ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0108/97 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission (29 January 1997)

Subject: Boeing and Airbus

Following the takeover of Douglas by Boeing and other disturbing developments such as the crisis at Fokker, will the Commission take measures to defend the European aeronautics industry, particularly the Airbus group?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (11 April 1997)

The Commission agrees that a healthy and competitive aircraft industry is of vital importance for Europe. This is particularly true because aeronautics is a technology driver which produces spill-over benefits in many areas and employs 350 000 people directly and many more indirectly.

The Commission's policy as regards the aircraft sector in Europe was outlined in the 1992 communication 'The European aircraft industry: First assessment and possible Community actions' ((COM(92) 164 final. )). Among the main objectives listed in the communication were the creation of a favourable framework for the development of the industry, ensuring a level playing field of competition in Europe and internationally, and maintaining a strong technological base.

Also in 1992 was signed the agreement between the Community and the United States of America on trade in large civil aircraft. The main aim of the agreement was to establish what in 1992 was perceived as a level playing field for the development of our respective aircraft industries. Within the framework of this agreement the Commission meets the American authorities twice a year to consult, ensure correct functioning of the agreement, and monitor development in the large civil aircraft market.

Of course current consolidation and restructuring efforts within the European aircraft industry can only help in strengthening the sector and in rendering it increasingly competitive on the world market. The initiative for such restructuring and change must come from industry itself. Nonetheless the Commission is striving to facilitate this process within the limits of its competence. In this respect the Commission holds regular meetings with representatives from industry and from the Parliament.

Indeed in November 1996 the Commission and the Parliament jointly organised the forum on European aerospace industry which was attended by a number of members of Parliament as well as the president of the Commission. The event provided a high-level forum where all the issues related to the competitiveness of the European aerospace industry were discussed.

Within the Commission, the 'new generation aircraft' research/industry task force is examining ways in which to improve the effectiveness of research and development actions which have an impact on the European aerospace industry.

The Commission is currently examining the impact of the planned merger between Mc Donnell Douglas and Boeing on the conditions of competition in the Community according to the criteria and procedures laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings ((OJ L 395, 30.12.1989; corrected version: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0885/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (12 March 1997)

Subject: Single European currency

The importance and value of a successful single European currency has been amply demonstrated.

Therefore, anything concerning it must be presented in its entirety so as to avoid giving cause for concern or resentment among citizens of the EU Member States.

In view of this:

1. Why is it that, on the map of Europe depicted on banknotes, Greece appears to have been 'truncated', leaving out Crete and other Greek islands which are an integral part of Greek national territory?

2. Why is it that the Arch of Hadrian, a purely Roman monument, has been chosen as representing Greece on the five-unit banknote, given the abundance of genuine ancient Greek masterpieces which would be eminently suitable for depiction on one of the future European banknotes?

3. Why is it that none of the banknotes include one of the numerous Byzantine monuments to an empire which lasted over a thousand years, leaving a cultural heritage which forms an extremely important part of European civilization?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1997)

It is indeed important that all citizens, the future end-users of the currency, identify with the new currency. The Commission has undertaken a wide-ranging effort of communication to that effect.

The European monetary institute, which is responsible for the preparation of the banknotes, chose in December 1996 a design which it will recommend to the future European central bank to be used for euro banknotes. The main elements of the design were windows, gateways and bridges, symbolising the spirit of openness and co-operation and communication in the Community.

The design was published in order to convey the underlying philosophy and the impression of what the future euro banknotes would look like. It is emphasised that these were only sketches and that they require further elaboration. Also, the final designs will not bear any resemblance to a particular object in a specific Member State. They will rather represent architectural features which may be found in many parts of Europe. Other elements of the design sketches, such as the geographical representation of Europe, are also being modified.

Once the designs have been adjusted, reproductions will again be made available to the public.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0598/97 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (27 February 1997)

Subject: Leader I in Viotia

In view of the allegations of mismanagement and squandering of Community and national funds which have been brought to my attention concerning the administration of Leader I in Thivai, can the Commission, in the light of the information available to it, give a report on the Leader I programme in Viotia? In particular, can it say what projects have been approved and funded, what amounts have been earmarked for them, what have been the take-up rates and to what extent each project has actually been realized in Viotia?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 March 1997)

There were significant weaknesses in the way the Viotia Leader I programme was managed by 'Beotiki Anaptyxiaki plc' and attendant risks that the Commission could not contemplate sharing. For this reason, the amount allocated was not increased, resulting in a significant cut in the national and Community contribution in ecus to this company compared to the amount initially envisaged.

As a result of meticulous checks by the Ministry of Agriculture (the intermediary body) in two stages (the first by the local monitoring committee, the second by the inspectorate at the Ministry's Leader office), ineligible projects and ineligible expenditure on the projects actually selected were taken out of the programme. The management company, by using the interest on the advances deposited in the bank and a bank loan of GRD 60 million, was able to meet its obligations to the eligible beneficiaries. The Ministry held back bank guarantees of GRD 90 million, in this way compelling the company to pay the amounts due to the beneficiaries. All eligible projects are now complete.

As a result of the above, Beotiki Anaptyxiaki plc's management of Leader I has now been put on a sounder footing. The initial funding plans and those actually carried out, the list of selected projects and the take-up rates requested by the Honourable Member appear in the tables sent direct to him and to Parliament's Secretariat.

It should be noted that Beotiki Anaptyxiaki has not been chosen for Leader II.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0618/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (4 March 1997)

Subject: Brenner Pass

There are constant complaints from road hauliers that the Austrian authorities obstruct them in their work. Every day, hundreds of fines are imposed because the maximum gross weight is still 38 tonnes in Austria whereas, in most European countries, it is 40 tonnes or more.

The fact that Austria has not harmonized with the rest of Europe on this limit and that lorries whose engines have been replaced with newer models using anti-pollution technology are not given more favourable treatment under the 'ecopoints' system mean that hauliers are unable to use the Brenner Pass. Moreover, these problems are even more acute for countries such as Greece, most of whose lorries are old and therefore entitled to fewer transit journeys as well as having to pay additional charges.

What steps has the Commission taken to bring the Austrian authorities into line with the rules applying in the other Member States and to put an end to the money-spinning system of fines on lorries over 38 tonnes which, in 1990 alone, yielded 33 million Austrian schillings for that country's treasury?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (10 April 1997)

Upon accession to the Community Austria agreed to permit Community-registered heavy goods vehicles of 38 tonnes plus 5% tolerance without penalty. This obligation is stated in joint declaration No 19 of the Treaty of Accession ((OJ C 241, 29.8.1994. )). Thus, from 1 January 1995 trucks registered in Greece with a total weight of up to 40 tonnes have been permitted to travel in Austria.

Furthermore, the ecopoint regime does not discriminate against re-engined trucks. Any truck fitted with a new engine is entitled to have the environmental performance of the new engine as the basis upon which the number of ecopoints necessary per transit journey is set.

However, if the Honourable Member has specific evidence of incidents in which fines have been levied on trucks of up to 40 tonnes he is invited to provide the Commission with that evidence.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1362/97 by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission (21 April 1997)

Subject: Violence in schools

In collaboration with the European Commission the Dutch presidency recently held the first Community conference on violence in schools 'Greater safety in schools'. About fifty experts, senior civil servants from the Member States of the EU (except Luxembourg), Commission officials and representatives of various European organizations took part.

Can the Commission say what were the main conclusions reached at the conference and what approach is to be adopted at Community level to tackle violence in schools?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (20 May 1997)

The conference provided an awareness of the common aspects of interest to all the Member States and suggested courses of action for European cooperation in the field of education. As indicated in the final report of the conference, the conclusions relate to the following points:

1. It is necessary to structure and provide greater depth to the collection, exchange and dissemination of information on policies followed and practices implemented in the education systems as well as on research carried out in the Member States;

2. It would be worthwhile carrying out a series of transnational pilot initiatives based on existing measures at national level and involving the various actors in the field of education: teachers, school heads, pupils and parents. These initiatives would deal with curative and preventive aspects, and could concentrate on questions such as reducing and preventing violence in schools, developing a suitable conceptual framework, implementing specific measures in schools and promoting multidisciplinary approaches;

3. A group of experts from the Member States could help to implement these transnational pilot initiatives and to define a framework for initiatives implemented by the Member States with Commission support;

4. Existing activities to promote safety at school could be developed and intensified, and could benefit from support from European programmes such as Socrates.

Following the conference, conclusions relating to safety at school will be presented for adoption by the Council at its meeting on 26 June 1997.

In addition, at the Commission's request, an ad hoc working party comprising representatives of the Member States, parents' associations, teachers and pupils has been established. This will assist the Commission and the Member States in the implementation of transnational pilot initiatives to combat violence in schools, and to exchange information and experience. These initiatives will be supported under the heading of general educational cooperation measures (budget heading B3-1000) and should begin during this year.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0818/97 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (10 March 1997)

Subject: Community subsidies to associations, NGOs and various other bodies

With regard to heading B7-321 (Rehabilitation programmes in southern Africa), can the Commission provide a complete list of associations, NGOs and other bodies benefiting from Community subsidies and the exact amount of these subsidies for the last completed budgetary year, i.e. 1996?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (25 March 1997)

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WRITTEN QUESTION E-0645/97 by W.G. van Velzen (PPE) to the Commission (6 March 1997)

Subject: Gas directive

Cogeneration, in the proposal for a gas directive, is a process for making gas available efficiently to a number of different users. It is also less harmful to the environment than other processes. The source of cogeneration systems is, of course, gas.

As part of the efforts by the Commission and the Dutch Presidency to liberalize the market for gas it is important to know to what extent this market is actually being liberalized and whether the advantages of liberalization will also benefit cogenerative systems.

My question to the competent member of the Commission is therefore:

When will the Commission be publishing the communication on the cogeneration strategy, given that the Dutch Presidency has made it known that cogeneration will be placed on the agenda of the forthcoming Energy Council if the communication is published in good time?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1997)

The energy policy white paper ((COM(95) 682. )) stated that the Commission will propose a strategy to promote co-generation and district heating in the Community. The communication on combined heat and power will be presented at the latest by the second half of this year.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0796/97 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (10 March 1997)

Subject: Community subsidies to associations, NGOs and various other bodies

With regard to heading A-3041 (Support for international and non-governmental organizations working for the establishment of an international criminal jursidiction), can the Commission provide a complete list of associations and other bodies benefiting from Community subsidies and the exact amount of these subsidies for the last completed budgetary year, i.e. 1996?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (11 April 1997)

The Commission ensures the greatest possible measure of transparency in the utilization of the Community budget in general, and in the financial instruments directly linked to human rights in particular.

Where heading A-3041 is concerned, specific information is made available. At the end of each financial year, a report on its use, accompanied by a full list of the associations, NGOs or other bodies that have received a grant and the exact amount thereof, is sent to the President of Parliament and the chairperson of the committee concerned. During the year, a report on the use of all headings devoted to human rights is contained in a Commission communication.

The information requested by the Honourable Member can be obtained from that source.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0460/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (19 February 1997)

Subject: Competitiveness of the chemical industry

With reference to the Commission communication to the Council, Parliament, and the Economic and Social Committee entitled 'An industrial competitiveness policy for the European chemical industry: an example' (COM(96)0187), will the Commission:

1. take account of the needs and priorities of the chemical industry when drawing up the fifth Community RTD programme and hence encourage the industry, universities, and the various research institutes to intensify their cooperation;

2. boost training by promoting closer cooperation between the industry and universities and other walks of society concerned;

3. make more active use of the opportunities afforded by the bilateral cooperation agreements and regional programmes (PHARE, TACIS, MEDA) designed to aid the areas concerned and, to that end, secure the direct involvement of the industry and others operating in the chemical sector?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0460/97 and E-0462/97 given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1997)

The Commission agrees to the importance of the matters raised by the Honourable Member. They in fact concern the much wider area of the activities pinpointed by the Commission in its communication entitled 'An industrial competitiveness policy for the European Chemicals Industry' ((COM(96) 187 final. )): which aims, for example, to improve the competitiveness of the Community's chemicals industries.

In this connection the Commission is taking account of Parliament's report on said communication that was adopted during its plenary session on 13 March 1997, together with the Industry Council's conclusions of 14 November 1996 and the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee of 31 October 1996.

The Commission is also aware of the underlying importance of cooperation between the representatives of industry, labour, scientific and university circles, and other partners in the chemicals sector. It has already secured, and will continue to secure, their involvement as part of the communication's follow-up programme, more particularly within the working parties set up in order to expand the various activities. The internal market, environmental aspects, research and development (education in training) and external industrial cooperation groups are covering the areas mentioned by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0827/97 by José Apolinário (PSE) to the Commission (28 February 1997)

Subject: Aid scheme for the marketing of small pelagic and demersal fish species from the Autonomous Region of the Azores

Bearing in mind the final part of Mrs Bonino's answer to Written Question E-2234/96 ((OJ C 11, 13.1.1997, p. 67. )), Parliament's view on a possible proposal for a Regulation to offset the cost of transporting given Azorian fishery products - which the Commission has ignored owing to the lack of interest shown by the then Portuguese national and Azorian regional governments - and the manifest manoeuvring on the part of DG XIV to counter Parliament's attitude, can the Commission say:

1. whether it has begun to calculate the cost of the measure referred to above;

2. whether it will use the figures sent to Mrs Bonino's office by the Porto de Abrigo Producers' Organization?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1997)

Under Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2337/95 ((OJ L 236, 5.10.1995. )) introducing a compensation scheme for the additional cost of marketing certain fishery products of the most remote regions, including the Azores, the Commission will by 30 June be presenting a report to Parliament and other bodies - on application of these measures, accompanied by proposals for whatever action it deems necessary in the context.

In its preparatory work for this report and proposal for a Regulation, the Commission will take account of all relevant information on the circumstances in which the economic agents concerned are operating that support the case for Community action in this field after 31 December 1997, when the scheme introduced by Regulation (EC) No 2337/95 ends.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0860/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (12 March 1997)

Subject: Combating AIDS

With regard to budget heading B3-4303: Combating AIDS and certain other transmissible diseases, can the Commission say whether subsidies have been granted for Italy and, if so, for which organizations and for which activities?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0858/97, E-0859/97, E-0860/97, E-0861/97, E-0862/97, E-0863/97, E-0864/97, E-0865/97, E-0866/97, E-0867/97, E-0868/97, E-0869/97, E-0870/97 and E-0871/97 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (25 April 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1288/97 by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission (11 April 1997)

Subject: Protected status of cormorants

Has the Commission any plans to adjust the protected status of cormorants under the Wild Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) ((OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1. )), since a number of sport fishing and commercial fishing interests in the UK feel that it is necessary to take steps to diminish the cormorant population in view of the damage that they may be doing?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1997)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-3950/96 by Mr Bébéar ((OJ C 186, 18.6.1997, p. 139. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1148/97 by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Council (2 April 1997)

Subject: Violation of human rights in the United Kingdom - the case of Roisin McAliskey

Roisin McAliskey is a prisoner in the women's prison of Holloway in London. She suffers from a serious form of asthma which requires constant treatment and, in particular, access to a doctor in the event of an emergency. Since she is a category A prisoner she is kept in her cell twenty-three hours a day and she is often not even allowed to go out into the fresh air for an hour because there is no member of staff available to accompany her. She is also five months pregnant and in view of newspaper reports that prisoners are often chained up whilst giving birth, there is little prospect of her human dignity and rights being safeguarded.

Does the Council not consider that it should prevail upon the authorities of this Member State to ensure that human rights are respected in British prisons in general and, in particular, that Ms McAliskey is treated in a way worthy of a civilized society?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0515/97, E-0630/97, E-1147/97 and E-1148/97 (27 May 1997)

The conditions in which prisoners are held in Member States' prisons are within the responsibility of the appropriate authorities of the Member States. The authorities of the Member State referred to in these questions have rejected entirely the allegations made. The Council recalls that all Member States are parties to the European Convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 and all Member States are parties to the European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of 26 November 1987.