ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2056/01

by Gianfranco Dell'Alba (TDI) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Commission's decision to discontinue medals for twenty years' service

The Commission would appear to have decided to put an end to the practice of awarding medals to officials after twenty years' service and to replace it with a European civil servant's diploma, to be awarded after twenty-five years' service.

The decision was apparently taken in response to a report produced by the Peer Group, which deemed the awarding of medals after twenty years' service in the European institutions to be a negative priority.

1. Would the Commission state exactly why, in spite of the fact that in its current staff reform proposals it continues to claim that European civil servants are the life blood of the European institutions, it intends to do away with this traditional means of acknowledging the work carried out by officials in these institutions, on the grounds that it is a negative priority?

2. Would the Commission not agree that the European civil service could do without another small but significant gesture of this kind, which is clearly unhelpful and quite frankly incomprehensible?

3. Would the Commission not agree that it would be wise for it to reverse the decision?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(22 November 2001)

The award of medals for 20 years of service was originally introduced to mark the first 20 years of the European Institutions and subsequently adopted as a way of recognising the contribution made by officials working in the Institutions.

This year, the Commission will be following its usual custom of awarding 20-year service medals. The awards will be made at Directorates General and services and a reception in honour of all recipients will take place at each Commission location. In Brussels the President of the Commission will attend the occasion.

The Commission recognises the significance of acknowledging good service and has recently proposed a number of measures which will reflect that, not only near the time of retirement, but also during the career of a civil servant.

These proposed measures are currently being discussed with the Staff Representatives in the joint committees for social issues and they will be implemented as soon as a final decision has been reached in 2002.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2377/01

by Hugues Martin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 August 2001)

Subject: Delays in VAT refunds in Member States

Professionals from the business tourism sector recently approached me about the recovery of VAT in the Member States.

In addition to the problems arising from the disparities between VAT rates for the same service in the different Member States, which still apply under the present transitional arrangements for the common VAT system, this sector is particularly affected by the sometimes excessively long delays in carrying out reimbursements.

Will the Commission clarify its position on this matter? Does it intend to put forward an amendment to the existing legislation specifically with regard to harmonising time limits for reimbursements in the Member States and reducing the maximum time, e.g. to three months?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2001)

At present traders wishing to recover the VAT on expenditure incurred in a Member State where they are not established must lodge an application for reimbursement in that Member State, in accordance with the procedure laid down by the eighth Council Directive 79/1072/EEC of 6 December 1979 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes Arrangements for the refund of value added tax to taxable persons not established in the territory of the country(1).

Traders have been complaining for a number of years about this procedure, and in particular the cumbersome nature of the administrative formalities and the time taken for payment.

In June 1998 the Commission presented a proposal for a directive(2) to replace this procedure by the right for taxable persons to recover the VAT direct in the periodic return which they make to their Member State of establishment. That Member State would then recover the sums from the Member States where the tax was due by a system for offsetting debts among Member States.

It is obvious that this proposal represents a substantial simplification for traders, who could recover the VAT paid in another Member State in the same way as national VAT.

Despite the total support from traders, and the favourable opinion of Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee, it has not yet proved possible to reach unanimous agreement within the Council on this proposal.

(1) OJ L 331, 27.12.1979.

(2) OJ C 219, 15.7.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2369/01

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

(8 August 2001)

Subject: Compliance with multiannual guidance programmes (MGP)

In the statement he made to Parliament at its sitting of 5 July 2001 in Strasbourg, Commissioner Fischler announced that proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Communities were being prepared against certain Member States for failure to comply with MGP.

Will the Commission say against which Member States the proceedings are being prepared or initiated and when they will begin?

Will the Commission give details of any information so far available on the extent to which each individual Member State has complied with MGP IV?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

The Commission is currently preparing the launch of infringement procedures against several Member States for non-compliance with the objectives of the multi-annual guidance programmes (MAGP). However, regarding the information requested(1), the confidentiality of these infringement procedures must be respected until such time that they are the subject of a final Commission Decision.

Details of the extent to which each of the individual Member States has complied with the MAGP IV are given annually in the report to the Council and to the Parliament on the results of the MAGP, as required by Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector(2). The Commission has prepared the report on the results of the MAGP IV at the end of 2000, which will be submitted to the Council and to the Parliament in the coming weeks.

(1) OJ C 121, 24.4.2001.

(2) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2761/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Barley as barley

In July 1997 Sweden was allowed to continue to call barley barley for another year. Most barley grown in our cold country is too small to meet EU requirements for barley.

What is the present situation regarding Swedish barley and the EU specifications for barley since 1997?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 2001)

The separate definition for measuring the smaller barley grains offered into intervention in Sweden and Finland (they must pass through a wire mesh of 2 millimetres rather than 2.2 mm) has been incorporated definitively into the rules defining impurities in the form of grains as set out in the annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 824/2000 of 19 April 2000 establishing procedures for the taking-over of cereals by intervention agencies and laying down methods of analysis for determining the quality of cereals(1).

(1) OJ L 100, 20.4.2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2254/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 July 2001)

Subject: Hydroelectric works on the river Alphios

The Environmental Service at the Ministry of the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works recently gave prior approval for the siting of a small-scale hydroelectric project with a capacity of 5MW at Thissoa on the river Alphios, on the border between the provinces of Elia and Arcadia. Two years ago, under the Leader II Development Programme, the European Union funded the development in the same area of alternative forms of tourism which rely on the existence and flow of this river. While I understand the importance to Greek society of the construction of hydroelectric plant, I should like to point out that if this project is carried out it will have serious consequences for the viability of the tourist development in the region funded by the EU, and on the environment.

In view of the above, and the particular nature of the local terrain which is of great environmental importance, can the Commission comment on the compatibility of the project in question with the projects it itself funded a short time ago, and how far Community environmental legislation has been respected?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2001)

According to the Commission's information, the Ministry of Development is, within the context of the liberalisation of the energy market, supporting private energy production initiatives. This support is being given through the Competitiveness operational programme: a call for expressions of interest has been launched, and selected projects will be co-financed under the programme via the national aid scheme. The project in question is one of those being proposed.

On the face of it, the dam does not conflict with Community legislation. Nonetheless, a full environmental impact assessment will have to be carried out and environmental conditions approved before the project goes ahead. This study will have to take account of existing tourist development in the region. Should it transpire that construction of the dam would be detrimental to the development of alternative forms of tourism mentioned by the Honourable Member, account would have to be taken of this in the environmental conditions, and compensatory/remedial measures imposed.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2486/01

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 September 2001)

Subject: Peace and Reconciliation Fund

Recent reports have stated that the European Union has been funding well-known IRA terrorists through the EU's Peace and Reconciliation Fund.

Has the Commission initiated a formal investigation into the possible gross misappropriation of European Union funds?

Has the Commission suspended payment to these particular organisations until a proper investigation has been concluded?

What steps will the Commission take to ensure that taxpayers' money is properly spent and if it is confirmed that money has been inappropriately allocated, what steps will the Commission take to reclaim the money?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

The Commission assumes that the Honourable Member is referring to an article published in the British edition of the Sunday Times on 26 August 2001 entitled IRA suspects funded by EU grants.

The article names individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities who are alleged to number among the beneficiaries supported by European Structural Funds via projects concerning two ex-prisoner groups: Tar Isteach and Coiste Na n-larchimí.

Although the individuals concerned have not been convicted of a terrorist offence, the European Commission has asked the programme management authority on the ground the Special EU Programmes Body to examine the projects concerned. This examination has provided no evidence to suggest that there are irregularities in the administration of European funds. At present there is therefore no basis either for a suspension of payments or for a request for reimbursement of EU funds.

Although the PEACE I programme and its successor, PEACE II, are unique among European interventions under the Structural Funds, they are subject to the same strict set of rules with regard to financial management and control. The Commission has already demonstrated in the past that it will not hesitate to suspend payments where there is evidence of the misuse of European funding. It has the full cooperation of the Special EU Programmes Body in this respect.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2126/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 July 2001)

Subject: Exploitation of children in Romania

Thousands of children in Romania are in the hands of criminal organisations, which use them for prostitution, subjecting them to all kinds of violence. This situation was recently the subject of protests on the part of Mrs Emma Nicholson of the European Commission, who pointed out that recently, at least, this issue has become a matter of priority for the European institutions.

In this context can the Commission say whether:

1. it is aware of such criminal practices in other countries which are candidates for accession;

2. it has alerted Europol, so that an investigation involving all the Union countries can try to discover whether there is any complicity between criminal organisations and the authorities in those countries;

3. it does not consider that information should be obtained about existing legislation for the protection of children and the family in general in those countries?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

1. and 3. The Commission would remind the Honourable Member of the content of the regular reports which it sends every year to Parliament and the Council on the progress made by the candidate countries with a view to accession. The reports for 2000, in particular, noted the existence in a number of candidate countries of problems similar to those raised by the Honourable Member and measures taken or to be taken to deal with them, and legislation on the protection of children. This applied particularly to the reports concerning Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. The next regular reports will be presented in November 2001.

The Commission also recalls that in the field of protection of children, the future Framework Decision on combating sexual exploitation of children and child pornography is a legal instrument that will form part of the acquis and consequently be implemented in the candidate countries too and that, in the accession process, information is obtained regularly to assess how the acquis is being or can be implemented in the candidate countries.

2. The Commission recalls that Europol is competent for the fight against trafficking in human beings, including child pornography, where there are factual indications that an organised structure is involved and two or more Member States are affected. Europol's work-programmes for 2001 and 2002 mention this area of crime as one of its main priorities. Europol is currently actively involved in two recent major investigations on the subject. In order to enhance co-operation with the candidate countries in this area, the Council has authorised Europol to negotiate cooperation agreements with all of them.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2446/01

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 September 2001)

Subject: Gran Paradiso and Vanoise parks

In the Alpine area, straggling the Valle d'Osta, Piedmont and Savoie regions, is the largest protected area in Western Europe, linking up the Italian national park of Gran Paradiso (the first in Italy, set up in 1922) and the French national park of Vanoise, the first French national park, opened in 1963. A twinning relationship and cooperation have developed since 1972 between the two parks, which have absolutely identical flora and fauna, similar territorial problems within an identical mountain environment. However, what is lacking is a European legal framework which would make it possible to envisage the establishment of a fully-fledged European park, with due respect not just for environmental requirements, but also for the principle of subsidiarity and the rights of the local populations.

What existing or future instruments could, in the Commission's view, be used to create a single Gran Paradiso Vanoise protected area?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2001)

The Commission believes that Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(1) provides, through the establishment of a coherent European ecological network of special areas of conservation, the Natura 2000 network, for the kind of common approach to nature conservation which the Honourable Member feels is needed. The same obligations concerning management of the area from the point of view of nature conservation apply to both sides of the border.

However, even if the Commission supports cross-border cooperation between the management structures of the two nature parks, it cannot, under the EC Treaty, establish a legal framework for supranational land management structures of the kind suggested by the Honourable Member. The Interreg programme is available to support cross-border cooperation and can be used to provide Community financing for the development of a common management approach between contiguous nature parks located in different Member States.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2329/01

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Appointment of Euratom inspectors

Will the Commission make a statement on the reasons for the changed arrangements to appoint Euratom inspectors?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(21 September 2001)

To date, the Commission has appointed about 430 Euratom inspectors. These appointments are therefore a matter of routine and as part of administrative reform intended to simplify procedures it has appeared advisable to delegate these formal acts to the director general responsible for Euratom Safeguards.

The Commission's Decision of 27 June 2001 therefore grants the Director General for Transport and Energy (DG TREN) the authority to appoint inspectors on behalf of the Commission (Articles 81 and 82 of the EAEC Treaty).
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2012/01

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 July 2001)

Subject: White Paper on Governance in the European Union

When will the Commission publish the White Paper on Governance in the European Union?

Who were the chief contributors to this White Paper, and will the Commission provide full details of the budget available for its production, including, for example, the cost of organising seminars, payment of experts and external consultancies, and all other related costs?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

The White Paper was adopted by the Commission on 25 July 2001(1). The text is available on the Europa site (http://europa.eu.int/governance/white_paper/index_en.htm) and will shortly be published in brochure form by the Publications Office.

The White Paper was drafted by the Commission. Preparatory work involved most departments, meeting within twelve working parties set up and coordinated by a team reporting to the Secretary-General. The themes and working methods were adopted by the Commission on 11 October 2000(2).

Preparatory work included workshops, surveys, consultations and hearings of people outside the Commission. A detailed report on these consultations has been drawn up. It will be included in the preparatory documents to the White Paper which will be published shortly. A copy of the report is being sent direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament's Secretariat.

The White Paper did not have a budget of its own. The necessary human and financial resources were financed from administrative appropriations regularly allocated by the budgetary authority to the Commission in order to carry out its tasks.

(1) COM(2001) 428 final.

(2) SEC(2000) 1547/7 final, published on http://europa.eu.int/comm/governance/work/en.pdf.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1870/01

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2001)

Subject: Premiums for arable crops (Belgium)

With regard to animal premiums, the European Commission is planning to introduce a ceiling for subsidised animals per holding and per age category. Would it not be sensible to introduce a similar ceiling for arable crops subsidies, for example 50 hectares, so that holdings would receive support only in respect of that maximum area?

Can the Commission indicate:

- how many agricultural holdings in Belgium have an area of more than 50 hectares;

- how many agricultural holdings in Belgium have an area of less than 50 hectares;

- if such a measure were introduced, what savings would be made expressed in absolute figures and as a percentage in the budget devoted to arable crops?

Supplementary joint answerto Written Questions E-1870/01, E-1871/01, E-1872/01, E-1873/01,E-1874/01, E-1875/01, E-1876/01, E-1877/01, E-1878/01, E-1879/01, E-1880/01, E-1881/01,E-1882/01, E-1883/01 annd E-1884/01given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2001)

The Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) was used as a source to determine the number of holdings with an area of less than 50 hectares and of 50 hectares or more under cereals, oilseeds and protein plants (COP). Though that database is weighted by the results of the Farm Structure Survey (Eurostat), it is generally acknowledged that large holdings are over-represented. The figures given below should accordingly be regarded as upper limits. The year used is 1997, the last year for which data for all Member States are available in the FADN database.

Columns A and C of the table below give the percentages per Member State of holdings with an area under COP of, respectively, less than 50 hectares and 50 hectares or more.

Columns B and D of the table below give the percentages per Member State of the area under COP of holdings with, respectively, less than 50 hectares and 50 hectares or more under COP.

Column F gives the percentages per Member State of the area under COP that would be excluded if, all other factors being equal, a ceiling of 50 hectares were applied.

Lastly, Column I gives the savings in millions of euro per Member State if, all other factors being equal, a ceiling of 50 hectares were applied. The yields used are the reference yields supplied by the Member States. The total reduction in cost to the Community would amount to EUR 4 billion.

>TABLE>
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1911/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 June 2001)

Subject: Violations of human rights in the Moluccas

Christians in the Moluccas have been subjected to forced circumcisions and obliged to convert to the Muslim faith to avoid death. What action will the Commission take to ensure that the human and religious rights of Christians in the Moluccas are safeguarded against persecution in future?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The Commission shares the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member, with regard to the violations of human rights in the Moluccas.

Regarding the Commission's actions, the Delegation of the Commission in Jakarta has been instructed to monitor the situation closely, and to submit regular reports. Since 1999, the European Community's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has provided significant humanitarian assistance for the victims of the conflict, regardless of their religious persuasion. Moreover, the current draft development programme for Indonesia foresees support for rehabilitation and community reconciliation in the Moluccas.

Every appropriate occasion is being used to convey to the Indonesian authorities the Union's concerns, and the Commission and Member States continue their consultations in that matter.