ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0047/99

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission

(15 January 1999)

Subject: Unlawful rise in the cost of calls between fixed and mobile telephones in Italy

In a move called "simplification of charges" the two mobile telephone companies in Italy, Tim-Telecom and Omnitel, have jointly decided to raise substantially the cost of calls made from ordinary to mobile telephones. In some cases this rise can be as much as nearly 200 % and mainly affects calls made during the hours when calls used to be cheapest, i.e. at night, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. They have established a single rate valid every day and at all times of day, with VAT charged at 20 %, and two call units charged as soon as the person called answers the phone.

Can the Commission therefore:

1. ascertain whether the rise in question is a blatant infringement of European competition law, in particular Article 85 of the Treaty of Rome;

2. ascertain whether this across-the-board increase in the cost of calls made from fixed to mobile telephones, in a context of the liberalisation of telecommunication services, may be the result of a classic cartel between the two leading firms in the sector, disregarding the most elementary principles of free competition;

3. say what steps it intends to take to safeguard the free market and users in particular, whose right to choose between different rates is thus jeopardized and whether it does not consider, in particular, that there are therefore valid grounds for bringing infringement proceedings?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0036/99

by Gianfranco Dell'Alba (ARE) to the Commission

(20 January 1999)

Subject: Agreement between TIM and Omnitel on telephone charges

The Italian mobile telephone companies TIM and Omnitel have apparently come to an arrangement on charges, which for certain categories of telephone call or subscription rates entails an increase of up to 150 %. The increases concern in particular "family" subscriptions, which were widely promoted in the run-up to Christmas, and adversely affect the promised incentives. The increases, which affect calls from fixed to mobile phones in particular, are blamed on decisions taken by the mobile telephony authorities.

Does the Commission not consider that the de facto agreement between TIM and Omnitel clearly infringes the rules on competition laid down in the EEC Treaty, in particular Article 85 thereof, according to which "the following shall be prohibited as incompatible with the common market: all agreements between undertakings ... and concerted practices which ... have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the common market, and in particular those which: (a) directly or indirectly fix purchase or selling prices and any other trading conditions"?

Does it not consider that it should order the immediate suspension of the new arrangements and initiate proceedings for infringement of Article 85 of the Treaty of Rome?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0294/99

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(17 February 1999)

Subject: Energy saving potential in hospitals

1. How great does the Commission think is the energy saving potential in European hospitals?

2. Can the Commission say how many hospitals there are in the individual Member States?

3. Does the Commission have information on how energy consumption by hospitals is recorded and assessed?

4. Can the Commission quantify the reduced burden on the environment that can be expected from energy savings in individual homes and/or for the Member States in terms of CO2, NOx and SO2?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 1999)

The energy-saving potential in hospitals is significant, given the number and size of the buildings involved. However, it is extremely difficult to quantify that potential. The prime purpose of hospitals is to provide quality care and comfort for patients. Energy is merely a means to attain that end. Besides, there is no question of allowing the slightest risk that the energy supply might be interrupted, given the consequences that could have.

From the economic point of view, it should be emphasised that energy represents, on average, only 2,5 % of a hospital's operating budget (ranging from 1,5-5 %). Energy consumption in hospitals covers a wide variety of functions: heating and air conditioning (50-65 %), hot water (15-28 %), cooking (5-8 %), laundry (4-8 %), lighting and specific uses of electricity (6-12 %).

The wide range of supervisory authorities makes it difficult to implement specific actions for hospitals.

The Commission has no information regarding the number of hospitals, but is sending a table indicating the number of hospital beds in the Member States directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

The Commission has no specific information on arrangements for recording and assessing energy consumption in hospitals. Consumption of electricity and natural gas is easy to determine; it is much more difficult to record consumption of liquid or solid fuels, and most institutions simply work on the basis of delivery invoices. Consumption in 1993 may be put at 6 475 000 tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) per annum (EUR 12).

Figures cannot be given for the reduction in environmental pollution to be expected from the introduction of energy-saving measures in each establishment. All in all, one might expect energy saving of between 1 and 1,5 million toe and a cut in CO2 emissions of around 4 million tonnes.

Reductions in SO2 emissions will depend on the quality of liquid and solid fuels consumed, while reductions in NOx emissions cannot be approached at a macro-economic level as specific combustion conditions have a major impact on the amount of NOx produced.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0768/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 March 1999)

Subject: Archaeological excavations at ancient Nikopolis, Epirus

The site of ancient Nikopolis occupies an area of 900 hectares in south-eastern Epirus, comprising buildings from the Roman period, walls, a council chamber and music academy, baths, thermal springs, a stadium and villas. Many of the surviving monuments are unknown to the public at large and lie abandoned, whereas they need maintaining and protecting. The creation of a museum has been approved under the 2nd CSF and the Central Archaeological Council endorses the conclusions of a study to locate it at Preveza.

In addition to setting up the museum, does the Commission also consider the maintenance, development and promotion of the site of ancient Nikopolis to be worthy of support?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1999)

The Commission has not yet received any funding request for the work at the Nikopolissite.

However, the Greek authorities may, if they wish, submit such a request in accordance with procedures for the Community Support Framework (CSF). The Commission is willing to cooperate with the authorities in examining funding options within the CSFbudget.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0540/99

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

(12 March 1999)

Subject: Fish product canning industry and aquaculture in the European Union

At its June 1998 part-session the European Parliament debated and adopted the own-initiative report on the fish product canning industry and aquaculture in the European Union (A4-0137/98)(1), in the conclusions to which, inter alia, it declared the tuna canning industry is the most important Community canning sector in terms of employment and the volume of trade, and that to encourage the huge growth prospects in this sector there is a need:

"(...) to ensure there is a proper supply of the necessary raw material (fresh, frozen and ribs of tuna), giving priority to the Community fleet and opening new quotas for imports only when these are strictly needed for the Community industry."

Can the Commission say what measures have been adopted to comply with Parliament's request and thereby encourage the growth prospects in the Community tuna canning industry?

(1) OJ C 210, 6.7.1998, p. 295.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0671/99

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(26 March 1999)

Subject: Structural Funds

Regions whose per capita income is less than 75 % of the average Community per capita income are described as "Objective 1 regions" and they receive significant amounts of Community aid.

To determine whether or not this threshold has been exceeded, the draft Council Regulation COM(98) 131 final(1) laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds states that the figures corresponding to the last three years for which Eurostat has data available will be used.

At the moment the only figures available are those for the 1994, 1995 and 1996 financial years.

What are the figures for those years for Murcia?

(1) OJ C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1063/99

by Marie-Paule Kestelijn-Sierens (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 April 1999)

Subject: Extension of the transitional period laid down in Directive 80/181/EEC as regards labelling in various units of measurement

Pursuant to Directive 80/181/EEC(1), measurements in the EU may be expressed only in metric units from the end of 1999. In February 1999, the Commission approved a proposal for extending the transitional period laid down in Directive 80/181/EEC until the end of 2009.

This welcome though late decision by the Commission is raising a good many questions in the sectors concerned, which fear that the procedure for definitively adopting the proposal will not be completed before the end of 1999. With just a few months to go, they still do not know whether entry into force of the provisions of Directive 80/181/EEC is to be postponed or not.

Will the Commission explain what will happen if the current proposal for amending the Directive is not definitively adopted by the end of 1999? Will the present Directive's provisions enter into force, or can the Commission do something to suspend their entry into force?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1999)

The Commission adopted on 4 February 1999 its proposal(2) to amend Council Directive 80/181/EEC of 20 December 1979 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement and on the repeal of Directive 71/354/EEC, which was forthwith transmitted to the Parliament and Council. In accordance with Article 95 of the EC Treaty (ex Article 100 a) there is no alternative method of changing the provisions of an existing Council directive except through the relevant procedure, in this case the co-decision procedure.

Recognising the importance of the adoption of this amendment in due time for the market operators and sharing the concerns of the Honourable Member, the Commission would therefore urge the Parliament and Council to move swiftly so that the adoption of the amendment can take place before the end of 1999.

However, in case it would appear that the amendment could not be adopted in due time, the Commission with the Member States will consider, depending on the progress of the proposal at the time, appropriate action to overcome any possible incoherence until the final adoption.

(1) OJ L 39, 15.2.1980, p. 40.

(2) COM(99) 40 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0114/99

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 1999)

Subject: Figures for in-patient hospital beds needed for children

In all EU Member States there are formulae to calculate the need for hospital beds, but in Germany there are no figures indicating the need for in-patient beds for children.

Does the Commission have figures for the existing number of paediatric beds in each EU country and the formula used for calculating the need in each case?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1999)

The Commission regrets to inform the Honourable Member that it has no information on the number of paediatric beds in the Member States.

Community statistics on hospital beds, prepared on the basis of data supplied annually by the Member States, concern the number of non-psychiatric beds and the number of psychiatric beds, bearing in mind that there are major differences in the definitions of the different types of beds. The trend in the number of beds is downwards in all the Member States. More precise information will be available on completion of a project funded under the health monitoring programme Eucomp, whose objective is to describe the organisation of the health systems and hospitals in the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1054/99

by Angela Billingham (PSE) to the Commission

(20 April 1999)

Subject: European travel pass for the elderly

Would the European Commission consider putting forward a proposal to introduce a European travel pass which would simply offer a 20 % deduction on rail for the elderly in all Member States and passing from one Member State to another with freedom to stop over throughout the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1999)

The Commission Recommendation 89/350/EEC of 10 May 1989(1) called for the introduction of Community wide over-sixties' card, which would facilitate access to travel and other concessions. However, progress on implementation of the Recommendation has been slow owing to several practical difficulties encountered by the Member States. In order to help take the matter forward the Commission carried out two feasibility studies. The first in 1993 covered the then 12 Member States, while the second in 1997 looked at the situation in more detail in five Member States - Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Copies of the final reports of these studies have been given to the members of the Parliament's Intergroup on ageing.

These reports show that although all the Member States offer some form of concessionary scheme to older people, many do not use a card system as such, and the conditions entitling people to transport and cultural concessions also vary greatly from one Member State to another. Several Member States have no national concession scheme but rely instead on a decentralised localised approach with variations between regions.

The sheer number and variety of schemes operated by Member States, combined with the fact that the situation is constantly changing, make it difficult to gain an accurate, up-to-date picture at European level.

The Commission remains convinced of the usefulness of an Community wide older persons' card in promoting a stronger sense of European citizenship and in encouraging greater mutual acquaintance and understanding between citizens of the different Member States. The Commission is currently discussing the conclusions and recommendations of the latest feasibility report with Member State representatives.

(1) OJ L 144, 27.5.1989.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0501/99

by James Nicholson (PPE) to the Commission

(5 March 1999)

Subject: International Year of the Older Person

What measures has the Commission undertaken to give European Union recognition to 1999 as the International Year of the Older Person?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question No 0149/99 by Mr Sisó Cruellas(1).

(1) See page 147.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0295/99

by Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1999)

Subject: EU funding, information on the volume of monies in 1998 flowing to Berlin

Through which projects and Funds, and in what volume, did Community monies in 1998 flow to Berlin:

1. from the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD),

2. from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) - Guidance and Guarantee Section,

3. from the European Social Fund (ESF),

4. from the Community's research programmes,

5. from the Community's energy programmes,

6. from the Community's environmental programmes,

7. from the Community's transport programmes,

8. from the Community's education and youth programmes,

9. from the Community's health programmes,

10. from the Community's social programmes,

11. from the programmes for NGOs,

12. from the cultural programmes,

13. from the programmes for cooperation with third countries (CEEC, CIS),

14. from the town-twinning programmes,

15. from other Community programmes?

16. How successful in the view of the EU, have the measures been?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 1999)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0045/99

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(22 January 1999)

Subject: Telemedicine in the public health sector in Greece

The introduction of data-processing in public health has been long delayed in Greece: so far only 15 general hospitals out of the 143 public hospitals and 173 rural centres in Greece are equipped with computers. These computers were secured under the IMPs, but have not been upgraded since then and are used chiefly as word processors. Another consequence of their non-compatibility with up-to-date telecommunications technologies is the total absence of telemedicine in the Greek public health sector. However, the Operational Programme for Health under the second CSF provides for 24 general hospitals to be equipped with advanced communications systems, with pilot applications in seven regions of the country.

Will the Commission say:

1. How is the programme to install this technology in the seven pilot regions and the other 17 general hospitals included in this programme progressing?

2. Given its involvement in programme funding, how long does it believe it will take to introduce telemedicine applications in Greece?

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

(15 February 1999)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0044/99

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(22 January 1999)

Subject: Implementation of the TAXIS Programme for the computerisation of the Greek Inland Revenue

Complaints have been steadily mounting about the exceptional difficulties encountered in implementing the TAXIS Programme on the computerisation of the Greek Inland Revenue.

Contrary to the assurances given by the Greek authorities which are included in the Commission's answer to my Written Question on this subject E-1802/98(1), the reports available to me concur that:

- By the end of 1998 far fewer than the scheduled 150 DOYs will have been integrated in the system. At least half of these will be "small" DOYs responsible for very little tax revenue;

- The number of software applications being developed is still seven instead of the seventeen planned;

- The training system has not yet started to operate, despite the fact that training staff emoluments have been disbursed and paid in a regular manner.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

1. Bearing in mind all the problems and difficulties that have arisen, when does it believe the Greek Inland Revenue computerisation system will be fully operational? In other words, when will the full cross-referencing of data in all Inland Revenue offices in Greece be possible?

2. Leaving aside the complexity of implementation, which should in any case have been foreseen, what are the essential reasons for the unconscionable delay in the development of the system?

3. Are there any other EU Member States in which Inland Revenue is not fully computerised?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 1999)

According to the information from the Greek authorities concerning the TAXIS project, there are already close to 110 DOYs operating. Seven software applications have completed the pilot application phase and been accepted by the national authorities. The other 10 applications have already been developed and are in the pilot application phase in order to test their functionality.

Staff training is well under way. All officials of those DOYs which have software applications functioning have received training. Already, 253 434 man/hours of training have been given, for a total of 5 035 persons. Obviously, the training will progress as the new applications are installed.

The Greek authorities estimate that the entire system will be fully operational by the first half of 2001. Apart from the complexity of the project, they attribute the delays experienced, especially in the first phase of implementation, to the size of the project and to problems that arose during implementation.

As regards VAT, all the other Member States possess computerised systems connected to local offices which can, at least, access data stored centrally.

(1) OJ C 13, 18.1.1999, p. 88.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0302/99

by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission

(17 February 1999)

Subject: Encouraging cross-border cooperation between renewable energy companies

The Commission's holding of meetings to promote agreements on cross-border cooperation between companies has aroused the interest of many undertakings in various sectors.

One sector which calls for particular attention is that of renewable energies (companies on both sides of any frontier between EU Member States).

Can the Commission tell me what the involvement of renewable energy companies has been in terms of the data available to it for the meetings which have been held?

Answer by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1999)

With regard to cross-border cooperation, the Commission applies the Interprise programme. Designed to encourage the development of partnerships between enterprises in the Community, the programme provides tangible help in organising meetings bringing together heads of enterprises to discuss and negotiate cooperation agreements. These are sectoral events that bring together at least 15 enterprises from three Member States.

There has been no Interprise event dealing specifically with the renewable energy sector.

However, the following events focusing on the environment covered renewable energy to some extent:

- Interprise Helsinki Region, organised in Helsinki on 6 March 1997 by the Finnish Foreign Trade Association, brought together about 108 enterprises from Finland, Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom;

- Interprise Ecobusiness, organised in Toledo on 17 April by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Toledo, brought together about 65 enterprises from Spain, Italy and Finland;

- Interprise Ecobusiness, organised in Graz on 25 May 1998 by International Consulting Executives, brought together about 180 enterprises from Austria, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Finland and Sweden.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0718/99

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(29 March 1999)

Subject: Structural Funds

The regions whose level of income per inhabitant is less than 75 % of that which corresponds to the average Community inhabitant are classed as "Objective 1 regions" and are entitled to substantial Community aid.

In order to work out whether this threshold has been crossed or not, the draft Council Regulation, COM(98) 0131 final(1), laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, stipulates that the figures corresponding to the last three years on which Eurostat has information will be taken into account.

Currently, only the figures corresponding to the financial years 1994, 1995 and 1996 are available.

What regions in Portugal does the Commission expect not to be classed as Objective 1 regions for this three-year period?

(1) OJ C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 1.