Will the Commission act to ensure that Germany puts an end to this even greater restriction of
competition applying to building contractors from other Member States, in particular Austria, from1September2003?
IstheCommissionaimingforarapidconclusionofCaseC-341/02,whichisofsignificanceinestablishing
caselaw?
WilltheCommissionseektoensurethat,whencalculatingtheminimumwage,Germanyalsorecognises
thosepaymentsthat,owingtotheprovisionsofthelaworcollectiveagreementsintheMemberStateoforigin,arenotissuedonthescheduleddateofpaymentoftheminimumwageinquestion,butonlyinDecember,forexample(Christmasbonus)?
AnswergivenbyMsDiamantopoulouonbehalfoftheCommission
(14October2003)
ThefailurebytheGermanauthoritiestorecognisebonusesandsupplementspaidbyemployersbasedin
anotherMemberStatetotheiremployeesinthebuildingsectorpostedtoGermany(e.g.theChristmas
bonusoradditionalholidayallowanceinAustria)whencalculatingsuchworkers’payiscurrentlythesubjectofinfringementproceedingsbroughtbytheCommissionagainstGermany.TheCommissionhasreferredthemattertotheCourtofJustice(CaseNoC-341/02)onthegroundsthatitcontravenesArticle3ofDirective96/71/EC(
1)andArticle49oftheECTreaty.
AsthispointiscrucialtointerpretingDirective96/71/EC,theCommissionhopestoseeanearlyrulingby
theCourtincaseC-341/02.However,itistheCourtofJusticeitselfandnottheCommissionthatsetsthedateforopeningtheoralprocedure.
(1) Directive96/71/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof16December1996concerningthepostingof
workersintheframeworkoftheprovisionofservices,OJL18,21.1.1997.
(2004/C58E/219) WRITTENQUESTIONE-2787/03
byChrisDavies(ELDR)totheCommission
(19September2003)
Subject:Footandmouthdisease
Inanattempttocurbthespreadoffootandmouthdiseasein2001,theUnitedKingdomgovernment
orderedthecullingoftenmillionanimals,90%ofwhicharethoughtnottohavebeeninfected.
Manyofthekillingstookplacewithoutregardtowelfareconsiderationsorlegislation,withreportsof
manymaimedanimalssubsequentlybeingburiedorincineratedalive.
The widespread closure of footpaths and open countryside had a devastating effect upon the tourist
industryinmanypartsoftheUK.
TheresponseofEUgovernmentstothe2001epidemichassincebeenthesubjectofmuchdiscussion.HastheUKgovernmentprovidedtheCommissionwithanyinformationtoindicatethatitwilladopta
radicallydifferentapproachintheeventofanotheroutbreak,and,inparticular,thatitwillendorsetheuseofring-fencevaccinationtocurbthespreadofthediseaseandpermitanimalwelfareconsiderationstoberespected?6.3.2004EN C58E/203 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
AnswergivenbyMrByrneonbehalfoftheCommission
(22October2003)
WithreferencetothequestionraisedbytheHonourableMember,theCommissionwouldliketoreferto
itsproposalforaCouncilDirectiveonCommunitymeasuresforthecontroloffoot-and-mouthdisease,
whichwasadoptedon13December2002(1).
AfterintensivediscussionsonthisdocumentinCouncilworkinggroups,takingintoaccounttheopinions
oftheParliament,theCommitteeoftheRegionsandtheEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommitteeandfollowing the political agreement by the Agricultural Council of 12June 2003 in Luxembourg, theDirectivewasformallyadoptedbytheCouncilinSeptember2003(
2).
ThenewDirectiveconfersmoreresponsibilityonMemberStatestochoosethemostefficientstrategyfor
thecontrolofanoutbreak,includingscenariosforemergencyvaccination.
InMarch2003theUnitedKingdompublisheditsrevisedcontingencyplanforfoot-and-mouthdisease.
Theplan,stillbasedonDirective85/511/EEC(3),isconsideredanoperationaldocumentandprovidesa
frameworkforanemergencyresponsetoafoot-and-mouthdiseaseoutbreak.Itaimsataproportionateresponse to any future outbreak, including the use of emergency vaccination and better controls oncompliancewithanimalwelfarelegislation.
(1) COM(2002)736final.
(2) http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/03/st12/st12430-ad01en03.pdf
(3) CouncilDirective85/511/EECof18November1985introducingCommunitymeasuresforthecontroloffoot-and-
mouthdisease,OJL315,26.11.1985.
(2004/C58E/220) WRITTENQUESTIONE-2806/03
byErikMeijer(GUE/NGL)totheCommission
(19September2003)
Subject:Eliminationofobstaclestoclaimingpensionentitlementswhereworkershaveinthepastworked
inanotherMemberState
1. DoestheCommissionrecallthatinthe1950s,’60sand’70s,manyresidentsofSpain,Portugal,Italy
andGreeceworkedinGermany,theNetherlands,Belgium,Luxembourgandothernorth-westernStateswhichatthetimeweremoreaffluentandwereshortofmanpowerfordirty,dangerousandunpleasantwork,andthatafteranumberofyearsmanyofthemreturnedtotheircountriesoforigin?
2. IstheCommissionawarethat,whiletemporarilyworkingabroad,manyofthesepeopleaccumulated
entitlementstoauniversalStatepension,e.g.2%perannumofafullpensionintheNetherlands,andalsoentitlementstooccupationalpensions,andthatinmanycasestheydidnotcommutetheirentitlementsforalump-sumpaymentuponreturningtotheircountriesoforigin,sothattheyareentitledtopaymentofthesepensionsuponreachingtheageof65orwhatevertheapplicableagemaybe?
3. HowmanypeopleperMemberStatearenowentitledtopaymentofapartialStatepensionor
occupationalpensionbuthavenotyetclaimeditbecausetheyarenotawareoftheirrightsoroftheformalitieswhichhavetobecompletedinordertoobtainpayment?
4. DoestheCommissionagreethatitisunacceptablethatinpracticepeopleintheEUcannotobtain
payment ofthe pensions towhich they are entitled because their entitlementsaccrued in a differentMemberStatetothatoftheir nationalityandthatwheretheycurrentlyresideandbecausetheylackinformationabouttheextentoftheirentitlementsandhowtheycanclaimthem?
5. WhatwilltheCommissiondotoimprovebothinformationaboutaccumulatedpensionentitlements
andwaysofclaimingthemquicklyandeasily,sothatinfutureallpensionentitlementscanbeclaimed?C58E/204 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion