ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3846/00

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Demolition of the district of Cabanyal-Canyamelar (Valencia) and infringement of Directive 97/11/EC

In its answer to Written Questions E-2416/00, E-2417/00 and E-2418/00, the Commission expressed the view that the redevelopment of the district of Cabanyal-Canyamelar in Valencia could be classified as an urban development project and that it was therefore the sole responsibility of the Spanish authorities to decide whether or not a study of its impact on the cultural heritage was needed.

However, the Commission failed to take into account the fact that Annexes I and II to Directive 97/11/EC(1) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment include constructions such as car parks and shopping centres among the projects subject to an impact assessment. Clearly, the project to extend Blasco Ibánez Avenues to the sea includes constructions of this kind, which are mentioned in the annexes to the above directive.

As the Commission will recall from the questions tabled previously, if the project were to go ahead, it would involve the demolition of 1 500 19th century buildings in the historic centre hitherto afforded protection by the Valencian Government owing to their unique characteristics and cultural relevance. For instance, one of the buildings earmarked for demolition, the Lonja de los Pescadores (fish market), the oldest of its kind in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe, ranks among the most symbolic examples of European cultural heritage.

In the light of the above, does the Commission not consider that the project to extend Blasco Ibánez Avenue, and the effects this will have on the places of cultural and historical interest in the district of Cabanyal-Canyamelar, represents an infringement of Directive 97/11/EC?

(1) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2001)

On the basis of the information supplied by the Honourable Member, the Commission considers that the project mentioned could come under Annex II to Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(1), provided that the application for approval was introduced before 14 March 1999. If it was, it is up to the Member State to determine whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is necessary or not.

If the application was introduced after this date, this project would be among those included in Annex II to Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997(2), which amends Directive 85/337/EEC. If that is the case, the decision to carry out an EIA or not is still up to the Member State, which may apply thresholds or criteria, or take a decision on a case by case basis but which, in all cases, will apply the criteria laid down in Annex III.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4029/00

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: HGV driving licence qualifications

One of the drivers involved in an accident on the M4 motorway between London and Bristol on 28 November was a 20-year-old Belgian driver who was driving a heavy goods vehicle. In the United Kingdom, it is not possible for anybody aged 20 to hold a HGV licence. Can the Commission explain why it is possible for drivers to drive in a specific country with qualifications which are less stringent than those of that country's nationals? Can the Commission also indicate whether it has any intention of harmonising such heavy goods vehicle driving qualifications?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2001)

Provisions concerning the minimum ages for drivers engaged in the carriage of goods are laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 of 20 December 1985 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport(1). In particular, Article 5 of the Council Regulation establishes minimum ages for obtaining of an heavy goods vehicles (HGV) licence.

(b) - 21 years, or

- 18 years provided that the person concerned holds a certificate of professional competence recognised by one of the Member States confirming that he has completed a training course for drivers of vehicles intended for the carriage of goods by road, in conformity with Community rules on the minimum level of training for road transport drivers.

According to what is stipulated in this Article, it is possible for a 20-year-old Belgian holder to drive a heavy goods vehicle in the United Kingdom if he holds a certificate of professional competence recognised by one of the Member States. This provision of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 has a direct effect.

Concerning the harmonisation of heavy goods vehicle's driver qualifications, the Commission submitted on the 2 February 2001 to the Parliament and the Council a proposal for a Parliament and Council Directive on the training of professional drivers of goods or passengers by road(2).

(1) OJ L 370, 31.12.1985.

(2) COM(2001) 56 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3613/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council

(15 November 2000)

Subject: Action to combat trafficking, exploitation and sexual abuse of children

Trafficking, exploitation and sexual abuse of children are increasingly becoming transnational problems. The cruelty of the crimes committed in this respect and the slowness of judicial procedures in many Member States in tackling such cases are a source of deep concern.

The European Union has so far focused on the relationship between paedophilia and the Internet and has ignored other far more important aspects. For instance, Title IV, point B of the Joint Action on combating trafficking and sexual exploitation of children stipulated that the Council should, by the end of 1999, assess the fulfilment by Member States of their obligations under the Joint Action with regard to improving judicial cooperation and approximation or revision of national legislation on action to combat trafficking, exploitation and sexual abuse of children. In its reply of 28 September 2000 to Written Question P-1748/00, the Council states that it has not fulfilled this obligation and that that examination will be carried out in the near future according to the rules laid down in the Decision. Consequently, the Council is not yet in a position to verify Member States' legislation in this area.

When will the Council fulfil its obligation to carry out this assessment? Why has it not yet done so? What obstacles did it encounter? Does the Council not consider that its failure to carry out the assessment renders the Joint Action meaningless? Is there some reluctance within the Council? What further action does the Council intend to take to apply Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union, which includes action to combat trafficking in persons and offences against children among the measures aimed at creating an area of freedom, security and justice?

Reply

(26 February 2001)

The Council would draw the Honourable Members' attention to the reply given to Written Question E-3089/00 concerning an attack on a Jewish teacher by a group of neo-Nazi skinheads.

As regards equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, on 29 June 2000 the Council adopted a Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin(1).

A proposal for a Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation and a proposal for a Decision establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006) are being examined by the Council and will shortly be adopted.

(1) OJ C 63, 4.3.1997, p. 2.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4088/00

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 January 2001)

Subject: The floor coverings industry

Has the Commission studied training provision in the floor coverings industry? Does the Commission have any plans for improvements in such provision?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

The floor covering industry would potentially deal with a large and diversified area, including parquet flooring, carpet laying, thermo-plastic tiles, ceramics etc. each requiring different skills and training. Activity at European level is currently looking generally at training provision in the construction sector.

The Leonardo da Vinci programme provides support for innovation in vocational training. In the period 1995-1999 (first phase), it financed one project concerning the floor covering industry Vocational training for tilers in Europe (1995) contractant: Assopiastrelle. Moreover, several other projects fostered innovation in training in the construction sector in general.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-4129/00

by António Seguro (PSE) to the Commission

(9 January 2001)

Subject: Secretary-General's report on the outcome of the Nice European Council

On Saturday, 16 December 2000 an article was published on the last page of the Portuguese newspaper O Público entitled Confidential report by Prodi colleague Portugal seen as a loser in Nice. That article referred to a report drawn up by the Secretary-General of the Commission on the outcome of the Nice European Council. In accordance with the rules applicable, can the Commission confirm whether such a report exists and, if so, send me a copy?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2001)

The note referred to by the Honourable Member was an internal note designed to give a very rapid initial report on the outcome of the Nice European Council to the Commission's delegations and representations. It was not intended for public distribution and does not represent the Commission's assessment of the European Council, which was given to the Parliament by the President of the Commission on 12 December 2000. However, since the note has been leaked to the press, the Commission is, as requested, making a copy available to the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3922/00

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Increase in xenophobia in Europe

The annual report recently published by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia notes a significant increase in racism in the European Union. Dr Beate Winkler, the Director of the Centre, noted that Sweden, France, Germany and many other countries are showing an alarming rise in cases of racist violence, the main victims of which are African and Arab immigrants, Albanians and Roma, while at the same time there has also been an increase in attacks on synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, and mosques. The 1999 report by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia also stresses the significant increase in the use of the Internet by neo-Nazi organisations to promote their political and racist propaganda.

The declaration by the European Conference against Racism held in Strasbourg last month stresses that Europe is a community of shared values, multicultural in its past, present and future. How effective are the measures taken by the Council and in what way is it possible to honour the Strasbourg commitments to combat racism and racist discrimination, xenophobia, religious fanaticism, intolerance, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, which threaten democratic societies and their fundamental values?

Reply

(8 March 2001)

1. The Council draws the attention of the Honourable Parliamentarian to its reply given to Written Question No E-3089/00.

2. As concerns measures to combat direct or indirect discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, the Council recalls that on the occasion of its session of 27 November 2000, a Decision establishing a Community action programme was adopted to combat discrimination (2001 to 2006)(1). In this Decision the Commission is invited to regularly monitor the programme in cooperation with the Member States and to evaluate it with the assistance of independent experts.

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 23.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3882/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Completion and re-opening of road axis 10

The events in the former Yugoslavia have not only led to the embargo, they have also put an end to the transport of Greek goods through Yugoslavia and interrupted work on the road axis linking central and southern Europe.

In view of the political changes that have taken place in Yugoslavia, what steps does the Commission intend to take to complete and re-open road axis 10 which passes through Zagreb and Belgrade and which will facilitate road links between Greece and Central Europe?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2001)

We have not yet started to focus on infrastructure improvements. Our efforts have been concentrated on implementing a 200 million emergency package of assistance to help get Serbia through the winter. We aim to have a donors' conference for the Federal Republic of Yougoslavia (FRY) once its relationship with the IFIs has been resolved we hope this will be by the early summer and once a thorough assessment of the FRY's needs, currently underway, has been completed we will look at the possibility of works on road axis 10 as part of that.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3706/00

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean

Figures issued by Unicef show that half of the 200 million children and teenagers in Latin America and the Caribbean are considered to be living in poverty and 10 % work for meagre wages. Some countries have passed laws trying to end child labour but few have made headway, as poverty remains a powerful incentive for children to work. Under-age workers were recently found on the family ranch of Mexico's President-elect Vicente Fox, who appealed that his family should not be judged too harshly, as although child labour is illegal it is widespread.

What does the Commission intend to do to alleviate the plight of Latin American and Caribbean children? How can a President-elect justify breaking the law by arguing that it is a widespread phenomenon?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2001)

The Commission's strategy towards Latin America focuses on poverty reduction and tries to improve working conditions in general as well as eradicating child labour. Within the framework of the Commission co-operation programmes, a number

of initiatives are being launched which tackle children's rights, labour conditions and the issue of street children, all over Latin America (such as the project satellite street children executed by the NGO European Network on Street Children World-wide, ENSCW, 874,000, and a project Poder crecer with the objective to accompany and strengthen NGO's that take care of children and teenagers in difficult situations such as street children, children that are in jail and under-age workers ( 1 million) executed by the NGO BICE, International catholic Bureau for childhood).

The Commission continues to foster any positive measures which aim to facilitate the implementation of the Latin America Children Convention (Código del niño y el adolescente). In this context, one of the priority themes in Latin America for 2001 is precisely the promotion and protection of the rights of children.

The Commission has taken note of the Honourable Member's concern of the case of underage workers found in Mexico and will avail itself of any opportunity to ask the Mexican authorities to enforce the laws on child labour in all circumstances.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3560/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) and Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 November 2000)

Subject: The consequences of using depleted-uranium shells in Kosovo

Mindful of the emergency package of assistance to Serbia worth 200 million and the undertaking given by Commissioner Patten at the sitting of 25 October that he would review the environmental and health hazards caused by events over the last year, and given an alleged increase in the incidence of cancers and birth defects in parts of Kosovo following the use by NATO forces of depleted-uranium U-238 (DU) shells during last year's bombing campaign, will the Commission put in hand without delay a comprehensive impact analysis study, perhaps jointly funded by and in cooperation with the proposed UNEP/UNCHS Balkans Task Force (BTF), with a view to offering assistance to those who have been affected?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 2000)

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to the replies which it has already given to Oral Questions H-429/00 by Mr Alavanos and H-431/99 by Mr Papayannakis during question time at Parliament's September 1999 part-session(1) and to Written Question E-1481/99 by Mr Manisco(2), as well as Written Question E-1256/00 by Mr Cossutta(3), concerning whether there is radioactive pollution as a result of the use of depleted uranium bombs in Kosovo. In its replies to these questions, the Commission indicated that two assessments including by the United Nations environment programme (UNEP) concluded that the Kosovo conflict did not cause an environmental catastrophe for the region.

As the Honourable Member is aware, the UNEP Balkans Unit is returning to the issue with a field visit in the coming weeks, following new information supplied by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The Commission is closely following their work, and rather than duplicating their efforts, will await UNEP's assessment before making any decisions on Community action in this area.

Regarding the 200 million emergency assistance package which has been announced for Serbia, this is to address priority needs for the coming winter months, focusing on priorities identified with President Kostunica and his team. Environmental concerns, while important in their own right, do not form part of these immediate priorities. The Commission is also beginning, with the World Bank, an assessment of the general needs in Serbia, the results of which should be ready in some months, and will determine future assistance priorities on that basis.

The Commission is also supporting a regional environmental reconstruction programme, within the framework of the Stability Pact, which will assist in environmental reconstruction throughout the wider Balkans region.

(1) Debates of the European Parliament (September 1999).

(2) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000.

(3) OJ C 72 E, 6.3.2001, p. 32.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3689/00

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

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Research into the properties of olive-oil that prevent heart attacks

The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and the Spanish Olive Grove Authority have entered into an agreement with a leading Spanish medical research institute whereby an institute research team is to study the benefits of olive-oil from the point of view of preventing heart attacks.

When the agreement was signed, the senior Agriculture Ministry representative welcomed the fact that this new avenue of research had been opened up and pointed out that, because of Mediterranean eating habits, the incidence of the various cardiovascular diseases in Spain was below average.

Given the interest of this medical research, does the Commission consider that it should assist the research work by contributing part of the funding and enabling the final reports summarising the researchers' findings to be publicised as widely as possible?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2001)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it is aware of the fact that a low intake of saturated and a high intake of monounsaturated lipid, which can be realised by including olive oil in the diet, is associated with a low risk of heart disease.

The Commission might indeed consider an application for funding the research work described by the Honourable Member under the condition that the research is submitted as a proposal to key action 1 Food, Nutrition and Health within the specific programme Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources under the Fifth Framework Research Programme.

For the time being, the Commission is not funding a specific project on the relation between olive oil and its anti-atherosclerotic functions, however, research is being carried out on the function of olive oil for health and well-being among other aspects of the Mediterranean diet, within two projects within the Fourth and Fifth Framework Programmes of research and technological development.

The first project is a share-cost project entitled: Dietary Habits Profile in European Communities with Different Risk of Myocardial Infarction: The Impact of Migration as a Model of Gene/Environment Interaction and will commence in January 2001. In this project, risk factors influenced by both nutrition and genetic polymorphisms are being studied.

The second project is called Nutritional Enhancement of Diet in Europe (Neodiet), where one of the issues studied were plant sterols like polyphenols, which contribute to the healthy image of olive oil and improve its stability. The project has been financed within the scope of the concerted action FAIR-CT97-3052.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3838/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Refusal of the Turkish Foreign Ministry to grant visas to Cypriots

The third Conference of Left-Wing Parties (Turkey, Greece and the two communities in Cyprus) in Istanbul which was intended to make progress with the peace process and promote mutual understanding between the two communities in Cyprus has been postponed because the Turkish Foreign Ministry refused to grant a visa to representatives of AKEL which is the second largest party in the Cypriot Parliament. It should be borne in mind that the first conference of the same parties scheduled to take place in Istanbul in 1998 had had to contend with similar problems.

Does the Commission intend to intervene to persuade the Turkish Government not to hinder free communications between parties of neighbouring countries in future? How does it view the fact that a country which is a candidate for accession to the EU refuses to recognise another candidate country?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 2001)

The question raised by the Honourable Member should be addressed in the context of the political settlement of the Cyprus problem.

The Union position on this problem has been reconfirmed recently at the Nice European Council in December 2000. In its conclusions, the European Council welcomed and strongly supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to achieve an overall agreement on the Cyprus problem consistent with the UN Security Council Resolutions and to arrive at a positive conclusion of the process initiated in December 1999. It appeals to all the parties concerned to contribute to the efforts made to this effect.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3728/00

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: BSE in France

Will the Commission ensure that all measures taken by France in response to the recent BSE crisis be taken and implemented without reference to nationality?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2001)

The Commission has followed closely the national measures taken by France and other Member States in response to recent developments with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). These unilateral measures have been referred to the Scientific Steering Committee, and their opinion on the merits or otherwise of these measures is currently being considered by the Commission. It is the intention of the Commission to act on these opinions in order to bring about harmonisation of these measures. Any discrimination on grounds of nationality would be an infringement of Community law and treated as such.