ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/333

(2004/C 88 E/0340)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0867/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Economic crisis in Venezuela

In the last few months the social, economic and political crisis in South America has worsened and is also affecting Venezuela.

There are many Italian nationals in Venezuela and one of the largest Italian communities in the world lives there, together with the Spanish community.

The current situation has led to the virtual collapse of all economic activities and the closure of businesses, leading to an enormous fall in profits for Italian firms operating in Venezuela and widespread unemployment.

All this is in effect causing a state of civil war, in which looting, murder, theft and robbery are commonplace, but no international institution is interested in finding an effective solution to the problem.

Now, after years of deprivation, European citizens living in Venezuela have still not been given any support by the EU.

In view of all this, can the Commission say:

1. whether there are any specific aid programmes for the South American countries currently in a state of crisis;

2. whether there are any action programmes for the benefit of European citizens living in Venezuela?

Can it also give a general assessment of the situation?
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/142

(2004/C 84 E/0180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4067/03

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 January 2004)

Subject: Cofinancing of the Júcar-Vinalopó conduit and environmental conditions

On 18 December 2003 the Commission gave its definitive approval to the cofinancing of the Júcar-Vinalopó diversion. The conditions which the Spanish authorities have to fulfil to receive the funds are: carrying-out of studies to determine an ecological volume for the Júcar before proceeding to the transfer of resources to the Vinalopó, as well as an ecological volume for the coastal wetlands such as the Albufera; guarantees that the waters of the Valencian river will not be mingled with those of the Ebro and that the latter will not be used to offset any deficits attributable to the diversion to Alicante; and compliance with the framework water directive (including full integration of costs when setting the price of water).

On the same day, according to the newspaper ‘Heraldo de Aragón’ (18 December 2003), Mr Pascual Fernández, the Spanish secretary of state responsible for water, said in Saragossa that the only option ruled out was that of ‘using the Júcar-Vinalopó channels to transport water to the Ebro’, and that, in any case, ‘there are many other rivers in the Júcar basin and the document refers only to the Júcar, not the basin’.

The representative of the Spanish Environment Ministry did not specify whether there are plans to divert water to the Júcar when he cited Article 17 of the law on the National Hydrographic Plan, which specifies how the Ebro is to supply each of the recipient basins (for the Júcar basin, 315 cubic hectometres). He added that ‘the distribution of volume within each basin will be decided when the diversion is completed’.

1. What action will the Commission take to ensure that the above-mentioned conditions for granting of the funds are applied in full?

2. Can the Commission guarantee that the funds will actually be made over only once the Spanish authorities have complied with the conditions both in law and in reañity?

3. What is the Commission's position on the statements by Mr Fernández concerning the possibility of diverting water from the Ebro to the Júcar basin without making use of the Júcar-Vinolopó conduit?

4. Will the Commission consider suspending the financing until the Spanish government has clarified its intentions on the matter beyond all reasonable doubt?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 2004)

In relation to any funding requests related to the Ebro transfer, the Commission will ensure that the relevant rules and procedures for the assessment, award and monitoring of projects are adhered to.

Concerning the relationship between the Ebro transfer and the Jucar-Vinalopo transfer, the Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's reply to written question P-0019/04, by Mr Ferrandez Lezaun (1).

(1) See page 151.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/115

(2004/C 88 E/0121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2784/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Antonio Mussa (UEN) and Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(17 September 2003)

Subject: Elections in Albania

The people of Albania are to elect new members of the National Assembly 10 October 2003. The OSCE, in an attempt to make the election process more transparent and devise an effective reform, has explicitly requested that the national electoral committee should reflect the political situation in the country and be composed of members of the current majority and opposition, in equal proportions (3 + 3).

Can the Commission say:

1. whether it is aware that the electoral committee now consists of five members of the present socialist majority and only two members of the democratic opposition;

2. whether it does not consider that the present composition of the electoral committee is unjust and may arouse serious suspicions of partiality;

3. whether it does not consider it appropriate at this point to set up a body to monitor all the operations involved in the election to be held on 10 October?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2003)

Local elections in Albania took place on 12 October 2003.

The Commission has been following closely the preparation and conduct of these elections. According to the preliminary conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM), these elections marked further progress towards compliance with OSCE, Council of Europe and other international standards for democratic elections. However, shortcomings in a number of areas were identified and remain to be addressed, particularly in relation to voters' lists which continues to be a problem area as well as to a number of organisational issues.

The Commission has been aware of the claims by the opposition regarding the composition and political balance of the Central Electoral Commission. However, the IEOM indicates in its preliminary conclusions that, despite strong controversy over alleged lack of political balance, the Central Electoral Commission has administered the elections in a generally professional, transparent and even-handed manner.

The IEOM, the Commission and other actors on the ground will continue to monitor the follow up of the elections, with particular attention to the completion of the counting, to the tabulation process, to the publication of results and to the handling of complaints and appeals. The Commission will also encourage Albania to address the shortcomings identified during these elections well ahead of the next Parliamentary elections.
Commission support to the Palestinians is aimed at alleviating the economic and humanitarian crisis whilst at the same time building the institutions of a future independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel, as laid out most recently in the Roadmap.

Deepening reform, helping the population to face the economic crisis and promoting the principles of good governance and of mutual tolerance and understanding is the best strategy to establish a peaceful coexistence between Israel and the Palestinian people. These principles have long underpinned the Commission programme in support of the Palestinians. The Commission has put its weight behind reform by designing tailor-made institution-building programmes for the Palestinian Authority (e.g. in the area of judiciary) and by attaching strict reform conditions to its assistance. This has already yielded positive results most notably in the area of public finances and the adoption of key legal acts.

The new PA Government under Prime Minister Abbas has committed itself to a wide-ranging reform programme, including concrete measures to eradicate incitement, which was outlined during the Joint Committee Meeting of the EC-PA Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation of 26 June 2003. The Roadmap obligations are being monitored closely by the international community.

The Commission is supportive of the efforts of a number of Member States to develop a modern Palestinian education system based on tolerance and mutual understanding and regularly facilitates, in this respect, contacts with the PA and dialogue with all relevant parties.

Finally, the Commission should like to inform the Honourable Member that the importance of Community donor support in both keeping the Palestinian economy alive and in supporting the implementation of key democratic reform measures has been widely recognised by the international community, notably at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting of international donors (including the Union, United States, Norway, and the World Bank) in London on 18/19 February 2003.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/606

(2004/C 88 E/0625)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0988/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(27 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the Culture 2000 programme by the municipality of Prato

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that some local authorities, such as the municipality of Prato, urgently need to use European funds to enhance the common cultural area in all its diversity and respecting all its traditions, nurturing creativity and professional mobility, and promoting access to and dissemination of art and culture,

can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Prato has submitted projects for the Culture 2000 programme?

2. whether the municipality of Prato has secured funding for these projects?
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/448

(2004/C 78 E/0470)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3007/03

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Role of the European Rural Carrefours in CAP information campaigns

The ‘Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 on information measures relating to the common agricultural policy’ (1) expresses satisfaction at the results achieved by the information campaigns conducted in 2000, 2001 and 2002, but also stresses that their impact on the public and their cost-effectiveness could be improved. The Commission states, on the basis of data obtained from ‘flash’ Eurobarometers, that the general public's lack of knowledge about the CAP, WTO, food safety and other issues linked to agricultural policy confirms more than ever the need to step up information measures and improve their impact.

For some years now the European network of Rural Carrefours has been playing a role in informing the public about the common agricultural policy, thanks to the existence of about 140 European rural information and promotion centres supplied with publications, newsletters and websites and staffed by people competent to deal with CAP issues. The European network of Rural Carrefours can make a worthwhile contribution to achieving the objectives of Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 (2), as regards improving both the impact on the general public and cost-effectiveness. In order to achieve this result, the Commission's Agriculture DG should ensure structured involvement of the ‘Carrefours’, in the interests of running information campaigns more efficiently and making the information measures carried out by the Commission more coherent.

One of the measures undertaken by the Commission was, precisely, to train those working in the Rural Carrefours in a number of specific CAP-related subjects, under the auspices of the Agriculture DG, which demonstrated the need for functional links with these centres. The Rural Carrefour network has accompanied Commission staff on information stands at agricultural fairs.

Can the Commission say:

1. whether it intends to broaden its collaboration with the European network of Rural Carrefours in order to carry out activities relating to measures taken on the Commission's initiative;

2. what role the European network of Rural Carrefours will play in the measures taken on the Commission's initiative to implement the aforementioned Regulation (EC) No 814/2000?

(1) COM(2003) 235 final.

(2) OJ L 100, 20.4.2000, p. 7.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/250

(2004/C 84 E/0296)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3661/03

by Konrad Schwaiger (PPE-DE) and Karl von Wogau (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 December 2003)

Subject: Imports of preserved mushrooms from China

Under Regulation (EC) No 2125/95 (1), the customs quota for imports of preserved mushrooms from China was fixed as 22 750 tonnes annually. The quota had been at that level for a number of years previously, and it was not raised on the accession of the new German länder, despite the addition of nearly 16 million new consumers to the single market. Nor was it raised in response to the accessions by Sweden, Finland and Austria. This means that the quantity of imported product available for marketing to a larger number of consumers has remained unchanged. Business opportunities for importers from the hitherto existing Community countries have thereby been reduced.

1. Does the Commission agree that, in response to the forthcoming inclusion of ten new Member countries that have hitherto covered a significant part of their needs by importing primarily from China, it will be necessary for the quota to be raised accordingly?

2. Does the Commission agree that when the quota is raised, an adjustment should also be granted to make good the failure to raise the quota in response to German reunification and the accessions by Sweden, Finland and Austria?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2004)

In the context of the upcoming accession to the Community of 10 new Member States, the Community will respect its General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations as has been the case for previous Community enlargements. In particular, the Community has notified the WTO that it is ready to enter into negotiations with WTO Members according to Article XXIV: 6 of the GATT. Article XXIV. 6 negotiations are likely to take place for certain products, which may include canned mushrooms.

The existing tariff quota for canned mushrooms has been established and is maintained in accordance with WTO rules and there is no obligation whatsoever to increase this tariff quota in connection with past events relating to territorial modifications of the Community.

(1) OJ L 212, 7.9.1995, p. 16.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/46

(2004/C 78 E/0044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1781/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: The EQUAL funding programme post-enlargement

Can the Commission please provide information or analysis on how the EQUAL funding programme will be affected by the enlargement of the EU in 2004?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2003)

The table below gives the breakdown of the financial envelope for the Accession Countries for EQUAL by country, and has been prepared in full compliance with the decisions of the European Council at Copenhagen (12 and 13 December 2002).

The figures for each year have been indexed to the prices of the year in question, and the total figures for the period 2004-2006 are shown below:

— Cyprus: EUR1 808 504;

— Czech Republic: EUR 32 095 830;

— Estonia: EUR4 067 447;

— Hungary: EUR 30 287 325;

— Latvia: EUR 8 024 512;

— Lithuania: EUR 11 864 504;

— Malta: EUR1 240 962;

— Poland: EUR 133 916 932;

— Slovakia: EUR 22 262 812;

— Slovenia: EUR 6 441 243.

The financial envelopes of the existing Member States will remain unchanged. The total budget available for EQUAL will, therefore, increase by EUR 252 010 071 as a result of enlargement.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/65

(2004/C 84 E/0071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3524/03

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 November 2003)

Subject: Eco-point scheme in Austria

As regards the issue of HGV transit in Austria and the Eco-point scheme, and now that the most recent attempt to reconcile Austria's claims with those of other EU countries has resulted in utter failure, further consideration of the matter has been held over until 25 November, on which date a fresh attempt to reach an agreement will be made.

It seems that the fault now lies with France and Germany, which appear to have done a volte-face and are now in favour of extending the Eco-point scheme beyond the 31 December 2003 cut-off point. Within the Conciliation Committee the Italian Government (in the person of an under-secretary, Paolo Uggè) has pointed out that both the Commission and the European Parliament are in favour of abandoning the Eco-point scheme.

Italy wished to reach an agreement with Austria whereby, for a further year, 20 % of the Eco-points would be retained for vehicles in categories EUR 1 and EUR 2, whilst category EUR 3 would be left open. France and Germany rejected the agreement, since their HGV fleets are older, higher-mileage ones which include a significant proportion of highly polluting vehicles.

1. Is the Commission aware of the further difficulties which have recently been experienced in reaching an agreement, and what view does it take of the Austrian authorities' attitude?

2. What does the Commission intend to do in order to facilitate the conclusion of an agreement on the Eco-point scheme?

3. Has the Commission assessed the economic losses being suffered by EU haulage companies on account of the fact that the search for a solution to this EU problem has been postponed once again?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2004)

In December 2001 the Commission presented a proposal to extend the ecopoints system for the transit of heavy goods vehicles through Austria. Since then, it has made sustained efforts to help the parties concerned come to an agreement. Such an agreement was reached during the meeting of the Conciliation Committee on 25 November 2003. The Honourable Member will be aware that fourteen Member States and the delegation from Parliament came out in favour of the option put forward by the Commission. The Regulation was finally adopted on 22 December 2003 (1).

(1) Regulation (EC) No 2327/2003, OJ L 345, 31.12.2003.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/613

(2004/C 88 E/0633)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1555/03

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 May 2003)

Subject: Averting alcohol-related harm in Finland

I wish to thank Commissioner Frits Bolkestein for the answer which he gave on 14 April 2003, on behalf of the Commission, to question P-0870/03 (1).

However, the Commissioner did not answer the part of my question concerning the possible use of Articles 30 and 95 of the EC Treaty.

I should therefore like to repeat the last part of my question:

— if a Member State can show that complete freedom as regards private imports (of alcoholic beverages) — that is, complete freedom from import restrictions — causes serious problems from the point of view of public morality, public policy, public security, or health, as referred to in Article 30 of the EC Treaty, or specific public health problems within the meaning of Article 95, can it act to put matters right;

— what kind of measures are possible in such a situation?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 2003)

Article 26 of Council Directive 92/12/EEC of 25 February 1992 on the general arrangements for products subject to excise duty and on the holding, movement and monitoring of such products (2) authorised Denmark, Finland and Sweden to apply restrictions on the quantity of excise products that can be brought into their territory from other Member States by travellers for their own use, without further excise duty payment. These derogations expire at the end of 2003. This Directive is based on Article 99 (now Article 93) of the EC Treaty. Any extension of the derogations authorised by Article 26 of this Directive would require a modification of this provision on the basis of the same Treaty provision and could not be based upon Articles 30 or 95 of the EC Treaty.

Outside the area of taxation, any non fiscal measure adopted in non-harmonised areas by a Member State on public health grounds which could result in restricting imports of alcoholic beverages would have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis in order to decide whether it complies with the conditions set in Article 30 of the EC Treaty, or in Article 95 if the relevant area is already subject to harmonisation measures at Community level.

(1) OJ C 33 E, 6.2.2004, p. 85.

(2) OJ L 76, 23.3.1992.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/430

(2004/C 78 E/0451)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2793/03

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Definition of hot air and ban under the Kyoto Protocol

At present the obstacles to allocation to companies posed by the EU emissions trading directive and the rules on competition laid down in the EC Treaty (Articles 87 and 88) probably go beyond what is necessary. That is why it is considered unlikely that ‘hot air’ (in other words emission allowances whose sale is not due to actual reductions in emissions) will come onto the market. The Kyoto Protocol itself does not prohibit the sale of or define hot air.

Does the EU have any means of preventing Member State governments from selling hot air directly (without first allocating it to companies)?

If not, does the Commission consider it necessary, not least in order to guarantee consistent international practice, to devise a definition of hot air and propose that the Kyoto Protocol be amended in such a way as to incorporate that definition and a ban on the sale of hot air?