1) in Greece has run into difficulties, resulting in delays in the payment of aid to eligible producers. Will the Commission say:

1. What specific problems are affecting the management of the integrated control system for aid in Greece?

2. What funding has Greece received so far for developing and implementing the integrated control system for aid?

3. Will this system be part of the new payments and control agency for Community guidance and guarantee aid which the Greek Government is currently setting up to replace the existing payments agency (Gedidagep)?

4. Do producers run any risk of losing Community aid, due to problems in the management of the integrated control system for aid?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 1998)

In the Commission's view the problems encountered in Greece at the time of the adoption of the integrated administration and control system should not cause any delays in the payment of aid to farmers.

Regarding the precise questions raised by the Honourable Member, the following should be pointed out:

1. First of all, there have been long delays in setting up the land registry. This land registry, which aims to establish an alphanumeric system of identification of agricultural plots, should have been operational by 1 January 1997 at the latest. Secondly, there have been failures at the level of certain administration and control procedures, involving a risk of expenditure not in conformity with Community legislation.

2. For the years 1993 to 1996, Greece benefited from financial aid of ECU 2.5 million.

3. To date, the Commission has received no official notification of the abolition of the body mentioned and the transfer of its responsibilities to other national authorities.

4. The problems noted should not involve a loss of aid to producers.

(1) OJ L 355, 5.12.1992, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1347/98

by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Measures to control mad cow disease

A cattle dealer in Alveringem (Belgium) is being prosecuted by the Veurne public prosecutor for changing the dates of birth, in collusion with a printer, of 300 cattle before selling them to a firm in the Netherlands. The fraudulent act was intended to circumvent the ban on putting cattle born before 1991 into circulation in the European Union, as part of the fight against BSE.

Does the Commission now have the necessary means in the fifteen Member States, as it stated to the European Parliament that it would have, to put an end to such practices? What are these means?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 1998)

Member States are responsible for ensuring that Community legislation is properly applied in their own territories. The Commission, through the Food and veterinary office (FVO), monitors the manner in which Member States undertake this responsibility. For this purpose, the FVO carries out control and inspection missions to all Member States and a large number of third countries.

The staffing situation of the FVO has not been sufficient in the past. As indicated in the Commission communication to the Parliament and the Council on food, veterinary and plant health control and inspections(1), the Commission is taking action to fill the posts identified(2) as being necessary for its control services to meet their commitments.

The systems of bovine identification in Member States are subject to inspections by the FVO. The approach followed by the FVO during these inspections is to audit the controls performed by Member States. The FVO is thereby contributing to the target of controlling fraudulent bovine identification practices.

Community legislation for bovine identification has been strengthened recently by Council Regulation (EC) 820/97 of 21 April 1997 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products(3). Detailed rules have been laid down by the Commission in particular with regard to eartags, registration of holdings, passports (Regulation (EC) 2629/97(4)) minimal levels of controls (Regulation (EC) 2630/974) and administrative sanctions (Regulation (EC) 494/98(5)). These legal instruments will lead to improved systems of bovine identification in Member States. The systems will be more resistant to fraudulent attempts to change the identification of bovines.

(1) COM(98) 32 final.

(2) SEC(97) 482.

(3) OJ L 117, 7. 5.1997.

(4) OJ L 354, 30.12.1997.

(5) OJ L 60, 28.2.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1436/98

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: European cooperation in developing the fisheries sector in third countries

Will the Commission indicate what cooperation projects (including the countries and sums involved) have been drawn up and implemented by DG VIII in West Africa concerning:

1. the development of small-scale fishing;

2. resource assessment;

3. the financing of research campaigns;

4. the fight against illegal fishing; and

5. the training of fishermen?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-1430/98, E-1431/98, E-1432/98, E-1433/98,E-1434/98, E-1435/98 and E-1436/98 given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 1998)

The Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that the concept of cooperation, notably with regard to support for fisheries, has undergone considerable change; the State is no longer seen as the driving force behind development, but rather as providing a regulatory framework and basic conditions enabling other actors such the private sector and members of civil society to play their roles to the full.

Recognising that different economic sectors and commercial trends are interlinked, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the Community authorities recently began to look closely at developing their analytical resources and fostering a partnership between European and ACP institutions and interested parties. This is reflected for example in the resolutions of the ACP-EC joint assembly on the future of fisheries cooperation and the resulting fisheries research initiative launched jointly by the ACP countries and the Community.

In an effort to ensure that projects are compatible, they are focused on specific priorities, drawing on various cooperation instruments however they are administered; complementarity is ensured by promoting public-private partnerships.

While the impact of this approach may not be evident from the "turnover" figures for cooperation alone, the new thinking is reflected in the issues addressed in recent years. However, to give some idea of the amounts allocated to fisheries projects under the European Development Fund (EDF), the figures are as follows:

- ECU 185 million for completed EDF projects;

- ECU 127 million for projects in hand, and

- ECU 39 million for those projects currently in preparation for which spending forecasts already exist.

The Commission is sending the Honourable Member and Parliament's General Secretariat a list of all fisheries cooperation projects financed in West Africa, broken down by country, and a list of economic indicators, including data on the fisheries sector, for all ACP countries.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1547/98

by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 May 1998)

Subject: Laser pens

1. Does the Commission believe that the use of laser pens is dangerous?

2. If so, what steps will it be taking to restrict their use?

3. Which Member States ban the use of laser pens or plan to introduce such a ban?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 1998)

The Commission, on the basis of the information it has obtained up to now, considers that in certain circumstances the improper use of certain laser pointers may constitute a hazard.

Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on general product safety is applicable(1) to laser pencils and pointers. The Directive provides that Member States shall adopt the necessary measures to ensure that only safe products are placed on the Community market (Article 2(b)).

Hence it is primarily for the Member States to take action in the case of products which present a danger to the health and safety of consumers, by adopting the necessary measures, including if necessary the recall of the product from the market.

Recently, in the framework of the notification system provided for in Article 8 of Directive 92/59/EEC, the Commission received five emergency notifications from three Member States (Germany, France, the United Kingdom) concerning measures adopted in respect of laser pencils or pointers. In compliance with the standard procedure, the Commission rapidly circulated this information to the national authorities responsible for protecting the health and safety of consumers to enable them to take the necessary measures. In effect, pursuant to the Directive, the Commission can only take measures in respect of products presenting a serious and immediate risk if requested to do so by the Member States and only provided the various conditions set out in Articles 9 to 11 of the Directive are complied with.

The Member States that sent the notifications to the Commission have taken certain national measures of varying scope. For example France has inter alia adopted a decree banning the production, importation, placing on the market and ordaining the withdrawal of laser pointers in Class 3 or higher (standard NFEN 60825.1), while Germany has introduced similar provisions.

Other Member States are currently considering what measures to adopt and have not yet informed the Commission of their intentions in this area.

Since this is a recent problem, the Commission will be closely monitoring future developments and notably the measures taken by the Member States in application of the Directive on general product safety, so as to ensure a high level of protection and safety throughout the Community where these products are concerned.

(1) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0585/98

by Sören Wibe (PSE) to the Commission

(4 March 1998)

Subject: Publicity campaign for tulips

According to reports in the Swedish media, the Commission is helping to fund a publicity campaign for tulips, which has been organized as a way of dealing with the tougher competition faced by EU flower producers following the 1992 GATT agreement on imports of cut flowers.

How much money has the Commission put into this campaign, which is aimed at boosting sales of tulips, and how much money has been put into the campaign in Sweden?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1998)

The campaign to promote tulips is part of the Community campaign to promote flowers and live plants, 60 % of which is funded by the Community while the flower trade funds the balance.

Dutch flower traders have launched the tulips campaign in several countries, including Sweden. The campaign's entire budget is ECU 417 157, including the Commission contribution of ECU 250 294. The Commission has allocated ECU 88 200 in support of the measure in Sweden.

Two programmes presented by Swedish trade organisations were also approved in 1997 and have a total budget of ECU 193 808.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0810/98

by Jens-Peter Bonde (I-EDN) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Publication of customs rules in the Official Journal

Will the Commission ensure that all customs rules are published in the Official Journal before they may enter into force?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Pursuant to Article 191 of the EC Treaty, regulations are published in the Official Journal and enter into force on the date specified in them, or in the absence thereof, on the twentieth day following that of their publication. When the Commission adopts a regulation, it always endeavours to provide for a delay between publication and entry into force, so that those concerned can adapt to the new legal position. This same applies to customs duties. These are laid down in Annex 1 to Council Regulation (EEC) 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff,(1) which is fully replaced every year by a Commission Regulation. This most recent was Commission Regulation (EC) 2086/97 of 4 November 1997.(2) This Regulation came into force on 1 January 1998. However, in the meantime, the Commission has adopted two amendments to Annex 1 to Regulation 2658/87; first, Commission Regulation (EC) 2472/97 of 11 December 1997,(3) which came into force on the sixtieth day following publication, and second, Commission Regulation (EC) 2509/97 of 15 December 1997,(4) which came into force on the twentieth day following publication.

This particular type of regulation, which adopts the legal position to constantly-changing markets, must obviously be adopted as short a time as possible before implementation if they are to be based on the most recent market prices. Such regulations, in particular the routine administrative instruments under Common Agricultural Policy, generally have a limited period of validity and consequently tend to provide for early entry into force - on the day of publication or the next working day. The Commission considers that economic operators active in these sectors are familiar with the situation, and expect the regulations to be amended at short notice, conceivably with effect from the date of publication.

The principle of certainty of legal positions precludes Community instruments from having effect from a date prior to publication. However, the Court of Justice has acknowledged that this might be acceptable in exceptional cases where the object pursued so requires, provided the legitimate expectations of those concerned are duly respected.(5)

(1) OJ L 256, 7.9.1987.

(2) OJ L 312, 14.11.1997.

(3) OJ L 341, 12.12.1997.

(4) OJ L 345, 16.12.1997.

(5) Case 98/78 Racke [1979] ECR 69 (paragraph 20), judgment given on 25.1.1979.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1119/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 April 1998)

Subject: Closure of the department of archaeology at the University of Mannheim

The University of Mannheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is to close down departments dealing with classical studies for "financial reasons". In view of the important contribution to the development of classical studies and research made by the departments under threat at the University and the importance that the European Union attaches to the "common cultural heritage", will the Commission say whether programmes of aid are available for the departments concerned to continue their activities, should the University submit a request?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 1998)

The Community funds intended to strengthen cooperation between Member States' education systems and give a European dimension to teaching at all levels are those provided for under the Community's Socrates programme.

The activities eligible under the Socrates programme do not include the funding of university departments.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0477/98

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(27 February 1998)

Subject: Role of Community economic development in future structural fund programmes

What measures is the Commission currently taking to promote the role of Community economic development in structural fund programmes? What role does the production of guidelines, as agreed at the informal Council in Ireland on 14-15 November 1996, play in this, and what is the Commission's initial assessment of their impact? What further options is the Commission currently considering to enhance the role of Community economic development in the next programming period 2000-2006?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 1998)

The European strategy of encouraging local development and employment initiatives (ILDE)(1), proposed by the Commission, is gradually being applied.

To launch it, the ministers responsible for regional policy and spatial planning broadly reconfirmed at an informal meeting the guidelines they had adopted at the European Conference on local development organised by the Irish Presidency on 11-12 November 1996. These guidelines stressed in particular the need to enrich and strengthen the partnership between actors, to think up new, innovative, integrated strategies for local job creation and to use intermediary coordinating and promotional organisations to implement them. The guidelines were first applied in the new programmes adopted for the regions undergoing industrial restructuring (Objective 2), mainly in Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom They were also introduced to a great extent in the other programmes that underwent a mid-term review in 1997. By selecting 89 territorial pacts for employment as proposed by the Member States and as part of a broad partnership involving the private sector, the Commission also sought to give physical expression to these guidelines by introducing and exploiting new forms of local job creation. A global strategy covering personal services, local cultural development or the environment was chosen for most of these pacts.

In the 2000-2006 period, the development of endogenous potential must remain a priority for aid from the Structural Funds and from the European Regional Development Fund in particular. Its scope will be extended to include personal services. The Commission is also proposing a strengthened partnership.

(1) COM(95) 273 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0711/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission

(18 March 1998)

Subject: Food legislation - consumer health

In connection with "The General Principles of Food Law in the European Union" (Commission Green Paper) and "Consumer Health and Food Safety" (Commission Communication) (COM(97) 176 final and COM(97) 183 final),

can the Commission ensure that only purely technical questions are dealt with by means of Committee procedures, whilst fundamental questions continue to be the subject of political decisions?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1093/98

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(7 April 1998)

Subject: Mainstreaming and the internal market for electricity and gas

The Council of Ministers has adopted the Directive on the Internal Market for Electricity and a common position on the draft Directive on the Internal Market for Gas. There is concern that the Internal Market will have negative implications for employment in these sectors.

Data from Eurostat and the Commission's report on Employment in Europe 1997, the Public Services Privatisation Research Unit (UK) and the European Federation of Public Services Unions all show that there was, on average, a fall in employment of 3-4 % per year in these sectors between 1990-1996. Cambridge Econometrics predicts a loss of 250 000 jobs in the medium to long-term. Against this background of falling employment, women are hit harder. The number of women employed in the sector fell from 19.6 % in 1993 to 18.6 % in 1995. (Eurostat)

Has the Commission explored how the Internal Market for Electricity and Gas will affect employment, of especially women, in the sectors concerned; has it judged the implications of this Internal Market on the basis of its own policy as laid down in "Incorporating equal opportunities for women and men into all Community policies and activities" (Com (96) 67 fin, 21.2.1996); and how does the Commission intend to address these negative consequences for women and will it consult with the appropriate social partners on this?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question No 341/98 by Mrs van Dijk(1).

(1) See page 10.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1780/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(11 June 1998)

Subject: Turkey blocks the election of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople

17 May 1998 had been set as the date for the election of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople following the death of Patriarch Karekin at the beginning of the year. However, the Turkish authorities have banned this election, postponing it indefinitely.

This is contrary to the provisions of the founding charter of the UN and the Treaty of Lausanne which Turkey itself signed and which provides for the non-interference of the Turkish authorities in the activities of the Armenian Church and the protection of all the Christian minorities living on Turkish territory. Of course, these provisions have never been respected; in fact the Turkish authorities have systematically exterminated all Christians (Greeks, Armenians and others) who have refused to abandon the land of their fathers.

Will the Commission state its official views on this matter and say what action it intends to take, since this is clearly yet another case of the violation of the religious rights of the Christian minorities in Turkey, a country which has been importuning the EU with its demands for membership but is continuing to use tactics used by totalitarian regimes?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 1998)

The Commission considers the improvement of the human rights situation and the continuation of democratisation of particular importance to the development of relations between the Union and Turkey.

At December's Luxembourg European Council, the Union reiterated that strengthening Turkey's links with the European Union also depended on that country's pursuit of the political and economic reforms on which it had embarked, including the alignment of human rights standards and practices on those in force in the Union. The Council added that closer ties also depended on respect for and protection of minorities. The latter naturally include the Armenians, for whose organisation the election of a Patriarch was crucial.

Despite the Turkish government's decision to suspend all political dialogue with the Union, the Commission will continue presenting the Union's views on such matters to Turkey.