ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1423/03

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Safety at sea

On 27 March 2003 the Council of Transport Ministers reached a series of conclusions on safety at sea. Can the Commission say what the results are?

Does the ban on transport of heavy fuel oil in single-hull tankers also include vessels anchored in a bay close to a port area?

Which Member States voted against this proposal by the Commission?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

With regard to the conclusions of the Transport Council, the Commission refers the Honourable Member to the Council website(1), which features the press release on the Council meeting of 27 March 2003. The press release explains in detail the decisions taken with regard to single-hull tankers.

The ban on the transport of heavy fuel oil in single-hull tankers applies to vessels calling at or leaving a port or offshore terminal, or anchoring in a zone within the jurisdiction of a Member State, whatever the flag it is flying.

These important decisions were taken by unanimous consent.

(1) http://ue.eu.int/en/summ.htm.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1977/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(13 June 2003)

Subject: Infringement by FYROM of the rights of Roma

Concern has recently been expressed by the Médicins du Monde organisation concerning flagrant violations of the human rights of around 600 Roma (including 270 children, 10 pregnant women and many elderly persons) on the boundary between Greece and FYROM near the Meditlija border crossing. Without tents or any other form of shelter from the sun and rain and lacking elementary hygiene facilities, the refugees have been stranded out in the open since March when the UNHCR and the FYROM Ministry of Labour decided to close the camp, cancelling supplies of food, water and electricity. On 22 May the Macedonian security forces forcibly drove the refugees away from the border. Lacking travel documents, the Roma are completely dependent upon the authorities for survival.

What steps will the Council take under the EU-FYROM association agreement to ensure respect for human rights and the restoring of decent living conditions for the Roma in Meditlija?

Reply

(7 October 2003)

Regarding the general situation for Romas in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the Council has in the context of the Stabilisation and Association Process stressed with the FYROM authorities the need for dialogue between ethnic communities including a real strategy for integration of Romas in FYROM.

As far as the situation at the Medzitlija border crossing, the Council through its representatives in FYROM is in regular contact with the FYROM Government in order to find a solution ensuring full respect of human rights standards.

The Council would, however, like to underline that the 600-700 Romas at the Medzitlija border crossing have voluntarily chosen to camp there, declining offers of alternative accommodation in as well as financial support from UNHCR.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0663/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 March 2003)

Subject: Initiation of proceedings before the European Court of Justice in respect of State aid for Olympic Airways

The Commission representative has announced that the Commission will shortly be initiating proceedings against Greece before the Court of Justice, because Olympic Airways (OA) is refusing to comply with the decision providing for the reimbursement of State aid amounting to EUR 194 million. The Legal Council of State argues in its opinion that the State is only obliged to pay the sum of EUR 41 million, since this is the precise sum specified in the judgement.

1. How can the difference of EUR 153 million be accounted for?

2. Is it true that the same representative has threatened OA, saying that the Commission would re-open the dossier on State aid since 1994 if the company appealed to the Court of Justice about this judgement? If so, is this not tantamount to abolishing the basic right of Member States to judicial protection when their rights are infringed by decisions by the EU institutions?

3. In the wake of these actions, does it agree that the Commissioner gives the impression that she is pursuing a personal vendetta against OA, since there is a risk that recourse by the Member State in question to the Court of Justice may trigger reprisals by the Commission? To what extent is this conduct justified by the need to protect freedom of competition which should constitute the only motive for, and at the same time the limit of, the Commission's actions?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission not only enforces Community law but also abides by it. Consequently, it is not the role of the Commission to comment on appeals lodged against its decisions. In a Community based on the rule of law it is absolutely fundamental that the parties concerned must be able to assert their legal rights.

This, in short, echoes what the Commission representative said.

What is more, in reply to the question of whether referral to the Court of First Instance could result in an increase in the amount of aid to be repaid, if the aid paid since 1994 were to be included, the Commission spokesman simply stated that this would depend on the wording of the ruling by the Court.

This being the case, in accordance with the EC Treaty the decision adopted by the Commission in December 2002 is binding on Greece and must be acted on within the time limits set. The appeal lodged by Olympic Airways before the Court of First Instance has no suspensory effect. Under these circumstances, Greece must proceed rapidly to recover not only the EUR 41 million but also the other unlawful aid.

At this stage, according to the information available to the Commission, Greece has taken no measures to act on the decision of 11 December 2002.

The Commission will ensure compliance with Community law, in this case as in all others, with the aid of all the instruments placed at its disposal by the Treaties.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0639/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Council

(4 March 2003)

Subject: Angola Cabinda human rights

In December 2002 a report was presented in Luanda drawing attention to serious violations of human rights in the Angolan province of Cabinda. This report was produced by Angolan NGOs. Several of its claims have since been confirmed from other sources (notably Amnesty International) and relayed in the international press. The report accuses both the Angolan military and the pro-independence FLEC.

The long-standing conflict between the Angolan government and UNITA has recently subsided, bringing in its wake the return of peace.

Angola is now endeavouring to consolidate democracy in a framework of national reconciliation and freedom, without which it will be impossible to rebuild the nation or, by the same token, promote the welfare of its inhabitants. However, the problem of Cabinda remains unsolved, as does the associated armed conflict; meanwhile, all initiatives are to be welcomed if they contribute to the broadening and deepening of the framework for peace and reconstruction and are based on a full commitment to respecting fundamental human rights.

Can the Council answer the following:

- has the Council examined the above-mentioned report?

- has it been made aware by other means of the human rights violations referred to?

- does it have a position on the claims made?

- does the Council believe it is in its power to take measures to help ensure that human rights violations of this nature will not recur and, if possible, to promote a political dialogue which will put an end to the conflict in Cabinda?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council has always followed developments in Angola closely, particularly in the province of Cabinda, and remains concerned about reports on human rights violations as referred to by the Honourable Member. The Council's position on human rights violations is well known and constantly repeated in the appropriate fora. The Council is trying to do its utmost to take measures that help ensure that human rights violations will not recur. It has called on the government of Angola to provide the necessary resources to meet the humanitarian challenges and to implement policies aimed at ensuring civil rights and delivering real and sustainable economic and social reform. The EU is committed to continuing to raise human rights issues and to assisting the Angolan authorities in their efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people in the context of an ongoing political dialogue under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement. It will continue to follow developments in the situation with the aim of facilitating a negotiated solution.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1972/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 June 2003)

Subject: Use of languages in press reports about Belgium

On 2 June 2003, a report appeared in the European Commission's publication entitled Midday Express about the European Commission's intention to call upon Belgium to ensure that its legislation on night flights was brought into line with Community law (see http://www.europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/781|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=).

Can the Commission indicate why that report appeared solely in English, French and German?

Can it explain why the report was not published in the official language of the majority of the inhabitants of Belgium, namely Dutch?

In future, will the Commission publish all its press reports, and especially those which have a direct bearing on Belgium, in Dutch as well? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

The available language versions of the press release to which the Honourable Member refers were published on 2 June 2003. It was unfortunately not possible to delay release of this information further as it was of interest to the whole of the European press. The Dutch version was published on the Internet on 3 June 2003. All the Belgian media (both French and Dutch language newspapers) reported the information.

The Commission publishes its press releases at least in English or French and generally in as many languages as possible.

However, where sensitive information is involved, and a fortiori in competition or aid cases which involve a particular country, the Commission requests translations in the official languages of the country as designated in the EC Treaty, which means French and Dutch for Belgium.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2491/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(25 July 2003)

Subject: Eurostat

Does the Commission believe that the question marks concerning the integrity of the financial arrangements of Eurostat may extend to the integrity of the statistics?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2003)

The Commission does not believe that the current investigations concerning Eurostat affect the integrity of Community statistics.

Community statistics have always been compiled in accordance with a number of principles, such as impartiality, reliability, objectivity and scientific independence. This will continue to be the case. These principles are the mainstay of the existing ethos of cooperation within the European statistical system, and all participants are particularly vigilant and attentive about ensuring the full integrity of the statistics produced.

The Commission is aware of the need to maintain the high level of quality for which Community statistics are renowned. This is why the Commission attaches the utmost importance to adopting measures to ensure that Eurostat's activities continue and is drawing up a contingency plan to this end. The objective is to ensure the timely production of reliable statistics in support of the Commission's main policies.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2322/03

by Véronique De Keyser (PSE) to the Council

(8 July 2003)

Subject: Netherlands EUR 2 coin

The edge of the Netherlands EUR 2 coin bears a reference to a God (God zij met ons). Although this characteristic of the coin is described in Office Journal(1), could the Council state which God (Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist, etc.) is being referred to? I feel that in our multi-faith, secular Europe it is important that we should know to whom the words on the coin refer.

(1) OJ C 373, 28.12.2001.

Reply

(13 October 2003)

The indication on the edge of the EUR 2 coin issued by the Netherlands, which makes reference to God, stems from a tradition in the Netherlands and was previously used for the national coins which have been replaced by the euro coins.

This indication is in conformity with the decision of the Council to have an uniform European side and a national side for the Euro coins in order to increase the acceptance of these coins by European citizens (see recital No 10 of Council Regulation 975/98 on denominations and technical specifications of the Euro coins intended for circulation).

It is therefore not for the Council to reply to the question raised by the Honourable Parliamentarian.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1502/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Portability of bank account numbers

The portability of mobile phone numbers can be described as a success. In Belgium, tens of thousands of mobile phone users have taken advantage of the option of transferring to a different operator while retaining the same number. Now, increasing numbers of people are calling for analogous arrangements to render bank account numbers portable. This would enable customers to take their account number with them if they switch to a different bank.

What is the Commission's view of this?

Will the Commission take steps to secure the introduction of portability of bank account numbers? If so, when, and can it provide further details of its plans in this regard?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2003)

The Commission has looked at the question of the portability of bank account numbers on several occasions. At present, it does not seem possible to do with bank account numbers what has been done with telephone numbers. However, it may be possible to achieve the same objective by other means.

The Commission is planning in the near future to propose a new legal framework for payments in the internal market. The subject of portability has come up in the various discussion documents published during preparation for this project.

The following conclusions can be drawn from the comments received to date.

- Firstly, portability of bank account numbers is less useful in that the customers give their bank account numbers only to a limited number of correspondents, usually those who make payments to their accounts. Portability would not solve the problem of standing orders, for example;

- Secondly, portability is very difficult to implement because there is no real international bank account numbering system comparable to the telephone numbering system currently in existence. A bank account number in one country is not necessarily structured in the same way as one in a neighbouring country, nor does it contain the same information;

- Finally, in-depth studies carried out in the Netherlands and in the United Kingdom on introducing portability at national level concluded that the measure would be very costly.

However, the objective behind the idea of portability facilitating customer mobility so as to maximise the benefits of increased competition within the internal market should be pursued. It is probably in the field of mobility that initiatives could be taken making it easier to change banks. For example, the old bank could provide the new one with details of all automatic debits or standing orders so that there would be no break in service.

It is likely that the Commission will adopt a communication on a new legal framework for payments in the near future. This communication will probably deal with the portability of bank account numbers and customer mobility. As soon as it is adopted, a copy will be sent to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1233/03

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Closure of Euskaldunon Egunkaria

On Thursday 20 February this year the Basque newspaper Euskaldunon Egunkaria was closed down as a precautionary measure by High Court Judge Juan del Olmo. In an unprecedented act since democracy came to Spain, this judge, the Public Prosecutor and the Interior Minister himself drew up a joint press statement supporting the closure of this periodical the only entirely Basque-language newspaper because of alleged links to the ETA terrorist movement, based on some documents that were seized by the national police in the 1990s. More than a month has passed since these events, and five of the ten people who were arrested by judicial decree are still in detention, although no decisive and irrefutable evidence has been provided of their links with the terrorist movement. Moreover, some of them have accused the Spanish police authorities of torture, a detail which certainly does not make the path of peace in the troubled Basque Country any easier. This action against one of the communications media has greatly damaged the Basque language and culture and the citizens of this region, who are perplexed to observe once again a kind of action more typical of the Franco era which still haunts people's memories. The Spanish Government should not overlook or underestimate the demonstrations of support and solidarity that those who worked for this newspaper have received from various political groups, all kinds of associations, trade unions, religious communities and many others in the whole Basque Country, Catalonia and the rest of Europe.

The closure of Euskaldunon Egunkaria is of enormous significance and clearly affects a constitutional right, the right of citizens to information, enshrined in Article 20 of the Spanish Constitution and Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Does the Council consider that the Spanish authorities have violated inalienable principles of the acquis communautaire?

Does the Council consider that there has been a clear and repeated infringement of the presumption of innocence?

Reply

(2 October 2003)

The Council invites the Honourable Member to refer to the reply it gave to Written Question E-800/03 put by Mr Koldo Gorostiago Atxalandabaso on the same subject.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1963/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 June 2003)

Subject: Environmental pollution caused by the Greek Electricity Board's autonomous electricity generating plant in Mytilene

According to an inspection report by the Directorate of Urban Planning and the Environment of the Lesbos Prefectural Administration dated 8 April 2003, there have been 22 violations of environmental standards by the Greek Electricity Board's autonomous electrical power generating plant in the city of Mytiline.

Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to ensure that the Greek Electricity Board complies with Community law?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1856/03 and E-1963/03given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2003)

On the basis of the information available, it appears that Directive 85/337/EEC(1) does not apply, because the plant in question was already in operation before the deadline for transposing the Directive into national law. As regards the violation of the environmental conditions which apply to the plant, the incorrect application of the Ministerial Decision approving the operation of the plant is a matter of national law and is not necessarily covered by Community environmental legislation. In the absence of information indicating that Community environmental legislation has been breached, this is a matter for the Greek authorities.

However, the Commission invites the Honourable Members to send it all relevant information in their possession, to enable its departments to examine whether there has in this case been a breach of Community legislation, in particular as regards the combating of air pollution from industrial plants.

(1) Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2039/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Council

(19 June 2003)

Subject: Aid regime for nuts

Several districts in Catalonia are currently faced with a difficult situation regarding the production of nuts, especially hazelnuts.

On the basis of its legislative resolution (P5_TA-PROV(2003)0256) on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and support schemes for producers of certain crops, adopted in Strasbourg on 5 June 2003, the EP adopted Amendment 133 to the report by Mr Arlindo Cunha (A5-0197/2003) calling for an increase in the aid payable for nuts from EUR 100 to EUR 241,50 per hectare per year. Will the Council's adoption of the CAP reform plan take account of Parliament's vote of 5 June 2003?

Reply

(7 October 2003)

At its June session, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council reached political agreement on the legislative proposals concerning the CAP reform, on the basis of a Presidency compromise supported by the Commission.

Regarding the nuts sector, it was agreed that Community aid shall be granted for nuts for a maximum guaranteed area (MGA) of 800 000 hectares. The amount of the Community aid shall be EUR 120,75 per hectare per year calculated as an average at national level.

In addition, a national aid of up to EUR 120,75 per hectare per year may be granted by Member States.

In this way, a total aid of EUR 241,50 per hectare is available for eligible production in this sector. This is equivalent to the level of aid granted under the ten-year improvement plans (last extended by Council Regulation (EC) No 545/2002), although the aid is subject to different requirements and conditions. Compared with the Commission's proposal, the compromise provides for a higher total level of aid and for a higher contribution from Community funds.

This compromise was achieved in the context of a global package that covered a broad range of sectors and whose overall budgetary cost was subject to the limits set by the Brussels European Council in October 2002.

The formal legislative act will be adopted with the rest of the Reform package once the necessary texts have been finalised.