ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0267/02

by Christopher Beazley (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 February 2002)

Subject: Preparation for the European Council meeting in Barcelona

The 2000 Lisbon European Council called on the Member States to ensure that all schools in the Union have access to the Internet and multimedia resources by the end of 2001. Was this target achieved, and how is the Commission monitoring progress?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2002)

Most of the targets set by the Lisbon European Council (23 and 24 March 2000) were embedded in the eEurope 2002 Action Plan which was endorsed by the Feira European Council (19

and 20 June 2000). The Action Plan identifies key measures in 11 priority areas. Targets in the field of education are covered by the priority area European youth into the digital age.

The follow-up of the implementation of the eEurope targets is based on the benchmarking of national progress according to a set of indicators agreed by the Council of Ministers. Indicators related to youth in the digital age focus on the level of penetration and usage of computers and the Internet in schools.

The data are collected via annual Eurobarometer sample surveys in the 15 Member States. Two Eurobarometer surveys were carried out in this context between February and May 2001, covering headteachers and teachers respectively. The main results are presented in a Communication on eEurope 2002 benchmarking which was adopted by the Commission on 5 February 2002(1). A more in-depth analysis of benchmarking results in the field of education can be found in a Commission staff working document of 2 October 2001(2).

The 2001 surveys pointed at a diversity of situations and approaches regarding the development and usage patterns of computers and the Internet from one Member State to another. However, the surveys suggested that the development of new technologies is a priority in all Member States. Furthermore, overall figures were encouraging, suggesting that Member States were in a position to meet the eEurope target of providing all schools in the Union with access to the Internet and multimedia resources by the end of 2001.

The situation regarding access to multimedia resources in May 2001 was as follows:

- almost all Union schools (94 %) used computers for education: 12 Member States were above 90 % of schools equipped with computers for educational use;

- about nine out of 10 Union schools (89 %) had an Internet connection: 10 Member States were above 90 % of on-line schools;

- however, pupils did not have access to the Internet in all schools that were on-line: they had access to on-line computers in 80 % of Union schools.

Updated figures will be made available by the Spring of 2002 based on a second series of surveys to be carried out in February 2002.

(1) COM(2002) 62.

(2) SEC(2001) 1583.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0603/02

by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 March 2002)

Subject: Closure of Lear group factory (Lleida province, Spain)

The factory of the multinational group Lear in Cervera (Lleida/Lérida province, Spain) appears certain to close in the near future.

This factory has been paying the lowest possible wages for the metal sector. 80 % of its workers are women. Given above-average profit levels in excess of EUR 300 million over the last seven years, the decision to cease operations may be considered a clear case of a measure that is not and cannot be justified in social terms.

What measures are envisaged to ensure that decisions of this nature are not made in the face of the rights of workers and, more generally, of the less-favoured strata and of regions and communities for whom establishments such as this are the main source of employment?

What measures have been decided in this specific case?

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2002)

Several Community Directives lay down procedures for informing and consulting workers' representatives that may be applicable to closures of enterprises: Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies(1) and Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees(2). Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community Joint declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on employee representation(3) will supplement the Community provisions in this area.

However, the material requirements that enterprises need to meet when they decide to close down production units are not covered by any Community instrument. Nevertheless, on 15 January 2002 the Commission decided to launch a Community-level consultation of the social partners on anticipating and managing change: a dynamic approach to the social aspects of corporate restructuring. In so doing, the Commission is inviting the social partners to engage in a dialogue on this important topic, including the question of strengthening the adaptability and employability of workers, especially as far as vocational retraining is concerned.

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.

(2) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994.

(3) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0914/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 April 2002)

Subject: Problems in the electronic submission of tax declarations through Taxisnet

In response to my previous questions (E-1802/98(1), E-0044/99(2) and P-0147/00(3)) the Commission has assured me that implementation of the TAXIS system which is co-funded by the Community is progressing smoothly. Last week the General Secretariat for Information Systems announced that it would not accept any new requests for registration for the electronic submission of tax declarations owing to various problems that had arisen in the operation of the system.

1. Is the Commission still satisfied with the progress of the project?

2. What was the original budget of the project and what is the present budget?

3. What was the original timetable for completion of the project and when is it now scheduled to be completed?

(1) OJ C 13, 18.1.1999, p. 88.

(2) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999, p. 140.

(3) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 186.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2002)

The TAXIS project has been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Greek authorities under the Operational Programme for the Modernisation of the Public Administration in the framework of the Community Support Framework (CSF) 1994-1999 for Greece.

This project was adopted during the 1st Monitoring Committee meeting in November 1994 with a total budget of 50 160 000. The implementation period foreseen was until October 1998.

However, considering the highly complex nature of the project it was agreed to extend the implementation period originally foreseen until the first semester of 2001. Its total budget was adjusted to 59 691 031, in order to cover a number of additional software applications.

The Monitoring Committee of the Operational Programme has informed the Commission that implementation of the TAXIS project as a whole has already been completed in the first semester of 2001 according to the timetable agreed.

A full implementation report for the Operational Programme as a whole and the TAXIS project in particular is expected by the Commission before the end of June 2002. This report that will contain qualitative and quantitative data will be presented by the Greek authorities on the occasion of the presentation of the final payment request and the closure of the programme.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0078/02

by Ulrich Stockmann (PSE) to the Commission

(25 January 2002)

Subject: Possible closure of the Ammendorf/Halle (Saale) railway carriage factory

On 12 November 2001 the Canadian rail vehicle manufacturer Bombardier announced the closure of the Ammendorf railway carriage factory in Halle (Saale) in Saxon-Anhalt, threatening the loss of almost 1000 jobs.

The background is that after German reunification the successor to Treuhand, BVS, after various unsuccessful attempts at privatisation, sold Deutsche Waggonbau AG which included the Ammendorf works, to a US investment company, which two years later sold Deutsche Waggonbau AG to the Canadian rail vehicle company Bombardier.

Was any state aid approved for the Ammendorf works, and if so, how much?

Did the Ammendorf works receive financial support from European (aid) programmes, and if so, how much?

If the works are closed down, do any subsidies have to be repaid?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 February 2002)

On the basis of information presently available, the Commission can not determine whether state aid has been awarded to the Ammendorf railway carriage factory in Halle (Saale) in Saxon-Anhalt. It can, however, not be excluded that state aid has been awarded under the special Treuhand aid schemes in the context of the privatisation process of companies in the New Bundesländer or under regional aid schemes approved by the Commission. If aid to the company was granted in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Commission's decisions to approve these schemes, no individual notification for aid measures to the Ammendorf works was required.

State aid awarded outside the scope of approved aid schemes has to be notified individually by the Member State to the Commission as ad-hoc aid. In the New Länder ad-hoc aid measures frequently had the form of rescue and restructuring aid for companies in difficulty. The German authorities have never notified such measures for the Ammendorf works.

As the Commission is not aware whether any aid has been granted to the company and under which conditions, it cannot comment on the question whether any subsidies have to be repaid if the works are to be closed down.

In the light of the questions submitted the Commission has requested, in accordance with the EC Treaty provisions on state aid, the German authorities to provide full information on financial support, including support from European programmes, awarded to this company. This information should enable the Commission to determine whether Community rules have been fully observed.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0577/02

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 March 2002)

Subject: Illegal imports of domestic animals into the European Union

According to newspaper reports, a large number of domestic animals have been imported illegally into the European Union in recent years, mainly from eastern Europe. These animals are then sold on without complying with basic health and hygiene standards, leading to an increase in animal mortality and health hazards for consumers.

What measures will the Commission take in future to halt this illegal trade and enhance the quality of life of domestic animals?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2002)

The health conditions applying to live animals imported into the territory of the Community are laid down in various Council directives.

With regard to cats and dogs, which seem to be the main focus of the question, these conditions are laid down in Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC(1), particularly in its Articles 10 and 16.

The general principles governing checks to be carried out on these animals when they enter the territory of the EU are also set out in Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC(2). This Directive particularly states that animals should be subject to systematic checks at the point of entry into the Community, at a border inspection post.

In general terms, whilst the initiative for Community legislation lies with the Commission, its implementation is the responsibility of the authorities in the Member States. It is therefore up to the national authorities to ensure the correct implementation of the Community rules in force, and to take all necessary measures to tackle illegal imports and fraud.

It would be useful for the Commission to have more detailed information on the circumstances of the illegal imports being reported here so that it can properly look into whether the Member States concerned are complying with the obligations to which they are subject.

(1) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992.

(2) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1087/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 April 2002)

Subject: Progress of the Regional Operational Programmes in Greece

It is clear from the progress made to date that there are teething problems in starting implementation of individual measures and programmes included in the Regional Operational Programmes of the third CSF in Greece. This delay is linked both to the two years that have elapsed since the theoretical start of the third CSF and the implementation of the national (sectoral) programmes, where progress is less slow.

1. What are the reasons for this delay?

2. When does the Commission believe that the situation will be resolved?

3. Does the Commission not believe that because of this delay there may in the future be problems regarding the overall progress of the third CSF in Greece?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2002)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1090/02

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 April 2002)

Subject: Referral of Member States to the European Court of Justice for failure to apply Directive 98/84/EC

The Commission has decided to refer Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg and Spain to the European Court of Justice for their failure to introduce national measures to implement Directive 98/84/EC(1) concerning television and radio broadcasting services provided to the public on a paying basis.

Are there any figures on the numbers of illegal decoders in the above countries?

(1) OJ L 320, 28.11.1998, p. 54.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 2002)

Directive 98/84/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 1998 on the legal protection of services based on, or consisting of, conditional access, aims to provide legal protection against piracy to broadcasting services as well as information society services protected by conditional access. Illicit devices under this Directive are not only illegal decoders, but also any other hardware or software device required to get unauthorised access to the protected service, such as pirate smart cards.

From the consultation of the main market players, which is taking place in the context of the preparation of the first report on the implementation of the Directive, the Commission has got indications that piracy of pay-services is still substantial. Nevertheless, there are no reliable statistics available on the number of operational illicit devices. The Commission intends to elaborate on this phenomenon in the upcoming report.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0869/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(3 April 2002)

Subject: Pesticides in ground water

Greenpeace in Sweden reported on 22 February 2002 that the Swedish National Chemicals Inspectorate had written a letter to the Commission in which it retreats from the principle that pesticides should not be allowed to leak into ground water. For over ten years, Sweden has argued that pesticides constitute an unacceptable risk if they reach ground water. However, according to the Inspectorate's letter to the Commission, Sweden is now prepared to accept EU guidelines which allow degradation products in ground water. It is accepted that substances believed to be harmless reach ground water. History shows, however, that it is difficult to predict which substances are dangerous.

Can the Commission confirm that the Swedish National Chemicals Inspectorate has changed its standpoint and does the Commission consider that it is possible, with 100 % certainty, to establish that certain substances are harmless if they reach ground water?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2002)

The Commission cannot speak for the Swedish National Chemicals Inspectorate. However, the Commission is not aware of any change in the position of the Inspectorate of the nature suggested by the Honourable member.

The Commission considers that it is possible, on the basis of state of the art scientific assessments, to identify levels of exposure to individual substances, which pose no unacceptable risk to consumers. This is reflected in many areas of Community legislation including the Drinking Water Directive, (Council Directive 75/440/EEC of 16 June 1975 concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the Member States(1)), which sets maximum concentration limits for many compounds including copper, which is a pesticidal active substance and certain classes of chlorinated hydrocarbons, which do also occur as degradation products of pesticides.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0478/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2002)

Subject: Treatment centre for solid urban waste at Gomacello (Salamanca, Spain)

A project to build a solid urban waste treatment centre at Gomacello (Salamanca) is the process of being approved. This project is encountering strong local opposition focused on the Collective against the Gomacello waste dump.

This group has denounced the fact that:

- there are better alternative locations for the waste dump, which have been rejected in order to give priority to its location in Gomacello, by means of an irregular reassessment of the land, originally intended for agricultural use (ideal for the cultivation of Armuña lentils, which have a registered designation of origin);

- a proper procedure of public information, as laid down in Community legislation, has not been carried out, whilst the complaints submitted by those affected have mostly been ignored;

- the statement of environmental impact is largely inadequate, according to the provisions of Directive 85/337/EEC(1) and subsequent amendments.

In view of the above, can the Commission say whether the project for the solid urban waste treatment plant at Gomacello is receiving any kind of Community funding?

Does the Commission consider that the installation of the plant in its present form complies with European Union legislation, in particular as regards public access to environmental information and the environmental impact assessment?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2002)

The Spanish authorities have sent the Commission an application for part-financing from the Cohesion Fund for a project for a centre for the treatment of solid urban waste (Centro de Tratamiento de Residuos Urbanos de Gomecello) in the province of Salamanca.

The Commission recently received the further information it had requested from the national authorities, concerning in particular whether or not an environmental impact assessment had been carried out in accordance with Council Directive 97/11/EC amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(1). The Commission will take no decision on part-financing until it has thoroughly considered this information.

The Commission would also point out that, under Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 establishing a Cohesion Fund(2), any project receiving part-financing from the Fund must comply with Community law, including law on the protection of the environment.

The facts referred to by the Honourable Member do not enable the Commission to assess compliance with the obligations imposed by Council Directive 90/313/EEC on the freedom of access to information on the environment(3). It would also point out that citizens' rights in this respect are protected by national law on freedom of information.

(1) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2) OJ L 130, 25.5.1994, as amended by Regulations (EC) Nos 1264/1999 and 1265/1999, OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(3) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0320/02

by Christopher Beazley (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Preparations for the European Council meeting in Barcelona

The 2000 Lisbon European Council called on the Council and the Commission, together with the Member States, where appropriate, to facilitate the creation by the end of 2001 of a very high-speed transeuropean network for electronic scientific communications, with EIB support, linking research institutions and universities, as well as scientific libraries, scientific centres and, progressively, schools. Was this target met?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2002)

The Commission, in co-operation with the Member States, welcomes the fact that the above stated goal of the 2000 European Council was reached in time, moving Europe's high-speed transeuropean network for research into a very good positioning in global terms.

The interconnection of the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Europe has a very high political importance as it constitutes one of the major building blocks for the Next Generation Internet and the foundation for the European Research Area (ERA).

In this context, Europe has since 1 November 2001 a fully operational trans-european network (GEANT) running at 10 gigabit per second (Gbps) and interconnecting thirty two (32) NRENs. This corresponds to an increased factor of sixteen times since 2000.

In parallel the NRENs have been upgraded and thus, globally, the access capacities of all European research institutes and universities has been significantly increased.

The Honourable Member will find in the annex which is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat useful data that shows that Europe is in a very competitive position in international terms.

For highly demanding research communities (e.g. CERN, European Molecular Biology Laboratory), complementary experimental GRIDs infrastructures are also being deployed.

Connectivity for schools is handled differently in the various Member States but in many cases is provided by the NREN.

The co-operation with the European Investment Bank (EIB) resulted in the signing of a Memorandum in June 2001 This agreement between the Community and the EIB strengthens co-operation in order to boost research and technological innovation in Europe by offering complementary, although independent, forms of financial support to researchers. In addition EIB's Innovation 2000 Initiative specifically targets the area of information and communications technology networks. In the context of the 6th Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development further opportunities are expected for the provision and financing of research infrastructures.

In conclusion, the Commission welcomes the fact that the target defined by the Council have been met within the timeframe. Further efforts to sustain and improve Europe's position will be done in the context of the 6th Framework Programme, for which the topic of GEANT and GRIDs has already received wide support both in the Parliament and in the European Council.