ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2131/99

by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: European public register of supranational organisations

There is no public register for non-profit-making supranational organisations in the European Union.

Does the Commission have any plans to introduce one?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 1999)

The Commission wishes to remain very accessible to non-profit making supranational organisations. It does not, therefore, impose any system of accreditation and ensures equal treatment for all of them. In line with this approach, a list of non-profit making interest groups operating at Community level, together

with their national members, has been placed on the Europa server.(1) This database, inclusion in which is entirely voluntary, currently contains about 900 groups representing every sector of economic and social life. It is a valuable information tool for officials wishing to consult a broad spectrum of public opinion.

The Commission plans to develop this database further, expanding the content and extending the scope, possibly to make it an interinstitutional tool.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/sg/sgc/lobbies/index_en.htm.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1767/99

by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission

(11 October 1999)

Subject: The Commission's efforts to bring its staff policy into line with Article 13 of the Treaty and prevent discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation

Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam may, if properly translated into practical measures, provide an effective means of preventing discrimination at work. Some time ago, attention was drawn to a case of

discrimination in the Commission, when one of its employees, who was living in a homosexual partnership, was denied the rights that are granted to employees living in heterosexual partnerships. This may be regarded as a case of discrimination by the Commission against an employee on grounds of sexual orientation.

What steps has the Commission taken to ensure that its own staff policy complies with Article 13 of the Treaty and thus to prevent discrimination against its employees, and those applying for posts, on account of their sexual orientation?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(30 November 1999)

The Commission draws the Honourable Member's attention to its systematic opposition to all forms of discrimination, including that based on sexual orientation.

Article 1a of the Staff Regulations of officials of the Communities, which applies to all of the Institutions, guarantees equality of treatment without direct or indirect reference to sexual orientation.

The status of homosexual or heterosexual couples who are not married is not currently covered by the Regulations, which relate only to relationships based on a contract of marriage.

In 1997 the Commission adopted various measures which gave a degree of recognition to stable relationships, so as to be able to grant heterosexual and homosexual non-married couples (officials or other servants) a number of administrative facilities that are not covered by the Staff Regulations and are also neutral in financial terms.

Since then, the Williamson Group report on modernising the Staff Regulations has suggested that the Commission should give consideration to the issue of registered partnerships with a view to providing possible recognition.

In the light of the contents of that document, and in the context of the current deliberations on reforming aspects of the Staff Regulations, the Commission could envisage the possibility of tabling a proposal along the lines indicated by the Honourable Member that would also take account of the varying relevant law in the Member States.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2023/99

by Christoph Konrad (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: Distortion of competition resulting from subsidies in the steel sector

1. What does the phrase any aid mean in Article 1(1) of Decision No 2496/96/ECSC establishing Community rules for state aid to the steel industry(1) in the light of the practice of the Commission and the Council of increasingly deciding on exemptions from the strict ban on subsidies in the steel industry?

2. In future will the Commission take the phrase any aid literally and authorise only those forms of aid which it has declared to be permissible?

(1) OJ L 338, 28.12.1996, p. 42.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 1999)

1. The scope of the term aid in Article 1(1) of Commission Decision No 2496/96/ECSC of 18 December 1996 establishing Community rules for State aid to the steel industry is meant to cover any aid. This decision, commonly referred to as the steel aid code, was approved under the procedure of Article 95 of the ECSC Treaty, as derogation to the general principle in Article 4 of the ECSC Treaty that declares any aid to the steel industry to be incompatible.

The comments made by the Honourable Member seem to refer to decisions taken by the Commission to approve restructuring aid to certain steel companies. Like the steel aid code, these decisions were approved under the procedure of Article 95 of the ECSC Treaty. When approved, they were considered as fulfilling the Community interests and accordingly considered as equivalent to Community aid. These decisions have not been taken as derogation to the steel aid code but, as the latter, as a derogation to the ECSC Treaty.

2. Already when the Council gave its unanimous assent to the last group of such decisions, in 1993, it declared that such would be the last time and no Member State has since then presented a new request for use of derogation under Article 95.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2082/99

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 November 1999)

Subject: Restrictions to the Apple warranty in Italy

The Apple computer company guarantees its products on the Italian market with a warranty which is limited to one year and which excludes software. Software is an essential part of a high-technology computer package.

Article 2 of Directive 93/13/EEC(1) of 5 April 1993 stipulates what is meant by unfair terms in contracts and prohibits such terms, deeming them to be vexatious. Moreover, it is specifically provided that all limitations of individual rights shall be expressly accepted by the consumer, who is required to sign a separate document to that effect. Apple in Italy does not comply with this provision.

In the light of the above:

1. does the Commission not consider Apple's Italian warranty to be contrary to the aforementioned directive?

2. does it not think it would be advisable to approach the competent authorities with a view to ensuring that the EU consumer rights are protected?

3. can it give its general opinion on the matter?

(1) OJ L 95, 21.4.1993, p. 29.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1999)

Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts defines the meaning of unfair contractual terms and establishes that such clauses are not to be part of consumer contracts.

Article 3 (1) of the Directive states A contractual term which has not been individually negotiated shall be regarded as unfair if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties rights and obligations arising under the contract, to the detriment of the consumer'. Moreover, the Annex to this Directive contains an indicative and non exhaustive list of the terms which may be regarded as unfair.

The Directive has been implemented in Italy and is now incorporated in national legislation. Therefore, the application of the Directive in Italy is a matter for the national courts there. These courts may refer, if necessary, to the European Court, for guidance in this context.

Hence, it seems appropriate for citizens to obtain specific legal advice in Italy or to submit this case to the relevant national authorities there.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2111/99

by SIR Robert Atkins (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 November 1999)

Subject: Air Traffic Control

What examination has been made by the European Commission of:

1. the economic costs,

2. the social costs,

3. the environmental costs of Air Traffic Control delays?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2106/99, E-2107/99, E-2108/99, E-2109/99, E-2110/99, E-2111/99, E-2112/99, E-2113/99, E-2114/99, E-2115/99, E-2116/99 and E-2117/99 given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 1999)

The Commission has issued a communication(1) on the current situation of air traffic delays and on new initiatives to be taken to provide the Community with the air traffic management (ATM) system it needs to ensure the proper functioning of its internal market. Most questions raised by the Honourable Member are answered in this document which has been adopted on 1 December 1999 and communicated to the Council and the Parliament.

When preparing this communication the Commission worked in close cooperation with interested parties, in particular airspace users, airports, workers, and air traffic services providers, through their representative organisations. It also consulted the civil aviation authorities of all Member States on the various actions to take to rectify the situation.

Reduction of air traffic delays is primarily a responsibility of Member States and their co-ordinating body, Eurocontrol. In this context operational procedures and technical improvements are for specialists to define and implement. The role of the Community is essentially to create the organisational framework at national and European level so as to ensure that such solutions are universally agreed and implemented in a co-ordinated and consistent manner. This is why the Community decided in 1998 to join Eurocontrol so as to exercise political control on this organisation. Negotiations to that end are nearly completed, but ratification procedures may take several years. The Commission therefore will ask early implementation of Community membership.

The ATM 2000 strategy is a document produced by Eurocontrol and it is the responsibility of that organisation to adopt and implement the proposals contained in the strategy. The Commission has contributed to the production of this document along with aviation users, Member States, and international organisations. The Commission supports the general objectives and strategic principles as indicated in the strategy, but wonders whether more work is required in order to develop a mature, reliable and robust plan which addresses the technological developments necessary to meet the estimated doubling of traffic by 2015.

(1) COM(1999) 614.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1816/99

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 1999)

Subject: Bringing forward the approved increases in Spain's milk quota to the milk year 1999/2000

The recently adopted reform of the CMO in milk and milk products concerns, among other matters, specific quota increases for some Member Sstates, and in the case of Spain, a total increase of 550 000 tonnes to be divided into 350 000 tonnes for the milk year 2000/2001 and 200 000 tonnes for the milk year 2001/2002.

The milk year 1998/1999 resulted in a surplus of some 40 000 tonnes and the current trend indicates a strong rise in comparison to the previous year, due in part to the expectations created by the new apportioning of quotas mentioned above.

1. Does the Commission not believe that, in order to offset the effects of this surplus, it would be feasible and desirable to bring forward all the quota increases already approved for Spain to the current milk year 1999/2000?

2. Can the Commission report on the steps which would be required in order to be able to bring forward the new apportioning of quotas?

3. In the event that, albeit desirable, it were not possible to bring forward the increases as suggested, would it at least be feasible for the latter to take place, at one fell swoop, in the first of the scheduled years, namely in the milk year 2000/2001?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 1999)

The decision in principle to increase milk quotas, from which Spain will also benefit, was taken at the Berlin European Council in March of this year and was finalised in June. The instrument concerned which also specifies the dates on which the new quotas become applicable is Council Regulation (EC) No 1256/1999 of 17 May 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector(1).

The increased quotas and the dates on which they become applicable are part of a set of measures that has been carefully put together, in particular with regard to the budgetary aspects. Changing one of the components could well put the entire package at risk, without any guarantee either that the necessary budgetary resources would be available.

1. Any amendment to Regulation (EC) No 1256/1999, in particular to the dates on which the new quotas will become available, would be a matter for the Council. Accordingly and in view of the fact that the Regulation was published only recently, the Commission has no plans to put forward proposals along the lines suggested by the Honourable Member.

2. In the light of the above the answer is clearly no.

3. No.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2568/99

by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Visual flight by night in Italy

Does the Commission intend to urge the Italian State to ensure that its competent authorities adopt valid provisions enabling flights to be carried out in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules by Night as in other Member States of the European Union?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2000)

At present visual night flights are not covered by Community legislation. Each Member State has its own requirements governing such operations and is responsible for deciding if and how they can be carried out.

As this does not appear to affect the fundamental freedoms of the EC Treaty, the Commission does not plan to legislate in this field in the near future.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2400/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Cleaning up the legacy of asbestos pollution in the European Union

The use of asbestos fibres has been banned since 1997 because of the risk to public health. This legacy of pollution therefore needs to be disposed of as rapidly and as efficiently as possible. A detailed inventory of asbestos and clear directives on disposal are of the utmost importance in this respect.

1. Does the Council have an accurate and detailed inventory of the historical use of asbestos in the 15 EU Member States on the basis of sales figures of the asbestos producers? If not, will the Council set about creating such an inventory so that disposal can be carried out rapidly and efficiently in the near future?

2. How much asbestos was produced and used in the European Union in 1997?

3. In the Council's opinion, in how many factories was asbestos used?

4. In the Council's opinion, in how many office buildings was asbestos used?

5. In the Council's opinion, in how many homes was asbestos used?

6. In the Council's opinion, in how many school buildings was asbestos used?

7. In the Council's opinion, which buildings need to be cleaned up as a matter of priority?

8. What directives has the Council drafted to achieve a rapid and efficient disposal of the legacy of asbestos pollution?

Reply

(14 February 2000)

The Council does not have the information needed to reply to the Honourable Member's questions.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2184/99

by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 1999)

Subject: Abolition of advance tax deduction from subsistence allowances and accommodation costs on business and service travel and commercial relocation costs

In its latest round of tax-relief legislation, the Federal Republic of Germany abolished the advance tax deduction from subsistence allowances and accommodation costs on business and service travel, and on commercial relocation costs.

The following questions are asked:

- How does the Commission view this legislative measure by the Federal Republic of Germany in the context of Article 17(6) of the Sixth European Value-Added-Tax Directive?

- Is the removal of the advance tax deduction consistent with the current provisions of that Directive?

- What action will the European Commission take to ensure that German fiscal legislation can be harmonised with the provisions of the Sixth Value-Added-Tax Directive?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(10 January 2000)

The Commission has been informed of the recent measures published by Germany to limit or abolish rights to deduct VAT, particularly on accommodation and subsistence expenses incurred on business travel, as well as certain relocation costs.

There is some doubt about whether these measures, which are currently being examined, are compatible with Article 17(6) of the Sixth Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes(1).

Should our findings confirm that the measures are incompatible with Community law, the Commission will not fail to use the powers conferred on it by the EC Treaty to put an end to the infringement.

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2241/99

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: Employees of the central banks of the Member States

Please state which authority in each case is responsible for approving the budget of each Member State's central bank, the number of people serving on that authority, their term of office, whether it is renewable and who appoints them.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1999)

The Commission considers that a proper reply to this question would require long research. This would not be justified in the light of the following statement, which is included in its convergence report 1998 (report prepared in accordance with Article 121(1) of the EC Treaty (ex Article 109j)): An NCB

(national central bank) must of course, be financially accountable. However, a right to control ex ante the budget may, depending on the context, create a situation where an NCB is unable to fulfil its European System of Central Banks (ESCB)-related tasks independently.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2460/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: The Commission's attitude towards the European Museum project

At the Museum for Europe symposium on 21 and 22 October, which was attended by Commission President Romano Prodi, a number of politicians promised their support for a museum in the European Parliament. The cost price is estimated at BEF 1 billion, of which Parliament, the Belgian Federation and the private sector would each pay one third. The historical starting point of the permanent exhibition is Charlemagne's empire

1. Is the Commission aware of the initiative by vzw Museum van Europa (non-profit making organisation Museum of Europe) to house a museum on the premises of the European Parliament, which is what may be concluded from the Commission President's presence at the symposium? If so, when was the Commission informed of this project, by whom and how?

2. (a)What objectives has vzw Museum van Europa made known to the Commission concerning the construction of the museum and what is on display in it?

(b) Who, in the opinion of vzw Museum van Europa, is responsible for the way in which the museum is managed and organised?

3. Has the Commission promised any financial or material support to vzw Museum van Europa for accommodating a museum on Parliament's premises? If so, what specific commitments have been made (subsidies, premises etc.) and what are the Commission's reasons for granting this support? If not, why is the Commission not providing such support to vzw Museum van Europa?

4. Does the Commission support the decision to take Charlemagne as the historical starting point of the permanent exhibition in the museum? If so, does this not detract from the major contributions that the Greco-Roman civilisations and Byzantium have made to European ideas? If not, what does the Commission feel is the appropriate way of realising the European museum concept in full?

5. Will the Commission request vzw Museum van Europa to apply in the museum correctly and in its entirety the language legislation of the Belgian Federation, since such legislation can be regarded as a form of mutual respect for languages and cultures? If not, why not, given that failure to apply such legislation would detract from mutual respect for languages and cultures in the Belgian Federation?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2000)

The Commission has also been informed of the plans for a Museum for Europe project in Brussels.

It is important to point out that this project is a private initiative by an association and that the Commission is in no way bound by the statements made concerning it. Moreover, no documentation or request concerning the project has been referred to the Commission.

Without wishing to prejudge the importance of creating a museum of this kind in Brussels, the Commission finds it inconceivable that a European cultural measure could fail to recognise the diversity of traditions and cultures on which our identity is based today.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1718/99

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) and Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(30 September 1999)

Subject: Widespread death of Iraqi children caused by the embargo

The awful figures relating to the death of Iraqi children caused by the embargo imposed on Iraq have been confirmed by the WHO, UN observers and the International Red Cross.

1. Why does the Council continue to support the policy of maintaining an embargo on Iraq since it has become clear that in no way does it undermine the power of the Iraqi dictator and that it only affects the civilian population, as has been pointed out by the French government?

2. What steps does the Council intend to take, as a matter of urgency, in order to bring an end to a situation which has become intolerable from the point of view of human rights and international law?

Answer

(24 January 2000)

The European Union will continue to implement the embargo imposed by the UN Security Council in Resolution No 687. It has also implemented the oil for food programmes decided by the UN Security Council, and notes that they have improved, albeit to a limited extent, the living conditions of the civilian population of Iraq.

The EU also provides aid to the Iraqi people, within the limits set by UN Security Council resolutions, through international aid organisations. The Council calls on the Iraqi government to increase its cooperation with these organisations to facilitate their work.

In the meantime, the EU continues to provide aid to the Iraqi people. The Council calls on the Iraqi Government to cooperate with international aid organisations.