ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2282/97 by Nel van Dijk (V) to the Commission (2 July 1997)

Subject: Distortion of competition in Western European ports

Can the Commission confirm that it has received a letter from the Stichting Natuur en Milieu exposing the setting of land prices in the major ports of Western Europe?

Is the Commission aware that the annual rental of certain plots of land is kept low in order to have a favourable impact on the position of the ports compared with competitor ports?

Is the Commission aware that governments endeavour to promote port activities in other ways, too; e.g. the case of the chemical company Arco in Rotterdam which has been connected, at the government's expense, to the pipeline system to Antwerp?

Does the Commission agree that these aid measures result in distortion of competition and that they represent infringement of Article 92 of the Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (4 September 1997)

The Commission has indeed recently received a letter from the 'Stichting Natuur en Milieu' (Foundation for nature and environment) concerning the level of land prices in certain Community ports.

Low land prices do not necessarily mean that the port operators mentioned in the letter benefit from state aid. Instead the low price level can be due to other factors, such as the demand for the land in question, its utilisation or ownership, or a combination of these factors, and, therefore, each case has to be examined individually in order to establish whether there is aid involved. However, the Commission will request information from the governments concerned on the basis of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty.

As regards state aid to ports in general, the Commission takes the view that public investment in infrastructure does not constitute aid within the meaning of Article 92 of the EC Treaty, as long as the infrastructure remains open to all users in the public interest on the basis of non-discriminatory access. Public financing of superstructure on the other hand, which is intended for commercial operations of certain companies, would normally fall under Article 92 of the EC Treaty. As far as the question of the pipeline network is concerned, the Commission is not aware of this matter and its relation to the transport objectives of the ports involved. It will, however, ask the Dutch authorities for information regarding the points raised by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2213/97 by Jean-Pierre Bazin (UPE) to the Commission (30 June 1997)

Subject: Harbour dues in EU ports - unfair competition

According to a comparative study of harbour dues, the dues charged by the Belgian port of Zeebrugge are considerably lower (approximately 50% on average) than the European average.

This difference can only be accounted for by the existence of massive state aid or local practices which are not in line with the EU rules.

Can the Commission investigate these practices, which are damaging to ports in the Union, and, if necessary, adopt all requisite measures to re-establish conditions more amenable to fair competition?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (12 September 1997)

The Commission does not normally monitor tariff practices nor does it aim to harmonize tariffs in the port sector. However, in specific cases, such a matter may be examined in the context of individual complaints.

Low port tariffs do not necessarily mean that these particular ports benefit from state aid. Instead low tariff levels can be due to other factors such as the ports' commercial policy or efficient port management. Each situation has to be examined individually in order to establish whether there is aid involved.

Any aid granted by the state or through public resources which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production for certain goods in so far as it affects trade between Member States constitutes state aid within the meaning of Article 92.1 of the EC Treaty. If all of these criteria are met, the Commission is required to establish, following the procedure pursuant to Article 93 of the EC Treaty, whether the aid is compatible with the EC Treaty.

On the basis of the information provided, which is of a general nature without specifying in concrete terms the nature or amount of the possible aid, the Commission does not see scope for further action at this stage. However, if additional information on possible aid elements involved were made available, the Commission would be in a better position to examine the matter in the light of the state aid provisions in the EC Treaty.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2720/97 by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Age discrimination in recruitment - Amsterdam Draft Treaty

Given that the Amsterdam Draft Treaty text includes a new Article 6a, which provides for Community action 'to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation', what effect does the Commission envisage that this article will have on its own recruitment practices that incorporate age limits, once Treaty ratification has been completed?

Will this prospect now lead the Commission to remove the use of age barriers in its recruitment?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2556/97 and E-2720/97 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (22 September 1997)

In reply to questions 1, 2 and 3, the Commission confirms that there is an agreement between the Community institutions to apply a general age limit of 35 for admission to competitions for starting grades. There are several reasons for applying age limits, and they have virtually all been aired in the answers given to parliamentary questions.

Nevertheless, as indicated in the answer to Question E-1623/97 by Mr Alex Smith ((OJ C 45, 10.2.1998. )), the Commission has started taking a more flexible approach to age limits for recruitment.

The Board of the Heads of Administrative Departments have begun preliminary talks with a view to adopting a common approach to be applied by all European institutions. Discussions will resume early in the autumn.

The question of age limits will be one of those to be assessed in the context of the future entry into force of Article 6a of the EC Treaty introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty, on non-discrimination on grounds inter alia of age, and of trends in this respect in the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2861/97 by Arlene McCarthy (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Inquiry into anti-dumping duties on exports of unbleached cotton from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, China and Egypt

With regard to the new inquiry into anti-dumping duties on exports of unbleached cotton from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, China and Egypt, would the Commission please clarify the role that the Community Interest investigation will play in this third complaint, in the light of the fact that the results of the same procedure were given little consideration during the previous case earlier this year?

For the benefit of the many interested parties devoting considerable time and resources to preventing the imposition of these duties, the inevitable consequences of which would be redundancies and factory closures across the European textiles finishing industry and wholesale sector, would the Commission please clarify whether the inquiry is indeed legal and will therefore continue, given that no official notice was published to formally close the previous investigation, which expired in May?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (23 September 1997)

In the previous anti-dumping proceedings, a thorough Community interest investigation was conducted in order to assess the impact of possible measures on all interested parties. This investigation concluded that it was in the Community interest to take anti-dumping measures. The Council, however, did not accept the Commission's proposal to impose definitive measures and the 15 month deadline set by Article 6.9 of Council Regulation (EC) No384/96 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community ((OJ L 56, 6.3.1996. )) expired. The provisional duties imposed during those proceedings have therefore lapsed without being collected and the expiry of the deadline means that definitive measures may no longer be adopted pursuant to that investigation.

Shortly after the expiry of the above mentioned deadline the Commission received a new anti-dumping complaint. This has been scrutinised in the normal way with the conclusion that there was sufficient evidence to warrant initiation of proceedings. The Commission consequently decided to initiate new proceedings on this product and a notice ((OJ C 210, 11.7.1997. )) was published to that effect.

In these new proceedings, the same special attention will be paid to analysing in detail the Community interest aspect of the case. In this respect all interested parties (producers, importers, finishers) are now being invited to provide detailed information on a number of aspects, including possible redundancies and factory closures. This information will be taken into account for the examination of the merits of the case.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2146/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (24 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Sanctions in the event of failure to comply with the labelling requirements

1. What punitive measures are provided for in the event of failure to comply with the labelling requirements?

2. Is there a list of fixed penalties?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2144/97, E-2146/97 and E-2152/97 (20 October 1997)

Subject to implementation of ARticle 8 (3), Regulation No 258/97 does not specifically provide for setting up supervisory bodies as referred to by the Honourable Member.

The practical arrangements for monitoring the implementation of this Regulation at national level are the responsibility of the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2440/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (16 July 1997)

Subject: Compensation for damage caused by flooding in Corinth

Last winter the City of Corinth experienced widespread flooding, resulting in the loss of human life and the destruction of some people's entire property: the damage caused was indescribable and was aggravated by the City's virtually non-existent sewage network and by the lack of town planning.

Immediately after making an inventory of the damage, the Greek authorities announced that they would be granting compensation to the victims.

Will the Commission say:

1. has any provision been made by the EU to compensate people who lost their property in this disaster?

2. if so, how much compensation has been provided for?

3. has this compensation finally been paid to the victims?

4. is it aware how much compensation has been granted by the Greek authorities and does it consider it commensurate with the scale of the disaster?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (11 September 1997)

The Commission would like to express its wholehearted sympathy for the victims of the floods which hit Corinth last winter.

As the budget heading for 'Emergency aid to disaster victims in the Community' has been given only a token entry in the Community budget for the second year running, the Community does not have the appropriations needed to grant aid of this type.

Furthermore, the Commission would point out that the aim of Community action on this front has never been to compensate victims for damage caused by a disaster, but rather to demonstrate Community solidarity with those of its citizens affected by disasters of exceptional gravity and scale.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1518/97 by Norbert Glante (PSE) to the Commission (5 May 1997)

Subject: Information on assistance received by Brandenburg in 1995 and 1996

In what amount and for what measures did Brandenburg receive European Union resources in 1995 and 1996 from:

1. the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);

2. the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), Guidance Section;

3. the European Social Fund;

4. the European Union's research programmes;

5. the European Union's energy programmes;

6. the European Union's environment programmes;

7. the European Union's other programmes?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (9 September 1997)

Further to its answer of 29 May 1997 ((OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 251. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2019/97 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Council (18 June 1997)

Subject: Europol Convention

Mrs Gradin, the Commissioner responsible for internal affairs and justice, has made a number of statements calling on the Member States to ratify the Europol Convention as soon as possible.

Can the Council say whether ratification is being envisaged in the future?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1592/97 and E-2019/97 (16 October 1997)

Member States have committed themselves to endeavour to have the Convention ratified before the end of 1997. So far the United Kingdom has ratified the Convention. Several other ratifications are imminent. The K4 Committee within the Council will regularly review the state of ratification.

The Council notes that the enlarged mandate of the European Drugs Unit allows already action by this body with regard to the fights against trafficking in human beings.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1914/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Council (5 June 1997)

Subject: Community system for fisheries and aquaculture

The 'Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture' (COM(96)0350 final - 96/0183 CNS) ((OJ C 316, 25.10.1996, p. 13. )) is approved by the Committee on the grounds that it clarifies the arrangements laid down by Regulation 3760/92 ((OJ L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1. )).

Will the Council take rigorous account of the level of resources in Community waters when allocating fishing catches to third countries and consider how a relative balance between the fishing activities of each Member State can be guaranteed in allocating catches?

Answer (17 October 1997)

The Council can assure the Honourable Member that it always takes account of the principles of conservation of ressources and relative stability of Member States' fishing activities.

Hence, when quantities are set for exchanges of fishing possibilities with third States, full account is taken of scientific opinions on the level of resources, and quotas are allocated on the basis of the principle of relative stability.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2069/97 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARE) to the Commission (19 June 1997)

Subject: Calls for tenders by the European Union

In its reply to my parliamentary question E-0631/97 ((OJ C 373, 9.12.1997, p. 22. )), the Commission evades the question at issue. In view of the importance of avoiding conflicts of interests, I believe that, whenever assessing tenders, the Commission should know which natural persons are behind a business.

With this in mind, I would find it unacceptable that a contract should be awarded to a business run by an official of the body awarding the contract.

I would have liked to have heard from the Commission how it checks on this and how it accordingly seeks to ensure that conflicts of interests cannot occur.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (9 September 1997)

The Commission understood question E-631/97 of the Honourable Member as referring to distortions of competition in public tender procedures as a result of the fact that either different companies present themselves as candidates in one public tender procedure, several of these companies being owned by the same (legal or

natural) persons, or one candidate has a competitive advantage in a tender procedure as a result of the fact that it has executed a previous contract for the same contracting authority, which had as its object the preparation or advising of this contracting authority for the tender procedure in question. The answer to question E-631/97 related therefore to these two situations.

On the basis of the Honourable Member's current question the Commission now understands that the issue at stake covers situations which might distort competition in cases where one of the candidates in the tender procedure is (partly) owned by an employee of the contracting authority. The Commission agrees that such a situation might create conflict of interests. Indeed, it might even result in a breach of the principle of equal treatment of candidates, according to the Court of justice one of the basic principles of the Community's public procurement law.

The directives on public procurement do not themselves provide for a mechanism for checking the existence of these situations, nor can the Commission possibly check the validity of every single award procedure as to this point. However, if the Commission has indications that a conflict of interests has occurred, it intervenes. As an example the Commission refers to a recent case where formal infringement proceedings on the basis of Article 169 of the EC Treaty were started against a Member State because one of the shareholders of the bidder was a member of the group commissioned by the contracting authority to carry out the evaluation of the tenders.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0867/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (12 March 1997)

Subject: European cultural activities

With regard to budget heading B3-2001: Measures to encourage cultural activities having a European dimension, can the Commission say whether subsidies have been granted for Italy and, if so, for which organizations and for which activities?

Supplementary joint answer to Written Questions E-0858/97, E-0859/97, E-0860/97, E-0861/97, E-0862/97, E-0863/97, E-0864/97, E-0865/97, E-0866/97, E-0867/97, E-0868/97, E-0869/97, E-0870/97 and E-0871/97 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (22 September 1997)

Further to its answer of 25 April 1997 ((OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 81. )), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information.

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a table containing the information requested.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1636/97 by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Council (14 May 1997)

Subject: Portugal's initiative on legalizing drugs

With regard to Portugal's initiative for an international convention to legalise the use of drugs,

1. Has the Council taken note of this initiative?

2. What is the Council's view of this proposal? Does the Council share the view that there is a need for an international convention legalizing the use of drugs?

3. Can the Council provide precise details of the proposals by President Sampaio of Portugal and the President of the Portuguese Parliament, Almeida Santos?

Answer (16 October 1997)

The Council is not in possession of the alleged proposals of the Portuguese President and the President of the Portuguese Parliament.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2372/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (10 July 1997)

Subject: Proposals for an EU ban on hormone-treated meat

The European Farmers' Coordination (EFC) has called on the EU to ban hormone-treated meat and campaign for an international ban. The World Trade Organization is currently dealing with this issue and an international arbitration panel has been set up because of differences of opinion between the EU and the US.

According to the EFC, 'neither farmers nor consumers need hormones and the principle of long-term health precaution must prevail'.

Because recent policy statements from the Commission have indicated that it too believes in the principle of long-term health precaution, will it work for a ban on hormone-treated meat both in the EU and internationally?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (4 September 1997)

The Commission is aware that the European farmers'co-ordination is in favour of the maintenance of the ban on hormone treated meat, both in the Community and for its import from third countries.

In the context of the World trade organization (WTO) panel on hormones in Geneva, the Commission invoked the precautionary principle in support of its claims, and defended the position that the Community's right to decide what level of sanitary protection it deems appropriate for its citizen should be fully recognised by the Sanitary and phytosanitary agreement.

The Honourable Member may rest assured that the Commission will use all the legal means at its disposal in the appeals procedure at the WTO to defend the present Community legislation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2202/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Publication of data on novel food products

Will both the scientific data that have been submitted and the evaluation of such data be published?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2198/97, E-2200/97 and E-2202/97 (28 October 1997)

The detailed rules governing the protection of data provided by an applicant for a marketing authorization are adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of the Regulation referred to by the Honourable Member.

Regulation No 258/97 ((OJ L 43, 14.02.1997. )) makes no provision for the systematic publication of either the scientific data submitted or the evaluation of that data, nor does it make provision for the designation of authorities competent for recording data concerning the products approved or notidied in accordance with that Regulation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2331/97 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (7 July 1997)

Subject: Community subsidies

On 9 and 10 May 1997 'Europe Days' were held in Brussels, organized jointly by the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council of Ministers.

Will the Commission give details of the actual cost of the event and indicate which budget line provided the requisite appropriations?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (18 September 1997)

(ecus)

>TABLE>

The Commission used appropriations from budget item B3-3000