ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2904/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(2 October 1998)

Subject: Information for job seekers

Can the Commission indicate which Member States provide job seekers with information about job vacancies in countries other than their own? In what form is that information made available in Job Centres?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 1998)

There are a number of ways in which job seekers can look for work in other Member States and find such vacancies in job centres. One of the most important of these is the European employment services (EURES) network which was established in 1993 and which aims to facilitate the free movement of workers. This network is a partnership of all the public employment services of the Union and the European Economic Area, and the Commission. The individual employment services exchange selected vacancies via a computer system operated by the Commission and these vacancies are displayed in most job centres throughout the 17 countries concerned. Around 10 000 vacancies are available at any given time and are updated daily. The vacancies are also available on the EURES Internet website, whose address is http://europa.eu.int/jobs/eures.

In addition, the national websites of the employment services, which contain large vacancy databases, are also interlinked. Access to these websites is increasingly being made available in job centres. Finally, there are a significant number of bilateral transfers of vacancies between countries especially where they share a common border or where there are specific skill shortages in one Member State which can be met by suitable job seekers from another.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3118/98

by Winifred Ewing (ARE) to the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Vessel modernisation and rebuilding

Will the Commission state what sums for vessel modernisation and rebuilding have been advanced by Member States?

Which States have made such advances?

What amounts have been so applied and how many vessels have been affected?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf the Commission

(13 November 1998)

Following the preparation of the monitoring report in accordance with Article 11 of Council Directive 90/684/EEC of 21 December 1990 on aid to shipbuilding(1), four Member States (Denmark, Germany, Italy and Spain) have in recent years reported contracts for the conversion of ships (ie. the making of radical alterations) supported by state aid.

The most recent global figures available are, for 1995, 23 contracts for conversion with a total contract value of ECU 231,2 million supported by ECU 10,3 million of aid, and, for 1996, 29 contracts for conversion with a total contract value of ECU 484,9 million supported by ECU 19,3 million of aid. The amount of aid represents some 4,5 % of the contract value, the maximum ceiling authorisable by the Commission.

(1) OJ L 380, 31.12.1990.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3338/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(10 November 1998)

Subject: Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI)

Given that negotiations in the OECD have resumed with a view to reaching agreement on the MAI, what role does the Commission now intend to play, and will Parliament have a further opportunity to make its views known when a revised text is being drawn up?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 1998)

The Honourable Member is requested to refer to the Commission's contribution to the debate on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) during the October II part-session(1)of the Parliament.

(1) Debates of Parliament (October II 1998).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3039/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Aluminium pollution

Does the Commission have any information about the health effects of pollution from aluminium dust on roads, and/or has it initiated any research on this matter?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1998)

No, the Commission does not have information about the health effects of pollution from aluminium dust on roads and has not initiated research into this matter.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1406/98

by Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: The co-financing of Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) projects in Cuba

Over recent months there has been a substantial freeze in the co-financing of projects run by European NGOs working in Cuba.

This situation is causing serious difficulties for non-governmental cooperation initiatives in Cuba, and is preventing NGOs from pursuing development actions which may assist social, economic and political change in Cuba.

Does the Commission intend to resume the co-financing of NGO projects in Cuba and what is its attitude towards non-governmental cooperation in Cuba?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 1998)

Community cofinancing of operations with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has been suspended for the following reasons:

In its judgment of 12 May 1998 in case C 106/96, the Court of Justice annulled a Commission Decision allocating grants without a specific legal basis. One of the implications of this judgment is that any expenditure relating to a Community operation must not only be entered in the budget (the budgetary authority) but must also be preceded by the adoption of secondary legislation authorising the expenditure (the responsibility of the legislative authority).

No secondary legislation yet exists to cover appropriations entered in the general budget of the European Union for 1998 under heading B7-6000"Community contribution towards schemes concerning developing countries carried out by non-governmental organisations".

On 11 July 1995, the Commission sent the Council and Parliament a proposal for a Regulation on cofinancing operations with European development NGOs in fields of interest to the developing countries. The Regulation is expected to be adopted shortly (by the end of July).

As long as the Regulation has not been adopted, there is an obligation to adhere to the Court of Justice ruling by suspending all new cofinancing requested by NGOs under budget heading B7-6000.

As to the cofinancing of projects submitted by European NGOs working in Cuba, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that, apart from the problem outlined above, there is no freeze on such projects and it intends to continue to support the operations concerned once the Regulation on cofinancing has been adopted.

In addition to granting humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba, the Commission envisages substantial project cofinancing with European NGOs working in Cuba under the 1998 budget. Pending a regulation, and given that NGOs must first submit projects for Commission appraisal, it is not yet possible to specify how much cofinancing of this type will be available in 1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2002/98

by Ursula Stenzel (PPE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Education programmes

In its communication "Towards a Europe of knowledge", the Commission proposed limiting the number of objectives and measures. The operative section of the proposal on the next generation of programmes envisages only 4 objectives and 6 measures.

On closer inspection, however, it appears that a far greater number of measures is envisaged in relation to 8 actions: the development of information services, encouraging the demand for adult education, the establishment of networks linking national, regional and local education centres, etc.

How does the Commission justify this contradiction between the objective of imposing limits and the effective increase in the number of measures?

How can this situation be reconciled with the objectives of simplifying programmes and making them more user-friendly and concentrating resources?

How will the Commission ensure in future that priorities such as mobility, encouraging foreign language-learning and international cooperation programmes to enhance the European dimension in education are translated into action?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 1998)

The Commission¢s proposals for the second phase of the Socrates programme highlight the need to ensure continuity and to consolidate the achievements of the first phase, while making the overall programme more flexible, more responsive to innovation, and at the same time more transparent and user-friendly. The proposals fully take into account the different aspects singled out in the Communication "Towards a Europe of Knowledge"(1), both as regards the number of actions and the proposed procedures.

In effect, the three chapters, 8 actions and 16 sub-actions of the existing phase of the programme have been reorganised and indeed reinforced in the context of the proposals for the second phase, by introducing a new architecture comprising 8 well-targeted actions. Genuine rationalisation work has been done, notably by incorporating several former language actions targeted at schools in the "School education" action in the second phase. The extension of the institutional contract (higher education) and the introduction of the notion that each school should draw up its own plan concerning all aspects of its involvement in Socrates will make the programme far more attractive for users.

Most of the actions mentioned by the Honourable Member are new ones and are already part of the existing programme. It is vital to strengthen the links between the resource centres at regional and local level with a view to involving grass roots players even more and to fostering closer links between the Socrates Programme and the other Community actions pertaining to knowledge policy, in particular programmes in the field of vocational training (Leonardo da Vinci) and youth.

(1) COM(97) 563 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2781/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(14 September 1998)

Subject: Freedom of movement of goods from the Netherlands to Italy

In its answer to my previous question (E-2006/97)(1) on re-registering a Dutch car in Italy (costing some Fl 800), the Commission said that further details were required before it could confirm whether the figure was correct.

It now appears that the Dutch citizen who moved home to Italy had to pay not Fl 800 but the equivalent of Fl 1 950 to have his car re-registered.

Details of this sum are contained in an annex to this question.

Can the Commission now state whether this is correct?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 1998)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for her question, but regrets it is unable to reply as the annexe she enclosed is illegible. The Commission and the Parliament's secretariat did invite the Honourable Member to forward a legible version but this was not done. The annexe constitutes an indispensable part of the question, without which a reply is impossible.

(1) OJ C 21, 22.1.1998, p. 132.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2836/98

by Niall Andrews (UPE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: East Timor independence

Following the change of leadership in Indonesia, will the Commission state what developments have taken place on the legitimate claim for independence for the people of East Timor?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 1998)

Since early August 1998, several important developments have taken place with regard to a possible solution of the situation in East Timor.

On 4 and 5 August 1998 the United Nations Secretary general held talks with the ministers of foreign affairs of Portugal and Indonesia in New York that led, for the first time in history, to a joint communiqué. The main point in the communiqué was the agreement to hold in-depth discussions on a special status for East Timor without prejudice to their basic positions of principle. It was also agreed to involve the various groups in East Timor more closely in the search for a solution. It was agreed that the all-inclusive intra-East Timorese dialogue should resume in October 1998. Agreement was also reached on the establishment of interest sections in friendly embassies in Lisbon and Jakarta respectively.

On 10 and 11 September 1998, a reconciliation meeting took place in Dare in East Timor, on the invitation of Bishop Belo, bringing together all the various factions and public and civil groups of East Timor. At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was published. It stressed the point that there were divergent views among the various groups, and that further efforts were needed to find a common platform to unite the people of East Timor.

There were also some sporadic riots and looting of government rice stores in East Timor, due to the dire economic situation and apparently without political connotation. The Indonesian government continued with a moderate reduction of its troops, but recently sent in fresh troops, claiming that the new arrivals were not combat troops, but included medical officers.

The Commission hopes that the positive developments observed over the past few weeks will soon lead to a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution for the problem of East Timor.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3157/98

by Felipe Camisón Asensio (PPE) to the Commission

(19 October 1998)

Subject: Situation of Castelo Branco vis-à-vis priority project No 8 of the Transeuropean Transport Network

The 14 priority projects of the Transeuropean Transport Network designated at Essen include the multimodal link between Portugal/Spain and the rest of Europe (No 8). With regard to the motorway section Lisboa to Valladolid, can the Commission say whether the route will pass near the Portuguese city of Castelo-Branco? What is the current state of affairs as regards the corresponding construction works?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 1998)

The Commission understands that the Portuguese authorities no longer plan to build a motorway on the Portuguese section of the main Lisbon-Valladolid road, which is part of the second Lisbon-Irun corridor of project No 8, (multimodal link from Portugal and Spain to the rest of Europe)(1) designed to balance investments between road and rail. However, the Portuguese authorities are currently carrying out improvement work on the existing road, in particular the Guarda-Covilhã and Covilhã-Castelo-Branco sections.

(1) OJ C 120, 18.4.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-4032/98

by Stanislaw Tillich (PPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: PHARE/CBC

Can the Commission list the indicators according to which appropriations under budget line B7-502 are utilised in the beneficiary countries?

Can it further say which countries have received how much funding for which borders (1995-1998) and what shape financial planning for 1999 will take?

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

(8 January 1999)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a table containing the information requested.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2720/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Exclusion of the Moroccan dissident Ibrahim Serfaty

1. Is the Council of Ministers aware that the Moroccan Government has refused authorisation for Ibrahim Serfaty, a Moroccan dissident who was imprisoned for more than ten years in Morocco and who has been living in exile in France for the last seven years, to return to Morocco?

2. Is the Council prepared to condemn the exclusion order issued by the Moroccan Government in 1991 and to ask it to allow Mr Serfaty to return to Morocco now and to confirm his civil rights in Morocco?

3. What measures does the Council think it might be able to take, in connection with the signing of the Euro-Mediterranean agreements, if the Moroccan Government should persist in excluding Mr Serfaty from Morocco and refuse to acknowledge his civil rights in Morocco?

Reply

(18/19 January 1999)

The Council shares the concern of the Honourable Member on the fate of the Moroccan dissident Ibrahim Serfaty.

The Council would point out that Morocco has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 12 of which states that "no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country."

The Council recognises that human rights issues are increasingly becoming a salient subject of public debate in Morocco, which is sustained by the diversity and action of Moroccan non-governmental organisations. This public debate is unmistakeably a sign of progress and appears promising for future concrete action.

The Council is encouraged by the willingness of the new government of the United Kingdom of Morocco to address questions of human rights and democracy and to continue the process of economic reform. This willingness was apparent in the most recent decisions on political detainees and missing persons which were made public by the Moroccan Advisory Council on Human Rights. It also notes the effort which is being made, with Union support through the MEDA Programme, to reform the Moroccan judicial and penal system, although this effort is still inadequate.

It is expected that the Association Agreement with Morocco will enter into force shortly. It should be recalled that this Agreement clearly stipulates that the respect of human rights and democratic principles constitutes an essential element of the Agreement.

The final provisions also contain a non-fulfilment clause whereby one Party may take the appropriate measures if it considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Agreement, without prior consultation, in cases of special urgency.

Against this background, the Union will continue to work closely with Morocco both bilaterally, enabling individual cases to be raised, and within the framework of the Barcelona Process with the aim of furthering the achievement of consistent progress in the field of human rights and also of strengthening democracy and the development of civil society in general.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3502/98

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 November 1998)

Subject: The Wassenaar Committee

Within the framework of the EU there is a body known as the Wassenaar committee, whose work is alleged to include studying the encryption of data communications and coding systems. Its secretariat is in Vienna. What duties does this Committee have, what is its status within the EU and in what form are the encryption plans it has presumably put forward dealt with by the EU?

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

(3 December 1998)

The Wassenaar arrangement is the successor to the Coordination committee for export to communist area (COCOM) regime. Definitively implemented with the adoption of "initial elements" in July 1996 by 33 founding members including the United States, Russia and all Union Member States, it deals with export controls and information-exchange related to dual-use items and conventional arms. The Community as such is not party to the arrangement.

The items covered by the Wassenaar arrangement include encryption products. As the entire Wassenaar dual-use list is integrated into the Union list of controlled dual-use products (Council Decision 942/94CFSP of 19 December 1994 on the joint action adopted by the Council of the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union concerning the control of exports of dual-use goods(1) as subsequently amended), encrypted products covered by the Wassenaar list are subject to control when exported from the Community. Any changes to control scope in Wassenaar (for instance decontrol of certain items) lead to corresponding changes in the Union list.

The arrangement has a permanent secretariat based in Vienna. Information about the work of the arrangement can be found on the Website www. wassenaar.org.

(1) OJ L 367, 31.12.1994.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3100/98

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) and Johanna Boogerd-Quaak (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Problems with the storage of highly radioactive waste from the High Flux Reactor in Petten

The Zeeland Provincial Authority in the Netherlands has appealed to the Council of State against the permit allowing Covra in Borssele to build a storage facility for highly radioactive waste. The authority's objection concerns the element of the permit allowing highly radioactive waste, inter alia from the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten, to be stored temporarily in containers in the existing sheds until the new storage facility is ready. The Zeeland Provincial Authority is not convinced that the containers are safe.

1. Is the Commission aware of the Zeeland Provincial Authority's appeal to the Council of State against the granting of the permit for temporary storage of highly radioactive waste in the existing sheds?

2. Is the Commission aware that the storage capacity of the HFR in Petten is likely to be exhausted by the end of this year?

3. Has the Commission considered the possibility that the Council of State may grant the appeal and suspend the permit? If so, where will waste from Petten be stored?

4. What would be the financial consequences of closing down the Petten reactor, should it come to that, and what impact would it have on research work there, particularly at the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Facility (BNCT)?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(21. December 1998)

The Commission is aware of the appeal against the granting of a permit for temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel in the existing Centrale organisatie voor radioactief afval, Nederland (COVRA) installations. This temporary storage is included in the contract signed between COVRA and the Commission in 1996, meant to cope with the limited storage capacity still available in Petten.

To solve the problem of the storage of irradiated fuel, several solutions are under consideration, in particular:

- the COVRA contract providing for the temporary storage of the spent fuel;

- a possible reorganisation of the storage of the spent fuel in the pond of the reactor building is still under discussion.

Technical solutions, such as those mentioned above, exist for the storage of spent fuel. The closure of the high flux reactor (HFR) would have dramatic consequences on the supply of radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals and medical centres, because the HFR production covers more than 50 % of Community needs. Of course, the closure of the HFR would also mean the termination of the boron neutron capture therapy project.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3216/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 October 1998)

Subject: Proceedings against Greece for failure to implement Directive 96/42/EC

The Fifteenth Annual Report monitoring the application of Community law in 1997 indicates that proceedings have been initiated against Greece in relation to Directive 96/42/EC concerning taxation of floricultural products. Will the Commission say:

1. what exactly the infringement by Greece consists of, and

2. what the substance of the Commission's arguments is?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 1998)

According to Article 2 of Council Directive 96/42/EC of 25 June 1996 amending Directive 77/388/EEC on the common system of value added tax,(1) Member States are obliged to communicate to the Commission the provisions of domestic law that they adopt in connection with reduced VAT rates on floricultural products and wood used as firewood.

Greece was already applying the reduced rate to cut flowers and other floricultural products, as well as to wood used as firewood, prior to the adoption of the Directive. Nevertheless, under its provisions, Greece is obliged to comply with the requirement to communicate the measure to the Commission, even if there is no need for it to adopt any new measures.

In spite of this, Greece has failed to communicate to the Commission the measures which transpose Directive 96/42/EC.

(1) OJ L 170, 9.7.1996.