ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3621/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Budget heading B3-4000: Industrial relations and social dialogue

Can the Commission provide a breakdown of the figures for each activity, trade-union, association and works council subsidised, for the subsidies granted in the financial year 1995, under budget heading:

B3-4000: Industrial relations and social dialogue?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (14 February 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3673/96 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Emergency health treatment

In the Commission's reply to Question E-0630/96 ((OJ C 322, 28.10.1996, p. 3. )), a proposal was promised in the second half of 1996 to extend to third country nationals permanently resident in the EU provisions on emergency health care to solve the problem of their lack of cover in other Member States. Where is this proposal?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3573/96 and E-3673/96 given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (31 January 1997)

The Commission considers that Articles 51 and 235 of the EC Treaty are the appropriate legal base for the extension to third country nationals of the provisions in Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 concerning access to emergency health care treatment and other limited benefits ((OJ L 149, 5.7.1971; consolidated version OJ C 325, 10.12.1992. )). These articles are the current legal base for Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71.

However, there is not unanimity among Member States on whether these articles are a sufficient legal base for this extension. In the circumstances, the Commission considers that it would be preferable to wait for the outcome of the discussions during the Intergovernmental conference on the legal base of social security coordination before submitting a proposal on third country nationals.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3459/96 by Karl von Wogau (PPE) to the Commission (9 December 1996)

Subject: Customs check at an internal border

On Thursday, 7 November 1996 I travelled by car from Brussels to my constituency in southern Germany. When crossing the border between Luxembourg and France on the motorway, at the very spot where the customs post still stands, I was stopped by uniformed French customs officials who asked me to identify myself and to state whether I or either of the two persons with me was carrying goods whose value exceeded FF 50 000.

Does the Commission regard such checks at an internal border as consistent with the Treaty of Rome and the Schengen agreements?

What measures can the Commission propose to ensure that external borders are secure and that internal borders are abolished for good?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (22 January 1997)

Systematic luggage checks at internal borders between Member States were abolished when Article 7a of the EC Treaty was implemented on 1 January 1993. However, the Treaty does not exclude occasional and random baggage checks being carried out by Member States' customs authorities. The Schengen Agreement abolishes checks on persons, not luggage, at internal borders.

The Commission presented to Parliament and the Council a proposal for a decision on adopting a Community action programme (Customs 2000) to tighten up checks at external borders; this was adopted on 20 December 1996 ((Decision pending publication. )). This action programme comprises a number of measures securing uniform enforcement of procedures and controls at the Community's external borders to ensure equal treatment of economic operators and Community citizens. The Commission considers that this programme will, by reinforcing the external border, encourage Member States to eliminate remaining checks at internal borders.

Finally, as regards the abolishment of checks on persons at all internal Community borders, the Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's intervention during the debate on the three proposals for directives aimed at attaining this objective at Parliament's July part-session last year.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3946/96 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (10 January 1997)

Subject: Andalusian development and economic diversification programme

Would the Commission please provide information about the Andalusian Development and Economic Diversification Programme and the details of European Union funding?

Supplementary answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1997)

To round out its answer of 7 February 1997 ((OJ C 96, 24.3.1997, p. 96. )), the Commission is now in a position to communicate the following information.

The programme for development and economic diversification was approved in a Commission Decision of 18 June 1996. Implementation at national level is taking place under Spain's state aid scheme 965/95, approved by the Commission on 10 January 1996. The total volume has been put at ECU 530 million. This is being part-financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (Guidance Section) with ECU 164.84 million and by the European Regional Development Fund with ECU 105.51 million.

The total volume of the part benefiting Andalusia comes to ECU 162.09 million, with Community part-financing worth ECU 72.47 million; this breaks down into ECU 51.99 million from the EAGGF Guidance Section and ECU 20.48 million from the ERDF.

The programme is the responsibility of the Spanish central authorities.

The annexes to the above decision are being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of Parliament; from these it is possible to see the breakdown of the assistance between the regional authorities, each Structural Fund and the government department(s) responsible for implementation.

The nature of this programme means that it should help to spread the impact of the Community's Leader Initiative.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3616/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Financing of certain associations from the Community budget

Can the Commission provide full details of the amounts granted, under the 1995 budget (taking all relevant budget headings together) to the following French trade-union organisation:

- Confédération Francaise Démocratique des Travailleurs (CFDT)

at national level and to its branches in the regions and departments?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1997)

Further to its answer of 14 February 1997 ((OJ C 105, 3.4.1997. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3621/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Budget heading B3-4000: Industrial relations and social dialogue:

Can the Commission provide a breakdown of the figures for each activity, trade-union, association and works council subsidised, for the subsidies granted in the financial year 1995, under budget heading B3-4000: Industrial relations and social dialogue?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1997)

Further to its answer of 14 February 1997 ((OJ C 105, 3.4.1997. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3598/96 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (3 January 1997)

Subject: Budget heading B3-4004: Transnational meetings of representatives from undertakings operating on a trans-frontier basis

Can the Commission provide a breakdown of the figures, for the financial year 1995, and for each of the activities and beneficiaries (company representatives or company works-council representatives) granted subsidies under budget heading:

B3-4004 Transnational meetings of representatives from undertakings operating on a trans-frontier basis?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-3598/96, E-3600/96, E-3603/96, E-3604/96, E-3605/96, E-3606/96, E-3607/96, E-3608/96, E-3609/96, E-3610/96, E-3611/96, E-3612/96, E-3613/96, E-3614/96, E-3615/96, E-3616/96, E-3617/96, E-3618/96, E-3620/96, E-3621/96, E-3622/96, E-3623/96, E-3624/96, E-3625/96, E-3627/96, E-3629/96, E-3630/96, E-3631/96, E-3632/96, E-3633/96, E-3634/96, E-3635/96, E-3636/96, E-3637/96, E-3638/96, E-3641/96, E-3642/96 and E-3644/96 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1997)

Further to its answer of 14 February 1997 ((OJ C 105, 3.4.1997. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0124/97 by Mireille Elmalan (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 January 1997)

Subject: Community subsidies allocated to the Rhóne-Alpes region in 1994 and 1995

What were the figures for the Community appropriations allocated to the Rhóne-Alpes region under the following headings:

- ERDF

- EAGGF - Guidance

- ESF

- research programmes

- programmes in the energy sector

- programmes concerning the environment

- other programmes concerning human resources, education, training and youth?

Can the Commission state who were the beneficiaries of these appropriations?

Joint supplementary answer to Written Questions E-0122/97, E-0123/97, E-0124/97, E-0125/97 and E-0126/97 given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (29 April 1997)

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0122/97 by Aline Pailler (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 January 1997)

Subject: Community subsidies allocated to the Aquitaine region in 1994 and 1995

What were the figures for the Community appropriations allocated to the Aquitaine region under the following headings:

- ERDF

- EAGGF - Guidance

- ESF

- research programmes

- programmes in the energy sector

- programmes concerning the environment

- other programmes concerning human resources, education, training and youth?

Can the Commission state who were the beneficiaries of these appropriations?

Joint supplementary answer to Written Questions E-0122/97, E-0123/97, E-0124/97, E-0125/97 and E-0126/97 given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (29 April 1997)

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0916/97 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (12 March 1997)

Subject: Wheel loss accidents from moving commercial vehicles

Given the high incidence of wheel loss accidents from moving commercial vehicles in the UK, can the Commission answer the following:

1. Do any EU Member States compile statistics relating to similar accidents?

2. Is there any central information gathering unit which compiles records of lost wheel accidents EU-wide?

3. What research have EU Member States undertaken, if any, into the issue of lost wheels?

4. Have any EU Member States commissioned research into the products on the market which claim to prevent wheel loss?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (17 April 1997)

To date, the problem of heavy commercial vehicle wheel loss has only been recognised in the United Kingdom where the problem is associated with inadequate or 'over zealous' maintenance (wheel nut over-tightening with automatic air guns).

The United Kingdom is therefore the only Member State that has compiled statistics on the subject of wheel loss and associated fatal accidents. Figures given in the House of Commons reply by Mr John Bowis to an oral question on 12 December 1996 show that some five or six fatal accidents a year involve wheel detachment. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has been focusing on the problem and reported its findings to the United Kingdom's Department of Transport last month.

The United Kingdom Department of Transport and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sponsored a research programme by Essex University and the Motor industry's research association (MIRA). This concluded that the problem was more related to maintenance than to design. It recommended that wheels when replaced (during routine maintenance such as tyre replacement) be initially tightened to the prescribed torque and then retensioned after thirty minutes or after 40 to 80 kilometers. The research has led to a British standard and the maintenance procedure is the subject of a code of practice for the selection and care of commercial vehicle wheels.

The Department of Transport recently raised the issue within the relevant United Nation's economic commission for Europe (UN-ECE) WP29 technical working group with the aim of establishing the extent of the problem in Europe and world-wide. As yet there has been no specific feedback except that those countries that recognised that there is a wheel loss problem also concluded that it was the result of inadequate maintenance or axle over load.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0966/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (12 March 1997)

Subject: Current marketing applications for genetically modified foodstuffs for human and animal consumption

There are currently 10 applications for the EU-wide marketing of genetically modified products within the meaning of Directive 90/220/EEC ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 15. )). These relate principally to the marketing of genetically modified foodstuffs for human consumption or for use as animal feed.

1. Will the Commission set these applications aside until the Council and European Parliament Regulation on Novel Foods has entered into force?

2. How does the Commission justify its decision?

3. Since the majority of the applications will not at all events be decided before the entry into force of the Novel Foods Regulation, the question arises whether they will automatically fall within the scope of that regulation as soon as it enters into force?

4. Should the current marketing applications not fall within the scope of the Novel Foods Regulation as soon as it enters into force, how will the Commission justify the procedure?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (24 April 1997)

1 and 2. According to Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990. )), the Commission has to examine all pending notifications submitted under the directive. In any case, decisions concerning the placing on the market of products under this Directive will be without prejudice to other relevant Community legislation.

3 and 4. As the Honourable Member rightly states, it is not likely that most of the dossiers submitted for approval under Directive 90/220/EEC will be decided before the Regulation (EC) No 258/97 on novel foods and novel food ingredients ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997. )) enters into force. At the moment of its entry into force, it would have to be assessed on a case by case basis whether such products would be considered to be novel foods, in the light of its article 1 ¶ 2, which defines the regulation's scope. Should this be the case, they would fall under the regulation and hence be subject to the requirements laid down.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0838/97 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (10 March 1997)

Subject: Recommendations made in the evaluation of EU aid to Ethiopia

Will the Commission please provide a schedule of the main recommendations of the report, contained in paragraphs 373-402 and Appendix XII, and say for each one:

1. whether or not it is accepted,

2. if accepted, when and how implementation will take place, and

3. if not accepted, why not?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1997)

In late 1994 the Commission launched an evaluation of Community development aid to Ethiopia. The evaluation was carried out by the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK, and the final report was submitted in July 1996.

The Commission explained how it intended to take the report's recommendations on board in its replies to the Honourable Member's Written Question E-2382/96 ((OJ C 11, 13.1.1997. )) and to the oral question put at the last Joint Assembly of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Community.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0985/97 by Miguel Arias Cañete (PPE) to the Commission (17 March 1997)

Subject: EAGGF-Guarantee Fund in Luxembourg

Can the Commission specify how much funding Luxembourg received in total from the EAGGF-Guarantee Fund in 1996, giving a breakdown

per chapter (arable crops, sugar, fibre plants and silkworms, fruit and vegetables, other plant sectors or products, the vine-growing sector, tobacco, milk and milk products, beef and veal, sheepmeat and goatmeat, pigmeat, eggs and poultrymeat, other animal product aid measures, refunds on processed agricultural products, refunds in connection with EU food aid, the distribution of agricultural products to deprived persons in the Community, accompanying measures, rural development measures related to the operation of markets, other measures, income aid and the European Fisheries Guarantee Fund), and

per procedure (export refunds, compensatory pricing aid, 'area' aid, aid per head of stock, guidance premiums, private storage aid, withdrawal and similar operations, compensatory amounts, accompanying measures for reform of the CAP and public storage expenditure)?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0974/97, E-0975/97, E-0976/97, E-0977/97, E-0978/97, E-0979/97, E-0980/97, E-0981/97, E-0982/97, E-0983/97, E-0984/97, E-0985/97, E-0986/97, E-0987/97 and E-0988/97 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 May 1997)

Because of the length of the answer, which includes a number of tables, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0104/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Council (29 January 1997)

Subject: Mrs Ciller's threats of war

The Turkish Foreign Minister, Mrs Ciller, overstepped the mark and openly threatened Greece and Cyprus (on 10 January 1997) with war if Cyprus (a country which is 37% occupied by Turkey) installed a defensive S-300 missile system. In so doing, she described that defensive system as an offensive weapon in order to support her claims that it jeopardizes the integrity of Turkey. She attributed the responsibility for Cyprus's so-called 'aggressive policy' to Greece.

Given that that position is, to say the least, infuriating, quite apart from the fact that it also jeopardizes peace in the region as a whole:

1. How does the Council intend to respond to the now undisguised aggression of Turkey, which is taking away the right of legitimate defence from a country which has been held hostage for 23 years and which is associated with the EU and is a candidate for accession?

2. What steps will it take against Turkey, which is insolently and wantonly threatening a Member State of the European Union?

Answer (20 May 1997)

The threats mentioned by the Honourable Parliamentarian, together with the most serious outbreak of violence last year as well as the recent dispute over defence related questions, highlight again the urgent need to intensify efforts towards promoting a comprehensive political settlement in Cyprus, under the aegis of the United Nations.

The Council has called for restrain and avoidance by all concerned of any action liable to raise tension and to hinder or complicate talks between the parties, which the international community wishes to see started as early as possible this year. The Council has urged Turkey, and will continue to do so, to contribute to a solution in Cyprus in accordance with the UN Security Council resoluions.

The Council has reiterated its full support for the work of the UN Secretary General and his Special Representative for Cyprus, Professor Han Sung-Joo, and has called on all parties to step up their efforts to make a decisive move towards a settlement in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, based on the concept of a bi-communal and bi-zonal Federation.

The prospect of Cyprus' membership of the European Union offers an opportunity to find a solution in 1997. It would be vital to seize this opportunity. The Netherlands Presidency has invited Ambassador Heaslip to continue in his task as Presidency Representative for Cyprus. He will keep close contact with the parties in the region and other international players, in particular the UN.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1126/97 by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza (PSE) to the Commission (24 March 1997)

Subject: Human tissue for transplants

What checks has the Commission devised, or does it plan to devise, to monitor the origin and destination of tissue obtained for transplants?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (28 April 1997)

The checks carried out to identify the origin and destination of human tissue obtained for transplants are devised by the Member States themselves, in the context of the specific organisation of each health care system. The Commission has no involvement in this.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0198/97 by Bernie Malone (PSE) to the Council (6 February 1997)

Subject: Use of mercenaries in the Great Lakes region

Is the Council aware of the use of 200-300 mercenaries, some of whom are French, in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa? What action does it intend to take to bring an end to their activity which serves to undermine the EU's stance on this issue?

Answer (30 May 1997)

The Council has taken note of the numerous reports of foreign mercenaries of different nationalities in Ziare. Commissioner Bonino reported on having seen a number during her recent visit to Kisangani on 1 February 1997.

The Council expressed its position on foreign mercenaries in a declaration by the Presidency on 17 February 1997, in which is strongly condemned all interference in the conflict and called for the withdrawal of all outside and mercenary forces.