ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2850/98

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Reappraisal of energy-based medical techniques

There are a number of academic disciplines and fields of professional specialisation which do not currently receive adequate support from the European Social Fund, but which have considerable potential as sources of employment. In particular, the Homo Sapiens Academy of Viareggio (Italy) offers specialisation courses for doctors and psychologists on an energy-based approach to psychology and clinical practice, designed to provide a familiarisation with this area, and its implications for health, showing its many connections with the biological, psychological and relational aspects of human beings. The energy-based approach has always been confined to experimentation, and moreover, it is not an official field. However, the changed cultural climate has now made it possible to establish a body of knowledge with methodological rigour.

In view of the above can the Commission say:

1. whether there is any provision for measures to facilitate and/or fund the spread and adoption of these methods and courses?

2. whether there are any documents on this subject produced by the Commission or any other Community bodies?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 1998)

The distribution of European social fund (ESF) funding is handled by monitoring committees which make detailed arrangements for the selection of projects. As a general rule, advanced-level specialisation courses are not co-financed by the ESF. The Commission has not adopted any guidelines for monitoring committees as to the support of the discipline mentioned by the Honourable Member, nor is it aware of any documents on this subject produced by any Community body.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2681/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Threatened flood of refugees from Kosovo

It appears increasingly unlikely that a diplomatic solution can be found in Kosovo. Europe is consequently threatened with a flood of refugees on a comparable scale to the influx from Bosnia-Herzergovina. Appropriate advance planning would do much to simplify the situation in the event of a crisis.

Has the Council already discussed this problem and worked out ways of proceeding that would enable it to act instead of just reacting after the event?

If so, what form are the preparations taking?

If not, does it plan to make the necessary preparations in the near future?

What is the state of progress as regards the action plan on the influx of immigrants from Iraq and neighbouring regions, due to be published in autumn 1998? What specific arrangements will be laid down in that action plan?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3077/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Fines for road traffic offences

The Council's Working Party on the Schengen acquis is at present reviewing the Schengen acquis in preparation for the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, according to the media, work is in progress on a draft "Convention on cooperation in the matter of criminal proceedings for offences against road traffic regulations and the enforcement of fines imposed for such offences".

- Has the Council come across any plans of this nature in connection with the Schengen acquis?

- Does the Council know of any plans in this regard, and if so at what stage are they?

- What is the specific content of these plans?

- How is the problem of the differences between the substance and procedure of the regulations in force in the various Member States to be solved?

Reply

(20/21 December 1998)

The Council is not in a position to inform the European Parliament regarding draft instruments being examined within the Schengen context. However, the Council understands that the Schengen Presidency regularly informs the relevant bodies of the European Parliament on work in progress.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2780/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(14 September 1998)

Subject: Political detainees in Vietnam

Is the Commission aware that hundreds of political detainees are still in prison in Vietnam?

Is the Commission prepared to ask the Vietnamese government for information on the following detainees: Nguyen Dinh Huy, Pham Tuong, Bui Kim Dinh, Pham Thai Nguyen Ngoc Tan, Dong Tuy, Nguyen Van Chau and Nguyen Van Bien?

Is the Commission prepared to ask the Vietnamese government to release all political detainees?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(14 October 1998)

The Commission is not only aware of the detention of prisoners of conscience in Vietnam (a recent Amnesty International report puts their number at 70) but is, together with Member States, pursuing the matter actively. A list of prisoners of conscience (referred to as the Union list hereafter) has been drawn up and presented on several occasions, through Troika demarches, to the government of Vietnam.

Following the demarches by the Commission, Member States and like-minded countries, the government amnestied 5219 prisoners on 2 September 1998. An overwhelming number were common law detainees, but six of them were on the Union list. Furthermore, the Commission has grounds to believe that the release of some 3 000 more detainees is being prepared, and it hopes that more people on the Union list will be included.

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that Mr Dong Tuy was already released on 2 September 1998. All the others, with the exception of Mr Pham Thai Nguyen, are part of the Union list and their cases will be followed closely.

The Commission, in close coordination with the Member States, will continue its action until the full release of all prisoners of conscience in Vietnam.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/98

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(14 July 1998)

Subject: Funding of maintenance and repairs to Corinth Canal

The Corinth Canal, which is vitally important for passenger and goods traffic not only in Greece but throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, has been in operation for 105 years this year. Numerous factors affecting the canal mean that there is now a need for modernization, maintenance and repair work to make good the damage caused over all those years. In particular, the walls of the canal, which are specially clad to protect it from erosion by the sea, need rebuilding, otherwise, according to "Corinth Canal Ltd" - the public company set up by the government to carry out the work - the entire canal is under threat.

Since there are detailed studies on all these aspects (technical, economic and environmental), will the Commission say whether this project, costing an estimated DRS 25 billion, can be incorporated into a Community funding programme and, if so, which? What would be the appropriate procedure for that purpose and who should initiate it?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 1998)

The Commission can confirm that in principle the repair of the Corinth Canal can be regarded as a project eligible under the European Regional Development Fund. It will examine carefully any request for part-financing from the Greek authorities, taking into account the fact that it would be a project generating income and the legal status of the operator of the Canal.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2220/98

by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) and Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission

(16 July 1998)

Subject: Number of bovine animals eligible for premiums in Spain

In the Agenda 2000 forecasts and the proposals for regulations concerning the reform of the CAP, the Commission has determined that 649 896 bovine animals qualify for premiums in Spain.

Has the Commission's criterion been amended, or does it still intend to increase the current number of bovine animals eligible for premiums in Spain?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 1998)

The Commission does not at this stage intend to change its proposal on the reform of the beef and veal sector(1) as presented in March 1998. Moreover, the Commission has paid due regard to the Council's request, as expressed during the compromise negotiations on the prices package and related measures for 1998/99, that a decision be taken under Agenda 2000 on the entitlements to beef and veal premiums in Spain and Portugal.

(1) OJ C 170, 4.6.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2153/98

by Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 July 1998)

Subject: Acerinox and radioactive scrap metal

At the beginning of June 1998 a radioactive leak occurred (apparently of caesium 137) on the premises of the Acerinox company (in Algeciras, Spain), which specializes in the processing of scrap metal. As a consequence the Acerinox employees underwent a medical examination, as did those of two other companies (one in Huelva and the other in Badajoz) which receive scrap metal from Acerinox in order to process it as powdered steel. The Nuclear Safety Council detected the leak before 9 June but made no announcement of the fact. Environmental groups consider that Spain has contravened the international protocol on nuclear accidents by failing to report the leak immediately.

Will the Commission provide answers to the following questions:

1. Where did the scrap metal come from?

2. What was the radioactive source within the scrap metal?

3. What amount of radioactivity did the source contain overall?

4. How much radioactivity escaped in the form of a radioactive cloud?

5. How much radioactivity has remained in the ashes?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard On behalf of the Commission

(16 September 1998)

The report from the Chairman of the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) to the Spanish Parliament, forwarded to the Commission by the Spanish authorities, indicates that all the scrap metal processed by Acerinox came from outside Spain. The possibility of it being of Spanish origin has been completely ruled out.

It appears that the origin of the batch containing the source can be identified, though there seems to be little chance of identifying the precise origin of the source within the batch.

The radioactive source was a source of caesium 137. Its precise activity is as yet unknown, though an estimate from the CSN puts it at between 8 and 80 curies (Ci).

The escaped radioactivity represents a sizeable proportion of the source activity. The CSN mentions activities of between 800 and 1900 becquerels per gram in the dust caught in the smoke filter system, and a complete absence of radioactivity in the slag.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2748/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council

(8 September 1998)

Subject: European volunteer year for young people

Does the Council see the serving of a European volunteer year as a possible alternative to the military and civilian service obligations in the Member States? What steps is the Council taking in this respect?

Reply

(16 November 1998)

The Honourable Member will recall that it is for each Member State to determine whether any periods of voluntary service would or would not be considered as an alternative to legal obligations for military or civilian service. It is moreover stated in the decision of the European Parliament and Council establishing the Community action programme "European Voluntary Service for Young People"(1) that "European voluntary service activities are not a substitute for military service, for the alternative service formulae provided in particular for conscientious objectors or for the compulsory civilian service existing in several Member States".

The Council notes that during the conciliation procedure the Commission undertook to prepare a study on the current situation in regard to this question, which it looks forward to with interest.

(1) OJ L 214, 31.7.1998, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2929/98

by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza (PSE) to the Commission

(2 October 1998)

Subject: European Tourism Agency

In its resolutions A4-80/94(1) and A4-16/96(2), the European Parliament called for the creation of a European Tourism Agency. In response, Commissioner Papoutsis stated (P-2433/96(3) and E-1129/97(4)) that the creation of such an agency would be examined on completion of the first multiannual programme to assist European tourism.

Will the Commission say what steps it is taking to respond to the Parliament's calls in this regard, particularly in view of the regrettable absence of any mention of tourism in the Treaty of Amsterdam?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 1998)

As indicated in its previous replies, the Commission considers that the question of creating a European tourism agency should be examined after, and in accordance with, the decision on a multinannual programme to assist European tourism, to be taken by the Council. The adoption and implementation of such a programme continue to be the priority of the Commission in the field.

(1) OJ C 18, 23.1.1995, p. 159.

(2) OJ C 65, 4.3.1996, p. 34.

(3) OJ C 365, 4.12.1996, p. 115.

(4) OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 234.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2496/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Article 169

Will the Commission publish its rules of procedure governing the handling of cases under Article 169 of the Treaties?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1998)

The rules in question were published in the Introduction to the Tenth Annual Report on monitoring the application of Community law.(1) The Introductions to subsequent Reports record the improvements made since then.(2)

The Commission has reviewed the operation of these procedures and has taken new measures to improve them. Parliament will be informed of the outcome shortly.

(1) OJ C 233, 30.8.1993.

(2) Eleventh annual report on monitoring the application of Community law: OJ C 154, 6.6.1994. Twelfth annual report on monitoring the application of Community law: OJ C 254, 29.9.1995. Thirteenth annual report on monitoring the application of Community law: OJ C 303, 14.10.1996. Fourteenth annual report on monitoring the application of Community law: OJ C 332, 3.11.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3064/98

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

(2 October 1998)

Subject: Portuguese energy projects

The Commission has decided to fund 116 energy technology demonstration projects and 120 related measures, involving a total cost of ECU 110,5 million.

Could the Commission say whether the activities to be financed include any Portuguese projects or related measures? If so, what amounts have been allocated to the individual projects and measures concerned?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 1998)

In 1998 12 proposals for (type A) demonstration projects, including 16 Portuguese participants, were assessed by the Commission under the non-nuclear energy programme, demonstration part (Thermie). The total estimated amount of support for those 12 proposals is ECU 8,1 million.

In addition the Commission assessed 19 proposals for back-up type-B activities with a forecast involvement of 20 Portuguese organisations and a total amount of ECU 2,7 million.

The Commission will send a full list of those 31 proposals (12 type-A projects and 19 type-B projects) direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of Parliament. This will state the reference, title, cost, estimated support and the Portuguese proposer concerned.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2909/98

by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission

(2 October 1998)

Subject: Waste incineration plant at Casares

Has the Commission yet received a reply from the Spanish Government concerning the proposed municipal waste incineration plant and to the Commission's concern to ensure that waste going to the plant and dump would be disposed of without danger to human health and environment?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 1998)

The municipal waste disposal facility at Casares (Málaga) is not designed to incinerate this waste. The facility will consist of a plant for composting the biodegradable fraction of the waste and a repository for inert waste.

An environmental impact assessment has been carried out, and preventive and corrective measures have been taken in accordance with Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(1). A vigilance and monitoring plan forms part of this assessment.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3320/98

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(10 November 1998)

Subject: Conversion of the monastery of Aghios Makarios in Cyprus into a casino

It has recently been reported in the European press ('L'Alsace' newspaper of 17.10.1998) that the Armenian monastery of Aghios Makarios in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus is in danger of being completely destroyed and converted into a casino. The same publication refers to a confidential draft report on this subject examined by the Council of Europe and states that this extremely important Christian monument dating from the 11th century has been subject to constant vandalism since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

In its reply of 23.4.1998 to Question E-0968/97(1) by Katerina Daskalaki, the Commission stated that "it is aware of the facts" and that it "will also endeavour to address the issue in its discussions with the Turkish authorities". Will the Commission say once more whether it has made representations to Turkey on this matter and, if not, what measures it intends to take before it is too late, given that it is presently endeavouring to find means of circumventing objections to European funding for the invader of Cyprus, thus encouraging further arbitrary actions by Turkey?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 1998)

Since the Turkish government decided to suspend all political dialogue with the Union after the Luxembourg European Council, relations between the Community and Turkey have not been such that the Commission could raise the issue of the monastery of Aghios Makarios with the Turkish authorities. The Commission very much regrets the lack of contact with civil society in northern Cyprus in recent months. The current situation precludes Commission representations in defence of the cultural heritage.

(1) OJ C 323, 21.10.1998, p. 100.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2818/98

by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza (PSE) to the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Subject: Storage reservoirs in the catchment areas of the pyrite zone (Huelva)

In the wake of the disaster caused by the flood of toxic waste in Aznalcóllar (Spain), which has had extremely serious consequences for the Doñana area, does the Commission intend to urge the Spanish state to set up a second protection system for such reservoirs in other similar catchment areas in the European Union such as the pyrite zone in Huelva?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 1998)

The Commission will discuss the storage of pyrites at Huelva during the next "package" meeting on environmental complaints and infringement procedures to be held in Madrid on 12-13 November 1998.

The Commission will not fail to inform the Honourable Member of the outcome of that meeting.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2868/98 by Richard CORBETT to the Commission. Integrity of sites protected by the Habitats directive



Official Journal C 142 , 21/05/1999 P. 0050



WRITTEN QUESTION E-2868/98 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Integrity of sites protected by the Habitats directive Do actions by Local Authorities, such as new signposting systems to encourage traffic to use a particular route, which lead to a significant increase in the usage of a road passing through an area protected by the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC(1), constitute a development requiring an assessment of the impact on the site pursuant to the Habitats Directive? (1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3801/98

by Sérgio Ribeiro (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Breaking of the contract between Texas-Samsung and the Portuguese Government

Last week the semi-conductor manufacturer Texas Instruments-Samsung Electronic (TISE) informed its 748 employees that its factory at Maia (Portugal) would cease operations by 31 March 1999.

Quite apart from the devastating effect which this decision will have on the local community, the decision was stated by the company to be irreversible and it represents the breaking of contractual relations with the Portuguese Government which are based on a framework contract signed in July 1995 for the period up to 2004, under which substantial financial incentives were made available to joint ventures. Although the Portuguese Government had already known a week earlier that the company intended to break the contract unilaterally, it was the company itself which made a public announcement regarding the decision, whilst details of the contract itself have not been divulged on the grounds that to do so could jeopardise the negotiating process, in which the most important thing appears to be the repayment of the financial incentives offered to the company under the framework contract.

Given this situation, which is particularly serious from various perspectives and particularly from the point of view of the local community, would the Commission state, as a matter of urgency, whether or not it is aware of the framework contract, whether Community funds are involved and what precautions were taken to protect public money provided by either the Community or the Portuguese State?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 1999)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3151/98

by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission

(19 October 1998)

Subject: Comprehensive strategy for combating forest fires in the Mediterranean as part of Community civil defence policy

Given the views recently expressed in Parliament's resolution on the implementation of a Community forest policy which takes account of the specific nature of Mediterranean forests and establishes permanent cooperation between the Member States airborne fire-fighting forces, will the Commission say whether it is contemplating drawing up a comprehensive strategy for combating forest fires, particularly in southern Europe, as part of civil defence policy?

Such a strategy would bring about considerable savings on the purchase of the necessary fire-fighting equipment and would promote coordinated action, exchange of experience, technical know-how and information between the Member States, resulting in more effective fire-fighting and a reduction in the scale of the damage caused.

Will the Commission take the initiative to develop such a comprehensive strategy, bearing in mind that climate change is likely to increase the risk of fires in the Mediterranean?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 1998)

For several years the Commission has been supporting the Member States in the fight against forest fires. In the southerly Member States, in particular, self-training workshops have been held which enable experience to the exchanged and, since 1996, there has been a system enabling experts to be exchanged; Moreover, a system enabling information on risk levels to be exchanged between Member States every summer has been set up with Commission support.

The Commission was able to further the expansion of mutual aid between Member States in the event of forest fires when, in 1994, it was possible, thanks to its support, to finalise an administrative agreement on the common use of airborne fire-fighting equipment between Italy and France.

As part of the Community's current action programme on civil defence the Commission is prepared to provide additional support and to back-up any action enabling that mutual cooperation among the Member States to be improved in order to boost its effectiveness and reduce the impact of those disasters.