ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0372/01

by Reinhold Messner (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(15 February 2001)

Subject: Extension of the concession granted to Autostrade SpA

Further to my earlier Questions, E-2293/99(1) and E-1457/00(2):

- Has the independent committee responsible for managing the award of public works contracts in connection with the concession granted to Autotrade SpA actually been set up?

- Is that committee truly independent and impartial, as required by the Commission, given that it appears to include two representatives nominated by ANAS (the Italian roads agency) and one by Autostrade SpA?

- What action does the Commission intend to take to ensure compliance with the conditions laid down in its letter of 30 July 1998 to the Italian government if it transpires that the above information concerning the membership of this independent committee is correct?

- Does the Commission agree that the extension of the concession, on the grounds that it was necessary to cover the cost of works that had not been paid for and other contentious issues, was in fact an administrative act accorded in exchange for investment in new infrastructures?

It should be noted that the concession provides for new investment of around ITL 8 400 billion, 5 600 billion of which are allocated to upgrading the whole Florence-Bologna section (34 km), although the government agreements of July 1996 authorised only the construction of the Aglio-Canova section and the improvement of the Florence (North) Florence (South) section.

(1) OJ C 225 E, 8.8.2000, p. 89.

(2) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001, p. 144.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2001)

In a letter of 25 May 2000, the Commission asked the Italian authorities for information about the independent committee referred to by the Honourable Member, in order to ensure that the committee's commitments to impartiality and independence are respected. The authorities only responded to this letter on 18 December 2000.

The Italian authorities have communicated that they plan to establish three independent committees that will be responsible for the award of Autostrade S.p.A. public works contracts on the basis of geographical responsibility. The aforementioned committees have yet to be established. Nevertheless, the Italian authorities have stated that a draft decree for the appointment of committee members has already been prepared and have given an assurance that the members will be chosen from amongst competent and independent persons from the licensing authority as well as the license-holder, in order to guarantee a maximum level of impartiality in the award procedures.

In all cases, the Commission reserves the right to initiate the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty if the commitments made by the Italian authorities to which the Honourable Member refers are not respected.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0012/01

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Decision on the proceedings against Spain concerning state aid to the electricity sector

The Commission has stated on various occasions that there is no legal incompatibility preventing Vice-President de Palacio from intervening in the proceedings concerning state aid to Spanish electricity undertakings to meet the costs of the transition to competition.

Recently, the Spanish press has reported the valiant efforts of Mrs de Palacio to gain control of the proceedings so as to prevent the Spanish Government from coming under fire no doubt substantially the same government of which she was a member. The Spanish press has also pointed out that the Vice-President's battling approach has succeeded in securing the postponement of the proceedings against Spain, which were to be dealt with at the Commission meeting of 21 December 2000.

Does the Commission still believe that Vice-President de Palacio is not seeking to defend the interests of the Spanish Government in the proceedings concerning state aid to Spanish electricity undertakings?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2001)

It is not customary for the Commission to comment on press articles expressing only the author's views; moreover, in this case, the Spanish press places very divergent interpretations on the matter.

The Vice-President of the Commission, in her dual role as Member of the Commission and Member with special responsibility for energy, contributes to the analysis of the costs of transition to competition in the electricity sector in Spain, as in the other Member States, even though the case is being examined by the Directorate-General for Competition and will thus in due course be the subject of a proposal by the Member with special responsibility for competition to his colleagues. This is the background to the Vice-President's involvement to date.

Lastly, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answers to his Written Questions Nos E-1761/99(1) and E-3178/00(2) on the same subject.

(1) OJ C 170 E, 20.6.2000.

(2) Not yet published.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0851/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Subject: Budget positions of eurozone members

Will the Commission estimate, on the basis of the econometric models available to it, the impact on eurozone interest rates of a one percentage point tightening or loosening in the structural (cyclically adjusted) budget position of each of the eurozone members?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2001)

The Commission has not estimated the impact on eurozone interest rates of changes in the structural budgetary positions of each of the eurozone members.

In the Commission's economic model, permanent changes in government debt crowd-out private expenditure and drive up real interest rates in the long term. The degree to which interest rates rise depends crucially on the interest sensitivity of consumption. There is no consensus in the literature on the effect of public debt on interest rates and empirical studies send conflicting signals. Evidence from the literature testing for Ricardian Equivalence is mixed. Some studies have found support for the notion that Ricardian Equivalence describes the data quite well and find no correlation between public debt and interest rates. However, Tanzi and Chalk(1), looking at the Community panel as a group, find that for the period 1970-1998 a 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) increase in the average Community debt-GDP ratio leads to an increase in real interest rates by 0,6 percentage points. The existence of an impact of debt on interest rates at the Community level seems to suggest that it is changes in the debt in the region as a whole that are of more relevance for interest rates than debt of individual countries. However, the size of the effect they find for the 1980-1998 subsample is much smaller, at 0,1 percentage points.

Simulations with the Commission's economic model, in which Ricardian Equivalence does not fully hold in the long run, suggest that a permanent increase in the debt to GDP ratio of 10 percentage points can raise real interest rates in the long term by between 0,2 and 0,3 percentage points.

(1) V. Tanzi and N. Chalk, Impact of Large Public Debt on Growth: a Discussion of Potential Channels, EE R & S No 2, 2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0129/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Financial services

1. Will the Commission please indicate the share of GDP generated by financial services in each Member State in each year for the last ten years?

2. Will it indicate any particular methodological inconsistencies between the measurement of financial services in the Member States and any particular difficulties in assessing the value added in this sector?

3. Will it give the comparable figures for the United States and Japan?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2001)

The data requested by the Honourable Member are part of the National Accounts, a statistical domain structured by a methodological standard called the European Standard of Integrated Economic Accounts (ESA).

The data indicating the share of GDP generated by financial services in each Member State in each of the last ten years are sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

There are no particular methodological inconsistencies because the National Accounts of the Member States are based on the ESA.

There are no derogations relating to the definitions of the concepts.

There are two versions of ESA. The new ESA (ESA 95) applies from 1999 and replaces the previous version (ESA 79) ranging from 1970 to 1997. It extended the concept of financial services: the production of insurance other than life insurance now includes income from the investment of insurance technical reserves.

The value added in this sector is composed of commissions and fees explicitly invoiced to the customers and the difference between interests charged on loans and interests paid on deposits, called Financial Intermediation Services Indirectly Measured (FISIM). Measuring the commissions and fees is rather easy because it is based on accounting, while measuring the FISIM is somewhat more complex.

The data for the United States and Japan are consistent with ESA 79 and are sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0709/01

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 March 2001)

Subject: Entry into force of the new COM in bananas

On 19 December European Union Agriculture Ministers approved the COM in bananas, which was to enter into force on 1 April or, if more time was needed to finalise the technical details, on 1 July.

The first date is now a month and a half away. In view of this, and given that the COM is a step forward for Canary Islands banana producers in that it limits the quantities of bananas from non-European producers allowed onto the Community market by means of a first come, first served quota system, when does the Commission think that the necessary technical measures will be completed to enable these arrangements to take effect?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2001)

The second paragraph of Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 216/2001 of 29 January 2001 amending Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 on the common organisation of the market in bananas(1) provided for application of the new importation arrangements to be deferred until 1 July 2001.

The Commission did indeed defer their application until 1 July 2001 by means of Commission Regulation (EC) No 395/2001 of 27 February 2001 fixing certain indicative quantities and individual ceilings for the issuing of Community import licences for bananas for the second quarter of 2001 under the tariff quotas or as part of the quantity of traditional ACP bananas(2).

Following intensive discussion with the other trading partners the Commission has since reached a common basis of understanding with the United States and Ecuador, thereby enabling the banana dispute to be resolved.

The solution agreed is based on applying a transitional system of banana import tariff quotas until a tariff-only system enters into force from 1 January 2006 at the latest as scheduled.

The three tariff quotas, comprising a total quantity of 3 410 000 tonnes, will be administered as follows:

- for 83 % of the total, allocation will be based on the historical references of the traditional operators who undertook primary importation during the period 1994-1996 and whose reference quantities were recorded in 1998;

- for 17 % of the total, import licences will be allocated to non-traditional operators by means of the simultaneous examination method.

In addition, before the end of this year the Commission will propose to the Council that from 1 January 2002 onwards a quantity of 100 000 tonnes should be transferred from quota C to quota B and that quota C should be reserved exclusively for the ACP supplier countries.

On 7 May 2001 the Commission adopted the Regulation containing detailed rules for applying the new importation arrangements. The Regulation was published on 8 May and will apply from 1 July 2001.

(1) OJ L 31, 2.2.2001.

(2) OJ L 58, 28.2.2001.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1255/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(27 April 2001)

Subject: European Union attitude to the promotion of breast-feeding

Directive 91/321/EEC(1) of 14 May 1991 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to infant formulae and follow-on formulae constitutes a version of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes drawn up by the World Health Organisation and Unicef and adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981.

In its Resolution 49.15, adopted in 1996, the WHO urges the adoption of accompanying measures to prohibit the promotion of breast-milk substitutes for children under the age of six months so that mothers are encouraged to continue breastfeeding. Under normal circumstances, a new resolution would have been adopted last year, but the debate about the maintenance or scrapping of the six-month limit was held over to next May's Assembly.

Will the Council argue at the forthcoming World Health Assembly for accompanying measures to prohibit the promotion of breast-milk substitutes for children under the age of six months, as called for in Resolution 49.15? If not, why will it not implement Resolution 49.15 of the World Health Organisation, given the significance of breast-feeding for health?

(1) OJ L 175, 4.7.1991, p. 35.

Reply

(27 September 2001)

The Resolution referred to by the Honourable Member of Parliament has been adopted by consensus at the 5th World Health Assembly this May. The Assembly welcomed the EU stance on this matter.

The WHO resolution explicitly urges Member States to ensure global compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk substitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions, with regard to labelling as well as all forms of advertising and commercial promotion.

The responsibility for implementing such a Resolution, as is the case with all WHO Resolutions, lies with the Member States of WHO.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1648/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Support for fishermen and shipowners during periods of biological rest or inability to fish due to bad weather

In Portugal, where small-scale coastal fishing plays an extremely important role for fishing communities which largely depend on it, fishing trips are sometimes made impossible for various reasons. Fishermen and owners (of small coastal fishing vessels) do not receive any financial aid during such periods, making it difficult for these fishing communities to survive.

Storms and poor sea conditions are of particular significance during long periods in the winter, together with biological rest periods to protect stocks, particularly as regards sardines in the north and fishing for bivalves using dredges in the Algarve.

Even though this year, by way of exception, fishermen have been granted the right to some degree of support as regards biological rest periods, the problem will arise again in the future.

The Commission:

1. Is it aware of the above circumstances and the socio-economic difficulties which they cause for fishermen and small shipowners?

2. What measures will it take to provide financial support for such fishermen and shipowners where they are obliged to suspend fishing activities, either due to storms or during periods of biological rest to protect stocks?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The Commission is aware of the circumstances referred to by the Honourable Member. Rules in fact exist under which Member States may provide assistance for shipowners and fishermen affected by the temporary cessation of fishing activities as a result of unforeseeable events or plans to re-establish stocks that are under threat.

Article 16(1)(a) and (c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector(1) provides for the following measures and for the period they are to apply:

The Member States may grant compensation to fishermen and owners of vessels for the temporary cessation of activities in the following circumstances:

(a) in the event of unforeseeable circumstances, particularly those caused by biological factors; the granting of compensation may last for no more than two months per year or six months over the entire period from 2000 to 2006. The management authority shall forward suitable scientific proof to the Commission in advance;

(b)

(c) where a plan is introduced for the recovery of a resource threatened with exhaustion, decided by the Commission or by one or some Member States; the granting of compensation may last for no more than two years and may be extended by a further year.

Measures as indicated above may be implemented in the context of the relevant structural programmes, once a decision has been taken by the management authority of the Member State concerned.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1607/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 June 2001)

Subject: New measures to combat drug use

Studies on drug use have revealed a slight rise in some Member States in the age of first contact with drugs, an increase in the number of people using alcohol and cannabis and a fall in the use of hard drugs such as heroin, while the numbers taking other illegal substances have stabilised.

Many governments have already reformed various aspects of their legal systems in connection with the fight against drug trafficking. Measures include introducing a closer correlation between the sentence imposed and the quantity of drugs seized, a greater range of sentences for small-scale traffickers and reduced sentences for those who co-operate with the authorities. Such measures have reinforced the fight against drug trafficking given that, although patterns of drug use and the profile of drug users may change, drug use remains prevalent.

Given the constant changes in drug trafficking, how is the Commission encouraging all Member States to adopt more up-to-date, robust and rigorous rules to combat this phenomenon?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2001)

The Member States and the Community share responsibility for policy and legislation on the prevention of drug abuse.

Since 1990 the Union has stressed the need for an overall multidisciplinary and integrated approach to the fight against drugs based on action in four main areas: (i) reduction of demand; (ii) reduction of supply and measures to combat illegal trafficking; (iii) international co-operation; (iv) coordination at national and EU levels.

On 23 May 2001, to meet the challenge posed by the traffickers who supply the population with narcotics and psychotropic substances, the Commission approved a proposal for a Council framework decision laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking(1). Such a proposal had been called for in the conclusions of the Tampere European Council of 15 and 16 October 1999 and in the European Action Plan to Combat Drugs (2000-2004)(2).

As the Honourable Member has pointed out, it is important that the Union should clearly demonstrate its commitment to the fight against drug trafficking, which poses a threat to people's health, security and quality of life, by adopting the proposal for a Council framework decision, laying down a common approach in the field of criminal law and strengthening co-operation between Member States.

(1) COM(2001) 259/4.

(2) COM(1999) 239 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0554/01

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

(27 February 2001)

Subject: Statement of Assurance for DG Budget

At the meeting of the Committee on Budgetary Control of 7 February 2001, Commissioner Fischler stated that the exact error rate in 1999 for financial transactions within DG Agriculture was 3,06 %.

In the spirit of cooperation and transparency between the European institutions, could the Commissioner with special responsibility for Budgets provide a similar figure for financial transactions within that Directorate-General? If not, why not?

Joint answer to Written Questions P-0553/01, E-0554/01, E-0555/01, E-0556/01, E-0557/01, E-0558/01, E-0559/01, E-0560/01, E-0561/01, E-0562/01, E-0563/01, E-0564/01, E-0565/01, E-0566/01, E-0567/01, E-0568/01, E-0569/01 and E-0570/01 given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2001)

The Commission wishes to remind the Honourable Member that the Court of Auditors does not provide an error rate in the framework of its Statement of Assurance for the general budget as it considers that it is an oversimplification to gauge the success of the Commission's financial management on the basis of this single indicator.

Thus the Court decided three years ago to stop the publication of a global error rate and to develop its Statement of Assurance methodology in order to provide to the Discharge Authority with more detailed descriptive information.

Moreover, the Court of Auditors has said on several occasions that if it was to generate error rates at a lower level (eg. by sector or by Directorate general) from a general error rate, these would be wholly misleading. The restricted number of transactions that the Court audits does not make it possible for it to determine a valid error rate at this lower level.

Consequently, the Commission is not in a position to provide to the Honourable Member the requested information.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0614/01

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

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Football transfer fees

It is said that a small number of complaints started the current football transfer fees debate.

How many complaints had the Commission received when it started the process of talking to the various footballing authorities?

How many complaints has it received in total?

Who made these complaints and why?

How many representatives received by the Commission have asked for the current system to be maintained?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Four formal complaints gave rise to the proceedings opened against the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in December 1998. Subsequently, the Commission received a further formal complaint.

By September 2000, when the Commission stepped up its discussions with the football authorities, two complaints, both concerning the same case, had already been withdrawn following a settlement with FIFA.

As a matter of principle the Commission is unable to disclose the names of complainants in matters concerning procedures relating to application of the competition rules of the EC Treaty.

The complaints concerned two aspects of the FIFA rules on international transfers: a total prohibition of unilateral termination of contracts and payment of compensation for transfer at the end of the contractual period in situations not covered by the judgment in Bosman.

The Commission has received many representations advocating the retention of the current FIFA rules. It has also received many others urging that those rules be amended.

After a meeting on 5 March 2001, FIFA, in agreement with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), undertook to make changes in the very near future to its 1997 rules on the status and transfer of players in accordance with principles that have been made public.