ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0235/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Educational priorities of the Portuguese Presidency

Following the publication of the documented Programme of the Portuguese Presidency, could the Commission clearly outline its interpretation of the stated aim to explore the idea of a European dimension in education?

How does the Commission envisage both its own role in achieving this aim and also that of the governments of individual Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2000)

The Commission fully shares the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency in the area of education, which are part of the promotion of a Europe of knowledge based on lifelong education and training. The Commission supports, inter alia, the Presidency's initiative to set up a new rolling agenda in order to give greater continuity and effectiveness to the Council's work in the areas of education and training. It expects that this will increase the impact of the Community action programmes Socrates and Leonardo, one of whose main objectives is to strengthen the European dimension of education and training.

As far as the respective roles of the Member States and the Commission in promoting these objectives are concerned, it should be pointed out that the Community's responsibilities in the area of education are clearly defined in Article 149 (ex-Article 126) of the EC Treaty. This Article stipulates that the Community shall contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action, while fully respecting [their] responsibility for the content of teaching and the organisation of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0201/00

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Commercial breaks in television schedules in Spain

Written Question P-3862/98(1) criticised the failure on the part of most Spanish television channels to comply with Council Directive 89/552/EEC(2) of 3 October 1989 (the Television without frontiers Directive). In particular it complained about the steady increase in the amount of time allotted to advertisements and the frequency of commercial breaks during programmes, including broadcasts with dramatical content such as films, plays and operas.

In its answer of 4 February 1999, the Commission stated that it was aware of these allegations and was gathering information to establish whether they could be substantiated.

In the meantime this deplorable situation has in fact deteriorated so much that the absence or small number of commercial breaks has even become a kind of selling point for some programmes.

Can the Commission say what findings have emerged from the investigations announced more than a year ago and whether it intends to adopt measures of any kind to ensure compliance with the aforementioned Directive in Spain?

(1) OJ C 207, 21.7.1999, p. 138.

(2) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2000)

An infringement procedure under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty has been initiated concerning Spain's failure to comply with the advertising rules enshrined in the Television without frontiers Directive (Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the Parliament and Council of 30 June 1997).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0044/00

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(20 January 2000)

Subject: Cologne process: adjustment of the Poseima programme with regard to the supply of cereals as agricultural raw materials in the various islands of the Azores

Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92(1) establishes a supply system which, in the case of agricultural raw materials, has a very significant impact on farm costs.

However, in the field of cereals the practical impact of this system has declined both because Community prices are being brought more into line with world prices and because it does not make any allowances for differences in the costs of transport between islands.

Could the Commission propose measures to improve harmonisation of the prices of cereals and their derivatives in the various islands of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in relation to prices in the region's major port?

(1) OJ L 173, 27.6.1992, p. 1.

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0038/00, E-0043/00, E-0044/00, E-0045/00, E-0046/00, E-0047/00, E-0048/00, E-0049/00, E-0050/00, E-0051/00 and E-0052/00 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2000)

The Honourable Member has put a whole series of questions regarding the Poseima Programme for the Azores.

The Commission is currently drafting a report on the measures to implement Article 299(2) (ex Article 227) of the EC Treaty.

At this stage, before the Commission has adopted that report, it is not able to reply to the Honourable Member's questions concerning its content.

Lastly, the Commission's Work Programme for 2000 provides for a report to be presented to the Council and Parliament on the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15 June 1992 concerning specific measures for the Azores and Madeira relating to certain agricultural products(1) (Poseima), together where appropriate with proposals for any adjustments that prove necessary to achieve the programme's goals. The set of measures relating to agriculture in the Azores will be considered in that connection.

(1) OJ L 173, 27.6.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0229/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 February 2000)

Subject: Failure to include the Prefecture of Arta in the Community initiative Interreg.

It appears from information I have received that the Prefecture of Arta has not been included in the operational programmes announced by the Commission for part A of the Community initiative Interreg, despite the fact that the basic criterion for inclusion, namely the existence of external land or sea borders, is met by this prefecture, since the Gulf of Ambrakia lies at its southern extremity and is also part of the Ionian Sea. Will the Commission say what the situation is and whether or not the Prefecture of Arta will finally be included in the Community initiative Interreg like all the rest of north-western Greece?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0150/00, E-0229/00 and E-0336/00 given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0224/00

by Carlos Costa Neves (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Commission report on the application of Article 229(2) of the Treaty

The June 1999 Cologne European Council asked the Commission to draw up a report on the measures designed to ensure the application of Article 229(2) of the Treaty, and submit it before the end of the year.

Given that:

- there is an urgent need to establish the framework for these measures, the methodology to be used and the timetable for their implementation;

- there is an urgent need to revise Poseima and establish just what its place is to be in the overall package of specific measures to be adopted;

- conflicting reports are in circulation as to the reasons for the delay on the Commission's part,

1. When will the Commission be submitting the report concerned?

2. What timetable does it envisage for the entry into force of the measures in question?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 2000)

1. The Commission did not adopt the report referred to by the Honourable Member by the end of 1999 so as to have the necessary time to study the memoranda communicated by the Member States concerned in November and December as well as the positions presented at the partnership meeting with the Member States and the regions concerned on 23 November. The Commission expects to be able to adopt the report in a matter of weeks.

2. The report will contain information on the initiatives planned by the Commission, together with details of the timetable wherever possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0029/00

by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(20 January 2000)

Subject: Monitoring of the referendum in Western Sahara

For more than seven years, the Sahrawi people have been waiting for news from the Moroccan authorities about a referendum on the future of Western Sahara. The Moroccan authorities have more than once broken agreements they had with Polisario regarding the date of the referendum. However, registration of those entitled to vote has now resumed, and a referendum campaign is being planned that is expected to be concluded on 31 July 2000, which is also the date on which the referendum is scheduled to take place. The risk of electoral fraud is great, and an international team of monitors needs to be sent in order to ensure that the referendum takes place in a democratic manner. Will the Council assist in monitoring the referendum on the future of Western Sahara?

Reply

(10/11 April 2000)

The Council has fully supported the Settlement Plan proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General, which aims at the holding of a free, fair and impartial referendum to give effect to the principle of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. It notes the concern expressed by the Secretary-General in his recent report, that the fundamental differences (between Morocco and the Polisario Front) raise doubts about the possibility of achieving a smooth and consensual implementation of the Settlement Plan.

In that report on the Western Sahara, the United Nations Secretary-General stated that he intended to ask his Personal Envoy, James Baker, to consult with the parties (mldr) to explore ways and means to achieve an early, durable and agreed resolution of their dispute.

The Council will pursue its efforts aiming at creating a climate of confidence and trust between all parties involved in order to reach a long term solution acceptable to all the parties concerned. It is in direct contact with the United Nations General Secretary's Special Representative for Western Sahara, Ambassador Eagleton, in order to see how it can best contribute to this process.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0433/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2000)

Subject: Prevention of damage to the muscles and bone structure of school-age children

In Italy, there is increasing concern on the part of parents of children of compulsory school age with regard to the weight of the school-bags used to carry books to and from school. Regional and local health authorities have circulated scientific findings and practical advice to help avoid the risks associated with carrying excessively heavy school-bags.

In view of the foregoing:

1. Do studies and analyses of this problem exist at Community level?

2. Do standards based on scientific and technical information exist in the other Member States?

3. In view of the information available to it, does the Commission consider that it would be appropriate to propose harmonised rules with a view to providing families with accurate information with regard to preventing muscular and skeletal disorders as a result of carrying school-bags, whose weight should not exceed an acceptable limit?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2000)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that there is a need to prevent musculo-skeletal problems from an early age.

1. At the European level a number of studies on osteo-musculo disorders have already been carried out or are currently underway in the context of the Community research programmes. These projects cover a range of important issues but not yet the specific item in question. Further research would therefore be needed to determine the risk and to suggest possible solutions. Under the programme area Quality of life chronic and degenerative disorders such research could be eligible for Community support.

2. and 3. The Commission is not aware of any standards that exist on this matter, and it has no plans to put forward proposals for harmonised rules.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0531/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 February 2000)

Subject: Possible contributions to the Italian CGIL, CISL and UIL trade unions

Could the Commission state whether financial contributions have ever been made, and if so to what extent and on what grounds, to the CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour), CISL (Italian Confederation of Workers' Unions) and UIL (Italian Union of Labour) or to associations or organisations connected with them in some way?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2000)

The Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), the Italian Confederation of Workers' Unions (CISL) and the Italian Union of Labour (UIL), as organisations representing workers, are eligible for Community co-financing under budget headings B3-4000 (social dialogue and industrial relations), B3-4002 (information and training measures for workers' organisations) and B3-4003 (information, consultation and participation of representatives of undertakings) for eligible measures, principally for the organisation of transnational meetings and seminars, including for the purposes of implementing the results of the European social dialogue. Calls for proposals setting out the eligibility conditions and co-financing possibilities are published on the Europa site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/soc-dial/social/index-en.htm). In the last three years these three trade union organisations have received around 30 Community grants under these budget headings.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0170/00

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

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Community rules on weekly rest days on religious grounds

The growing numbers of immigrants from the Maghreb region working in agriculture and other sectors in the various EU countries has meant that the relevant collective labour agreements covering workers from these countries have had to include provisions concerning the weekly rest days they may take on religious grounds.

Thanks to the pressure brought to bear by the unions negotiating the various collective agreements covering workers from the Maghreb countries, the rest days generally given are Fridays and Saturdays, allowing them to keep these days sacred.

As immigration from these countries into the European Union as a whole is on the increase, will the Commission say whether there are any Community provisions on this matter that would make it possible to extend the regulation of weekly rest days on religious grounds and introduce the necessary coordination with the practice usually followed in the Member States of the EU of keeping Sunday as a day of rest?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2000)

Article 5(1) of Council Directive 93/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time(1) lays down an uninterrupted weekly rest period of 35 hours. Following the annulment of Article 5(2) of the Directive by the Court of justice in case C-84/94 United Kingdom v. Council(2), Member States are free to decide whether the weekly rest is to be provided during a given day or days of the week.

On 25 November 1999, the Commission adopted a package of two legislative proposals and a proposal for a programme to combat discrimination in the Community based on Article 13 (ex Article 6a) of the EC Treaty(3).

One of these initiatives is a proposal for a horizontal directive to combat discrimination, inter alia, on grounds of religion. Article 12 of this proposal requires Member States to encourage social partners to contribute to the implementation of the principle of equality of treatment by adopting collective agreements, codes of conduct, research or exchange of experiences and good practices aimed at preventing discrimination.

(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.

(2) European Court Reports 1996 page I-5755.

(3) COM(99) 564, 565, 566 and 567 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0348/00

by Rosa Díez González (PSE), Fernando Pérez Royo (PSE) and Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Commission expert responsible for assessing public aid granted to Spain in the electricity sector

According to reports published in Spain, the independent expert appointed by the Commission to assess the costs of transition to competition incurred by electricity companies is calling into question some aspects of the calculations made by the Spanish government when quantifying the costs.

What are the expert's objections and how do they affect the calculations made by the Spanish Government? What conclusions has the expert reached?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2000)

The consultant's terms of reference were to check whether the assumptions on which the Spanish authorities based their calculation of the costs of transition to competition (CTCs) conformed to internationally recognised standards. The Commission is analysing the consultant's findings and has asked the Spanish authorities for further information. It is too soon to assess the impact of these factors on the level of CTCs.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0335/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Increasing the national guaranteed quantity of cotton for Greece

For many years Greek cotton production has exceeded the national guaranteed quantity (NGQ) of 782 000 tonnes, resulting in the imposition of large fines and a drastic reduction in producers' incomes, in addition to which the guaranteed target price ( 106,3/100 kg of non-husked seed) has remained unchanged for many years.

In general terms, the producer organisations and other bodies involved are accordingly seeking an increase in the NGQ and in overall Community outlay.

In the course of deliberations concerning new arrangements regarding support for cotton production and the adoption of Commission proposals, did Greece request an increase in the national guaranteed quantity and total Community outlay? When did it do so and to which bodies did it table its request?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2000)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the national authorities concerned.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0125/00

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Arms exports

Is the Council aware that restraints on arms exports to countries such as Sudan are being evaded through licensing of arms manufacture to third country producers?

What steps will the Council take about this?

Reply

(16 March 2000)

The problem referred to by the Honourable Member has not been placed before the Council. However, the subject of arms brokering is currently being examined within the Council's subordinate bodies.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0084/00

by Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 January 2000)

Subject: Four-wheel mopeds

In adopting Directive 92/61/EEC(1), as of 1992 the European Union established a uniform definition of mopeds as wheeled vehicles with a cylinder capacity of no more than 50 cubic centimetres for petrol-powered spark-ignition engines and a maximum speed of 45 km/h. In the specific case of four-wheel mopeds (light quadricycles) an additional requirement, namely a maximum unladen mass of 350 kg, applies.

The transposition of Directive 92/61/EEC into Spanish law has resulted in a number of regulations on the type-approval, circulation and registration of vehicles. Under one of the most recent the new General Regulation on Vehicles, approved through Royal Decree RD 2822/1998 of 23 December those two-, three- or four-wheel vehicles which comply with the technical characteristics in Directive 92/61 are deemed to be mopeds.

Light quadricycles, first marketed in Spain in late 1997, were made subject to a lower rate of VAT of 7 %, given their status as mopeds. However, in late 1998, having been asked to give its view, considered binding in nature, Spain's Inland Revenue Service revised its opinion and decided that the standard rate of 16 % should apply to light quadricycles because they have four wheels, despite fully acknowledging them to be mopeds.

Is the Commission aware of the situation created by this decision? Does it not take the view that, besides discriminating against other mopeds, the rate of VAT currently applied to sales of light quadricycles represents a breach of the EC Treaty insofar as it distorts the market and hinders the free movement of goods and of existing Community legislation?

(1) OJ L 225, 10.8.1992, p. 72.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2000)

The Commission is aware of the different rates of VAT on the sale of mopeds in Spain.

Article 12 of the Sixth Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes Common system of value-added tax: uniform basis of assessment (as amended by Directive 92/77/EC)(1) provides for the application of a standard rate of VAT but allows Member States the option of applying one or two lower rates for certain goods or services listed in Annex H to the Directive. Article 28 of the Directive provides for transitional provisions as regards rates. Mopeds, whether they are two-, three- or four-wheeled, are not listed in these provisions as goods to which a lower rate may be applied. This matter is currently being considered by the Commission, which will also check other Member States' laws on the subject.

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977, amendment OJ L 316, 31.10.1992.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0457/00

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: ESF written question E-1877/99

Further to its answer of 20 December 1999 to written question E-1877/99(1), will the Commission now state:

1. What job-creation measures have been introduced throughout Europe with the ESF's EUR 43 000 million, and whether it has data showing precisely how many jobs use of this money has helped to create or save?

2. What measures have been introduced in Austria using ESF transfers, and how many jobs such measures have created and/or saved?

In Burgenland, an Objective 1 region, 6000 people had taken part in ESF-financed training schemes by the end of 1998.

What were these training schemes?

Does the Commission have data proving that more people found work as a result of such schemes?

How many of the people who took part in training schemes co-financed by the ESF have been able to find work again?

(1) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 78.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.