ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0939/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (26 April 1996)

Subject: SMEs and the international economy

What initiatives has the Commission launched or does it intend to launch in the future to promote the competitiveness of European SMEs and their access to international export markets and the international economy?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (7 June 1996)

The activities of the Commission to enhance the competitiveness of European small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and to improve their access to export markets and the international economy cover a wide range of policies. The Commission has recently published a report ((COM(95)362 final. )) covering both actions in the framework of enterprise policy intended to benefit SMEs, notably those arising under the structural funds, research and technological development and international cooperation with some third countries.

The third multiannual programme in favour of SMEs (1997-2000) ((COM(96) 98 final. )) sets out the actions which the Commission intends to undertake within the context of European enterprise policy. Internationalisation of SMEs is a priority issue of this programme, where specific measures are envisaged supporting SMEs in their strategies to internationalise their activities. Moreover, the integrated programme in favour of SMEs and the craft sector ((COM(94)207 final. )) brings together in a coherent framework SME-related actions under other Community policies.

Within the framework of the market access strategy for the Community, the Commission will also develop initiatives aimed at promoting the internationalisation of SMEs. These will always be a complement to Member States' activities in this field. Existing programmes, such as 'Gateway to Japan' will be integrated into this approach.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0964/96 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission (26 April 1996)

Subject: Street children in Guatemala

A ECU 2,5 million project was approved for street children in 1994. Some 10% has been earmarked for Casa Alianza and almost 50% is to pay for legal staff at its Legal Aid Office.

It has now been informed that these funds cannot be used to pay staff. Bearing in mind the vital work of Casa Alianza with street children, will the Commission waive this ruling?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (21 May 1996)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for the interest shown in the programme on behalf of street children, signed in Guatemala on 6 April 1995 by the ombudsman for human rights.

According to the Financing Agreement, the sum of ECU 160 000 allocated to Casa Alianza for the three years of the financing period is intended to help fund the legal aid department. As originally stipulated by Casa Alianza, the Community aid will finance one adviser, one consultant, one researcher and three promotion staff. Casa Alianza pays the salaries of the administrative staff.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0788/96 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Council (22 March 1996)

Subject: Interpretation of Article 109j of the EC Treaty

1. Does the Council intend, pursuant to Article 109j(3) of the EC Treaty, to take the decisions referred to therein within the agreed period or does it consider such a decision to be obsolete in the wake of the position adopted at the Madrid European Council? If no decision is to be taken pursuant to Article 109j(3) of the EC Treaty, what are the deadlines for the reports to be submitted by the European Commission and the European Monetary Institute pursuant to Article 109j(1)?

2. What is the Council's view of the fact that, if it decides not to take a decision pursuant to Article 109j(3), Parliament is denied the opportunity of adopting a position, in the interests of Europe's citizens, on the question of participation by a majority of Member States and the appropriateness of entering the third stage? Would this not be a waste of an opportunity for reasoned debate on EMU, which is provided by the Treaty for a good reason?

3. What alternative, pursuant to Article 148 of the EC Treaty, is applicable, in the Council's view, to the decisions referred to in Articles 109j(3) and (4) of the EC Treaty? To what extent can the Ioannina compromise be applied to the establishment of a majority in Council?

Reply (25 June 1996)

The conclusions of the Madrid European Council clearly do not oppose application of the provisions of the EC Treaty, including Article 109j(3). The Council attaches great importance to the exercise referred to in paragraph 1, which will be used to examine the progress made by Member States on convergence and the national legislation necessary for the achievement of economic and monetary union. There is therefore no need to seek an 'alternative'.

The 'Ioannina compromise' ((Council Decision of 29 March 1994 concerning the taking of decisions by qualified majority by the Council (94/C 105/01), as amended by the Decision of 1 January 1995 (95/C 1/01). )) may be invoked only when the Council acts by a qualified majority, without prejudicing obligatory time limits laid down by the Treaties and by secondary law, in each instance in compliance with the Council's Rules of Procedure.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0360/96 by Karl Schweitzer (NI) to the Commission (22 February 1996)

Subject: Discrimination against qualified employees in the EU

With reference to the document forwarded separately to it, does the Commission consider the procedures described in the letter to be in accordance with EU practice and thus correct?

If so, can it give an explanation?

If not, what action would it recommend to the teacher to ensure that she obtains satisfaction?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (21 March 1996)

The Commission understands that the letter to which the Honourable Member refers is dated 14th December 1995, and concerns the situation of an Austrian foreign language lecturer in the University of Pisa.

The Commission is fully aware of numerous similar cases in many Italian universities where discrimination against foreign language lecturers has been denounced.

As regards its position on the professional status and the working conditions of foreign language lecturers in Italian universities, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer given to written question E-158/96 by Mr Tamino ((OJ C 122, 25.4.1996. )) as well as to its joint answer to oral questions H-0063/96 by Mr Truscott and H-0067/96 by Mrs Crepaz ((Debates of the European Parliament. )) and to the statement made by the Commission in response to the debate in the Parliament on 15th February 1996 concerning the situation of foreign language lecturers in Italian universities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0759/96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (26 March 1996)

Subject: Restructuring programme for Olympic Airways

Almost all state airlines in the European Union are facing financial problems. The Greek national airline, Olympic Airways is no exception. This company has embarked on a restructuring programme in line with suggestions made by the Commission.

Can the latter say:

1. What are the basic principles of this programme?

2. What progress has it made so far?

3. Does it know whether this programme is being propoerly implemented, or will checks be carried out? What results have been achieved so far?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (24 May 1996)

In its Decision 94/696/EC of 7 October 1994 ((OJ L 273, 25.10.1994. )), the Commission approved the package of state aids given to Olympic Airways, which accompanied a restructuring programme, summarized in this Decision. The detailed answer to the first two questions raised by the Honourable Member may be found in this text. This restructuring programme is due to be completed by 1997 and is aimed at making Olympic Airways a sound and profitable company in the coming years. It entails substantial cost reductions, in particular in personnel costs, increase of productivity, and fleet and network reorganisation.

As provided in the above-mentioned Decision, and prior to payment of the second instalment by the Greek authorities to Olympic Airways, the Commission is now, in the customary fashion, examining the implementation of the programme and the question of whether the conditions which were attached to the Decision are being fully respected. In the framework of this examination, on 30 April 1996, the Commission re-opened the procedure in this case in accordance with Article 93.2 of the EC Treaty.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0823/96 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 April 1996)

Subject: Money laundering

Directive 91/308/EEC on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering ((OJ L 166, 28.6.1991, p. 77. )) requires Member States to bring into force the legislation necessary to comply with the Directive before 1 January 1993 (Article 16).

Bearing in mind that the effectiveness of attempts to combat money laundering depends mainly on the coordination and harmonization of national implementing measures, what measures has Greece taken at national level to combat money laundering? Has it implemented the laws, regulations and administrative decisions necessary to comply with Directive 91/308/EEC? Has Greece communicated to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which it has adopted in the field governed by the Directive? And what steps will the Commission take if it finds that the Directive in question has been inadequately implemented by the competent Greek authorities?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1996)

Greece implemented Directive 91/308/EEC on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering by law no 2331 of 24 August 1995 ((Government Gazette no 173, 24.8.1995. )). This law was formally notified to the Commission.

The Commission is in the process of studying the Greek legislation. Were it to have any doubts as to its conformity with the Directive it would follow the standard procedures.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0957/96 by James Provan (PPE) to the Commission (26 April 1996)

Subject: Financial compensation for UK meat exporters

Bearing in mind that the Commission's ban on British beef exports left stranded thousands of containers of beef already in transit, with an average value of £25 000 to £30 000 per container, will the Commission entertain claims from British meat exporters for financial compensation for the loss of those containers of beef, which were perfectly legally exported at the time they left UK shores?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1996)

Commission Decision 96/239/EC of 27 March 1996 on emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) ((OJ L 78, 28.3.1996. )), prohibits exports of meat of bovine animals to third countries from the United Kingdom. Several measures have been put forward by the Commission in order to limit the negative impact that has occured due to BSE for Community exporters. It has been decided to increase the validity of the export licences and to release operators from obligations entered into the context of incomplete export transactions. The exporter has to repay any refund paid in advance and the securities relating to the operations have to be released.

The Commission is well aware of the difficult conditions for Community exporters and is following the situation closely.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1129/96 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) and Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (13 May 1996)

Subject: Lease of the Hochtief building

The Commission's answer to our Written Question E-0416/96 ((OJ C 183 of 24.6.1996, p. 30. )) seems odd.

With regard to Point 1, the Commission should know that MEPs cannot refer written questions directly to governments or private companies.

With regard to Point 4, can the Commission state whether, in its specifications for the construction of a building to accommodate 800 officials, it can permit the presence and practice of private commercial activities?

How can the Commission impose its specifications on the builders, if it enters into a contract with them, when the building is already going up and includes a large hypermarket on the ground floor?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (6 June 1996)

While regretting procedural constraints, the Honourable Members are asked to bear in mind that the Commission cannot be a substitute for the parties to an agreement and provide information on their agreements.

With regard to the specifications of a building, the Commission can decide to accept exceptions from the description of the standard building intended to house its departments. The Commission decides, case by case, whether individual items in the description are to be treated as mandatory.

It is recalled that the Commission was assisted by an engineering consultancy firm for sixteen months and that several meetings took place with the builder. At these meetings details concerning Commission requirements were discussed.

Moreover, in many buildings, the extent to which they meet the occupier's requirements can be increased even after completion of the work.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0871/96 by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE) to the Commission (2 April 1996)

Subject: European investment in Cuba

In its communication of 28 June 1995 on relations between the European Union and Cuba (COM(95)0306), the Commission draws attention to the process of liberalization and reform currently in progress in Cuba and the major role which the European Union has to play in that process, and states that trade relations should be based on the principle of freedom. It transpires, none the less, that there have been a number of irregularities by the Cuban authorities regarding investment in the tourist sector by European operators which, as a result, has been cut back, despite its economic importance to Cuba.

How does the Commission propose to react to the repeated infringement of international commercial law by the Cuban authorities, instances of which have become so common as to make it impossible for European investors to operate in a normal fashion in Cuba?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (26 April 1996)

The Commission is not aware of the Cuban authorities' repeated infringements of international commercial law in their handling of investment by European operators in the island's tourism industry.

Moreover, the Commission would like to remind the Honourable Member that the question of foreign investment still lies mainly within the jurisdiction of the Member States, so the Commission has very limited scope to act in this area.

Nevertheless, if the Commission continues to receive regular reports of such infringements, the matter will certainly be raised during the current talks between the Community and Cuba.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0732/96 by Reimer Böge (PPE) to the Commission (26 March 1996)

Subject: Current state of the EU fishing fleet

What is the current state of the Community fishing fleet (tonnage, kW)?

To what extent have the agreed capacity targets (GRT and kW) been implemented and adhered to in the Member States?

Is the Commission considering suspending some aid to the fishing industry if individual Member States do not implement the capacity targets, so as to finally ensure equal opportunity among the fishing fleets?

Answer given by Ms Bonino on behalf of the Commission (17 April 1996)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and the Parliament Secretariat a table with the number, tonnage and power (KW) of ships in each Member State fleet at 1 January.

Another table sets the actual size of the Community fleet (again broken down by Member State) at 1 January last year against the targets of the third generation of multiannual guidance programmes (MGP).

Under Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 3699/93, any Member State aid leading to increased catches must be suspended if the annual MGP targets - even interim ones - are not met. ((OJ L 346, 31.12.1993. ))
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1292/96 by Roberto Mezzaroma (UPE) to the Commission (31 May 1996)

Subject: Community plan for essential health structures

The local authorities in the province of Lucca want to close down the 'San Francesco' hospital in Barga without any valid justification, even though it is operating at a profit.

1. Does the Commission not take the view that, in the context of health protection and its policy on citizens' rights, there is a need to ensure at all costs that satisfactory and rational medical and hospital care is available throughout Community territory, particularly in those areas where the dismantling of important existing structures is likely to cause considerable and unacceptable inconvenience for citizens?

2. Does the Commission not also consider that, in the light of what is happening in Garfagnana, there is an urgent need to adopt common criteria at European level to guarantee a minimum health and hospital service, also including the introduction of a 'Community plan for essential health structures', which takes local and regional specifications into account?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (26 June 1996)

The organisation and delivery of health services is a matter for the Member States. The Commission, in the context of the framework for Community action in the field of public health ((COM(93) 559 final )), is helping cooperation between the Member States by providing support for the examination of important policy issues, such as fundamental health choices, cost containment, and quality aspects and new technologies. The Commission has, however no intention of proposing common parameters or minimum requirements in the structure of health services.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1483/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 June 1996)

Subject: Regional operational programme for Central Macedonia, sub-programme 3, Measure 3

The city of Thessaloniki has problems with its water supply, especially in summer when demand is higher, largely because of its pipelines. Measure 3, 'Environment management', of sub-programme 3, 'Improvement of the basic urban infrastructure and the quality of life' of the regional operational programme for Central Macedonia comprises projects to a value of ECU 11 343 000. One of the measure's objectives is to improve the water mains.

1. What was the take-up rate for Measure 3 of sub-programme 3 in 1994 and 1995?

2. Have there been any delays in taking up the funds and, if so, what were the main reasons for them?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1479/96, E-1480/96, E-1481/96, E-1482/96, E-1483/96, E-1484/96, E-1485/96 and E-1486/96 given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (26 June 1996)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0735/96 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Council (27 March 1996)

Subject: 'Disappeared persons' and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

In a recent television interview Mr Denktash contradicted the position Turkey has adopted for the last 21 years that there are no 'disappeared persons' as a result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974. According to Mr Denktash, these 'disappeared persons' were actually killed in 1974 by Turkish-Cypriot paramilitary forces which had taken charge of any prisoners captured by the Turkish army. This raises the question of the responsibility of the military command of the Turkish army, since in time of war the officers and unit present in a given area are responsible for whatever happens there. There is also the problem of the families of 'disappeared persons' whose plight has repeatedly attracted the attention of the European Parliament.

Will the Council say:

a) what actions it intends to take to establish how many 'disappeared persons' were killed, who they were and where they are buried, so that their families can be satisfactorily informed and receive the remains of the dead for burial?

b) Furthermore, how does it consider that the laws applicable to war and the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war can be applied in this case? Finally, do the two Member States of the Union - France and the United Kingdom - which are members of the UN Security Council intend to press for the prosecution of those responsible, on the modes of the prosecution proceedings initiated against Serb and Croat officers implicated in war crimes in Bosnia?

Reply (16 July 1996)

The Council noted with great concern the recent statement of Mr Denktash concerning the fate of the missing persons and attaches greatest importance to the investigation of the matter. The Council gives its strongest support to the United Nations Committee on Missing Persons established in 1981, which is an appropriate forum for conducting the necessary investigations. The Council will continue to follow the matter closely and will raise the issue with the appropriate authorities.

The interpretation of the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war is a matter for the States parties to the Convention. As far as the question concerning France and the United Kingdom is concerned, it is not for the Council to reply.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0884/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (17 April 1996)

Subject: European works councils

With reference to Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on setting up a European works council or a procedure for informing and consulting employees, ((OJ L 254, 30.9.1994, p. 64. )) does the Commission have details of which undertakings or groups of Community-scale undertakings have so far agreed to set up such councils or establish a set procedure for informing and consulting their employees?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 June 1996)

According to the information which the Commission has received from unofficial sources, the following groups of undertakings have already concluded agreements anticipating the transposition of Directive 94/45/EC:

Accor, AgrEvo, Airbus Industrie, Allianz, Assurances Générales de France, BASF, Bayer, Behr, Beiersdorf, Bertelsmann (Gruener + Jahr), Borealis Polymers, Bouygues, BP Oil Europe, Braas, B. Braun - Meslsungen, British Telecom, Bull, Ciba-Geigy, Claas, Coats Viyella, Coats Viyella Thread Division, Continental, Courtaulds Textiles, CPC International Inc, Crédit Lyonnais, Danone (BSN), Degussa, Digital Equipment Corporation, DLW, DMC, Dupont De Nemours, Electrolux, Elf Aquitaine, ENI, Ericsson, Eridania Beghin-Say, Eurocopter, Europipe, FAG (Kugelfischer Georg Schaefer), Ferrero, Framatome, Générale des Eaux, GKN, Grundig, Hafslund Nycomed, Hartmann & Braun, Henkel, Herberts, Hercules International, Hoechst, Honda Motor, International Service System, Italcementi, Kabelmetal EM/LMI, Kaefer Isoliertechnik, Kemira, Kodak, Kone, Lafarge Coppee, Lyonnaise des Eaux, Mayr Melnhof Karton Division, Merloni Elettrodomestici, Myllyhoski, National Westminster Bank, Nestle, Nokia-NCM, Norsk Hydro, Panasonic, Pechiney, Petrofina, Philip Morris, Phoenix, Pilkington, Preussag, Redland, Renault, Rhone Poulenc, RWE, Saint-Gobain, Sandvik, Scansped, Schering, Schmalbach-Lubeca, Schneider, Schwarzkopf (Hoechst), Siemens, SKF, Solvay, Stena Line, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Tetra Laval, Thomson C.E., Thomson-CSF, Thomson Dasa, Triumph International, Tulip Slagterierne (International), Unilever, United Biscuits, Usinor Sacilor, VAW, Verlagsgruppe Passau, Villeroy & Boch, Volkswagen, Volvo, Zumtobel.

The Commission is also able to inform the Honourable Member that negotiations are in progress in many other groups of undertakings with a view to concluding such agreements by 22 September 1996.