ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3297/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Tobacco advertising/sponsorship

Which Member States now prohibit the advertising of cigarettes:

(a) on television,

(b) at cinemas,

(c) in newspapers and magazines,

(d) on roadside billboards?

What other Member States have announced that they will introduce such prohibitions and by what dates?

Which Member States have prohibited the sponsorship of sporting and cultural activities by tobacco manufacturers, or have specified that such bans will be introduced?

Which Member States have introduced prohibitions, or have announced that they will introduce prohibitions, on the giving of donations to political parties by:

(a) tobacco manufacturers,

(b) any commercial organisation in secret?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Article 6(2) of former Directive 98/43/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998, on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products(1) required Member States to communicate to the Commission the main provisions of domestic law they adopt in the field covered by the Directive.

However, no Member State has made such communication. This did not entail an infringement of Community legislation, as the deadline for compliance with the Directive was 30 July 2001. In these circumstances, the Commission is not in a position to provide the information requested by the Honourable Member.

Following the annulment of Directive 98/43/EC by the Court of justice on 5 October 2000, Member States are no longer obliged to communicate to the Commission their legislation in the field of advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products.

Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989(2) as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities(3) lays down the legal framework for television broadcasting within the Community. It prohibits all forms of television advertising for cigarettes and other tobacco products. In addition, television programmes may not be sponsored by undertakings whose principal activity is the manufacture or sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. All Member States have implemented these provisions.

(1) OJ L 213, 30.7.1998.

(2) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989.

(3) OJ L 202, 30.7.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2995/00

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(25 September 2000)

Subject: Ngawang Sangdrol

Is the Council aware of the circumstances surrounding the detention of Ngawang Sangdrol, whose sentences were based on her peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of conscience and expression?

How does the Council intend to ensure that she is not subjected to any further ill-treatment and that she receives all the necessary health care?

Reply

(30 November 2000)

The sentencing in 1992 of Ngawang Sangdrol, whose detention has been extended several times since then, has been brought to the attention of the Council.

In its contacts with the Chinese authorities, the European Union has raised the case of Ngawang Sangdrol and of other persons who have been punished for exercising their fundamental rights, such as freedom of conscience, expression, association or religion.

At the last meeting of the human rights dialogue between the EU and China (Beijing, 29 September 2000), the Troika expressed its concern over Ngawang Sangdrol's health and asked that she be shown clemency.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2406/00

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Enlargement: Poland's position on women's rights and equal opportunities

At the UN's Special Session held from 5 to 9 June 2000 under the title Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century, the Portuguese Minister for Equality, representing the EU's Presidency-in-Office, spoke on behalf, not only of the fifteen existing Member States, but also of all the applicant countries, with the one exception of Poland.

On the initiative of Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, meetings were held in New York, with the support of the Council and Commission, bringing together the women MEPs present as well as national parliamentarians from the fifteen Member States and the applicant countries, with the aim of reaching an understanding of circumstances in Poland and reminding the Poles of the need to accept the acquis communautaire in its entirety, including those parts of it that relate to equality and women's rights. The replies received were highly negative and disturbing.

Can the Commission state whether the enlargement talks with Poland have included discussion of the acquis communautaire in relation to women's rights or of the prospects opened up by the Treaty of Amsterdam? Can it also state what positions Poland has adopted in the course of these negotiations with the Commission?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The Commission confirms that the acquis in relation to women's rights and equal opportunities is discussed in the context of accession negotiations with the candidate countries, including Poland. Equality of treatment for men and women is indeed an important area covered by negotiations under chapter 13, social policy and employment. Poland accepts the acquis and has not requested any transitional periods in this area. Consequently, Poland is expected to be able to meet its declared objective to implement the related acquis by 31 December 2002. The Commission has not received any information from Poland indicating changes in this respect.

As a matter of principle in the negotiations, the Community underlines the importance of the social dimension as reinforced under the Amsterdam Treaty, and emphasises that from the date of accession, timely and complete transposition and implementation of the social policy and employment acquis will be required. In addition, it should be noted, that as regards equality of treatment for women and men, particular attention is given to practical aspects of actual enforcement of these rights, such as effective access to information on existing legal rights and number of discrimination cases going to the Court of Justice.

The Commission continues to follow progress in transposition and implementation of the acquis in this area, as well as the development and strengthening of related institutions. This monitoring will continue throughout the whole negotiating process.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3877/00

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Electrically assisted bicycles

Can the Commission confirm that European legislation will soon require simultaneous pedalling on electrically assisted bicycles i.e. when the pedalling stops, the motor also stops? If so, UK legislation, which currently allows for bikes to be ridden in electric-only mode, will be changed.

Does not the Commission agree that current restrictions on the weight of the vehicle, motor power and the maximum motorised speed provide ample and sufficient limits on such vehicles, thereby allowing them to be treated as pedal cycles?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2001)

A proposal for a Parliament and Council Directive(1) amending Council Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles(2) is currently under discussion in the Council working party for motor vehicles. In the original Commission proposal, which has been accepted by the Parliament without amendments in its first reading on 27 October 1999 certain vehicles are exempted from the scope.

Beside other vehicles this Commission proposal foresees the exclusion of cycles with pedal assistance (EPACs) which are equipped with an auxiliary electric motor having a maximum power of 0,25 kilowatt (kW), of which the output is progressively reduced as the vehicle speed increases, being cut off altogether at a speed of 25 kilometre per hour (km/h), and which cannot be propelled solely by means of such a motor.

Several modifications proposed by Member States to the Commission's proposal have been discussed, but a decision has not been taken yet. For this reason the Commission can at this stage not predict how far the wording will be changed in the Council Common Position and if e.g. the possibility of simultaneous pedalling on EPACs will be required or not.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.

(2) OJ L 225, 10.8.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0545/00

by William Newton Dunn (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 February 2000)

Subject: British stamp duty discriminating against British businesses

Bearing in mind one of the principles of the treaties, i.e. that there must be no discrimination between citizens of the European Union, is it legal for the British Government to levy stamp duty on individual transactions in shares in British companies but to allow transactions in shares in non-British companies to be exempt from stamp duty?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Stamp duty reserve tax is governed by Part IV of the Finance Act 1986 (sections 86 and seq.). Under these rules it only applies, irrespective of the residence of the purchaser, to transfers of shares in British companies or shares in relation to which a register is kept in the United Kingdom. This limitation of tax jurisdiction is in line with the concept of territoriality, a general principle of international law. Moreover, since stamp duty reserve tax is not harmonised at Community level, the United Kingdom is free to design it according to its own preferences as long as the EC Treaty principles are respected, in particular that of non-discrimination. The existence of a national tax which does not also exist in other Member States does by its very nature charge predominantly residents and nationals of that Member State. However, this effect does of course not constitute discrimination contrary to the EC Treaty.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2549/00

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 July 2000)

Subject: Determining the exclusive economic zone of the Canary Islands

The general description of the outermost regions (French Overseas Territories, Canary Islands (Spain) and the Portuguese archipelagoes of the Azores and Madeira) by the Commission secretariat (on its website for outermost regions) notes that the European Union has the largest maritime territory in the world, thanks to its outermost regions, with a 25 million km2 economic zone that will be of crucial importance in the 21st century because of the extensive resources and potential it offers.

Will the Commission say what procedure was used to determine the economic zone of the Canary Islands and what documents were used as a basis for this?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that the setting-up and determining of offshore exclusive economic zones is not within the Commission's remit.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2814/00

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(5 September 2000)

Subject: Cooperative enterprises

Acknowledging the importance that the Commission places on cooperative enterprises, what steps is it taking to promote development of cooperative enterprises through the social and regional funds?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2000)

In its communication(1) concerning the direction of the programme of the structural funds for the period 2000-2006, the Commission attaches great importance to the social economy sector (co-operatives, mutuals, associations) with respect to employment creation.

One of the guidelines for 2000 (guideline 12) invites Member States to promote measures to exploit fully the possibilities offered by job creation at local level and in the social economy, especially in new activities linked to needs not yet satisfied by the market, and examine, with the aim of reducing them, any obstacles in the way of such measures.

In accordance with the principle of partnership, the Commission ensures that the Member States take account of these agreed orientations in the programming documents for the regions that are eligible under objectives 1 and 2 during the period 2000-2006.

As far as the European fund for regional development is concerned cooperatives are entitled, as are any other enterprise irrespective of their legal form, to benefit from co-financing.

The European social fund contributes to the actions undertaken in pursuance of the European employment strategy and the annual guidelines on employment. Its activities are therefore of particular relevance for the cooperative sector.

The activities of the above-mentioned funds are managed by the national administrations and are not analysed by legal form of enterprise (i.e. by implementing instrument). It is therefore not possible to provide the Honourable Member with accurate statistical information on the numbers of cooperative enterprises participating in social and regional funded projects.

The Commission maintains regular links with the representative organisations of the cooperative sectors at the European level and remains open to their requests, on behalf of their members, for information regarding European social and regional funds.

(1) OJ C 267, 22.9.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3376/00

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 November 2000)

Subject: Positive list of medicinal products in Germany

Work is reportedly going on in Germany at present on drawing up a positive list of medicinal products. German pharmaceutical manufacturers consider that, because of the Directive relating to the transparency of measures regulating the pricing of medicinal products for human use and their inclusion in the scope of

national health insurance systems (89/105/EEC)(1), the effective safeguarding of legal rights, which is a requirement under that Directive, is no longer guaranteed in Germany.

1. Does the Commission agree?

2. Is it true that, because of a similar case, the Commission launched Treaty infringement proceedings in autumn 1999 against Austria?

3. Has the Commission been notified of the German plan, and what action does it propose to take?

(1) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989, p. 8.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2000)

Two complaints have been lodged with the Commission against Germany for an infringement of Council Directive 89/105/EEC of 21 December 1988 relating to the transparency of measures regulating the pricing of medicinal products for human use and their inclusion in the scope of national health insurance systems. The Commission is presently examining the two complaints thoroughly. At the moment, the Commission is not in a position to indicate whether it considers the German law on the reimbursement of costs for medicinal products is contrary to the Directive.

It is correct that the Commission initiated in October 1999 infringement proceedings against Austria under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty. In these proceedings, which are now pending before the Court of justice, it is alleged that Austria did not respect the obligations laid down in Directive 89/105/EEC.

So far, Germany has not notified either the amendment of the relevant legal acts or the contents of the positive list. In the two complaints against Germany, however, the relevant legal provisions are indicated and will be scrutinised within these infringement proceedings.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3123/00

by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Council

(16 October 2000)

Subject: Oppression of Christians in Egypt

Concerned people in the European Union continue to highlight the oppression of Coptic Christians in Egypt and draw particular attention to the cases of Fakhri Ayyad Mus'ad, Souroial Gayed Isshak, Aziz Tawfik Rezkalah and Shaiboub William Arsal.

Would the Council indicate what representations have been made to the Egyptian Government and what undertakings have been received regarding the protection of lives and property of the Coptic Christian community?

Reply

(20/21 December 2000)

The Honourable Parliamentarian is requested to refer to the Council replies to the recent Questions E-2456/00 (the case of William Shaiboub), E-1995/00 (the Coptic minority in Egypt) and that of H-0454/00 (Human Rights in Egypt).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1672/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Payment of contractors and suppliers.



Official Journal 103 E , 03/04/2001 P. 0020 - 0020



WRITTEN QUESTION E-1672/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission (29 May 2000) Subject: Payment of contractors and suppliers Further to Ms Schreyer's answer to my Written Question No E-0505/00(1), will the Commission indicate the total amount of money paid out in 1999 to which the proportion paid within the 60-day period refers? (1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 10. Supplementary answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission (25 September 2000) The Honourable Member is informed that an analysis of the time taken for payments included in the statistics puts the amount of payments made within 60 days or under during the 1999 financial year at 39 238 million.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1957/00

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE), Johan Van Hecke (PPE-DE) and Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Council

(19 June 2000)

Subject: Human rights violations in northern Uganda

1. Is the Council aware of what is happening in northern Uganda, where more than ten thousand children have been abducted in recent years and more children are still being abducted on an almost daily basis, by rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army?

2. Is the Council informed about the role of the Sudanese armed forces in training, arming and using these children for military operations against the Ugandan army and the SPLA in South Sudan?

3. Is the Council informed that many of these children are dying of cholera in the camps in South Sudan, of mistreatment or of life-threatening conditions on the battlefield both in Uganda and South Sudan?

4. If so, what measures will the Council take on the basis of this information? If not, what will the Council do to investigate these events?

5. What is the Council doing to facilitate, press for and speed up the implementation of the Nairobi Peace Accord, signed in December between Uganda and Sudan, and of the Amnesty Bill, passed by the Ugandan Parliament in December but suffering from serious delays?

6. Is the Council aware of the presence in some Member States of representatives of the LRA, guilty of the most serious abuses against children anywhere in the world, who seem to be travelling unhindered within and outside the European Union? If so, what concrete actions is the Council going to take to stop these people from operating and mobilising support in these Member States?

Reply

(20 November 2000)

The Council is aware of the serious human rights violations being perpetrated in Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan and remains particularly attentive to the fate of the children kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

The Council holds that the only solution to this human tragedy is to be found in a long-term improvement in relations between the States of the region and a lasting solution to the conflict in the North of Uganda. The European Union accordingly issued a statement on 31 January 2000 in which it urged the Sudanese and Ugandan authorities to abide by the provisions of the agreement signed on 8 December 1999. It called on both parties to renounce any military action, to cease military or logistical support to any rebel groups in each other's territories and to end the climate of hostility that has caused immense suffering to the civilian population.

In addition, the Union has reopened political dialogue with Sudan, in which framework it continues to urge the Sudanese authorities to work towards the normalisation of relations with Sudan's neighbours and to respect international human rights law. Initial results in this area have been positive.

As regards the possibility that representatives of the LRA may be present in certain Member States, the Council regrets that it is unable to confirm or deny the Honourable Members' assertion.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2677/00

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

(1 September 2000)

Subject: European Movement

Could the Commission please inform the House which budget heading funds the European Movement, how much money this involves and how the organisation utilises these funds?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2000)

The budgetary authority requested the Commission to pay grants to the European Movement by name in the remarks to budget lines A-3021 and B3-301.

Under budget line A-3021 it has earmarked a grant of 300 000 for the operational costs of the European Movement's international secretariat in Brussels.

With regard to its operational activities, the European Movement receives funding under budget article B3-301 Information outlets in accordance with this budget heading's remarks. The total of this funding, which is intended to finance information activities targeting the public and information multipliers, is approximately 600 000 for 2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2565/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: VAT on toll charges

Will the Commission confirm that, in the event of the European Court of Justice endorsing the opinion of the Advocate General, VAT will be applicable to charges levied by both public and private sector operators of bridges and tunnels in the United Kingdom and will also be applicable to toll charges levied for the use of roads and motorways throughout the European Union?

What is the Commission's estimate of the total value of toll charges currently being levied across the EU without payment of VAT?

Is it the case that any requirement on road users to pay VAT would be lifted should national or local governments decide not to levy toll charges for the use of roads, bridges or tunnels within their ownership?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2000)

According to the Court of Justice's judgments of 12 September in Cases C-276/97, C-358/97, C-359/97, C-408/97 and C-260/98, the operation of toll roads, tunnels or bridges constitutes a provision of services within the scope of the tax and is therefore taxable.

If, however, an activity is exercised by a public-law body and forms part of its statutory obligations, that body is not considered a taxable person. Where these two conditions are fulfilled, no VAT is due on the tolls levied.

Since collecting VAT is a matter for the Member States, the Commission does not yet have firm figures on the total value of tolls on which VAT is, mistakenly, not being collected.

A service is subject to VAT if it is supplied for consideration and there is a direct link between the service provided and the payment received. In contrast, no VAT is due on the use of a road, bridge or tunnel free of charge.