ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1815/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (28 May 1997)

Subject: Inaccuracies in depictions on euro coins

During a public information campaign to alert Berliners to the need to introduce the Euro, thousands of sample coins of the future Single European Currency were limited.

One side of these coins which were used for one week (3 to 11 May 1997) in 50 Berlin shops showed the Brandenburg gate, while the other side showed the map of Europe; however, once again the Greek islands were missing.

The most important aspect of this case is that it is clear that the whole information campaign was co-financed by the Commission's office, this makes this omission particularly significant, given that the relevant Commissioner, Mr de Silguy, recently undertook to correct inaccuracies on the bank notes unveiled in Dublin in December 1996.

Will the Commission state its position on this very important matter which raises questions about its credibility and also about whether it shows sufficient sensitivity to all the EU Member States?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (2 July 1997)

The Commission is responsible for organising the design competition for the common face of the euro coins. At each stage it has taken measures to ensure that national sensitivities are reflected in the final choice of design. For example, Member States (with the exception of Denmark, which decided not to participate) were invited to submit up to three series of coins, chosen at the national level, to be judged by a jury of European experts. Criteria on which the jury based its choice were creativity, aesthetics, likely public perception, and acceptability.

Subsequently, the nine series of coins chosen by the jury were submitted to various consultations. A quantitative and qualitative study using a sample of 2 000 people across Europe was carried out with the aim of testing the reactions of both the public and professionals.

The final choice of design has been announced by heads of state and government at the European Council meeting at Amsterdam.

Samples of coins which are produced for information campaigns or other purposes do not aim to reproduce the design of the euro coins, decided according to the procedure described above.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1765/97 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE) to the Commission (27 May 1997)

Subject: Ban on battery chicken farming

What efforts has the Commission made to improve animal welfare, especially in respect of chickens, by uniform animal protection legislation in conjunction with national standards? Is the Commission taking action to establish competition on equal terms so that consumers, who generally favour humane animal husbandry methods, do not in practice resort to cheap products? When will action be taken to put an end to cruelty to animals, in particular by the introduction of European-level rules for a ban on battery chicken farming?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (18 June 1997)

The Community has been very active in the field of legislation concerning the welfare of farm animals. A series of directives govern the rearing conditions of battery hens, pigs and calves, the protection of transported animals and the conditions for animals at the time of slaughter. These directives, although primarily oriented towards improvement of welfare standards, do aim also to facilitate this improvement in ways which do not distort the operation of market sectors concerned, notably competition within these sectors.

Concerning the progress towards up-grading the minimum Community standards, the Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's reply to written question no. 3488/96 by Mr Gahrton ((OJ C 186, 18.6.1997, p. 97. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1611/97 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (7 May 1997)

Subject: Olive oil imports from non-member countries

Can the Commission say how much olive oil is imported from non-member countries, indicating the amount from each country and the average entry price at European Union frontiers?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (16 June 1997)

The Honourable Member will find below a table showing figures for olive and olive-oil residue oil imports from the principal exporting non-member countries during the last five years.

The Commission does not have the data to calculate the average entry price. However, commercial logic would require this price, after deduction of any applicable customs duty, normally to be lower than the Community price.

>TABLE>

Source: Eurostat (Comext). Comprises imports under licence and inward processing operations.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2034/97 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (13 June 1997)

Subject: Sale of children's products containing substances which are harmful to the health

On 25 May 1997 the Italian press reported that plastic teething aids manufactured by the Chicco-Artsana company had been withdrawn from the market in Denmark and Spain (and, subsequently, in Italy, by the industry itself), on the grounds that they released phtalates, which are carcinogenic.

No other EU Member States or any third countries would appear to have followed suit.

Is the Commission aware of the above?

What urgent steps does it intend to take to protect the public against such products?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (16 July 1997)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it received three urgent notifications from Denmark during April, under the warning system provided for in Article 8 of Directive 92/59/EEC ((OJ L 228, 11.8.1992. )) on general product safety. These notifications referred to measures adopted in respect of various babies' teething rings made in China and marketed in Europe by the 'Chicco Artsana' company, the problem being the large quantities of phtalates released as a result of contact with babies' saliva.

In view of the potentially carcinogenic nature of these substances, the Commission decided to forward this information without delay to the authorities responsible for protecting the health and safety of consumers in the Member States. This allowed other Member States to react in their turn and secure the withdrawal of the products concerned from the market.

It should be borne in mind, as stated in Directive 92/59/EEC, that it is the responsibility of the Member States to adopt all the measures necessary to make producers and distributors comply with their obligations with regard to product safety in such a way that only products which are safe are placed on the market.

The Commission is also in the process of examining the need for specific rules on the criteria for laying down limits for the release of certain phtalates considered to be potentially carcinogenic by products such as those referred to by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0970/97 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (13 March 1997)

Subject: Community-funded 'misleading' advertising to promote the consumption of beef and veal in Italy

Further to my previous question on this subject (E-4101/96 ((OJ C 217, 17.7.1997, p. 62. ))) and the Commission's reply of 12 February 1997, the Istituto di Autodisciplina Pubblicitaria (the Italian self-regulatory authority for advertising standards), a member of the AEEP/EASA (European advertising standards association), informed the Italian LAV Association, in response to its complaint, that the Italian Butchers' Consortium 'has undertaken no longer to use the adjective 'essential' (or any similar term) to describe meat as a foodstuff'.

This advertisement, which received Community funding, clearly displayed the Union flag and stressed the European endorsement even in its title ('From the sheds to the stars').

Will the Commission, which previously failed to accept that the advertisement was misleading, quoting unspecified scientific research, at least now take note of the ruling given by a self-regulatory authority for advertising standards?

Is the Commission aware that millions of EU citizens have been living without difficulty, some for many generations, without eating meat or beef and veal products?

What initiatives will it take in future to avoid financing advertising which misleads consumers?

Answer given by Mr Fischler for the Commission (6 May 1997)

The Commission can only confirm the contents of its answer to the Honourable Member's written question E-4101/96. This already noted the request expressed by the committee of the self-regulatory advertising standards authority.

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it will continue to do its utmost to avoid financing misleading advertising campaigns.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1948/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (4 June 1997)

Subject: Disposal of radioactive waste in Italy

The Italian press has reported on a nuclear dump in the province of Piacenza (at Caorso), a mountain of dangerous waste, which no-one seems to know how to eliminate. This is the only Italian reactor that has been shut down since the 1986 referendum.

The reactor, which at that time was valued at LIT 900 billion is now costing the Italian State LIT 800 million a day.

Is the Commission aware that, although it was decided as early as 1977 to dismantle the plant within six months and to find a site to store the radioactive material, as yet - 20 years later - nothing has been done?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (26 June 1997)

As a consequence of the November 1987 referendum the Italian government decided to discontinue nuclear power production at the operational plants at Latina, Trino and Caorso.

At the Caorso boiling water reactor there are still 400 irradiated and 160 new fuel elements in the reactor core, and 632 spent fuel elements are located in the storage pool. Technically, this reactor is consequently in the situation of a reactor shut-down for maintenance, and all safety related devices have to be in working condition.

Before envisaging any dismantling of radioactive components, all spent fuel has to be removed first. The Italian authorities have a service agreement for reprocessing of 286 fuel elements at Sellafield (United Kingdom).

Reprocessing of the remaining fuel is an option, but long-term storage of the fuel is also a possibility. An interim storage facility for 50 to 70 years, which will receive vitrified waste from reprocessing, cemented long-lived radioactive waste, and possibly unprocessed spent fuel, is at present under study.

The selection of options and timing for dismantling of installations for storage and for disposal of radioactive waste is a matter of national policy.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1876/97 by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (30 May 1997)

Subject: Situation of GIP (Grundig-Indústria de Portugal) in Braga

A few days ago, in a development related to my earlier questions (P-3533/96 ((OJ C 83, 14.3.1997, p. 131. )) and E-1414/97), to which full answers have yet to be supplied, Grundig initiated the collective sacking of 114 workers, including every single union delegate and member of the company's representative union structures. 300 other workers had their contracts terminated by mutual agreement with the Grundig management.

The management of this transnational company suggested that the workers concerned could transfer their services to another company, Bosch, which was expected to 'take over' the plant to be vacated by Grundig.

Can the Commission state whether it is aware of any intention on the part of Bosch to set up in Braga, and whether that company has applied for any Community cofinancing to aid it to start operations in the northern Portuguese city concerned?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1876/97, P-2207/97 and E-2223/97 given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (14 July 1997)

Concerning a possible intention of Bosch to establish itself in Braga, the Portuguese authorities have informed the Commission that meetings had been organised with Bosch on a possible investment in Portugal in the area of electronic products in the automobile industry. Such a project has however not been officialised and there are no negotiations at present.

The Commission would point out that the present legislative and regulatory framework of the structural funds only applies to existing Member States. In addition, the Phare programmes developed in Hungary do not aid direct investment to industry.

Relating to the supplementary question on the sale of buildings, the Commission's enquiries of the Portuguese authorities after its reply to the Honourable Member's written question P-3533/96 indicate that as yet there is no confirmation of any possible sale by Grundig of buildings which had benefited from assistance in the framework of PEDIP I. It is recalled, that as indicated in the reply to written question P-3533/96 Grundig has fulfilled its contractual obligations to the Portuguese authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1882/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 June 1997)

Subject: Resale right

The Economic and Social Committee has issued an opinion on the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the resale right for the benefit of the author of an original work of art' (COM(96) 0097 final - 96/0085 COD) ((OJ C 178, 21.6.1996, p. 16. )).

The measures in the proposed directive which are designed to eliminate distortions of competition in the internal market are welcome.

The joint administration of the right of resale is the most appropriate solution for protecting the interests of authors.

The application of the principle of reciprocity to third countries is welcome.

Will adequate measures be taken to collect information and will authors' societies play an effective role in gathering information?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (10 July 1997)

The Commission is aware of the fact that, in its opinion on the proposal for a Directive on the resale right for the benefit of the author of an original work of art ((COM(96) 97. )), the Economic and Social Committee called for collecting societies to play a key role in gathering information on the sale of original works of art. It should be pointed out that the role of collecting societies is already recognized in the proposal for a Directive, Article 6(2) of which permits Member States to provide for the collective management of the resale right. When the amended proposal is drafted, the Commission will examine the suggestion put forward by the Economic and Social Committee.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1172/97 by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza (PSE) to the Commission (3 April 1997)

Subject: Vaccines, medicines and BSE

In view of the most recent events in Italy, I would ask:

1. What is the Commission's position on vaccines made with bovine brain cells?

2. How widespread are vaccines of this type in the various Member States?

3. What products in the various risk categories are still in circulation within the Union?

4. Is there a European Register of Medicines which pose a risk of BSE?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (6 June 1997)

1. - 3. The Commission is concerned about the use of bovine brain material in any pharmaceutical product, particularly those which are intended for injection. In December 1996, the Commission proposed a general ban on the use of certain tissues, including bovine brain. However, the proposal was rejected by a simple majority in the Council. The Commission is currently reflecting on follow-up action.

It should be borne in mind that, since the end of 1991, a set of provisions (directives and scientific guidelines, as described by the Commission in its answer to written question No 2335/96 from Ms Breyer ((OJ C 83, 14.3.1997. ))) has been introduced with a view to minimizing the risk of transmitting the agent responsible for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to man via medicines. The Commission is taking steps to ensure that this set of provisions is updated in the light of the latest scientific findings. Furthermore, by way of a precaution, the Commission intends to amend the Annex to Council Directive 75/318/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to analytical, pharmaco-toxicological and clinical standards and protocols in respect of the testing of proprietary medicinal products ((OJ L 147, 9.6.1975, as last amended by Directive 93/39/EEC of 14 June 1993 (OJ L 214, 24.8.1993). )), so as to prohibit the manufacturers of such products from using substances derived from cattle, sheep or goats and which carry an infection risk associated with the agent responsible for BSE. This ban would apply to all such substances, whatever their place of origin. Exemptions would, however, be allowed in the case of medicinal products for which there is no therapeutic alternative, so that these products can temporarily be kept on the market.

2. A number of vaccines are manufactured from materials of bovine origin. Since most of these vaccines are authorized on a purely national basis by the Member States, the Commission has no precise data on them.

4. No medicinal product is classified as posing a known risk of contamination by the agent responsible for BSE. If there were such a risk, the medicinal product in question would have to be withdrawn from the market immediately.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1073/97 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission (21 March 1997)

Subject: Employment for offenders

The European Offender Employment Group is continuing its work to encourage a higher priority to be given to the reintegration of offenders and to work for improvements in the quality and quantity of work undertaken.

How is the Commission ensuring that this important initiative receives the attention it requires to be effective in its objective?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (29 May 1997)

Essentially, the financial support of the Community for actions for employment is conveyed through structural funds, and in particular the European social fund. Objective 3 of these funds provides support to initiatives in favour of groups particularly hit by unemployment and among those, ex-offenders are specifically mentioned. Individual requests are processed by the authorities of each Member State.

There exist, within the framework of the structural funds, Community initiatives which also support specific projects, provided they are innovatory or transitional. Projects in the field of integration of youth offenders could be supported under the Employment initiative (assistance to groups particularly affected by unemployment), in particular under the strands of the Youthstart initiative, the Horizon initiative or the Integra initiative (social integration of groups hit by social exclusion).

Further to the initiative of the budgetary authority to dedicate 1.5 MECU (from the budget line 'Employment and labour market') to the integration of ex-offenders into the labour market, the Commission sponsored from 1993 to 1995 two types of basic action within the framework of the Ex-offenders programme. The first was the support of a network of a team of national experts dealing with research and the diffusion and exchange of information. The second consisted of the funding of 24 local projects with aims and activities focused on the integration of ex-offenders into the labour market.

This specific programme ended in 1996 with an independent evaluation of the main results of the activities carried out.

The additional direct, specific support which the Commission was able to provide in the past to initiatives aimed at facilitating the reintegration of ex-offenders or delinquents through budget line B3-4103 'Action to combat poverty and social exclusion', has been suspended following the action (C-240/96) brought before the Court of justice by the United Kingdom, challenging the legal base of the budget line.

As a consequence of the action, Community funding of sixty one projects selected during 1996 remains in suspense and conditional pending the final judgement of the Court of justice. More than one third of these projects are directly or indirectly related to delinquency. Approximately 1 MECU has provisionally been allocated to these projects. Demand was much higher however. 136 applications were received, asking for a total subvention amounting to 13 MECU.

No new commitments credits have been allocated to this budget line for 1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1254/97 by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission (8 April 1997)

Subject: Main streaming of equal opportunities into all Community policies

In view of the Commission's policy on the main streaming of equal opportunities into all Community policies ((Commission Communication 'Incorporating equal opportunities for women and men into all Community policies and activities', COM(96) 67 final 21.2.1996. )), particularly personnel policy, what incentives is the Commission giving to individual directorates-general to encourage the implementation of the policy, given that throughout the Commission services there have been both positive and negative reactions to the policy? How does the Commission intend to ensure that all directives take the policy on board with equal vigour?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 June 1997)

Following the Commission communication 'Incorporating equal opportunities for women and men into all Community policies and activities', a strategy paper 'Mainstreaming of a gender and equal opportunities perspective into all Community policies' has received the support of the group of commissioners on equal opportunities and foresees:

- designations of mainstreaming officials in each directorate general,

- specific training for personnel,

- preparation of guidelines and tools for gender impact assessment,

- allocation of human and financial resources, where and when necessary.

The designation of officials is practically accomplished and a first internal information seminar on mainstreaming strategies has taken place. The group of mainstreaming officials will soon initiate its work on the development of guidelines for gender mainstreaming adapted to specific needs of different policy areas.

The strategy document foresees an internal monitoring system and periodic reporting. However, the Commission is aware of the fact that gender mainstreaming is a long-term process requiring changes in mentalities and working methods. Real progress needs time and special efforts by all involved on policy making. Actions for encouragement and information on the gender dimension of Community policies will be continued as long as necessary.

As for internal personnel policies, the Commission has recently adopted a third action programme for equal opportunities (1997-2000) for its staff, which aims to mainstream the gender dimension in human resources management and to lead to positive action, namely in recruitment. The measures foreseen within the framework of this programme should contribute positively to the advancement of the mainstreaming strategy.