ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2365/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Project in Stemnitsa (Arkadia) as part of the regional operational programme for the Peloponnese

The ROP for the Peloponnese includes a road improvement and development project in the municipality of Stemnitsa with a budget of DR 200 million. However, local residents have complained that the projected works will greatly detract from the traditional architectural character of the area, a view upheld by expert opinion. In view of the fact that Stemnista is a scheduled historical site, what steps will the Commission take, having considered the above allegations, to ensure that the works are carried out without detracting from the historical or traditional architectural character of the area?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 1998)

The Commission can confirm that part-financing of the Stemnitsa road network has recently been included in the Regional Programme for the Peloponnese. This was decided by the Monitoring Committee for the Programme on the basis of a proposal from the Greek authorities and in view of the fact that the procedures for awarding public contracts and for assessing the environmental impact were followed correctly.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2979/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Clothing sector

Is the Commission aware of the continuing decline in the clothing sector because of the industry relocating to developing countries, (a recent example of which is the "Fruit of the Loom", an American company based in Co. Donegal, Ireland deciding to relocate to Morocco - with the loss of 300 jobs and 1500 employees put on short time) and is the Commission considering any plans to arrest this trend?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 1998)

The relocation of industrial activities from Europe to third countries is taking place against the background of strong economic growth and competition at world level. Over the last few years, textile and clothing companies have come up with strategies for the internationalisation of their production so as to better serve their worldwide interests. This has been happening more in the clothing sector than in the textile sector.

The Commission is convinced that this trend cannot be slowed down by administrative action. Furthermore, protectionist measures would be neither a truly feasible nor a profitable way of eliminating the causes. Relocation could be reduced by applying the Community measures aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the textile and clothing industry. The Commission's "Plan of action to increase the competitiveness of the European textile and clothing industry"(1) in particular provides a framework for coordinating all Community schemes to boost the competitive advantages of European companies in this sector.

With regard to economic cooperation strategy (e.g. Asiainvest, Alinvest, JOP, MEDA projects, ECIP and the Centre for Industrial Development), the Commission encourages projects aimed at strengthening the European sector in third country markets in terms of their potential impact on Community employment.

As regards the company "Fruit of the Loom", the Commission is not aware of any Community assistance having been granted.

(1) COM(97) 454 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2716/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Threatened ban on an Egyptian peace movement

1. Is the Council aware of the existence of an Egyptian peace movement?

2. Is the Council aware that the Egyptian peace movement and the Israeli "Peace Now" movement recently issued a joint declaration on the Middle East peace process and that this resulted in violent protests in Egypt?

3. Is the Council prepared, during the negotiations it conducts with Egypt in connection with the Euro-Mediterranean agreements, to insist that the existence of the Egyptian peace movement must not be threatened in any way?

4. Will the Council consider granting financial support to the Egyptian peace movement from the budget items earmarked for support for human rights and/or the development of civil society in the region?

Reply

(18/19 January 1999)

The Council is aware of the existence of several Egyptian NGOs in support of peace in the Middle East.

It has to be kept in mind that Egypt, together with Jordan, is one of the only Arab countries which have concluded a peace agreement with Israel, and that the Egyptian government is still active in promoting the peace process.

The association agreement being negotiated with Egypt is to contain a clause on respect for human rights and democratic principles, and a non-fulfilment clause under which one party may, in cases of special urgency, take the appropriate measures without prior consultation if it considers that the other party has not fulfilled its obligations under the agreement.

In addition, the Union will continue its bilateral dialogue with Egypt, in the context of which individual cases can be raised as appropriate, as well as the dialogue under the Barcelona process.

Given that Egypt plays a full and active part in the Barcelona Process and subscribes to the principles contained in the Barcelona Declaration, the Council will keep a close eye on the measures taken by Egypt to ensure diversity and pluralism in its society, which includes permitting lawful activities by opinion movements.

The third chapter of the Barcelona Declaration recognises the contribution of civil society to the development of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and to promoting greater understanding between peoples in the region. Activities in this field can receive funding in the framework of the MEDA regulation, subject to specific European Community procedures upon presentation of a specific proposal.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2957/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Destruction of ancient monument in Izmir

One of the most important buildings of the late Hellenist/early Roman period in Izmir has been totally destroyed by work to build an underground railway in that Turkish city.

During tunnelling work in the Tsangaya district of Izmir, an ancient public building was discovered at a depth of some 20 metres with fluted columns and Corinthian-like capitals made of white marble.

This building (which in all probability was the Temple of the Goddess Athina) is now a pile of rubble, as not even the archaeologists were allowed to intervene.

This incident demonstrates - yet again - how little the Turkish authorities are interested in preserving the culture of the peoples who once flourished on the territory of present-day Turkey, and it attests to the contempt in which they hold the monuments that are part of the European cultural heritage.

What action will the Commission take to ensure that Turkey finally begins to respect and protect all the monuments of ancient and later European civilizations located within its boundaries, which are under severe threat from the disastrous policies pursued by that country in its total indifference towards their conservation and preservation?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1998)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern about the monument of the late Helenistic or early Roman period found during the excavations for the construction of the metro in the district of Tsankayia of the city of Smyrna.

As the Commission has no competence in the field, it can only recall that Turkey, like all signatories of United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation (Unesco) conventions, has specific obligations as to the protection of antiquities. The Commission, therefore expresses the wish that the Turkish authorities undertake all appropriate measures to ensure the protection of the monument in question and its preservation for future generations.

Furthermore, the Commission has raised the issue in its regular contacts with the Turkish authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3451/98 by Mark WATTS to the Council. Compensation for French lorry drivers' dispute



Official Journal C 142 , 21/05/1999 P. 0133



WRITTEN QUESTION E-3451/98 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Council (23 November 1998) Subject: Compensation for French lorry drivers' dispute Could the Council inform me what progress has been made in providing financial compensation to haulage companies and truck drivers who were victims of the French lorry drivers' disputes in November 1996 and November 1997? There was yet another blockade in France last week, on the N141 outside Cognac, involving the unnecessary detention of up to 40 vehicles and their cargoes. Can the Council say what compensation arrangements will be made for the companies affected and what welfare arrangements made for foreign drivers detained? Reply (25 January 1999) The question raised by the Honourable Member falls within the competence of the French authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1986/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Problems relating to the Food and Veterinary Office in Dublin

Almost a year has elapsed since the Food and Veterinary Office of the Commission's DG XXIV became established and began operating in Dublin.

Will the Commission say:

1. Leaving aside increased expenditure owing to the recruitment of new staff, have the operating costs of the Food and Veterinary Office increased since it became established in Dublin?

2. What are the reasons for this increase compared to previous years and what percentage increase is involved?

3. Is the increase in operating costs of the Office matched by an increase in productivity?

4. If the productivity/effectiveness of the Office has not improved in keeping with the increase in operating costs, what is the reason for this and what measures is the Commission considering to remedy this situation?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1998)

1. and 2. The relocation of the Food and veterinary office (FVO) from Brussels to Dublin has engendered certain costs. In particular, a temporary building has been rented at ECU 250 per square metre and equipped. If the FVO had remained in Brussels, similar office space would have had to be rented and fitted out. It should be noted that recent estimates suggest the average cost of comparable temporary office space in Brussels and Dublin is similar, around ECU 250 per square metre.

In addition, mission costs of FVO staff are higher as a result of their attendance at meetings in Brussels. The total FVO missions budget for 1998 is estimated at ECU 900 000, but only a relatively small part is due to missions from Dublin to Brussels.

3. and 4. The mission of the Office is to monitor observance of a wide range of food, veterinary and plant health legislation and to contribute towards the maintenance of confidence in food offered to the European consumer. Because of the nature of this mission the Commission is of the opinion that any detailed assessment of the performance of the Office could only be made in the medium to long term.

The Office is in a transitional phase of its development. It is housed in temporary premises and staff are being recruited and provided with initial training on an on-going basis. It is estimated that it will be a further year or two before this phase is complete. Notwithstanding the practical difficulties, it is estimated that in its first year of operation the Office will have completed some 360 inspection missions worldwide.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3154/98

by María Estevan Bolea (PPE) to the Commission

(19 October 1998)

Subject: European Caemis project

The Innovation programme of DGXIII of the European Commission financed the European project Caemis E1 (Computer Aided Environmental Management Information Systems) codes IN 10359D and IN 20603A, which concerns the development of a computer programme for the environmental management of undertakings. Can the Commission say:

At whom is this programme directed?

In what countries is it marketed?

What is the overall cost?

What financing has it received from the Commission?

What companies have benefited from this financial aid?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 1998)

The project "computer aided environmental management information systems" (Caemis) (Contract Code IN10359I) aims to promote information technology support systems for environmental management in business and to reduce environmental risks in technical processes and plant operations in relation to human health and safety. The target markets are the food and pharmaceutical industry and the transport sector. The Member States involved are Denmark, Spain, Ireland and Austria. The total cost of the project is ECU 3,74 million with a Community contribution of ECU 880,000. The consortium of the project consists of Randa Group (Spain); Rendan A/S Danish Environmental Management Center (Denmark); LMS Umweltsysteme Gesellschaft mbH (Austria); Banestyrelsen - Danish Railway Maintenance (Denmark); University College, Cork (Ireland); Dairygold Co-Operative Society Ltd. (Ireland); Grupo Uriach (Spain).

The project Caemis-NETS (Contract Code IN20603A) is an accompanying measure also funded by the Innovation programme. Caemis-NETS aims to prove in selected test markets the capacity for an extension of the Caemis project to all industrial domains and across the various regulatory environments of the member states. The target markets are the food and pharmaceutical industry and the transport sector. The Member States involved are Denmark, Spain, Ireland and Austria. The total cost of the project is ECU 287 723 with a Community contribution of 199,839 ECU. The consortium of the project consists of University College, Cork (Ireland); Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (Great Britain); LMS Umweltsysteme Gesellschaft mbH (Austria); Randa Group (Spain); Rendan A/S Danish Environmental Management Center (Denmark).
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3405/98

by John Cushnahan (PPE) to the Commission

(9 November 1998)

Subject: Competition

Irish farmers have been paid low prices for their produce for a considerable period of time, yet Irish consumers have not experienced a similar drop in prices in their weekly shopping baskets.

Will the Commission investigate a possible abuse of their dominant position by either processors or supermarket grocery chains?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1998)

The Commission has not received any complaints from Irish farmers or other interested parties, alleging that Irish processors or retailers have abused a possible dominant position.

The Commission has been informed, however, that the Irish government has announced its intention to launch an investigation into the pricing practices of processors and retailers.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3423/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Cancellation of a competition

On 23 September 1998 the Commissioner responsible for personnel and the budget, Erkki Liikanen, announced the cancellation of the first round of the mega-competition held on 14 September, in which 30 700 candidates had taken part.

The cost of this abortive exercise was roughly ECU 1,2 million (2,4 billion lires). The competition was cancelled because "examination papers had been leaked, at least in one language".

Does the Commission intend to identify those responsible to ensure that they, rather than the citizens of Europe, meet the cost of organising another examination?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1998)

Yes. On 28 October 1998 the Commission lodged a complaint with the public prosecutor in Brussels so that everyone involved in the affair, both the perpetrators and the beneficiaries, could be identified and brought to justice.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3180/98

by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission

(27 October 1998)

Subject: Financial contributions to the European Union

How much (in ecus) did each EU Member State contribute to the European Union in the year to 31 March 1997 and how much (in ecus) did each Member State receive from the European Union?

The answer should clearly specify the method of attributing the cost of collaborative or joint activities, the benefits of which are enjoyed by all Member States, such as the cost of running the European Parliament.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 1998)

The Commission's report on the Community's own resources system(1) includes data on both Community expenditure in each Member State and own resources contributed by each Member State to the Community budget. The data are available on a calendar year basis and the latest available figures relate to 1997.

The various methodologies which can be used for calculating budgetary balances are discussed in annex 3 to the report. None is ideal and the Commission has repeatedly warned against simplistic interpretation of budgetary balance figures as a measure of the real balance of advantage and disadvantage in membership of the Community.

The method used for allocating expenditure to individual Member States in calculating the British rebate is set out in the method of calculation document(2).

(1) COM(98) 560 final available on web.site http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg19/index_en.htm, choose "quoi de neuf?".

(2) COM(85) 36 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3463/98

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Allocation of EU funds to Salzburg (Austria)

With regard to the allocation of EU funds to the State of Salzburg, can the Commission provide information as to:

1. the total amount of EU structural fund appropriations provided, with a breakdown by fund and by individual Community programme and/or initiative, and the amount of EU funds charged to other budgetary headings and disbursed since 1995 for pilot projects and other measures or as direct payments to research institutes, universities, undertakings and other bodies in the State of Salzburg;

2. the number of jobs created or saved with the help of these funds?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2966/98

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Electronic eavesdropping

According to the French magazine Marianne, the French secret service carries out electronic eavesdropping in America and Europe. The magazine reports that the Germans buy these services from the French.

Is the Commission aware of such activity, which is reminiscent of the Echelon system operated by the US NSA and used by GCHQ in England and is likely to constitute a violation of laws on individual liberty? What will the Commission do to safeguard citizens' rights?

Will the Commission soon reply to the priority question which I tabled several months ago (time limit for reply: 1 month) concerning the Echelon system?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 1998)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's answer to his written question P-1894/98,(1) which was given on 29 September 1998.

(1) See page (à compléter svp).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3459/98

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Allocation of EU funds to Burgenland (Austria)

With regard to the allocation of EU funds to the State of Burgenland, can the Commission provide information as to:

1. the total amount of EU structural fund appropriations provided, with a breakdown by fund and by individual Community programme and/or initiative and the amount of EU funds disbursed for pilot projects and other measures or as direct payments to research institutes, universities, undertakings and other bodies in the State of Burgenland, charged to other budgetary headings since 1995;

2. the number of jobs created or saved with the help of these funds?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2689/98

by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Limitation of citizens' rights in involvement in the decision-making process surrounding the completion of the Khmelnitsky 2 and Rovno 4 nuclear plants in Ukraine

Is the Commission aware that the Convention on the Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) requires the "Party of origin" - in this case the project sponsors of K2/R4 - to provide the same opportunities for public participation in the environmental impact assessment process to the public of potentially affected States as it provides to its own citizens?

Is the Commission aware that the Environmental Procedures of the potential co-funder of the two nuclear power plants K2/R4 with the Commission, the EBRD, require compliance within the Espoo Convention?

Does the Commission agree that the project sponsors, including the Commission, have done little to facilitate meaningful participation of NGOs and the public at international level?

If it agrees with the foregoing, is the Commission prepared to guarantee that the Euratom loan will be approved only if the Espoo Convention is implemented in full, namely:

- requests from individuals, citizens' groups and local and regional governments for notification of the public participation process are properly respected,

- appeals to the project sponsors for public discussions in potentially affected states are met in full,

- that the Commission appoints an independent auditor to review and monitor the public participation process,

- that the Commission guarantees that no final decision will be taken on Union funding for K2/R4 until the Commission has received the opinion of Parliament on the appropriateness of EU funding for the project?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 1998)

The procedures of the European bank for reconstruction and development (EBRD) and of the Commission provide that projects with environmental impact must follow the provisions of the Convention on the environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context (ESPOO convention) when applicable. However, this is not the case for the K2R4 project, as it consists in the completion of plants under construction and, more importantly, as Ukraine is not a signatory to the ESPOO convention.

However, the Commission as well as the EBRD have encouraged Ukraine to engage in a broad public participation and consultation process based on openness and transparency and to supply in a timely manner neighbouring countries with the results of the environmental impact assessments.

Hence, this public participation process, responsibility for which lies with the project owner, started on 18 August 1998 and will last 120 days. The Commission will assess the result in due course in the framework of its Euratom loan approval procedure.

Finally, the Commission reconfirms its readiness to continue to keep the Parliament fully informed about the status of the loan approval procedure.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3614/98

by Nelly Maes (ARE) to the Commission

(3 December 1998)

Subject: Confirmation of press reports of instances of nepotism in the ECHO affair

Can the Commission confirm press reports that the official suspended because of his role in the ECHO affair managed to secure jobs for his relatives and friends in ECHO's external unit?

Is there any truth in the press reports that the suspended official found a job for his spouse as a translator in the companies suspected of fraud in the ECHO affair?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3464/98

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Allocation of EU funds to Styria (Austria)

With regard to the allocation of EU funds to the State of Styria, can the Commission provide information as to:

1. the total amount of EU structural fund appropriations provided, with a breakdown by fund and by individual Community programme and/or initiative, and the amount of EU funds charged to other budgetary headings and disbursed since 1995 for pilot projects and other measures or as direct payments to research institutes, universities, undertakings and other bodies in the State of Styria;

2. the number of jobs created or saved with the help of these funds?