ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/412

(2004/C 78 E/0433)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2650/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 September 2003

Subject: Working Time Directive

1. Has the Commission carried out any studies of the impact of the Working Time Directive (93/104/EC (1)) on provision of health services?

2. Does the Commission recognise the difficulties caused by the Working Time Directive to health service provision? In particular, hospitals in the United Kingdom such as Barnet and Chase Farm General Hospital have reported considerable difficulties in fixing nursing rosters that comply with the directive. In particular, the rules on night working make it difficult for hospitals to fix family-friendly working times, which suit nurses with children who want to be available to pick them up and drop them off at school.

3. Does the Commission have any plans to revise the directive to allow more flexibility for health services to deal with these problems?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2003)

Although Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time lays down minimum working time requirements it allows, however, for a considerable degree of flexibility as regards, inter alia, ‘activities involving the need for continuity of service … particularly … services relating to the reception, treatment and/or care provided by hospitals or similar establishments …’ (Article 17.2.1 (c) (i)).

This provision is intended to cater for the needs mentioned by the Honourable Member.

On the other hand, the Directive itself provides for a re-examination, within a period of seven years from November 1996, of two of its provisions: the option not to apply Article 6 of the Directive where an individual worker agrees to work more than the maximum average of 48 hours (the opt-out) and derogations regarding the reference period. In both instances, the Directive provides that the Council shall re-examine these provisions and decide on what action to take on the basis of a Commission proposal accompanied by an appraisal report.

Before the end of 2003, the Commission will adopt a Communication on the revision of the Working Time Directive.

Whether the Working Time Directive will be revised depends on the outcome of the discussions on the consultative Communication and on the future consultation with European Social Partners.

(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993, p. 18.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/872

(2004/C 78 E/0925)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3888/03

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Winding-up of contracts in the Eurostat affair

As a result of the irregularities uncovered earlier this year at Eurostat, on 23 July 2003 the European Commission terminated its contracts with the company CESD-Communautaire. A number of firms worked as subcontractors to CESD-Communautaire. These bona fide subcontractors are in danger of being the victims of the situation that has arisen as a result of claims on CESD-Communautaire not being paid.

1. As the Internal Audit Department completed its screening of all Eurostat contracts on 27 October 2003, can the Commission explain how it intends to deal with claims from bona fide subcontractors of firms whose contracts have been cancelled by the European Commission as a result of the Eurostat affair?

2. In its answer will the Commission cover claims on CESD-Communautaire in general, and sub-project RU51NL in particular?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2004)

On 23 July 2003 the Commission instructed its departments to terminate its existing contractual relationships with four bodies in accordance with the terms laid down in the contract. However, the termination of the contracts in question did not release the Commission from the obligation to pay the remuneration for the parts of the contracts that had been performed. The bodies were accordingly paid for the services they had rendered where there was no dispute regarding the assessment of the work.

In the case of the subcontractors, as a rule, the relationships between the Community's contractors and any subcontractors they use are governed exclusively by agreements concluded between these parties, and the Community is not bound by such agreements. This is the case with the claims held by the subcontractors of CESD-Communautaire (1) in respect of the project referred to by the Honourable Member. However, in so far as the Commission has paid CESD-Communautaire for the services rendered, there is to the Commission's knowledge nothing to stop CESD-Communautaire paying off any money it owes its subcontractors.

(1) ‘Centre européen de formation des statisticiens économistes des pays en voie de développement.’
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/693

(2004/C 78 E/0741)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0064/03

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

(22 January 2003)

Subject: European assistance for the raising of the Le Joola ferry which sank off the coast of Senegal

The Le Joola ferry sank off the coast of Senegal and Gambia in September with more than a thousand Africans and several European citizens on board, including the Netherlands nationals Roel and Lisette Arendshorst. Very many family members in Africa and Europe and the Netherlands want to recover the bodies of the victims and bury them on land.

Is the correct that the European Commission has already offered to fund the raising of the ship from the eighth European Development Fund?

Why has the government of Senegal still not accepted the offer and what is preventing the Senegalese government from raising the ship so that the victims can be given a dignified burial by their families?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2003)

The Commission has not made the offer mentioned by the Honourable Member since such funding falls outside the objectives of development co-operation with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States as defined in Article 177 of the EC Treaty and the Cotonou Agreement.

As mentioned in previous replies to similar Written Questions E-3166/02 (1) by Mrs Bonino, and E-3319/02 (2) and P-0108/03 (3) by Mr van den Berg, the Government of Senegal has not submitted any request to the Commission in respect of raising the ship.

(1) OJ C 155 E, 3.7.2003, p. 105.

(2) OJ C 268 E, 7.11.2003, p. 29.

(3) OJ C 268 E, 7.11.2003, p. 72.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/498

(2004/C 78 E/0519)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3236/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 November 2003)

Subject: Training for public servants in new technologies

In Greece there is a growing conviction that public servants are not sufficiently well versed in new technologies and modern information systems.

Can the Commission provide the following information:

1. What information does it have regarding the use of such technologies by public servants in Greece? How does this compare (in percentage terms) with the use of new technologies by public servants in other Member States and what position is occupied by Greece in this respect?

2. What is the per capita outlay in Greece for the introduction of new technologies in the public sector? What position is occupied by Greece compared with other Member States in this respect?

3. Is the Commission satisfied with this information if not, what measures will it take to help ensure more comprehensive training for public servants and the improvement of computerised public services?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Despite recent improvements, the Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that Greece should deploy additional efforts to promote the use of new technologies and modern information systems in the public service.

According to the information at the Commission's disposal, the main public service in Greece involves about 270 000 civil servants. It is estimated that approximately 20 % are using PCs. In recent years, a great effort has been undertaken in order to improve the situation. 10 000 PCs have been installed in the framework of the TAXIS system and 2 500 through the customs modernisation programme. 3 500 PCs have recently been installed in the Centres for Services to Citizens (KEP). A corresponding number of civil servants has been trained in the use of the new systems.

Also, the European Social Fund provides for financial support in this context. The 2000-2006 Operational Programme ‘Information Society’, contains a priority axe EUR 850 million dedicated to the improvement of the Public Services offered to the citizens through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This programme will contribute to increasing the number of public servants using PCs to 70 %. It will also contribute to inter-connect 100 % of the public services, including the local authorities. Another Operational Programme entitled ‘Employment and Vocational training’ has as one of its aims the training of public servants in basic ICT skills.

Finally, there is significant participation of Greek research organisations on e-Government research within the Community supported Information Society Technologies Research Programme. This enables the Greek public sector to stay at the forefront of technological developments in the e-Government area.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/640

(2004/C 78 E/0676)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3753/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Update on use of funding from the 2000 City Twinning Programme by the municipality of Florence

In its answer to question E-1019/03 (1), which asked whether the municipality of Florence had submitted projects and secured funding under the 2000 City Twinning Programme, the Commission stated that no funding had been granted for the year 2000.

Can the Commission say whether the municipality has submitted any projects and obtained and used any funding in the budget years since then?

(1) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 208.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/475

(2004/C 84 E/0550)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1700/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(22 May 2003)

Subject: Financial corrections

In its reply concerning paragraph 2.57 of the 2001 Annual Report of the Court of Auditors (1) the Commission states ‘as part of the follow-up to the 2001 clearance process the Commission services have informed the Portuguese authorities that a financial correction of 2 % of Ifadap expenditure is proposed (EUR 2,8 million)’.

Can the Commission explain exactly what prompted it to impose the financial correction of EUR 2,8 million on Ifadap?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2003)

The financial correction in question has not yet reached the final accounts clearance procedure, which includes a hearing stage at which the Member State can put forward its arguments.

If a financial correction decision is adopted we shall inform the Honourable Member.

(1) OJ C 295, 28.11.2002, p. 58.
1.

The ‘Determination and Findings’ issued by the United States (US) Department of Defense on 5 December 2003 under the signature of Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz applies to 26 prime contracts to be awarded by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq or by the Department of Defense on behalf of the CPA. These contracts will be funded from USD 18,6 billion committed to the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF) by the US Government. Article 4 of the ‘Determination and Findings’ states that: It is necessary for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States to limit competition for the prime contracts of these procurements to companies from the United States, Iraq, Coalition partners and force contributing nations. Thus, it is clearly in the public interest to limit prime contracts to companies from these countries. The document goes on to list those countries eligible to compete for these contracts. Current Member States and Acceding Countries listed as eligible are the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom. Those not listed as eligible are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia and Sweden. US officials have stressed that these eligibility criteria apply only to the primary contractors and will not be enforced on sub-contractors.
1.

Is the Commission aware that, in the mountain region of Karkonosze and Góri Izerskie in the southwestern Polish province of Lower Silesia (województwo Dolnoslaœkie), the beautiful natural landscape, the historic villages and the vestiges of inhabitation by earlier peoples have not so far been disturbed by war, industrialisation or agricultural modernisation, as a result of which the region was made the subject of an international travelling exhibition, ‘The Jelenia Góra (Hirschberg) valley of castles and gardens, our joint European heritage’, and possesses a potential unique within Europe for eco-, agro-, cultural and health tourism?
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/477

(2004/C 84 E/0552)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1736/03

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 May 2003)

Subject: Commission presence at the Fifth World Avocado Congress

Further to my Written Question No Ε-l154/02 (1) of 22 April 2002, and the answer received from the Commission, the organising committee of the Fifth World Avocado Congress is aware of the possibility that a Commission representative might attend the event.

Following the previous four congresses held in the United States, Mexico, South Africa and Israel, the holding of the forthcoming congress in Europe is particularly important for the sector and offers an excellent opportunity for the Commission, in its capacity as manager of the CAP, to gain first-hand knowledge of the findings of papers presented at the congress and consider how they might be applied to assist Community avocado producers.

Will the Commission therefore say whether it is able to accept the invitation from the organising committee of the conference concerned and play an active part in it, examining how the congress' findings can be put into practice and reviewing the position of avocado production within and outside the Community?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2003)

The organisers of the Fifth World Avocado Congress have sent us an invitation to the event without stating any specific wish for active participation. We are looking at the possibility of non-active participation given our work priorities and human and financial resources.

If the organisers wish active participation on our part in the event and in putting its findings into practice, they should make direct contact with the appropriate department within our organisation (Agriculture Directorate-General, Directorate for Markets in Crop Products, Unit for Fresh and Processed Fruit and Vegetables) so that their wishes can be ascertained and action agreed on.

(1) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002, p. 154.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/375

(2004/C 78 E/0398)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1632/03

by Renato Brunetta (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 May 2003)

Subject: Sale of the ‘Vittoriosa Gaming’ company by the ‘Casinò Municipale di Venezia’

According to reports in the Venetian press, the ‘Casinò Municipale di Venezia SpA’, an entirely public company of which the Venice municipality is the main shareholder, has been involved in a major transaction to sell its holding in ‘Vittoriosa Gaming Ltd’ (which runs the Casino in Malta).

It has also been reported that the ‘Meliorbanca’ bank acted as advisors in this transaction.

Will the Commission ascertain:

— whether this transfer has been carried out and, if so, on what terms, given that until recently the mere intention was denied and/or ruled out?

— whether the transaction advisor was selected on the basis of a public tender procedure or, at least, a public selection procedure?

— whether, if it is true that Mr Ferruccio Piantini, son of Mr Giorgio Piantini, chairman of the ‘Casinò Municipale di Venezia SpA’ company, is vice-chairman of Meliorbanca, this is not tantamount to an unacceptable ‘conflict of interests’, especially if the contract is awarded by the Casinò di Venezia company to the Meliorbanca bank by direct private negotiation?

— whether such sales transactions are being conducted in compliance with Community and national (Maltese and Italian, in particular) law?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2003)

At this stage, the Commission is unable to determine whether the transaction in question has indeed taken place and whether it has been carried out in compliance with relevant Community rules.

The Commission invites the Honourable Member to provide further information on this issue, bearing in mind however that the Commission is only competent to monitor the application of Community law and will consequently not be able to answer any question related to the correct application, by the Italian bodies involved, of the relevant Italian and Maltese legislation.

With regard to the specific issue of whether the ‘Casinó municipale de Venise SpA’ company complied with the Community rules on public procurement when choosing the ‘advisor’ for the sales transaction in question, the Commission does not yet have the information required in order to answer the question asked by the Honourable Member.

The Commission will therefore contact the Italian authorities to obtain the information required in order to ascertain, first of all, whether the ‘Casinó municipale de Venise SpA’ company can be defined as a contracting authority under the terms of the Community public procurement directives and if it is thus obliged to apply the aforementioned rules. Should these rules apply, the Commission will investigate whether they have been observed in the choice of ‘advisor’ for the share transfer transaction mentioned by the Honourable Member.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/190

(2004/C 78 E/0197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2927/03

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject: Urgent need to expand voluntary fire services

Mediterranean countries have again been hit this summer by devastating forest and bush fires. Large numbers of people have fallen victim to fires in Portugal and the south of France, which have been unusually frequent and have affected an unusually wide area. Enormous damage has also been caused both to the natural environment and the economy. It was only by deploying large numbers of personnel, and thanks to the help of numerous volunteers, that the fires were able to be brought under control. Discussions on the possibility of promoting the use of voluntary fire services date back to 1996.

To what extent is expansion of voluntary fire services, such as already exist in the South Tyrol, Austria and Germany, planned? Is such expansion also supported in Mediterranean countries?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2003)

The Commission fully agrees with the Honourable Member regarding the role and the importance of volunteers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the field of civil protection.

It appreciates the great work done by voluntary fire-fighters during the summer facing the overwhelming fires, especially in the southern Member States.

Already in 2002 a Union project on the role of non-governmental volunteers in the field of civil protection was finalised. This was conducted within the framework of the civil protection action programme (1). (Its results can be accessed on the website of the civil protection unit within Directorate General Environment: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/civil/).

The project aimed at identifying the civil protection structure in the Member States and how the competent authorities could best benefit from NGOs or volunteers experience while including them in the civil protection system.

In the present action programme the Commission foresees for next year an activity to raise the awareness for volunteering in civil protection, obviously including the sector of volunteer fire fighting.

Finally, the Commission is open to any kind of initiative in this field, taking duly into account the principle of subsidiarity.

(1) Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999 establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection, OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/62

(2004/C 88 E/0067)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2058/03

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 June 2003)

Subject: ACP bananas

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1609/1999 (1) established a framework for temporary technical and financial assistance for traditional ACP suppliers of bananas with a view to enabling them to adapt to new market conditions in the banana sector or to diversify where their products were insufficiently competitive.

Now, however, questions are being asked about the method used for the calculation of the assistance and about the transparency of that method, where double standards seem to apply.

In meetings with OCAB (the pineapple and banana growers central organisation), the Commission has already admitted that the use of statistics supplied by Eurostat results in the Regulation being the incorrectly implemented, but it has apparently taken no steps whatsoever to rectify the situation.

What does the Commission intend to do to ensure that Regulation (EC) No 1609/1999 is correctly implemented?

(1) OJ L 190, 23.7.1999, p. 14.