ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1274/96 by Hans-Gert Poettering (PPE) to the Commission (24 May 1996)

Subject: Death sentence passed on Zabiullah Mahrami

Despite protestations to the contrary by the Iranian Government, a death sentence has again been passed on a member of the Baha'i religion. This judgment is completely in line with the systematic persecution of this largest religious minority in Iran, which has already been cited in documents by the UN Commission on Human Rights.

1. Is the Commission aware of the death sentence passed on Zabiullah Mahrami on the grounds of his membership of the Baha'i religion?

2. What steps does it intend to take against this further violation of human rights in Iran?

3. What measures does it intend to take to prevent further persecution of religious minorities in Iran?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (27 June 1996)

The Commission is aware of the death sentence passed on Mr Mahrami, a Baha'i from the city of Yazd. The Commission is fully aware of the persecution of this religious minority as documented by the United Nations Commission on human rights.

In the case of Mr Mahrami, the Iranian government knows the concern of the European Union. It is understood that the death sentence on Mr Mahrami has been overturned, and that his case is now with a more competent court in Yazd. As far as the Commission is aware, legal proceedings against Mr Mahrami are continuing, but the death penalty does not appear to be pending.

On the matter of the persecution of religious minorities in Iran, the Commission stresses that the question of human rights is an important element in the European Union's critical dialogue with Iran. This allows the Union to raise the question of individual human rights as well as the general treatment of minorities, and to bring political pressure on Iran on particular questions.

Furthermore, the Community, represented by the Commission, has observer status in the United Nations Commission on human rights, and supports the European Union Presidency. The European Union has presented a resolution to the United Nations Commission on human rights on 23 April 1996 concerning human rights in Iran, with particular reference to the discriminatory treatment of national minorities, including the Baha'is.

The Honourable Member can be assured that the Commission will continue to observe the situation of Mr Mahrami and other Baha'is in Iran closely and that it will encourage intervention with the Iranian authorities on specific violations of human rights.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1214/96 by Clive Needle (PSE) to the Commission (10 May 1996)

Subject: Methods of slaughter

What action is the Commission taking following complaints from the RSPCA and others about the methods of slaughter witnessed under the halal procedure in France during the festival period at the end of April?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (23 May 1996)

The Commission has intervened with the French authorities with regard to this question. It has, however, not yet received any formal reply to its enquiries.

Council Directive 93/119/EEC ((OJ L 340, 31.12.1993 )) on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing does allow religious slaughter of animals without humane stunning. However such slaughter is required to take place in an abattoir and to respect other Community rules on public and animal health and animal welfare.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0946/96 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (26 April 1996)

Subject: HIV infection and organ transplants

A recently publicized court case in Bologna provides an incentive to step up Aids prevention.

Two young people died after undergoing kidney transplants. The organs had been taken from another young man who was killed in an accident.

The post-mortem revealed that the donor had been suffering from Aids. Justice must naturally be allowed to take its course in order to establish who is to blame for what happened. However, it would be equally right and proper, to avoid infection by the HIV virus, for compulsory advance tests on transplant organs to be required not only for ethical reasons, but also under explicit rules.

That being the case, does the Commission not believe that its measures and campaigns to combat Aids should alert Member States to the obligation of carrying out compulsory advance tests, not least because transplant organs often originate from donors outside the recipient's country?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (25 June 1996)

Article 129 of the EC Treaty on Community action in the field of public health explicitly excludes any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States. Compulsory advance tests on transplant organs therefore come under the regulations of the Member States.

The programme of Community action on the prevention of AIDS and other communicable diseases, adopted on 29 March 1996 by the Parliament and the Council ((OJ L 95 of 16.4.1996 )), provides support for exchanges of information and experience on the policies and practices for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and for drawing up a code of good practice on the matter. In this framework the Commission will be able to encourage measures to stress the need to carry out such tests in the case of organ, blood and sperm donations.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0272/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (15 February 1996)

Subject: TV advertising of toys

According to 'Agence Europe' (11 December 1995), powerful lobby groups are putting pressure on the Commission President, J. Santer, and numerous Commissioners with protests against the laws governing the advertising of toys on Greek television. The World Federation of Advertisers is asking the Commission to take steps to end the current ban on toy advertising in Greece by taking the matter to the Court of Justice.

How has the Commission defended Greece's position, given that it is consistent with the spirit and the letter of the provisions on advertising aimed at children contained in the directive on transfrontier and cable television (89/552/EEC) ((OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23 ))?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (3 June 1996)

The chief aim of the television without frontiers Directive is to set up the legal framework that is needed for the free movement of television broadcasts in the Community. Accordingly, the Directive seeks to coordinate national rules in certain areas; in particular, Chapter IV is designed to protect viewers, including minors, from any abuse regarding advertising and sponsorship. Article 16 lays down a number of measures specifically aimed at protecting children.

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern regarding the need to protect minors in line with past rulings of the Court of Justice. However, it has to be sure that these measures do not go beyond what is essential to achieve these aims, in other words that they do not encroach on freedom to provide services. Accordingly, the Commission is currently scrutinizing the measures adopted by Greece for compatibility with Community law.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0861/96 by Christine Crawley (PSE) to the Commission (12 April 1996)

Subject: East Timor

Would the Commission report on the outcome of its Europe-Asia meeting in Bangkok, earlier this month and specifically on any talks held on the issue of human rights in East Timor?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (10 May 1996)

The Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) is essentially a new departure in relations with Asia based on mutual understanding, respect and trust. The Bangkok summit set those relations on a new path of equal partnership between two regions of great cultural, economic and political wealth and ratified their mutual desire to cooperate at all levels on the international scene to ensure stability, security and prosperity.

The summit registers the importance of dialogue and cooperation, the need for cooperation rather than confrontation, and the value of constructive debate about differing value systems, respecting cultural diversity.

On the occasion of the summit the European Union proposed continuation of the political dialogue on such sensitive issues as human rights and the importance of doing so in a climate of mutual understanding and trust. This position is stated in the Presidency's final communiqué, endorsed by the Asian ASEM participants, which stresses the desire of both sides to strengthen the political dialogue with reference to fundamental rights.

As regards East Timor specifically, the Bangkok summit provided an opportunity for the President of Indonesia to talk face-to-face with the Prime Minister of Portugal, who suggested an agreement to open a diplomatic interests section in each of the two capitals in return for the release of the East Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao and his associates and assurances of respect for human rights in East Timor under effective UN control.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1653/96 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (24 June 1996)

Subject: 'Aegina pistachios'

'Aegina pistachios' are protected by a Registered Designation of Origin (Government Journal, Fascicle II of 14.1.1994) and, in accordance with Market Decree 38/F1/1720/10.12.1990, the designation 'Aegina pistachios' may only be used with regard to pistachios produced on the island of Aegina. Products of the same variety may be marketed under the label 'Aegina variety pistachios' but with an indication of the place of production or, in the case of EU produce, under their generic name, for example 'pistachio' or 'shell pistachio', without any indication of the place of production.

Over the last few years, Aegina quality pistachios have been imported to Greece from third countries (for instance, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey) and are marketed with a label stating that they are Aegina pistachios. Since this ploy defrauds consumers and leads to unfair competition, penalizing pistachio producers on the island of Aegina, will the Commission say what representations it intends to make to the Greek authorities, as part of its consumer protection policy, to prevail on them to comply with the above Market Decree and to put an end to the illegal marketing of pistachios from third countries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (11 July 1996)

The Commission would point out that the Greek authorities called for the name 'Aegina pistachios' to be registered as a protected designation of origin by the Community, under Article 17 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs. ((OJ L 208, 24.7.1992 ))

The committee set up under Article 15 of the Regulation approved Community registration of the above name on 14 June 1996.

Article 13 lays down the legal measures that national and Community bodies can take to tackle instances of unfair competition such as those referred to by the Honourable Member.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0509/96 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (11 March 1996)

Subject: European aid

Will the Commission provide a breakdown of European aid received in each Euro-constituency in the United Kingdom for each year over the last ten years?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (4 June 1996)

Further to its answer of 17 April 1996 ((OJ C 183, 24.6.1996, p. 35. )) the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it is not in a position to provide a breakdown of European aid in each Euro-constituency.

However a substantial amount of brochures, details of programmes, statistics and other information broken down by areas larger than Euro-constituencies is forwarded to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1040/96 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (3 May 1996)

Subject: Failure of the Spanish Government to comply with the Directive on dangerous substances in the aquatic environment

How does the Commission view the failure of the Spanish government, in the field of the environment, nuclear safety and civil protection, to comply with Directives 76/464/EEC ((OJ L 129, 18.5.1976, p.23. )), 82/176/EEC ((OJ L 81, 27.3.1982, p.29. )), 86/280/EEC ((OJ L 181, 4.7.1986, p.16. )), 84/156/EEC ((OJ L 74, 17.3.1984 p.49. )), 83/516/EEC ((OJ L 291, 24.10.1983, p.1. )), and 84/491/EEC ((OJ L 274, 17.10.1984, p.11. )), on dangerous substances in the aquatic environment?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (11 June 1996)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's 12th (1994) annual report to Parliament on monitoring the application of Community law ((OJ C 254, 29.9.1995. )) and to the 13th (1995) report ((COM(96)600. )) and in particular to the annexes on 'Application of Directives'. The 13th report will be submitted to Parliament in the near future.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1223/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (23 May 1996)

Subject: Unemployment rate in Greece

The 'Employment Observatory Tableau de Bord 1995' (Follow-up to the conclusions of the Essen Council on employment policies) published by DG V of the Commission of the European Communities gives on pages 146 and 147 the unemployment rates in the Member States. It gives a figure of 8.8% in Greece for 1994. However, the Greek National Statistical Service gave a figure of 9.6% for the same year.

What is the reason for this discrepancy between the figures of the Greek National Statistical Office and the Commission's DG V?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (1 July 1996)

The unemployment rates as presented on pages 146 and 147 of the publication 'Tableau de Bord 1995 - follow-up to the recommendations of the Essen European Council on employment policy' reproduce the data published by EUROSTAT in the 'Unemployment' series ((ISSN 0252-9912. )).

The unemployment rates published by the Greek Statistical Office and the Commission are both taken from the labour force survey conducted each spring by the Greek Statistical Office.

In both cases the concept of unemployment used is that recommended by the International Labour Office: an unemployed person is a person without work, seeking work and available for work.

The rates published by the Greek Statistical Office and the Commission are different because the criterion for seeking work is applied more restrictively by the Commission than by the Greek Statistical Office. Hence, notably, a person without work and available for work will not be considered as unemployed in the Community statistics unless he is 'actively' seeking work, whereas in the Greek statistics the same person will be considered as unemployed once he is enrolled with an employment office or awaiting the results of a competition, situations which do not strictly correspond to the concept of actively seeking work.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1889/96 by Luigi Florio (UPE) to the Commission (5 July 1996)

Subject: Commission premises

1. How many buildings does the Commission currently occupy in the various EU countries?

2. How many buildings does the Commission currently occupy in non-EU countries?

3. What are the location (address) and size of the various buildings referred to in 1 and 2?

4. What is each of them used for?

5. On what basis is each building occupied (ownership, rental etc.)?

6. If occupied in return for payment but not owned, what was the annual cost for each building in 1994 and 1995?

7. How many officials work in each building?

8. What was the phone bill for each building in 1994 and 1995?

9. What was the electricity bill for each building in 1994 and 1995?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (15 July 1996)

The Commission is collecting the necessary information to answer the question. It will pass on the results of its research as soon as possible.

Since the Honourable Member has stated that it is a priority question, the Commission would remind him that under Parliament's rules of procedure priority questions are those which 'require an immediate answer but no detailed research'.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1025/96 by Miguel Arias Cañete (PPE) to the Commission (3 May 1996)

Subject: Protecting Community avocados against imports from third countries

Avocado production in the Community enjoys very little protection at the frontier.

In particular, the competition of imports from countries such as Israel and Mexico pose serious problems to the sector's survival in the EU.

I would therefore ask the Commission whether it has plans to establish specific measures to guarantee Community producers a viable level of profits, and whether it intends to establish minimum quality standards which would, in practice, constitute a means of checking and reducing imports from third countries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (4 June 1996)

The Commission does not envisage specific measures to assist avocado producers.

As regards quality standards and conformity checking, the Commission proposes, in the context of the reform of the market organization for fruit and vegetables, to maintain the provisions already in force for some thirty products.

At the request of the Member States and insofar as such marketing standards do not impede international trade under the terms of the agreements concluded with the World Trade Organization, such provisions may also be extended to other fruit and vegetables, such as avocados.

In no case shall the standards in question be used as a means of protecting the Community market.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1158/96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (15 May 1996)

Subject: Classification of farm machinery

The Greek Association of Second-hand Construction and Lifting Machinery and Spare Parts Dealers has raised serious objections to a decision by the Ministry of Agriculture (DG3F3) promulgated in the Greek Official Gazette (No. 1044/20.12.1995) on the issue of a note on the classification of agricultural machinery in respect of second-hand agricultural machinery.

The Ministry decision contravenes the EU's rules on the free movement of goods within the Member States, and the requirement for the import of agricultural machinery less than seven years old in the year of classification is causing serious financial problems to the farming industry, which is already in a parlous situation.

Are the actions of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture in accordance with Community legislation, and if not, what action does the Commission intend to take?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (26 June 1996)

The Commission would like to thank the honourable member for having drawn his attention to the decision by the Greek Minister for Agriculture concerning the import into Greece of second-hand agricultural machinery.

It would seem that this decision does not comply with Community law and more particularly Article 30 of the EC Treaty (restrictions on the import into one Member State of equipment moving freely within another Member State, and disproportionate action). This being the case the Commission will contact the Greek Government in order to examine the problem more closely and to find a solution.

In addition it is probable that that ministerial decision may be considered to be a 'technical rule'. If that is so the Commission should have been notified thereof under Directive 83/189/EEC ((OJ L 109, 26.4.1983, as amended by Directives 88/182/EEC - OJ L 81, 26.3.1988, and 94/10/EC - OJ L 100, 19.4.1994. )) providing for an information procedure applying to standards and technical regulations. If that is indeed the case the Commission will examine the matter under Article 169 of the EEC Treaty. The Commission would remind the honourable member in this case of the judgment handed down by the Court of Justice of the European Communities on 30 April 1996 (Case C-194/94) stating that technical rules adopted in infringement of Directive 83/189/EEC do not apply to private persons.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 484/96 by Peter CRAMPTON to the Council. Use of drift nets



Official Journal C 305 , 15/10/1996 P. 0009



WRITTEN QUESTION E-0484/96 by Peter Crampton (PSE) to the Council (7 March 1996) Subject: Use of drift nets In view of the succession of inconclusive discussions at Fisheries Council meetings in 1995 about the use of drift nets, when is it likely that the proposal that drift nets be phased out be implemented? Reply (7 August 1996) The Council refers to its reply to Written Question No 216/96 by Mrs Bloch von Blottnitz ((OJ C 280, 25.09.1996, p.10. ))
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1008/96 by Sebastiano Musumeci (NI) to the Commission (26 April 1996)

Subject: Sicilian fishing boats

On 25 February 1996, in the Sicilian Channel, a Tunisian patrol boat opened fire, at or below head height, on a motorized fishing boat from Mazara del Vallo, a situation from which our fishermen were rescued by the intervention of an Italian naval vessel, the patrol boat 'Cassiopea'.

There have often been confrontations between Sicilian fishermen and patrol boats from the North African countries in the waters of the Sicilian Channel, and it now seems certain that an Italian/Tunisian organization exists that extorts money from Italian fishermen in exchange for permission to fish.

The fishing boat from Mazara was operating in international waters and in line with the rules in force.

In view of the foregoing, what urgent measures does the Commission intend to take to guarantee the right of Sicilian fishermen to go about their business with due respect to the rules that govern international relations and prohibit all forms of piracy?

Answer given by Ms Bonino on behalf of the Commission (7 June 1996)

The Commission has received no further information from either the Italian or Tunisian authorities on the incident referred to by the Honourable Member. It believes that such incidents can undermine cooperation between Mediterranean countries on the management and conservation of fish stocks, which the Community is trying to promote through a number of initiatives such as the diplomatic conference on Mediterranean fish management held in Crete in 1994. One of the aims of this type of cooperation is to launch joint activities to enforce international rules applicable in the open seas.

The Commission is trying to ensure that relations between Mediterranean countries within and without the Community are built on mutual trust and to this end it organizes periodic meetings with these countries. In fact, a second conference on Mediterranean fisheries management is to be held in Venice at the end of the year.

On the general point of the positioning of fishing vessels, which is partly behind the problem raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission recently adopted a proposal amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 on fisheries control systems. ((OJ L 261, 20.10.1993. )) The proposal stipulates that from 1 January 1999, all Community fishing vessels over 15 metres must have an automatic location system installed. The Commission believes that such systems will make it easier to locate vessels and so avoid any disputes.