ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0314/99

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(19 February 1999)

Subject: Gender mainstreaming in the European Commission

Is the Commission aware of the gender imbalance in certain of its directorates-general (for instance Agriculture and Customs and Indirect Taxation) despite its equal opportunities policy?

Given this alarming situation, does the Commission have any specific plans for combating it?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 1999)

Being aware of the problem of gender imbalance within its staff, the Commission has since 1995 established annual objectives for the recruitment of women in the framework of its Third action programme for equal opportunities for women and men in the European Commission 1997-2000(1). The aim of annual objectives is to increase the number of women in the A category and in management positions.

The Commission monitors the implementation of the objectives in the various services. This monitoring is regularly transmitted to the group of Commissioners for equal opportunities as well as to directors general and heads of service.

Furthermore, special efforts have been made in order to ensure that competitions are "gender neutral".

DG VI (Agriculture) and DG XXI (Customs and indirect taxation) do not stand apart from the other services as far as the gender balance is concerned. However the Honourable Member may be interested to know that DG VI has recently nominated a female director and a female assistant. The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a table containing the exact figures.

For further details the Honourable Member is invited to refer to the Commission's answer given to written question E-3951/98 by Mrs Breyer(2).

(1) COM(98) 770 final.

(2) OJ C 289, 11.10.1999, p. 107.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0263/99

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 February 1999)

Subject: International Olympic Committee

Is the Commission satisfied with the measures taken by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board following recent allegations of inappropriate behaviour by members of the IOC?

Does the Commission agree that arrangements for the Olympic Games might be better handled by a more transparent and accountable organisation?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 1999)

Commenting on the action of the members of the International Olympic Committee does not fall within the Community's remit. The Commission has often expressed its respect for the autonomy of associations and does not, therefore, feel that it should intervene in this matter.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0674/99

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(26 March 1999)

Subject: Structural Funds

Regions whose per capita income is less than 75 % of the average Community per capita income are described as "Objective 1 regions" and they receive significant amounts of Community aid.

To determine whether or not this threshold has been exceeded, the draft Council Regulation COM(98) 131 final(1) laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds states that the figures corresponding to the last three years for which Eurostat has data available will be used.

At the moment the only figures available are those for the 1994, 1995 and 1996 financial years.

What are the figures for those years for Ceuta?

(1) OJ C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 1.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0875/99

by James Nicholson (PPE) to the Commission

(8 April 1999)

Subject: PESCA initiative - Northern Ireland

How much funding has been granted in Northern Ireland under the PESCA initiative in the current programming period?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 1999)

In the British programme for the Pesca initiative a Community contribution of [fmxeuro] 1 724 000 is allocated to Northern Ireland for the current programming period 1994-1999. On 31 December 1998 Community grants amounting to [fmxeuro] 440 000 have been paid to final beneficiaries in Northern Ireland.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0184/99

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Food which does not contain genetically modified ingredients

Commissioner Bonino has stated on several occasions recently that the Commission favours the establishment of a food sector, other than organic food, which is free from genetic engineering.

Will the Commission please explain:

1. What practical steps it is taking to encourage the development of such a market sector?

2. What financial support will be made available to assist in promoting this development?

3. What criteria it recommends to ensure that uses of genetic engineering in the cultivation or production processes are excluded?

4. Whether, in accordance with recital 10 of the Novel Food Regulation 258/97(1), the Commission will bring forward a standardised form of wording for a label for products that contain no genetically engineered substances?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 1999)

To date there are no specific rules governing cultivation and production "free of genetically modified organisms (GMO)" or the indication of such status on the labelling of foodstuffs for which it could be claimed.

However, the 10th recital of Regulation (EC) 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients states that "nothing shall prevent a supplier from informing the consumer on the labelling of a food or food ingredient that the product in question is not a novel food within the meaning of this Regulation or that the techniques used to obtain novel foods indicated in Article 1(2) were not used in the production of that food or food ingredient." Consequently, the option of voluntary labelling, specifying - in this case - to the ultimate consumer that the foodstuff is not genetically modified or that it is free of GMO, is governed by the principles established in Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer(2), and in particular the principle that labelling must not be such as to mislead the consumer. Application of this principle falls within the jurisdiction and responsibility of Member State authorities.

In fact, the Commission is currently examining the possibility of regulating at Community level the use of such information, though it is unable at this stage to provide any further details on this matter.

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 33, 8.2.1979.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0762/99

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(11 March 1999)

Subject: Balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures

In view of the lack of progress in implementing the Council Recommendation of 2 December 1996 on the balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures, will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to remedy this situation?

In view also of Article 141 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, what positive actions does the Commission intend to promote in favour of the under-represented sex (namely, women)?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 1999)

The Commission has taken a wide range of measures to realise the goals laid down in the Council Recommendation of 2 December 1996 referred to by the Honourable Member.

Hence, for example, the Commission has encouraged the Member States to take the necessary measures to implement the Council Recommendation by organising a seminar for senior government officials in May 1998. It has also supported actions proposed by the Member States or by non-governmental organisations designed to promote the balanced participation of men and women in decision-taking procedures. These include a high-level conference to be hosted by the French authorities in Paris in April 1999, in which Member State ministers will be participating.

Finally, the Commission has, in line with the Recommendation, requested the Member States to transmit a report before the end of May 1999 on the measures taken to implement the Recommendation. On the basis of the replies to the questionnaire circulated to the Member States, the Commission will prepare a report and transmit it to the Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee before year's end.

As regards the application of the Recommendation to its own administration, the Commission has since 1995 adopted annual targets for the appointment of women to management posts. Hence there has been a clear increase in the percentage of women over the years, notably at director level (19 female directors in December 1998 as opposed to four in January 1995) and at middle management level (heads of unit and advisers) (the percentage of women rose from 8,3 % to 11,4 % in the A category and from 28,2 % to 38,7 % in the LA category during the same period). On average women occupy 13,3 % of management posts in the Commission.

The Honourable Member is also invited to consult the Commission's answer to Written Question E-4089/98 by Mr Blak(1).

As regards Article 141 of the post-Amsterdam EC Treaty, the Commission is currently studying the consequences of the entry into force of the Treaty and possible future developments.

(1) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0276/99

by Riccardo Nencini (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1999)

Subject: Borri Elettronica Industriale, a subsidiary of General Signal (USA)

The company Borri Elettronica Industriale (Bibbiena-Arezzo-Italy), a subsidiary of General Signal (USA), has a long and outstanding tradition as an employer, having become one of the major firms in this sector (with 118 employees, of whom 60 % possess decrees and/or diplomas).

This company is to be taken over any day now by SPX (USA) a company operating in the vehicle components and services sector.

No guarantees have been given as regards maintaining jobs and making full use of the firm's special potential.

Will the Commission take the necessary steps to protect both the jobs and the skills base developed by Borri Elettronica Industriale over its many years of operation?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 1999)

One of the priorities of European social policy is to ensure that workers are protected in the event of transfers of undertakings.

Council Directive 77/187/EEC of 14 February 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees' rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of businesses(1) is intended to protect employees during a change of head of undertaking, in particular to ensure that their rights are safeguarded. To that end, Article 3 of this Directive states that the rights and obligations arising for the transferor from a contract of employment or from an employment relationship are, by reason of such transfer, to be transferred to the transferee.

Article 4 also provides for the workers concerned to be protected against any dismissal pronounced by the transferor or the transferee, but does not hinder any dismissals that may occur for economic, technical or organisational reasons leading to changes in the area of employment.

The Commission does not take measures in individual cases, as requested by the Honourable Member, and does not know about the case he mentions.

If the national provisions transposing Community law are not complied with, it is primarily the responsibility of the national courts and authorities to deal with any resulting dispute.

(1) OJ L 61, 5.3.1977.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0422/99

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission

(1 March 1999)

Subject: Italy's failure to transpose the recent European legislation on working time in the sea transport sector

The Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers adopted on 9 December 1989 by the Strasbourg European Council stated that the completion of the internal market must lead to an improvement in the living and working conditions of workers in the European Community, and accordingly set a maximum limit on the duration of the working week and made provision for minimum rest periods and suitable breaks.

Directive 93/104/EC(1) concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time laid down minimum safety and health requirements as regards the organisation of working time, but excluded some sectors, including that of sea transport, from its scope.

In November 1998, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a directive (COM(98) 0662) which sought to integrate and extend the scope of the 1993 Directive to those sectors which had previously been excluded, thereby establishing a maximum limit on working hours in the sea transport sector.

Recent Italian laws on the subject still do not make any reference to the sea transport sector, and some shipping companies still have working hours which exceed the limits provided for by European legislation, with more than six or seven hours of daily overtime being worked in some cases.

Given the above, would the Commission state what action it intends to take to ensure that Italy transposes the new Community legislation as soon as possible, so as to fill this gap in its national legislation and comply with European minimum standards.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 1999)

On 18 November 1998 the Commission adopted a proposal based on Article 4(2) of the agreement on social policy for a Council directive concerning the agreement on the organisation of working time of seafarers concluded by the European Community shipowners' association (ECSA) and the Federation of transport workers' unions in the European Union (FST)(2). Once the directive is adopted by the Council and after the expiry of the implementation period, the Commission, as the guardian of the EC Treaty, will take the necessary measures to ensure that the directive's provisions are fully implemented and enforced by the Member States.

(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993, p. 18.

(2) OJ C 43, 17.2.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0877/99

by James Nicholson (PPE) to the Commission

(8 April 1999)

Subject: SMEs initiative - Northern Ireland

How much funding has been granted in Northern Ireland under the SMEs initiative in the current programming period?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-0871/99, E-0872/99, E-0873/99, E-0874/99 and E-0877/99 given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1999)

The following table shows the amounts (expressed in million [fmxeuro] granted in Northern Ireland by the structural funds to the programmes under question in the current programming period (1994-1999). It must be noted that the amounts for the PEACE programme relate to both Ireland and Northern Ireland. Furthermore an additional [fmxeuro] 100 million are foreseen to be added to the financial tables of this programme.

>TABLE>
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0272/99

by Manuel Escolá Hernando (ARE) to the Commission

(17 February 1999)

Subject: Transfer of resources and the Cohesion Fund

The publication on hydrological assessment in Spain and Portugal issued recently by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities mentions, on page 11, various remarks by the Spanish authorities in a letter of 8 November 1995 on the report by the MWL consultancy firm contained in the said publication. The said remarks refer to the transfer from one catchment area to another of the resources necessary to tackle the serious structural problems affecting a number of regions in Spain.

Does the Commission agree with this approach? In its view, are other options available whereby works which will encounter stiff opposition from political and social groups can be avoided?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0102/99

by Robin Teverson (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 January 1999)

Subject: Fifth Framework Programme and geothermal energy

Previous EU research and development programmes have specifically mentioned geothermal energy, but the upcoming programme does not. Although the European Parliament adopted an amendment to rectify this omission and include geothermal energy under the renewable energy section in Annex II(a)(v), the Commission did not accept the amendment, and the Council has not included it either.

Will the Commission confirm that, despite this omission, this will not jeopardise future funding in this area and that projects relating to geothermal energy will continue to receive their entitled share of funding, in particular as Mrs Cresson has stated that the EU's objective is to increase the percentage of renewable energy use from 6-12 %?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 1999)

The Community's stated objective of increasing the percentage of renewable energy from 6 % to 12 % is one of the driving forces behind the energy component of the fifth framework programme(1). It is also true that the use of geothermal resources can contribute significantly towards meeting this target, particularly if the Community-supported European hot dry project at Soultz-sous-Forêts, France, continues to live up to the promise which it has shown.

Many aspects of geothermal technology are already mature and so would not be considered as high priority issues for research funding. The hot dry rockwork, however, does still require research and, as such, could be eligible for future support.

The approach of the fifth framework programme, however, is to focus on problems, not technologies. If research and demonstration projects on geothermal energy can contribute to solving the problems identified in the programme, are appropriate for European rather than purely national funding and can meet the targets suggested in the work programme for renewable energy sources, then they will be treated on an equal footing with other renewable energy projects.

(1) OJ C 137, 7.6.1997.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0579/99

by José Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Subject: EU-Switzerland negotiations

With reference to the reply of 8 February 1999 to my question E-4022/98(1) and taking into account the situation of Portuguese workers, large numbers of whom work in Switzerland on a seasonal basis, would the Commission shed some light on the practical implications of the exception to the Community rules on unemployment benefit, pursuant to which workers will not be able, during the interim period, to aggregate periods of employment in other Member States for the purpose of achieving the minimum period of employment required in order to qualify for unemployment benefit?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(12 April 1999)

The draft agreement with Switzerland concerning social security for migrant workers provides in general for the full application of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 to nationals of third countries(2) working in Switzerland. A specific exemption regarding unemployment allowances is provided during the interim period. This exemption relates to people who have worked less than one year in Switzerland. In such cases, periods of employment in other Member States are not aggregated for the waiting period which has to be fulfilled in order to be entitled to Swiss unemployment benefits (currently six months). This exemption should not under normal circumstances concern Portuguese seasonal workers as, under the terms of Regulation 1408/71, seasonal workers are those who do not reside in the country of their employment and are therefore entitled to unemployment benefits in their country of residence (Portugal in this example).

Under this agreement seasonal workers are also entitled to take up residence in Switzerland, which will enable them to apply for Swiss unemployment benefits once the national waiting period is fulfilled.

(1) OJ C 320, 6.11.1999, p. 109.

(2) OJ C 6, 10.1.1998.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Law discriminating between Italian citizens in the province of Bolzano

With reference to the previous Written Question E-3040/98(1) relating to discrimination against Italian citizens in the province of Bolzano, the Commission is hereby informed that the law referred to therein has since been approved (Provincial Law of 17 December 1998 No 13 on the rules governing subsidised public housing).

In view of the above, can the Commission say what its opinion on this matter is?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 1999)

After careful examination of Provincial Law No 13 "Ordinamento dell'Edilizia Abitativa Agevolata" of the province of Bolzano, of 17 December 1998, the Commission was unable to find any discrimination against Union citizens which is prohibited under Community law. In fact, Article 4 of the law in question gives persons wishing to re-establish themselves in the province of Bolzano, after having lived there for a period of at least five years and then emigrated, the same legal status as persons residing in the province, regardless of their nationality. In addition, Article 5(6) of the same law guarantees equal treatment for nationals of other Member States who live in the province of Bolzano and pursue an economic activity there.

(1) OJ C 182, 28.6.1999, p. 40.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0563/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Subject: Reorganization of CONI (the Italian National Olympic Committee) and protecting jobs

On 29 January 1999 the Italian cabinet considered a draft legislative decree on reorganizing the Italian National Olympic Committee. The decree provides for a form of reoganization which really amounts to wholesale privatization of the structures of CONI, hiving it off from the various sports federations. This could put many jobs at risk, as well as seriously jeopardizing the effective running of the organization.

Moreover, the privatization of these structures would not result in any less cost to the public purse; it would simply mean that the lucrative revenue from competitions and lotteries related to sporting activities (such as the football pools or other competitions) would be transferred to private individuals.

Can the Commission state:

1. whether it considers that the wholesale privatization of CONI and the federations should at least take place more gradually, with particular attention being paid to safeguarding jobs;

2. whether the privatization process might run counter to the "European Sports Charter" adopted in Rhodes in 1992 at the VIIth Conference of European Sports Ministers;

3. whether such privatization might deny the poorer members of society the right to practise sport, given the lack of public structures managed by bodies other than CONI;

4. how it views this matter overall?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1999)

It is for the Italian Government to reply to the question put by the Honourable Member.

However, since the reorganisation of the Italian National Olympic Committee involves privatisation, it comes within the scope of Directive 77/187/EEC(1) relating to the safeguarding of employees' rights in the event of transfers of undertakings. This Directive requires the transferee to maintain the same working conditions as those prevailing under the transferor.

Within the meaning of the Directive, the transfer of an undertaking does not in itself constitute grounds for dismissal by the transferor or the transferee (Article 4(1)), but this provision does not stand in the way of dismissals that may take place for economic, technical or organisational reasons entailing changes in the work-force.

Under these circumstances, it is the national law transposing Directive 77/187/EEC, as interpreted by the European Court of Justice, which determines the legal consequences of this case.

(1) OJ L 61, 5.3.1977.