ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3875/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (5 December 1997)

Subject: Information society - rolling action plan

The Commission has submitted a communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on 'Europe at the Forefront of the Global Information Society: Rolling Action Plan' (COM(96) 607 final).

Will the Commission take all the measures provided for in the rolling action plan to ensure proper management of universal service, licencing and protection of privacy?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1998)

The Commission has every intention to follow through the actions as set out in the information society action plan. With regard to the specific areas mentioned by the Honourable Member, developments have taken place since the action plan was submitted.

Directive 97/13/EC of the Parliament and of the Council on a common framework for general authorizations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services ((OJ L 117, 7.5.1997. )) was adopted on 10 April 1997.

With respect to the correct implementation of provisions regarding universal service, the Commission intends to publish a communication at the beginning of 1998 following up its two communications on the subject in March 1994 ((COM(96) 73 final. )) and November 1996 ((COM(96) 608 final. )). In addition the amending voice telephony directive ((COM(97) 531 final. )) which defines the scope of universal service is due for adoption early in 1998.

The Directive concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the telecommunications sector has been adopted on 1 December 1997. Together with the already adopted general Directive 95/46/EC on the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data ((OJ L 281, 23.11.1995. )), it will provide the necessary safeguards for the privacy of Union citizens.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3720/97 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (21 November 1997)

Subject: Benefit levels for carers in EU Member States

Can the Commission please provide a breakdown by Member State of the level of benefit paid to individuals acting as a carer for a disabled person, an elderly person or children?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (8 January 1998)

The Commission has launched a study on care provision for older people in the Member States which will be published in the first half of 1998. This study will be provided to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat as soon as it is available.

The mutual information system on social protection (MISSOC) documentation in the Member States is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. His attention is particularly drawn to chapter X that contains information on family benefits in general and on benefits for disabled children in particular.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4041/97 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (14 January 1998)

Subject: European City of Culture: the criteria

Does the Commission intend to produce a proposal laying down criteria to ensure that the Council of Ministers of Culture of the European Union designates the city or cities which will hold the title of European City of Culture from the year 2000?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-4040/97 and E-4041/97 given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (6 February 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the Commission proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision establishing a Community initiative for the European City of Culture event, and in particular Articles 2 and 3 of the decision ((OJ C 362, 28.11.1997. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3450/97 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (31 October 1997)

Subject: Cross-border claims in the event of receivership

What measures have been put in place to allow creditors to claim moneys due in the event of a debtor's bankruptcy, where the business concerned is based in another Member State?

Given the progression of the Single Market, are there mechanisms which allow for ease of claims which are within the European Union but cross Member State jurisdictions?

If not, is positive action planned in the near future?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (6 January 1998)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that measures to allow creditors to intervene in bankruptcy proceedings are provided in the 1995 Convention on insolvency proceedings, signed by all Member States except the United Kingdom. Under the terms of this Convention, creditors with habitual residence, domicile or registered office in one Member State will have the right to lodge written claims during the insolvency proceedings opened in another Member State.

The rules provide that, as soon as insolvency proceedings are opened in a Member State, the court or the liquidator appointed by it shall immediately inform known creditors. The information will include time limits, penalties in regard to time limits, and the body or authority empowered to accept the lodgement of claims. The notice will indicate whether creditors whose claims are preferential or secured need to lodge their claims.

Creditors will send copies of supporting documents, indicating the nature of the claim, the date on which it arose and its amount, as well as whether are claimed preference, security or a reservation of title are claimed and what assets are covered by the guarantee invoked. The claim may be lodged in the official language of the state of domicile or habitual residence. In this event, the lodgement of his claim will bear the heading 'lodgement of claim' in the official language of the state where proceedings are opened. In addition, the creditor may be required to provide a translation.

These rights will only be available to creditors in cross-border claims from the date the Convention enters into force. Under Article 49.3 of the Convention, ratification by national parliaments of all states having signed the Convention is required. At present, the fact that the United Kingdom has not signed prevents the Convention from entering into force.

In order to solve this situation, the Commission plans to examine all options to progress in this field and, in particular, whether a legislative proposal is necessary to enforce the measures contained in the 1995 Convention.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4095/97 by Peter Truscott (PSE) to the Commission (16 January 1998)

Subject: Funding for Hertfordshire in 1994-1997 from PHARE and TACIS funds

Would the Commission please inform me of the amount of funding Hertfordshire has received from the PHARE and TACIS funds in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (5 February 1998)

The purpose of Phare and Tacis funding is to assist the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and the Newly Independent States and Mongolia respectively. No funding is available from these programmes for assistance to areas within the Community. Public and private sector organisations within the Community are involved in the execution of Phare and Tacis programmes. The Commission does not keep regional statistics by country on this involvement.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3606/97 by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (13 November 1997)

Subject: Commission communication on the impact of the introduction of the euro on capital markets (COM(97) 0337)

The third part of this report makes a number of points on the impact of the introduction of the euro on variable capital markets. Referring to stock market operations (one of the aspects raised), it states that, in view of the absence of a significant relationship between the nominal value of shares and their negotiation price, there are no substantial arguments for such values to be quoted and negotiated partly in euros and partly in national currencies.

Can the Commission provide further information on this point?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (12 January 1998)

The Commission communication on the impact of the euro on the capital markets ((COM(97) 337. )) considers the question of how to deal with the par (nominal) value of shares when redenominating to euro. The impact of redenominating par value shares to euro will be very limited. The par value of a share is not related to the market price at which it is traded. It simply represents units of the total capital stock. Redenomination of such units does not alter their relative size and number. The impact of redenomination on stock market liquidity and market operations should be very limited or non-existent. Nevertheless there is a good case for redenomination: the par value is a permanent feature of the share and will not expire in due course, in the way that other securities and financial contracts do.

The Commission communication also notes that a move to non-value shares (i.e. simple fractions of the capital stock) would effectively avoid the need to redenominate. This would require a modification of national legislation in most Member States.

The European stock exchanges have announced that they intend to switch all trading and quotation to the euro in a 'big bang' from 1 January 1999. This common date has been agreed to enable market participants to modify their systems, in the knowledge that all securities will be dealt in euro. For many this decision is also linked to the fact that multi-currency trading is not possible (some stock exchanges could not handle trades in the national currency alongside the euro). Since there is no link between the par value and the traded price of a share the switch to euro will be complete.

It should be noted that while equities will be traded in euro from the start of the transition phase of economic and monetary union (EMU), intermediaries will have to make conversions when necessary in order to settle their clients' accounts in the currency denomination chosen by the client.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3712/97 by Outi Ojala (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 November 1997)

Subject: French transport strike

On 2 November 1997 three Members of the Commission issued a joint statement to the effect that the halting of road transport as a result of the French transport workers' strike seriously jeopardized the efficient operation of the single market. The Commissioners also stated that it was the Commission's duty to ensure that goods and persons could move freely and the single market operate efficiently.

1. Does the Commission consider that its duty is to take measures to end strikes which jeopardize the efficient operation of the single market? What might such measures be?

2. How does the Commission define strikes which jeopardize the activity of the single market? What sectors other than transport might this definition cover?

3. Does the Commission not consider that in interfering in matters of this nature it endangers one of the basic rights of European citizens, namely the right to strike?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (6 January 1998)

Rights relating to the ability of citizens to strike belong to the fundamental rights within the legal order of all Member States and have therefore to be respected by all parties, including the Commission. However, the Commission neither has nor seeks legal power to impose measures to resolve a national dispute between employers and trade unions.

As the EC Treaty provides, the Commission may undertake initiatives to maintain the freedom of movement if and when it is established that a Member State has not taken the necessary steps in order to uphold that freedom.

The statement to which the Honourable Member refers set out activities which the Commission may take, and has taken, in circumstances where a dispute can or does impede the freedom of movement. Those activities include written and personal contact with the relevant Ministers in the Member State concerned to remind them of their Treaty obligations and to obtain details of information distribution or action taken to lift blockades, and establish detours to alleviate the effects of any impediment for transporters.

None of these activities by the Commission prejudice its ability to pursue legal action against the Member State by the appropriate means.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3518/97 by Ludivina García Arias (PSE) to the Commission (12 November 1997)

Subject: European regulation of the coal sector and other forms of energy

In view of the decision by the Member States not to include a chapter on energy in the Treaty of Amsterdam, how, in the Commission's opinion, will the European coal sector and other forms of energy be regulated following the expiry of the ECSC Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (4 February 1998)

As stated by the Honourable Member the Member States did not give a warm reception to the Commission's suggestion that a chapter on energy be included in the Amsterdam Treaty.

Nevertheless the White Paper on an energy policy for the European Union ((OJ C 224, 1.8.1996. )) was approved by the Commission and received the unanimous support of Parliament and the Council.

That document sets out a cooperation framework that is based on the definition of common aims. In the absence of any such chapter, more particularly with regard to coal, the Commission is continuing the approach set out in its communication to the Council and Parliament of 15 March 1991 ((Doc. SEC(91) 407 final. )). As a policy approach it has adopted the global option, which provides for expiry of the ECSC Treaty as such when this ends in 2002 by using the flexibility provided by that Treaty in order, as far as possible, to tailor its application to the situation in those two sectors and by gradually organising the phasing in of those sectors via the EC Treaty in 2002. The Commission has reached a decision to expand that choice, when the time comes, between now and the year 2002 by transposing certain provisions of the ECSC Treaty to the EEC Treaty, including the retention of the financial instruments and of the social provisions that might be considered useful and necessary.

In recent years the Commission has done a great deal of work on the ECSC's budgetary and financial activities ((Cfr. in particular doc. COM(97) 506 final. )). It is thanks to those activities that the Amsterdam European Council adopted a decision providing that the revenues from the ECSC's reserves will, with effect from 2002, be allocated to a research fund specialising in the sector's link to the coal and steel industries.

However, the Commission is aware that a restructuring of the coal industry will have to continue beyond the year 2002. This will also take place against the backdrop of the forthcoming accession of new Member States facing problems similar to those besetting the Community's coal industry. The Commission feels that the experience gained by the ECSC in taking social and regional supporting action in connection with such restructuring constitutes a useful means of defining any action that could be taken, where appropriate, beyond the year 2002.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4227/97 by Maartje van Putten (PSE) to the Commission (21 January 1998)

Subject: Evaluation report on monk seals in the Mediterranean region and the Eastern Atlantic

The Commission has funded a number of studies of monk seals by Member States as part of the LIFE programme. Such studies have been carried out in both the Mediterranean and the Eastern Atlantic. The Commission has subsequently evaluated these studies but the evaluation report has not yet been published.

1. In the light of the principle of open government, can the Commission say why it has not yet published the evaluation report?

2. Can the Commission say when it intends to publish the report?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (27 February 1998)

The report referred to by the Honourable Member is not a research-assessment report. It is a technical and financial audit for the ACNAT and LIFE projects which is intended to analyse the relevance of the projects submitted by the recipients.

Although this is an internal report intended to improve the management and proper administration of LIFE projects, the Commission has sent a copy of the executive conclusions of that report to anyone so requesting. In addition, the conclusions have already been sent to those MEPs having asked for them.

A copy has also been sent to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat-General.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4182/97 by Mechtild Rothe (PSE) to the Commission (21 January 1998)

Subject: Fares on Dutch North Sea ferries

Is the Commission aware that people aged 65 or more travelling on the ferries from Lauwersoog (NL) to Schiermonnikoog (NL) pay fares at a reduced rate?

Is the Commission aware that this reduction is granted only to Dutch nationals?

Does the Commission agree that this discrimination against elderly people from other Member States must be stopped, and if so, what steps does it intend to take to this end?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (5 March 1998)

The Commission is aware that price reductions on the basis of age are generally only granted to citizens of the Member State concerned.

The Commission believes that such discrimination should be abolished. It, therefore adopted a Recommendation on May 1989 that a common '60 plus' card should be introduced which would extend the existing rights of older people to all Union citizens concerned, above all when they travel abroad. Unfortunately, no Member State has to date applied this Recommendation, although Portugal has recently established a working group to examine the question.

A feasibility study conducted by the Commission along with the non-governmental sector aims to achieve tangible progress towards better access for older people to the concessions and reductions to which they are entitled. The objective is to develop models which could be adapted by Member States to suit their own circumstances. This could lead, if necessary, to a common basis for mutually recognised concessions. The report of this feasibility study has just been completed, and is currently being studied by the Commission. In the light of this report, the Commission will examine the situation.

The Commission has also received a complaint concerning this type of price discrimination on ferry transport between Den Helder and Texel (the Netherlands). It requested details of the relevant legislation from the Dutch authorities and expressed its doubts as to the compatibility of this system with Community law.

In the light of the reply received from the Dutch authorities, the Commission will decide what action, if any, is also necessary in the case mentioned by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3975/97 by Josu Imaz San Miguel (PPE) to the Commission (9 December 1997)

Subject: Spanish hunting law

Does the Commission believe that European Directive 79/409/EEC ((OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1. )) provides for possible derogations to Article 7(4) as regards the hunting of birds returning to their rearing grounds? Does the Commission think that the derogation referred to in Article 9(1)(c) of the said Directive applies to Article 7(4)? Can a Member State, in its own national legislation, apply such a derogation from Article 7(4), under conditions more restrictive than those envisaged by the Community Directive itself? Insofar as the amendment of Spain's Law 4/89 does just that does the Commission believe that the Spanish derogation is in accordance with the provisions of Directive 79/409?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (9 January 1998)

The Honourable Member refers to the provisions of Spanish law 40/1997, of 6 November 1997, published in the Spanish official journal No 266 of 6 November 1997, modifying law 4/1989 on the conservation of habitats and wild fauna and flora.

Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, covers the protection, management and control of these species and lays down rules for their exploitation.

This protection regime is strict concerning migratory birds. Article 7 (4) of the Directives states:

'(...) In the case of migratory species, they shall see in particular that the species to which hunting regulations apply are not hunted during their period of reproduction or during their return to their rearing grounds, Member States shall send the Commission all relevant information on the practical application of their hunting regulations'.

However, derogations from Article 7.4 are possible, provided they comply with the conditions of Article 9 of the Directive.

The Commission has examined the above mentioned Spanish law and has considered it to be compatible with the provisions of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds, since derogations to the general prohibition of hunting migrant birds set out in Article 7.4 of the Directive to be granted under this law must comply with the conditions set out in Article 9 of the Directive.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3876/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (5 December 1997)

Subject: Information society - rolling action plan

The Commission has submitted a communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on 'Europe at the Forefront of the Global Information Society: Rolling Action Plan' (COM(96) 607 final).

Will the Commission devote special attention to the protection of minors, both as regards the content of audiovisual services and use of the Internet?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1998)

The Commission has recently adopted a proposal for an action plan on promoting safe use of the Internet ((COM(97) 582 final. )) and a proposal for a Council recommendation for the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services ((COM(97) 582 final. )).

The action plan will provide a basis for Community co-funding of a European network of hotlines for reporting illegal content such as child pornography, for European filtering and rating systems and for actions to promote awareness. The action plan will also provide support for action under the Council Recommendation for European co-ordination of actions at national level in the field of self-regulation ((OJ C 70, 6.3.1997. )).

These actions will contribute substantially to the protection of minors.