ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1129/98 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission (8 April 1998)

Subject: Greek customs authorities impeding transit of goods in Greek ports

According to my information, the Greek customs authorities are unlawfully refusing to allow shipping companies operating regular services between Community ports to effect customs clearance on goods being loaded or unloaded in the Greek ports of Piraeus, Thessaloniki and Heraklion under the simplified procedure for Community transit pursuant to Article 448 of the European Union Customs Code (Regulation EC 2454/93) ((OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1. )). On the pretext that the docks in the three ports are 100% 'free zones', the customs authorities are compelling shippers and consignees of goods passing through the above three ports to comply with the 15 customs procedures applying in Greece to so-called 'free zones', which entails greater costs and loss of time.

Is the Commission aware of this situation and, if so, what measures will it take to put an end to this absurd practice which is obviously serving sectional interests?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (4 June 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question E-762/98 by Mr Jarzembowski ((OJ C 323, 21.10.1998, p. 68. )).
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0829/98 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (26 March 1998)

Subject: Qualifications for Commission competitions

Does the Commission's requirement that candidates for competitions to fill category A posts in the European civil service should have a university diploma apply equally to all countries of the European Union?

Is the Spanish qualification 'Licenciatura' (bachelor's degree) treated as a homogeneous qualification with equivalent status in all the countries of the European Union for the purposes of eligibility for the European civil service?

Does the Commission not consider that the expression 'university diploma' might lead to differing interpretations since not all university diplomas have equivalent status in the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (27 April 1998)

In its answer to similar previous questions, ((Question E-2749/97 by Ms Garcias Arias - OJ C 82, 17.3.1998. Question E-4186/97 by Ms Dührkop Dührkop - OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 15. Questions E- 0635/98 to 0645/98 by Mr Hernandez Mollar, questions E-0669/98 to E-0679/98 by Mr Gutierrez Diaz, questions E-0724/98 to E-0728/98 by Mr Méndez de Vigo - See page 11. )) the Commission gave a full statement of its general approach to qualifications giving access to A/LA posts in the European public service. It can only emphasise clearly that in all notices of A competitions it is specified that, with regard to qualifications, 'The selection board will allow for differences in the education systems'.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1325/98 by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission (29 April 1998)

Subject: EU foreign and defence policy and enlargement

What is the Commission's opinion on a fundamental problem that is emerging as the enlargement process gets under way.

The fact that there are a further eleven applicant countries is common knowledge, less well-known is that with their 100 million inhabitants they will contribute to the Union a GDP more or less equal to that of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

All experts predict that, as a result, for the next twenty years at least, the enlarging European Union will have to devote all its efforts to solving the major problems arising from this divergence, especially in the economy, trade, social legislation and agricultural policy.

In short, if it has not yet been possible to agree on a single European foreign, defence and security policy, or the coordination of military structures and arms production - Europe has been and still is described as an economic giant but a political and military dwarf - the situation can only deteriorate with enlargement since it is inconceivable that twenty-six member States will be able to achieve rapidly something that has eluded the Union hitherto.

My basic question is this - Is Europe not in danger of reverting to a mere economic entity, an enlarged free trade area, with its unity reduced to the single currency and the role of regulating banks, bankers and financiers?

How does the Commission view this evident prospect and impending serious risk? Does it not consider that in view of the extreme complexity of the problem Parliament could and should hold an extraordinary part-session to debate the issue and if so will it undertake to provide Members with the necessary documentation?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (9 June 1998)

In its communication Agenda 2000 ((COM(97) 2000 final. )), published in July 1997 the Commission addressed the matters raised by the Honourable Member. Contrary to the implication of the Honourable Member's question, taking all factors into account the Commission considers that enlargement will increase the economic and human potential of the Community and should increase the security of Member States and of the entire continent.

The Honourable Member will recall that the Commission considers that the functioning of the Community's institutions is a matter which will need to be examined, not least in the context of enlargement.

The Commission made clear in Agenda 2000 that, following enlargement, increased diversity of interests and perceptions and a modified geopolitical situation would pose a challenge to the Union's foreign relations and policies. The Union will need a coherent and efficient common foreign and security policy, building on the changes agreed in Amsterdam.

The question of a possible debate in the Parliament is a matter for that institution to decide, not the Commission.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0904/98 by Kenneth Coates (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (26 March 1998)

Subject: Concessionary fuel allowances

What Commission decisions, if any, require changes to be made to the concessionary fuel agreements for retired miners and their widoes in the United Kingdom? What correspondence, if any, has the Commission had with the UK authorities on this matter?

Is the Commission aware that the British Government first introduced, and then withdrew, restrictions on the supply of concessionary fuel to retired mineworkers and their widows, saying that this 'comes about as a result of European directives, and will mean that, if the directives are carried through, as is being proposed at present, there could be a problem for people with concessionary fuel allowances'?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1998)

The changes made to the concessionary fuel agreements are not the direct result of any Commission decision. These changes come about as a consequence of the transfer of British Coal's liabilities for concessionary fuel to the department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in March 1995. The DTI, as a public contractor, has to ensure that the procedure for the purchase of concessionary fuels complies with the provisions of Council Directive 93/36/EEC of 14 June 1993 coordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts ((OJ L 199, 9.8.1993. )). The Community principle governing such a directive and public supply contracts is the ban on discriminatory measures and unfair treatment.

The Commission has not been notified about the latest situation. The completion of the British Government's tender for the supply and distribution of concessionary smokeless fuels would be subject to a formal decision from the Commission only if it were considered to be in breach of Community legislation.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1400/98 by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE) to the Commission (28 April 1998)

Subject: Cohesion Fund and the project: 'Water supply to Thessaloniki from the river Aliakmon'

Project 94/09/61/005 entitled 'Water supply to Thessaloniki from the river Aliakmon' was included in the projects funded under the Cohesion Fund in 1995. Commission communication (96/C 244/03) regarding decisions to grant financial assistance under Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 establishing a Cohesion Fund ((OJ L 130, 25.5.1994, p. 1. )) states that the operational phase of the project is scheduled to begin on 1.8.1998, while the main works are due to be completed on 31.12.1998. Given that Thessaloniki already faces a water shortage and that elevated areas in particular suffer cuts in water supplies, will the Commission say.

1. What stage has construction work reached and when is it due to be completed?

2. What assistance is the EU providing and how much has been allocated so far?

3. Will there be any delays in the completion of the project and, if so, for what reason?

4. Have there been any problems or shortcomings in the construction work and, if so, which ones have been identified and what measures will be taken to ensure that the funds that have been made available to complete the project are actually used?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (26 May 1998)

1. Two thirds of the works have been commenced: most progress has been achieved in the completion of works for conveying water from the Axios river to the Sindos pumping station. One third of the works is at the final design and call for tenders stage. The Greek authorities plan to complete the project by the end of 1999.

2. Community assistance amounts to ECU 80.8 million, of which ECU 13.6 million has already been granted.

3. The date for the completion of the work and the entry into service of the project have been set back one year at the request of the Greek authorities, mainly because of delays in awarding the contracts.

4. The Commission is monitoring the implementation of this project closely. To that end, it has asked the Greek authorities to draw up a plan for the management of water resources in the Thessaloniki region, to detect and repair leaks in the supply network, to assess the design of that part of the project constructed previously, to consider means of protecting the Axios syphon, and to look into ways of treating and storing residues from filtered water. A start has been made on most of this work.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1049/98 by Jesús Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (6 April 1998)

Subject: Release of four Cuban dissidents

Various people and institutions have made representations to the Cuban authorities to obtain the release from prison of Marta Beatriz Roque, René Gómez, Vladimiro Roca and Félix Bonne, Cuban citizens imprisoned for forming part of the internal political dissident movement in Cuba.

I personally am aware of diplomatic moves by the Council and Commission to request the release of the four people named above. None of these representations has produced the desired result and the four are still in prison in Cuba.

Has the Commission renewed its representations to bring about the release of these four Cuban citizens?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (11 May 1998)

The Union has made repeated approaches at various levels to obtain the release of Cuban political prisoners, including the four members of the internal dissident movement referred to by the Honourable Member.

Most recently on 23 February, the Union (with Commission involvement) made representations to the Cuban foreign ministry to try to get the four freed. The EU expressed disappointment that they and other dissidents had not been amongst those released following the Pope's visit to Cuba in January.

Like the Honourable Member, the Commission regrets the fact that these moves have so far failed to have the desired effect but it is determined to press on with its action to help political detainees in line with the common EU position approved in December 1996 and extended in June and December last year.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1797/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (11 June 1998)

Subject: Linguistic discrimination

For some weeks 'linguistic cleansing' has been carried out along the mountain paths of southern Tyrol: signs in Italian have been removed from 5 000 km2 of mountain tracks so that all that remains are place-names in German on Italian territory to inform tourists from throughout Europe of peaks, refuges, paths, railways, waterways etc.

For the sake of the German minority there is a specific requirement of bilingualism in the statute of special autonomy which the southern Tyrol region enjoys. Will the Commission intervene as a matter of urgency vis-à-vis the Italian authorities so that they put pressure on the Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS, the equivalent of the Club Alpino Italiano) to put an end to this absurd and anachronistic discrimination against Italian citizens?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (16 July 1998)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the national authorities concerned.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1551/98 by Rainer Wieland (PPE) to the Council (25 May 1998)

Subject: Motor-vehicle number-plate requirement

From 1 June 1998 drivers whose vehicles carry the blue EU emblem on the number-plate, will no longer be required to display indications of nationality such as 'D', 'SF', etc. when travelling within the Union.

On what legal basis was this negotiated?

To what extent did the Council link Switzerland into the negotiating process?

Was Switzerland actually involved in any way in the above negotiations, or was it merely consulted or notified before or during the negotiating process?

Did the Council ever intend to involve Switzerland in this outcome?

What were the reasons for not involving Switzerland?

Does the Council have any plans to involve Switzerland in future?

If not, why not?

If so, when does it expect this to take place?

Answer (20 July 1998)

1. The proposal for a Council Regulation on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered ((Commission proposal of 15 July 1997 (OJ C 290, 24.9.1997, p. 25). )) is based on Article 75(1)(d) of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

That legal basis has not been disputed by the European Parliament ((The European Parliament's Opinion at first reading was delivered on 18 February 1998. )) or the Council ((The Council adopted the common position on the proposal at its meeting on 5 June 1998. )).

2. The Council is not required to consult a non-member State such as Switzerland to adopt a Community legal instrument such as that mentioned by the Honourable Member.

3. It should be remembered that the Agreement of 30 November 1992 between the Community and Switzerland on the carriage of goods by road and rail ((OJ L 373, 21.12.1992, p. 28. )) established a Joint Committee composed of representatives of the Community and representatives of Switzerland which in particular conducts 'regular exchanges of information on general policy issues relating to the land transports of goods'.
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1531/98 by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission (8 May 1998)

Subject: ASEM Conference, London 1998

Further to the recent ASEM Conference in London would the Commissioner let me have a response to the following points:

- Was any discussion held on the question of human rights - particularly in reference to the situation prevailing in Burma and East Timor, and were any efforts made to keep such sensitive issues off the agenda?

- Was any sympathy expressed by EU representatives for the view of Prime Minister Mahathir that financial speculation is an important cause of the economic crisis in the Far East and will the Commissioner give details?

- Was the issue of reform of the international monetary system discussed in addition to the question of reforms to be recommended to individual countries and what was the nature of any proposals put forward?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (2 June 1998)

The second Asia Europe meeting (ASEM) summit, held in London on 3-4 April 1998, provided the opportunity for a substantive political dialogue among heads of state and government of the two regions. This touched on a number of global and regional issues, emphasising the increasingly inter-dependent nature of the world in which we live today, and included the question of human rights. The specific questions of Burma and East Timor were not entered into in the plenary session, but the wide range of bilateral meetings held on the margins of the summit provided the opportunity for these topics to be discussed.

The heads of state and government also discussed the current financial and economic situation in Asia, and expressed confidence that with full implementation of the necessary policy reforms and strong mutual support financial stability would be restored. In this context, heads of state and government discussed ways in which the international financial system could be reformed and strengthened, focusing on crisis prevention and reducing the vulnerability of domestic financial systems to potential shocks, including speculation-induced instability. They called inter alia for a strengthened capacity of the International monetary fund (IMF) to respond to financial difficulties, enhanced and more transparent global IMF surveillance, and strengthened cooperation, regulation and supervision in financial sectors, and improved transparency in financial markets, including the possibility of monitoring short-term capital flows.

Further details of the summit's conclusions are contained in the chairman's statement issued at the close of the meeting, and in the separate statement on the financial and economic situation in Asia.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1434/98 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA to the Commission. European cooperation in developing the fisheries sector in third countries



Official Journal C 386 , 11/12/1998 P. 0127



WRITTEN QUESTION E-1434/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (11 May 1998) Subject: European cooperation in developing the fisheries sector in third countries Will the Commission say which have been the 15 projects to develop the fisheries sector, implemented in West African countries, to which DG VIII has allocated the most resources, and indicate the sum involved in each instance?
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1704/98

by Viviane Reding (PPE) to the Commission

(29 May 1998)

Subject: The social dialogue in the post and telecommunications sector

In a draft communication on the adaptation and promotion of the social dialogue at Community level, the European Commission is apparently considering replacing the joint committees consisting of employers and trade unions in a given sector, in this specific instance in the postal services and telecommunications sector, with a wider dialogue structure extending beyond sectoral limits.

Can the Commission confirm that this is so?

Can the Commission indicate the grounds which are prompting it to recommend the abolition of structures which - according to the employers and trade unions - have produced excellent results since their recent establishment (1994 in the case of the Committee for Postal Services and Telecommunications)?

How does the Commission justify the establishment of a wider structure which will have to deal simultaneously with problems which may differ fundamentally from sector to sector?

Why does not the Commission envisage instead the establishment of other joint committees for other sectors, given the excellent results achieved by the structures currently in place?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 1998)

The Commission communication "Adapting and promoting the Social Dialogue at Community level"(1), adopted on 20 May 1998, does not provide for the replacement of the joint committees by wider structures. On the contrary, the Commission proposes to maintain and even strengthen the sectoral dimension within the framework of the new sectoral dialogue committees.

The proposal aims at ensuring a more efficient and flexible sectoral social dialogue, with greater responsibility given to the social partners in line with the principle of autonomy of the social partners.

(1) COM(98) 322.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1000/98

by Laura De Esteban Martin (PPE) to the Commission

(2 April 1998)

Subject: Community competitions

Is it true that the Commission has expressed its concern to the Spanish authorities that making holders of the Spanish "Ingeniero Técnico" qualification eligible for A/LA category posts will mean having to do the same for holders of qualifications obtained from three-year courses in other Member States? Does that justify rejecting applications from holders of the Spanish "Ingeniero Técnico" qualification?

Why are applications accepted from holders of the British "Bachelor of Arts", "Bachelor of Science" and "Bachelor of Engineering" qualifications - all of which are obtained after three years - but not from holders of the Spanish "Ingeniero Técnico" qualification?

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-0999/98 and E-1000/98 given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answer to written questions E-635/98 by Mr Hernandez Mollar, E-724/98 by Mr Méndez de Vigo, and E-669/98 by Mr Gutiérrez Diaz,(1) which were identical to the question put by the Honourable Member.

The Commission would also refer the Honourable Member to the answers to written questions E-2749/97 by Ms Garcia Arias(2) on access by Spanish technical engineers to category A of the European public service and question E-4186/97 by Ms Dührkop Dührkop(3) on the qualifications which give access to the A/LA categories of the European public service. In these answers, the Commission made a full statement on the qualifications it accepts for category A of its public service.

(1) OJ C 354, 19.11.1998.

(2) OJ C 82, 17.3.1998.

(3) OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 15.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1092/98

by Thomas Megahy (PSE) to the Commission

(7 April 1998)

Subject: Safety of baby walkers

In view of the recent report from BEUC indicating that all baby walkers currently on sale on the European market pose a danger to the health of young children, does the Commission intend to take, or propose to the Member States, any immediate action either to restrict their sale or publicize their dangers?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question P-229/98 by Mrs Breyer(1).

(1) OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 57.