ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2533/97 by Kirsten Jensen (PSE) to the Commission (24 July 1997)

Subject: Pesticides

Has the Commission recently adopted the uniform principles to be applied in the approval of pesticides?

How does the Commission ensure that all relevant data on an active substance have been submitted?

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

The Commission presented a proposal concerning the uniform principles to the Council in June 1997 ((Proposal for a Council Directive establishing Annex VI to Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, COM(97) 284 final. )). The proposal is now at an advanced stage of discussion in the Council.

The data requirements for the evaluation of active substances and plant protection products are laid down in Annex II and Annex III to Council Directive 91/414/EEC ((Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, OJ L 230, 19.8.1991. )). These two Annexes list in detail the very exacting data requirements which notifiers must provide for the evaluation of an active substance. Furthermore, in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92 ((Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the first stage of the programme of work referred to in Article 8(2) of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market,OJ L 366, 15.12.1992. )), which lists the first 90 active substances to be re-evaluated under a Community programme, a special provision in Article 4 allows interested parties to submit technical or scientific information with regard to the potentially dangerous effects of an active substance or its residues on human or animal health or on the environment.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2186/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (25 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Laboratory standards

Are there generally binding procedures and prescribed reporting methods for the work to be carried out in laboratories?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2160/97, E-2162/97, E-2164/97, E-2166/97, E-2176/97, E-2178/97, E-2180/97, E-2182/97 and E-2186/97 (28 October 1997)

As specified in Article 8(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997. )), an appropriate analysis should be able, if necessary, to demonstrate that certain characteristics of a novel food or food ingredient "are different in comparison with a conventional food or food ingredient, having regard to the accepted limits of natural variations for such characteristics¨. It should also be noted that any arrangements for applying Article 8 will be adopted in accordance with the (Committee) procedure provided for in Article 13.

The questions are worded in such a way that it is difficult to identify the checks or monitoring to which the Honourable Member refers. The general provisions of Community legislation on the monitoring of foodstuffs are in any event applicable.

Regarding the assessments to be carried out under Articles 4 and 6 of Regulation No 258/97, the detailed arrangements, and notable the role of the Member States as regards the assessment bodies, are laid down in Article 4(3) and Article 6(2) to (4), supplemented, where Commission will publish recommendations concerning the scientifc aspects of the preparation of the initial assessment reports. These provisions are supplemented, where appropriate, by the relevant provisions of Directive 90/220/EEC ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990. )).

Regarding methods of analysis, it will be recalled that Article 4 of Directive 93/99/EEC ((OJ L 290, 24.11.1993. )) provides that Member States shall ensure that the validation of methods of analysis used within the context of official control of foodstuffs complies whenever possible with certain criteria laid down in Directive 85/591/EEC ((OJ L 372, 31.12.1985. )) concerning the introduction of Community methods of sampling and analysis for monitoring of foodstuffs intended for human consumption.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2132/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (24 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Requirements for authorization: checking information supplied by manufacturers

1. What information is supposed to be used as the basis for assessment?

2. Is there provision for independent testing of the data submitted by manufacturers?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2132/97 and E-2134/97 (20 October 1997)

Article 6 of Regulation No 258/97 and, where applicable, Articles 7 (1) and Article 9 specify the information required for assessments and the ways in which they are to be carried out.

Under the obligations laid down in Article 6, the procedures followed by the competent assessment bodies are the responsibility of the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3146/97 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission (30 September 1997)

Subject: Supply of fruit trees and vines

In the early 1980s, one of the most spectacular instances of fraud perpetrated against the Community budget was the use of plastic fruit trees to obtain certain premiums and subsidies under the CAP.

Following the recent reforms or reform proposals involving certain COMs, it appears that some companies on the Community market are again supplying synthetic models of fruit trees, olive trees and vine stocks which are guaranteed to be 'undetectable'.

Is the Commission aware of these rumours? If so, has it taken any action in this connection? Can it ensure that its inspection techniques are capable of detecting these new materials?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (23 October 1997)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2484/97 by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission (16 July 1997)

Subject: Tobacco tax on medicinal herbal cigarettes

In reply to my question E-0480/97 ((OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 88. )) the Commission stated on 4 April 1997 that it would inquire into the situation concerning a medicinal herbal cigarette of the Planterette Monte Verdo brand in the light of different rates of excise duty in the Member States.

Has the Commission conducted this inquiry?

If not, why not?

If it has, when can the results be expected?

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

The Commission has asked the Member States for information concerning the tax treatment of medicinal herbal cigarettes.

The question whether such products should be regarded as cigarettes and hence subject to excise duty is currently being considered by the courts in one Member State.

Pending a ruling on that matter, the Commission is pursuing its inquiries in the various Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2166/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (25 June 1997)

Subject: Nivel food regulation No 97/258 - Monitoring requirements

What method will be used to finance the setting up and maintenance of the authorities responsible for monitoring and assessment?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2160/97, E-2162/97, E-2164/97, E-2166/97, E-2176/97, E-2178/97, E-2180/97, E-2182/97 and E-2186/97 (28 October 1997)

As specified in Article 8(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997. )), an appropriate analysis should be able, if necessary, to demonstrate that certain characteristics of a novel food or food ingredient "are different in comparison with a conventional food or food ingredient, having regard to the accepted limits of natural variations for such characteristics¨. It should also be noted that any arrangements for applying Article 8 will be adopted in accordance with the (Committee) procedure provided for in Article 13.

The questions are worded in such a way that it is difficult to identify the checks or monitoring to which the Honourable Member refers. The general provisions of Community legislation on the monitoring of foodstuffs are in any event applicable.

Regarding the assessments to be carried out under Articles 4 and 6 of Regulation No 258/97, the detailed arrangements, and notable the role of the Member States as regards the assessment bodies, are laid down in Article 4(3) and Article 6(2) to (4), supplemented, where Commission will publish recommendations concerning the scientifc aspects of the preparation of the initial assessment reports. These provisions are supplemented, where appropriate, by the relevant provisions of Directive 90/220/EEC ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990. )).

Regarding methods of analysis, it will be recalled that Article 4 of Directive 93/99/EEC ((OJ L 290, 24.11.1993. )) provides that Member States shall ensure that the validation of methods of analysis used within the context of official control of foodstuffs complies whenever possible with certain criteria laid down in Directive 85/591/EEC ((OJ L 372, 31.12.1985. )) concerning the introduction of Community methods of sampling and analysis for monitoring of foodstuffs intended for human consumption.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2749/97 by Ludivina García Arias (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Access by Spanish technical engineers to the A category within the European civil service

Can the Commission explain why Spanish candidates with a technical engineer qualification have not been admitted to competitions for the selection of category A officials? Is it true that candidates with similar qualifications from other Member States have been admitted?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (24 September 1997)

The Commission manages its recruitment policy in accordance with the provisions of the Staff Regulations (in particular Article 27) which specify that the recruitment system must secure 'for the institution the services of officials of the highest standard of ability, efficiency and integrity ...'. In doing so it avoids any discrimination and takes into account the different educational systems in the Member States.

The Commission requires candidates in category A competitions to hold a degree or equivalent diploma, i.e. a qualification giving access to doctoral studies. Moreover, notices of competitions contain a 'guide for candidates' which, in the section dealing with education, states that the level of studies completed by the candidate is checked and assessed by the selection board and, where necessary, by specialists in the education system of the candidate's country.

The Spanish diploma of 'technical engineer', the subject of the Honourable Member's question, is a diploma obtained on completion of a short university course which does not give access to doctoral studies and for that reason, candidates holding such a diploma are not admitted to Commission category A competitions. This rule applies to candidates from all the Member States holding equivalent diplomas, who are thus treated in the same way with regard to participation in Commission category A competitions.

While fully aware that the Community public service and the Member States' civil services are quite separate and independent, the Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that the diploma in question does not give access to category A in the Spanish civil service, for which a degree (licenciatura o equivalente) is required.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2262/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 July 1997)

Subject: Annual report on the Cohesion Funds for 1995

Will the Commission say why there have been delays in the submission of the 1995 annual report on the Cohesion Funds (COM(96) 388 final) and why in some cases sufficient comparative data are not available on the projects?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (11 September 1997)

The Cohesion fund annual report for 1995 was presented on 4 September 1996. Although the Cohesion fund Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 ((OJ L 130, 25.5.1994. )) does not set a deadline for the presentation of the report, the Commission intends to ensure that the reports become available with the smallest possible delay. However, adequate time must be allowed for the drafting of the reports due to the many specific requirements as to their contents laid down in the appendix to Annex 2 of the Regulation as well as the wish to be as complete as possible.

The annual report contains all the information published about individual project decisions. Data which allow comparative study of projects are not always available.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2570/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (24 July 1997)

Subject: Persecution in a Member State

What minimum standards of democracy have to be in place in order to ensure that persecution could not take place in an EU Member State?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (10 September 1997)

The Member States ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through effective control systems implemented at national and international level, including the European Convention on Human Rights which they all signed and ratified some time ago.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2518/97 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission (22 July 1997)

Subject: Privatized supply of police uniforms in Bavaria

On 1 April 1997 Bavaria privatized the provision of uniforms for the police. A contract was concluded with Quelle Versandhaus for an order worth 15 million DM a year. Policemen can now order their own uniforms from a specially produced catalogue. The sole supplier is Quelle.

1. Should the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior have conducted a Europe-wide public invitation to tender for the award of the contract?

2. If so, did the Commission examine this matter? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (19 September 1997)

1. The Commission is unaware of the matter referred to by the Honourable Member.

It will make the necessary contacts to obtain exact details of the nature and terms of the contract with a view to establishing whether Council Directive 93/36/EEC of 14 June 1993 coordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts ((OJ L 199, 9.8.1993. )) is applicable.

2. As the Commission has not been informed of the facts mentioned by the Honourable Member, it has not been able to look into the procedure followed.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1621/97 by Eva Kjer Hansen (ELDR) to the Council (14 May 1997)

Subject: Minority rights

Is it reasonable that the Union requires more from the future Member States from Eastern Europe, when it comes to the protection of minority rights, when the Union has made no legislative effort in that field for the minority groups within the Union?

Does the Council plan any legislative measures for the protection of minority groups in the Union?

Answer (17 October 1997)

The specific question to which the Honourable Member refers does not fall within Community competence.

However, the Council recalls that Article F(2) of the Treaty on European Union states that the Union shall respect fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 and as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of Community law.

Furthermore, attention is drawn to the Resolution of the Council and the Ministers of Education, meeting within the Council, of 22 May 1989 on school provision for gypsy and travellers children ((OJ C 153, 21.6.1989, p.3. )), to the Joint Action of

15 July 1996 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning action to combat racism and xenophobia ((OJ L 185, 24.7.1996, p.5. )) and to the Council Regulation (EC) No 1035/97 of 2 June 1997 establishing a European monitoring centre on racism and xenphobia ((OJ L 151, 10.6.1997, p.1. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1592/97 by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Council (12 May 1997)

Subject: EUROPOL Convention

How do the Member States explain and justify the delay in the ratification of the Europol Convention, which is hampering the fight against the sexual exploitation of children?

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 No. 2168/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Council. Novel food regulation No 97/258 - Carrying out monitoring



Official Journal C 082 , 17/03/1998 P. 0040



WRITTEN QUESTION E-2168/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (25 June 1997) Subject: Novel food regulation No 97/258 - Carrying out monitoring Are there any initiatives aimed at setting up special laboratories to carry out the monitoring duties in food monitoring bodies? Joint answer to Written Questions E-2168/97, E-2170/97, E-2172/97 and E-2174/97 (28 October 1997) The Council has not received any information on Member States' arrangements regarding these points.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2646/97 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Santa Pola - sales of immature catches

Can the Commission please investigate and respond to reports that Santa Pola is being used as a sales point for immature catches of hake?

Can it also investigate reports that the Santa Pola Regional Government is demonstrating lack of supervision over the landing of immature and undersize catches?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (30 October 1997)

The sale of small-sized fish has traditionally been a widespread phenomenon in Mediterranean countries. A fair assessment of the situation, however, should take account of the fact that species from different areas can reach maturity at different sizes. Thus fish exploited locally in the Mediterranean can reach maturity at a much smaller size than the same species from the Atlantic. This is particularly true for hake.

The protection of small juvenile fish has always been at the centre of the Community's policy of conservation of maritime resources. To this effect, the Council adopted in 1994 a series of technical measures for the Mediterranean (including Council Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean ((OJ L 171, 6.7.1994. ))) which, amongst other things, specifies a minimum landing size of hake of 20 centimetres and prohibits the retention, processing and sale of undersized fish.

It is the responsibility of each Member State to ensure compliance with the relevant technical measures under Community legislation. To that end, the authorities of Member States must monitor landings and carry out inspections at sea and in port.

The Commission monitors the enforcement activities carried out by the authorities in Member States including the implementation of rules concerning the minimum size for hake (20 centimetres).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2134/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (24 June 1997)

Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Requirements for authorization: checking information supplied by manufacturers

1. Is the information supplied by manufacturers to be checked, at least on a sample basis?

2. If so, how will the risk of allergies be assessed in products, the novel ingredients of which have hitherto not normally been consumed or have not usually been contained in foodstuffs (e.g. proteins from bacteria from hot springs?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2132/97 and E-2134/97 (20 October 1997)

Article 6 of Regulation No 258/97 and, where applicable, Articles 7 (1) and Article 9 specify the information required for assessments and the ways in which they are to be carried out.

Under the obligations laid down in Article 6, the procedures followed by the competent assessment bodies are the responsibility of the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2936/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (17 September 1997)

Subject: Illegal freight pick-ups by Turkish lorries in Greece

There have recently been a growing number of complaints by Greek transport companies concerning the illegal practice involving Turkish lorries picking up freight in Greece on their return from Italy to Turkey, a practice which also undermines fair competition.

More specifically, Turkish international transport vehicles are picking up freight in Greece on their return from Italy and continuing towards Turkey using their transit licences instead of the paper licence form specified in the bilateral agreement between Greece and Turkey. As a result, business is - illegally - being taken away from transport companies in a Member State, namely Greece, which has, furthermore, issued 3 500 (fully exempt) bilateral or transit licences to Turkish transport companies, a measure which has not been reciprocated by Turkey. Can the Commission intervene and what measures can it take to persuade the Turkish authorities to ensure compliance with the rules by Turkish transport companies, whose current illegal practices are seriously undermining the interests of hundreds of Community transport companies?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (31 October 1997)

The Commission has not been informed of complaints by Greek transport companies concerning Turkish lorries picking up freight in Greece without the proper authorization on their return from Italy to Turkey.

Article 1.2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 881/92 relates to access to the market in the carriage of goods by road within the Community to or from the territory of a member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States ((OJ L 95, 9.4.1992. )). Pursuant to that measure the Commission made a recommendation to open negotiations with a number of third countries, including Turkey, on road transport market access. To date the Council has not agreed with the proposal relating to Turkey.

In the absence of a specific agreement between the Community and Turkey in road freight transport, the regulation of traffic between Greece and Turkey is a matter for the two countries concerned, subject to compliance with the relevant international rules.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2919/97 by Bertel Haarder (ELDR) to the Commission (5 September 1997)

Subject: Implementation of the Directive on the business of credit institutions

With reference to Council Directive 89/646/EEC ((OJ L 386, 30.12.1989, p. 1. )) on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions, will the Commission explain how and when the provisions in Article 16 of that directive concerning the parties involved and professional secrecy were implemented by the Member States?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (8 October 1997)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament's Secretariat a table containing references to the national measures implementing the Second Banking Directive (89/646/EEC).

As regards the way in which Article 16 has been transposed, the Commission is currently carrying out a wide-ranging study analysing in detail the transposal into national law of the provisions of the Second Directive. This study will be completed towards the end of the year.