ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1782/98

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(11 June 1998)

Subject: Operational programmes (Interreg II)

Spain is currently participating in various operational programmes involving Community financial support which are cross-border or transnational in nature (Interreg II programme).

Will the Commission say which of all the projects concerned are currently benefiting under the Spain-France operational programmes and the operational programmes for the Mediterranean area?

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

(15 July 1998)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament a list of Spanish projects in receipt of part-financing as part of the cross-border cooperation between Spain and France under Interreg II A.

The projects in question have been chosen by the cross-border working parties introduced during the last meeting of the Interreg monitoring committee in October 1997, in the Aragon, Catalonia and Navarre regions. In the Basque Country, cross-border projects are funded under the "Euskadi-Aquitaine Cooperation Fund". Provided they meet the eligibility requirements and rules of the programme, these projects will be part-financed under Interreg II A.

As for the projects involved in transnational cooperation under Interreg II C, and more particularly in the operational programmes for the Mediterranean area, the Commission cannot anticipate in the preparatory phase which projects will be involved, as these programmes have not yet been submitted for approval.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2355/98

by Olivier Dupuis (ARE) to the Commission

(13 July 1998)

Subject: Financial transactions carried out by Mr Karadzic

According to a report which appeared in the Banja Luka weekly Nezavisne Novine and was taken up in the Corriere della Sera of 22 June 1998, DM 17 million (the equivalent of Lire 17 March 1997 from the National Bank of the Republika Srpska (the Serb Republic) to the Nuova Banca di Credito di Trieste (also known under the Slovene name of Trzaska Kreditna Banka); this transfer of funds seems to have been carried out by henchmen of the war criminal Radovan Karadzic shortly before they were obliged to hand over the government of the Serb Republic to the "moderates" of the current Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik. The enormous capital sum transferred is assumed to consist either of the proceeds of the looting carried out by the Bosnian Serbs in the course of their "ethnic cleansing" drive or of funds misappropriated from the Serb Republic.

In view of the foregoing, what information can the Commission obtain concerning the activities of the Liechtenstein-based company Sarnos Establishment, which seems to be used by the "Karadzic clan" as a cover for capital transfers?

What information can the Commission obtain concerning the activities of the Rome-based International institute for political and economic research on cooperation and development (Ispeco), headed by Mr Gianfranco Oliverio, which appears to have emerged in June 1995 as a political and economic pressure group lobbying on behalf of Radovan Karadzic in Italy?

What action does the Commission intend to take to prevent, in future, any direct or indirect collusion or connivance with the war criminal Radovan Karadzic and to strengthen the European institutions' cooperation with the ad hoc Tribunal dealing with war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia?

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

(14 September 1998)

The Commission has been informed of the articles that have appeared in the Italian press regarding the financial transactions said to have been effected by Mr Karadzic. It has, unfortunately, no further information nor the resources to investigate the truth of the acts that are alleged.

Nevertheless, the Commission would like to recall that it suspended in 1997 its assistance operations in Republika Srpska, following similar accounts involving suspected war criminals. It has from the outset taken the view and repeatedly made it well known that those suspected of war crimes should be held accountable and answer for their deeds and be brought to justice in order to ensure lasting peace and stability in Bosnia Herzegovina.

Through its budget the Community is supporting the activities of the International Criminal Court.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1878/98

by Bernie Malone (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Zero VAT-rate for phosphate-free fertilizers

Given that the phosphate run-offs are having a very detrimental impact on the quality of water in lakes in Ireland, could the Commission indicate if it plans to bring forward proposals to remove the anomaly whereby fertilizers containing phosphates are zero VAT-rated, while those that do not contain phosphates are not? If it is not planning to bring forward such proposals, could it indicate why not?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 1998)

Pursuant to Article 28(2) of the Sixth VAT Directive (77/388/EEC),(1) the Member States may, subject to certain conditions, maintain certain exemptions with refund of the tax paid at the preceding stage. Ireland applies a zero rate to fertilisers under certain conditions. However, according to the information in the Commission's possession, no distinction is made between fertilisers containing phosphates and those which do not.

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2049/98

by Jan Sonneveld (PPE) and Petrus Cornelissen (PPE) to the Commission

(7 July 1998)

Subject: Imports of third country citrus fruits into Italy and Greece

The plant health system in the EU was harmonized in 1993. Since then imports of citrus fruits have been permitted into 13 Member States of the EU (including Spain and Portugal). However, for a three-year transitional period Greece and Italy were to be allowed to enjoy protected zone status. On 14 March 1996 the Commission published a directive removing the protected zone status of these Member States. Italy and Greece have not implemented this directive.

In November 1997 the Standing Committee on Plant Health adopted the legislation relating to the new EU/Third country import arrangements for citrus fruit. Even before these arrangements came into effect the two Member States in question should have started to implement the Commission directive removing their protected zone status. Today, five years after the harmonization of the EU's plant health system Greece and Italy should implement this forthwith.

1. Is the Commission aware that despite directive 96/15 of 14 March 1996(1) it is still not possible to import citrus fruit from third countries into Italy and Greece?

2. What action will the Commission take to ensure the immediate opening up of these markets and the implementation of directive 96/15?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1998)

The Commission is aware that the import of citrus fruit originating in third countries is still not possible in Greece and Italy.

The non-application of the relevant Community legislation by Greece and Italy is at present subject to detailed examination by the Commission in order to determine the appropriate steps to be envisaged.

(1) OJ L 70, 20.3.1996, p. 35.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2092/98

by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Upsurge in computer-related repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Is the Commission aware of the new complaint of repetitive strain injury (RSI)?

Can the Commission state what the precise cause of this complaint is and what treatment and preventive measures are available?

Can the Commission state how many cases of RSI were reported in the European Union in 1997?

Does the Commission agree that if the cause is not quickly identified, together with preventive measures, the upsurge in the incidence of this complaint, in conjunction with the ever more important part played by the computer in modern society, is likely to have an enormous economic impact?

What action does the Commission propose to combat and prevent this complaint?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 1998)

The Commission is aware of musculoskeletal disorders and, in particular, of repetitive strain injury.

With regard to the prevention of and the granting of compensation for occupational diseases, Annex I of Commission Recommendation 90/326/EEC of 22 May 1990 concerning the adoption of a European schedule of occupational diseases(1) contains, among the diseases caused by physical agents, eight different diagnostic groups of mulculoskeletal disorders.

In the context of the harmonisation of statistics on occupational diseases (the "European Occupational Diseases Statistics" (EODS) project), the Commission collected data during the reference year 1995. The preliminary results of this project, not yet published, show that approximately 3 400 cases of nerve paralysis due to pressure were recognised in the Community in 1995. The majority of these cases are carpal tunnel syndrome, often linked to repetitive hand and arm movements. However, owing to disparities between the Member States, these figures only cover a minimum number of cases and should be read with caution.

According to information on the proportion of people exposed, 26 % of the active Community population report exposure to work involving short repetitive tasks, while 46 % reported exposure to work involving repetitive hand or arm movements. Tasks of this type would be linked, for example, to personal computers.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (Bilbao) is collecting data on this subject. The current situation is that the Commission has requested that these data should also cover work and activities involving a high risk of such disorders. The Agency plans to publish the results in 1999.

(1) OJ L 160 of 26 June 1990.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1831/98

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(12 June 1998)

Subject: Structural support in Austria

Austria receives EU structural assistance primarily within the framework of support for Objective 5b regions. Under the reform of structural assistance in the EU the current Objective 5b regions are to be incorporated into the new Objective 2.

This gives to the following questions for Austria:

1. What is the impact of this reform on Austria and on its nine federal provinces?

2. Will the reform result in a loss of support for regions in the individual Austrian provinces?

3. Is the total amount of assistance available for the provinces to be reduced?

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

(30 June 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question no 1116/98 by Mr Linser(1).

(1) OJ C 13, 18.1.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1949/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: WTO

What is the view of the Commission on the present permitted exclusion of patents on plants and animals from the Agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1998)

Article 27.3(b) of the trade related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPs) agreement creates an option for World trade organisation (WTO) members to exclude plants and animals from patentability.

At European level, the Member States are legally bound by Article 53(b) of the Munich Convention, which expressly excludes plant or animal varieties or essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals from patentability.

At Community level Council Regulation (EC) 2100/94 of 27 July 1994 on Community plant variety rights(1) provides Community intellectual property rights protection for new plant varieties, as an effective sui generis system within the meaning of Article 27.3(b), second sentence of the TRIPs agreement. Moreover, Directive 98/44/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 6 July 1998(2) on the legal protection of biotechnology inventions has recently been adopted. Article 4 of the Directive states that inventions which concern plants and animals shall be patentable if the technical feasibility of the invention is not confined to a particular plant or animal variety.

It is the view of the Commission that both Community instruments are in full conformity with Article 53(b) of the Munich Convention and with Article 27.3(b) of the TRIPs agreement.

The provisions of Article 27(3) of TRIPs will be reviewed no later than 1 January 1999, but the Commission does not have a firm position on this issue at this stage.

(1) OJ L 227, 1.9.1994.

(2) OJ L 213, 30.7.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2108/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Reopening of centre for rehabilitation of torture victims in Turkey

The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) has announced that the Turkish authorities have closed the centre for the rehabilitation of torture victims at Diyarbakir, which was opened on the initiative of the IRCT.

The centre had been opened only five days previously, the official justification for closing it down being the lack of the necessary operating permits.

As there are at least 100,000 Kurdish victims of torture in the Diyarbakir region and human rights violations are a continual occurrence, what representations will the Commission make to the Turkish authorities to secure the immediate reopening of the centre?

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

(14 September 1998)

The Commission is aware of the events described by the Honourable Member. The Commission representative in Turkey and a number of ambassadors from the Member States were present when the centre for torture victims in Turkey was opened in June. The Commission has monitored developments carefully and is pleased to note that the director-general for foundations in Turkey authorised the reopening of the centre on 15 June.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2506/98

by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Actions to be brought against France in the area of the environment

In view of the large number of actions currently being brought against France for failure to comply with European legislation in the area of the environment, would the Commission give a list of the proceedings it intends to initiate against France for failure to comply with Community rules on the environment?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2159/98

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(13 July 1998)

Subject: Danger facing the oldest monastery in the world situated in Turkey

The Mar Gabriel Syrian Orthodox monastery, the oldest monastery in the world, is situated in an area of southern Turkey affected by the Kurdish conflict. The local authorities are preventing the training of novices at Mar Gabriel and refusing to allow any conservation work to be carried out, with the result that the historic monastery, which is already suffering from neglect, is falling into a state of total disrepair.

Can the Commission make representations to the Turkish authorities with a view to ending the deterioration of this sixteen-hundred-year-old Christian monastery and the infringements of the rights of the very few monks remaining there?

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

(14 September 1998)

According to the Commission¢s information, the Turkish Minister of the Interior was recently questioned by a member of the Turkish parliament concerning the matter raised by the Honourable Member. In his reply, the Minister stated that the Government had no intention of prohibiting religious instruction by the Syrian Orthodox community, or of interfering with or restricting its freedom of worship. With regard to the building renovations, they must receive prior approval from the Ministry of Culture and be in accordance with the prevailing regulations on historic monuments.

The Luxembourg European Council in December 1997 stated that closer ties between the EU and Turkey would depend on the continuation of political and economic reforms undertaken by Turkey, particularly with regard to aligning its human rights standards and practices on those in the EU. The Council added that closer links also depended on Turkey¢s respect for and protection of minorities.

Despite Ankara¢s decision to suspend all political dialogue with the EU, the Commission intends to continue to share its concerns regarding such matters with its Turkish interlocutors, including the matter raised by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1997/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Passenger listing

In view of the recent tragic ICE train disaster at Eschede, and all the doubts this casts on the safety of modern railway technology, will the Commission now review its decision not to require the listing of passengers in the Channel Tunnel? This decision was justified by the belief that modern technology would prevent the possibility of any railway accident; this belief has now been cast into serious doubt.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(3 August 1998)

It would be premature to attempt to draw conclusions relating to the tragic railway accident at Eschede, Germany, until the enquiries being undertaken into the accident have been completed.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1264/98

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Recovery and protection of remaining Italian varieties of hemp

It emerged from the conference organized by Assocanapa (Italian hemp growing coordination body) on 27 and 28 February 1998 in Carmagnola on the recovery of hemp-growing in Italy that most Italian varieties of fibre hemp (Carmagnola, Eletta Campana, Fibranova and many others) have been lost forever or are in danger of being lost because Italian research institutes have ceased to produce them for decades.

Italian varieties, which were the result of centuries of selection, were considered the best in the world, with fibre yields of up to 60 % more than other varieties.

The availability of Italian hemp varieties is considered an essential requirement for a return to a form of hemp growing that is not dependent on Community subsidies and would eventually become economically independent.

The loss of Italian hemp varieties is economically damaging to the countries concerned by this important crop and irreversibly harmful to biodiversity and the environment.

An uncertified hemp seed has been identified among Piemontese farmers, which is certainly derived from ancient local crops.

Will the Commission indicate what measures should be adopted to step up research and guarantee the protection of remaining Italian hemp varieties?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 1998)

As regards measures for stimulating research and guaranteeing the conservation of Italian and European varieties of hemp, Council Regulation (EC) 1467/94 of 20 June 1994 on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture(1), adopted a first Community programme for the conservation, characterisation and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture.

The objectives are to help ensure and improve the conservation, characterisation, documentation, evaluation and utilisation of potentially valuable plant and animal genetic resources in the Community.

Council Regulation (EC) 1467/94 provides for concerted measures and for shared-cost projects. Concerted measures coordinate individual measures for the conservation, characterisation and utilisation of those genetic resources in agriculture carried out in the Member States.

Shared-cost projects for the conservation, characterisation and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture, must, as a general rule, be carried out by participants established within the Community. Priority is to be given to projects providing for the participation of two or more unconnected participants established in different Member States.

Projects must, as a general rule, be concluded following an official selection procedure based on calls for proposals published in the Official journal.

(1) OJ L 159, 28.6.1994.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2507/98

by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Progress of actions initiated against France for violations of the Community rules establishing the single market

Could the Commission list and state the content of the actions initiated against France for failure to comply with Community legalisation concerning the completion of the single market?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1198/98

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission

(24 April 1998)

Subject: Forestry aid programmes

In recent years the forestry sector has been the subject of a range of EU programmes including the Fair Programme, the programme to protect Community forests against fire and Leader II.

In view of the commercial and environmental importance of forests, the diversity of forests within the EU and the need to combat desertification, what is the Commission's view to date of the European Union's forestry policy? What are the Commission's plans for the existing forestry programmes for the 2000-2006 period?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-1196/98 and E-1198/98 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 1998)

The Commission is aware of the important role of forests in the context of rural development, employment, the safeguarding of ecological balance, the fight against erosion and desertification in rural areas.

The Commission intends to respect the deadline of 31 January 1999 in Parliament's resolution and to submit a communication on the Community's forestry strategy before the end of 1998. The Commission, moreover, has already responded to the request by Parliament to integrate forestry measures in a more coherent way in Community policies by devoting special attention to sylviculture within rural development policy in Agenda 2000(1).

(1) COM(97) 2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1241/98

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 April 1998)

Subject: Saving the cultural heritage of Europe

It has been reported (The European, 30.3.1998) that "no-holds-barred" fighting is coming to Europe. It is banned in more than 40 American states but it is taking a grip on Europe, where it is spreading to the countries of the former Soviet Union, but also to Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands.

It is not sport. It involves, even killing, one's opponent. It is an uncivilized, brutal and inhuman business, which is undermining Europe's cultural heritage.

Is the Commission planning any measures to counter this threat to our culture?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1998)

The Commission has also learned of this type of fighting from the press.

Without prejudice to any judicial cooperation within the meaning of Title VI of the Treaty on European Union (cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs), local and national authorities are responsible for granting authorisation for such events. Thus, it is for the Council, as part of cooperation within the meaning of the said Title VI, to deal with the problems arising from such activities.

Where persons engaging in this activity could be considered as "workers" within the meaning of labour law, Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers(1) and Council Directive 94/33/EC of 22 June 1994 on the protection of young people at work(2) could be applicable.

Even so, the Commission shares the opinion of the Honourable Member. "No-holds-barred" fighting is not part of Europe's cultural and sporting traditions. It is an outstanding example of the dangers which threaten sport and television when making a profit is the sole consideration.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.

(2) OJ L 216, 20.8.1994.