ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1627/96 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (24 June 1996)

Subject: Submission of programme proposals under Article 235

Can the Commission state precisely the dates when programme proposals were made to the Council in relation to each of the Women, Older People and Poverty programmes and the precise date when full evaluation studies were provided to the Commission on previous programmes under each respective heading.

If such studies were not undertaken or have not been completed, can the Commission indicate this, together with the expected date of completion?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (6 September 1996)

A draft Council decision on the fourth medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for men and women (1996-2000) ((COM(95) 381 final. )) was adopted by the Commission on 19 July 1995. The medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for men and women (1996-2000) was adopted by the Council on 22 December 1995 ((OJ L 335, 30.12.1995. )).

The Commission has drawn up a mid-term report on the third medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for men and women (1991-1995) ((COM(95) 246. )). The final evaluation of this programme, which the Commission could only carry out after its completion, is currently being drawn up.

A draft Council decision on Community support for actions in favour of older people was adopted by the Commission on 1 March 1995 ((COM(95) 53. )).

An evaluation report on the 'Community actions for older people', 1991-1993, and the 'European year of older people and solidarity between generations', 1993, prepared by a team of independent experts, was delivered to the Commission on 28 February 1994.

A draft Council decision establishing a medium-term action programme to combat exclusion and promote solidarity (1994-1999) was adopted by the Commission on 20 September 1993 ((COM(93) 435. )).

The interim report on the previous anti-poverty action programme (so-called Poverty 3) was attached to this proposal. The final report for the same programme was adopted by the Commission on 27 March 1995.

Several evaluations of the Poverty 3 programme were carried out by experts (The lessons of the Poverty 3 programme by Pauline Conroy; The dynamics of the programme at half-way stage, by the central unit; Developments and achievements, by the central unit; The achievements of the Poverty 3 programme, closing seminar; Evaluation of Poverty 3, various experts; Poverty 3 Evaluation: The national and local experience, various experts, ed. Séamus Ó Cinnéide).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1544/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (17 June 1996)

Subject: Continuous improvement of bathing water in Greece

The Commission's 1995 annual report on the quality of bathing water in the Member States indicates that Greece has the cleanest bathing water in the European Union and that, in the few cases where pollution is occurring, the situation is progressively improving. There can be no doubt that this trend is partly due to greater public awareness and partly long-term measures within Community programmes, together with joint funding for investment to improve the marine environment. Since we believe that these efforts should be recognized, can the Commission provide the following information:

1. What projects does it consider are helping directly or indirectly to improve the marine environment (IMPs, first and second CSF and other programmes) and what appropriations have been earmarked for this purpose?

2. What other information can the Commission provide or what sources can it quote to show the extent of the effort made in this area?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (22 July 1996)

As the Honourable Member points out, the improvement in Greece's bathing water is the result of greater public awareness and long-term measures.

The Commission believes the improvement is due mainly to new sewerage systems and municipal waste water treatment plants, the installation of which was largely cofinanced from the integrated Mediterranean programmes, Community support frameworks and the cohesion funds.

Between 1986 and 1996, the total cost of related work in Greece was an estimated ECU 650 million.

In addition, the operational programme for the environment cofinances schemes to clear beaches of solid waste, which helps keep waters clean and resorts attractive. Similarly, the Greek coastguard has been equipped with two modern vessels, partly financed from the Envireg initiative, in order to combat accidental maritime pollution.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1556/96 by Josu Imaz San Miguel (PPE) to the Commission (17 June 1996)

Subject: Impact on agriculture of EU agreements with third countries

In view of the direct influence which the signing of certain agreements with third countries has on the agricultural sector and the fact that there is widespread ignorance within that sector concerning the substance of those agreements, could the Commission say what the situation is regarding the negotiations/relations or, where appropriate, the most recent agreements concluded by the European Union with Turkey, Egypt, South Africa and other countries located to the south of the Union, as regards the agricultural sector?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (10 July 1996)

The Community has concluded agreements recently with Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco and Israel.

With Turkey the customs union entered into force on 1 January 1996. Negotiations for mutual concessions on agriculture are under way following the decision of the Association Council in March 1995.

Euro-mediterranean agreements with Israel and Tunisia were signed in 1995 and with Morocco in 1996. These agreements contain a trade chapter with mutual concessions in the trade of agricultural goods. These agreements are currently undergoing ratification, and will in all likelihood enter into force at the beginning of 1997. However the agricultural package of the agreement with Israel entered into force on 1 January 1996 through an interim agreement containing only the trade chapter. Likewise some of the agricultural concessions granted to Morocco are operative since 1 December 1995.

Concerning Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon, negotiations are under way for Euro-mediterranean agreements following the negotiating directives adopted by the Council. These negotiations have not yet been concluded.

Concerning Algeria, negotiating directives for Euro-mediterranean agreements were adopted on 10 June 1996 by the Council, but the negotiations have not as yet commenced.

Concerning South Africa, negotiating directives for a trade and cooperation agreement have been adopted by the Council and the negotiations on trade aspects commenced on 21 June 1996.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1452/96 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Council (19 June 1996)

Subject: UN Fourth Conference on Women and Council of Ministers' resolution of 20.12.1995

What steps has the Council taken to implement its resolution of 20 December 1995 'Integrating gender issues in development cooperation'?

Reply (10 October 1996)

The Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 20 December 1995 on integrating gender issues in development cooperation laid down guidelines for the future policy of the Community and the Member States in this sphere. It indicates in particular a number of means and strategies to be implemented in order to put into effect, in the sphere of development cooperation, the political undertakings entered into at the Fourth World Conference on Women.

With regard to Community aid, it is for the Commission as the aid administrator to follow up the policy guidelines laid down by the Council.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1371/96 by Ilona Graenitz (PSE) to the Commission (3 June 1996)

Subject: Restriction of services provided in dental outpatient departments

In Austria dentists employed in outpatient departments are forbidden by law to fit patients with fixed dentures. They are permitted to perform other services, such as orthodontic treatment.

Does such a prohibition comply with the freedom to pursue an occupation and free competition within an occupation group?

Do similar restrictions exist in other Member States in the sphere of dentistry?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (31 July 1996)

Prohibiting dentists employed in outpatient departments from fitting patients with fixed dentures would not appear to be contrary to Community law. The Commission is not aware of similar restrictions in other Member States, but it is prepared to investigate the matter if the Honourable Member is able to supply further information.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1763/96 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE) to the Commission (3 July 1996)

Subject: Storage of radioactive material

Radioactive material is not infrequently stored near the borders of a Member State, for example in Ahaus in North Rhine-Westphalia.

What is the Commission's view of this practice, which can be found in several Member States, what steps does it intend to take to curb this practice and does it agree that Community cooperation is needed in such cases, in order to give the affected citizens in the neighbouring State an effective say?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1762/96, E-1763/96 and E-1764/96 given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1996)

All Member States operate interim storage facilities for radioactive waste, pending availability of final disposal facilities for certain categories or all types of waste. Member States are responsible for licensing and control of these installations, but protection of the population in the Member State and the Member States has to be in line with the provisions of the Basic radiation protection safety standards (Council Directives 80/836 and 84/467 Euratom). Permissible doses have been lowered in the recently adopted standards (Council Directive 96/29/Euratom) which has to be implemented in national regulations before 13 May 2000.

Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty requires that each Member State provides the Commission with data relating to any plan of disposal of radioactive waste when implementation may lead to contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State. In its recommendation of 7 December 1990 (91/4/Euratom) on the application of Article 37, the Commission proposes to include storage facilities in this procedure.

The proposed revision to Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. )) not only includes interim storage facilities but also incorporates more detailed procedural requirements on transboundary consultations where a project proposed in one Member State is likely to have a significant effect on the environment of another Member State. If adopted in their present form by the Council, however, these new provisions will still only apply to applications for development consent submitted to a competent authority on or after the date for transposition by Member States set out in the revised directive.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2285/96 by Raymonde Dury (PSE) to the Commission (27 August 1996)

Subject: European network 'Work and family life'

While the work of the European network 'Work and family life' has made progress - European prize for social innovation, working groups, national seminars.... -those carrying it out are encountering great difficulties because the balance of the first tranche (1994-95) has not yet been paid, nor a fortiori the first tranche of the second year of operation (1995-96). This is compromising all the activities, at a time when the third year of operation of the network (1996-97) is just starting, and could cause its collapse, destroying two years' work in the Member States. What will the Commission do to correct this compromised situation quickly and provide the necessary funding for the work in this sector?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1996)

The Commission made the final payment for year 1 (1994-1995) in early August 1996, following the contractor's submission of a complete and final statement of expenditure in May 1996. The Commission made advance payments for year 2 in August 1995 and early August 1996.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2007/96 by Miguel Arias Cañete (PPE) to the Commission (17 July 1996)

Subject: Olive trees in Greece

According to the information available to the Commission, how many olive trees are currently growing in Greece?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2006/96, E-2007/96, E-2008/96, E-2009/96, E-2010/96, E-2011/96, E-2012/96 and E-2013/96 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (9 September 1996)

Statistics for olive cultivation coming from different sources tend to vary considerably depending on the definitions on which they are based, and need to be treated with caution. However, on the specific points requested by the Honourable Member, the following figures may be advanced.

The total number of productive olive trees in each of the Member States in question, according to the official returns received by the Commission from the national authorities for the purposes of setting annual fruit and oil yields for the 1994/95 marketing year, was as follows:

>TABLE>

The average density of olive plantations in those Member States (trees per hectare) is:

>TABLE>

The average density thus varies considerably between Member States and may also vary significantly from region to region - or even farm to farm - within Member States, depending on the degree of local specialization or industrialization of olive growers.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2333/96 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (27 August 1996)

Subject: Timeshares

What can be done to protect consumers against unscrupulous companies selling timeshares in Spain which are not registered as companies either in Spain or the UK? There do not seem to be any provisions in the timeshare Directive to guard against such companies.

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (3 October 1996)

Directive 94/47/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 26 October 1994 on the protection of purchasers in respect of certain aspects of contracts relating to the purchase of the right to use immovable properties on a timeshare basis ((OJ L 280, 29.10.1994. )), sometimes known as the 'Timeshare Directive', aims, as its name implies, to regulate certain aspects of contracts relating to timeshare. It does not deal with general sales and marketing methods, which is an area going far beyond the question of timeshare alone. There is as yet no European legislation covering these issues, which remain within the competence of the individual Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1793/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (3 July 1996)

Subject: Implementation of Directive 91/492

Directive 91/492 ((OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p.1.)) lays down the health conditions for the placing on the market of live bivavle molluscs (shell-fish). The Directive stipulates that dispatch and purification centres must comply with its provisions by 31 December 1995. Since the main objective of the Directive is to safeguard public health:

1. Will the Commission say whether the existing dispatch centres in Greece meet the requirements laid down in Directive 91/492, and

2. In view of allegations that quantities of shell-fish are marketed in bulk and exported for immediate consumption on foreign markets (primarily Italy) without meeting the conditions laid down in the Directive, can the Commission confirm or deny this information and what measures does it intend to take?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 August 1996)

Directive 91/492/EEC set a deadline for the Member States to bring centres for the dispatch of live bivalve molluscs up to scratch. The Commission agreed with the Member States that the inspections provided for in Article 6 of the Directive would not begin until after the deadline expired on 31 December 1995. It has scheduled a series of visits to the Member States for 1996 and 1997 to assess the competent authorities' implementation of the health guidelines. The results of these inspections will be the subject of a report to the Standing Veterinary Committee. Pending that report, the Commission has no information on whether Greece's centres for the dispatch of bivalve molluscs comply with the Directive.

Directive 91/492/EEC allows shellfish to be dispatched in bulk from the harvesting area to a purification or dispatch centre in the same Member State or in another, provided they are accompanied by the origin document provided for in Chapter II of the Annex to the Directive. These products cannot be marketed until they have been packed and labelled in accordance with the conditions laid down in Chapters VII and X of the Annex. It is for the competent authorities to make sure that the rules are properly applied. Pending the above-mentioned report, and in the absence of any complaints on the matter, the Commission has no information on whether Community law is being breached in the manner described by the Honourable Member. The matter will, however, be accorded particular attention during the inspections scheduled by the Commission.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1547/96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (17 June 1996)

Subject: Storage of nuclear waste

According to the Macedonian newspaper, 'Devnik' of 18 and 20 May 1996, the national authorities are planning to build storage premises, ostensibly for radioactive lightning rods, but in fact for the storage of imported nuclear waste. It would appear, moreover, that this is being done with the cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The newspaper also quotes ecological sources as saying that no radioactivity checks were carried out on the imported material.

Given the sensitivity of public opinion to the transport and storage of radioactive waste and the failure to consider the views of neighbouring countries, what immediate and longer-term measures can the Commission take to prevent Macedonia from becoming a radioactive disposal site?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (6 September 1996)

The answer to the Honourable Member's question will very much depend on the location of the reported radioactive waste store within or outside the European Union. Information on this and, if possible, on the nature and origin of the wastes involved, would enable the Commission to give a more specific response to the question raised.

However, it may already be noted that, supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste between Member States and into and out of the Community are covered by Council Directive 92/3/Euratom of 3 February 1992 ((OJ L 35, 12.2.1992. )) and are subject to a system of prior authorization. Also, the storage of radioactive waste on the territory of a Member State must meet the requirements of Directive 80/836/Euratom ((OJ L 246, 17.9.1980. )) laying down basic safety standards in accordance with Article 30 of the Euratom Treaty. In addition, installations solely designed for the permanent storage or final disposal of radioactive waste in the Community must be subject to an assessment under Article 4 of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1907/96 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARE) to the Commission (11 July 1996)

Subject: Fulfilment of obligations concerning military service

Certain provisions of the Staff Regulations specify that the candidate must have fulfilled obligations concerning military service.

Can the Commission indicate how many applications are not taken further on the basis of this criterion?

Does it consider that this condition must be retained in the Staff Regulations, given that the non-completion of military service may represent a political stance? A rejection on the basis of this criterion would therefore be an infringement of the principle of equality.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1996)

The status of applicants for general competitions as regards military service obligations is determined on the basis of a statement signed on the applicant's honour in the application form. No applicant who completes the application form in accordance with the instructions given in the Official Journal is rejected on the basis of the criteria mentioned by the Honourable Member. Supporting documents must be provided only on recruitment. The Commission has no detailed statistics on this specific point, but in recent years no successful candidate has been rejected on the basis of the provisions in question.

Among the conditions of recruitment set out in Article 28 of the Staff Regulations of Officials and Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the Communities, paragraph (b) provides that an official may be appointed only on condition that 'he has fulfilled any obligations imposed on him by the laws concerning military service'. This provision can in no way be interpreted that only applicants who have done military service are eligible for appointment as officials.

The Commission accordingly feels that no change should be made in the provision of the Staff Regulations whereby an applicant is required merely to comply with national laws to which he is subject with regard to military service.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1703/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (25 June 1996)

Subject: Combined transport

The aim of the proposal for a Council Directive (COM(95)0377 ((OJ C 253, 29.9.1995, p. 22. ))) amending Council Regulation (EEC) 1107/70 ((OJ L 130, 15.6.1970, p. 1. )) on the granting of aids for transport by rail, road and inland waterway is to extend the validity of the aid system for combined transport and to amend a number of procedural aspects.

The inequality of distribution, by mode and by type of use, of infrastructure charges as well as the insufficient allocation of social costs in transport prices operates against non-road modes of transport and therefore against combined transport. In view of this situation it is necessary to extend the existing mechanism of support for intermodal services and take account of the diversity of the national situations and to permit Member States, pursuant to the principle of subsidiarity, to select the form of aid most suitable and in conformity with national priorities.

The proposal therefore includes the possibility of national aid for combined transport infrastructure, transfer facilities between modes and specialized equipment for intermodal transport.

Will the Commission ensure that Regulation 1107/70 is not confined to road, road/rail and inland waterway transport but is extended to maritime transport (cabotage)?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (13 September 1996)

Regulation (EEC) No 1107/70 ((OJ L 130, 15.6.1970. )) is only applicable to aid granted for transport by rail, road and inland waterway. In its current form, the Regulation cannot be used to clear state aid to maritime combined transport operations.

The revision of the Regulation currently proposed by the Commission, as far as it concerns combined transport, is not intended to extend the scope of the Regulation to maritime operations.

This is not to say that under current law, state aid to maritime transport to foster combined transport links is illegal. Rather, it has to be seen on a case by case basis to establish whether in particular instances, aid can be deemed to be in the common interest within the meaning of Article 92(3) (c) of the EC Treaty.