ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3687/00

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

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Freedom of association for Europe-wide political groupings

Many Union citizens are seeking to join with nationals of different Member States in campaigning for Europe, thereby giving expression to their aspirations to integration and their concern to unite as closely as possible by sharing in the common European ideal.

However, because of the yawning legal gaps still existing at national level, groupings of citizens from different Member States are deprived of a frame of reference in Community law that would enable them to perceive themselves as European political associations working to promote Europe-wide integration of the EU Member States.

Does the Commission believe that it should help to fill the legal vacuum mentioned above with a view to establishing freedom of association for Europe-wide political groupings and proposing organisational arrangements for bodies bringing together citizens who wish to share in pro-European activities, modelled on other forms of organisation laid down in the Community, for example the European Economic Interest Grouping?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 2001)

The Commission has submitted a draft Regulation on a Statute for a European association(1) to the Council for adoption, in order to facilitate co-operation between individuals or organisations that wish to operate at European level through a non-profit body in order to accomplish their objectives.

The draft was proposed in 1992, together with texts for a European co-operative and a European mutual society, amended in 1993(2) following the opinions of the Parliament and the Economic and social committee, but so far has not been adopted by the Council. These texts contain provisions on workers' participation similar to those proposed in the statute for a European company. The latter text has been unblocked at the European Council in Nice. The Commission expects that the work in the Council will now proceed swiftly in order to allow an adoption of all four statutes in the near future.

The statute on a European association is designed among others to allow the pursuance of initiatives as referred to in the question. In the preamble it states that such a European association exemplifies a People's Europe in helping and encouraging individuals to play an active role in the life of the Community. If such groupings were to take the form of a political party according to the legal framework of the Member State of registration, they would also be required to fulfil the specific legal requirements of the Member State in question.

Furthermore, the Commission adopted a proposal on European political parties on 13 February 2001 that is currently under discussion in Council and Parliament. This proposal(3) would create a legal basis for the recognition and financing of European political parties.

(1) OJ C 99, 21.4.1992.

(2) Amended proposal OJ C 236, 31.8.1993.

(3) COM(2000) 898.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3951/00

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Use of EU funds in Spain (Canary Islands)

In the light of the report by the Court of Auditors and the irregularities in the use of EU financial assistance in Spain, could the Commission clarify the position specifically as regards the Canary Islands?

What amount of funds does the Union allocate to the Canary Islands each year?

Can the Commission supply a more detailed breakdown of the areas receiving support?

Are the funds in question earmarked for particular purposes?

Are there any indications that the funds have not been put to the proper use?

Supplementary joint answerto Written Questions E-3951/00 and E-2041/01given by Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2001)

Further to its answer of 22 December 2000(1), the Commission is sending the information requested direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3684/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Amounts allotted under and implementation of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Can the Commission say what aggregate amounts were allotted to each Member State under the ERDF during the 1994-1999 programming period and what was the out-turn in each country?

Can it say what aggregate amounts have been allotted to each Member State under the ERDF in 2000 and what has been the out-turn to date in each country?

What is its assessment of ERDF out-turn in each Member State during the 1994-1999 programming period?

How does the Commission view ERDF out-turn so far in the year 2000 in the individual Member States?

Does it have any means of rectifying implementation of the ERDF in Member States that are not implementing it fully or properly?

Could unused appropriations be transferred to Member States which are making full and effective use of the resources allocated to them?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2001)

The appropriations allocated to each Member State from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the period 1994-1999 are set out in the table below. The outturn is 100 % because all the programmes were committed in full.

>TABLE>

The appropriations allocated to each country from the ERDF for 2000 and the outturn at the end of the year are set out in the following table.

>TABLE>

The part of the appropriations earmarked for 2000 not allocated to a particular Fund in advance was not used and will be transferred to the 2002-2006 period in accordance with point 17 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999.

All the programmes were committed in full as scheduled. However, the actual outturn will not be known until the programmes have been wound up, a process which is due to start in June 2001.

As long ago as 1998, the Commission already reallocated appropriations between various programmes in line with their importance and the scope for implementation that they afforded. The appropriations carried over were committed at the end of 1999 and in 2000 and the rules do not allow any further reallocation of these appropriations.

For the new period 2000-2006, Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(1) provides for a performance reserve so that additional funds can be allocated to programmes of greater importance affording more scope for implementation. The indicative allocations decided by the Commission and published in the Official Journal commit it vis-à-vis the Member States. It must comply with these allocations scrupulously and may amend them only by means of a reasoned and duly substantiated decision of amendment, which must be published. At this stage of programming, this question does not arise.

As regards the implementation of Cohesion Fund appropriations and the scope for the transfer of unused appropriations, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 5 April 2001 to Written Question E-3683/00.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Fisheries and the precautionary principle

The EC Treaty requires that Community policy on the environment should be based on the precautionary principle (Article 174). How does the Commission intend to apply the precautionary principle to fisheries policy decisions?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0174/01 and E-0214/01 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

The application of the precautionary principle is recognised in two forthcoming Communications by the Commission as one of the key elements in achieving the integration of environmental protection requirements, including conservation of biodiversity, into the Common Fisheries Policy. Firstly a strategy for the integration of environmental protection requirements and secondly an Action Plan for biodiversity for fisheries will be presented to the Council and the Parliament during spring of this year.

The Commission has also explained in the recently adopted Communication on this principle and multiannual arrangements(1) how this work will be carried forward for the commercially important species. The two Communications mentioned above will explain how the principle will be applied in a broader sense, including to non-target species, habitats and food web interactions, leading to full integration into the fisheries policy.

The Commission has, however, already started to apply the precautionary principle in fisheries management. Long-term management plans in accordance with this principle have so far been agreed for about 11 commercially important fish stocks and conditional closures of sandeel fisheries have been instituted to enhance the protection of sea birds.

(1) COM(2000) 803 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0191/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Use of organophosphates on aircraft

Is the Commission aware of concern that air crews and travellers may suffer health problems because of the leakage into air-circulation systems on aircraft of fumes containing organophosphates, particularly tricreslyphosphate and triorthocresylphosphate used as lubricants in aircraft engines?

Is the Commission aware of any research being carried out into these alleged problems, and does it intend to submit proposals designed to reduce any proven or feared risks?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0151/01, E-0155/01, E-0191/01, E-0233/01, E-0349/01 and P-0353/01 given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

The Commission is well aware of recent reports and developments in the field of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and cabin conditions, and is taking passengers' concerns very seriously. It has examined various reports, in particular that of the Select Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Lords.

On the basis of a preliminary assessment, the Commission has not found real substance in the extreme claims about health risks from air travel. However, it takes the danger of health risks most seriously, in particular that of DVT, the more so as data is poor on the incidence of the complaint.

Consequently, as a first precaution, the Commission sent a letter to the presidents of the Association of European Airlines, the European Regions Airlines Association and the International Air Carrier Association, urging their members to take precautionary measures in relation to DVT. In this letter, airlines were urged to act rapidly to minimise the risks by informing passengers when they make reservations or order tickets, on the risks, on predisposing factors and on precautionary measures to take before long flights and advise them, once on board the aircraft, on what to do to lessen the chance of thrombosis.

A number of airlines have already introduced, on their own initiative, pre-boarding warnings and/or in-flight advice (leaflets, videos, in-flight magazines showing exercises, recommending what to do and what to avoid, etc).

The next thing is to obtain balance assessments of health risks. The Commission will, as soon as possible, set up expert groups, one on the effects of DVT and the other on air quality and cabin conditions. They will scrutinise existing research and then draw conclusions on risks to health, the need for further research and on measures that the different actors involved should take.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1292/01

by María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(3 May 2001)

Subject: Closure of the Delphi Packard plant in Olvega (Spain)

The Delphi Packard company, which received a large amount of publicly funded start-up aid from the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León and the province of Soria for its plant in Olvega, has taken the unilateral decision to close that plant, the driving force behind industrial development in the Moncayo area, with the loss of 520 jobs.

Delphi Packard, a multinational company, invests Ptas 10 000 million each year in its Olvega plant. The profits in excess of Ptas 1 000 million generated by that plant are evidence of its viability.

The hasty announcement of the closure and the treatment of the workers at the plant, who have been presented with a letter of undertaking requiring them to sign up to a transfer or take voluntary redundancy, constitute a breach of Spanish employment law.

Given that its plant is situated in an Objective 1 region, will the Commission say whether Delphi Packard has received assistance of any kind from EU Structural Funds?

If so, what steps can the Commission take to ensure that Delphi Packard complies with the undertakings that it would have given in order to receive assistance from those Funds?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2001)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0064/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Council

(23 January 2001)

Subject: Cases of leukaemia and tumours among soldiers involved in the Kosovo war

There have recently been tragic cases of leukaemia and cancer among a large number of soldiers in the European armed forces who took part in peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and there has been an exponential increase in the incidence of such diseases throughout the Community. Concern and fear have been aroused in the whole of Europe about the possible links between these illnesses and the use of depleted uranium in the munitions used during the conflict. Furthermore, suffering was inflicted on the population by the bombardments and the use of depleted uranium has had disastrous effects on the civilian population, soldiers and hundreds of voluntary workers in Kosovo. In view of all this, does the Council intend to ascertain the truth about the effects of the weapons used in the Balkans and the various responsibilities for them? Furthermore, will it ask the Member States to carry out health checks on all the soldiers who took part in the peacekeeping operation in the Balkans?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0061/01 and E-0064/01

(14 May 2001)

During their discussions on the occasion of 22 January 2001 General Affairs Council, Ministers acknowledged the great concern of the public opinion and expressed their commitment to seek full clarity on the issue of depleted uranium.

There was general agreement that in the first instance it was for NATO, as the institution organising crisis management in the Balkans, to assemble the information from participants on the use of depleted uranium, on the locations of troops and on medical data. Ministers also called for full transparency and open exchange of information between the authorities of the Member States, as well as with other organisations investigating this matter.

As far as the Council is concerned, no scientific report has been presented that establishes a link between these illnesses and the use of depleted uranium in munitions.

However, the Council noted that several bodies (UNEP, WHO, NATO, the committee set up by the Commission) are currently examining this issue and the first reports are expected to be published within the next few weeks. Once these reports are available, the Council has agreed to re-examine this issue in order to assess whether any specific initiative or measures at EU level are warranted.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0230/01

by Gunilla Carlsson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 January 2001)

Subject: Commissioner Kinnock's letter to former Commissioner Gradin

The former Commissioner, Anita Gradin, and the former head of her private office, Christer Asp, have both recently received letters from Commissioner Kinnock.

Both have made criticisms in the media of the handling of the Echo affair. Commissioner Kinnock's letter urges them to confirm and clarify their statements as soon as possible so that the Commission can decide whether to initiate disciplinary proceedings. According to information given to the Swedish media, Anita Gradin regards this as an attempt to silence her.

Will Commissioner Kinnock, therefore, say what his intention was in sending these letters to Anita Gradin and Christer Asp?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Oral Questions H-57/01 by Mr Gahrton, H-81/01 by Mr Andersson and H-122/01 by Mr Färm during question time at Parliament's February 2001 part-session(1).

(1) Debates of the European Parliament (February 2001).
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0198/01

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: Mine detection and clearing

In view of the urgent need to develop systems for clearing minefields in former war zones, what funds is the Commission making available to assist with developing:

(a) methods for reliably detecting concealed mines,

(b) methods for reliably clearing minefields by destroying them without injury to personnel?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2001)

Based on a systematic assessment of the state of knowledge on the detection and identification of landmines, the Commission concluded that improved tools for humanitarian demining are urgently needed in order to make the whole process safer, faster and more cost-effective.

With the significant help of the Parliament, the Commission succeeded in obtaining through a Council decision in 1997, an increase of 15 million for Research and technological development (RTD) specific support to mine detecting technologies. A number of projects were launched and the results will soon be made public.

The current (5th) framework programme, FP5, provides for specific RTD support to actions against landmines. In 1999, seven new projects were started for a total volume of 13 million. They aim at the enhancement of existing tools in order to improve significantly and at affordable costs the speed, safety and efficiency of humanitarian de-mining, specifically for mine field survey and detection and clearance of individual landmines.

The need to ensure the evaluation of the safety and the performance of tools for mine clearance, the Commission together with the United States, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom have founded last year an International Test and Evaluation Program (ITEP). The ITEP Secretariat is hosted by the Commission in its centre in Ispra, Italy. Since it implementation ITEP supported tests of metal detectors in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Eastern Europe, and executed a consumer report of all existing metal detectors. At the time being it facilitates the establishment of a network of test and evaluation capabilities in South Eastern Europe. The main focus will be to improve the safety of mine clearance in the region.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0213/01

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 2001)

Subject: CFP review and accession states

How is the Commission planing to involve the assession states in its consultation process for the CFP review?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0173/01 and E-0213/01 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2001)

The Commission intends to keep the candidate countries informed of the consultation process for the Common Fisheries Policy review through the normal meetings which regularly take place with these countries, notably the meetings organised in the framework of the Association Agreements.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0214/01

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 2001)

Subject: Fisheries and the precautionary principle

The EC Treaty requires that Community policy on the environment should be based on the precautionary principle (Article 147). How does the Commission intend to apply the precautionary principle to fisheries policy decisions?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0174/01 and E-0214/01 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

The application of the precautionary principle is recognised in two forthcoming Communications by the Commission as one of the key elements in achieving the integration of environmental protection requirements, including conservation of biodiversity, into the Common Fisheries Policy. Firstly a strategy for the integration of environmental protection requirements and secondly an Action Plan for biodiversity for fisheries will be presented to the Council and the Parliament during spring of this year.

The Commission has also explained in the recently adopted Communication on this principle and multiannual arrangements(1) how this work will be carried forward for the commercially important species. The two Communications mentioned above will explain how the principle will be applied in a broader sense, including to non-target species, habitats and food web interactions, leading to full integration into the fisheries policy.

The Commission has, however, already started to apply the precautionary principle in fisheries management. Long-term management plans in accordance with this principle have so far been agreed for about 11 commercially important fish stocks and conditional closures of sandeel fisheries have been instituted to enhance the protection of sea birds.

(1) COM(2000) 803 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0001/01

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(9 January 2001)

Subject: Wages for Italian soldiers in Kosovo

Is the Commission aware that Italian soldiers in Kosovo have not been paid for three months and are having great difficulty in establishing contact with Italy on account of the very small number of telephone lines made available to them?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2001)

No. The matters raised by the Honourable Member are not issues which fall under the competence of the Commission; they are matters for national authorities.

The Honourable Member is advised to raise her concerns directly with the relevant Italian authorities.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0250/01

by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 February 2001)

Subject: Kurdistan and separatism

As the Commission pointed out in its reply to Written Question E-3319/00(1), with respect to Kurdistan the 1998 and 1999 regular reports on Turkey state that, a civil solution could include recognition of certain forms of Kurdish cultural identity and greater tolerance of the ways of expressing that identity, provided it does not advocate separatism or terrorism.

Terrorism, no matter who the perpetrators, is an outrage and an affront to human rights and, as such, is unacceptable. But why does the Commission make recognition of certain (why not all?) forms of cultural identity conditional upon their not advocating separatism? Is the Commission opposed to exercise of the right to self-determination by peaceful and democratic means?

(1) OJ C 163 E, 6.6.2001, p. 85.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2001)

The Union's aim, as set out in the proposed Accession Partnership with Turkey, is to ensure cultural diversity and guarantee cultural rights for all citizens irrespective of their origin. Any legal provisions preventing the enjoyment of these rights should be abolished, including in the field of education.

The Commission's regular reports, to which the Honourable Member refers, were drawn up on the basis of an objective and balanced analysis of all relevant aspects of the situation in Turkey.