ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0820/96 by Francisco Lucas Pires (PPE) to the Commission (3 April 1996)

Subject: Community AIDS programmes

Do Community AIDS programmes provide for any form of support for the construction of reception and treatment centres by private social welfare institutions?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1996)

In accordance with Article 129 of the EC Treaty, Community action in the field of public health must be directed towards the prevention of diseases, by promoting research into their causes and their transmission, as well as towards health information and education.

Within this framework, the programme of Community action on the prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases (1996 to 2000) ((OJ L 95, 16.4.1996. )), adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 29 March 1996, provides for a whole range of actions concerning the surveillance and monitoring of AIDS, the fight against its transmission, information and education for the public in general and for certain target groups, exchanges of experience and information concerning modes of assistance for those testing seropositive and for those infected with AIDS, as well as the fight against discrimination.

Under the terms of Article 129 of the EC Treaty, the Commission's Community action programme does not provide for any direct support for the construction of reception and treatment centres for those with HIV/AIDS.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0834/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (12 April 1996)

Subject: Employment

At the recent summits held in Brussels, Corfu and Essen, combating youth unemployment was defined as one of the European Union's main priorities. Council Decision 94/819/EC ((OJ L 340, 29.12.1994, p. 8. )) of 6 December 1994 establishing an action programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training policy, based on the proposals of the White Paper, defines some of the basic premises for developing valid, effective vocational training strategies for combating youth unemployment.

Does the Commission not consider that it would be beneficial to introduce a programme to supplement wage costs for young jobseekers? The aim of this programme would be to contribute, by providing support over a limited period of time, to creating and safeguarding jobs, thereby offering young unemployed people guarantees of employment. Young people who have been unemployed for over 6 months and who are not taking part in a training scheme must be able to have access to the job market on the basis of practical work experience. Support should be provided for at least a year and should correspond to at least 50% of wages, on the basis of the rates of pay in force. It should be dependent on an employment contract for an unlimited period. The programme should place particular emphasis on transnational employment.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1996)

The conclusions of the Essen European Council, which were again endorsed by the Cannes and Madrid Councils, highlighted the needs of young people as a priority for Member States. In adopting the single report presented to them by Ecofin and the Employment Council, heads of state and government issued the following mandate in favour of young people:

'Member States and management and labour should ensure a proper pathway to their integration in the labour market. All young people should be provided with the level of education, training and work experience needed to make them employable'.

Member States policies for addressing the issue of youth unemployment are articulated in their multi-annual programmes, drawn up following the European Council at Essen. In particular they are to be found in response to priority 1 (increasing investment in education and training), priority 3 (reducing non-wage labour costs) and priority 5 (measures to help groups hard hit by unemployment.

Employment policies are essentially the responsibility of Member States and are determined according to their individual priorities, and subject to internal budgetary considerations and constraints. Whilst the Commission can seek to identify and disseminate good practice, competence in this area rests with Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0396/96 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (22 February 1996)

Subject: Liberalization of milk quotas

Does the Commission intend, in the near future, to initiate a liberalization of milk quotas as appears to have been proposed by some of the major milk producing and marketing undertakings in the European Union? If the Commission were to initiate such a liberalization, on what terms would it do so?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (11 March 1996)

The existing quota regime runs until the year 2000. The Commission welcomes ideas on the future regime after that date but has no plans to make a proposal to change the existing regime in the immediate future.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0751/96 by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission (26 March 1996)

Subject: Bones for meat

Mechanically recovered meat is obtained from carcasses which have been stripped in the normal way and then put through high-pressure massaging rollers to extract the shreds of tissue which cling to them.

The resulting mixture of tendon ends, gristle, connective tissue and bone fragments is pulped into a slurry and used to bulk out meat products and, can still be called meat. Does the Commission have any plans to protect the consumer by way of appropriate labelling?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1996)

The Commission is aware of the problem related to labelling of mechanically recovered meat (MRM) used in meat products. Initial discussions have already taken place on this subject, a few months ago, with the Member States within the framework of the standing committee for foodstuffs. The majority consider that the consumer should in principle be informed of the use of MRM in meat products.

Further discussions with the experts of Member States on food labelling will be held shortly to examine in detail the most suitable manner of informing the consumer of the use of MRM.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0524/96 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (11 March 1996)

Subject: HELIOS programme

What proposals does the Commission have for undertaking disability equality training for its staff, i.e. courses run by accredited trainers who are disabled people themselves in anti-discriminatory work practice in relation to people with disabilities?

How many Commission staff will undertake such courses in 1996, and what opportunities exist for cooperation in providing such training to staff of the European Parliament?

Will the Commission ensure that all members of the Helios team of experts have undertaken such training?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (19 April 1996)

At present the Commission does not offer specialized training courses covering non-discriminatory work practice in relation to disabled people.

Such training would seem to respond to a real need, and the Commission is prepared to look into the possibility of offering courses in the wider context of measures it is implementing to promote the integration of disabled people, and which will soon be incorporated into a code of conduct.

Subject to more detailed examination of the arrangements, such courses could be run by disabled people, who could help to explain the obstacles encountered in everyday working life. Like other training courses it would be organized in an interinstitutional framework.

Such training has already been given for the team of Helios experts. There are no immediate plans to organize another session.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0838/96 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (12 April 1996)

Subject: The introduction of mobile operating theatres

The health services in Israel are unfortunately required all too often to cope with dire emergencies. In Europe, as well, it might be an idea to introduce a number of ambulances, in addition to ordinary ambulances and emergency vehicles with nursing staff, equipped with operating theatres and staffed by medical personnel from casualty departments who could perform emergency operations on the spot.

Is such a service already in operation in any of the Member States? Could the Commission not in any case propose that the Community Member States make provision for a number of ambulances (depending on the population of individual regions) of this kind with mobile operating theatres to carry out emergency treatment which could save lives?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (8 May 1996)

The national civil protection services of at least six Member States are equipped with mobile surgery units, and these can very swiftly be made available to any other Member State that has suffered a major natural or technological disaster and needs some additional units to address the situation.

This support in terms of specific resources is provided in the context of Community cooperation in the field of civil protection, on the basis of the Council Resolution of 8 July 1991 on improving mutual aid between Member States in the event of natural or technological disaster ((OJ No C 198, 27.7.1991. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0730/96 by Werner Langen (PPE) to the Commission (26 March 1996)

Subject: Application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty: distortion of competition in the forestry sector in Germany

The German state-owned forestry sector makes an average deficit per year (former federal Länder) of some DM 220 per hectare. This deficit is covered by public funds. Privately owned forestry undertakings receive only minimal amounts of aid, yet must compete with the state-owned forestry sector in the market.The unequal treatment represented by regular annual payments of taxpayers' money to cover deficits, compounded by the leading role still played by the state forestry sector in the negotiation of wood prices and wage agreements, places privately-owned forestry undertakings at a serious competitive disadvantage that jeopardizes their survival.

1. Should not state-owned forestry undertakings -like other state-owned commercial undertakings compete on equal terms with forestry undertakings outside the public sector?

2. Will the Commission consider the state of competition in the German timber industry in accordance with Article 93?

3. What proposals does the Commission have to ensure that the high levels of aid in the state-owned forestry sector in Germany do not lead to flagrant discrimination against competing forestry undertakings in the common market?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (18 April 1996)

The Commission has so far taken a relatively favourable view towards state aid in relation to development, protection and sustainable management of forests, but assesses each individual case on its merits. This position is based on Community policy decided by the Council in 1989 in the context of the strategy and forestry action plan for the Community.

The Commission entirely shares the point of view of the Honourable Member that state forestry enterprises should be managed under the same competition rules as private forestry enterprises.

Therefore the Commission has asked the German authorities to clarify the matter and further emphasized the Member State's obligation under Article 93(3) of the EC Treaty to notify any plans to grant or alter aid. The German authorities have replied that there is no aid to public forestry enterprises, in particular not in the form of balancing of deficits or tax reductions. The German authorities also stressed that no such aid is being planned.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0471/96 by Gian Boniperti (UPE) and Antonio Tajani (UPE) to the Commission (29 February 1996)

Subject: The use of anabolic steroids

A young bodybuilder in Rome recently died as a result of using anabolic steroids, thereby confirming the dangers of using such products.

- The risk is even greater in the case of sports activities that are not even governed by official sports bodies, such activities constituting a subculture in which a dangerous ignorance prevails.- Italian law has no provision for banning the use of doping substances in sports activities, and this omission should be rectified not only in Italy but also throughout all the European Union Member States.- The IOC, the CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) and the various sports federations prosecute the use of drugs in sport, even though this is not the case under ordinary law.

Does the Commission not agree that the use of such substances should be banned by means of a Community law?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1996)

The Commission has no intention to propose specific legislation relating to the testing of sportsmen for the illegal use of performance enhancing substances.

The use of drugs in sport, however, may already contravene certain provisions of Community directives on the harmonisation of various matters concerning health and medicinal products. This legislation prohibits the use of medicinal products other than those authorized through a normal marketing procedure ((Directive 65/65/EEC; OJ L 22, 9.2.1965 (last amended by Directive 93/39/EEC; OJ L 214, 24.8.1993. )). Moreover, the advertising of medicinal products is covered by harmonized provisions ((Directive 92/28/EEC; OJ L 113, 30.4.1992. )).

Community activity in the field of doping as it relates to sports has been based on the Council Resolution of 3 December 1990 on Community action to combat the use of drugs, including the abuse of medicinal products, particularly in sport ((OJ C 329, 31.12.1990. )), which invited the Commission to draw up a code of conduct to combat the use of drugs in sport. This was then approved by the Council in its Resolution of 8 February 1992 ((OJ C 44, 19.2.1992. )), which called on young people, parents, educational institutions and athletes to ensure that participation in sport should be free from doping, and for the latter to act as role models. It encouraged health professionals, the entourage of sport teams (managers, coaches, trainers, etc) and sports organisations to actively prevent doping and encourage fair play. It called for cooperation between sports organisations on issues related to the status and control of doping.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0708/96 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Council (14 March 1996)

Subject: The fate of the 1 619 persons who went missing during the tragic events in Cyprus

In a recent television interview, the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denkas publicly admitted that the 1 619 persons who went missing during the tragic events in Cyprus in 1974, including not only Greek Cypriot, but also Greek, British and American citizens, were in fact killed by Turkish Cypriot paramilitary organizations.

In the wake of this shocking revelation, what view does the Council take of the situation and what steps will it take to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the fate of each and every one of the missing persons, many of them citizens of what is now the European Union, are elucidated fully and beyond all doubt?

Reply (25 June 1996)

As the President in office said on the 13th of March 1996 in response to an oral question on the situation in Cyprus, the Council attaches greatest importance to the investigation of the missing people in Cyprus. 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 noted with great concern the recent statement of Mr Denktash concerning the fate of the missing persons. It clearly shows the need to ascertain urgently the truth about the fate of the people who went missing in July 1974.

The Council will continue to follow the matter closely and will raise the issue with the appropriate authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0432/96 by Philippe-Armand Martin (UPE) to the Council (19 February 1996)

Subject: Management of the wine sector

Article 6 of Regulation 822/87 ((OJ L 84, 27.3.1987, p. 1. )) states that all new planting of vines shall be prohibited until 31 August 1996.

Regulation 1442/88 ((OJ L 132, 28.5.1988, p. 3. )) states that grubbing-up premiums will cease on 31 August 1996.

1. What does the Council intend to do with regard to forthcoming marketing years?

2. Can the Council assess the structural impact of these two measures?

3. If the reform of the COM for wine is not in place by 31 August 1996, what will the Council do for the next marketing year? When will it inform producers of its plans?

Reply (11 June 1996)

Pending reform of the COM in wine, the Council has so far extended each year, on a Commission proposal, the various time limits contained in the Community wine sector rules.

As regards the time limits expiring during 1996, and more particularly the two time limits cited by the Honourable Member, the proposals which the Commission has recently submitted in the context of the 1996/1997 agricultural prices package provide in fact, by way of an interim protective measure pending the reform, for extending the time limits in question by one year. The Council has not yet acted on these proposals.

As far as reform of the COM is concerned, the Council very recently gave fresh impetus to the work begun in 1994; with that in mind, the Council's subordinate bodies are currently conducting an in-depth review of the proposal submitted by the Commission in 1994, also taking into account the Opinion delivered by the European Parliament.

In particular, this work is situated in the context of a reform which can also take into account the new market conditions, as established over the last three wine marketing years.

Prohibition of new planting of vines, implemented in the Community since 1 December 1976, has been a vital measure for the propoer management of the market, which is faced with mounting surpluses.

As regards abandonment measures in respect of wine-growing areas, the Honourable Member will find annexed hereto a table showing the results of implementation of Regulation No 1442/88.

In particular, the Council would stress that over the past eight wine years, approximately 500 000 hectares of Community vineyards have been the subject of an abandonment premium under the aforementioned Regulation.

Results of implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88

>TABLE>

(*) provisional data, subject to variations pending final data (**) global requests submitted
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0461/96 by Frode Kristoffersen (PPE) to the Commission (29 February 1996)

Subject: Member States' right to restrict reception under Article 2a of the amended proposal for a directive on 'television without frontiers' (COM(95) 86)

Under Article 2a of the Commission's proposal amending the directive on 'television without frontiers' (COM(95)0086) ((OJ C 185, 19.7.1995, p. 4. )) the Member States must in principle ensure freedom of reception and may not therefore restrict the reception/transmission of broadcasts from other Member States unless they infringe Article 22 and/or Article 22a of the directive which concern the protection of minors. The public debate has shown however that there is some disagreement as to what protection of minors should consist of. At least one Member State for instance has introduced a general ban on TV commercials for toys while others have found no grounds for doing so.

Does the Commission think that the Member State in question should, under its own national rules on the subject, continue to be able to restrict viewers' ability to receive channels from other Member States that allow commercials for toys to be broadcast?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (2 May 1996)

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that the rules on advertising and sponsorship are already coordinated by Chapter IV of Directive 89/552/EEC ('television without frontiers'). ((OJ L 298, 17.10.1989. )) Article 16 specifically provides for a series of measures designed to protect children from abuse of any kind. There are no other restrictions on advertising for children.

Under Article 3 of the Directive, a Member State is free to adopt stricter measures, but these may apply only to broadcasters under its jurisdiction and must not undermine the principle of the freedom to receive and transmit broadcasts, laid down in Article 2(2) of the Directive.

Member States may not therefore rely on the provisions of the Directive to prohibit the reception and retransmission of television programmes from other Member States merely on the grounds that they contain advertising aimed at children.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1038/96 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (3 May 1996)

Subject: Entitlement to statutory holidays

What is the entitlement to statutory holidays on a country-by-country basis in the Member States?

What rights do workers have to these holidays, on a country-by-country basis?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (10 June 1996)

The Commission understands the Honourable Member's question to refer to public holidays, rather than to paid annual leave which is provided for in Article 7 of Council Directive 93/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time ((OJ L 307, 31.12.1993. )).

The situation with regard to entitlement to public holidays is complex. In twelve Member States there is specific legislation in respect of public holidays. In Denmark and Sweden this right is recognised in collective agreements, while in the United Kingdom it depends on the contract of employment. Where there is legislation, collective agreements sometimes provide for further public holidays. There are different rules in different Member States covering the situation when the public holidays falls on another day of rest.

The Commission has published a list of holidays in 1996 ((OJ C 45, 17.2.1996. )).

The rights relating to entitlement to public holidays and the payment of wages on those days also vary. However some features are common in a number of Member States, namely workers normally have a right to be paid in respect of public holidays, the payment is made by the employer and no other body, and such holidays are paid in addition to paid annual leave. In most Member States public holidays are treated in the same way as Sundays in respect of the rules regarding working on these days and payment or compensatory rest for such work.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1486/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 June 1996)

Subject: Measure 2.3 (Elaionas), Attica regional operational programme

Measure 2.3 comprises projects for the development and improvement of the area of Elaionas which are described as 'extremely important from a strategic point of view' for Athens.

According to the funding schedule, public expenditure on these projects should have amounted to ECU 2 536 million in 1994 and ECU 2 485 million in 1995.

1. What was the take-up rate for 1994 and 1995?

2. What were the reasons for any delays?

3. Has the Environment Ministry issued a directive designating the locations for the various activities in the area, which is essential before the project can proceed?

4. What information can the Commission provide concerning the Industrial Development Bank's (ETVA) involvement in transferring industries in Elaionas to the industrial estate at Schistos in Western Attica?

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.