ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2930/00

by Marco Cappato (TDI) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Cuban authorities' attempts to keep an Italo-Cuban couple apart and prevent them from emigrating

In 1999, an Italian national, Enrico Orlandini, married a Cuban national, Yaima Prado Gattorno. When the latter applied to the Cuban authorities for a passport with a view to emigrating with her husband, the authorities decided to enforce a sentence for association with a foreigner, which had previously been passed but had until then been suspended. Meanwhile, the husband has been refused all contact with his wife under the threat of a still harsher punishment should he attempt to contact her.

Will the Commission intervene in this specific case and, more generally, will it raise the question of abolishing the offence of association with a foreigner in the context of its relations with the Cuban Government?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 2000)

The Commission follows closely the human rights situation in the country by participating (through its delegation in Mexico) in the human rights working group in Havana. This group, created upon request of the Council and made up of representatives of the Member States, monitors the human rights situation and meets the Cuban authorities and human rights groups in the island.

The Commission is not aware of the specific situation of the person mentioned by the Honourable Member, but will present this case to the human rights working group at the first opportunity.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2591/00

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Official mandate granted by the Council to the Commission to resolve the trade dispute over bananas and taking account of remoteness

A number of options are being discussed as part of the debate which has been launched in the agriculture and trade sector on reforming the COM for bananas so as to comply with the decisions of the WTO dispute settlement panel from the point of view of trade, in which quotas and tariffs are combined.

What official mandate has the Council given to the Commission to enable it to negotiate and, if possible, resolve the trade dispute with certain banana-exporting third countries stemming from the system for importing bananas to the Community market? Has it taken account of the remoteness of banana-producing regions in the Community, which are referred to in Article 299(2) of the EC Treaty?

Reply

(9 November 2000)

The Council has not given any official mandate for the Commission to negotiate in the banana dispute.

However, it should be remembered that the Council since spring 1999 has on a number of occasions encouraged the Commission to hold talks with all parties concerned with a view to finding a solution to the dispute.

At its meeting on 10 July 2000 the Council noted a report by the Commission on the talks it had held to resolve the banana dispute and asked it to examine the possibility of managing the market using a first come, first served quota system. It asked the Commission to report back after investigating the possible solutions, including the tariff solution and its implications. The Council will take a decision when it has seen that report.

At the same time the Council reiterated its concern that the banana dispute should be settled as soon as possible having regard in particular for the interests of Community producers.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3463/00

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 November 2000)

Subject: High concentration of metals in the Guadalquivir (Andalusia, Spain)

Two years on from the Aznalcollar mine toxic spill, a report drawn up by the Central University of Barcelona and published by Ecologistas en Acción reveals that there are high concentrations of metals in the river Guadalquivir, and that the levels in the surrounding area are far in excess of the limits allowed under Community legislation.

Is the Commission aware of these findings?

Does it not believe that the situation means that the Spanish authorities need to adopt emergency measures to protect public health, maintain the estuary's ecosystem and safeguard the future development of the area's economic and tourist potential?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 2000)

The Commission has no knowledge of the Central University of Barcelona's report on metal concentrations in the Guadalquivir River in Andalusia mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Commission is willing to take a look at this report in order to see whether the relevant Community legislation is being fully complied with.

The Commission is aware of the measures undertaken by the Spanish authorities to contain and repair the damage caused by the accident at the Aznalcollar mine in order to safeguard the Doñana national park.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1909/00

by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Allocation of funding under the EU Community Support Framework for improvements to the secondary road network in the province of Granada

Given that the European Regional Development Fund is intended to rectify regional imbalances and reduce differences in regional development, and that under Article 2 of the regulation concerned its scope of application is defined thus, [to provide] improved access to rural areas mldr investments in infrastructures where modernisation or regeneration is a prerequisite for the creation or development of job-creating economic activities, including infrastructure and links on which the development of these activities depends, and, further, the provision of infrastructure on a scale appropriate to local and employment development, can the Commission indicate whether the proposals submitted by the Spanish Government for funding from the Structural Funds for the period 2000-2006 for improvements to the secondary road network meet the above criteria?

If so, on the basis of the Spanish Government's proposals, what amount under the EU Community Support Framework is likely to be allocated for improvements to the secondary road network in Granada?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The Commission is currently finalizing the Community support framework (CSF) 2000-2006 for the objective 1 regions of Spain in partnership with the Spanish authorities. In this context the latter have proposed that a significant priority be given to the main transport networks including road transport. However, the position of the secondary road network is not one of the strategic issues under discussion for the CSF. Rather, this matter will be dealt with at regional level in the context of the regional operational programmes for which negotiations will begin shortly. Consequently it is not possible at the present stage to identify the amount of structural funds allocated to the secondary road network in any given region or province.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3667/00

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 November 2000)

Subject: Euro exchange rates

Will the Commission provide a list of the currencies throughout the world which have appreciated in value in relation to the euro since its launch on 1 January 1999?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2000)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a table containing the information requested.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2529/00

by Rijk van Dam (EDD) to the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Subject: levy on fuel in trucks by the Polish customs authorities

Since Tuesday, 4 July 2000, Poland has been operating a levy on fuel in the fuel tanks of trucks crossing the border into Poland. If a truck entering Poland has more than 200 litres of fuel in its tank, the customs levy DEM 2 per litre on the excess quantity. This violates the bilateral agreements which various EU countries have concluded with Poland on this subject. Moreover, it is doubtful whether a levy of this magnitude accords with the decision by Poland's Ministry of Finance. The checks involved are causing unacceptably long tailbacks at the border, so that hauliers face a twofold extra cost.

1. What is the Commission's view of the measure adopted by Poland, bearing in mind, inter alia, that Poland is a future member of the EU?

2. Will the Commission take action against this measure?

3. If so, what action?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2000)

As long as Poland is not yet a Member State, only the stipulations of the Europe Agreement are applicable, which do not contain specific rules about the case in question. Nevertheless, as concerns the allowances for petrol in tanks of vehicles, Poland has brought its legislation already in line with Community standards. The maximum volume of fuel that can be imported free of charge corresponds to the quantity foreseen by Council Regulation (EEC) No 918/83 of 28 March 1983, setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty(1). Article 113 allows Member States to limit the application of the relief in respect of fuel contained in the standard tanks of commercial motor vehicles to 200 litres per vehicle per journey. Any stipulations in bilateral agreements, e.g. between the Poland and the Netherlands, which might permit higher volumes, are not a matter for comment by the Commission in this context.

In the field of customs duties, excises and VAT, which are, in any case applicable to quantities of diesel oil that exceed 200 litres, to the knowledge of the Commission, Poland is at present applying the following rates: 4 % customs duties in the trade with Member States, between PZL 0,830 and 0,908 (Zloty) of excise per litre (depending on the content of sulphur), and 22 % of VAT. This would sum up to a charge of about PZL 1,50 (about DEM 0,73). The levy of DEM 2 (more than PZL 4) as mentioned by the Honourable Member would be much higher.

However, the Commission will continue monitoring this issue.

(1) OJ L 105, 23.4.1983.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2862/00

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Euratom Safeguards Directorate

The European Parliament's resolution of 6 July 1988 (B2-0520/88(1)) called upon the Euratom Safeguards Directorate to submit a comprehensive annual report to Parliament. This was subsequently altered to a biennial report.

Can the Commission state when the next such comprehensive report will be published, and can it confirm that, thereafter, these reports will indeed be published on a biennial basis and will be open to public scrutiny?

(1) OJ C 235, 12.9.1988, p. 70.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

The Commission is in the process of reviewing the way the Euratom Safeguards Office conducts its activities and the priorities assigned to it.

Once the priorities have been clarified, a comprehensive report on the operation of Euratom Safeguards will again be submitted at regular intervals to the Parliament. Only the parts dealing with non-classified information may be made available to the public.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3176/00

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 October 2000)

Subject: Agenda 2000

Following the adoption of the appropriations to allocated to the Structural Funds a year and half ago, at the Berlin European Council, and the determination of the sums to be allocated to rural development policy approximately one year ago, it is now necessary to implement, in practice and without delay, the development measures deriving from these key policy choices of the Union.

The author of this question has been informed of cases of unacceptable delay in some cases, because the Commission received Member States' proposals late, in other cases because of delays attributable to its own services.

Can the Commission provide information on its decisions adopting the operational programmes for agriculture and rural development in each of the Member States?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2000)

Of the 69 rural development plans in all which Member States submitted in accordance with Article 40(3) and (4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)(1), 53 had been approved by the Commission as at 11 October 2000.

As regards rural development measures financed by the EAGGF Guidance Section which, in accordance with Article 40(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, form part of the programming for Objective 1 of the Structural Funds (including regions receiving transitional support), the Commission has approved 6 Community support frameworks (out of a total of 7 submitted), 11 single programming documents (out of a total of 18 submitted), and 15 operational programmes (out of a total of 51 submitted) containing such measures.

Lastly, in accordance with Article 40(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, rural development measures financed by the EAGGF Guarantee Section have been incorporated into 20 single programming documents for areas covered by Objective 2 of the Structural Funds (including areas receiving transitional support) which the Commission is currently examining.

A more detailed breakdown by Member State has been sent to the Honourable Member direct and to Parliament's Secretariat. In addition, the documents which the Commission has approved have been forwarded to Parliament in accordance with the Code of Conduct on the implementation of structural policies by the Commission(2).

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2) OJ C 279, 1.10.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3269/00

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: The violence erupting against Christian communities in the Moluccas

There is widespread concern among the Christian community at the conflict in the Moluccas, caused by provocateurs acting on behalf of political and extremist elements in Indonesia. It is estimated that 7 000 jihad warriors have converged on these islands and attacked Christian homes, causing an estimated 4 000 deaths and the displacement of 350 000 people.

Would the Commission consider, as a matter of urgency, sending a delegation from the EU to undertake an impartial investigation of the situation, urging the Indonesian Government to allow unrestricted access for humanitarian agencies and a safe location for those in hiding and encouraging the Indonesian Government to investigate, identify and prosecute those responsible for this conflict?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2000)

The Commission shares the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member regarding the conflict in the Moluccas, which has caused several thousand deaths in the Christian and the Muslim communities on the islands, as well as some 300 000 displaced persons.

The primary responsibility for resolving the situation lies with the government of Indonesia, but the Community has consistently offered humanitarian assistance. The European Community's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has already, since 1999, made available 4 million in aid, and is preparing to make available a further 2 million in the near future.

Over the last few months, and most recently on 10 October 2000, the Community has made a series of démarches in Jakarta. On all those occasions it has urged the government of Indonesia to take action to halt the violence, and to identify and prosecute those responsible, as well as to ensure unrestricted access for humanitarian aid and security for those displaced.

A mission of Union ambassadors in Jakarta visited the Moluccas on 12/13 October 2000 in order to assess the situation on the spot. This visit was an opportunity to highlight Union concerns in discussions with all parties involved.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2738/00

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Development assistance in Peru

The European Union has taken note of the extent of the electoral anomalies and irregularities that plagued this year's electoral process in Peru and cast serious doubt on the democratic legitimacy of the outcome. As the EU's programme of development assistance to Peru is governed by the framework agreement between the EU and the Andean Community (CAN), which contains a democracy clause, and since the authorities in Peru show no signs of heeding international demands for fresh elections that are free and fair, would it not seem an appropriate moment to invoke that clause?

Furthermore, as there have been reports that EU development assistance was used in President Fujimori's re-election campaign to promote his image, would the Commission consider ordering all future development aid to be directed henceforth through non-official (NGO, church) channels?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2000)

The Commission closely monitors events in Peru together with Member States. It supports the special mission that the Organisation of American States has set up with the objective of reinforcing democracy in the country. At this time, therefore, it does not seem appropriate to invoke the democracy clause of the framework co-operation agreement between the Union and the Andean Community.

The Commission is looking into the alleged misuse of Community funds in Peru but so far it has not been possible to confirm these allegations. If this misuse was confirmed, a suspension of Community aid would need a Council decision.

Nevertheless, the Commission reserves its right to re-consider its position in view of further developments in Peru.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2845/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(8 September 2000)

Subject: Number of MEPs in the European Parliament

In view of the recent statement by the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition in the UK that we could easily knock 100 seats off the European Parliament (quoted in GC magazine, September 2000, page 142), could the Commission outline the process that would have to be gone through to reduce the current European Parliament from 626 to 526?

Would the Commission take the view that this is an easy task?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2000)

The number of seats in the European Parliament is laid down by the EC Treaty. Article 189 EC states that the number of members may not exceed 700, while Article 190(2) EC (formerly Article 138(2)) lays down the number of members elected in each Member State (totalling 626 members at present). These provisions can be changed only by revising the Articles in question, which can be done either by amending the Treaty (according to the procedure laid down in Article 48 (formerly Article N) of the Treaty on European Union) or by adjusting the Treaty upon accession of a new Member State (according to the procedure laid down in Article 49 EU (formerly Article O)).

One of the topics currently being discussed at the Intergovernmental Conference on the reform of the institutions, which was convened in February 2000, pursuant to Article 48 EU, and is due to complete its work at the Nice European Council on 7 and 8 December 2000, is the composition of Parliament with a view to the enlargement of the Union. Several possible ways are being explored of reducing the number of MEPs elected in the present Member States in order to ensure that the ceiling of 700 is observed after enlargement. The Conference is not considering any reduction in the ceiling of 700. Parliament itself adopted a position on this question in its resolution of 13 April 2000 (A5/0086/00).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2112/00

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Application of Article 87 of the EC Treaty to aid granted to the Spanish electricity industry

In its report on the merger of Unión Fenosa and Hidrocantábrico, in which it gauges the impact of the operation on CTCs (costs of transition to competition), the Spanish National Energy Commission refers to the complete uncertainty regarding the safeguard clause laid down in the new Sixth Transitional Provision of the Electricity Industry Act 54/97 (CTC system), since it allows CTCs to be securitised.

Does the Commission share the anxiety of the Spanish regulatory body?

Does it not consider that the Spanish provisions need to be amended in order to ensure that securitisation does not prevent market variables from coming into play in the manner called for under the method endorsed by the Commission in June 1999?

Does the Commission believe that it is permissible under Article 87 of the Treaty to grant PTA 1 billion as State aid for continued operation when there is no legal arrangement to ensure that a genuine transition to competition takes place after securitisation?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that, to date, there have been no cases of securitisation (the ability to transfer to third parties the right to receive compensation for transition-to-competition costs). Without wishing to comment on the report of the Comisión Nacional de la Energia, which was produced in a different context, it recognises that, in the event of securitisation, steps will have to be taken to set up real and effective monitoring of the transition to competition.

The Commission does not at present rule out the possibility that Spanish legislation may have to be amended or supplemented.

It is unable to determine at this stage whether the measures in question constitute operating aid. The mechanism to which the Honourable Member refers could be achieved by amending statutory provisions, introducing secondary national legislation, unilateral undertakings given by the Member State, or imposed by final decision of the Commission.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3341/00

by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Obstacle to the free movement of workers by car

Residents of the Netherlands are not permitted to drive a car with a foreign number plate. Eight weeks are needed to obtain a Dutch number plate.

Practical problems arise as a result. Anyone who goes to the Netherlands with the intention of becoming established there for any period of time is deemed to be a resident within the meaning of the law. In accordance with the Highway Code, a new resident in possession of a car is obliged to fit his car with a Dutch number plate.

Under European law job-seekers are permitted to spend three months, on full unemployment benefit, looking for a job in another Member State. If a European job-seeker goes to the Netherlands in search of a job he is deemed to be a resident pursuant to Dutch law and is therefore obliged to fit his car with a Dutch number plate. Until he has done so he is not allowed to use his car.

1. To what extent does the Commission regard the Dutch law in question as an obstacle to the opportunities available to job-seekers from outside the Netherlands for looking for work in the Netherlands?

2. Does the Commission believe that the Dutch law in question is an obstacle to the free movement of workers?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 2000)

The Commission has asked the Member State concerned for information regarding the facts raised to by the Honourable Member. It will inform him of its findings.