ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2337/99

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Potentially fatal health hazards arising from exposure to microwave radiation from mobile telephones

Recent research by Swedish scientists and other public health experts have shown that exposure to radiation from the use of mobile telephones causes serious damage to the human organism for example the development of carcinogenic tumours on the brain and the acoustic nerve, together with functional genetic disorders.

What measures and policies will the Commission launch with a view to ensuring the safe use of mobile telephones and the protection of public health in general?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2000)

The Commission has taken due note of concerns on possible harmful effects on health of electromagnetic fields.

On 9 March 1999, the Council and the Parliament adopted a Directive 1999/5/EC on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity(1). This lays down the requirements that radio transmitters need to meet in order to be placed on the market and be operated. It envisages that Member States may restrict operation for health reasons, e.g. by imposing certain minimum distances between the transmitter and the public.

On 12 July 1999, the Council adopted a Recommendation 1999/519/EC(2) proposed by the Commission on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields. This takes account of the scientific opinion of the International commission on non-ionizing radiation, supported by the Commission's scientific steering committee referring to established effects on human health of exposure to electromagnetic fields.

In this context, it should be noted that the extensive research done in Europe through the co-ordinated action of the COST 244 and 244bis projects over the last decade has not demonstrated any reproducible detrimental effects on health at the levels of radio-frequency emissions typical of mobile phones and cell masts.

If there is any adverse health effect, it can only be a longer term effect, which is as yet unknown. Therefore, research should further continue to measure such longer term effects. The results of current and future research in this area will be considered in the context of the reporting procedure provided for in the text of the Recommendation.

In the context of the 5th Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration, the programme on Quality of Life and Management of living resources foresees in its key action 4 Environment and Health specific research on the health effects of electromagnetic radiation and in particular epidemiological and biomedical studies to determine possible effects linked to non-ionising radiation, particularly from cellular phones and antennas (point 2 of the quality of life work programme(3)). Several projects issued from the first call of this programme will soon be launched.

(1) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.

(2) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(3) Commission decision C/99/493 of 4 March 1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2561/99

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: Jurisdiction of deposit insurance

Would the Commission please state what deposit insurance arrangements would apply to a UK depositor who placed sterling deposits via the internet with a bank currently advertised as First-e Bank, apparently the trading name of the Banque d'Escompte in Paris?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2000)

In order to give a precise answer to the question, the Commission would need to have some additional information about the facts of the case. However, on a general basis Directive 94/19/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 1994, on deposit- guarantee schemes(1) stipulates that Member States shall ensure that there is a guarantee scheme within their territory and that the Member State's scheme also covers the depositors at branches set up by credit institutions in other Member States. The Directive is also valid, by special agreement, in the three other European economic area (EEA) states; Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

If deposits were placed within e.g. a French institution, situated in France, the French deposit guarantee scheme would apply regardless of whether the deposits were transferred via Internet, the nationality of the depositor or the currency of the deposits (as long as deposits are in euros or one of the currencies of Member States). The French deposit guarantee amounts to 60 000 per depositor. It is subject to a number of possible exemptions, e.g. as regards the type of depositor, as mentioned in the Directive.

From 1 January 2000, branches of Community credit institutions situated in other Member States (and the three EEA states) are also obliged to offer the same deposit guarantee as their parent credit institutions. The credit institution and its Community branches are thus regarded as one legal entity. If one takes the example of a French branch situated in the United Kingdom, it must thus offer a deposit guarantee of 60 000, just as in France. This is a new provision. Previously, according to Article 4(1) of the Directive, such branches were not allowed to offer a higher guarantee than the

prevailing level in the host country. However, this clause expired at the end of 1999 and the Commission has not proposed any further prolongation in its recent report(2) to the Council and the Parliament.

The Directive is only applicable in Member States (and by special agreement in the EEA states). This means that deposits which are placed in a branch of a Community credit institution situated outside the Community (or the EEA), are not normally covered by the national deposit guarantee schemes. Instead, credit institution branches in third countries are submitted to host country rules.

(1) OJ L 135, 31.5.1994.

(2) Report from the Commission on the application of the export prohibition clause, Article 4(1) of the Directive on deposit guarantee schemes (94/19/EC); COM(99) 722 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2508/99

by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Council

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Trade

On 9 November 1999, following the Council meeting of EU Industry Ministers, it became clear that the difficulties currently facing European shipyards in general and Spanish ones in particular are largely due to the dumping practised by South Korea.

Why has no action been taken against the country in question, whose dumping practices are partly financed out of international funds?

Reply

(28 February 2000)

In its Conclusions of 9 November 1999 on the situation in world shipbuilding, the Industry Council shared the Commission's view that the shipbuilding sector is facing a critical situation world-wide with very low prices and a serious overcapacity caused by the Republic of Korea, which severely affects the European shipbuilding industry.

The Council also expressed its serious concern on the results of the Commission's investigations which indicate that contracts have been awarded in the Republic of Korea at prices below cost, thus causing damage to the interests of EU yards.

Consequently, the Council called on the Commission to pursue its efforts to establish a level playing field for the sector by immediately engaging the Republic of Korea in constructive consultations with a view to halting the unfair competition.

On the basis of these conclusions, a joint meeting between the representatives of the EC Commission and of EU industry on one side and the representatives of the Government of Korea and Korean Industry on the other side took place in Paris on 14 December 1999 in the framework of the OECD.

The two sides had a constructive dialogue on EU's concerns over the world shipbuilding market situation which covered supply and demand, over-capacity and low prices and the question of the financing of Korean shipyards in difficulties like Halla and Daewoo.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2478/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Clinic Clowns: projects to provide psychological help for seriously ill children

Over the last ten years projects, usually called Clinic Clowns and aiming to provide psychological and moral support for seriously ill children and adolescents, have been successfully carried out in various Member States of the European Union such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Austria. By placing the emphasis on humour, people including medical and non-medical staff give patients psychological and moral support in addition to the treatment provided by medical experts.

Organising and carrying out these admirable projects, which involve hospitals, universities, doctors, psychologists, entertainers and voluntary workers, is very costly. It has been proved that from the medical point of view too it is useful for patients, especially children and adolescents, to receive psychological and moral support.

Can the Commission state:

1. Whether it has already provided funding for this type of project, which is usually called Clinic Clowns?

2. Does it intend to earmark funds for European projects for the development of deserving projects of this kind in all Member States of the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 2000)

1. No, the Commission is not funding any Clinic Clowns project under its public health programmes.

2. In accordance with the provisions of European Parliament and Council decisions concerning public health programmes, calls for proposals are published annually in the Official Journal and it is at that stage that interested persons or organisations should indicate the projects for which they wish to apply under these programmes.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2615/99

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Agricultural subsidies and the environment

What plans does the Commission have to curb the payment of subsidies which support agricultural activities shown to cause ecological damage and to encourage ecologically positive farming methods?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2000)

There are three elements at the core of the Community strategy to encourage ecologically positive farming methods.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1259/199 of 17 May 1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy(1) applies to payments granted to farmers under support schemes in the framework of common market organisations. Under Article 3 Member States are obliged to take the environmental measures they consider to be appropriate (which may include support in return for agri-environmental commitments, general mandatory environmental requirements or specific environmental requirements constituting a condition for direct payments). Member States shall decide on the penalties that are appropriate to the consequences of not observing these environmental requirements (e.g. reduction or cancellation of the payments granted under the market organisations). Under Article 5 money not spent due to the non respect of these environmental conditions as well as money saved by Member States which make use of the option to modulate direct payments (Article 4) will be available for reinforcing a Member State's budgetary envelope for ecologically positive support schemes (agri-environmental measures, compensatory allowances in less favoured areas and in areas with environmental restrictions, afforestation).

Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development for the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee fund(2) (EAGGF) foresees targeted agri-environmental measures which are the only mandatory measures to be included in any rural development programme. By this they get a prominent role within the new rural development policy and have a particular importance in the Community's agri-environmental strategy.

Common market organisations also foresee environmental provisions. Some of them have been strengthened. In the new beef regime for instance, national envelopes now form a part of direct payments and may be linked to environmental conditions, and the extensification premium has become more effective by increasing the premia level and by introducing stricter environmental conditions.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2732/99

by Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Nicaragua: corruption and EU aid

Following the arrest of the President of the Nicaraguan Court of Auditors, Mr Agustin Jarquin, who had spoken out against serious financial irregularities committed by the present government, does the EU intend to review its programme of aid to the country without delay, pending Mr Jarquin's release, the reestablishment of proper institutional controls on the activities of the government and a thorough investigation of the above allegations?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2000)

The cases of corruption reported by the President of the Nicaraguan Court of Auditors do not specifically relate to funds from the international community. Nevertheless, the Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern about the events leading to the Nicaraguan Controller-General's arrest. The Commission considers that democratic institutions such as the Controller-General's Office are the basis for the rule of law and development in each country and should therefore be able to function without political interference.

For this reason the Commission fully endorsed the European Union Troika's request to the Nicaraguan Foreign Affairs Minister on 18 November 1999 to stress the European Union's concern about the situation. The Commission is delighted that the points raised by the European Union and other members of the international community probably contributed to Mr Jaquin's release on 24 December 1999, thus giving the authority back to such an important institution to control and verify the proper use of Nicaraguan public funds as well as funds from the international community.

In order to improve the control and proper utilisation of funds, the Commission applies a system for major projects using European experts in a management unit which supervises the correct and accountable use of Community funding, in accordance with the financing agreements. It also uses evaluation and monitoring missions to ensure the smooth running of projects and the proper use of financial resources, and the Commission Delegation in Managua plays an essential role in monitoring, making it possible to strengthen controls locally.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2205/99

by Astrid Lulling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 1999)

Subject: Searches carried out at the homes of Belgian frontier workers employed in Luxembourg's banking sector

Investigators from the financial section of the Brussels CID conducted searches on Saturday, 30 October 1999 at the Belgian residences of employees of the Kredietbank in Luxembourg.

A large number of frontier workers had already received from the special tax inspectorate in Belgium a questionnaire requiring them to list their accounts with the KBL, the amount of income generated by savings and the nature of the transactions carried out via these accounts.

Does the Commission share the opinion of the Luxembourg union of bank staff which denounces as scandalous and defamatory these actions which are an incitement to frontier workers to violate Luxembourg's rules on banking secrecy with which they are required to comply by Luxembourg law?

Does it believe that making criminals of frontier workers in this way is compatible with the right of workers to freedom of movement and the conditions of employment deriving from the labour law in the country of employment?

What measures would it contemplate, where necessary, to guarantee that the right of workers to freedom of movement is not obstructed by actions on the part of the authorities of the country of residence of frontier workers which merit the description of intolerable psychological pressure?

Answer given by Mr Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2000)

There are no rules on bank secrecy in Community law.

From the point of view of the legal instruments adopted by the European Union in the field of judicial cooperation on criminal matters, there is nothing that would prohibit the Belgian financial police from searching the houses of people working in Luxembourg banks. Again, there are no legal provisions in the acquis on cooperation in criminal matters that would prohibit the Belgian authorities from sending out questionnaires to frontier workers.

As these measures do not discriminate on the basis of the nationality of the people concerned, the Commission does not see them as obstacles to freedom of movement for workers.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2599/99

by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: ECIP

The ECIP (European Communities Investment Partners) financial instrument has received a very positive response from all concerned in recent years, with more than 2 200 actions being approved and funds totalling over EUR 250 million being made available.

But the current programme set up under Council Regulation 213/96 of 29 January 1996(1) will expire at the end of this year.

Can the Commission state the official position if there is one on the extension of this financial instrument?

If the Commission has not yet taken a decision concerning the future of ECIP, can it explain the reasons for the delay?

(1) OJ L 28, 6.2.1996, p. 2.

Joint answer to Written Questions P-2580/99 and E-2599/99 given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2000)

In recent years, a backlog of outstanding files has accumulated under the European Community Investment Partners (ECIP) programme. For this reason it was decided in early 1999 that the Commission would prioritise the use of its limited resources towards the closure of the existing contractual files, making outstanding payments, and the recovery of unused and reimbursable ECIP funds.

The Commission has recently decided to propose to the Council and the Parliament that the ECIP Regulation should continue for a transitional period of one year to 31 December 2000 to allow for operational follow-up of actions already financed and amendments to contracts already signed, and for technical assistance to ensure the completion and closure of ongoing actions. New projects will not be financed after 31 December 1999 and any financing requests which were not the subject of formal Commission approval before that date will be returned to the applicants.

In 2000, an independent evaluation of ECIP will be completed which will allow the Commission to define a more co-ordinated strategy for the various instruments intended to promote investment in developing countries.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/99

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: The state of the development of the Lyon-Turin-Milan-Verona-Venice-Trieste

According to forecasts concerning the construction of the TEN Lyon-Trieste route, work on this line should be finished in 2010. In particular, the Turin-Milan section is scheduled to be completed in 2006, the Milan-Verona and Verona-Venice sections in 2008 and the Venice-Trieste section in 2010.

This network, one of the 14 trans-European projects in the transport sector to be cofinanced by the Union, represents one of the most important components of the future development of communications within the Union and should also contribute to greatly strengthening links between Member States and the states of central and south-eastern Europe, tackling the problems posed today by the transport of goods by road, in particular the environmental problems in the Alpine region.

Does not the Commission believe that in view of the particular importance of this project, it would be appropriate to speed up its completion, with particular regard to the Lyon-Turin link? Can the Commission indicate the reasons why the main parties interested in the project have shown such little desire to hasten its completion?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2000)

The Commission has always very clearly expressed its support for the combined-transport Lyon-Trieste high speed train (TGV) project. That support has taken the practical form of Community subsidies (roughly EUR 120 million) granted to studies for the French, Italian and international parts of the Alpetunnel European Economic Interest Group (EEIG) since 1993.

Half of the financial support provided by the European budget has been earmarked for the international section, including the geotechnical studies for the tunnel, which has a cross-frontier base, and for the major studies of the interoperability between the French and Italian networks.

At the Franco-Italian Summit held in Nïmes in 1999 the heads of state and government stressed that the timetable required the EEIG studies to be completed in 2000. The intention, on the basis of those studies, was to take a political decision concerning the subsequent stages of the project (including the base tunnel).

It should be noted that, for the Torino-Trieste section, where 460 km of new line are planned, the preparatory work has already begun on the key nodes. Building work on the Torino-Milano and Padova-Mestre sections is to begin in 2000 and these sections should be operational in 2006.

The Commission attaches the greatest importance to reaching a political agreement on the basis of the studies already carried out, which would enable the international link to be provided in accordance with the timetable.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2826/99

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(17 January 2000)

Subject: Looting and trafficking in cultural objects of value in Kosovo

Press reports claim that instances of the looting of monuments in Kosovo and trafficking in valuable objects stolen from them are constantly increasing in number, while no effort at all is being made to protect and save them. Archaeological monuments dating from Hellenic and Roman times, monasteries and churches containing priceless relics handed down through the centuries are now defenceless against marauding looters. No effort has yet been made to track down the perpetrators or to protect monuments from looting and there is, therefore, an immediate risk that priceless cultural objects will be destroyed or disappear.

Has the Council taken any action to protect the monuments of Kosovo, which form part of the European cultural heritage, and what steps does it intend to take in the future to stamp out the trafficking in such objects?

Reply

(2 May 2000)

The Council is aware of the threats to the historic heritage of Kosovo. The question of the protection of sites and monuments of great cultural and/or religious value has been raised several times at Council meetings.

Article 151(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Community stipulates inter alia that the Community and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of culture, in particular the Council of Europe.

Implementation of this provision requires the Commission to submit a proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council.

On 28 June 1999, at the meeting of Ministers for Culture and Audiovisual Matters, the Council invited the Commission to draw up a report on the current situation in the field, and a list of the measures taken until then. The European Commission promised to do so by the beginning of autumn 1999. The Council also stated that it favoured the idea of extending the mandate of the Agency for Reconstruction to culture.

On 23 November 1999, it discussed the issue again on the basis of a report from the Commission on cultural actions implemented by the European Union, in the context of reconstruction aid aimed at Kosovo. This report contained proposals which addressed some of the concerns expressed by the Council.