ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624/97 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: VAT on sanitary protection

Is the Commission aware that there is widespread support both from retailers and customers of sanitary protection for women to remove VAT from these products?

How does the Commission propose to recognize these demands?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1997)

The Commission is aware that retailers associations often call for the abolition of VAT on sanitary products for women in the United Kingdom.

Generally speaking, the Commission has to stress that VAT is a general consumption tax which should, in principle, be levied on all kind of goods and services. Currently existing zero rates in some Member States are an exception to this principle. They are therefore only allowed on a temporary basis and for a restricted number of products. For the time being, the Commission does therefore not envisage to propose exempting from VAT (with or without refund of input tax) sanitary products for women. If Member States consider sanitary products for women to be goods of basic need, they may use the existing option for the application of the reduced VAT rate.

In fact, under current Community legislation Member States may apply a reduced rate of at least 5% to sanitary protection products (Article 12 (3) (a) and Annex H (category 3) of the 6th VAT Directive 77/388/EEC on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes - Common system of value added tax: uniform basis of assessment ((OJ L 145, 13.6.1977. ))). This arrangement is, however, an option only and as one can see from the table below the majority of Member States has decided to impose the standard rate on sanitary products for women:

>TABLE>

The current situation will be subject to revision in the context of the introduction of the new common system of VAT which will address the question of VAT rates harmonisation, including a revision of the list of goods and services qualifying for a reduced rate. More details on the Commission plans in this area are to be found in the appropriate work programme which has been adopted in July 1996 ((COM(96) 328 final. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2124/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Council. Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Safety tests



Official Journal C 102 , 03/04/1998 P. 0014



WRITTEN QUESTION E-2124/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (24 June 1997) Subject: Novel food regulation No 258/97 - Safety tests In the event of authorization being given for a genetically modified plant line pursuant to the varieties directive, following thorough testing of the change in its metabolites are all plants resulting from cross-breeding from this line tested for possible metabolitic change? Joint answer to Written Questions E-2112/97, E-2116/97, E-2124/97 and E-2142/97 (31 October 1997) The conditions for implementing Directives 70/457/EEC ((OJ L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 1. )) and 70/458/EEC ((OJ L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 7. )) and Regulation No 258/97 ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1. )) concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189b of the Treaty, as regards authorization and labelling procedures are specified in Article 3(2) of that Regulation.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2813/97 by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Chiropractic profession in Spain

The case of Penny Teshak DC was recently brought to my attention following her recent sentence of 6 months imprisonment in Spain. She qualified as a chiropractor in the USA and subsequently set up her own practice in Spain. Due to the fact that she has qualifications from outside the EU, she stands accused of practising without a licence.

Can the Commission explain why a qualified professional who is supported by the Spanish Chiropractors Association faces such an unjust sentence?

Does the Commission propose any action on a European level to curb such an outrageous court ruling?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (17 October 1997)

On the general question of pursuing the profession of chiropractor in the Member States, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answers to Written Questions E-2139/95 by Mrs Muscardini ((OJ C 326, 6.12.1995. )) and E-1706/95 by Mrs Banotti ((OJ C 311, 22.11.1995. )).

With regard to the specific case mentioned by the Honourable Member, it appears, from the information given in the question, that the person concerned started practising without obtaining the necessary authorisation, thus laying herself open to the charge of illegal practice and to the consequent penalties under the law of the host Member State.

The Commission therefore does not intend to intervene in this case, which does not fall within its sphere of responsibility.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3049/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 October 1997)

Subject: Green Paper on commerce

The Commission has published a Green Paper on commerce (COM(96) 530 final).

The commerce sector, the second largest in the Community, approaches the millennium facing several challenges which must be addressed immediately if it is to maintain its contribution to the economic and social well-being of citizens.

Accordingly, will the Commission:

1. set up a permanent advisory committee of retailers and consumers under the auspices of DGs XXIII and XXIV?

2. provide for participation by representatives of consumers and commerce on the Committee on Commerce and Distribution and the Consumers' Consultative Committee on matters of common interest?

3. regularly consult bodies representing commerce and consumers (Eurocommerce, CCD, European consumers associations etc.)?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (5 November 1997)

The Commission is aware of the need to involve the representatives of the commerce sector and consumers in its work, and for that reason it has set up two consultative committees - the Committee on Commerce and Distribution (CCD), composed of professionals from the commerce sector, and the Consumers' Consultative Committee, composed of consumers' representatives.

Whenever joint topics need to be discussed simultaneously by representatives of both commerce and consumers, the two committees hold joint meetings to exchange views and set out the two sides' positions and wishes.

This has been the case with all questions concerning the introduction of the single currency, for example as regards the search for a common position on the part of consumers and retailers on delicate matters such as parallel listing of prices, the date for the switch-over to the physical currency and, in general, the preparation of sales outlets for the provision of assistance to consumers. In the same way, the legal framework of payment cards has been the subject of exchanges of views between the two committees.

For that reason, the Commission does not consider it useful to set up a new committee. On the other hand, the Commission intends to continue the dialogue between consumers and businesses which started in December 1996. To this end, talks are under way between the Commission, the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), the European Bureau of Consumers' Unions (EBCU) and Eurocommerce, with a view to defining the framework for sharing information and improving awareness of the questions of common interest.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3347/97 by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Commission (22 October 1997)

Subject: Salary costs of officials

At the meeting of Finance Ministers in Mondorf on 13/14 September, the Netherlands requested a reduction in its contribution to the Union, claiming, on the basis of its own table of figures, that it was the biggest net contributor to the Union. The Belgian minister, Mr Maystadt, replied that this was difficult to determine, citing the example of the salaries of European officials which are regarded as expenditure for the benefit of Belgium, despite the fact that many officials undoubtedly spend or save part of their salaries in their own countries.

We know that the Commission refuses to consider the total contribution of Member States to the Union as an amount which should be received back in more or less the same proportions.

Can the Commission nonetheless indicate the total salary costs (regarded as expenditure to the benefit of Belgium) of the officials employed in Brussels? How many officials are there and what are their nationalities? Can the Commission give exact figures for the years 1995, 1996 and 1997?

Can the Commission release the table cited by the Netherlands? Does the Commission itself have concrete data and calculations?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (18 November 1997)

Total expenditure by the Commission on salary costs of officials and temporary staff in Belgium under the operating budget is given below.

>TABLE>

The Commission cannot estimate what proportion of remuneration is actually spent in Belgium. It only has knowledge of the part of remuneration it transfers to other Member States at the request of the officials and temporary staff concerned. In 1997, the average for such transfers stood at about 7% of total remuneration.

The breakdown by nationality of officials and temporary staff in Brussels is given below.

>TABLE>

The Commission has no knowledge of the table referred to by the Netherlands.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3033/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (1 October 1997)

Subject: Italian projects for the Urban programme

The deadline for submitting urban development projects under the Urban Programme for the period 1997-1999 expired on 10 January 1997.

What is the level of funding allocated by the Commission to Italian projects covered by this programme? What proportion is going to projects from the north-west region of Italy?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3013/97 and E-3033/97 given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (24 October 1997)

On 8 May 1996 the Commission announced its decision on how the financial reserve for the Community Initiatives was to be allocated.

The reference allocation for the Urban Initiative in Italy for 1997-99 is ECU 11.81 million for Objective 1 areas and ECU 6.40 million for other areas (1995 indexed prices).

In point 20 of its communication to the Member States ((OJ C 200, 10.7.1996 )) the Commission invited them to present operational programmes for financing under Urban. No allocations were made to specific areas of any Member State other than to split the amount allocated to each between Objective 1 and other areas.

The Italian authorities have sent a proposal for programmes in the cities of Trieste, Lecce and Catanzaro.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2962/97 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Commission (17 September 1997)

Subject: Supermarket delivery of groceries to elderly people in the EU living on their own who suffer from mobility problems

1. Does the Commission think that, in the EU, where demographic statistics show that the population is ageing and that some old people are suffering from mobility problems, attempts must be made to find within the free market sector ways of guaranteeing that elderly people may remain independent?

2. Can the Commission give some idea of how many supermarkets in the urban areas of the fifteen Member States have made arrangements for elderly people who suffer from mobility problems to have their groceries delivered to their door for a small consideration?

3. What measures will the Commission take to encourage the provision of such services in urban areas where nothing has yet been done to meet this requirement?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (17 October 1997)

1. Independent living for older people with mobility problems is certainly a priority in the Commission's support for European projects in the field of older people, and has been so since the European year for older people and solidarity between the generations in 1993.

2. The Commission does not possess detailed information on this issue.

3. The kind of problem raised by the Honourable Member does not fall within the area of responsibility of the Community. The Commission will however continue to support trans-European projects that contribute to independent living for older people with mobility problems, to the extent that the budget permits.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2941/97 by Luigi Florio (UPE) to the Commission (17 September 1997)

Subject: Violations of the rule of law in Italy

A few days ago Oscar D'Agostino, an Italian Sergeant in the Customs Service, was forcibly transferred to another region because he was considered to be 'incompatible' with his surroundings.

The real reasons for the transfer were his 'non-aligned' and 'inconvenient' views, since he had often condemned corruption in the Customs Service and had made no secret of his sympathy with trade union organizations unpopular with the Italian government and the left-wing majority which supports it.

This is yet another sign of the deterioration in respect for the rule of law in Italy which has been going on for some time.

Does the Commission not consider that it should take practical steps to ensure, throughout the Union, respect for the basic principles of law frequently referred to in the Treaty on European Union, failure to comply with which may seriously compromise the completion of the internal market?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (17 October 1997)

European law covers both the question of corruption and the protection of the basic principles of law.

As far as corruption is concerned, two instruments have been established by the Council and signed by Member States, namely, a Protocol of 27 September 1996 to the Convention on protection of financial interests of the Community and a Convention on corruption of officials of Community institutions and Community Member States of 26 May 1997. In addition, the Commission's communication to the Council and the Parliament of 21 May 1997 ((COM(97) 192. )) advocates the adoption of a comprehensive policy against corruption incorporating measures in the area of criminal law, as well as a number of measures which promote transparency and have an anti-corruption effect, namely concerning public procurement, taxation, company accounts, blacklisting and external assistance and co-operation. In individual cases, however, it is the task of the national authorities to take decisions.

Concerning the transfer of the person mentioned by the Honourable Member, it is for him to take the procedural steps before the competent authorities at national level so as to enable them to consider whether or not fundamental principles have been violated.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2751/97 by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Preparation of Finland's Natura 2000 programme

In Finland the Environment Ministry's proposal concerning the areas of countryside to be included in the Natura 2000 programme has been on display for the benefit of land owners and local authorities.

It is not clear from the proposal what restrictions on land use would be entailed by inclusion in the Natura 2000 programme nor is any definition provided of the specific areas to which restrictions would apply.

Does the Commission believe that clear restrictions on land use do not need to be explained either to local authorities or individual land owners any more than the area to which restrictions will apply?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (18 September 1997)

The Natura 2000 network was established under the so-called 'Habitats' Directive ((Council Directive 92/43/EEC, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992. )). This provides for three stages:

- each Member State will put forward a list of sites on the basis of scientific criteria in pursuance of Annexes I, II and III to the Directive (before June 1995);

- in agreement with the Member States the Commission will draw up a list of sites of Community-wide importance (before June 1998);

- each Member State will designate the sites adopted as special conservation areas as quickly as possible (by at the latest June 2006).

The Member States will introduce the conservation measures that are needed for the sites adopted when these are designated as special conservation areas (Article 6(1)). In addition, since these are sites set out in the list of sites of Community-wide importance, they will take appropriate action in order to avoid habitat deterioration and disturbances affecting protected species, and in order to subject any plan or project that is likely to affect a site to a significant degree to an appropriate assessment of its impact on the site (Article 6(2), (3) and (4), in combination with Article 4(5).

It is thus up to each Member State to decide precisely when it wishes to describe any possible limitations on land use in detail, provided that such action is in line with Articles 4, paragraphs 5 and 6 of the 'Habitats' Directive.

In any case the introduction of such management measures should not slow down Stage 1 - currently in progress in Finland - which must be based exclusively on scientific criteria.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2659/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Waste from cattle slaughtered as part of the 'BSE eradication scheme'

Britain's Environment Agency (EA) recently carried out some risk assessments on the disposal of material from the slaughter of cattle over thirty months old, which is being undertaken in Britain and Northern Ireland as part of efforts to 'eradicate' BSE. It has also undertaken some assessments of the impact of disposal of other cattle-derived wastes on the environment.

The 4 July 1997 edition of the newsletter 'BSE: measures taken by the UK' (a regular newsletter prepared by Britain for the Commission) states: 'The results show, in quantitative terms, that the disposal options available present no risks to human health other than the risks which are negligible compared to other risks in daily life'.

Has the Commission studied the EA assessments and, if so, is it satisfied with them? Will it be seeking an independent assessment of methods for disposing of cattle-derived waste in Britain and Northern Ireland?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 October 1997)

The Commission has examined the report cited by the Honourable Member. The report will now be submitted to the Commission's scientific advisers for an opinion.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2932/97 by Bartho Pronk (PPE) to the Commission (5 September 1997)

Subject: Fee for an establishment permit for EU citizens in the Netherlands

Has the considered opinion concerning the fee in the amount of 500 guilders for a residence permit for EU citizens, which the European Commission adopted as long ago as 10 December 1996, been forwarded to the Netherlands? If not, what is the reason for such a long delay?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (17 October 1997)

There has in fact been a delay in sending a reasoned opinion with regard to the issue raised by the Honourable Member because of the need to clarify certain technical points. This has now been completed and the reasoned opinion will be forwarded to the Dutch authorities in the near future.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2400/97 by Monica Baldi (UPE) to the Commission (10 July 1997)

Subject: Freedom of education

Italy is the only country in Europe which has maintained a serious form of discrimination, depriving its citizens of educational freedom. Italians are not allowed to choose freely between public and private schooling, given the cost of the latter and the lack of funds available to support it.

1. Is the Commission aware of this situation?

2. In the light of the fundamental principles on which the Treaty on European Union is based, the statements and conventions of international organizations and, in particular, the European Parliament resolution of 14 March 1984 on freedom of education in the European Community, does the Commission agree that this constitutes a violation of basic human rights?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (15 September 1997)

The Court of Justice protects human rights through application of the general principles of Community law and bases its positions in particular on the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties and its Protocols.

Within the Member States human rights and fundamental liberties are well protected by efficient regulating systems, involving appeal against abuse within the country concerned and/or outside the country through the mechanisms established by the above Convention, which has long been ratified by all the Member States.

However, under Article 126 of the EC Treaty the organisation of educational systems and the content of teaching programmes is the exclusive responsibility of the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2482/97 by Ludivina García Arias (PSE) to the Commission (16 July 1997)

Subject: Support for the activities of the associations of maritime regions, the coal industry and the textiles industry

Each year in the debate on the budget, Parliament repeats an amendment to line B5-411: Industrial competitiveness strategy for the European Union (Section III - Commission - Part B - Operating appropriations) adding the words 'to support the activities of the associations of maritime regions, the coal industry and the textiles industry, such as EURACOM and ACTE'.

Can the Commission provide detailed information on the expenditure which it has authorized in the past three years (1995, 1996 and 1997), the activities authorized, the criteria applied by the Commission in granting authorization and the procedure to be followed in requesting such funding?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (29 September 1997)

The Commission, in its capacity as the institution responsible for authorising appropriations shown under budget heading B5-411, is indeed aware of the Parliamentary amendment tabled since 1995 in the debate on the budget and has taken this into account when using the funds allocated. Accordingly, the Commission has responded favourably each year to the request from the association of European maritime regions by allocating a subsidy of ECU 100 000 in 1995 and ECU 100 000 in 1996. The amount to be allocated for 1997 is currently being examined in the course of discussions between the association and the Commission. The amount of the subsidy could be higher than for previous years.

As regards the textile and clothing industry, the Commission has provided cofinancing, over the last three years, amounting to some ECU 140 000 in respect of four projects conducted by the association of European textile corporations (ACTE) and the local authorities affiliated to ACTE.

As regards the other aspect of the amendment applicable to the coalmining areas, the Commission is ready to give favourable consideration to requests for financing in support of actions organised by the European association for coalmining areas (EURACOM) between now and the end of 1997.