ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0199/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Monitoring of uranium pollution in the Rivers Strymona and Nestos

In May 1998 the Commission replied to Question H-0438/98(1) ('Question Time') and confirmed reports about the pollution of the Greek Rivers Strymona and Nestos with uranium, adding that the pollution in question was caused not by the Bulgarian nuclear plant of Kozludoy, but by earlier uranium mining activities near these rivers.

Has the Commission been officially informed by the Greek authorities about the existence of an extensive and reliable network for measuring uranium pollution in these rivers, what are the findings of recent tests concerning uranium levels in the waters of these rivers and what is the precise origin of this pollution?

(1) Written answer of 12.05.1998.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2001)

Member States are required to communicate information periodically on the monitoring of the level of radioactivity in the air, water and soil so that the Commission is kept informed of the level of radioactivity to which the public is exposed (Article 36, Chapter III, Health and Safety of the Euratom Treaty).

Commission Recommendation (2000/473/Euratom) on the application of Article 36 of the Euratom Treaty was adopted on 8 June 2000(1). It requires Member States to monitor surface waters for Cs-137 and residual beta activity. For drinking water, specific monitoring for natural radionuclides should be carried out in compliance with Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption(2).

All environmental radioactivity data in the Community are stored in the REM database of the Joint Research Centre in Ispra. On the basis of this information the Commission regularly publishes an overview of the information at Community level.

The Commission has received under Article 36 data on beta activity for the rivers Nestos and Strymona in Greece. In view of the delay for official transmission of such data, the Greek authorities were invited to provide the most recent information. The Commission received monthly data for the period 1996-2000, thus confirming the continuity and comprehensiveness of the monitoring programme.

The monitoring results are given as total beta activity per unit volume (K-40 activity still needs to be subtracted), but do not seem to indicate unusually high levels. The rivers Strymona and Nestos are understood to flow in the vicinity of Bulgarian uranium mining areas. While there seems to have been no uranium production in Bulgaria since 1995, it cannot be excluded that the residues of past uranium mining still contribute to levels of natural radionuclides in these rivers.

(1) OJ L 191, 27.7.2000.

(2) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1271/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 May 2001)

Subject: Privatisation in Eastern European candidate states

Even when significant progress has been made in the negotiations for the accession of Eastern European countries to the European Union, something which it is to be hoped will be in the not too distant future, the satisfactory conclusion of the privatisation process in these countries will continue to present an important challenge.

The future of these countries' economies will depend on there being sufficient investment capacity to facilitate the privatisation process and a technological contribution to render the privatised enterprises competitive even if in some cases no private investors may be found.

Can the Commission say whether it is taking significant measures to assist the process of privatisation in Eastern European candidate states through special incentive measures for entities in the current Member States of the European Union so that they help the economies of said candidate states thus facilitating their overall integration into the EU?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2001)

There are two economic criteria for accession: the country must have a functioning market economy and it must be able to withstand the competitive pressure within the Community.

With regard to the second of these criteria, the Commission's Agenda 2000 noted that privatisation has progressed at different rates and the process remains to be completed.(1)

Recently the pace of privatisation has quickened in several of the candidate countries. Major privatisations and the resulting reorganisations - particularly those involving heavy industry and the energy sector - are complex processes with many repercussions, particularly social repercussions.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is attracted initially by privatisation policies and subsequently by new businesses. Increased protection of FDI has encouraged financial flows to Central and Eastern European countries. Some countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic are now attracting substantial FDI. In others, such as Hungary, FDI has been attracted more to greenfield ventures than to the privatisation that has taken place.

There are assistance programmes, notably under the PHARE programme, to facilitate restructuring and privatisation (for example, the Ricop programme in Romania).

As part of its current twinning operations, the Community is also funding projects to assist the privatisation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Czech Republic and in the energy sector in Lithuania.

(1) Agenda 2000: For a stronger and wider Union - COM(97) 2000 final - Bulletin Supplement No 5/97.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0721/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2001)

Subject: Athens Underground

In Greece it has been proposed that self-financing be used to pay for the construction of part of the extensions to Athens Underground.

1. Has Greece submitted plans to construct the Underground extensions using this method of funding?

2. What is the Commission's view on this matter?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 2001)

The operational programme (OP) Road axes, Ports, Urban Development of the Community support framework for Greece during the 2000-2006 programming period, which was approved by the Commission on 19 March 2001(1), provides for the construction of the following extensions of the Athens Metro:

- Monastiraki Egaleo: 4,7 km long with 4 stations;

- Sepolia Thivon: 2,5 km long with 3 stations;

- National Defense Stavros: 5,4 km long with 5 stations;

- Dafni Ilioupolis: 1,1 km long with 1 station.

These extensions are planned to be constructed as public works financed exclusively by public funds.

The OP also provides for the construction of transfer stations with park and ride facilities near some Metro stations, with the participation of private funds under concession schemes.

The Commission considers that the above mentioned investment plan for the extensions of the Athens Metro is sound.

(1) C(2001) 534.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0928/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Dismissal and pensions

A Danish documentary shown on Swedish TV has outraged the public. It reported on a number of problems involving the EU administration and organisation.

One item referred to Hubert Onidi, an official who used to work in ECHO. He was dismissed from the Commission for involvement in fraud relating to ECHO projects. According to the documentary, the aid money was found in his wife's bank account in Luxembourg.

Despite being sacked for irregularities, Mr Onidi is receiving a pension from the Commission. Many employers refuse to pay a pension if the employee is dismissed for irregularities. Why does the Commission not follow the same principle?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2001)

In the case referred to by the Honourable Member, the appointing authority decided to remove the official from his post and to reduce his pension rights.

The sanctions of dismissal and pension reduction were considered by the responsible authorities to be appropriate to the gravity of the offences for which the official was formal guilty. Those offences did not include fraud as the question says, they related to various failures to meet the obligations of independence and honesty to which officials are bound under the Staff Regulations.

Since the case is still pending before the European Court of First Instance, the Commission is not in a position to provide further information.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1308/01

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(3 May 2001)

Subject: Official aid granted by the Valencian Regional Government to the Terra Mítica theme park (Benidorm, Alicante)

The Valencian Press has reported that the Valencian Tourist Board has approved a collaboration agreement with the Terra Mítica theme park whereby it is to pay a contribution of ESP 6 000 million to fund the park. The agreement has been interpreted in some quarters as a form of direct aid, although its exact terms have so far remained secret.

In addition, the Commission is still considering whether to institute proceedings on account of the official aid granted by the Valencian Generalitat (autonomous government) to Terra Mítica.

Does the Commission believe that the terms of the agreement between the Valencian Tourist Board and Terra Mítica should be divulged so as to make it possible to determine whether the agreement constitutes official aid?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2001)

The Commission is also aware of the reports to which the Honourable Member refers and it takes the view that this aspect must be taken into account in the analysis which it will make of the matter.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1498/01

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Subject: New runways at Barajas airport (Madrid)

According to reports by the environmental group Jarama Vivo the construction of the new runways at Barajas airport will irreversibly affect plant colonies of great value protected at both national and European level. In fact, the construction of the runway referred to as 18L/36R, in addition to diverting the course of the Jarama by 2 000 metres, will affect plant colonies classed as habitats of Community interest. They are included in the national inventory of habitats of Community interest on accordance with Royal Decree 1997/1995 of 7 December. This inventory was of key importance in the Region of Madrid's decision to declare the entire course of the river Jarama a site of Community importance and thus part of the Natura network. The seven habitats destroyed are fringing forests of willows, poplars, Mediterranean meadows of tall grass and reeds and plants thriving in damp and shady conditions, all of them found along the river Jarama and the streams of Las Zorreras and La Vega.

The vegetation will be damaged by both the construction works and the drying up of the Jarama. The works will clear the land, meaning that all the vegetation will disappear. 16 hectares of fringing forest, 3 hectares of scrub, 4 hectares of reedbeds, 40 hectares of meadowland and 35 hectares of replanted forests will be destroyed.

Is the Commission aware of the events reported by Jarama Vivo?

Does it consider that this project to extend the airport of Barajas (Madrid) is compatible with Council Directive 92/43/EEC(1) of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora?

Does the Commission intend to adopt any measures to protect this area?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 2001)

The Commission is not aware of the matters raised by the Honourable Member. However, it has verified that the area was proposed by Spain as a site of Community interest (SCI), ES 3110001 Basins of the rivers Jarama and Henares for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

The site in question has a surface area of 36 084 hectares.

The area is home to the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), a species included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. This area also contains up to thirteen different types of habitats listed in Annex I of the Directive, two of which are priority habitats (6 220 and 3 170).

The Commission will contact the Spanish authorities in order to ask them for information on the procedures applied to ensure conformity with Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0925/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Funding of the Alquera Dam project

The Alquera dam project in Portugal is being co-financed by contributions from the EU. However there have been criticisms of the project as there may not enough water to fill the lake. Nor will the farmers necessarily be able to pay to transport the water to their fields. The pumping stations and pipelines to transport the water to the growing areas will also have to be constructed and who will pay for them?

The Commission document expressed some doubt about the success of the project, but we have carried on funding it. Does the Commission believe that the problems mentioned can be solved, and does it intend to take part in the further funding required for the items mentioned above?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2001)

The decision to part-finance the Alqueva project was adopted on 28 July 1997(1) following a number of studies on the basins of the rivers common to both Portugal and Spain which had concluded that the Guadiana contained enough water for the project to be viable.

The Spanish authorities have given assurances regarding the quantity and quality of the water supply from the dam. They undertook to abide by the requirements of Directives 91/271/EEC(2) and 91/676/EEC(3) as well as reaffirming their commitment to the relevant international or bilateral treaties, in particular the Spanish-Portuguese agreement (the Convention between Portugal and Spain on regularising the use of water from cross-border rivers), under which the use of the Guadiana river (between Caia and Cuncos) and its waters is reserved for Portugal.

The Portuguese authorities also reaffirmed their commitment to the Community directives and the international and bilateral treaties, especially the Spanish-Portuguese Convention.

The Community part-financing laid down in the Commission Decision of July 1997 on the specific integrated development programme for the Alqueva area was intended mainly to fund the construction of the dam and the irrigation systems for conducting the water to the farms. Small dams and pumping stations within this network will be also eligible for Community part-financing.

Measures to complete these irrigation systems are contained in the operational programme for the 2000-2006 Community Support Framework for Alentejo(4).

(1) Decision C (97) 2350.

(2) Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment (OJ L 135, 30.5.1991).

(3) Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 375, 31.12.1991).

(4) Decision C (2000) 1777 of 28 July 2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0062/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(22 January 2001)

Subject: Incidence of leukaemia and tumours in the European Union

There have recently been tragic cases of leukaemia and cancer among soldiers who took part in the peace-keeping operations in the Balkans (including soldiers from Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Hungary) and there is a rising incidence of serious diseases such as leukaemia and various types of tumour and melanoma throughout the Community. The population of Europe is concerned and afraid that there may be links between the spread of such diseases and the use of depleted uranium during the conflict.

In view of this, does the Commission intend to ascertain the risk to human health and the environment posed by the use of depleted uranium munitions?

Is the Commission willing to release the figures in its possession concerning the current number of cases of cancer and leukaemia in Europe?

Does it intend to set up a committee of inquiry capable of:

(a) swiftly obtaining scientifically reliable data to throw light on the possible link between the munitions used and the cases of fatal diseases;

(b) studying the incidence of serious diseases in the Union during the last three years;

(c) assessing the damage caused to the environment;

(d) identifying regions whose food products must not be used;

(e) ascertaining the impact on animal farming?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0038/01, E-0062/01, E-0063/01 and P-0148/01 given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

The Commission has invited the Group of Experts established under Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty to give an opinion on the possible health consequences of exposure to ionising radiation emitted by depleted Uranium. It has also facilitated a round-table discussion between international organisations with programmes in this area.

The responsibility for soldiers who have served in the Balkans is with Member States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The responsibility for taking action for the protection of people visiting the region is also with Member States. The Commission will transmit any relevant information it receives from international organisations and the opinion of the Group of Experts under Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty in order to help Member States to decide on appropriate actions. The Commission itself will take account of the scientific advice in offering medical follow-ups to its civil servants and contractors sent to the region.

The information available at this stage does not provide any indication that foodstuffs are contaminated with depleted Uranium.

The Commission is thus following developments relevant to the assessment of the possible link between cases of ill-health among those who have carried out missions in the Balkans and the use of depleted Uranium in missiles fired on targets in the region. Among the principle sources of information is the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which has carried out a sampling campaign in the region, the results of which be available in March 2001.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1509/01

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 May 2001)

Subject: Antibiotic Research

There is a growing problem of resistance to antibiotics in many EU countries. In order for laboratory based research to be carried out, academics must have access to antibiotic powder. In many cases, however, pharmaceutical companies will only provide antibiotic powder to researchers if the researchers give a written undertaking not to public their research results without prior permission

from the pharmaceutical company. This restriction may have significant public health implications if the research results were unfavourable towards the pharmaceutical product. Given the public health and consumer welfare issues that are involved in this issue, could the Commission please outline its views on this matter and specifically point out how it aims to ensure that the pharmaceutical industry will not seek to restrict access to antibiotic material necessary for research in this way?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2001)

The issue of antimicrobial resistance forms an inherent part of the Community's health strategy and comprises actions in all the relevant sectors, public health, veterinary and phytosanitary. The Commission is currently finalising a communication which will set out a Community strategy against antimicrobial resistance from this multisectoral perspective.

With respect to the specific question on access to antibiotic powder for laboratory research, and having contacted several companies who may be concerned, the Commission is not aware that the pharmaceutical industry seeks to restrict access to antibiotic material for laboratory research purposes. It is however standard practice to request undertakings from the researchers to ensure that the research is legitimate and appropriate and to request sight of the results in advance of publication. Availability of specific antibiotics and the particular undertakings requested are likely to be decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether the antibiotic concerned is already available on the market, or whether it is still at an early stage of development. The Commission considers that the manner in which the pharmaceutical industry supplies antibiotic material for academic research is, in general, appropriate, but is not in a position to comment on individual contractual arrangements between a specific company and a specific academic institution.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1151/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 April 2001)

Subject: Financial services and e-commerce

Will the Commission state what agreements have, to its knowledge, been negotiated between third countries for the mutual recognition of financial services businesses taking advantage of the opportunities of e-commerce?

Will it confirm that Australia and Singapore are among these countries?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2001)

The Commission is not aware of any agreement between third countries for mutual recognition of financial services that would take particular advantage of the opportunities of e-commerce.

The only Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on Financial Services between third countries notified before the World Trade Organisation (WTO), under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) Article VII, is the Agreement between the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Swiss Confederation on direct insurance, which entered into force on 9 July 1998. In the case of Singapore: this country has notified the WTO that it does not maintain recognition measures based on agreements or arrangements of the type referred to in GATS VII, but that it accords recognition autonomously.

As to agreements currently under negotiation between third countries, the Commission has taken note of press reports concerning trade talks between Australia and Singapore with the aim of establishing a free trade area by the end of 2001. According to these sources, the negotiations should lead to improved reciprocal market access for financial services and telecommunications.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1357/01

by Rolf Linkohr (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 2001)

Subject: Evangelical radio station in Athens

1. Is the Commission aware that an evangelical minority in Greece has repeatedly been prohibited from operating a radio station in Athens?

2. Does the Commission consider that this is compatible with the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2001)

It is not for the Commission to comment on the question raised.