ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/93

(2004/C 78 E/0093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2216/03

by Marco Pannella (NI), Maurizio Turco (NI), Marco Cappato (NI), Benedetto Della Vedova (NI), Gianfranco Dell'Alba (NI) and Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Arrest of twelve members of an evangelical church in China

Twelve members of an evangelical church have been arrested and eight of them are liable to be detained in labour camps if the court finds them guilty of ‘disseminating feudal superstitions’. The church is not recognised by the Beijing authorities and has been out of operation since 6 June 2003, after Chinese police broke into four private houses where religious ceremonies were being held. The authorities responsible for supervision of religious organisations have justified the arrests on the grounds that the accused were ‘visiting villages twice a week, spreading superstitious beliefs there and requesting donations from already impoverished local inhabitants’.

The persons arrested are liable to be sent to labour camps merely for manifesting their religion through teaching, practice, worship and observance, in accordance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Commission:

— Does it have more detailed information on the fate of these twelve Chinese citizens?

— How will it monitor their trial and safeguard their right to a defence?

— Will it convey a message to the Beijing authorities strongly condemning this incident, stressing that it is totally contrary to the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to make the full enjoyment of the right to religious freedom subject to state authorisation and to prevent religious ceremonies from being conducted in private homes?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2003)

The Commission has no further details on the situation of the 12 members of the Evangelical Church and will endeavour to obtain information. Through the EU-China bilateral dialogue on human rights the EU regularly raises the issue of freedom of religion and faith and will certainly address the matter of these citizens arrested for practising their faith. Should a trial be held, the EU will consider the most appropriate means to monitor it and ensure that it takes place in satisfactory conditions.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/373

(2004/C 78 E/0394)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1542/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 2003)

Subject: Control of trade in products that may be used to inflict torture

Annex II of the proposal for a Council Regulation concerning trade in certain equipment and products which could be used for capital punishment or torture (1) allows Member States to control trade in listed products that may be used to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. How much such equipment or products are produced in EU Member States, where and by whom?

(1) COM(2002)770.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/174

(2004/C 78 E/0178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2812/03

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Revision of the Directive on driving licences — driving licences for light motorcycles

The Commission's Work Programme for 2003 includes a proposed revision of the Directive on driving licences.

Is the Commission planning to make it possible for drivers applying for Category Β licences to automatically obtain Category A1 licences for motorcycles of 125 cc and under and 11 kW and under (light motorcycles) without a further test?

In Germany before 1 April 1980, licences for Category A1 mopeds were issued at the same time as Category 3 licences (equivalent to the present Category B), meaning a greater choice of modes of transport.

Would it not be a good idea to introduce a similar rule throughout Europe?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2003)

Council Directive 91/439/EEC (1) allows Member States to authorise light motorcycles to be driven on their territory under a category B car licence. This option is currently available in Spain, France, Italy and Austria, with certain conditions applying in the case of Spain, France and Austria (2). Regarding the situation in Germany, it should be noted that this is an acquired right of long standing which has been confirmed by Decision 2000/275/EC (3), and not an equivalence under the terms of the driving licences Directive.

The Commission does not intend to propose amendments in this respect.

(1) Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences, OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.

(2) Commission interpretative communication on Community driver licensing, OJ C 77, 28.3.2002.

(3) Commission Decision 2000/275/EC of 21 March 2000 on equivalences between certain categories of driving licences, OJ L 91, 12.4.2000.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/704

(2004/C 78 E/0751)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0736/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Building of ‘controlled tips’

There are plans to build a series of ‘controlled tips’ for ordinary refuse at various sites in Portugal, in some cases with aid from Community funds.

What projects have already been submitted for Community funding, and what stage have these projects reached?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2003)

So far no request for Community Fund financing for controlled tips has been presented by Portugal.

On the question of financing for such projects from the Structural Funds, the Commission reminds the Honourable Member that under the subsidiarity principle projects are selected at national level by the managing authority for each operational programme once its strategic priorities have been approved by the Commission. Only projects costing more than EUR 50 million have to be notified to the Commission (Article 25 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (1)).

Thus the Commission does not have prior knowledge of all projects financed from the Structural Funds and invites him to approach the Portuguese authorities for information.

(1) Council Regulation 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds.
10.

Based on Article 8 of Directive 91/628/EEC (4) Member States shall provide to the Commission every year the number of inspections carried out on the protection of animals during transport. Such reports shall include details on infringements but not on the number of successful prosecutions. As for infringements a table providing data declared by each Member State in 2001 is being sent to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. However, the Commission in 2000 reported to the Council and to the Parliament (5) the difficulty of interpreting this information since no harmonised methodology is provided in the current Community legislation. The Commission proposal aims to remedy this deficiency.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/484

(2004/C 84 E/0561)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2280/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 July 2003)

Subject: Train warning signals

1. Will the Commission state if any European legislation requires Member State rail authorities to use train warning signals of a minimum or maximum volume?

2. If not will the Commission state if it has any intention to introduce such a proposal?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2003)

There is no European legislation which requires railway undertakings in a Member State to use train warning signals of a minimum or maximum volume.

The Commission does not have any plans to put forward such a proposal.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/352

(2004/C 88 E/0358)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1321/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(8 April 2003)

Subject: Angola — return of refugees

The Media have reported complaints from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) about the violation of the rights of Angolan refugees seeking to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congo and Zambia and return to Angola.

The same source claims that the refugees have been forced to pay for illegal taxis or hand over some of their possessions at frontier posts on both sides of the border, and that there are rumours of women being raped and a great deal of discrimination being practised.

Ester Benazri, the official responsible for refugee protection, believed that such situations can only be due to the fact that the displaced populations did not wait for official repatriation, which begins only next May and she forecast that the situation would improve with an increased UNCHR and international community presence in the border areas.

The Commission:

— what information has it concerning these matters;

— what approaches has it made or will it make to the countries involved, with a view to putting an end to these human rights violations as soon as possible?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Commission is aware of reports of abuses which some Angolan refugees returning spontaneously from neighbouring countries are allegedly suffering. The reports speak of abusive practices such as harassment, robbery, sexual abuse and extortion, particularly at the Democratic Republic of Congo/Angola border. Such practices, if proven, would be in contravention of the Tripartite Agreements governing the repatriation of refugees signed in November and December 2002 by the Government of Angola, the United Nations High Commissioner for Regugees (UNHCR), and the respective governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, the Republic of Congo and Zambia.

Whilst the Angolan government is the prime actor to intervene to put a stop to such practices, the Commission undertakes to raise this issue with the UNHCR in view of its role as signatory to the Tripartite Agreements and holder of the special mandate for refugees. Moreover, the Commission will examine these issues within the framework of any future Community financing of interventions to support the repatriation of refugees.

Furthermore, should these allegations be confirmed and persist, the Commission will, in close collaboration with Member States' representations in the countries involved, consider the appropriate steps to take vis-à-vis the national authorities.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/737

(2004/C 78 E/0785)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2328/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 July 2003)

Subject: Helicopter services to the Isles of Scilly

Will the Commission ensure that the interpretation of the Lisi report ‘Compensation and assistance to air passengers’ will take into account the situation of airlines that fly particularly difficult routes for technical and meteorological reasons, such as the above and similar routes? After all the intention of the report was to compensate passengers for the airlines that unreasonably inflict on passengers the cost of their failure to provide the resources to ensure passengers are not unnecessarily inconvenienced, and not to drive those that are giving a valuable and important public service on acknowledged difficult routes out of business.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(9 September 2003)

The Commission recognises the particular conditions faced by air carriers, including helicopter operators, when operating some essential and difficult routes.

The draft Regulation ‘establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to air passengers in the event of denied boarding and cancellation or long delay of flights (1)’ will shortly go through the conciliation procedure, and the Lisi report on ‘Compensation and assistance to air passengers’ does not address the situation of airlines that fly particularly difficult routes. However, the draft Regulation includes the concept of ‘extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken’.

In particular, such circumstances may occur in cases of meteorological conditions incompatible with the operation of the flight concerned and unexpected flight safety shortcomings. This concept is an efficient safeguard as, in such circumstances, carriers shall be exempted from certain obligations in event of cancellations and delays. It maintains a balance between passengers' rights and operational hazards for which operators can not be considered responsible.

Nevertheless, ‘a mechanical breakdown’ may not, by definition, always fall within the concept of ‘extraordinary circumstances’. Operators having to guarantee quality and safety of service normally will have the responsibility to avoid such failure.

(1) OJ C 103 E, 30.4.2002.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/488

(2004/C 84 E/0566)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2413/03

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 July 2003)

Subject: Funding for children's choral exchanges

Can the Commission advise of the possible avenues for securing financial support at European level for travel expenses incurred by a primary school (maximum age 13) participating in a choral exchange between EU Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 August 2003)

European funding for cooperation in the field of school education is provided by the Comenius actions of the Socrates Programme.

Comenius School Projects offer a framework in which pupils and school education staff from the 30 countries currently participating in Socrates can work together on a theme of common interest, including for example music. Financing may be provided both for local project activities and for the costs of mobility to visit partner schools. Funding for class exchanges (i.e. for the mobility of more than three or four pupils) is however available only in the framework of Comenius Language Projects, in which the current minimum participation age is 14 years.

All of these school partnership projects are managed in a decentralised way by a Socrates National Agency in each participating country, and any school interested in applying for Comenius funding should contact its own Agency for information. Contact details are available on the following Europa website: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/nat-est_en.html).
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/102

(2004/C 78 E/0102)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2301/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 July 2003)

Subject: Implementation of Directive 1999/70/EC

In her reply to my Question H-0293/03 (1) on the implementation by Greece of Council Directive 1999/70/EC (2) (on the abuse of fixed-term contracts), Commissioner Diamantopoulou, the Commissioner responsible, referred to Presidential Decree 81/2003 which transposes the Directive in question into Greek law and stated that the Commission services were examining it and that ‘we shall be able to give an evaluation before the summer’.

Given that the Greek courts are called upon to rule on hundreds of appeals by employees with contracts and that the summer has already begun, will the Commissioner say whether the evaluation of the above Presidential Decree has already taken place?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 August 2003)

The European Commission is currently examining the transposition of Directive 1999/70/EC in the 15 Member States.

An initial examination of Presidential Decree 81/2003 suggests the possibility of problems of conformity in the transposition of this Directive in Greece.

If, once the Greek authorities have been given the opportunity to provide an explanation, this proves to be the case, the Commission will have to consider initiating the procedure provided for in Article 226 of the EC Treaty against Greece.

(1) Oral reply of 3.6.2003.

(2) OJ L 175, 10.7.1999, p. 43.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/723

(2004/C 84 E/0812)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1437/03

by Armin Laschet (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Direct payments of EUR 10 million per month in EU aid to the Palestinian Authority

Is it correct that since 2002 the Commission has ceased payment of the monthly direct budgetary aid of EUR 10 million to the Palestinian Authority?

Is this cessation of direct budgetary aid a temporary measure or has the Commission now decided to end the monthly lump-sum payments once and for all?

What were the Commission's reasons for ending these monthly payments?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2003)

The primary objective of Union budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) has been to mitigate the effects of the freeze of revenue transfers by the Government of Israel, thus contributing to the functioning of the PA administration and to the restoration of the conditions necessary for peace once the present crisis is over.

The Union's support has in the short term helped to avert the collapse of the institutional structures within the Palestinian Territories. Union's support has also been tied to conditions which have promoted reform in the PA, in particular by contributing to the consolidation and transparency of the PA's public finances.

The importance of the Union's assistance to the PA was fully recognised by the international community, most recently at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting of international donors (including the European Union, United States, Norway, and the World Bank) in London on 18/19 February 2003.

Whereas the economic effects of the crisis are still putting a strain on the PA's revenues, the Israeli government has now resumed regular revenue transfers. So far, four consecutive monthly payments have been made by the Israeli government for October 2002-January 2003, paid in December 2002-March 2003. In addition, the Government of Israel has begun repaying arrears which have accumulated since December 2002. As of March 2003 a total of EUR 295 million has been paid over to the PA.

Consequently it has been possible for the Union to redirect its assistance to the PA. The current budgetary assistance programme will therefore be replaced by other forms of aid as announced by the Commission on 30 April 2003.

If Israel were to freeze transfers, a decision to resume direct budgetary support may need to be considered on the basis of an assessment of the fiscal outlook of the PA.

Payment of the final instalments of monthly budgetary support relating to November and December of 2002 will be made to the PA in the coming weeks.

A report summarising the history of Commission Budgetary Assistance in favour of the PA is sent direct to the Honourable member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/122

(2004/C 88 E/0129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2934/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject: Cuba — Spanish Cultural Centre

According to the media, the Spanish Cultural Centre in Havana has been taken over by the State, 90 days after the country's authorities denounced a bilateral agreement concerning this institution.

This has been seen as a reprisal on the part of the Cuban authorities, in response to the measures against Cuba adopted by the European Union on 5 June 2003.

The Commission:

— what information does it have as to the facts;

— what steps has it delegation taken vis-à-vis the Cuban authorities, to prevent the nationalisation of the Spanish Cultural Centre;

— how does it view the positions recently adopted by the Cuban authorities;

— what measures does it intend to take to reverse the situation of the Spanish Cultural Centre, and to prevent similar events in future?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 2003)

Spain informed the other Member States and the Commission of the decision of the Cuban authorities to denounce the bilateral agreement concerning the Spanish Cultural Centre in Havana. This decision was announced by a public statement of the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs on 11 June 2003, following the Union declaration on Cuba of 5 June 2003.

It is for Spain to consider steps it wishes to take, including the possibility of initiating legal action over this unilateral breach of the agreement.

The conclusions adopted on Cuba by the European Council in Thessaloniki, on 19 and 20 June 2003, recalled the measures announced by the Union on 5 June 2003 and considered the behaviour of the Cuban authorities towards the Union and its Member States unacceptable. This behaviour was also deplored and totally rejected in the Council conclusions on the re-evaluation of the Common Position on Cuba in July 2003.

In the face of this kind of event, the Member States and the Commission have agreed to maintain strong cohesion in the implementation of all the measures decided and made public on 5 June 2003.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/586

(2004/C 78 E/0620)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3554/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 December 2003)

Subject: Development of artificial viruses and bacteria in America and possible resultant neglect of environmental protection in Europe

1. Is the Commission aware that, since 1999, genetic engineer Craig Venter and his Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives (IBEA), which receives USD 3 million per annum in subsidy from the US Government, have been developing artificial viruses?

2. Is the Commission aware that this research has now yielded a living product named PhiX174, which consists of 5 386 base pairs coding for nine proteins, and that in addition an artificial bacterium consisting of 580 000 base pairs, with 470 proteins, is still at the development stage?

3. Is the Commission furthermore aware that — unlike the artificial polio virus presented in New York last year — PhiX174 is capable of penetrating bacteria, modifying them and reproducing with their assistance, just like natural viruses?

4. Is the Commission aware of the press conference of 13 November 2003 in Rockville, Maryland, at which the US Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham, announced that such manmade micro-organisms will soon bring about revolutionary changes in environmental protection?

5. How will the Commission help to prevent EU Member States and regions or localities within them from neglecting their environmental protection responsibilities in the hope that a future panacea will devour and clean up all previous pollution, including even radioactive waste?

Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 15 November 2003.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2004)

1. and 2. The Commission is aware of PhiX 174. This matter is addressed in detail in the Commission's reply to the written question E-3555/03 (1) by the Honourable Member. It is to be noted that the virus to which the Honourable Member refers in his written question is not an artificial virus.

3. As noted under point 1, PhiX 174 is not an artificial organism but a virus of the genus Microvirus and family Microviridiae.

4. Yes. In his vision of the future, the United States' Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham, gave as examples microbes that could remove pollution from the emissions of power plants, or reduce water pollution and the toxic effects of radioactive waste.

5. The Commission will continue to ensure that Member States respect their commitments to Union environmental legislation, irrespective of any hypothetical future technological possibilities

(1) See page 587.