ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0969/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(26 March 2003)

Subject: Utilisation of SAVE II and Altener II funds by the municipality of Pisa

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian ministry of the economy presented its statement on the expenditure of funding made available by the European Union.

Its research showed that some local authorities were worryingly slow and inefficient in awarding projects.

The European Commission has also emphasised concern on various occasions at the under-utilisation of European funding by local authorities.

Considering that, in particular, some local municipalities such as Pisa are in great need of European funding to limit carbon dioxide emissions, improve air quality and combat pollution, can the Commission indicate:

1. whether the municipality of Pisa has submitted any projects under the SAVE II or Altener II programmes;

2. whether the municipality of Pisa has received funding for those projects;

3. whether that funding has been utilised?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0961/03, E-0962/03, E-0963/03,E-0964/03, E-0965/03, E-0966/03, E-0967/03, E-0968/03,E-0969/03, E-0970/03, E-0971/03, E-0972/03 and E-0973/03given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2003)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that for the Communes which are referred to in the questions: Ancona, Carrara, Firenze, Livorno, Macerata, Massa, Perugia, Pesaro, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena and Terni, one SAVE II project receives Community Support, while one submitted Altener II proposal was not selected for support.

1. The city of Pistoia has submitted one proposal for the Altener II programme in the Calls for proposals 2001. This proposal Resred did not succeed and was not granted support.

2. The city of Perugia has submitted one proposal for the SAVE programme in the Calls for proposals 2002. This proposal Awereness Programme for Policy Makers in Energy Efficiency Low Income Housing (APPEEL) was selected for support.

The budget for APPEEL will be spent during 2003 and 2004.

The contracting part will be: city of Perugia.

The City of Perugia participates as one of in all six contractors in this successfully evaluated proposal APPEEL. The contract number will be 4.1031/Z/02-025 The total budget for the contract is EUR 484 406 and the total Community support is EUR 242 203. The city of Perugia's share of the budget is EUR 42 000 and the Community support for the city of Perugia is EUR 21 000. The contract is currently being prepared.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2028/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 June 2003)

Subject: Greek customs authorities' unnecessarily lengthy procedure of collecting up EU citizens' passports at the border with Macedonia, a procedure that is also open to fraud

1. Is the Commission aware that in trains from Greece to Skopje in Macedonia and Belgrade in Serbia the passports of nationals of other EU Member States are collected up shortly after leaving Thessaloniki by a person who is not recognisable as a Greek government official, and passengers are merely told that their passports can be collected later from the police?

2. Is the Commission also aware that at the police station in the Greek border town of Idomeni, where the passports can be collected, nothing whatsoever is done with the passports and they are merely given back after a waiting period?

3. Does the Commission agree with me that maintaining a procedure, which was also in force many years ago at this border, involves the risk of passports being collected by unauthorised persons, or of one or more passports from the large number collected by an authorised person being lost, or of unattended luggage left behind in the train being stolen?

4. Are citizens of EU Member States in fact allowed to hand over their passports to a person who is not recognisable as an authorised official or are they entitled to refuse to do so?

5. What is the point of this procedure other than the fact that requiring passengers to disembark and wait generates customers for the duty-free shops in Idomeni station or that it delays traffic with a neighbouring country whose name is considered undesirable?

6. What action can the EU take to speed up and normalise passports checks at this border, in particular for EU citizens? What is the Commission doing to facilitate a solution?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2003)

The Commission has no knowledge of the facts referred to by the Honourable Member. It has asked the Member State concerned for information and will inform the Honourable Member of its findings.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0598/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(28 February 2003)

Subject: The EU and Brazil

What measures does the Council intend to take to strengthen relations with Brazil and Mercosur, following the recent election of President Luiz Inácio da Silva and the options for working together now opened up in his programme?

Reply

(21 July 2003)

1. The Council of the European Union, at the occasion of the election of President Luiz Inácio da Silva, had the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to continue its excellent relations with Brazil and to further enhance political dialogue, trade relations and economic links with that country. At the same occasion, the Council expressed the EU's confidence in the strengthening of the Brazilian economy

and its potential for further growth. It indicated it looked forward to working closely with the new Brazilian Government, also with a view to strengthening Mercosur, and reiterated the EU's commitment to continue to make further progress in the ongoing EU-Mercosur negotiations.

Several EU political leaders have had the opportunity of meeting President Lula da Silva since the beginning of the year, and have reaffirmed the importance they attach to the strengthening of EU-Brazil relations. The Council has taken note with great satisfaction of repeated declarations made by President Lula da Silva in favour of a more integrated Mercosur as well as of closer relations with the EU.

2. The Council has, at several occasions, renewed its commitment to intensify and deepen the existing political, economic, trade and co-operation relations between the EU and Mercosur. It has noted with satisfaction the progress made by the EU-Mercosur Bi-regional Negotiations Committee with a view to establishing an interregional strategic association to cover political, economic, trade and co-operation matters. The Council has also recognised that the association process should support and stimulate the development of Mercosur countries and contribute to the reduction of existing socio-economic disparities between the two regions. It was also agreed that the ultimate objective of the trade negotiations is the achievement of further effective access to their respective markets, on the basis of progressive and reciprocal trade liberalisation in accordance with the WTO rules.

With the above principles and objectives in mind, the EU negotiators will pursue their task with a view to reaching as soon as possible a comprehensive association agreement with Mercosur in order to deepen the political, co-operation and economic relations between the two regions.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0469/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Conversion to the euro

Now that the first anniversary of the introduction of the euro has passed we can see that the actual conversion process was fast but that people have still not adjusted mentally. Most citizens of the euro zone are still calculating prices in their national currencies.

The fact that payment is in euros only does not mean that people have forgotten the old currencies. The great majority of users of the new currency have yet to adjust mentally.

Does the Commission intend to make tangible proposals to try to solve the problem of mental adjustment to the euro?

Does it consider that the displaying of prices in both currencies has had a positive effect? Will it recommend this practice to future members of the monetary union?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the psychological switch to the euro of citizens is a gradual process. The Eurobarometer, a survey regularly conducted on behalf of the Commission, showed in November 2002 that 42,2 % of the euro area respondents calculate most often in euro when they purchase everyday goods. Conversely, 32,4 % indicated to still think more often in national currency. These rates drop significantly as far as major purchases (e.g. a house or a car) are concerned. In these cases only 12,5 % of respondents calculate most often in euro on average in the euro area.

The Commission acknowledges that a complete mental switch to the euro necessarily takes some time. However, in order to speed up this process the Commission has recommended in agreement with EuroCommerce in its recent Communication(1) to the sectors concerned to gradually phase-out the dual display of prices and to discontinue it by 30 June 2003 at the latest, while informing their customers well in advance of this change.

(1) The introduction of euro banknotes and coins one year after, COM(2002) 747 final of 19 December 2002.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1813/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(2 June 2003)

Subject: Portuguese workers United Kingdom

According to recent media reports the UK non-governmental organisation Citizens' Advice (CA) has this month submitted to a House of Commons committee of inquiry a report condemning the exploitation of Portuguese workers in the UK.

According to the report, thousands of Portuguese agricultural and industrial workers are being exploited by Portuguese and UK recruitment agencies, which use the link between employment and accommodation as a means of intimidation: workers put up with sub-human conditions through fear of being evicted from their lodgings.

They are reportedly housed in containers lacking any water supply, in caravans or in other sub-let council accommodation. All the dwellings are subdivided many times over and all bills are paid by the workers themselves. In Bristol there is allegedly a house shared by 27 people: seven to a room, with only two mattresses.

According to Citizens' Advice the problem affects all parts of the country but the situation is currently worst in East Anglia (where many farms and food-sector factories are located), in Northern Ireland and in Wales.

Can the Commission answer the following:

- What information does it hold regarding this state of affairs?

- What action has it taken (or is it intending to take) in particular vis-à-vis the UK authorities in response to the situation?

- Is it considering the possibility of offering the workers any kind of support if the situation continues?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2003)

The Commission is not in possession of the facts relating to the situation described by the Honourable Member. Whilst it deplores the existence of situations such as these, the Commission must point out that it cannot intervene unless the situation constitutes a violation of Community law.

It is not clear from the question whether the circumstances described fall within the scope of Directive 96/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services(1), which states that, with regard to certain matters, posted workers should enjoy the working and employment conditions applicable in the host country. However, accommodation conditions are not covered by these measures to protect posted workers, nor by any other Community provisions. In any event, it would be up to the national judicial or other authorities, as a first resort, to monitor the proper application of these rules where they are contacted by those who consider that their rights have been infringed.

(1) OJ L 18, 21.1.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/03

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council

(21 March 2003)

Subject: Pre-stunning of animals in Greek slaughterhouses

Could the Council confirm what checks are carried out on slaughterhouses in Greece to ensure that the procedure of pre-stunning of animals is being carried out in accordance with EU law?

Reply

(21 July 2003)

On 22 December 1993 the Council adopted Directive 93/119/EC(1) on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing, which is designed to establish binding Community rules on the subject.

Article 5(1)(c) of that Directive and the relevant Annex lay down general provisions prior to the slaughter and killing of animals, which the Member States are bound to observe, and, in particular, provisions concerning the authorised procedures and the specific requirements for stunning.

The Council would also remind the Honourable Member that it is not its responsibility to monitor Member States' implementation of Community law; this responsibility is devolved to the Commission by the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993, p. 21.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0313/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(10 February 2003)

Subject: Compliance with EU legislation

Could the Commission identify, specifying individual complaints, the relevant EU legislation, the type of action, and the date initiated, how many legal actions (i.e. letters of formal notice, reasoned opinions, referrals to the European Court of Justice) it has initiated against Ireland under Article 10 of the EC Treaty concerning Ireland's failure to respond to Commission queries regarding its investigation into complaints since this Article entered into force?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 2003)

The Honourable Member is referred to the annual report on the monitoring of the application of Community law for 2001, which the Commission drafted for Parliament(1).

For reasons of efficiency and effective use of resources, the Commission relies on Article 10 of the EC Treaty only as a secondary basis. It is used as the main legal basis only in the event of repeated lack of cooperation. That has not been the case with Ireland during the last three years.

(1) COM(2002) 324 final.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0220/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Drug-related escalation of violence in Bolivia

The situation in Bolivia vis-à-vis the demonstrations of indigenous groups that advocate the use of traditional produce such as coca leaf currently strictly regulated by the Bolivian Government should become of particular concern to the international community. In fact, over the last few days in Bolivia there has been a series of clashes between the police and army and the protesters, mainly farmers, who were demonstrating against the eradication of their traditional crop. According to Bolivian media outlets the situation is characterised by an escalation of violence that has led to at least 17 deaths, dozens wounded and hundreds arrested.

Is the Council aware of the nature of such an escalation in the confrontation between the Government and indigenous groups on the eradication of coca, and what measures is the Council enforcing or does it intend to enforce in its support to the Bolivian authorities in their crop eradication activities?

Does the Council not believe that the time has come to address the failures, and disastrous consequences, that prohibition is provoking in producer and consumer countries alike and initiate at the upcoming ministerial segment of the UN Commission on Narcotics, scheduled for 16 and 17 April 2003, a process of revision of the three international Conventions on Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances in order to promote a more effective pragmatic approach to the drug question?

Reply

(21 July 2003)

The situation in Bolivia to which the Honourable Member of Parliament refers has not been discussed in the framework of the Council. The theme of crop eradication and alternative development will be discussed at the forthcoming high level meeting on drugs of the European Union with the Andean Community on 26/27 May 2003 in Cartagena de las Indias as well as in a broader framework at the Fifth High Level meeting of the coordination/cooperation mechanism on drugs EU/Latin America/Caribbean on 29/30 May in the same city.

As regards a process of revision of the three international conventions so far no such an initiative has been discussed in the framework of the Council.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0812/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI), Marco Cappato (NI),Emma Bonino (NI), Marco Pannella (NI)and Gianfranco Dell'Alba (NI) to the Council

(17 March 2003)

Subject: War on drugs in Thailand

Taking into account the fact that according to information on UN Wire of 4 March 2003:

- the Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra affirmed that Thailand's month-old drugs crackdown will be stepped up, despite expressions of concern by the UN rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, Asma Jahangir, and others over reports that summary executions have been committed in the context of the campaign; he notably declared: The crackdown will become more intense, I guarantee Don't worry. (The) UN isn't my father. If they want to come, come. If they want to inspect, go ahead;

- the Thai Prime Minister also affirmed that more than 1 140 have been killed in the crackdown, which began on 1 February and is to last three months; police also said that as of Friday, 29 501 suspects were arrested in the crackdown; they said officers acting in self-defence killed 31 people and that drug gangs killed the others; a Ministry spokesman furthermore affirmed that Nothing is above the law in this campaign;

Did the Council express EU concern to the Thai authorities about the government-sponsored massacres in the war on drugs? Did it ask the government to stop these widespread killings that are contrary to all internationally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms?

What progressive measures will be enacted by the Council if the Thai government continues the massacre and ignores international requests to stop?

Is the Council aware of the fact that, like Thailand, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Kuwait, Iran, Philippines and Indonesia also apply the death penalty for drugs-related crimes, and does it agree that a way forward would be to amend the international conventions on drugs to expressly prohibit the death penalty, notably in view of the April 2003 UN meeting on drugs?

Reply

(21 July 2003)

1. The Council shares the Honourable Members concerns over the dramatic increase in drugs-related deaths during the Thai Government's recent campaign against drugs.

2. The Council has conveyed its serious preoccupations over the situation in a confidential demarche to the Thai government in late March 2003. The Council will keep the further evolution of this problem under close scrutiny, and will, if necessary, decide on appropriate reactions should the situation not improve.

3. The European Union has systematically conveyed its principled opposition to the death penalty, including for drugs-related crimes, to other countries in the region and will continue to do so.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0809/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 March 2003)

Subject: Violation of Community environmental legislation in Greece

Could the Commission give a figure for the number of presumed violations of Community environmental legislation in Greece and say which areas are affected? In which cases has it referred Greece to the European Court of Justice and in which other cases is it preparing to do so?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

On 10 April 2003, the Commission had 94 cases open against Greece relating to suspected or confirmed violations of Community environmental legislation. Of the 94 cases, 25 related to Community legislation on waste management, 22 to nature conservation and 21 to Directive 85/337/EEC(1), as amended by Directive 97/11/EC(2). Eleven cases related to atmospheric pollution, 10 to water protection, and 5 to other sectors of Community environmental legislation. The Commission has already initiated infringement procedures against Greece in 39 cases.

At present, the Commission has referred six cases to the Court of Justice, namely cases C-301/2001 (non-conformity of national measures transposing Directive 85/337/EEC into Greek law), C-83/2002 (failure to communicate the information required under Article 11 of Directive 96/59/EC)(3), C-119/2002 (the absence of a collection system or a plant for the tertiary treatment of urban waste water in the Thriassio region), C-351/02 (failure to notify national measures transposing Directive 1999/31/EC)(4), C-352/02 (failure to notify national measures transposing Directive 2000/14/EC)(5) and C-420/02 (the operation of a landfill at Pera Galinoi).

The Commission has also decided to refer four infringement cases to the Court of Justice. The cases were still being prepared on 10 April 2003. The infringements in question relate to the incompatibility of Greek legislation on the bird hunting season, the collection and treatment of waste oils in Greece, pollution in the Thriassio Pedio region, and the operating conditions of a power station at Linoperamata on Crete.

(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.

(2) Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(3) Council Directive 96/59/EC of 16 September 1996 on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT) OJ L 243, 24.9.1996, p. 31.

(4) Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste OJ L 182, 16.7.1999.

(5) Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors OJ L 162, 3.7.2000.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1256/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Subject: Establishment of the European Maritime Safety Agency in Galicia

Taking account of the corresponding demand which has just been made by the Galician Government, will the Commission propose that the European Maritime Safety Agency be located in Galicia, bearing in mind its strategic position for Europe in terms of intercontinental maritime traffic, following the accidents which have hit Galicia in recent years?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 2003)

The Commission has indeed received a fully documented application on behalf of the Galicien government, proposing to host in Galicia the European Maritime Safety Agency.

While there is no doubt about the value of this initiative, the decision of the Agency location remains a responsibility of the Council.

Pending a Council decision on the final location of a number of new Community Agencies (including the Maritime Safety Agency), the Commission has decided to host provisionally this Agency in its own premises in Brussels.