ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2246/97 by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission (2 July 1997)

Subject: Financial aid provided by the European Union to the Democratic Republic of Congo

The European Union has provided a significant amount of financial aid to relieve the disastrous situation in Congo. However, estimates have been produced claiming that a large part of this aid has fallen into the wrong hands.

What is the total amount of financial aid out of EU resources provided to Congo so far? How does the Commission propose to ensure that the aid allocated to Congo in future gets to its destination and that the aid reaches those who need it?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (4 August 1997)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) is a signatory to the Lomé Convention and, as such, it has had the benefit of the Community's financial and technical cooperation via the European Development Fund (EDF). The assertion that aid has fallen into the wrong hands has never been proven as regards Community cooperation, implementation of which is monitored closely by the Commission's delegation in Kinshasa.

On 22 January 1992, as a result of the Mobutu authorities' obstruction of the development of democracy, the Community and its Member States suspended the cooperation programmes, with the exception of humanitarian aid. Since then, the Commission has confined its initiatives to the financing of humanitarian aid and rehabilitation operations, involving a total of approximately ECU 307 million. Those operations have been implemented by organisations that form part of civil society and by international organisations, without any direct involvement of the successive governments, but with the active participation of the recipients.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1672/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (20 May 1997)

Subject: Suspension of publication of the Italian Archeological Encyclopaedia and the 'Biographical Dictionary of Italians'

The Board of Directors of the Italian Encyclopaedia Institute recently announced that, owing to a serious economic crisis, publication of two works which were expected to appear in the near future - the Archeological Encyclopaedia and the 'Biographical Dictionary of Italians' - had been suspended.

These two works are of crucial importance, both as historical records and as part of the national identity. Leading specialists from both Italy and abroad have been working on the two projects for several years now, with the backup of the latest computer technology. The whole of the Archeological Encyclopaedia, which is the only work of its kind in the world, has been compiled on computer, and can therefore be used as the basis for future telematic and multimedia applications.

The decision to suspend publication of these two works when they were so near to completion is thus perplexing and thoroughly disappointing.

The Commission is therefore asked to endorse the appeal made by the Assembly of Co-editors, Consultants and Compilers against the decision to suspend publication, and to:

1. state its views on the matter;

2. state whether at European level financial support might be found with a view to ensuring that the Archeological Encyclopaedia and the 'Biographical Dictionary of Italians' are published;

3. provide information on any such support that may be available.

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (30 June 1997)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's disappointment about the suspension of the publication of the Italian archaeological encyclopaedia and the Biographical dictionary of Italians.

As the Honourable Member is aware, the Commission can only support projects and initiatives which fall within the framework of Article 128 of the EC Treaty wherein it is clearly stipulated that any action should aim to encourage cooperation between Member States and if necessary to support and supplement their action in the cultural heritage field. Furthermore, this objective should be achieved on the basis of Commission proposals which should be adopted unanimously by the Council and be co-decided by both the Council and the Parliament.

In this context and as the Honourable Member is aware, the Commission has proposed the Raphael programme which is, presently, at the conciliation procedure stage.

Should the programme be adopted, it will be followed by the publication of calls for proposals which will set out the participation conditions. Should the initiatives in question fulfill the eligibility criteria of any of the calls for proposals, then the Commission would gladly consider a financial contribution request.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1450/97 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (28 April 1997)

Subject: Protecting Galician granite

Experts have described the oxidation of the granite of various historic buildings in the city of Santiago de Compostela as worrying, following the discovery made in the wake of the preliminary analysis of the biological pollution of the stone itself that the high porosity of the granite is accelerating its ageing.

Given that the Galician capital is one of the architectural jewels of the Union, and that most of its historic buildings are made of granite, a detailed and comprehensive study of the causes of the sudden ageing of granite in both modern and ancient buildings is urgently called for.

Can the Commission say what contribution the Community could make to carrying out the requisite studies and research, so as to find a way to counteract the disease affecting Galician granite and numerous historic buildings in the Spanish city in question?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (27 June 1997)

Since 1986 the Commission has, under the environmental research programmes, been financing and co-ordinating projects aimed at the protection and conservation of Europe's cultural heritage. Several of these have studied the causes, evolution and repercussions of environmental damage to granite monuments.

In this context, deterioration from biological causes, as well as the evaluation of different conservation treatments for granite, have both been the subject of numerous studies. Indeed, the conclusions of two of these research projects were presented at an international conference which the Commission organised in Santiago de Compostela in November 1994. The Commission has published the proceedings of this conference in the form of a research report (Report No 5) featuring in the body of publications outlining the results of community research projects on the protection of cultural heritage.

In addition the Commission, conscious of the historical importance of Santiago de Compostela and of the conservation difficulties threatening its monuments, has since 1994 been allocating a financial contribution towards the upkeep of monuments located along the Way of St. James, including the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

All of this highlights the Commission's keen interest in research on the protection of European granite monuments of a landmark nature, such as those to be found in the town of Santiago de Compostela.

As regards future activities, the Commission, in response to the interest shown by Member States in the protection of our cultural heritage, intends to further broaden its own cultural activities, as well as expanding research in this area, as outlined in the Commission's proposal for the fifth framework programme.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1582/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (6 May 1997)

Subject: Restructuring of the network of lottery sales outlets in Italy

The current network for selling lottery tickets in Italy consists of 4 500 official sales outlets run by monopoly retailers (tobacconists) or former lottery employees (Law No 123 of 16 March 1987).

A subsequent law (No 85 of 19 April 1990) provided for the gradual extension of this network, which is expected to bring the number of lottery sales outlets to 15 000.

1. Have the procedures for tendering and the selection of the company responsible for restructuring been complied with?

2. Has provision also been made for tendering to supply ticket selling equipment for the 15 000 planned sales outlets?

3. Given that a single market exists, can the sales outlets also be set up in other European Community Member States?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (7 July 1997)

The restructuring of the lottery outlet network in Italy is part of the introduction of a computerised lottery system.

Initially, tenders were invited for the supply of goods and services from entities, companies and consortia in which the public authorities held a majority stake. The tender notice was not published in the Italian Official Gazette. As the award procedure was contrary to Community law, the Commission initiated proceedings under Article 169 of the EC Treaty; this resulted in a Court of Justice judgment ([1994] ECR I-1409) to the effect that Italy had infringed Articles 52 and 59 of the EC Treaty and Council Directive 77/62/EEC of 21 December 1976 ((OJ L 13, 15.1.1977. )) relating to the coordination of procedures on the award of public supply contracts, as amended by Council Directive 88/295/EEC of 22 March 1988 ((OJ L 127, 20.5.1988. )).

The Italian authorities cancelled and re-awarded the contract for setting up the computerised lottery system, granting the same entity a franchise for a series of tasks until then reserved for the Finance Ministry, as well as a number of public authority powers concerning the management of the lottery.

The Commission monitored the redefining of the relationship between the Finance Ministry and the franchisee; at its request, the Italian authorities adopted provisions in 1995 and 1996 clarifying the transfer and exercise of the aforementioned public authority powers so that they complied with Community law In this connection, the Italian authorities acknowledged that the franchisee was a public-law body required to abide by Community public procurement legislation in respect of all supply or service contracts.

As regards the proposed arrangements for the supply of lottery terminals for the 15 000 sales outlets referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission will ask the Italian authorities to provide the information it needs in order to give a more detailed answer.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1883/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 June 1997)

Subject: Right of resale

The Economic and Social Committee has issued an opinion on the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the resale right for the benefit of the author of an original work of art' (COM(96) 0097 final - 96/0085 COD) ((OJ C 178, 21.6.1996, p. 16. )).

The Commission's proposal for a directive is intended to establish a harmonized legal system for the right of resale.

Harmonization of the right of resale within the European Union is the first step towards the general establishment of this right in all the countries of the EEA as well as the CEECs, the Baltic States and the states of the CIS, linked to the European Union by association or partnership and cooperation agreements.

Will the Commission do everything possible to extend the right of resale at international level, in international organizations and in multilateral and bilateral negotiations with third countries, in the interests not only of artists but also of those selling works of art?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (10 July 1997)

As the Commission pointed out in the explanatory memorandum to its proposal for a Directive on the resale right for the benefit of the author of an original work of art, the artist's resale right is already recognised at international level by Article 14ter of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (as revised by the 1971 Paris Act), pursuant to which countries of the Berne Union are free to decide whether or not to introduce the right into their domestic law. A large number of non-EU countries already recognise the artist's resale right.

It has always been the Commission's practice in the past when negotiating agreements with third countries to ensure that the resulting agreements afford a high standard of protection for intellectual property, in accordance with the principles established in the applicable Community legislation. As far as the artist's resale right is concerned, however, it should be borne in mind that the Commission's proposal has so far received only the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee and that of Parliament at first reading. It would therefore be premature to include principles ensuring that the artist's resale right is protected in agreements concluded with third countries or under the auspices of international organisations before such protection is ensured at Community level.

Clearly, once the proposal has been adopted, the Commission will begin making the necessary approaches with a view to including protection of the artist's resale right in such agreements.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1932/97 by Mirja Ryynänen (ELDR) to the Commission (4 June 1997)

Subject: Establishment of a European group exchange programme for children/extension of Youth for Europe programme

Children aged 10-15 are at a time in life when the basis is being laid for active citizenship. Before the age of 15, attitudes and tolerance are learned through positive personal experience. These years are also important for secure social development. However, at present the EU does not have a programme of its own for group exchanges of children in this age group which could promote these objectives. Nor can 10-15-year-olds participate in the Youth for Europe programme, which is intended for those aged 15-25.

1. What is the Commission doing to ensure that 10-15-year-olds can participate in group exchanges in the various EU countries?

2. What else is the Commission doing to help this neglected age group to broaden its world view and learn languages?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (27 June 1997)

As the Honourable Member mentions, the decision for the informal education programme 'Youth for Europe' which is mainly focused on youth exchange is limited to young people between 15 and 25.

However, the framework of Socrates Chapter II Action 1 (Comenius), provides support for the development of European education projects between schools and other educational institutions at all levels from that of nursery to upper secondary schools. While this action does not support the mobility of young people it does provide a context for the development of a genuinely European experience for pupils participating in projects which raises their awareness of the cultures and languages of other European countries.

The Socrates programme Chapter III Action 1 (Lingua) provides support for the mobility of young people aged 14 and over within the framework of a joint educational project under Action E.

The Commission is currently engaged in a wide-ranging reflection on its proposals for the future development of projects in the education, training and youth areas in the post 1999 period. It will be particularly anxious to ensure that future initiatives respond to the need to provide all young Europeans with an educational experience which sensitises them to the diversity of cultures of Europe and provides them with a basis for developing as true European citizens.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1620/97 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (7 May 1997)

Subject: Greek operational programme on health and welfare

The operational programme on health and welfare submitted by Greece for 1994-1999 and approved by the Commission contains a second sub-programme on welfare which is intended to improve the level of social protection enjoyed by vulnerable population groups: it contains three basic measures designed to strengthen the Greek system of social protection and to combat the social and economic exclusion of less favoured groups.

Will the Commission say what the take-up rate has been so far in respect of each measure of the sub-programme on welfare and in respect of specific projects?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (13 June 1997)

The welfare sub-programme of the operational programme on health and welfare includes measures for:

- a network of centres for the reintegration of the disabled;

- the improvement of services in a number of the already existing centres for the disabled and the establishment of centres for the autistic;

- a network of emergency intervention centres for disadvantaged social groups;

- the construction of a centre of the detoxification of prisoners.

Take-up by these measures is slow, because they are highly innovative. The second measure had absorbed 14% of funds by 30 March 1997. The other measures, which are being undertaken by the Ministry of Health, are at the stage of studies and programming.

For more detailed information on their progress, the Honourable Member should apply to that Ministry.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2082/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (19 June 1997)

Subject: Pension reform

The European Charter of Pensioners' Rights forcefully asserts a number of principles concerning retired workers, particularly in Articles 5 and 8 thereof.

Would the Commission state:

1. its views on these principles and their implementation?

2. whether practical proposals should be drawn up?

3. whether it agrees that a People's Europe must not focus exclusively on strictly monetary matters, but must also provide appropriate responses to issues of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (22 July 1997)

1. The Commission supports the principles set out in the European Charter of Pensioners' Rights. However, the responsibility for implementing those principles lies with the Member States, each of which retains control over the organisation and funding of its pension system, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.

2. On 12 March 1997 the Commission published a Communication to the Council and European Parliament entitled 'Modernising and improving social protection in the European Union' ((COM(97) 102. )), in which it analyses, among other matters, the question of the future of pension systems in view of the demographic ageing of European societies. In particular, it sets out possible approaches geared to making public pension schemes sustainable, providing a secure environment for supplementary pension schemes and meeting care needs for older people. The Commission invites the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee, the Employment and Labour Market Committee, and the Economic Policy Committee to give their opinions on the ideas for the modernisation of social protection systems presented in the Communication.

3. The Commission is determined to promote the establishing of a European social model based on common values and on the conviction that social policy and economic results are not conflicting interests, but consolidate each other. Highly-developed social protection systems are a major component of this model. However, to preserve social protection, it is necessary to reform the European systems in their various guises, as the conditions in which those systems evolved have changed. The aim is to adapt social protection to today's society, without divesting it of its fundamental values of solidarity and cohesion. This is a complex task, and there is no definitive way to perform it. Each Member State must find solutions tailored to its own system, whilst persevering with the convergence strategy set out in the Council Recommendation of 27 July 1992 (92/442/EEC) ((OJ L 245, 26.8.1992. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2330/97 by Jean-Pierre Bébéar (PPE) to the Commission (7 July 1997)

Subject: Socrates programme - Comenius actions

The Socrates programme is supposed to be aimed at every sector of education, including the pre-school and primary sectors. The system under which nursery and elementary schools are organized in France is such that they are unable to manage directly the funding which is required to match that provided by the European Union.

What measures have been implemented by the Commission and the national Socrates agency to ensure that, despite this, French schools are able to take part in Comenius actions under the Socrates programme?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (29 July 1997)

To ensure the broadest possible participation by schools in the Socrates programme, and more particularly in Action 1 of Chapter II (Comenius), the co-financing requirements for schools have been considerably relaxed.

Although the principle of co-financing still obtains, schools will no longer be required to provide evidence of their own financial contribution to a project. This is because the Commission considers that schools have their own particular characteristics and that a contribution by the school in terms of, for example, personnel, equipment and means of communication constitutes evidence of sufficient involvement, guaranteeing the smooth functioning of the Comenius Action 1 project and thus the effective utilisation of Community funds.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1702/97 by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission (20 May 1997)

Subject: Export subsidies for tobacco

How much has the Commission spent on subsidizing exports of EU-produced tobacco each year since 1990?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (24 June 1997)

The Commission can state that, since 1990, expenditure on export refunds (budget heading B1-170) has been as follows:

(ECU million (budget))

>TABLE>

The Commission would also like to stress that, as it currently stands, the common organization of the market no longer makes provision for export refunds. The last expenditure of note in this area relates to the 1995 budget (1992 harvest or earlier).