ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0637/98 by Jorge Hernandez Mollar (PPE) to the Commission (9 March 1998)

Subject: Conditions for upgrading the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico' engineering qualification in comparison with others

Does the Commission consider the 'Fachhochschuldiplom' a higher qualification than that of 'Ingeniero Técnico'? Why?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0635/98, E-0636/98, E-0637/98, E-0638/98, E-0639/98, E-0640/98, E-0641/98, E-0642/98, E-0643/98, E-0644/98, E-0645/98, E-0669/98, E-0670/98, E-0671/98, E-0672/98, E-0673/98, E-0674/98, E-0675/98, E-0676/98, E-0677/98, E-0678/98, E-0679/98, E-0724/98, E-0725/98, E-0726/98, E-0727/98 and E-0728/98 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1998)

The Commission feels that most of the information requested by the Honourable Member is contained in its answers to written questions E-2749/97 by Ms Garcia Arias ((OJ C 82, 17.3.1998. )) and E-4186/97 by Ms Dührkop Dührkop ((OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 15. )). The Commission would accordingly refer the Honourable Member to these answers, where it gave a full statement of its general approach to qualifications giving access to A/LA posts in the European public service and more specifically to qualifications held by Spanish technical engineers.

The correct translation of 'diploma universitario' into German is 'abgeschlossenes Hochschulstudium', and that is the term used on the notice of competition COM/A/1047 (97/C 145 A/02) published in the Official Journal. With regard to Competition COM/A/720 and COM/A/821, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the judgment given on 3 March 1994 by the Court of First Instance in Case T-82/92 Cortés Jiménez v Commission.

The Commission would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that the candidate at competition COM/A/104 has brought an action, registered at the Registry of the Court of First Instance under number T-299/97 on 1 December 1997. Accordingly the Commission cannot give an answer because the matter is sub judice.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1380/98 by Hugh Kerr (V) to the Commission (7 May 1998)

Subject: Compensation for victims of crime

The Criminal Injuries compensation Board in the United Kingdom provides financial compensation to victims of crime. Is the European Commission aware of any other Member States which have similar scheme(s)?

Does the Commission foresee any future legislation to aid victims of crime throughout the Member States in order to create a real 'people's Europe?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (16 June 1998)

Several Member States have mechanisms equivalent to the Criminal injuries compensation board in the United Kingdom. All Member States have some form of compensation scheme or authority dealing with issues pertaining to compensation to victims of crime. The Commission is currently through its Grotius programme financing studies investigating various aspects of the differences and similarities of the 15 national regimes in this field, and will be receiving results from these studies before the end of the year.

The Commission does not exclude legislative proposals to aid crime victims in Europe, although it is too early to say what measures or combinations of measures would be the more appropriate.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0645/98 by Jorge Hernandez Mollar (PPE) to the Commission (9 March 1998)

Subject: Conditions for upgrading the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico' engineering qualification in comparison with others

Why, in the Spanish version of the notice of open competition COM/A/1047 (OJ C 145 A, 13.5.1991), has the Commission included the requirement that applicants be holders of a 'university' qualification, when that same requirement does not appear in the German version of the said notice?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0635/98, E-0636/98, E-0637/98, E-0638/98, E-0639/98, E-0640/98, E-0641/98, E-0642/98, E-0643/98, E-0644/98, E-0645/98, E-0669/98, E-0670/98, E-0671/98, E-0672/98, E-0673/98, E-0674/98, E-0675/98, E-0676/98, E-0677/98, E-0678/98, E-0679/98, E-0724/98, E-0725/98, E-0726/98, E-0727/98 and E-0728/98 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1998)

The Commission feels that most of the information requested by the Honourable Member is contained in its answers to written questions E-2749/97 by Ms Garcia Arias ((OJ C 82, 17.3.1998. )) and E-4186/97 by Ms Dührkop Dührkop ((OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 15. )). The Commission would accordingly refer the Honourable Member to these answers, where it gave a full statement of its general approach to qualifications giving access to A/LA posts in the European public service and more specifically to qualifications held by Spanish technical engineers.

The correct translation of 'diploma universitario' into German is 'abgeschlossenes Hochschulstudium', and that is the term used on the notice of competition COM/A/1047 (97/C 145 A/02) published in the Official Journal. With regard to Competition COM/A/720 and COM/A/821, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the judgment given on 3 March 1994 by the Court of First Instance in Case T-82/92 Cortés Jiménez v Commission.

The Commission would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that the candidate at competition COM/A/104 has brought an action, registered at the Registry of the Court of First Instance under number T-299/97 on 1 December 1997. Accordingly the Commission cannot give an answer because the matter is sub judice.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0642/98 by Jorge Hernandez Mollar (PPE) to the Commission (9 March 1998)

Subject: Conditions for upgrading the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico' engineering qualification in comparison with others

Does the Commission take the view that the British 'Bachelor of Arts', 'Bachelor of Science' and 'Bachelor of Engineering' qualifications rank higher than that of the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico'? Why?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0635/98, E-0636/98, E-0637/98, E-0638/98, E-0639/98, E-0640/98, E-0641/98, E-0642/98, E-0643/98, E-0644/98, E-0645/98, E-0669/98, E-0670/98, E-0671/98, E-0672/98, E-0673/98, E-0674/98, E-0675/98, E-0676/98, E-0677/98, E-0678/98, E-0679/98, E-0724/98, E-0725/98, E-0726/98, E-0727/98 and E-0728/98 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1998)

The Commission feels that most of the information requested by the Honourable Member is contained in its answers to written questions E-2749/97 by Ms Garcia Arias ((OJ C 82, 17.3.1998. )) and E-4186/97 by Ms Dührkop Dührkop ((OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 15. )). The Commission would accordingly refer the Honourable Member to these answers, where it gave a full statement of its general approach to qualifications giving access to A/LA posts in the European public service and more specifically to qualifications held by Spanish technical engineers.

The correct translation of 'diploma universitario' into German is 'abgeschlossenes Hochschulstudium', and that is the term used on the notice of competition COM/A/1047 (97/C 145 A/02) published in the Official Journal. With regard to Competition COM/A/720 and COM/A/821, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the judgment given on 3 March 1994 by the Court of First Instance in Case T-82/92 Cortés Jiménez v Commission.

The Commission would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that the candidate at competition COM/A/104 has brought an action, registered at the Registry of the Court of First Instance under number T-299/97 on 1 December 1997. Accordingly the Commission cannot give an answer because the matter is sub judice.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1609/98 by Michael McGowan (PSE) to the Council (13 May 1998)

Subject: Western Sahara

Following the Council's declaration of support for the peace process in the Western Sahara, what specific logistical support is the Council making available for the completion and supervision of the identification process, the return of exiles to the Western Sahara and for the preparation and supervision of the referendum itself?

What negotiations is the Council having with the office of Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the UN and his special envoy for the Western Sahara, James Baker?

What advice and instructions is the Council giving to the Commission about humanitarian aid for the Sahrawi people leading up to and following the referendum?

Answer (20 July 1998)

The Council is not at present providing any logistical support for the electoral process, although it is keeping a close watch on developments. It supports UN efforts aimed at holding a free, fair and impartial referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in accordance with the Settlement Plan agreed between the two parties and approved by the United Nations Security Council.

Concerning the identification process, which is not yet complete, the Council will continue to offer its full political support to the UN Secretary-General and his Special Representative.

In March 1998 the Member States, meeting within the Committee on Humanitarian Aid, supported a Commission proposal to grant a total of ECU 7.2 million in aid for the Sahrawi refugees in Algeria in 1998. The Member States also noted that the Commission might draw up a new proposal for assistance during the year, depending on how the situation developed.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2292/98 by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission (22 July 1998)

Subject: Beef prices

Can the Commission state what the average market price for beef was, as paid to farmers in the different states of the EU, last month (or the most recent month for which the figures are available)?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (25 August 1998)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a table containing the information requested.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0672/98 by Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (10 March 1998)

Subject: Conditions for upgrading the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico' engineering qualification in comparison with others

Why does the Commission assert that the situation vis-à-vis the Spanish 'Ingeniero Técnico' diploma is similar to that of the diploma obtained at a 'Fachhochschule', when the latter is accepted for the majority of category A/LA open competitions?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0635/98, E-0636/98, E-0637/98, E-0638/98, E-0639/98, E-0640/98, E-0641/98, E-0642/98, E-0643/98, E-0644/98, E-0645/98, E-0669/98, E-0670/98, E-0671/98, E-0672/98, E-0673/98, E-0674/98, E-0675/98, E-0676/98, E-0677/98, E-0678/98, E-0679/98, E-0724/98, E-0725/98, E-0726/98, E-0727/98 and E-0728/98 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1998)

The Commission feels that most of the information requested by the Honourable Member is contained in its answers to written questions E-2749/97 by Ms Garcia Arias ((OJ C 82, 17.3.1998. )) and E-4186/97 by Ms Dührkop Dührkop ((OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 15. )). The Commission would accordingly refer the Honourable Member to these answers, where it gave a full statement of its general approach to qualifications giving access to A/LA posts in the European public service and more specifically to qualifications held by Spanish technical engineers.

The correct translation of 'diploma universitario' into German is 'abgeschlossenes Hochschulstudium', and that is the term used on the notice of competition COM/A/1047 (97/C 145 A/02) published in the Official Journal. With regard to Competition COM/A/720 and COM/A/821, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the judgment given on 3 March 1994 by the Court of First Instance in Case T-82/92 Cortés Jiménez v Commission.

The Commission would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the fact that the candidate at competition COM/A/104 has brought an action, registered at the Registry of the Court of First Instance under number T-299/97 on 1 December 1997. Accordingly the Commission cannot give an answer because the matter is sub judice.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1570/98 by Nel van Dijk (V) to the Commission (20 May 1998)

Subject: Unanswered questions

The deadline set in the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure for answers to the following questions has long since expired. This is hampering my work as a Member of Parliament, since it prevents me from reacting quickly to subjects of topical interest to members of the public. I still hope, however, to receive answers in the very near future to the questions already put under Rule 42 of the Rules of Procedure concerning:

- equal opportunities in the internal market for gas and electricity (E-0341/98)

- eavesdropping by MI6 and Echelon (E-1039/98 and E-1040/98)

- economic espionage and State aid (E-1038/98)

- possible fraud in connection with Dutch beef exports (P-1084/98)

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (29 May 1998)

The Commission does its best to meet the deadlines of three weeks (priority questions) and six weeks (other questions), unilaterally set by Parliament in its procedures. Although on the whole it is not capable of responding to priority questions (13% of answers in 1997) within three weeks, it answers other questions (87% in 1997) around the six-week deadline (an average of 6 weeks and 1 day in 1997 and 5 weeks and 6 days in 1996).

The five questions referred to by the Honourable Member were answered on 5 May 1998 (question E 341/98), 15 May 1998 (three consecutive questions) and 8 May 1998 (priority question). The Commission wishes to make it clear that three of the five questions were answered within Parliament's deadline.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1276/98 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (29 April 1998)

Subject: Enlargement, freedom of movement and transitional periods

When Spain and Portugal acceded to the Community as part of enlargement towards the South, freedom of movement of persons was subjected to transitional periods, since this was considered a useful means of ensuring that the necessary adjustments could be made. The pressure of immigration from the candidate countries following the next round of enlargement will also be very high, and the neighbouring Member States will be particularly affected.

1. What considerations did the Commission take into account in deciding to impose transitional periods as part of Community enlargement towards the South?

2. On what studies or investigations did it base its decisions at that time?

3. What studies or investigations has the Commission used so far to prepare the forthcoming round of enlargement?

4. How does it realistically estimate the length of the transitional periods for EU enlargement towards the East at present?

5. If it expects the length of the transitional periods to be different than in the case of enlargement towards the South, how does it justify these differences?

6. What will be the potential number of immigrants when access to the labour market is opened up?

7. What kind of people will want to immigrate?

8. Why will they want to immigrate?

9. How will immigrants be distributed among the target countries?

In answering these questions, could the Commission draw in particular on data from the period after the unveiling of Agenda 2000 in July last year?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (22 June 1998)

The accession negotiations are inter-governmental negotiations between the Member States and each of the candidate countries individually. Although the Commission is invited to make proposals on all the problems posed by the accession negotiations, it is the Member States that formulate collectively the Community negotiation positions. The Honourable Member's enquiries about Commission decisions in the negotiations are therefore not pertinent.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0876/98 by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (26 March 1998)

Subject: Minimizing the environmental impact of the building of access roads to the Freixo Bridge

With reference to my Question E-3780/97 ((OJ C 174, 8.6.1998, p. 126. )) and other ones on the same subject, the Commission will remember that the conclusions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee concerning the building of two roads providing access to the Freixo Bridge - Carvalhos road include the assertion that the contracting authority is obliged to acquire a strip of land adjacent to the IP1 and the access roads and incorporate it in the municipal nature reserve of Vila Nova de Gaia.

It should also remember that the contracting authority is the JAE (the government department responsible for roads), and hence it is this authority which is ultimately obliged to comply with the terms of the conclusion.

It should also be borne in mind that the nature reserve belongs to the municipality of Gaia, on which it is operationally and financially dependent. Hence it is surprising that the Portuguese authorities have informed the Commission that the JAE is not empowered to purchase the land and that the solution to the problem should start with an agreement between the nature reserve and the municipality of Gaia. In fact, the Portuguese Government seems to be claiming that a body which is not the contracting authority (Gaia municipality) is to be responsible for bearing the cost of purchasing the strip of land adjacent to the IP1 and access roads, although the Assessment Committee states that this responsibility lies with the contracting authority, i.e. the JAE or the Portuguese Government.

In view of this, can the Commission state definitively whether or not the Portuguese Government will fulfil its obligation to purchase the strip of land in question, in order to comply with the conclusions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee, and can it say what the provisional timetable is for carrying out this task?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1998)

In answer to the Honourable Member's question (which refers back to the answers given by the Commission to his earlier questions Nos E-2127/96 ((OJ C 72, 7.3.1997. )) and E-3780/97), it should be pointed out again that expropriation procedures are solely subject to national law, with the Commission therefore having no power to intervene.

Thus the Commission cannot comment on the Portuguese authorities' contention that the Junta Autonoma des Estradas (the body implementing the project) is not authorised to carry out the land expropriation in question and that resolving the problem will require agreement between the Parque Biologico and the city administration of Villa Nova de Gaia.

Sharing, however, the Honourable Member's concern regarding implementation by the Portuguese authorities of the measures foreseen in the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee's report, the Commission has requested information from Portugal on progress with the procedures required for acquisition of the strip of land in question.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2017/98 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (30 June 1998)

Subject: Genetic engineering in organic foodstuffs

In the USA there has been a debate in recent months on a draft law from the USDA laying down rules governing the manufacture of organically farmed foodstuffs (USDA National Organic Program Proposal Rule). The USDA proposal allowed the use of genetic engineering in products derived from organic farming. It breached EU standards on 27 counts and the danger existed through the WTO, that genetically manipulated foodstuffs could end up on the European market having been declared as organic foods and could mislead consumers. In the meantime, this proposal has been withdrawn. It is nevertheless an example of how easily European standards can be undermined in the context of international trade.

1. Did the EU try in negotiations with the USA to modify this USDA proposal? If so, how?

2. Is a mutual recognition agreement between the USA and the EU planned for foodstuffs?

3. If so, on what standards is it to be based? Will the EU maintain its existing standards?

4. What value will be attached to environmental and consumer interests in the negotiations on the New Transatlantic Marketplace and/or the New Transatlantic Partnership (NTM and/or NTP)?

5. To what extent are foodstuffs to be included in the NTM and/or NTP?

6. What kind of agreements are envisaged for foodstuffs in the NTM and/or NTP?

7. What sanctions are contemplated?

8. Is the issue of genetically manipulated foodstuffs included?

9. What timescale does the Commission envisage for an NTM and/or NTP for foodstuffs?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (26 August 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1164/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Salvatore Tatarella (NI) to the Commission (29 April 1998)

Subject: Funding of projects for the protection of forests

The Commission has earmarked ECU 13.4 million for projects to protect forests against atmospheric pollution and fires.

Could the Commission state which projects concern Italy, and what level of funding is envisaged for each of them?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (14 May 1998)

In 1997 the Commission approved projects to protect forests against atmospheric pollution worth ECU 7.1 million (including ECU 1 million for Italy) and projects to prevent forest fires worth ECU 12.5 million (including ECU 2.3 million for Italy). The amount of aid granted in 1997 totals ECU 19.6 million for the two forestry protection schemes (including ECU 3.3 million for Italy), and is therefore higher than the sum mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Commission is forwarding the requested information on the Italian projects approved in 1997 directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1558/98 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (19 May 1998)

Subject: Ethnic minorities and the European Institutions

What percentage of the staff of the EU institutions is of ethnic minority origin?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1557/98, E-1558/98 and E-1559/98 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (15 June 1998)

All staff recruitment takes place in accordance with Article 27 of the Staff Regulations of Officials, which specifically states that recruitment must be on the broadest possible geographical basis from among nationals of the Member States, without reference to race, political, ethical or religious belief, gender or sexual orientation, and irrespective of marital status or family situation.

Consequently, the Commission has not needed to introduce positive action programmes to increase the number of people from ethnic minorities working in its departments.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1449/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (7 May 1998)

Subject: University studies in the EU

Many EU citizens choose to pursue university studies in a Member State other than their country of origin.

Will the Commission specify which Community legislation governs university studies (undergraduate and postgraduate) in the above case and say whether any special provision exists in respect of the payment of tuition fees at university institutions in the UK?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (15 June 1998)

The organisation of university studies, including registration fees, is the responsibility of the Member States. The Community is responsible for promoting cooperation between universities.

This being the case, access to higher education in a Member State by Community students from another Member State is subject to Community law.

In this regard, the Court of Justice has ruled on several occasions on problems associated with admission. For example, the Court has ruled that the principle of equal treatment laid down in Article 6 of the EC Treaty forbids the demanding of registration fees from university students from other Member States which are not required from nationals. This principle also applies to the award of study grants where these serve to fund registration fees, excluding grants intended to cover maintenance or other costs not directly linked to admission.