ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1498/98

by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission

(13 May 1998)

Subject: Human Rights in Sierra Leone

Given the recent events in Sierra Leone, can the Commission comment on what is being done towards stabilizing democratic rule? Furthermore, can the Commission comment on its discussions concerning the current situation of refugees seeking political asylum?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 1998)

Since the return of President Kabbah from exile and the restoration of democratic rule in Sierra Leone on 10 March 1998, priority has been accorded to ways in which democratic rule can be stabilised and consolidated in order to provide a firm basis for the country's reconstruction and future development.

The country's internal security will continue for some time to be dependent upon the presence of the Groupe de contrôle de la Communauté économique des Etats de Afrique de l'ouest (Ecomog), the successful outcome of whose operations in Sierra Leone will determine the timing and arrangements for the restoration of local government as planned by the current government.

At the central level, the government has committed itself to establishing a more accountable and transparent collection and management of public funds in an attempt to reverse the discontent and unrest amongst civil society and the armed forces created by decades of widespread corruption and mismanagement. The Commission is thus financing an institutional support programme based in the ministry of finance aimed at the strengthening of the government's capacity to manage and account for the state finances and plans to expand this type of assistance in its future programmes financed under the 8th European development fund (EDF).

As far as the rest of the country is concerned, the government - with the assistance of donors - is facilitating the return of displaced communities to their villages and towns. Emergency humanitarian assistance is being provided in the form of well-targeted nutritional feeding and medical programmes (2.9 MECU) and also in the form of seeds and tools programmes (1.9 MECU) to aid agricultural recovery. The Commission is also preparing the resumption of its rehabilitation programmes in rural areas to assist with the reconstruction of social infrastructure damaged as a result of civil unrest over the last 7 years as well as the recent fighting since the military coup of May 1997. The assistance to rural communities to resettle and resume economic activities and to receive basic social services is considered a high priority given the impact of past social marginalisation and deprivation on the stability of successive governments since independence.

The Commission is not aware of any discussions being held relating to refugees' requests for political asylum. However, assistance is being given through a European non governmental organisation (NGO) to refugees in Guinea where preparations are under way for their eventual voluntary return to Sierra Leone as soon as the security situation permits.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0713/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission

(18 March 1998)

Subject: Food legislation - consumer health

In connection with "The General Principles of Food Law in the European Union" (Commission Green Paper) and "Consumer Health and Food Safety" (Commission Communication) (COM(97) 176 final and COM(97) 183 final),

can the Commission ensure that quality rules are harmonized only as regards health questions, whereas the barriers to trade created by national quality requirements should be tackled by consistently applying the principle of mutual recognition?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0710/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission

(18 March 1998)

Subject: Food legislation - consumer health

In connection with "The General Principles of Food Law in the European Union" (Commission Green Paper) and "Consumer Health and Food Safety" (Commission Communication) (COM(97) 176 final and COM(97) 183 final),

can the Commission ensure, by amending Directive 83/89/EC, that it is the task of the Member States to specify that national laws do not constitute barriers to the internal market?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0240/98

by María Estevan Bolea (PPE) to the Commission

(13 February 1998)

Subject: Biological diversity

In view of the importance of biodiversity to the protection of Europe's environment, it is essential for the biological diversity strategy to be based on a precise analysis of the current situation and the aims to be achieved, and on clear objectives and well-defined means. Would the Commission therefore answer the following questions:

1. How is it envisaged within the EU strategy that species of wild flora and fauna should be conserved as essential components of biological diversity? Is it intended that specific action plans relating to this issue will be drawn up?

2. Do the departments responsible for applying other policies (agriculture, fisheries, transport and energy, tourism, international cooperation, etc.) do anything which could have an adverse effect on biological diversity in the EU?

3. In drawing up the EU strategy, is the Commission taking into consideration the fact that, in the application of such policies, the degree of biological richness of the individual Member States is a factor which may require that application to be modulated?

4. What action is the Commission contemplating in connection with the EU strategy in order to encourage application of CITES, given that the EU, as a consumer of biodiversity from other countries, has responsibilities in terms of the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity outside its territory?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1884/98

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

(16 June 1998)

Subject: SMEs

The Commission's report to Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the coordination of activities to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the craft sector (COM(97) 0610) (p. 30) states that in 1997 a reform was undertaken of the operating procedures of the Committee on Commerce and Distribution (CCD). At present there is also a parliamentary intergroup on commerce and distribution.

Can the Commission provide information on this reform and the nature of the changes?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 1998)

The committee on commerce and distribution (CCD), established by Commission decision 81/428/EEC of 20 May 1981(1), is a consultative body made up of entrepreneurs and reporting to the Commission. In order to improve the committee's efficiency, a number of steps have been taken to alter the way it functions.

Participation in plenary sessions is now limited to full members of the CCD so as to achieve a more focused entrepreneurial discussion. In order to keep the professional organisations of the trade sector properly associated, an annual CCD conference is now organised separately from the CCD plenary session. The member of the Commission responsible for the sector attends this conference as do representatives from other European institutions including the Parliament.

The members of the CCD working groups are now selected to a greater degree on the basis of their background knowledge of the matters discussed and not just on the basis of their interest in the immediate topic under discussion. This and the fact that the working group meetings are now smaller has increased the CCD's efficiency. CCD opinions are more quickly prepared and voted, using a written procedure. They are communicated both to the Commission and to the Member States Directors general of commerce and to governmental experts. A wider dissemination of CCD documents is envisaged, including the use of the internet.

The information flow between the Commission and CCD members has been improved by using electronic mail. This also helps to improve the communication flow between CCD members and the relevant professional organisations and their members.

(1) OJ L 165, 23.6.1981.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1253/98

by Odile Leperre-Verrier (ARE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: European youth action programme

What progress has been made in the launch of a Euro-Mediterranean youth action programme apparently envisaged during one of the meetings of Euro-Mediterranean countries?

What guidelines have been established and within what time frame might the measures be implemented?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 1998)

The Barcelona Declaration includes youth as a priority field of action between the EU and the twelve Mediterranean partners. The Work Programme states that "a Euro-Mediterranean youth exchange programme should be established based on experience acquired in Europe and taking account of the partners& apos; needs".

The conclusions of the second Euro-Mediterranean conference of foreign ministers reiterate this aim, stating that "specific initiatives for youth will be put forward shortly". The Commission attaches particular importance to this sector and has established the necessary contacts for these initiatives, which it is working to set up in 1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0997/98

by Laura De Esteban Martin (PPE) to the Commission

(2 April 1998)

Subject: Community competitions

What has led the Commission to require that Mr Vicente Alonso Morales, holder of the Spanish Ingeniero Técnico qualification and candidate for open competition COM/A/1047 (OJ C 145 A, 13.5.1997), should have successfully completed the equivalent of a full-length Spanish degree course, given that such a requirement does not appear in the text of the notice of competition?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 1998)

The Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that the candidate at competition COM/A/1047 lodged an appeal with the Court of First Instance on 1 December 1997. The case was registered under number T-299/97.

The Commission does not wish to intervene in a case which is sub judice.

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it has already given answers to written questions E-0644/98 by Mr Hernandez Mollar, E-0728 by Mr Méndez de Vigo and E-0678/98 by Mr Gutiérrez Diaz,(1) which were identical to his question.

(1) OJ C 354, 19.11.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1739/98

by Michael Elliott (PSE) to the Commission

(20 May 1998)

Subject: Microwave Ovenware Ltd/Dynopack - Commission investigation

Further to the unanswered question submitted in March 1991 (No 631/91(1)) regarding an investigation of Dynopack over an alleged abuse of their market position, what action can the European Commission take should it decide that information supplied previously by Dynopack was misleading?

Does the statement submitted by Newell represent such evidence and, if so, will the Commission reopen the investigation into Dynopack before 22 May?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(17 June 1998)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that a reply to his written question E-631/91 was sent to him on 8 May 1991(2).

The investigation undertaken following the complaint to which the Honourable Member refers was closed following official rejection on 5 February 1993 of the complaint, as prescribed in Article 6 of Regulation No 99/63/EEC of the Commission of 25 July 1963 on the hearings provided for in Article 19(1) and (2) of Council Regulation No 17(3). Counsel for the complainant have recently contacted the Commission and are considering the desirability of lodging a fresh complaint. Any such complaint will be dealt with on its merits in accordance with the relevant procedures.

The statement by Newell mentioned to in the question has been studied, and will no doubt form part of a possible future complaint. Of itself it does not, however, seem that the statement calls for any action on the Commission's part, since it does not appear to suggest that incorrect or misleading information has been supplied to the Commission in the context of a formal inquiry.

(1) OJ C 199, 29.7.1991, p. 26.

(2) OJ C 199, 29.7.1991.

(3) OJ 127, 20.8.1963.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1515/98

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

(13 May 1998)

Subject: Statistics on women

At the 1997 meeting of the Commissioners' Working Party on Equal Opportunities, Commissioner Wulf-Mathies announced that statistics would be available as from June 1997 on positive actions in the field of equal opportunities and that they would be published in a brochure.

Can the Commission say what progress has been made in this connection and forward the relevant statistical data?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 1998)

Statistical data on equal opportunities for women and men are published each year in the Commission "Annual Report on equal opportunities for women and men in the European Union".

This publication provides a good overview of recent data on the issue. The second edition (corresponding to 1997) was adopted by the Commission on 13 May 1998 and a copy is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

Furthermore, the Commission publishes regularly in its publication "Statistics in Focus" recent data on equal opportunities for women and men. In 1997, it published the results of the survey on the structure of earnings(1) which provided data on the gender wage gap.

(1) Spain, France, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Statistics in Focus No 15/97.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0657/98

by Stéphane Buffetaut (I-EDN) to the Commission

(10 March 1998)

Subject: Aid to shipbuilding

The Commission is applying a very strict policy on aid to shipbuilding in Europe (e.g. Boelwerf in Belgium, Burmeister & Wain in Denmark, the East German shipyards).

Today the governments of the European countries are providing massive help, but to the Korean shipbuilding industry, by giving unprecedented financial support (US$ 57 billion) to Korea via the IMF, although the expansionist policy conducted by the major Korean shipbuilding groups in defiance of the international market has been partly responsible for the financial problems assailing Korea. Over the last five years, for every job lost in a European shipyard, one was created in Korea, and yet the European Union has not required any restrictions on output in return for this exceptional aid.

Does the Commission intend to be as strict with Korea over shipbuilding as it is with in the Member States?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 1998)

The Commission is keeping a very close eye on the financial crisis in Korea and especially on the impact it is having on shipbuilding.

The IMF's financial support plan for Korea is not meant to rescue bankrupt shipyards. Instead, in return for aid, it imposes structural reforms which will certainly prevent the mistakes that led to a rash expansionist policy for the industry from happening again. Reorganisation of the country's shipbuilding will help generally to improve the situation worldwide.

The Commission already intends to request that bilateral talks with Korea be held soon so the matter can be looked at in depth.

The Commission will continue to monitor the effects the financial crisis in Korea is having on Community shipyards.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0768/98

by Heidi Hautala (V) to the Commission

(18 March 1998)

Subject: Chiropraxis

The European Chiropractic Union comprises 16 member associations. The European Chiropractic Training Council, which operates under the auspices of the European Chiropractic Union, monitors and standardizes training in this area. Chiropraxis is recognized in some Member States as a form of treatment which is reimbursed under the national health insurance scheme. However, its position in European law is still unclear, even though it is a form of treatment recognized, for example, by the World Health Organization.

Chiropraxis was dealt with in May 1997 Parliament's resolution on alternative medicine, and the Commission was asked to clarify the position and investigate what action should be taken at EU level.

Does the Commission propose to draft a directive on the conditions for exercising the profession of chiropractor? Has the Commission clarified the position and investigated the specific status of chiropraxis alongside other forms of treatment?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 1998)

The first question raised by the Honourable Member refers to the freedom to exercise the profession of chiropractor in the Member States. In general, unless they have been harmonised at Community level, the conditions governing training in, and the taking-up and pursuit of, a professional activity are a matter for the Member States. The pursuit of the profession of chiropractor is covered by this general framework and, as such, it too is a matter for the Member States.

As the Commission pointed out in its answer to Written Question E-317/94 by Mr Kostopoulos,(1) it has no plans at present to draft a directive regulating the practice of chiropraxis in the Member States. This is because there is a major division between those Member States which limit the medical profession to doctors alone and those in which other practices, such as chiropraxis, are recognised.

In any event, Community legislation along those lines would require a unanimous decision in the Council pursuant to the second sentence of Article 57(2) of the EC Treaty.

Regarding the second question, although Article 129 of the EC Treaty concerning public health provides for Community action to prevent diseases, it does not provide for Community action in respect of treatment. Accordingly, responsibility for this area lies with the national authorities.

(1) OJ C 376, 30.12.1994.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1195/98

by Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE) to the Commission

(24 April 1998)

Subject: Intercultural education as part of the Socrates Programme

In its reply to Question E-4142/97 by Mr Sanz Fernández(1) the Commission provides details of the number of projects and the amount of money allocated in 1995, 1996 and 1997 to the education of gypsy children. The figures reveal that, although the total amount of funding has remained virtually the same, the number of projects funded fell from 44 in 1995 to 27 in 1996 and to 13 in 1997.

What accounts for the fact that the number of projects funded has been reduced in this way?

Could the Commission explain what it means when it says that it drew the attention of the national agencies to the number of projects submitted?

To what exactly was the Commission's or the national agencies' attention drawn?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1998)

The projects carried out in 1995 were of a purely national nature, with only one party involved. In contrast, for 1996 and 1997, the projects were selected according to the eligibility criteria set out in the applicants' guide, requiring the participation of at least three countries and two establishments per country in every project. The projects accepted, although fewer in number, thus provide better quality through having a greater number of partners, thereby enhancing cooperation and creating genuine European networks.

The Commission wishes to draw attention to Article 5 (implementation and selection procedure) of Parliament and Council Decision No 819/95/EC of 14 March 1995 establishing the Community action programme "Socrates"(2), which stipulates that "the Member States shall take the necessary steps to coordinate and organise the implementation of this programme at national level, in particular by providing for the appropriate structures and mechanisms at national level", and that "requests for financial assistance for projects in actions considered to be centralised in Chapter II (Action 2 ...) shall be submitted by the project coordinators to the structures designated by the Member States. Those structures shall forward the approved requests to the Commission for a final decision, ...".

At the meeting of the national agencies for Comenius actions 2 and 3, held in Brussels on 5 and 6 November 1997, the Commission drew the agencies' attention to the fact that few projects involving the children of gypsy people had been presented by the national agencies in 1997; the Commission stressed that, particularly in view of the opening up of the programme to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CCEE), whose gypsy population is estimated at close to six million, these children should not be marginalised and that, having regard to the size of the gypsy population in those countries, it will be possible to establish a greater number of partnerships with the aim of boosting the education of gypsy children.

(1) OJ C 196, 22.6.1998, p. 85.

(2) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1007/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(2 April 1998)

Subject: European Environmental Agency (EEA) and recruitment

In my Question E-0028/98(1) in which I drew the Commission's attention to the unacceptable arrangements relating to the recruitment of staff to the EEA I asked, inter alia, which candidates of Greek nationality had been called for an interview in the selection procedures for competitions EEA/A/97/1, EEA/A/97/2 and EEA/A/97/3 and which ones had been recruited. Commissioner Bjerregaard finally answered on 2 March 1998 that a total of 30 Greeks had submitted applications to take part in the competitions but that none had been recruited. I was surprised to learn from the same reply that only one official of Greek nationality had been recruited to the EEA from the time when it was set up.

Will the Commission now answer my previous question and state clearly:

1. How many candidates of Greek nationality were called for interview in the selection procedures for competitions EEA/A/97/1, EEA/A/97/2 and EEA/A/97/3?

2. What are the nationalities of the candidates who passed the above competitions?

3. What is the nationality of the successful candidate in competition EEA/B/97/3?

4. What is the composition of the staff of the EEA, broken down by nationality?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(13 May 1998)

The Honourable Member knows that Regulation (EEC) 1210/90 of 7 May 1990(2), which governs the European environment agency, gives the agency independent status. The Commission is represented on the management board of the agency, but is not involved in the administration, functioning or operations of the agency. The Commission, therefore, has no competence in the area of staff recruitment to the agency but has instead asked the agency to provide the information requested.

In return, the European environment agency has passed on the following information in reply to the four specific points raised:

1. Number of candidates of Greek nationality invited for interview:

EEA/A/97/1:0

EEA/A/97/2:1

EEA/A/97/3:0

2. Nationalities of the candidates who passed these competitions, who are now on the reserve lists:

>TABLE>

3. The nationality of the successful candidate in competition EEA/B/97/3 is Dutch.

4. The composition of the staff, broken down by nationality, at 1 April 1998 is as follows:

>TABLE>

(1) OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 19.

(2) OJ L 120, 11.5.1990.