ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0821/98 by José Apolinário (PSE) to the Commission (26 March 1998)

Subject: The Community initiative, Leader, and tourism

Will the Commission give the total amount allocated, per Member State, in the 1994-1999 financial programming period to actions and projects specifically involving tourism within the framework of the Community initiative, Leader?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (23 April 1998)

A feature of the Community Leader II initiative is its decentralised implementation, with due regard for each regional/local authority's institutional jurisdiction and for the subsidiarity principle. The programmes approved by the Commission under the initiative for each Member State or region have an overall financial appropriation which is divided between four measures: acquiring skills, local action groups, other collective bodies and transnational cooperation.

In accordance with the notice to the Member States on the Community Leader II initiative, ((OJ C 180, 1.7.1994. )) each rural innovation programme run by a local action group (public and private partners cooperating on a multisectorial development strategy in a local-scale continuous area) may cover several operational aspects: technical support for rural development; training and recruitment assistance; rural tourism; small firms, craft enterprises and local services; local exploitation and marketing of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products; preservation and improvement of the environment and living conditions.

The Commission was not involved in selecting the local action groups (roughly 800 for the 15 Member States), and each Member State is responsible for approving the groups' rural innovation programmes. The individual selection of projects is a matter for the decision-making partnership at regional level, in compliance with Community policies and the criteria for the eligibility of measures under the Structural Funds.

Since rural tourism covers a wide range of activities, its importance will vary between Member States and Leader groups, depending on the opportunities for tourism projects and the priority they are given in the development plans submitted by each local action group.

Based on the experience of Leader I and the first reports for Leader II, it is estimated that 40% of the Community contribution of ECU 1 700 million (i.e. ECU 680 million) will be invested in rural tourism projects during the current programming period (1994-1999). Local Leader investment in rural tourism can be estimated at around ECU 1 300 million when national and private funding is taken into account.

The Commission will very shortly have available a retrospective assessment report on the Leader I programme, which will enable a more detailed overview of activities connected with rural tourism.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0702/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission (18 March 1998)

Subject: Rare diseases

This question relates to the Commission Communication concerning a programme of Community action on rare diseases within the framework for action in the field of public health and to the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a programme of Community action 1999 to 2003 on rare diseases in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health (COM(97) 225 final - 97/0146 COD ((OJ C 203, 3.7.1997, p. 6. ))).

As regards the second objective, can the Commission ensure that the Internet (via the discussion groups) can also carry out the extremely useful function of promoting contacts between patients and the medical profession, since in many cases people suffering from rare diseases live a long distance from one another?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0700/98, E-0701/98, E-0702/98 and E-0703/98 given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (6 May 1998)

In its communication on and proposal for a public health action programme on rare diseases ((OJ C 203, 3.7.1997. )), the Commission set out a three-pronged approach: first, to provide knowledge about rare diseases especially for patients, health professionals and researchers; second, to establish, foster and strengthen voluntary organisations involved in supporting people directly or indirectly affected by rare diseases, and third, to ensure an efficient handling of the problem of clusters, which is of key importance for rare diseases.

As regards the first objective, the Commission intends to support the establishment of a European rare diseases database using appropriate means, including the Internet, and will pay particular attention to the quality and comprehensiveness of the information to be made available.

'Networks' indicated under the actions on community information on rare diseases means building structures in and between holders of data, while 'groups collaboration and networking' mentioned in the second actions of the second objective refers to organisations of individuals representing patient and family support groups.

As regards the second objective, the Commission agrees that the Internet ('newsgroups' and 'chatgroups') can also play a very useful role in fostering contacts between patients and professionals, as in most cases people suffering from rare diseases live far apart from one another.

As regards the third objective, the Commission wishes to indicate that the experience from dealing with clusters that are of different character and magnitude, and may be caused by different factors, is unique and most valuable and will certainly lead to the development of guidelines such as those published by the centres for disease control in the United States.

The Commission is unfortunately not yet in a position to indicate the financial framework for the proposal beyond its first year of action (1999) because this will entirely depend on the establishment of the future financial perspectives. Furthermore, the Commission will keep the need for continuing action in this area under review.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0613/98 by Tommy Waidelich (PSE) to the Commission (9 March 1998)

Subject: Budget items for EU aid to organizations operating in the field of drugs policy

Eu aid has reportedly been paid in both 1996 and 1997 to organizations such as European Cities on Drugs Policy (ECDP) whose aims include the legalization of narcotics, the establishment of 'coffee shops' and the legal prescription of heroin.

Can the Commission say under which budget items such aid is paid out?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 April 1998)

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the answer it gave to written question E-413/98 by Mr Andersson ((OJ C 304 du 2.10.1998, p. 96. )).

All the measures supported under the programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence (Decision No 102/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 ((OJ L 19, 22.1.1997. ))) are presented in detail in the reports on the implementation of budget heading B3-4302.

These reports are forwarded annually to Parliament in accordance with the undertaking given by the Commission at the meeting of the Conciliation Committee on 1 October 1996. Information on the supported projects can also be obtained from the Commission's Internet site: (http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg05/health/ph/main.htm).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0485/98 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (27 February 1998)

Subject: Continuity and change in eligible areas between different structural fund programming periods

Will the Commission provide a table of figures which show the level of continuity in terms of number of areas and percentage of funding totals for eligible areas retaining eligibility at each successive reform of the Structural Funds for the European Regional Development Fund in 1988 and 1993? Will the Commission provide projections, based on current estimates, for the same figures in respect of the new programming period 1999-2006? Which studies has the Commission undertaken on the benefits of continuity between periods to enable the completion of structural change, as against changes in eligibility in order to target need more effectively? What preliminary conclusions does the Commission draw in this respect?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (27 March 1998)

For information on the areas eligible and the associated level of financial support under the structural funds, the Commission refers to Regional development study No 26, which is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat, and in particular to the statistical annex which sets out this information by Member State. The Commission is not in a position to provide equivalent information for the period 2000-2006. This must wait until the new regulatory framework for the structural funds has been agreed by the Council, providing the basis for the subsequent decisions on eligible areas and the corresponding indicative financial allocations.

The Commission considers that in the identification of eligible areas under the structural funds it is necessary to concentrate assistance on the worst-affected areas, in order to reduce disparities in accordance with Article 13a of the EC Treaty.

With regard to objective 2, the current regulations provide for two 3-year programming periods. The list of areas eligible for objective 2 has, however, remained virtually unchanged during the two periods, which is the result of a decision taken by the Commission in close consultation with the Member States in the interest of continuity. The Commission will take this experience into account in its proposals for the duration of programmes in the next period.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1232/98 by Anna Terrón i Cusí (PSE) to the Commission (9 April 1998)

Subject: Budgetary implementation in Catalonia in 1996 and 1997

Will the Commission give details of the implementation of commitment and payment appropriations from the Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund and the Community Initiatives in Catalonia for the financial years 1996 and 1997?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2039/98 by Klaus Hänsch (PSE) to the Commission (7 July 1998)

Subject: Allocation of EU resources to the city of Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia

Regarding the allocation of EU resources to the city of Wuppertal in North Rhine-Westphalia, can the Commission indicate:

1. the sum of EU structural resources received and their breakdown by Funds and the various Community programmes and initiatives and of EU resources allocated to Wuppertal from other budget lines since 1994 for pilot projects, measures or - as direct allocations - universities, research establishments, undertakings and other bodies,

2. the number of jobs created or preserved with the aid of these resources?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (6 July 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1236/98 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (29 April 1998)

Subject: Inspections under the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme and the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance

With regard to the requirements for the status of premium producers under the Suckler Cow premium Scheme and the Hill Livestock Compensatory Scheme, is the Commission aware whether there is any discretion on the rule 'visits for inspection purposes will occur without notice' (SCP 1997/HCLA 1998)?

Can an inspection be refused where there are mitigating circumstances, such as insufficient staff to handle the animals?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (18 May 1998)

According to Article 6(5) of Commission Regulation (EEC) no 3887/92 of 23 December 1992 ((OJ L 391, 31.12.1992. )) laying down the implementing rules on the administration and control of Community aid schemes, advance warning of on-the-spot checks should be limited to the strict minimum necessary although as a general rule this should not exceed 48 hours.

In principle, once announced, on-the-spot checks should be conducted to conclusion. In this context it is pointed out that, in making an application for Community livestock aids, applicants declare themselves as having taken note of scheme requirements, one of which is the obligation on Member States to carry out on-the-spot checks. Article 13 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3887/92 provides that, except in cases of force majeure, an aid application is rejected if an on-the-spot check cannot be conducted due to reasons attributable to the applicant.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0677/98 by Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (10 March 1998)

Subject: Conditions for upgrading the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico' engineering qualification in comparison with others

Why, in the Spanish version of the notice of open competitions COM/A/720 and COM/A/721 (OJ C 52 A, 28.2.1991), did the Commission include the requirement that applicants be holders of a higher education qualification obtained after a five-year course, when that same requirement did not appear in any other language version of the said notice?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0635/98, E-0636/98, E-0637/98, E-0638/98, E-0639/98, E-0640/98, E-0641/98, E-0642/98, E-0643/98, E-0644/98, E-0645/98, E-0669/98, E-0670/98, E-0671/98, E-0672/98, E-0673/98, E-0674/98, E-0675/98, E-0676/98, E-0677/98, E-0678/98, E-0679/98, E-0724/98, E-0725/98, E-0726/98, E-0727/98 and E-0728/98 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1998)

The Commission feels that most of the information requested by the Honourable Member is contained in its answers to written questions E-2749/97 by Ms Garcia Arias ((OJ C 82, 17.3.1998. )) and E-4186/97 by Ms Dührkop Dührkop ((OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 15. )). The Commission would accordingly refer the Honourable Member to these answers, where it gave a full statement of its general approach to qualifications giving access to A/LA posts in the European public service and more specifically to qualifications held by Spanish technical engineers.

The correct translation of 'diploma universitario' into German is 'abgeschlossenes Hochschulstudium', and that is the term used on the notice of competition COM/A/1047 (97/C 145 A/02) published in the Official Journal. With regard to Competition COM/A/720 and COM/A/821, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the judgment given on 3 March 1994 by the Court of First Instance in Case T-82/92 Cortés Jiménez v Commission.

The Commission would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that the candidate at competition COM/A/104 has brought an action, registered at the Registry of the Court of First Instance under number T-299/97 on 1 December 1997. Accordingly the Commission cannot give an answer because the matter is sub judice.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0956/98 by Markus Ferber (PPE) to the Commission (30 March 1998)

Subject: Tolls on the Brenner motorway

1. Why has the Commission's complaint against Austria still not been lodged with the European Court of Action even though it decided as far back as 30 July 1997 to bring an action?

2. Is it true that it is delaying proceedings so as not to jeopardise Austria's consent to the European Union's transit agreement with Switzerland?

3. When will it at long last lodge the complaint against Austria with the European Court of Justice?

4. What legal remedies may transport undertakings invoke in order to obtain a refund of excessive motorway tolls?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (16 June 1998)

1. The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that in accordance with the case law of the Court of justice (judgement of 14 February 1989 in case 247/87), the Commission enjoys a discretionary power to start infringement proceedings in conformity with Article 169 of he EC Treaty.

2. No.

3. The Commission lodged the application with the Court of justice on 29 May 1998.

4. The transport undertakings can bring actions before national courts for the infringement of the relevant provision of Directive 93/89/EEC which has been annulled by the Court of justice on 5 July 1995 and the effects of which have been maintained, until the Council adopts a new directive.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0558/98 by Bryan Cassidy (PPE) to the Commission (4 March 1998)

Subject: By-pass in Dorset, UK

What approaches has the Commission received from (a) the UK Government and (b) the Dorset County Council about the proposed route of the Sandford and Halton Heath By-Pass in Wareham, Dorset?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1998)

The Commission has never received any approach from the United Kingdom government or from the Dorset authorities regarding the Sandford and Halton Heath bypass and the bypass has, therefore, not been considered for inclusion in the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (Decision No 1692/96 EC ((OJ L 228, 9.9.1996. ))).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1294/98 by Robin Teverson (ELDR) to the Commission (29 April 1998)

Subject: The Ad Hoc Group on Illegal Trade in Ozone-depleting substances

What decisions were made at the meeting of the 'Ad Hoc Group on Ozone-depleting Substances', which took place on Thursday 26 March 1998, and when will it meet again?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (3 June 1998)

The meeting of the ad hoc group on illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances was attended by representatives of the Commission, Member States' environment and customs authorities, the European chemicals industry and a non-governmental organisation which has published a report into illegal chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and halon trade in Europe. There was a useful exchange of information on the current availability and prices of ozone-depleting substances in the Community which seemed to indicate that CFCs were becoming increasingly scarce but also that there might continue to be a problem of illegal imports.

The group took a number of decisions aimed at improving the gathering and exchange of information on the problem of illegal trade. It agreed that the Commission should arrange for a study on the availability and sources of supply of CFCs and halons in the Community. It also agreed to compile guidelines for customs officials to improve their awareness and knowledge of trade in ozone-depleting substances and current control measures. The group asked the Commission to examine the feasibility of a European seminar to help train customs officials. The group agreed to establish a list of contact points in each Member State to facilitate the exchange of information, including confidential information, and members of the group undertook to keep the Commission informed of enforcement actions in each of the Member States.

The group agreed to meet again in the second half of 1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0478/98 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (27 February 1998)

Subject: Quotas for specific actions within structural fund programmes

To what extent does the Commission regard the financial tables included in agreed Single Programming Documents (SPDs) as fixed, and to what extent does it encourage flexibility in Member States by accepting them as indicative only? In addition, how far in advance does the Commission prepare quotas for overall amounts to be devoted to specific actions, which are then implemented through SPDs, and to what extent does it allow distribution to be agreed regionally, only subsequently compiling overall Europe-wide totals? Does the Commission plan any shift in the balance of its approach in this respect, with greater or lesser use of Europe-wide quotas for the new structural fund programming period 1999-2006?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (7 April 1998)

The Commission considers that financial plans form an integral part of the single programming document (SPD) and are a vital element in monitoring the overall progress of each. However, given the flexibility inherent in the multi-annual programming approach, it is expected that these plans will and indeed should be updated from time to time to reflect actual progress. For this reason, under the current programmes, the national authorities responsible for implementing programmes can decide or propose modifications to the plans within limits agreed with the Commission beforehand.

No quotas are applied for specific actions or sectors, either at regional or at Community level. The amount of Community cofinancing of each SPD is determined within individual programmes, in the context of partnership, taking into account the objectives sought and the types of measures envisaged.

In its structural funds reform proposals adopted on 18 March 1998 ((COM(98) 131. )), the Commission plans to offer greater reprogramming flexibility for the Member States, in that only changes in the financial table concerning the programme as a whole or major priorities would still have to be approved by the Commission. Shifts in credits between measures within one and the same strategic priority of the programme would be left to the discretion of the Member State and its implementing authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0676/98 by Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (10 March 1998)

Subject: Conditions for upgrading the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico' engineering qualification in comparison with others

Does the Commission take the view that the British 'Bachelor of Arts', 'Bachelor of Science' and 'Bachelor of Engineering' qualifications rank higher than that of the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico'? Why?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0635/98, E-0636/98, E-0637/98, E-0638/98, E-0639/98, E-0640/98, E-0641/98, E-0642/98, E-0643/98, E-0644/98, E-0645/98, E-0669/98, E-0670/98, E-0671/98, E-0672/98, E-0673/98, E-0674/98, E-0675/98, E-0676/98, E-0677/98, E-0678/98, E-0679/98, E-0724/98, E-0725/98, E-0726/98, E-0727/98 and E-0728/98 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1998)

The Commission feels that most of the information requested by the Honourable Member is contained in its answers to written questions E-2749/97 by Ms Garcia Arias ((OJ C 82, 17.3.1998. )) and E-4186/97 by Ms Dührkop Dührkop ((OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 15. )). The Commission would accordingly refer the Honourable Member to these answers, where it gave a full statement of its general approach to qualifications giving access to A/LA posts in the European public service and more specifically to qualifications held by Spanish technical engineers.

The correct translation of 'diploma universitario' into German is 'abgeschlossenes Hochschulstudium', and that is the term used on the notice of competition COM/A/1047 (97/C 145 A/02) published in the Official Journal. With regard to Competition COM/A/720 and COM/A/821, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the judgment given on 3 March 1994 by the Court of First Instance in Case T-82/92 Cortés Jiménez v Commission.

The Commission would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that the candidate at competition COM/A/104 has brought an action, registered at the Registry of the Court of First Instance under number T-299/97 on 1 December 1997. Accordingly the Commission cannot give an answer because the matter is sub judice.