ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1026/01

by Professor Sir Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Off-piste skiing

In view of the frequency of accidents occurring to off-piste skiers, even those accompanied by tour guides, will the Commission consider the possibility of reviewing safety conditions at ski resorts and the potential desirability of a directive laying down framework safety standards in all the Member States?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2001)

There is no Community legislation applicable to the safety of off-piste skiing.

The Commission does not plan to prepare a specific proposal for a directive laying down safety standards for off-piste skiing. Off-piste skiing is just one of the many sport and recreational activities involving potential risks. A proliferation of sectoral Community directives to deal with such risks would not represent a viable approach.

However, the Commission intends to present to the Parliament and the Council, by the end of 2001, a communication on the safety of services. This will assess the need for Community measures and propose a suitable approach for Community action. Tourist activities will be considered in this communication alongside other services. But the idea behind possible future Community initiatives on the safety of services is to set a framework piece of legislation, similar in its spirit to the Directive on General Product Safety, not to go into the specifics of particular activities. Moreover, subsidiarity considerations would probably preclude measures such as restricting or submitting to conditions the access to off-piste skiing activities.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3473/01

by Gerardo Galeote Quecedo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 December 2001)

Subject: Information broadcast on EuroNews

It appears that even now the EuroNews television news channel is continuing to refer to the terrorist group ETA as a separatist organisation in its bulletins.

In the Commission's view, is such a description compatible with the European Union's fundamental principles and aims, especially as regards the defence of freedom and respect for human rights?

Given that the EuroNews channel receives funding from the EU budget, does the Commission not believe that the Community institutions have a duty to guard against cases where the terms employed by EuroNews to describe a terrorist group might be construed as implicitly condoning terrorism, and that such an approach would in no way detract from the full respect for the freedom of thought and expression of EuroNews journalists?

Joint answerto Written Questions P-3466/01 and P-3473/01given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2002)

The Commission fully shares the concern expressed by the Honourable Members about the fact that EuroNews has referred in its bulletins to the terrorist group ETA as a separatist organisation.

Whilst it is true that EuroNews receives funding from the Community budget, the Convention that was signed by both EuroNews and the Commission with the full support of the Parliament only relates to the co-production of a series of information programmes about the Union. As in the case of all other media companies, the Commission respects the full editorial freedom of Euronews.

The Commission, however, at its next meeting with EuroNews in which the Parliament will, as usual, also participate will draw their attention on the points raised in this question.

The Commission expresses once more its commitment against terrorism, including ETA, as symbolised by President Prodi's presence in public events in solidarity of the victims of terrorism and by numerous public statements.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3488/01

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

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Environment and the EIB

What does the Commission think of the detail given on the European Investment Bank's website concerning the environmental impact of their projects?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2002)

The Commission understands that the European Investment Bank (EIB) has established a website(1) where limited information is provided concerning projects introduced to the EIB for financing.

Apparently the purpose is to give to all interested parties a general view of all important aspects related to these projects, i.e. project description, project objectives as well as environmental aspects.

Requests for additional information concerning these aspects may be addressed as indicated in the above website to the Information and Communications Department of the EIB.

(1) http://www.europaworld.org/issue15/theeuropeaninvestmentbank291200.htm.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3528/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Expenditure on Private Finance Initiatives and Public Private Partnerships

1. Will the Commission specify the annual expenditure commitments entered into by each Member State with respect to arrangements such as Private Finance Initiatives or Public Private Partnerships for the last five years, and for as far into the future as they are given?

2. Will it further express such commitments as a percentage of GDP and projected GDP?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2002)

The Commission does not have the information requested.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3381/01

by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Council

(7 December 2001)

Subject: Lomé Convention and EU cooperation aid

Can the Council provide a list of the countries which are in receipt of aid either under the Lomé Convention or from European Development Cooperation and where the standard of civil rights accorded to women is inferior to that of men?

Reply

(25/26 March 2002)

The Council has repeatedly stressed the necessity of ensuring equality between women and men in developed or developing countries.

Indeed, Article 20 of the Cotonou Partnership agreement lays down that one of its objectives is to promote human and social development helping to ensure that the fruits of growth are widely and equitably shared and promoting gender equality and further ensure that systematic account shall be taken in mainstreaming gender issues into all areas of cooperation. Concerning the specific question posed by the Honourable Parliamentarian on a list of countries which are in receipt of aid and where the standard of civil rights accorded to women is inferior to that of men, the Council does not have such a list.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3520/01

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Production of wine from hybrid varieties in France

In his letter of 4 December the questioner sent Commissioner Fischler the article mentioned in Question E-2782/01(1), which the Commission, in its reply, said it did not know about.

In view of this article, which the Commission now knows, and the fact that it acknowledges there are no known recent studies about the effects on health of consuming wine made from hybrid varieties, and bearing in mind that production of this type of wine is widespread in the United States as can be seen on the Internet can the Commission now answer the earlier question?

Does it not consider it essential that the public be fully and unambiguously informed as to the possible harmful effects (or lack of them) of drinking this kind of wine?

(1) OJ C 93 E, 18.4.2002, p. 190.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Article 17(3) of Council Regulation No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on common organisation of the market in wine(1) states that the Commission shall finance an independent study on the use of interspecific wine varieties. On the basis of the study it will send Parliament and the Council a report accompanied by any appropriate proposals. The time limit for the report is 31 December 2003.

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2691/01

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 October 2001)

Subject: Funding from Justice and Home Affairs DG

Will the Commission provide a list of the projects which, in 2000 and 2001, were submitted by the Italian Regions of Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta for financing from the funds administered by the Justice and Home Affairs Directorate-General, and the names of those which were subsequently approved?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2002)

In 2000 and 2001 the Italian regions of Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta applied for co-financing from seven programmes administered by the Justice and Home Affairs Directorate-General: the STOP programme (combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children), the Falcone programme (cooperation in the fight against organised crime), Grotius Civil and Grotius Criminal (for legal practitioners), the Robert Schuman programme (information and training in Community law for the legal profession), the European Refugee Fund, and Prince.

The details are as follows:

- STOP turned down the one project submitted in 2000 and accepted one of the three submitted in 2001, for the organisation of a conference on victim protection involving the police and non-governmental organisations.

- In 2000 the Falcone programme co-financed a project for a study of urban crime.

- In 2001 the Grotius Criminal programme approved a training project.

- The Grotius Civil programme, in force since this year, rejected the one project submitted to it.

- In 2000, the Robert Schuman programme rejected the two projects submitted and, of the four submitted in 2001, two were selected for co-financing: law reports for judges and lawyers and a network of Community law schools.

- Under the Council Decision of 28 September 2000 establishing a European Refugee Fund(1), Member States are responsible for implementing the action supported by the Fund, including the selection of projects. To that end, each Member State appoints a responsible authority, which in Italy's case is the Ministry for the Interior. On the basis of the information transmitted to the Commission, projects were adopted in 2000 and 2001 involving the regions referred to by the Honourable Member, with the exception of the Valle d'Aosta.

- In 2001 the European Charter of Fundamental Rights was promoted through measures carried out under the Prince programme throughout Italy and, in particular, in the regions mentioned.

Lastly, the Honourable Member is referred to the document containing the reports to the Council and Parliament on the implementation of the OISIN, STOP, Odysseus and Falcone programmes in 2000(2), where he will find useful information.

(1) OJ L 252, 6.10.2000.

(2) SEC(2001) 903, 6.6.2001.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3571/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Building of gas-turbine thermal power stations in the province of Reggio Emilia

In the Reggio Emilia province (Emilia Romagna region, Italy), the authorities are making plans for the building of gas-turbine thermal power stations in the inner suburbs of the city of Reggio Emilia and in Brescello. Various action committees and associations, concerned at the implications of these plans in terms of public health and environmental impact, are campaigning against the decision.

Will the Commission check whether the building of such power stations in the Reggio Emilia province is in keeping with European environmental, public health and public safety regulations?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

The Commission has the task of ensuring the correct application of Community law, in the light of the powers conferred on it by the EC Treaty. As the guardian of the Treaty, it does not hesitate to take all necessary measures, including infringement procedures under Article 226 of the Treaty, in order to ensure the observance of Community law.

In the specific situations pointed out by the Honourable Member, the Directive on environmental impact assessment (Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985(1) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment whether before or after being amended by Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997(2)) constitutes the possibly relevant Community law.

However, on the basis of the information given by the Honourable Member, due to a lack of grounds of complaint on the application of Community law, no breach of it can be identified at present. Should the Honourable Member provide detailed information enabling the Commission to assess the issues in relation to the above mentioned directive, the Commission would also be able to investigate this matter.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3441/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(21 December 2001)

Subject: The communal woodlands of Galicia and the Galician government's agricultural initiatives

Has the Galician government submitted specific agricultural development plans for the communal woodlands of Galicia, to be granted European Union support for the period 2000-2006? Can these plans be made public?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-3440/01, E-3441/01, E-3443/01 and E-3444/01given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2002)

The Commission contributes through the Structural Funds to various regional development programmes in Spain. Galicia has a number of agricultural and rural development programmes in receipt of Community funding.

However, there is no specific programme for the common lands that the Honourable Member refers to.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and amending and repealing certain Regulations(1) lays down all the criteria under which Community funding can be granted.

That said, if these lands are deemed eligible under the Regulation, then the Structural Funds, including the EAGGF Guidance Section, could finance measures.

The Commission invites the Honourable Member to contact the regional and/or national authorities for further information on this matter.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1915/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2001)

Subject: Reform of price-fixing policy for pharmaceuticals

Recent developments in the pharmaceuticals sector have pointed up the need for a collective and global approach to the problem of price-fixing policy for pharmaceutical products, with a view to adapting that policy to new circumstances and events in the health field at world level.

It is already clear that the international agreements on patents need reforming and that the pharmaceutical industry must operate a change in attitudes which is more than thirty years overdue.

In view of these developments in the sector and the major impact which a reformed regulation of the market in pharmaceuticals would have at world level, does the Commission believe it should make a particular contribution by calling for a global debate and a set of proposals aimed at achieving a fair balance between the health needs of today's world and the business practices of the pharmaceutical industry?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2001)

Universal access to basic health services is extremely important, and achieving that goal in a way which will make a significant contribution to poverty reduction will require a strong international effort. In the context of the fight against the three main communicable diseases (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), malaria and tuberculosis), the Commission has called for global tiered pricing to be applied in order to bring about a significant reduction in the cost of key pharmaceuticals to sufferers in developing countries. However, the Commission has not called for a reformed regulation of the market in pharmaceuticals, nor does it advocate any kind of mandatory price-fixing.

At the same time, the Commission continues to recognise the need to maintain strong protection of intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector, since, on a long term basis, these rights provide the necessary incentives for the pharmaceutical industry to develop new and improved drugs for the benefit of the world population.

As regards the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), the Commission's view is that the Agreement contains the necessary flexibility to allow WTO Members to set up an intellectual property regime that is supportive of their public health objectives. In this context, the Community, together with all other WTO Members in the TRIPs Council, is engaged in discussions aimed at clarifying certain provisions of the TRIPs Agreement. This process should allow WTO Members to have a clearer view of measures that can be taken under the TRIPs Agreement to address health problems.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3054/01

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Sectarian riots in Nigeria

In the wake of the American air raids on Afghanistan at least 200 persons have been killed over the last few days in sectarian riots in northern Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are leaving the region owing to the activities of gangs of Muslim fighters.

What measures does the Council intend to take to help put an end to these sectarian killings of civilians? Does it intend to assist the Nigerian Government to address the current crisis and to give humanitarian aid to the civilians who are forced to abandon their homes?

Reply

(18 March 2002)

The Council is greatly concerned over the recent killings in northern Nigeria. In its view, a global approach is needed if a lasting solution is to be found for the social, ethnic and religious clashes which are a frequent occurrence in that country. The Council has, therefore, adopted a common position on Nigeria(1) whereby the European Union will support action aimed particularly at consolidating democracy and respect for human rights, reducing poverty, institutional reform and sustainable economic and social development. The EU also maintains a close and regular political dialogue with Nigeria. The EU Heads of Mission, who are primarily responsible for the conduct of such dialogue, will raise the question of the recent killings in northern Nigeria and the reaction of the security forces at their next meeting with the Nigerian authorities.

(1) Common position 2001/373/PESC, OJ L 132, 15.5.2001.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3496/01

by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE) and Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Large-scale fraud affecting the EU

According to reports published in today's press, the Taranto Public Prosecutor's Office has issued three preventive arrest warrants against the former ASI commissioner in Taranto, the retired director of the Alenia company and a member of the contract award panel under investigation, on charges of fraud involving improper use of EU funds. The relevant funds (ITL 4,2 billion) had been earmarked for the purchase of seven stations to monitor the quality of the water in the vicinity of the Taranto's industrial zone. According to the charges, the monitoring stations have never been put into operation.

The repeated instances of fraud which are extremely detrimental to the EU's financial interests make it essential that the Commission and the European Parliament do their utmost to prevent such criminal action.

Is the Commission aware of these problems? What action does it intend to take to protect its own financial interests?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2002)

The Commission has no specific information about the case cited by the Honourable Members.

The Commission has received no communication from the Italian authorities under Commission Regulation No 1681/94 of 11 July 1994 concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums wrongly paid in connection with the financing of the structural policies and the organisation of an information system in this field(1).

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has undertaken to contact the Italian judicial authorities.

The Commission would ask the Honourable Members to pass on any further information they might receive directly to OLAF.

(1) OJ L 178, 12.7.1994.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3293/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Commission support for Team Europe Junior

Team Europe Junior (TEJ) is a non-profit, non-party political organisation formed in 1992 with Commission support.

Can the Commission say what financial and other support, e.g. assistance with marketing etc., it gave TEJ in 2000 and 2001?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2002)

The only Team Europe Junior that is currently operational and supported by the Commission is based in the Netherlands.

The Dutch Junior Team Europe is a team of students that teaches different European themes in secondary schools. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1990 by Europa Centrum, a Dutch foundation in the field of youth and education.

Each year, a new team of about 30 students is selected and trained to fulfil the demand that comes from teachers all over the Netherlands. The team members each draw on their own experiences of working, studying or living in a European country and they are only slightly older than the pupils. Their objective is to inform young people about the Union and to foster dialogue. The lessons are created by the foundation Europa Centrum and provide an efficient and effective means of communicating with young people.

This year the scheme has been expanded to include the participation of Members of the Parliament in the lessons.

The foundation Europa Centrum has developed plans to establish similar Junior Teams in other European countries. In 2000 they set up partnerships with organisations in Austria, Poland and Latvia with the aim of setting up a Junior Team in those countries. However, financing through the Youth programme was not possible. Through the Dutch Representation contacts have been made with Directorate General Enlargement and delegations in candidate countries in order to pursue this idea.

Financial support given by the Commission:

- Total costs of the project in the Netherlands: 85 000,- per school year,

- Junior Team 2000-2001: 14 000, a once-only-grant by Directorate General Education and Culture,

- Junior Team 2001-2002: 24 295,39, part of the costs undertaken by the Dutch Representation of the Commission.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3140/01

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 November 2001)

Subject: Storage of nuclear waste from EU Member States in Russia

This is a supplementary question to written question E-2363/01(1) and the Commission's reply to it.

Does the Commission actually intend to have nuclear waste from Member States stored in the Russian Federation, or are any of the Member States planning to do so?

(1) OJ C 93 E, 18.4.2002, p. 121.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 2001)

The competence of the Community with respect to the export of radioactive waste is described in its reply to the Honourable Member's written question E-2363/01(1). The responsibility for decisions on where radioactive wastes are to be stored rests with the Member States themselves.

The Commission believes that, at the present time, taking into account the actual state and limited remaining capacity of its existing facilities, the Russian Federation is not in a position to fully assure the safety of newly imported spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste. Efforts are being made to improve the situation, according to information available.

The Commission has not been informed of any such arrangements or plans by Member States.

(1) OJ C 93 E, 18.4.2002, p. 121.