ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3558/01

by Carlos Candal (PSE) to the Commission

(4 January 2002)

Subject: Excessive household debts in the Member States

In view of the significant increase in the levels of household debt in all the Member States, and given the interest which Parliament has expressed in this subject being examined at Community level in the context of helping make the single market a reality, it now emerges that the Commission has asked independent experts to draw up two studies, on, respectively, the statistical and the legal aspects of this phenomenon (see the documentation for the call for proposals No 2000/A5/0007).

Can the Commission confirm:

- that these studies have already been supplied, and, if so, state on what dates they were received?

- can it explain what use it intends to make of them, and, in particular, what further action it intends to take, and through which of its DGs, on the basis of these studies?

- can it indicate whether and when it intends to submit a proposal for a Community measure on the subject, and what scope such a proposal would have?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 2002)

The study on the statistical aspects was submitted for final agreement on 22 October 2001. The study on the legal aspects has not yet been drawn up. The contract concerned was terminated because the interim reports were not of sufficient quality. The procedure will have to be restarted in the course of 2002.

The actions to be taken would be the responsibility of the Employment and Social Affairs DG (EMPL), particularly as regards the development of over-indebtedness indicators as part of the open method of coordination on social inclusion, and the Health and Consumer Protection DG (SANCO) with respect in particular to the inclusion of preventive measures in the draft directive on consumer credit.

A set of Community measures for following up the problem in the Member States, and its cross-border statistical and legal aspects, was announced in the Council resolution of 26 November 2001 on consumer credit and indebtedness.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3526/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Current expenditure and public spending

Recent reports suggest that certain financial operations have had the effect of removing current expenditure from measured public spending in certain Member States.

Will the Commission indicate its policy towards such off-budget items, and will it further list those operations in Member States of which it is aware and describe its accounting treatment in each case?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2002)

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the Commission, is closely following developments in public accounts in Member States, and monitors these trends according to the rules of the European System of National and Regional Accounts(1) (ESA95).

Possible financial operations in Member States having the effect of impacting general government expenditure(2) would be monitored along the ESA95 principles, with a view to ensuring that these principles are correctly applied and that this type of transactions are correctly classified and recorded.

ESA95 is a comprehensive system of national accounting. It notably gives a precise definition of the expenditures of the general government sector. Member States must follow the accounting rules described in ESA95.

In cases of difficulties in interpreting ESA95 rules concerning for example off budget items, Eurostat organises meetings and consultations with Member States in order to reach an agreement on a correct and homogeneous interpretation.

(1) Council regulation (EC) No 2223/96 of 25 June 1996 on the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community (OJ L 310, 30.11.1996).

(2) The definition of general government expenditure and revenue is provided in the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1500/2000 of 10 July 2000 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 with respect to general government expenditure and revenue, OJ L 172, 12.7.2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3177/01

by Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Killing of hunger strikers in Turkey

On 5 November, Turkish police brutally forced their way into hunger strikers' houses in the Kucuk Armutlu district of Istanbul, killing six hunger strikers and wounding another fourteen in a bid to end the 379-day long hunger strike started in protest at the new regime in Turkish prisons. What practical steps will the Commission take to make plain to Turkey that the continuous violation of fundamental human rights and the systematic use of violence by the state are not compatible with Turkey's status as a country in the process of preparing for accession to the European Union and that this process will have to be suspended?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2001)

The Commission considers that an independent investigation should be carried out of causes of casualties following the police raids in Küçükarmutlu (Istanbul) on 5 and 13 November 2001.

The Union has raised this incident with the Turkish authorities, in the enhanced political dialogue.

The Commission is closely monitoring developments concerning human rights in Turkey. In its recent annual Report on progress towards accession to the Union, published on the 13 November 2001(1), the Commission recognises the importance of a number of constitutional, legislative and administrative changes, and states that the actual human rights situation as it affects individuals in Turkey need improvement. Though the country is making progress in some areas, the Commission considers that it does not yet meet the Copenhagen political criteria. Turkey is therefore encouraged to intensify and accelerate the process of reform to ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms are fully protected in law and practice, for all citizens, throughout the country.

(1) SEC(2001) 1756.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2826/01

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 October 2001)

Subject: The eradication of cholera

The outbreaks of cholera in a number of African countries, including particularly serious ones in Mozambique during the last few years following the severe floods there, highlight the continuing seriousness of a problem which was eradicated in the developed world centuries ago.

What specific plans does the Commission have and what material and human resources does it intend to devote to implementing a plan to eradicate cholera in the African countries affected by it?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(29 November 2001)

Cholera remains a serious epidemic problem in many poor countries. Sudden large outbreaks are usually caused by contamination of the drinking water supply. It can be difficult to distinguish cholera from other types of acute diarrhoea. The mainstay of treatment, as for all causes of diarrhoea, is re-hydration using oral rehydration salts for mild cases and parenteral fluids for severe cases. Treatment must be accompanied by measures to ensure a safe water supply and adequate sanitary measures. Antibiotic treatment can reduce the duration of symptoms. Vaccination, while useful as a short term measure has not been used on a large scale for public health purposes.

Eradication of cholera will go hand in hand with efforts to ensure access to safe water and effective sanitation. Early indications from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) programming exercise are that countries intend to allocate 0,4 billion to this sector with the focus on the poor in rural and urban settings. This represents 6 % of future EDF resources.

Small-scale outbreaks of cholera are usually dealt with through scaling up ongoing efforts to improve hygiene education, to ensure access to safe water and to manage diarrhoeal diseases effectively. Most countries in Africa are implementing the IMCI Programme (Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses) which includes core modules on diarrhoea prevention and management. The Commission supports such work indirectly through the national health budget.

The Commission, through ECHO, has also supported cholera-related work in large-scale emergency situations, for example, during the Mozambique floods.

Cholera will be eradicated through improvements in living standards that increase access to clean water and through improvements to hygienic and sanitary practices. There is no quick fix and the Commission has no plan to mount a specific effort to eradicate cholera in Africa.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3342/01 by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Council. Belgian Presidency meeting of EU Ministers for children.



Official Journal 147 E , 20/06/2002 P. 0158 - 0158



WRITTEN QUESTION E-3342/01 by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Council (3 December 2001) Subject: Belgian Presidency meeting of EU Ministers for children I was pleased to learn that the Belgian Presidency had convened a meeting of EU Ministers for children on Friday 9 November. Can you report on the outcome of this meeting and plans for follow-up? Reply (1 March 2002) The Council, as a Community institution, has no competence as regards an informal meeting organised under the sole responsibility of the Belgian Presidency. The Honourable Member is therefore advised to contact the Ministry of Child Welfare, with responsibility for Primary Education, Childcare and the Role of the National Child Welfare Agency of the French Community of Belgium, under the aegis of which this informal European meeting of Ministers with responsibility for children was organised.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3708/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 January 2002)

Subject: Proposals which distort competition

In early November 2001, Swedish Minister of Finance Ringholm presented a proposal at his party's congress aimed at cutting and scrapping payroll tax for municipalities and county councils. It was proposed that payroll tax be reduced by 1 % in respect of all municipal undertakings during 2002 and that it be waived in its entirety when new staff are recruited to work in municipal undertakings.

Private contractors criticised the proposal. If their contracts expire, it could be nearly 40 % cheaper for municipalities to provide the services concerned themselves again.

Mr Ringholm's proposal was criticised for distorting competition in the internal market. A Swedish expert took the view, for instance, that the tax regime introduced would be discriminatory if the same services were taxed differently according to who operates them.

The Finance Minister subsequently withdrew his proposal.

What view does the Commission take of the aforementioned proposal? Does it consider that such a proposal may be implemented if the Swedish Riksdag so wishes, or does it distort competition in the internal market?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2002)

Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty provides that aid granted by a Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Member States, be incompatible with the common market.

The notion of State resources covers not only monies paid out by State bodies, but also income foregone by the State through tax concessions. Tax concessions which are granted selectively only to certain types of undertakings, and which are not justified by the nature and logic of the tax system, are liable to distort competition and affect trade between Member States. Such measures must therefore be notified in advance to the Commission, in accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty, and may be approved by the Commission only if they qualify for one of the derogations from the principle of the incompatibility of aid listed in Article 87(2) or 87(3).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2174/01

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 July 2001)

Subject: Financial aid for the Palestinians

The European Union grants financial aid to the Palestinians.

From which budget lines does the money come? How much money has been granted in the past few years, and what amounts have been set for this year and next? What projects has the money been used to finance? By whom and on the basis of what criteria are the projects selected?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2001)

The Community grants financial and technical cooperation to the Palestinian Authority broadly under three budget lines:

- B7-410: MEDA (measures to accompany the reforms to the economic and social structures in the Mediterranean non-member countries). This is the main budget line for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

- B7-420: Community operations connected with the Israel/PLO Peace Agreement. This is a special instrument set up following the 1993 statement of principle on support for the Middle East Peace Process.

- B7-421: Aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The Community has been a contributor to UNRWA's budget since 1971.

A table showing aid granted by the Community to the Palestinian Authority in 1999 and 2000, broken down by budget line, will be sent direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament's Secretariat.

No commitment is planned (under the MEDA line) this year (2001): decisions on operations in Palestine will be taken in the light of the political situation there. However, the Commission (EuropeAid) has provided for a total of 48 050 000 in commitment appropriations in 2001 under line B7-420 (Peace Agreement) and commitments of 42 250 000 under line B7-241 (UNRWA).

A list of the projects financed by the Community under the MEDA line in 1999 and 2000 is also being sent direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament's Secretariat.

Commitments under line B7-421 take the form of contributions paid each year into UNRWA's own budget.

So far the main objectives, guidelines and priority sectors for Community operations in the Mediterranean partner countries have been set out in three-year strategy papers known as indicative programmes. The new MEDA regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No 2698/2000 of 27 November 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 1488/96 on financial and technical measures to accompany (MEDA) the reform of economic and social structures in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership(1)) also provides for longer-term strategy papers covering the period 2000-2006.

The 2000-2002 indicative programme for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip which the Commission approved in December 2000 reflects the priorities set in the Palestinian Development Plan, and comprises two main cooperation sectors: support for economic transition and development (in two sections support for the reform process and institutional capacity building, and private-sector development), and socio-economic balance and environment. Community-financed projects have to fall within one of these categories.

(1) OJ L 311, 12.12.2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3698/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(17 January 2002)

Subject: Development of democracy in Belarus

Following the latest presidential election in Belarus, in September 2001, the situation as regards political democracy there can only be described as disastrous. Belarus is the only blank space on the map of Europe where, from a formal point of view, there is no political democracy with free elections, freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

How does the Council assess the situation in Belarus now, and how can the European Union support the development of the opposition's democratic role in forming opinions in Belarus?

Reply

(13 May 2002)

1. The Council remains seriously concerned at the situation in Belarus. The Presidential elections last September were not held according to OSCE norms and standards. Numerous irregularities concerning the treatment of the opposition, independent media and NGOs were noted. In addition, Mr Lukashenko has been increasing pressure on the opposition since the elections and a number of leading personalities in Belarus have been imprisoned.

2. In the light of these developments, the Council considers that the restrictions in EU-Belarus relations imposed by the GAC conclusions of September 1997 remain entirely valid. Ministerial contacts are restricted to the Presidency and the Troika. EU assistance has been halted, except for humanitarian and regional projects or those in support of the democratisation process.

3. The EU has used its contacts with the authorities to push for progress in human rights, notably the cases of Mr Bandazhevsky and Mr Klimov, as well as in the access of the opposition to mass media. The EU has also pressed for a fast resolution of the question of the OSCE Assistance and Monitoring Group (AMG) mandate and the nomination of the new AMG Head. Moreover, the EU stressed the urgency to adopt the new laws on the Ombudsman and on increasing the powers of parliament. In parallel to the meetings with the authorities, the EU also had direct contacts with representative of the opposition in Belarus.

4. The EU is supporting the democratisation process through instruments such as TACIS and the Cross Border Cooperation Programme. A number of projects have been identified under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. Civil society is the main target of EU assistance, which is also supporting OSCE efforts in Belarus.

5. The Council is currently reflecting on the EU's policy towards Belarus, including on how to increase the efficiency of its assistance for democratic transition.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3433/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(21 December 2001)

Subject: The persecution of Christians in the Sudan

Is the Commission aware of a continuing campaign of intimidation, persecution and terror by the extremist Jihad Muslim warriors against innocent Christian people in southern Sudan?

What pressure will the Commission bring to stop this senseless killing?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2002)

The Commission is closely following the evolution of the inter-Sudanese conflict particularly in the southern regions. The Commission is aware of human rights violations committed by all parties in the conflict. Together with the Member States it is applying concerted pressure on the government to ensure these violations are brought under control. A recent Union Troika to Sudan expressed its concerns regarding the situation of religious freedom to the Government of Sudan. This mission followed the statement of Mr. Gerhart Baum, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, New York, 8 November 2001 and the identification mission for the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) which took place in October/November 2001.

The Commission is not aware of the particular group mentioned, the Jihad Muslim, nor of its involvement in a specific campaign of terror in southern Sudan.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2827/01

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 October 2001)

Subject: Protection of women's rights

Despite all the pronouncements about the situation of women in less-developed countries, especially since the World Conference in Beijing and the resolution on development and gender issues adopted by the Development Council on 20 December 1995, the situation of women in developing countries continues to be precarious.

In view of the fact that the promotion of women is an essential part of a global development strategy for the developing countries, what specific policies is the Council thinking of adopting to step up the promotion of their rights, health and education?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2001)

The Commission agrees on the importance of gender equality in development cooperation. In spite of the fact that women have won more independence and freedom of action during the last decades than ever before, it is true that gender inequalities still exist around the world, in particular in the poorest countries and among the poorest populations. Therefore, gender equality and the development approach to gender mainstreaming adopted in the wake of Beijing, has been placed high on the agenda for many years in development co-operation policies of the Community.

Recently, the Commission presented a Communication to the Parliament and to the Council(1) on a Programme of Action, in which concrete actions and measures for mainstreaming of gender equality are proposed.

The Programme, planned over five years, will include interventions in particular related to health, education and rule of law as part of the six priority areas of the Community's Development Co-operation.

The main tasks of the Commission in its implementation of the Programme will be to:

- analyse and integrate gender into the six priority areas for Community development co-operation activities;

- mainstream gender within projects or programmes designed at country and regional level and

- build internal gender capacity.

The Commission expects the Development Council of 8 November 2001 to adopt conclusions on the Programme of Action and looks forward to a discussion of its Communication with the Parliament.

(1) COM(2001) 295 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3384/01

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) and Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 December 2001)

Subject: Activities of bin Laden in occupied Cyprus

According to reports in the international press, the notorious terrorist Osama bin Laden has been spotted at least twice in recent years in the areas of northern Cyprus occupied by the Turkish army. The same reports claim that bin Laden was in occupied Cyprus to conduct business with a small bank based in the self-styled state which is owned by a close relative of the leader of the occupying regime, R. Denktash. Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus is thus giving every indication of being one of the centres of international terrorism, and Turkey appears to be aiding and abetting the movements of this internationally wanted criminal.

What is the Commission's view of the role of Turkey and the Turkish-controlled regime in occupied Cyprus in covering up bin Laden's movements? Have bin Laden's bank transactions in the occupied sector of Cyprus been investigated? What steps will the Commission take to establish exactly what the terrorist did in occupied Cyprus? What action will it take to strike hard at the terrorist groups which have found a hospitable refuge in Turkey and that part of Cyprus illegally controlled by its army? Does the Commission also intend to investigate whether the 20 casinos which operate in Turkish-occupied Cyprus (there is not a single one in the free Republic of Cyprus) are being used to launder dirty money? Is Turkey among those countries which have frozen the accounts of terrorist organisations and, if so, which organisations?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2002)

On 23 September 2001, Turkey published an executive order (nr 13224) blocking the assets of 27 persons and entities named in the order. A second set of 39 names was added on 12 October 2001.

As the Honourable Member is aware, the Commission does not have official contacts with the Turkish Cypriot authorities. On this issue, there is no information available from other sources.