ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3583/97 by Alfonso Novo Belenguer (ARE) to the Commission (6 November 1997)

Subject: Cut in subsidies to olive oil production

The European Union Committee on Oils and Fats recently submitted a draft text in which it proposes that aid to olive oil production be reduced by 34%.

The proposed aid scheme for the oil sector provides for payments to be effected at the end of the season, so that whereas the original estimates in Spain, and in the Community of Valencia in particular, set the level of aid at 235 pesetas per kilo of oil, it will be as low as 148 pesetas per kilo taking into account the cut in aid proposed by the Committee on Oils and Fats, a cut which poses a serious threat to the income of oil producers.

In view of the fact that the cut in aid would affect the 1996/97 season and taking account of the loss of revenue this entails,

1. Can the Commission say on what criteria the Committee on Oils and Fats based its decision to propose a 34% cut in aid to olive oil production?

2. When, if at all, will this proposal be adopted?

3. Considering that oil producers carried out the 1996/97 harvest thinking that they would receive approximately 235 pesetas/kilo, does the Commission intend to adopt any measures to alleviate the negative effects of the proposed cut in aid?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1997)

The common organisation of the market in olive oil provides for a proportional coefficient to be applied to the amount of production aid for olive growers whose average production is at least 500 kilograms of oil, when the guaranteed maximum quantity of 1 350 000 tonnes is exceeded.

Pursuant to this stabilising mechanism, Regulation (EC) No 1979/97 ((OJ L 278, 11.10.1997. )) fixes the amount of production aid that may be paid in advance for the 1996/97 marketing year, on the basis of an estimated production of 1 859 400 tonnes, at ECU 90.32 per 100 kilograms. This advance payment represents approximately 90 % of the probable amount of aid for the marketing year in question, which will be fixed in June 1998 on the basis of actual production. If the estimated production figures are confirmed at that time, the reduction in unit aid will be 27%, not 34% as indicated by the Honourable Member.

The current arrangements provide for the possibility of such reductions as a way of keeping down production and Community costs. The amount of the advance on the aid is therefore neither extraordinary nor an unforeseeable consequence of the guaranteed maximum quantity mechanism, and requires no urgent derogatory measures. Ways of improving the market organisation, particularly regarding the stabilisation of farmers' incomes, are being examined as part of the overall discussions on the reform of the market organisation for olive oil.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3261/97 by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission (20 October 1997)

Subject: Comparative fire statistics in the European Community

The monitoring of deaths, injuries and property losses from fire is important in identifying best practice for the fire fighting services. The present system of statistical compilation on a national level hinders vital transnational cooperation. The data offered by the world statistics centre are inadequate and are regarded by the Federation of European Union Fire Officer Association (FEU) as unreliable.

Would the Commission agree that it would be productive for the Community to compile some common, basic information which could help identify future priorities and best practice?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1997)

The Commission considers that it would be extremely useful for the Member States to have better information and statistics with regard to fire effects. The Commission has no information on fire statistics offered by the world statistics centre.

With respect to accidents involving personal injury, statistics on health and safety are included in the framework programme for priority actions in the field of statistical information 1993 to 1997 ((OJ L 219, 28.8.1993. )) (Council Decision 93/464/EEC).

The European home and leisure accident surveillance system (EHLASS) provides data on home and leisure accidents in the Community, including on those accidents caused by flames. For accidents at work, including on those accidents which cause burns, data are collected at Community level through the European statistics on accidents at work (ESAW) project. Future improvements to ESAW may enable it to identify the accident mechanism (whether or not it was caused by a fire).

Accidents and injuries are also included in the non-exhaustive list of areas given in Annex 2 of the Parliament and Council Decision 1400/97/EC of 30 June 1997 adopting a programme of Community action on health monitoring ((OJ L 193, 22.7.1997. )). In addition, injury prevention is an area on which the Commission has adopted a communication and a proposal for a programme of Community action (from 1999 to 2003) ((COM(97) 178 final. )).

In addition, the whole range of questions related to fires are included in the Community action programme in the field of civil protection currently under discussion in the Council ((COM(96) 219. )).

The Commission is ready to support initiatives which would lead to an improvement in the related basic and common information at Community level, provided that adequate resources and means are available in the context of the relevant Community action programmes.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3546/97 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (12 November 1997)

Subject: Community funding for the high-speed train in Galicia

In the rail network in the Spanish region of Galicia, there are sections of the track where trains cannot travel faster than 40 kilometres per hour. Two years ago, the region's autonomous parliament unanimously approved a plan for the complete renovation of the rail network to make it suitable for high-speed trains.

This requires the construction of a new section with a tunnel in Guadarrama, connecting the service to the whole of the north-east peninsula. However, the national budget estimates cover only a small part of the amount needed for this project to bring high-speed trains to Galicia, which needs them as a matter of urgency.

Does the Commission consider that assistance with the cost of bringing high-speed trains to Galicia, 173 500 million pesetas in total, could be provided from the cohesion funds allocated to Spain and does it believe that the need to break the region's isolation from the rail network should prompt the Community to show solidarity and make these funds available?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf- Mathies on behalf of the Commission (22 December 1997)

So far, the Commission has not received any request from the Spanish authorities for part-financing by the Cohesion Fund of the project in question. It cannot decide on any part-financing until it has received and studied such a request.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3158/97 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission (13 October 1997)

Subject: Introduction of a zero refund for the export of cheese to effective export markets

The current problems with the system of awarding export certificates for cheese are increasingly having negative consequences for the export opportunities of the European dairy sector, particularly since milk prices are already on the decline. One possible way of overcoming these problems would be to reduce or even set at zero the export refunds on cheese for certain destinations with a high level of purchasing power. The Commission clearly endorses this view, since it has reduced some export refunds in the past.

Why, in spite of the fact it has been urged to do so from many sides, has the Commission not (yet) taken the decision to reduce to zero the export refunds on cheese for the United States?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1997)

The principal destination for exports of Community cheese, both in volume and in value, is indeed the United States. However, as the US market is considerably more important to some Member States than to others, views on the desirability of a zero refund for cheese exported to the United States are far from unanimous. This explains the caution, which the Honourable Member apparently regrets, of the Community's approach: traders on both sides of the Atlantic must be able to plan their future activities in the context of increasingly less advantageous refunds.

Moreover, the Commission is responsible for ensuring that the quotas available following successive multilateral negotiations (the Uruguay and Tokyo Rounds) are used to best advantage; this means avoiding any measure that might lead the US authorities to offer the Community quotas to other countries in the framework of their 'globalisation' system.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3074/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 October 1997)

Subject: Admission to the occupation of road haulage operator

This question concerns the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 96/26/EC on admission to the occupation of road haulage operator and road passenger transport operator and mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications intended to facilitate for these operators the right to freedom of establishment in national and international transport operations (COM(97) 25 final - 97/0029 SYN) ((OJ C 95, 24.3.1997, p. 66. )).

In directives 74/561/EEC ((OJ L 308, 19.11.1974, p. 18. )), 74/562/EEC ((OJ L 308, 19.11.1974, p. 23. )) and 77/796/EEC ((OJ L 334, 24.12.1977. p. 37. )) the Council adopted measures designed to harmonize the requirements for access to the occupation of road haulage operator and to promote the freedom of establishment of operators in the sector.

Despite the requirements laid down in these directives, there are discrepancies in the Member States which can cause imbalances and potential distortions of competition; furthermore, the professional qualifications have not yet reached levels appropriate to the role they are to play.

Although it is appreciated that the Commission is attaching more importance to competence and knowledge of law and business management in the text proposed for the annexes (Parts I and II), can it ensure that the assessment of the road haulage operators is carried out by the competent authorities in such a way as to guarantee correct compliance with the requirements listed in Article 3(1)?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1997)

The Commission proposal not only seeks to raise the standard of the three criteria for admission to the occupation of road haulage operator and road passenger transport operator but also for the first time introduces the concept of checks by Member State authorities.

Those checks will have to be carried out every five years on every undertaking which is engaged in road transport services to ensure that all three criteria are met, with an additional check between the second and third year to ensure that the financial criterion continues to be met. The checks are viewed by the Commission as essential to ensure that standards in the industry are maintained. The Economic and Social Committee in its opinion of the 28 May 1997, and the Parliament in its opinion of 17 July 1997 following its first reading, endorsed the Commission's proposal for these checks. The Council has yet to adopt a common position.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3570/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (13 November 1997)

Subject: Serious case of racial discrimination against two Italian citizens by Belgian sports authorities.

The Belgian francophone judo league has decided to exclude Community citizens from competitions.

The decision is all the more disconcerting because it excludes foreigners from even practising judo as they normally do in clubs by prohibiting them from enrolling.

Two young Italian brothers, Ermanno and Emanuele Agostini, who were Belgian national champions between 1984 and 1994, have first-hand experience of the Belgian judo league's exclusion of foreigners.

Will the Commission intervene vis-à-vis the Belgian authorities to safeguard the acquired rights of EU citizens and uphold the democratic principles of equality?

Will the Commission propose a directive condemning the racism perpetrated by the Belgian sports authorities in deciding to exclude foreigners not only from competitions but also from practising judo?

Will the Commission propose a directive which will protect the careers of the Agostini brothers, who were Belgian national champions on several occasions, and allow them to re-enter sporting circles in their host country?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (15 December 1997)

The exclusion of Community citizens from the Belgian francophone judo league may contravene Community law on several counts. With regard to Community workers exercising an activity as an employed person on Belgian territory, access to judo clubs and to the judo league constitutes a social advantage under the terms of Article 7(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 of 15 October 1968 on freedom of movement for workers within the Community ((OJ L 257, 19.10.1968. )). This advantage must apply not only to workers but also to members of their families.

Additionally, if participation in the francophone judo league constitutes an economic activity, the exclusion of Community citizens from judo clubs, and hence from the judo league, constitutes an obstacle to freedom of establishment.

Given that the instances of discrimination denounced by the Honourable Member have their origin in a decision of the francophone league, which is a private body, the Commission has no power to intervene. However, the Commission would point out that Articles 48 and 52 of the EC Treaty, as well as Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68, are directly applicable in the national courts and may be invoked to uphold the rights bestowed by the Treaty on private individuals.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2563/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Council. Freedom of movement for all EU citizens



Official Journal C 158 , 25/05/1998 P. 0010



WRITTEN QUESTION E-2563/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Council (28 July 1997) Subject: Freedom of movement for all EU citizens Does the Council consider it necessary to inform the Italian Prime Minister, possibly through its own President-in-Office that, because of a temporary clause which has now been in force almost 50 years, the Italian Republic's present constitution contravenes the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty on freedom of movement for people in the EU - both of which were signed by Italy - and also goes against ordinary common sense? This clause obliges Rai TV, the Italian state TV and radio network, to commit vast sums of money in order to despatch a crew and staff to Geneva every week so that a member of its staff - Mr Savoia Emanuele Filiberto, a well known sports commentator - can do his job there, because this clause in the Constitution bans him - and his father, the businessman Mr Savoia Vittorio Emanuele, - from entering Italy. Answer (26 January 1998) It is not for the Council to give an opinion on a clause in a Member State's constitution.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2920/97 by Bertel Haarder (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1997)

Subject: Establishing safe areas

It has proved practically impossible for a number of Member States to send back persons seeking asylum from African countries in particular, as there are no safe areas in their home countries or neighbouring countries where they can be given protection and assistance.

Will the Commission seriously consider using development and disaster funds or seek new appropriations to establish such safe areas?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1997)

As far as development aid is concerned, the Commission is implementing the Council resolution of 5 June 1997 on coherence. It is proceeding by convening meetings of experts from Member States, where global questions relating to the link between migration and development are currently under consideration. At this stage, the Commission is not considering the particular approach suggested by the Honourable Member.

As far as humanitarian aid is concerned, the Commission (European Community humanitarian office) supports actions to cope with the consequences of population movements (refugees, displaced people and returnees) caused by natural and man-made disasters and to assist repatriation to the country of origin and resettlement where the conditions laid down in current international agreements are in place. In this context, it also supports short-term rehabilitation and reconstruction work, especially on infrastructures and equipment, in close association with local structures, with a view to facilitating the arrival of relief, preventing the impact of the crisis from worsening and starting to help those affected regain a minimum level of self-sufficiency.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-3355/97 by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE) to the Commission (15 October 1997)

Subject: Child slavery in Africa

Human rights groups in Togo and Nigeria, Amnesty International and Anti-Slavery International have all recently issued reports claiming that child slavery in Africa is booming. Children from villages in the poorest regions are kidnapped or bought from their parents to be sold as slaves; they are normally used as house servants, goatherds, soldiers or prostitutes. Their living conditions are frequently subhuman.

What is the Commission's reaction to this situation?

Has it adopted or does it plan to adopt, in cooperation with the governments of the countries affected, any measures to improve the situation?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1997)

1. The Commission is extremely worried about the situation of children in third world countries in general, and about any form of exploitation, forced labour, even slavery, in particular. It supports the position the Community conveyed to the UN Human Rights Commission in which it condemned serious violations of children's human rights and urgently appealed to all signatories to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to ratify the Convention without delay and implement it in full everywhere. The Commission stresses that eliminating child slavery and sexual exploitation of children should be considered a priority for all.

2. More specifically on Africa, the Commission would remind the Honourable Member that observance of human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law is an essential element of the revised fourth Lomé Convention. Child slavery is an issue that is covered by the Convention.

3. The Commission feels that positive measures, notably in the field of education, are crucially important in this context. As part of its development programmes, it is financing schemes designed to improve the situation of children in various countries and will continue to do so in conjunction with international and non-governmental organisations.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2503/97 by Anne McIntosh (PPE) to the Commission (18 July 1997)

Subject: Legality of the proposed UK windfall tax on privatized utilities

Does the Commission agree that the proposed windfall tax on privatized utilities in the UK is illegal under the provisions of European Union Law?

If so, what action will the Commission be taking to prevent the implementation of this damaging taxation in the UK?

In particular, as the windfall tax is also being levied on the British Airports Authority, does the Commission believe that the proposed tax is contrary to, or against the spirit of, Article 129c of the Treaty concerning Trans-European Networks?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (10 November 1997)

The Commission is aware that the United Kingdom recently introduced a special tax ('windfall tax') on the excess profits arising from the floating of the privatised companies on the stock exchange.

It would remind the Honourable Member that under Community law as it now stands Member States are in principle free to set the rates and conditions for the taxation of companies, provided that the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination are observed within the framework of the basic freedoms provided for in the Treaty.

From the information in its possession, the Commission cannot detect any infringement of Community law in this respect.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3510/97 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council (14 November 1997)

Subject: Discrimination against the elderly and the disabled by European local authorities

1. In the Hofkwartier district of The Hague, all traffic on the corner of Molenstraat and Prinsestraat, including pedestrians, is recorded on video cameras by the local authority in connection with the closure of a section of the city to motorized traffic. The video pictures are also monitored by private individuals, namely the staff of the Park Hotel in The Hague, who allow only motor vehicles selected by them through the pedestrian zone between 11.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. This means that only clients of the Park Hotel and the Paleis Hotel can get taxis. Does the Council not consider that this is blatant discrimination by the local authorities against citizens in general and the elderly and disabled who frequent establishments other than the Park Hotel and Paleis Hotel in particular?

2. Is the Council prepared to ask the Commission to draw up guidelines to ensure that private individuals are never given the authority to violate the mobility of citizens in general and the elderly and disabled in particular on the public highway as described above?

Answer (26 January 1998)

The Honourable Member will understand that the Council is not in a position to be acquainted with the particular facts that he refers to in his question, which appear to concern a local situation from which it is difficult to draw any general conclusions for the territory of the European Union as a whole.

With specific reference to the traffic problems experienced by disabled people, the Council regards this as a matter of great importance. The Honourable Member's attention is drawn to two texts in this connection: the Resolution on equality of opportunity for people with disabilities (20 December 1996, OJ C 12/97) and the Recommendation on a parking card for people with disabilities, which the Council should be adopting in the near future.